O! Momma.

To infinity & beyond...

2011-12-12T03:15:00.004-05:00

I haven't been to space...but I have been in a plane. Worst mode of travel. EVAR!

Yes, at the tender age of 28 I finally became a passenger in a plane. It was awful. The first flight (just over 90 minutes) wasn't so bad. I had room for my knees, the girls and I were situated together so we flipped up our arm rests and had a lot of room. The noise of the engines was very loud...I didn't expect that. The second flight (nearly 8 hours) was awful. I have bruises on my knees from them hitting the back of the seat in front of me (it was only Jocelynn...no biggie), I couldn't get my seat to tilt back for most of the trip. B/c my knees were stuck in Jocelynn's seat I couldn't put my tray all the way down...So my stuff was tilted a bit...and I just ended up sharing Anicah's tray when I could. I didn't sleep.

But from start to finish, here's a look at our journey from Drum to Germany:
Last week of November - spent on the floor on blow up mattresses that deflate every 3 hours. One of us would wake every few hours to re-inflate the beds. I spent a lot of time at the laundrette b/c our washer & dryer (as well as all of our household goods) had been picked up and we were eating off paper plates, and on the day we left threw out all the towels & sheets we'd been using.

First week of December - Hotel living from here on out. We spent a few days in Watertown, so the husband could finish up the out processing...and we could be nearby in case we had to return for anything. The hotel (Best Western Carriage House) was super cute, the staff was friendly & helpful. We took a walk a few blocks down to see the Fall/Winter market in the Paddock Arcade (oldest operating mall in America if I'm not mistaken). We moved on to Syracuse, just to be a bit closer to our target City of Newark, NJ. At least if it snowed, we'd be about 2 hours closer to the next destination. Four or 5 days in Syracuse, we visited with friends, did some last minute shopping...and further purged our luggage of things we wouldn't need/couldn't use after getting to Germany (or could easily replace). We did hang out in the mall a bit, and saw Arthur Christmas in 3-D. It was a DELIGHT. Loved every minute of it. :)

After we left Syracuse, we headed to Newark to pick up a rental car & drop our own vehicle off at the POV shipping place. Due to some rain & time issues we weren't able to drop our car off that night. We weren't staying in Newark b/c the hotels seemed kind of trashy & a bit expensive. Also...Jersey smells bad. I'd already set up a reservation at a hotel on Staten Island...too bad I didn't anticipate the TOLLS. Ugh. New York charges $12 to keep New Jersey out. It must be working, too...b/c the traffic wasn't as bad as we expected. Our hotel on Staten Island was a little cramped, but we'd only be there for a day & a half. My parents flew in to Newark on the morning of the 7th to have one last visit with us before we left the country. B/c of the cost of the bridge toll, we stayed in Newark for the day. Husband just *had* to stop at a White Castle for lunch. It was...gross to say the least. They put cheese on a chicken sandwich!! The sliders were...weird and I hate onions & they seemed to be in every bite. I did enjoy the 'limited availability' sweet potato fries. After lunch we found a movie theater & saw the new Muppet movie...I'm not a Muppet fan...The girls enjoyed it, though. Not quite sure what to do after that, we eventually found a bowling alley! We'd previously taken the girls to an alley in Syracuse & they did pretty well considering. So this was their second time...and Memaw & Pepaw played, too.

We decided after bowling to pay the damn bridge toll & head back to Staten Island for the night. Pepaw & the husband found a pizza place & brought some really good vegetarian pizza back to the hotel. Aunt C showed up the next morning (she's in Jersey!) and we had breakfast at IHOP...which is the first time I remember eating there. It was okay - but the hashbrowns weren't very good.

We get to the airport. In Newark, it was mostly uneventful. A little boring, even. On the flight to Charlotte the man sitting in front of me leaned his seat back as soon as the plane was in the air. I mimed licking my finger & then sticking it in the guy's ear (he was SO CLOSE TO ME) to my husband. He didn't think I was funny. We get to Charlotte...Santa is there in a small golf cart thing. Anicah is excited, Jocelynn is annoyed. Husband goes in search of food. He doesn't bring back any napkins. Or straws. The girls are bored, I bring out our bookbag which has been filled with stickers, coloring books, crayons, activity books, etc and find something for them to do. We have about 3 hours total that we have to wait in Charlotte.

Then we get on our international flight. Aside from being uncomfortable like I mentioned above, I'm also plagued by gum the whole time. Someone must have dropped some near the window, where I set something down. When I picked it back up I had gum strings sticking to everything. My hands, pants, backpack. And it was obviously not gum from my family...it smelled like licorice. We had minty & fruity gum. I tried to face forward & get comfy. Once Anicah fell asleep I picked her up & tried to hold her so I could utilize her seat space to stretch out a bit. It didn't work. Nothing worked. I could only stretch out my left leg...so my right leg was all crampy & sore after...and that knee has the worst bruises.

We arrive after what felt like eons in Frankfurt. Mind you, I maybe slept a few minutes every so often. I did get a little sick feeling as the plane landed...I couldn't orient myself by looking out the window...b/c there was lots of clouds or fog or something. Not knowing how close I was to the ground, I am not sure what it could have been. We get off the plane and none of my family has gone to the bathroom since Charlotte (the girls b/c they fell asleep, me b/c I couldn't get out of my seat after Anicah was asleep). We find a public toilet. Then we get through customs...None of it was very eventful. Then we looked around for someone that might be meeting us - we saw no one & headed to find a USO. We show up there with about 8 other people. A guy comes out & says, "No one came to get you?" Then the guy that was "waiting" for us says, "Oh, I was there...you just didn't see me." Whatever. Does it matter after the fact?

Then we go up an elevator, up an escalator & into a weird partitioned area to wait. AND WAIT. We got off our plane just before 11 in the morning. We didn't leave that area until about 5 pm. And every time they called a list of names to be bussed to their bases...We thought each time we would be the next one! We were the very last ones to leave. We weren't exactly sure what to do...most of the time they would give us little break times to let us know that they wouldn't be calling names to line up for a bit...and the girls and I took one break to look for food at the airport. There was surprisingly little on our side of the airport available, 2 Starbucks, 1 real restaurant, a juice/cafe place...and of course my girls were not interested in anything. They settled on a plain bagel (for Anicah), and an egg & cheese focaccia (for Jocelynn) from Starbucks and I got them a juice...which I had been warned about...but wasn't juice, it was like sparkling juice. It was carbonated & not sweet...and the girls didn't want it. Luckily the USO had a small table there with lemonade.
We sat there for about 7 hours.

We finally were able to leave...I got into my seat on the bus...And I fold down the tray in front of me to find...GUM. Again. Then I left a very important packet of papers on the bus when we got to our destination...And we were finally given temporary lodging. It's very cute...but I'm reminded why I am so vehement about not living in an apartment. I feel like I am constantly getting on to the kids to stop moving around so much & making noise. If I can hear people - surely they can hear us. And I feel like I don't want to create excessive noise.

Anywho. That's how things went. ...For the most part.

Momma must-haves!

2011-09-11T12:46:00.005-04:00

I know it has been a while since I have done anything. I have had lots of ideas, many of them bad in execution, so I just let things be for a while. In case you're curious: Our family is preparing for an upcoming move. Dates are soft, timetables even softer, and the work is hard! In a little bit of fluff to get my mind of all of these things I give you:

Momma Must HAVES!

First time momma? Second time...More? STEP-momma? Friend of a momma?

At some point we'll all end up in the baby section of a department store wondering, "Is this really...for what I think it's for?" or "I HAVE TO HAVE THIS! IN EVERY COLOR! NOW!"

There is a LOT of info out there for mommas (and gift-givers). You can google and find must-have lists, registry lists, to-do lists, not-to-do lists, etc. Well, I have my own little list.
For the hospital: Go basic. Most mommas will spend only about 48 hours combined in labor & delivery. Don't worry about carting your personal hygiene products with you unless you have some kind of allergy or sensitivity. You will be provided with a body/hair wash, toothpaste & brush, etc. Use the mesh panties - at least you're not leaving body fluids all over your own. If you insist on your own undies, don't bring your Victoria's Secret. Bring pairs that you intend to have the grossest period of your life in! You probably won't be allowed to use your own socks or slippers - you'll be given goofy socks with no-slip designs on the bottom. Don't bring your own nightgown - again, bodily fluids will be the theme of the day & you can toss it in the bin before you go. Quick tip: Wear one with the opening at the back, then put another on with the opening at the front to move around! It will be like having a robe. It gives the medical staff easy access to your bod to let them check things out & you can easily slip it off a shoulder for nursing or skin to skin contact.

Have with you: Basic hygiene items the hospital may not have. Deodorant, hair clips/holders/brush, glasses (if you wear contacts still count on glasses b/c they may become uncomfortable after continued use & you don't want to try to deal with a brand new baby in a fuzzy midnight feeding - this thing is too new to work blind!), nail file/clippers (just in case, a snagged nail can be annoying). Slip on shoes, in case you need to leave the room for a stroll around the building (although I wouldn't go with flipflops your staff might consider them a tripping hazard). Some comfy pajama pants or yoga pants to feel a little more covered for visitors or for trips out of the room. You don't need a huge bag. Think overnight...Think simple. If you live near the hospital you can always send a family member by to bring you personal items. If your husband will be rooming in with you...He should also remember at least a clean pair of undies & a shirt.

A tip for the baby bassinet: BRING SIGNS if you plan to breastfeed or want no pacifiers given. The hospital may have some of their own they'll put on it, but I imagine they become like white noise over time and are easily ignored. Make them about the size of a 3x5 card & have tape to stick it to the side of the bassinet.

To go home: an outfit for baby (all other clothes will have been provided up to that point by the hospital), something appropriate for the weather. An outfit for you: You'll probably still look & feel about 4-6 months pregnant. Don't wear anything that puts too much pressure on your belly, pubic area, or your perineum. All these places may be sensitive. A stretchy bra will be helpful as well. You might be a little engorged or at least sensitive and hard wires or stiff padding may be uncomfortable.
THAT'S IT for the hospital. Really. Do your hospital tour if you know where you'll deliver so you can get an idea what the room is like so you know if you'll be able to have some drinks or snacks on hand. Not all hospitals will allow this, so find out FIRST.

STUFF FOR BABY:
A newborn needs very little. Onesies, sleepers, socks, caps, & diapers. At first you might go through a couple of onesies a day. You'll lose socks like crazy, so buy cheapies at first. Don't spend a lot on super cute decorated socks until you can go a whole 8 hours without losing a sock! The hospital probably gave you some diapers & wipes before you left, go ahead & take them with you. Baby will probably need to be changed every hour or two at first. At the most, before or after every feeding. Don't go nuts on teeny sizes. Baby will probably be in size 2 diapers before the end of the first month. Not necessarily because of weight gain, but because of the amount going into them. One-size cloth diapers may be too large at this size for baby to wear with a onesie snapped over. Some leg covers (like Baby Legs or Little Legs) will be helpful at this stage. You can also buy newborn size covers for this stage.

If you're bottle feeding: a pitcher to mix the formula in for about 12-24 hours worth might be helpful. Rather than mixing each bottle individually. You will probably be feeding the baby 2-4 ounces every 3-4 hours.

Breastfeeding: No real supplies needed except your tatas! If you're considering a breast pump do your research about open & closed system pumps...As well as how much you'll use it. A manual pump could work just fine for a little relief or pumping your excess for an extra bottle or two. An electric pump is helpful if you intend to go back to work or will need to pump a lot for being away from baby. Keep in mind, pumping can effect your supply! You might not want to use one right away. Nursing 'on demand' helps get your supply started & after the first month or so you may recognize patterns in baby's nursing & realize they have scheduled themselves. There are lots of breastfeeding pillows on the market. Not all of them work, and sometimes just a pillow from your bed can be just as useful. Unless you start to experience problems nursing, consider leaving the special pillows at the store.

A small bathtub (go cheap, they won't use it for long) might be helpful if you don't have a sink in your house big enough to bathe baby in.

Pack & Plays are great now b/c they often have a changing table & bassinet option for them. They are good if you are tight on space, want baby to room in with you...or you just haven't found the perfect crib yet. I do think a crib will be important after the first 3 months or so, but if you haven't found one at the time of baby's birth - don't fret. One of these simple P&Ps will do the work to start.

Car seat - Infant rear facing car seats have changed a lot over the last decade or so. You can get one that rear faces up to 35-ish pounds. If you have one seat, you can order extra bases to go in other cars, that way you won't have to worry about reinstalling it for everyone's vehicle (mom, dad, grandma/grandpa, caregiver, etc). This can double as a seat for baby when they first start eating food, wait until baby can really sit up & then instead of an expensive, space wasting high-chair, you can use a booster that straps to an existing chair & have your baby right at the table with you.

Swings & bouncers are kind of an individual taste thing. Before buying one, borrow one from a friend. Some babies hate them, other babies love them. Don't spend your money on one until you know your baby will use it.

Wraps & carriers are kind of like swings & bouncers. I prefer a soft wrap like a Moby for the early days (one size fits all, so dad can also baby wear). I would stay away from something like the baby Bjorn. They're not comfortable for anyone. Find a store with a Moby or several different styles of GOOD carriers & see if they'll let you try it on. Your life will be CHANGED. The purse-style slings are just plain dangerous, find a different style.

If you go the wrap/carrier route you can nix all travel systems, strollers, & forget about carrying around your car seat everywhere. The wrap will keep you hands-free to shop, stroll, or do your regular everyday things.

Baby toys: Babies. Don't. Care. About. Toys. They will be just as happy playing with a wooden spoon with a ribbon tied to it as an expensive rattle. If your family & friends want to buy heaps of toys for the baby...Tell them to buy toys for an older baby (9months+) and you can save them & bring them out as your baby gets bigger. A few soft or squeaky toys will be great for baby during tummy time, or when they first start playing on the floor but all those things with bells & whistles, lights & blinking things...More annoying than fun. A few board books, a soft bear or bunny, and a couple of squeaky toys will be enough at first.

Clothes: After the first month or two you'll notice baby is big enough to start filling out their clothes! But unless your baby has a full time job, I wouldn't spend the money on a lot of fancy outfits. Stay basic. Cotton pants & shirts/onesies. If the weather is particularly chill, get some of those fleece hooded zippy-up things. The ones that make baby look like a squishy, soft snowflake. Shoes are kind of useless since babies don't WALK...Wait for those until they're about 6-8 months & will get down on the floor.

After the first 8 months: When your baby hits the 9 month mark they may start walking & moving around a lot more. This is when you should invest in a decent stroller - based on your needs. Umbrella strollers pack well, but if you need something sturdy to do a lot of travel with, make sure the wheels are tough, that the height of the handles is good (you don't want to be hunched over for 3 miles). Think about the kind of terrain you'll be using it in, etc. Talk to your pediatrician about shoes, certain kinds of shoes are better for new walkers than others (and not the kind from our parents' generation, either!).

After that...most everything is optional. You'll know what your child will & will not tolerate as far as stimulation so you can avoid clothing & toys that they won't enjoy.

Enjoy your baby! :)

Yuck.

2011-06-07T18:04:00.002-04:00

My stomach is all twisted up in knots. Because I don't know where we're going. This is probably the one time I really SHOULD blog...get out all those feelings and crap. I don't, however, quite know what to say...

I'm a little frustrated...and a little nervous. And a lot unsure.

I was expecting to leave this place soon...and things are still on track for that. Only, now we don't have a destination. And that's pretty scary.

I Follow Bare Minimum Safety Requirements.

2011-03-21T11:54:00.004-04:00

I don't normally get all political on my blog...and maybe this is less about politics and more about mommy blogging, but it's my blog. So there.

If you've seen this: New AAP RECOMMENDATION Then you might have some vague idea about why I'm having the following rant...

I have been a Florida driver. It gets INTENSELY hot inside cars...which means the car seats are intensely hot. It can be 120-140 degrees inside the car on a good day. And it takes MUCH longer to get air to the kids (unless you throw the windows open, which aren't necessarily helpful when it's 98* outside) when they rear face! Most of my trips were under 10-15 minutes...so the car doesn't cool down at all while we're in it...unless you're sitting in the front seat, or the back-middle. I drove a 1994 A/C-less Volvo in FL. I have a Blazer now (for the non-city driving in upstate NY)...and if I had a 3rd child, we'd need a bigger vehicle due to the size of car seats.

I have nothing against SAFETY. My kids were intensely carsick when rear-facing. It cleared up the minute the were forward facing. Which is more dangerous: A CONSTANTLY distracted/frustrated mother with screaming infants in the car? Or the mere possibility of a high impact incident from BEHIND at speeds over 30 MPH?? I used to work for an insurance company...I know the risks of car accidents. I would never want my children to be hurt, but I am VERY glad I don't have a child under 2 anymore (3.5 & 7). I don't know if I could follow laws about this. (Remember, right now it's simply a recommendation...not a law in my state.)

Oh...and the reason ADULTS under 4'10" (or high schoolers under 100 pounds) don't need a booster is b/c they can ADJUST THEIR OWN DAMN SEATBELTS, folks! The AAP & highway safety is assuming younger kids (like those under 10 years old or so) can't/won't adjust their own seat belts and could be injured by putting the belt behind them or letting it slip over their necks.

I do have an issue with the costs. I got my first infant carrier as a shower gift from a family member, my second from a local Sheriff's office...and eventually was able to purchase others. It wasn't that we didn't plan well enough to afford our children, circumstances beyond our control kept us from having enough in the bank to spend $80 or $120 on ONE item and also being able to afford food or keep our power turned on! It seems like more & more the things we're REQUIRED by law to have are getting more expensive, but it's not as if we're getting more for those extra expenses. It feels like a racket! Also...some people are assuming anyone can just run to the store & get what they need! I live 90 miles from a major baby store. The department stores near me carry basic styles of necessities. I would have to drive 3 hours round trip OR pay about $40-60 in shipping charges to get the kind of carseat that can extend rear-face, or the 'slim' models that allow 3 seats across. There's no guarantee when I get to that store that I can find what I'm looking for! So far...my children have been kept safe with the minimum, and I'm okay with that. I am glad I don't have to make these decisions or deal with these problems right now...and I am grateful my children have survived my clearly awful parenting for giving them only the bare minimum.

...End rant. For now. ;) Forgive the way it's written...it's sort of "in response" to a lot of comments I have been reading about why every parent who waivers a little on whether or not they want to follow this recommendation wants death for their child. I certainly love my children and want them to be safe. And so far, the "bare minimum" of requirements or the law has kept them that way. I know every child has not been saved by these minimums...It's regrettable. Though I am sure there will never be a time in our future when every injury & death will be prevented due to safety regulations. Alright...I'm ready for the backlash! Comment away on how much I must hate or wish for the deaths of my children. I can take it.

Where, oh, where has the time gone??

2011-02-19T12:06:00.004-05:00

I had plans for things to go up, got busy and it didn't happen! Sorry!

For Valentine's day I had a cutesy little flower-pop craft. It's flowers poked onto the stick of a lollipop. If you need more info, lemme know - but it was kind of easy! :D

I figure we're a few weeks out from St. Patrick's Day, but since I have plans for that, I'll post them now & maybe revisit them a little closer to the big day.

Also, next week is "Mid Winter Break". In case you don't remember how I feel about MWB, let's review last year: Worst Week Ever. I'm hoping this year is better...the husband is home, we have a few play dates set up...I have more friends (yay!)...and we're anticipating a tax refund (we hope, the irs.gov page wasn't really clear). So it might not be that awful! If there's no followup to this - presume awfulness! ;)

The Table

2011-01-17T21:00:00.004-05:00

I shared it on Facebook...but now I think it's time to go public with this!! The explanation is short. I simply dropped a quart of paint. I'd stored the can in a closet, waiting for just the right time to finish my table project. A project that had started about a year before. I found a table for $30 at a yard sale. It was a sturdy table, in good shape, but well used. I wanted to make it MINE!

Here's what happened instead. I present to you, "The Table", a story in pictures.

Kitchen inspiration.

2011-01-06T16:16:00.003-05:00

I don't think I ever publicly (well, on the blog) shared the humiliation that was my kitchen table project. Just imagine...orange paint. The color of traffic cones. Orange paint, the color of traffic cones, spilled in my entryway. Forget for a minute that I'm painting my kitchen table traffic cone orange. The important part is that I dropped the can of paint I'd been saving for 6 months in my entry way. I also ruined a carpet cleaner during the cleanup process.

Anywho...My kitchen "theme" is vintangeorangeflorida. All together like that. And I waited until I was visiting "back home" to check out antique & thrift shops to start shopping for items. Well, I visited, I shopped, I have started my kitchen theme. :)

Some of these things are going to be used as decoration, some will be functional...some will be altered slightly to end up as a part of the kitchen...maybe more blog to follow on that one. :)

I also picked up a few things to add to my tea party collection. I bought 2 cups & a tiered serving plate, the pink demi cup is from my mother, so that I would have at least 2 cups for the girls to use. I just hope I can get everything home in one piece. :)

Dashing all the way...

2010-12-10T18:34:00.003-05:00

Our family will be making a whirlwind trip to Florida soon! Hopefully it won't be too crazy, the gas prices won't be too high, and no one will get carsick.

Maybe we don't have to worry about gas prices?

15 minutes of crafty!

2010-10-17T19:41:00.003-04:00

I did a little crafty project for Anicah's birthday. Since it's more craft and less ABOUT her birthday I wanted to do it separately. Enjoy.

It's that time of year again!

2010-10-17T19:31:00.003-04:00

Anicah turned 3 at the end of September. This year was not only without daddy but also without grandma, grandpa, aunt, & uncles! I am not normally a party parent. We celebrate milestone birthdays, but still have a "family day" with the grandparents, and any family that happens to be in town for the non-milestone years.

This year is different. The "family" is mom & sis. That's it! Which isn't different than any other day, except there might be cake. So I folded. I did a party for a 3 yr old. I will say, I thoroughly enjoyed it...and I hope the other participants did. Anicah seemed to!

In case you want to reminisce about other birthdays, you'll find details in the links. :)

2010-10-14T08:10:00.002-04:00

Jocelynn was refusing to smile for pictures...So dad had to tickle her! It seems to have worked. This was the night before he left. I love when Anicah does her "cheese" smile...And due to freakin' not being able to get any other photos to post, THIS IS IT!! Argh!

Who burned the Bacon?

2010-10-10T19:28:00.003-04:00

The newest addition to our family has passed. It took just 5 weeks for me to single handedly mastermind the demise of our second guinea pig.

I thought he was cold. So I turned on the heat, and put some cloth scraps into his cage so he could make a nest. Turns out shivering in guinea pigs is usually a sign of disease.

Sorry, dude.

We couldn't even give him a proper burial, since we can't bury dead animals in our yards on post.

The Rest of Rest & Relaxation.

2010-09-25T16:27:00.004-04:00

Having my husband home was awesome. Our little family felt truly complete for those 15 days! We enjoyed each other's company very much. I loved cooking again for the family (when it's just the girls and myself...dinner is lacking!), the girls were glad to have their dad to play with and do daddy things...and things mommy just can't do the same while dad's gone.

It was very sad to see him go. I don't know if the girls really understood how R&R worked...that he wasn't home for good. We both tried to explain it, but they still seemed confused when we left the airport without him.

At least this means the deployment is nearing it's end. According to my donut o'misery, it's not much longer. Although...that may be a little bit off based on some new info. I can't say more...I don't wanna start rumors! ;)

I had pictures for this posting...but somethings up with the alignment...I'll post them separately.

R&R So Far...

2010-08-24T12:26:00.002-04:00

Has been AWESOME!

The girls love having their daddy at home...even if Anicah pretends she doesn't...and she has flat out refused to travel to Afghanistan in daddy's duffel bag (even with the promise of Pepsi & Cheetos, haha)...but I can tell she likes having dad around.

I certainly didn't miss cleaning up after a man for the past 8 months...but I am SO GLAD he is home for a bit. (To be fair, do I EVER like cleaning up? No!)

I can already tell our 15 days are going way too fast!

My parents were here for a bit...they were not supposed to coincide with his arrival, but through various travel related circumstances they did! Things worked out...and even though they couldn't stay at a hotel in town b/c of some Fireman's convention (seriously...EVERY hotel we called was booked!), they did have their own car & were able to take the girls out & give the adults some quiet time. :)

And THANKS to my wonderful parents we are now out of booze...but we have a giftcard to a hotel in Syracuse! We are going to go to Syracuse the night before my husband's flight...and we won't have to make the trek down to the airport with two sleepy kids at 3 in the morning! SWEEEET!

Drugs? Yes, please!

2010-07-27T10:17:00.002-04:00

So I just left this page: Scary Mommy: An honest look at motherhood.

A friend showed it to me b/c this mommy used an f-bomb in a status update, and there was once a little debacle after I did the same. Someone actually called my mommy on *me*. No kidding.

So I stuck around, because I figured any mom who can drop an F-bomb on her page & take the heat that comes with it (and throw some back, too!) is pretty cool, and definitely not that scary.

Then just over the last few days I read a post about dosing kids with medicine. I shared my opinion (which I always feel is just that...an opinion...I wasn't giving ADVICE for gosh sakes!). And was quickly told (by another poster, not the Scary Mommy), "You don't belong on this blog site. Go to the perfect-parent blog site and say hi to all the jackholes there for me." Wow. I think this poster was in particular upset that I would hide my OTC meds from a non-family babysitter.

My opinion? That I don't think meds should be used for reasons other than what their label says they should be used for. Cold medicine is for colds. Allergy medicine is for allergies. Neither of them are sleeping meds, and frankly, to give a child a medicine for a reason other than the intended use (as in, to relieve a fever or decongest a stuffy nose) is dangerous.

At the very least, I know I am not scary! I always thought I was very honest in my motherhood and parenting attitude!

A Day to Remember...

2010-05-31T11:18:00.004-04:00

"Better than honor and glory, and History's iron pen,

Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men."

-Richard Watson Gilder

Blog who?

2010-05-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

I know I haven't blogged and I have so many fans hanging on every word...Its just been busy and I haven't really done anything blog-worthy!

I do have some pictures of things I could post when I get a few minutes...and I think some crafty things are coming this way.

Later!

Is a frickin' laser beam too much to ask?

2010-03-17T23:25:00.003-04:00

I had a do-it-yourself fail. My dad taught me the old, "Measure twice, cut once!" Boy was I tired of hearing that as a kid. But I remembered it. And even though I wasn't cutting anything, I still thought it applied to gouging holes in walls.

I measured twice. I used a pencil to mark off my points. I drilled...I failed. The shelf was crooked. I tried to see if I could get away with just moving one of the holes. Then I accidentally rammed the wall anchor so far into the wall it disappeared.

So I redid them both. I measured again. I marked where I needed to drill. I measured the marks. I re-marked, because it looked just off enough to be a problem. Wall anchors, screws, shelf. Level. Ugh.

I moved the anchors a third time. This time I almost had it. But now the anchors were so worn out, the whole thing tipped forward.

I facebooked it...a friend said they see a laser level in my future. They were right. Frickin' laser beams, here I come. (And if you know of a certain Dr. Evil, you'll know my use of "frickin'" is not gratuitous.)

Remember that time...

2010-02-28T20:02:00.002-05:00

I am sort of stealing this idea from another blog (where my response was very similar to what you'll read here)...but I think she just put it into words so I could expound a little better on it myself.

Anecdotes. We've all got them...especially from our pre-child days. Wild tales, midnight adventures, and big big drama.

As a mom? Now...not so much. I mean the most I've got is, "I was at Panera the other day, and while I was putting the straw into the organic chocolate milk carton..." Eh...you get the idea.

Will we ever have those fun anecdotes again where we're laughing so hard we can hardly finish the phrase, "So when the POLICE showed up..."?

The worst anecdotes are the ones where you realize partway through that this is one of those, "I guess you had to be there," moments. You desperately try to find a way out in your head, maybe embellish the story a little. Don't DO IT! Just pretend you got a call on your cell...everyone will be so grateful you've stopped talking that they won't bring it up again! You'll be home free.

Anicah-isms.

2010-02-21T14:15:00.004-05:00

Anicah wasn't really a talker until recently. Maybe the last few months or so she really started talking a lot more than her standard "Mmmhmm," responses to most anything.

Things she has said recently:

I kissed a werewolf.
Mom, I don't eat poop!
More fuzzy drinks, please! (carbonated beverages = fuzzy drinks)
Show me your belly!
I itchy. [Where?] My butt.
Moooore farkelly!!! (farkelly - sparkly)
Can I have some jelly butter? (jelly butter = peanut butter & jelly)
I has my baby my bottle.

She's just so darned straight forward about everything she says! She doesn't say anything like she's ever asking a question or unsure of what to say...it's just this statement that she blurts out with no care about how it might be interpreted. She's SURE you're going to understand her right away. Jocelynn is beyond all this "baby talk"...but I am still quite amazed by her imagination.

Things Jocelynn has talked about recently:

(After accusing Anicah of lying about kissing a werewolf, and my rebuttal that Anicah might have dreamed it...) Mom! Anicah doesn't DREAM. I never see a cloud over her head.
I'm going to play house with Anicah. She's the husband...but pretend she's a man. And taller.
MOOOM! We can't go to Canada. We don't speak Canadian.
I like washing dishes! (Keeping this for future reference only.)
Cleaning is boring...Mom, you should do it.
I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm SIX. That's an adult.
I can't wait until I'm a teenager...So I can move out! (Keeping this for future reference, also.)

Oh the joys...

Worst week EVER.

2010-02-21T14:13:00.003-05:00

Mid-winter break is possibly the worst week ever. It's too gross to actually go outside & do anything...but we're all going crazy indoors. This kind of thing doesn't happen in Florida. I really wish I was back in Florida.

Love you long time...

2010-02-09T20:50:00.003-05:00

Valentine's Day is coming up! Interesting what has become of a holiday that used to involve people beating each other with wolf pelts.

No big plans for the girls and I yet. I've sold some things on Amazon for a little extra cash to give us some activities to do. The kindergartner has a "mid-winter break" in school the week after Valentine's. We might take a little time to do some things then.

I think I might start a 52 week project to do for Eric to see when he gets home. A scrapbook with a layout a week of what the girls have been doing...even if it's boring stuff, I think it'll be fun to give the girls something to do & share with daddy when he gets home. This means I might be about 2 weeks behind already, but I'll catch up! I hope!!

We've met a lot of fun people recently...even some who are into scrap booking. I'll be babysitting in the last part of the month for a friend who is getting a job (earlier than she anticipated) and needs a few weeks of care for her infant & toddler. Little one has met the toddler already and they were very friendly with each other.

What are you afraid of??

2010-01-31T18:51:00.002-05:00

I was filling out an online security doohickey the other night. I had to pick 15 security questions. No, that isn't a typo.

So I pick my 15 questions, and it gives me a dozen or so "standard answers" which are just options with a radio button next to them to choose. I could also enter my own answer manually, by typing it in, but was discouraged from doing so because the prompter advised I could fall victim to a keystroke logger. I did choose to write in some of my own answers, b/c I knew I would remember them a little better. I found one a tad amusing, though:

What scares you the most:

Being Alone
Death
Getting Caught
Men
Speaking in Public
Birds
Drowning
Heights
Rodents
Spiders
Children
Driving
Insects
Snakes
Tests
Closed Places
Flying
Marriage
Social Events
Women

That's um...Weird right?? I mean, some of them seem pretty standard as far as fears go...but "Children"?? I know they can smell fear and all...but there's really no need to fear them. Most adults can easily outrun a child. :)

Adventure time!!

2010-01-29T11:11:00.004-05:00

FRESH OFF THE JET!! Donut of Misery has started...and I am ready to go on an adventure with my girlies!

Adventuring will start after we get paid, lol. We're in a new place, surrounded by new things, and I hope we can take advantage of that. I'm making some lists (checking them twice?) and trying to map out some different things for us to experience, keep us busy, and keep us sane.

If you would like your own DoM, check this one out...It is an excel download. :)
Donut of Misery

So much to decorate, so little time?

2010-01-25T18:52:00.002-05:00

Almost fully moved in to the new digs. I left some things in the garage, because they aren't totally essential, and I want to see if they even need to come inside. We tried to move in a little at a time. Loading in the bed, bath, & kitchen necessities. Then the living room & office...and my craft room (yippee!). Even though we have about 100 square feet less than the old place, things seem much more sparse. Sparser? I had done little to no decorating at the last house. We had intended to rent for a year or so, and ended up there 5 years. It's not like we could paint or anything, but I had a handful of things on the walls. Here, I've already hung a lovely shelf for the entry. I've picked out paint for a dining table project...and might even use the paint to brighten a wall in the kitchen. It's post housing, so we have to return it to it's original shape. Which is cream & beige. Everywhere. Seriously...EVERYWHERE.

I'd like to go with a citrusy orange theme in the kitchen. To get me started, my thoughtful husband bought me my first orange item - a Brita water pitcher! I also need dining chairs. I don't plan on making them match. Whatever I get will be stripped and repainted to match the table. I thought getting some different types of chairs might be a fun touch.

The downstairs bathroom is devoid of all personality! I actually saw some really pretty bamboo bath items, a lovely shade of brown, that I will pair with a soft green. It's a half bath, so I don't need a lot, just a trash can, some hand towels, etc. But I do want it to be inviting to guests.

The bedding in the master bedroom is dark brown. I have a striped, light blue chair for my room...and I think I will try to match that light blue to some paint, and do an accent wall. I might also paint the whole thing, I'm not sure yet. I'm a fan of accent walls...and really it seems like it might save me some money & work later, when I need to repaint to return it to it's original creaminess. I have no bedside tables...I would like to find some, and also a little bench for the end of the bed. The tables will need lamps, I think...maybe.

There is a dining room downstairs that we've converted to a play area for the girls. I'd like to block it off with something like this. Just to keep their area separate from the rest of the room. We have some chalk paint that we're going to use on that! We're in the process of procuring one of those play kitchens. It's taken a while to find exactly the right kind. I want to set it up with little stations like they do at school. I just got them a book case to hold books, among other things.

The living room...oy. I own a love seat...and right now my striped blue chair is visiting downstairs to give us some extra seating. I would really like a big couch in there. Maybe one that has a chaise on one end! Eric says he wants it to look "like a palm tree". ...Green & brown? Coconutty? He's not sure, but he thinks it would be cool. :) So...I will do what I can to make my living room look like a palm tree. And even though we decided no major purchases while he's deployed, I'm going to put my doula money towards getting him a fabulous TV. I dunno what that means right now...I only know ours is "so outdated" (it really is, I agree with him!)...and if we get a new TV, we'll need a new entertainment center...and our DVD player is acting up. We should just switch over to Blu-Ray if we're going to upgrade, right? Just some thoughts. Nothing concrete right now.

I really would like to make this place seem more homey. ...And also park my car in the garage. :)

New Year...

2010-01-14T12:22:00.002-05:00

The new year always feels a tad anticlimactic. You're sort of waiting for something to change or feel different...sort of like when you were a kid and you had a birthday. You thought for sure you'd feel taller or smarter or something.

I am in a new place for the start of this year, though. My family successfully made it to our first duty station with all limbs attached! I think we really survived so well because we split the kids up. One rode with dad in the big Penske, one rode with mom in the little SUV. Being in such a new place has been a struggle. Getting used to the snow, the cold, the inescapable feeling that with your next breath you're going to officially replace your entire body with cold air and drop to the ground all blue and icy-like. With a new place comes new routines...Oldest now gets to school by bus. I was very nervous for her, but she seems to do okay. I *might* have forgotten to meet the bus two days in a row, but I think that's sorted out. Heh.

This is the first time in over a year I have lived with my husband while he's had a *job*. Haha, that sounds awful, but he left for Basic last February, and I never had to deal with the early morning wake-ups or the return in the evening, just in time for dinner. It's a hard routine to get back in to. And since we've only been living as a family again for a few weeks, it's hard to adjust to the FOOD. The girls and I ate whatever...PB&J, soup, fish sticks, eggs. Now I'm cooking man sized food again! Making actual meals in a kitchen! And last night was a kitchen FAIL. I tried to make bread, but wasn't sure what to do to let it rise in the arctic temperature. Well, whatever I did, didn't work.

Our garage is still full of things that need to be put away...and quickly, since we have a freezer arriving soon. (You may wonder why we need one with 2 feet of snow in the yard...but ...we just need it OKAY?) ...In order to put things away from the garage, the house should be a tad neater than it is right now. ::sigh:: Which means I should publish this and go on!

We will return to our regular programming...

2009-12-26T21:15:00.001-05:00

Yes, I am quite clear on exactly how long it has been between posts! Lots of things going on...lots to talk about! I wanted to get one post in before the year ended though...I may have time for more soon!

I am Me.

2009-10-20T16:10:00.002-04:00

I have been getting bombarded recently with a lot of mom & wife talk about how women are "losing" themselves in their husband's lives or careers...or in the raising of their children.

::sigh:: Where to start with this?? I am me. Whether I am changing diapers, reading "Green Eggs and Ham", or making plans to move a household a thousand miles away. I am still me. Maybe I don't get to spend as much time on my hobbies as I'd like...but I think that's just a part of growing up. Someone who chooses a career over spouse & kids might make the same sacrifice, but no one dare says she has "lost" herself. She's empowered and her own woman...even if someone else is making up her schedule and determining what she does and when in her job. She might report to 40 different managers, but she is strong and motivated, not under the thumb of corporate America. ...According to those who think wives and mothers are "lost".

Which is fine...do whatever you want. Like Barbie says, "Be who you want to be." If that "be" is a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a lawyer, a photographer, a manicurist, or the chick who scrapes the gum from under the table at the mall food court...BE IT. And be it WELL! Working full time, part time, or as a mother (who might also be working full time or part time), means you will probably have to give up a few hobbies...but if you like what you're doing, then do it full tilt. Hobbies aren't who you are. You are you...in every way. :)

And apparently I am a little goofy. Go figure.

My take on Thai.

2009-10-12T13:41:00.004-04:00

I made a Thai Coconut Curry Soup this weekend...but I modified it a little from a recipe on the back of a stock box.

2 boxes College Hill Thai Coconut Curry stock
1 can coconut milk
1/2 - 1 cup shredded or matchstick carrots
1/2 - 1 cup chopped green onions
2 cups broccoli (break up the larger pieces)
1 head of napa cabbage, shredded
1 - 2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons curry
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

I put a little oil in the soup pot, and did a quick saute of carrots, onions, broccoli, ginger, and the dry seasonings. Poured in stock, added cabbage, cooked until boiling, added coconut milk, lowered temp, allowed to heat through.

It was really quick...the original recipe called for noodles, but I just couldn't see noodles in this. So I replaced it with the cabbage. Everyone loved it!

Happy Birthday!

2009-10-03T21:09:00.007-04:00

My "baby" turned 2. I think we need to cut the baby talk...I often call her baby...baby girl, where's the baby...etc. And the other day she was playing with one of those little doohickeys that help you bathe a newborn in the tub. It's just a little reclining thing to help keep baby's head above water. She says, "What is it?" Mommy used it to give you a bath when you were a baby...but you got bigger and didn't need it anymore. She got sort of angry looking and said, "NO! I'm not bigger! I'm a baby!" Welllll...got news for ya chicky. You *are* bigger!

She's still not using a toilet. In fact, she won't even sit on it. Or go near it. But she will let me know when her diaper needs to be changed. It's actually a little weird. "Mooooooommy!" What? "Diiiiiiiiaper!" You want mom to change your diaper? "UH-HUH!" As if I'm an imbecile. I dunno, maybe to a 2 year old, I am an imbecile. :)

I Hate Spin Class.

2009-09-29T10:02:00.000-04:00

NEVER ever doing THAT again. Ever. EVER.

I think titles are overrated.

2009-09-27T20:48:00.003-04:00

My mom took the girls to the beach for a bit this weekend, cute pics from that. Eric comes home soon...I feel anxious and excited. As I count down this last 30 days and I feel that excitement of one more day gone...I also feel a little sad, b/c I know that when he gets here for his 30 days, I will be counting down that exact same length of time. I went from 30 to 20 days really quickly. I didn't even realized it was going by.

I wanted to do SO MUCH when he got here...but now I don't want to do anything but lock the family in the house for his 30 days and try and just exist together in the same place for as long as possible.

I think I am staying in Florida while he deploys. I think it will be easiest on Jocelynn. At least let her finish out the school year. Maybe go to the new Post during the summer. Get used to living in a new place before we have to also get used to living in SNOW. I had planned on having our house all packed up and ready to go...and with everything in it's place I feel weird. And sad.

Blahblahblah, et cetera.

2009-09-14T18:45:00.002-04:00

Getting more and more into this school routine. Not happy about conforming to society standards, but I do it for now.

Still undecided on what will be happening when Eric gets his duty station assignment and will be deployed.

Have attended my Doula certifications...that's awesome, and I feel like I learned a lot. Have lots more to do, though...most of it on my own time, so there is no need to rush. I have something like 2 years to complete my packet and get it turned it. I don't think I'll need 2 years (maybe 6 months?) but it's nice to know I could if I ran into issues and needed to!

Getting a little anxious as Eric's return date draws near. I feel like I really haven't done any of the things I wanted to do while he was gone. :( Oh well...I'll have 12 months to try again soon.

Trying to find a new place to live is hard. I can list 100 things I don't like about where I am right now...but as soon as I see a new place, I can list 100 reasons why it's not as good as where I am RIGHT NOW. Lol. The fickle woman! ;)

Jocelynn seems to be getting on in school really well! But I think she's that kind of kid. Gets on with everyone pretty easily.

Finishing up my 3rd book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series. Only felt so-so about it at the beginning (especially after reading King's intro...could the guy BE more of an asshole??)...but now that the intro is further from my mind and I am further into the book, I think I want to stick this out and wait to see how it ends. I might sneak off tomorrow to get book 4 at Barnes & Noble.

Enjoy your week...

School Daze.

2009-09-08T10:05:00.004-04:00

Soo...I may have mentioned I feel like I am being punked every time I show up at Jocelynn's school. If I show up on time (or just before time) I might wait anywhere from 10-25 minutes to do the drop off or pick up. If I arrive 2 minutes later...it's a ghost town and everyone has disappeared.

Morning: Leave home 8:15. Arrive at school approximately 8:25. Sit in line for 14 minutes.
Afternoon: Leave home 2:55. Arrive at school about 3:00. (And surprisingly, there are already about 15 cars ahead of me.) School lets out 3:30. I sit in line for approximately 40 minutes.

Morning: Leave home 8:20. Arrive at school 8:30. Gates closed. Classes already started. I have to sign Jocelynn in, she takes a tardy pass to her classroom.
Afternoon: Leave home 3:30. Arrive at 3:41, I am the only parent in the parking lot. I wonder if it was a half-day and I effed up big time. I see a teacher, she says all kids left in line after the pick up line ends would be in the aftercare.

I don't understand how they're doing it! It must be a complicated system of walkie talkies, traffic light manipulation, and underground storage where they are hiding all the other parent vehicles! (Unless it's so very elaborate that all the other parents are in on it too!)

I paid $7 for a school agenda...It's basically a book with a calendar, and a reading list. Jocelynn is too young to understand the extra information in it. Times tables, measurement conversion charts...history blurbs. I could have printed out a calendar from my computer and ripped a sheet out of a spiral notebook to write down the reading list. I am sure it's more helpful for older students who have multiple subjects, teachers, and projects that need to be completed. But in Kindergarten...Usually it's just a little smiley face. Sometimes there is a note paper clipped to it to let me know things like...there is a child with peanut allergies in her class.

Of course, I didn't need a piece of paper to let me know that. Jocelynn is BEST FRIENDS with the peanut allergy kid! "Mom, don't send peanut butter in my lunch box because that means I can't sit with my friend at lunch!" Oh. Joy.

When does summer start?

It's almost time!!

2009-08-17T14:23:00.003-04:00

School days are fast approaching! I am making sure all of Jocelynn's things are ready for the first day of school. She has a bunch of extra things to bring in addition to her backpack & lunchbox. A roll of paper towels, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, a ream of colored copy paper. Oy! So much to get ready for such a little kid.

I am trying to figure out what to do with Anicah once Jocelynn is absent for the better part of the day. At this age, Jocelynn could speak full paragraphs. Anicah says a few things...mostly to convey an immediate need. Earlier she said she was hungry, but it came out as, "I HONKY!" Lol, I am just not sure how much I can do with her...I don't want to say she isn't smart, but she isn't even close to Jocelynn's (not comparing, just parallelling) level of understanding at the same age. I am just not sure how much I can do with her that she will "get". She is A LOT more active than Jocelynn ever was at this age. Jocelynn never climbed...Anicah climbs like a monkey.

Last complaint of the week, I promise!

2009-08-13T10:21:00.002-04:00

I could scream. I think retailers are SO STUPID! Why would they pull out their fall items NOW? I realize a lot of the country is making the change to autumn, but NOT here! I would really just like a retailer to hold off by about 4 weeks before putting up the Autumn signage & clothing. Seriously.

I seem to be extra cranky this week!

2009-08-13T10:00:00.004-04:00

So I bought this gorgeous bedding ensemble.

Eight pieces for $80. And since it was from Overstock, I only paid about $3 for shipping (LOVE THAT!). Anywho...It arrived one day, I pulled it apart & washed it, then folded it all neatly & put it away. My plan was to put my Queen bed into the girl's bedroom (to share), so that I can replace it with a King bed. (I briefly thought of doing 2 twin beds for the girls, but thought it would take up too much space in the room, and Jocelynn kept saying she would probably sleep in Anicah's bed so "Anicah won't be scared".) I finally order the King bed, and go ahead & put the Queen bed into the girls' room. I figure I can sleep on the sofa bed while I actually finish paying for the King bed & wait for it to be delivered.

I put the dust ruffle onto the Queen box spring. It doesn't fit. Hmm...Just a simple dimensional mistake?? I load the mattress onto the box spring (and ill-fitting dust ruffle). I get out the 2 mattress pads I have. One is fluffy, one is protective. And I think to myself, "Well, lemme just double check the fitted sheet, I'd hate to do all this and it doesn't FIT." And no surprise...the fitted sheet didn't fit. There are no dimensions on the sheets or dust ruffle. The dimensions on the comforter are appropriate for a Queen bed. I contact Overstock, they agreed to send me a shipping label so the shipping costs wouldn't come out of my refund (which is how it works...if I send something back, I pay actual shipping!). Then I see that the ensemble is no longer available AT ALL. I try to look for something similar, I really would like something with all the pieces...I think it makes it easier for me to find other things to match it later if necessary. I also think it just looks nice on the bed. I find 3, 5, & 7 piece ensembles...but they cost a LOT more than the one I originally purchased. I contact Overstock (emailed...after 3 days & no response, I call). Would Overstock be willing to pay the difference between my previous purchase & the purchase I'd like to make? Because, now in addition to purchasing the ensemble, I may have to also purchase additional sheets, or a dust ruffle separately.

After a long wait, the rep comes back on the line, "No, sorry, they won't do it, although I did really try to emphasize your problem & hoped they would do it." It never hurts to ask, I suppose. And additionally, "Since you've already returned the bedding, I'll push your refund through so you can buy something else..." That was nice of her. But I have a couple of coupons for Steinmart...and will stop in there today to see what they have. I bought my King bedding from Steinmart for a terrific deal. It was originally $200, but I paid $52! Love it!

I know how to read.

2009-08-12T09:24:00.003-04:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is being handed or shown written material (slides, power point, booklets, handouts, whatever!!) and then HAVING SOMEONE ELSE READ IT TO ME. I learned to read before Kindergarten. It's been serving me pretty well since.

So at last night's "open house", a couple of people stood in the front of the room and read off slides so parents and kids understood what would be happening on the first day of school. This is the first year the school has been open, so I do understand that they have to set up everything from scratch...and then get parents to follow the rules from the start. Except this was a huge time waste.

Every last bit of the information that was given was information I found on their website weeks ago! I have been asked to come to this school 3 times already...each and every time a waste. First there was a "registration" process. Well, I had already mailed my packet in by mail a few weeks earlier. The automated call I received did not indicate that as a result, I would not be needed at the school that night. While I was there they said I could take care of Jocelynn's emergency card. I had already filled out that information on the application...whatever, I can fill it out on a card, now. They wanted a copy of my driver's license & Jocelynn's birth certificate. Neither of which they could do b/c they couldn't get the copier to work. I was allowed to order uniforms that night, but was not really prepared to do so monetarily. So I left after filling out the card.

I got a call from an actual person a few weeks later. The school still needed a copy of Jocelynn's birth certificate. I wondered if I should make the copy myself, but I knew that if I did they would say they needed to see that the copy was from the original...so I went without making a copy at home. When I arrived someone was talking about testing, scores, etc. I looked around & found a guy that looked like he belonged with the school. "Hi, I need to submit a copy of my daughter's birth certificate." Okay, I can take it. "No, I need someone to make the copy." We can't do that right now. Do you want me to take the original. "::sigh:: No, I don't."

Then last night was just horrible. I had to park in BFE, I'm holding hands with Anicah, who is holding hands with Jocelynn...and we are walking through some tall grass (well, in comparison to my kids). I stepped in a whole and nearly broke my damn ankle. I get into the building where they are doing the program...and about half the rows are empty on the side closest to the wall. A bunch of people stopped right into the middle of the aisle instead of moving down to the end. So, I had my choice of 1 or 2 seats for the 3 of us. I chose 2...and after 15 minutes left, b/c I realized I already knew all of this information. If this is any clue of things to come while Jocelynn is in this school...I hope the Army moves us ASAP!!

Changes for a big girl!

2009-08-11T15:15:00.003-04:00

Jocelynn starts school soon! I'm taking her tonight to her open house. Also picking up her uniform shirts! It's so weird. I am not worried about how she'll be at school or anything, b/c she did VPK for a while 5 days a week. She had her on days & her off days...but seemed to excel just fine academically & socially.

We downloaded her supply list a few weeks ago & have everything on the list...except for the planner we have to buy from the school. I am not sure what to put in her lunch box yet. She took a lunchbox to daycare for a while when she was 2 & 3. She ate everything at first, but halfway through, she stopped eating all together. Hrm. I don't want to feed her junk, but I don't want her to go hungry. She likes those uncrustable things...but I haven't found the wheat bread ones yet...even though I know I have seen them.

Australian Anti-Vax!

2009-08-07T14:18:00.002-04:00

First, this isn't original...Was posted elsewhere and it sparked my curiosity.

The link that sparked my post!

Second: I am not Pro or Anti vaccination myself. Personally, I wish I did not have to vaccinate my children, but I have. I realize their general exposure to really deadly things like Polio, Pertussis, Measles, & Mumps are relatively low. That said, I know we come into contact with more people (from more places) now, than ever. We get our food from all over the world. The people who plant, pick, ship, & prepare our foods come from all over the world. They may be carriers of certain diseases that, when not properly vaccinated against, could easily pass to our families. (Typhoid Mary sound familiar?)

Third: Heavy metals are in a lot of things...more unnatural things occur in our foods & things we are daily exposed to than 50 or 60 years ago. So I do not feel you can blame vaccines for the high rate of autism. The autism spectrum itself is quite broad...from a kid who won't look you in the eye, to a kid who bangs his head into the wall repeatedly while screaming & fighting during any attempt at human interraction. It also occurs more in boys than girls. Autism according to Wiki. Ya know what else occurs more in boys than girls? A penis.

Anywho...I did want to pass on this blog/article, b/c I feel like if people are being deceived because they are ONLY getting their information from one place & thinking it's going to be unbiased they are wrong. BIG WRONG. Find different sources of information. If one person is telling you something you have *never* heard before...verify it. Find it at a different source unrelated to that person! Do what is best for your child...whether that means a vaccine or not. Just keep in mind that most of the side effects to the vaccines given to infants and children are mild compared to death. A few vaccine side-effects.

Little lies, or DUHHHH!!

2009-08-06T22:19:00.002-04:00

I actually got this article from another blog...11 Secrets All Men Keep.

After reading it...I have to wonder, "Are men so dense they don't think women have already figured out most of these?" No offense to men in general, maybe it's just the writer of the blog that's...dense. But really, these are secrets? I could laugh out loud right now!

I won't give the explanation from the article, but I would like to go over each lie...

Secret #1: Yes, we fall in lust 10 times a day -- but it doesn't mean we want to leave you.
We know you look. And while I think for most men, it's a look-but-don't-touch policy...You can't tell me NO man looks because he's looking for something/someone else.

Secret #2: We actually do play golf to get away from you.
Really? You didn't think we knew this? Why do you think wives & girlfriends get so upset over it? You need an "absence" from home life? Way to be an asshole, there, bub. When was the last time your wife/girlfriend had an absence from anything sans kids, hubby, and home?

Secret #3: We're unnerved by the notion of commitment, even after we've made one to you.
Not. A. Surprise. Especially when you consider #1 and #2.

Secret #4: Earning money makes us feel important.
The majority of men [that I know/have interacted with] are competitive. In everything. Why would earnings be any different? My husband has even been competitive with our 5 year old.

Secret #5: Though we often protest, we actually enjoy fixing things around the house.
Yes, I figured this out when I said something like, "I'll just do it..." and my husband has jumped out of his chair to take whatever power tool I am trying to wield in my grip & takes over. Maybe it has a little something to do with showing off his manly prowess that he has to "help" his "wife in distress". Fine with me. I might chip a nail on that power drill.

Secret #6: We like it when you mother us, but we're terrified that you'll become your mother.
As illustrated when a man gets the slightest case of the sniffles and moans & groans on the couch all day. A secret of our own? Sometimes we like to baby you a little...but we're terrified if we spoil you, you will turn into a child.

Secret #7: Every year we love you more.
It really can't hurt to say that you love us more. It's nice to hear that we are appreciated and loved. However, not saying anything can cause the opposite effect in women.

Secret #8: We don't really understand what you're talking about.
Agree with me when you have no idea what I'm saying? And then you wonder why I get upset later over something you never remember discussing?? Surprise, this discussion you blew off was exactly what I was talking about! If you really don't understand, SAY SO! Tell us we need to explain it like you're a 5 year old if necessary. Smile, nod, and agree the next time you encounter a salesman & see where it gets ya. In a 10 year contract with a 47% interest rate, for a product you're not even sure exists. Smooth move.

Secret #9: We are terrified when you drive.
Ditto.

Secret #10: We'll always wish we were 25 again.
This should probably just be changed to "wish we were young & unattached again". And...Who hasn't??

Secret #11: Give us an inch and we'll give you a lifetime.
You mean smothering someone & near-stalking DON'T endear you to them?? I better cancel some plans I have later, then.

In summation...sorry, guys. Your secrets aren't as safe (or secret) as you thought they were. This blog post isn't meant to demean or make fun of any man I know (or love)...but I do think if any guys are thinking these things are really truly secrets, that I'd at least give them a chance to find some real secrets & maybe help things along. Some secrets may not be worth keeping.

Mall Schmall.

2009-08-06T16:36:00.004-04:00

Ugh. I hate the mall! Lol...I always forget that until I get my kids there...and they want e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. And they cry a lot...and today they ran around a lot more than normal...although it wore them out like CRAZY!!! I did still have fun, though...good company. :) Jocelynn and her little friend played in the arcade...on the child activity doohickeys...and during our food court lunch. Anicah is SO worn out. She is asleep right now. AWESOME! It was good to see some things that I would like to go back for when I'm sans kids.

I am not sure about shopping for clothes in the next couple of months though...cuz we have no clue where we are going...and what if we go somewhere where fall clothes are totally unnecessary? Once Eric gets the niftio laptop I sent him, he might be able to see some soft orders for after AIT. Which reminds me. I need to get him a sleeve for his laptop. I also need to run into Brandon soon and make a payment on our NEW KING-SIZED BED!! I cannot WAIT for that.

Still trying to get the girl's room together...trying to finish painting the headboard for their bed so I can move all that stuff around. Going to send the day bed w/ trundle to my mom...so she can put it in the girl's room at GRANDMA'S house. Fun!

Need to replace my cell phone already! I've only had it about 9 months. The jack where the charger hooks up is wonky. I have to hold it in place to charge. Nice excuse to sit around and do nothing for a bit, though. :D

$10.50

2009-07-30T11:18:00.002-04:00

My mom offered to treat my girls and I to a movie on Sunday. We saw the Disney movie G-Force. Ya know...Guinea pigs can talk & they save the world? That one. It was cute...the girls seemed to enjoy it plenty. We saw it before noon, and our local theater does tickets for $5 before noon...so it wasn't too expensive to get us all in, plus the little one doesn't need to be paid for yet.

We got everyone settled, and I went out to get the girls some popcorn. My dad followed me out, also to get popcorn for himself & a water for my mom. Corn & water. Two of the cheapest commodities on the planet. He paid $10.50 for a bottle of water, and a "small" popcorn (which seemed rather large to me). For $11.75 I got a small popcorn and a large drink. That I'm used to...I just find it rather amazing at the markup that goes into some products. CORN AND WATER, FOLKS!! It's CRAZY. I hardly ever get to go to the movies. I've been a couple of times this summer because of the summer movie camp that AMC hosts.

I might make more of an effort to go if I knew I wasn't spending more for corn & a sugary carbonated beverage than I do to feed my whole family at a fast food joint! (The girls and I eat at CiCi's Pizza for just under $11.) Although, I will say Kudos to Regency's theater management...they DO allow you to bring in outside food. There are even advertisements on the windows of the nearby restaurants that say, "Bring our food into the movie!" All those years of sneaking Dr. Peppers & peanut M&Ms...and there was no need to sneak, lol. :)

Do I smell bananas?

2009-06-25T21:11:00.002-04:00

The little one has a double ear infection! Joy of joys. I knew she had been extra cranky today...I just thought it was her teeth. Then her temp went from a cool 96 to 98.9 in about 2 hours. (Her temp is normally low...as is mine, it's weird, but true.) Thought it might be a good time for a visit to our local urgent care (I am actually starting to prefer them to her old pediatrician, and b/c of them, I haven't seen our military provided docs, yet!). At the urgent care they took her temp again (about 2 hours after I took it). It was a whopping 103.2! They gave her some motrin, did a quick exam, and we were out of there with a script for some meds.

Once home I tried to give a dose of the medicine. I had to fight to get it in, and I might have been a little agressive with the syringe, because within two minutes there was vomit on the kitchen floor. Wait...does that smell like...oh yeah, she had banana with dinner. Awesome.

Cleaned her up, gave her half a dose of medicine this time, she screamed like a banshee, but then I put her in her bed with the portable DVD player & her favorite Charlie & Lola DVD. She is OUT. I hope she sleeps all night. I have to make some cards for a friend in the morning and will need to have my wits about me to match colors & patterns.

Lots o'things.

2009-06-20T11:12:00.003-04:00

So much has happened over the last few weeks...lots of tense moments waiting for info from the hubs...will he pass his PT tests?? Will he graduate? He did! June 4th, he was officially a graduate of Ft. Knox BCT. Now...he does AIT for a few months...and I'm backing to tensely waiting for news about school work, PT, and whether or not he's passing his classes.

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!

2009-06-19T20:47:00.000-04:00

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!

In Memorian...

2009-05-25T11:58:00.004-04:00

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

- Moina Michael

Please keep our fallen soldiers in your hearts today & take a moment for silence or taps at 3 p.m. local time.

Happy Mother's Day.

2009-05-10T17:19:00.001-04:00

If you're a mother...these are for you.

Thank you!

2009-05-04T22:13:00.002-04:00

I was in a Publix grocery store on Saturday afternoon. My kids were crying, I was annoyed...I left my list & because of all the tears, I couldn't even think of what I needed. A total stranger calmed my kids down. (I normally avoid people "trying" to help...but today I just wanted them to be quiet!) Then I got into the checkout lane.

I am not normally a chatty person...but I had a short conversation with the woman in front me me. I made a joke because she left her purse at the end of the conveyor belt. "Haha, better not leave this, or I might use it for my groceries!" She [seriously] suggested she could pay for my groceries if I needed her to. I reassured her that it wasn't necessary, I really was just joking earlier.

Well, she didn't seem to accept that. While she finished up with the clerk and I loaded my things onto the conveyor belt, she secretly gave the clerk $100 for my groceries. When the clerk explained, I cried...good tears! She found me in the parking lot & she wanted to make sure it had been enough to cover everything...she was just so sweet. I couldn't thank her enough. She said it wasn't necessary, she was grateful for the sacrifices my family was making, and it was the very least she could do. (She was referencing the part of our conversation when I discussed what my husband did for a living.)

I do not feel like I deserved this kindness...but I accepted it. There are still people in this world with beautiful hearts...and a desire to make others experience joy & happiness. God Bless.

I...uh...what was I here for again?

2009-05-04T11:01:00.002-04:00

I was really riled up about something the other day & was gonna post...but now I can't recall what the subject even was...haha. I guess that goes to show it couldn't have been that important after all.

Anywho...National Scrap Day passed over the weekend...didn't scrap a SINGLE thing, but I did support the day with some online shopping. Will share with you soon...

That's All Folks!

2009-04-30T09:30:00.002-04:00

No...I'm not worried about the Swine Flu.
Just wanted to leave this little tidbit.
http://pigflumap.com/

I couldn't embed the map image...so you'll have to click & view.

Mmm...Fructose.

2009-04-22T09:43:00.002-04:00

Okay...so by now, many have seen the commercials from the Corn Refiners about how safe & normal High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is. I hate to be the one to continue to poo-poo their ideas, but I thought I'd take a quick look at their fact sheet & maybe point out a few things they aren't discussing.

The American Medical Association (AMA) concluded that "high fructose syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners."
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) concluded that "No persuasive evidence supports the claim that high fructose corn syrup is a unique contributor to obesity."

Okay...so if you're watching all sugar intake you should be okay? Not so, according to clinical nutritionist Melanie Pearsall who says, "The way that fructose is metabolized can lead to high triglyceride levels and that can lead you to be overweight, a marker for heart disease if you have got a lot of high triglycerides floating around in your blood." Additionally there is a theory that suggests HFCS is more easily converted to fat by the liver.

Research confirms that high fructose corn syrup is safe and nutritionally the same as table sugar and honey.
High fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as table sugar and is equal in sweetness. It contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients.

Cane and beet sugars are mostly sucrose. The glucose and fructose which are the two components of HFCS are monosaccharides, sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose linked together with a relatively weak glycosidic bond. A molecule of sucrose will be broken down into a molecule of glucose + a molecule of fructose in a weakly acidic environment. Sucrose is broken down during digestion into fructose and glucose through hydrolysis by the enzyme sucrase, by which the body regulates the rate of sucrose breakdown. Without this regulation mechanism, the body has less control over the rate of sugar absorption into the bloodstream.
The fact that sucrose is composed of glucose and fructose units chemically bonded complicates the comparison between cane sugar and HFCS. Sucrose, glucose and fructose are unique, distinct molecules. Phew. That's my chemistry lesson for the decade. (I had to read about 30 different website to even understand the little bit that I put in here! Then later, I found almost this exact explanation in wiki...oh why oh why didn't I wiki first??)

In 1983, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally listed HFCS as safe for use in food and reaffirmed that decision in 1996.

Acid was "safely" used in hospital experimentation at one time. But it's illegal now.

High fructose corn syrup offers numerous benefits. It keeps food fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast and energy bars moist, maintains consistent flavors in beverages and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments.

Things are kept "fresher" longer b/c HFCS is a preservative. Embalming fluids keeps corpses fresh, but I don't want it in my food, ya know? I have a miracle ingredient that enhances the flavors of things...it's called salt! Or you could even, you know...use real, fresh ingredients. Then the flavors wouldn't need to be enhanced. And if a lot of the unnatural ingredients were taken out of our foods, our taste buds would change. It would be easier for us to enjoy & taste the natural flavors without the need to enhance them. It does disperse more easily in beverages, have you ever tried to stir sugar into cold tea?? So...that's um...the one thing they've got going for it.

My issue with HFCS is not necessarily any of the issues already presented. My main issue is it's saturation in the food market. It's in almost EVERYTHING! I can understand the use of it in things like soft drinks. It's cheaper than sugar, it's easy to mix into the liquids, the syrup stays "fresher" longer. But it's not just in my drink...it's also in my hamburger bun, the condiments, and it might even be mixed into the coating on the fries! Nearly every item I pick up in the grocery store has it. Although, I believe the kosher foods are still free of it...so if you see a little "K" marked on things, you'll know it's Kosher, and if you check the ingredients list, it's unlikely that you'll see HFCS in the ingredients list.

Now...for the biggest issue, and one that I feel has contributed to a lot of the obesity issues, even if HFCS doesn't necessarily CAUSE obesity. When you are full...your tummy lets your brain know, "No more, thanks!" You feel full, and push your plate away. HFCS suppresses that connection. You eat and eat...and realize, "Hey, I'm not really feeling full!" When you see your plate is empty, you get seconds...or you wait an hour & have a snack (which is likely filled with HFCS). And then what? The connection continues to be suppressed - unable to tell your brain to, "Put the fork down, you're killing us!"

So...draw your own conclusions. I won't tell you to avoid it or to eat it. But at least know what you're eating. ;)

Y, thank you very much.

2009-04-18T16:54:00.002-04:00

I joined the YMCA. Still a little more than I wanted to pay for what will end up being a basic gym & babysitting service for me. But I figure, this way, I've paid my membership to work out, I won't have to worry about finding a babysitter if I want to go at random times...when a teen sitter might not be available (who I'd have to pay!), or when my mom is working (who is FREE!). Plus, it means the kids get to use the really freakin' cool aqua center. It's pretty rad.

One Day Without Shoes.

2009-04-16T21:49:00.001-04:00

I am sadly, a little late to put this up, but I thought the cause was still a worthy one. I love to go barefoot...but I don't think that's exactly the point of this!

Another Friday Crop...

2009-04-04T22:40:00.002-04:00

With Shannon...and this is what I did. I was there for a slightly shorter time period, PLUS I ate lunch with her...and if I subtract the time it took to get all my letters glued down (FOREVER!)...then this took less time than the other...but was still the only thing I got finished!! It's hard to scrap with kiddos around.

Friday night dinner!

2009-04-02T09:27:00.002-04:00

Friday night I am making dinner for about 25ish people. I have decided to make something from Rachael Ray's Website. I have had these before and they are awesome. I am not a "sloppy joe" fan, but I like ground meat b/c it can stretch so much. If you'd like to dine along...here is the recipe for Sloppy Buffalo Joes. As a side dish, the site recommends Mashed Potato Skins! Sounds like a winner to me!

Umm...How do I...

2009-04-01T09:58:00.001-04:00

Stitch two images together?? I used to be able to do it with the software that came with my printer...but it got upgraded to 3.5 (UGH, I HATE upgrades!!!) and now it doesn't have that option.

I used to have photoshop on my computer, but if I reload it, I think I have to download the Vista patch. Erk. Anyone have any easier ways? I am on flickr, but I don't think they do it. (Not that I can see anyway.)

Trying out something...

2009-03-22T22:02:00.002-04:00

I have not loaded any of my videos from my computer to my youtube account EVER...so I am trying tonite and will share a vid here to see how it does. :)

Yes, I am a horrible camera operator...but I was being crushed in by about 2 dozen people. It is not usually so busy, but this was a few days before the Super Bowl game...and I am thinking some people found out this was a free attraction near the Tampa Bay area. I saw LOTS of out of town license plates in the parking lot. It was packed! So...forgive the craziness, and if anyone needs dramamine, let me know. ;)

New scrappy stuff!

2009-03-22T21:29:00.004-04:00

I finally got to crop with my friend Shannon. And this is the product of the entire 2 1/2 hours I was there! :)

I found a new way to use double sided paper...it seems so simple now, but I didn't come up with it on my own.

You take your double sided pattern paper...cut out the middle, I cut an 8"x8" square out of the center of my Graphic 45 Botanicabella paper. I cut a cardstock square to 8.5"x8.5" (Stampin' Up - old olive). I covered the big hole in the pattern paper with the cardstock, then I scallop edged the 8"x8" square & glued it to the cardstock...applied my photos & some embellishes & I was done. (HA! that took about 2 minutes to type, but seriously TWO AND A HALF HOURS to make!) It's hard to see b/c of the angle of the photo and the way the flash went off, but in the bottom right corner, I glued some bright red jewels to compliment the birds.
I am hoping to make this into a two page layout, using some photos that are actually floating around on this blog somewhere...

Hey, February was only 28 days, okay?

2009-03-14T21:33:00.003-04:00

Yeah, I skipped a whole month again. But pardon, things have been busy. Hubby left for BCT (Basic Combat Training) in Fort Knox...I have really been trying to adjust to life without another adult in the house. I feel "okay" in the sense that I don't cry myself to sleep or ritualistically put his clothes on in the dark. I am just not sure anything has really happened yet that has made me miss him.

Anicah is really too young to "miss" daddy...but she sees little things every now & again & says quizzically, "Daddy?" I was folding his pajama pants from a forgotten pile of laundry today & she did it. His shoes are still on the floor of our bedroom and that will trigger the daddy question. She doesn't seem sad...just sort of confused. "Hmm...I know that big bald guy used to hang around a LOT. His stuff is still here, where is HE?"

Jocelynn is a little more aware. She has spent a few nights crying herself into sleep. I took one of his pillows that has a very distinct "man smell". Testosterone & dirt, I think. I put one of his favorite t-shirts on it...and gave it a quick squirt with his favorite cologne (is it cologne if it's from The Body Shop?). One night I give her this "daddy pillow" to hug a little while she cries, and later I find her rolled away from it crying harder. I asked her why she didn't want to hug the pillow and she said, "It's just too sad!" That is when I get sad.

Before he left, Eric made a little dvd for each of them. He reads a story for them...and gives them a short message. He says nice things about being good at school & for me. He also went to Build-a-Bear with Jocelynn. Last year for Father's Day we gave him a gift certificate for BAB, and he finally decided to use it before he left. He & Jocelynn made stuffed animals together. She made a Zebra dressed up like Hannah Montana, complete with little guitar that plays some of her songs. (Uuuugh.) Eric made a little monkey with camos & boots. It's kind of cute. We collaborated on a name...and he's called "PFC Bananas." It is Jocelynn's job to take care of PFC Bananas. So she has something to do for dad while he is gone.

In the first week my husband was gone I bought a bench cubby with baskets to sit near the front door, with a matching shelf w/ hooks, & a little thing for my car keys. Eric HATES to hang the keys by the front door...but it's the only way for me not to lose them. So I put something up.

...I would like to get back into posting projects & pictures...so I am doing some furniture rearranging to be able to do a little more work. Hopefully by next week I will be done!

I need to make a trip out to get our Military I.D.s & get setup with Tricare. So lots of things to do, still!

Frugal Momma - The "B" word!

2009-01-23T00:33:00.002-05:00

Oh, yeah. I'm gonna say it. Budget.

So you're supposed to have one...but how do you decide what to do & when to do it? Well, first, the budget should apply to everything. From groceries & utilities to vacations & after school activities.

1. Decide what items have to be paid at a fairly standard rate every month. This includes your mortgage/rent payment & most utilities (including things like car insurance).

Using some made up numbers, I'll give you an example of those costs:

House - $850
Electricity - $125
Phone/Internet/TV services - $150
Auto insurance - $100

I know some people pay for gas & water, but I wanted to go basic here, to keep my math easy! ;) Alright, so that total is $1,225.00. Forget for now that most people cut off their TV services & often the home or cell phone when they are trying to save some money...I just need an example.

2. Every time you get a paycheck, put at least half that amount into checking. The half of that is $612.50, but if it were me, I'd round up to $620.

If the average family income is $50k (ish...I believe this number is combined for the whole household), then you are bringing home approximately $1,923 for a 2 week pay period. If we subtract 20% from that...assuming you are having SOME kind of deductions taken out from taxes to benefits that leaves you with a take home pay of $1,539.00. Putting your first $620 away leaves you with $919.00 to spend.

3. Take cash out for the unfixed items. Gas, food (grocery & eating out), clothing, work/school events, etc.

These may take some time to figure out. You might have to do some research...find out how many miles you drive to & from work and school. What does your family spend at the grocery store, and how many times a week do you get take aways or fast food? How often does clothing need to be replaced, what about shoes? How much do you need to pay to events like field trips, sports teams, the office pool for birthday cake??

As you are figuring these numbers out...try to decide what you can cut out. If you bought 5 pounds of ground beef last week...why did you eat out 4 nights in a row? Can your child walk to school, carpool or take the bus instead of being driven? Can YOU walk or take the bus...or carpool? If you explain to the office party planner at work that you are trying to keep to a budget...can you refrain from adding to the birthday kitty? You wouldn't expect cake on your birthday or worry about having a piece on other's days. (I have done this...and trust me, it's not that weird. Sing the song, clap...and go back to your desk.) Cancel the daily newspaper (or get it only on weekends), make breakfast at home, make coffee at home, if you bring your work home with you...don't print it out at home. Get to work a few minutes early to print it out there instead.

Here is another sample budget for those items:

Grocery store - $200/2 weeks.
Gas - $75/2 weeks.
Non-food shopping - $100/2 weeks.
Unexpected errand - $50/2 weeks.
Fun money - $50/2 weeks.

Yes, this is a fairly short list. But again...I like simple math. Notice I separated my grocery store money from my non-food money. If you make a point to only buy food at the grocery store, you will notice a difference in your bill. I don't do diapers, detergents, or clothes shopping with my food. (I say this mostly b/c so many use super stores now, that yes, it does happen that you will be in the same place with those things.) If you decide to buy some of those during your grocery trip...put one of those plastic dividers between the items and have the clerk ring up two separate transactions. They won't look at you funny...Not about this anyway. :)

Unexpected...ugh. You know what I mean. The midnight trip to the drug store for cough medicine, on the way home your kid tells you that he volunteered you to make 3 dozen cupcakes for his class tomorrow. If you don't use it...leave it in place for the next unexpected event. Or keep adding to it for a family surprise!

And yes, I did want to leave you something to enjoy. Fun money can be your fast food money...a special treat from the vending machine. (Mmm...C7 you call my name!) Whatever you need it to be. You don't have to spend it all...you can always save it up for a rainy day...when you need a real pick me up...or if you want something special like a mani/pedi. Or a paintball gun.

Okay...those totals are $475.

4. Get an accordion organizer...the ones for coupons are PERFECT. Label each section for each of your cash expenses. Separate your cash by need. When you shop, replace it with a receipt (for future research...to know if you should adjust your budget)...and when it's gone...it's gone. You don't do any more shopping!

Alright, so we've got our money in checking & our cash in the organizer. That leaves us with $498.

5. Put the rest of your money into savings. If possible, get a savings account that you can't just click a button to transfer funds from savings into checking. If you have to make an effort, you may decide that the purchase isn't worth it.

6. Now, after 2 paychecks you can pay your monthlies right out of checking. See if your bank has free online bill pay services...or just go traditional & write out a check.

I realize it may take a few pay periods to get used to this. And you may not be able to put as much into savings at first. But if you give it a chance...you'll at least have something that resembles order & a good start to a home budget plan. Be sure to take a look at your receipts and billings statements periodically to see if your budgets need to be adjusted. If you find you are spending less than expected, put a little less cash in the organizer.

A friend of mine recommends paying utilities with the same amount every month, regardless of the statement (assuming you are paying over rather than under). This way, at the end of the year you may have enough credits to cover a whole month. That extra money might come in handy if you are the sort to celebrate holidays in December!

That money that gets put into savings can go for emergencies, nest eggs, vacations, or whatever you decide your family needs. Maybe periodically set a goal for a certain amount in your savings. Then make an extra house or car payment, decorate a room, replace a mattress.

Frugal Momma - Tools!

2009-01-20T23:20:00.002-05:00

I don't mean your hammer & nails...although learning some do it yourself stuff ALWAYS comes in handy. I mean the stuff you can use to keep better track of what you're spending!

Calculator! Seems basic, right? But it really can be a big help. Most stores will have their price per ounce/pound/unit/etc. listed right on the shelf price for most items. BUT...when the items is on "sale" that price per unit no longer applies. AND if you have a coupon...it helps you figure out if you're really saving anything. Different sizes also throw a kink into the works when trying to compare. Soooo....

"What do I USE the calculator FOR, Momma??" Well, I'll tell you. To figure out the price per unit...type in the price of the item. Divide button, then the unit of measure. Let's use dishwasher liquid. A large bottle is 30 loads for $5.99. $.19966 per load. A smaller bottle is 22 loads for $3.99. $.18136 per load. That's $.0183 cents less PER LOAD for the smaller bottle. A penny less a load sounds like nothing...but I run my dishwasher at least once a day...some days twice.

What if you have two similar items but their sizes aren't compatible at all? Paper towels. 4 pack with 60 sheets each & a 5 pack, each roll has 56 sheets. First figure out how many sheets you're getting. 4 rolls x 60 sheets = 240 sheets total. Now, 5 rolls x 56 sheets = 280 sheets total. Even though the larger pack has less sheets per roll, you still get MORE sheets. Now, figure out the cost per sheet using the above equation! (That is [price of roll] divided by [number of sheets].)

AND if you are shopping with coupons...remember to consider the price AFTER the coupon discount when you are doing an equation.

Internet. Shop around online. Look for your weekly sales ads from local stores (I always just toss all that junk mail that comes to the house). Try http://groceryguide.com/, to see what items you regularly use that might be on sale at different local locations.
Excel. Now, this may only be for those who are very meticulous. Get out your excel spread sheets! Pull out your grocery list & type in all the items that you've purchased. Then you'll want to enter the prices for those items. (Be sure to tally at the end of the column what your total cost for that trip was!) Then as you use different grocery stores you will have your own comparisons. Be sure to note when an item was on sale (take advantage of those different fonts & colors!), and if you purchased a national brand or store generic.

I have the capability to use excel on my cell phone...so if I have a spread sheet, I can quickly look up what I paid for a pound of frozen peas at any number of stores I have visited recently. This also might help you decide which everyday items you might want to buy at one store, while choosing another store for larger purchases (like bulk warehouses).

Which brings me to the last tool for this blog entry...

You cell! There are new apps you can download that help you calculate the price per unit & coupon details. These are not going to be available for everyone...but if you have the opportunity you may want to check it out! In addition, most cell phones now feature a built in basic calculator.

Stinky kitchens & kiddo woes.

2009-01-13T00:44:00.004-05:00

I am so very tired...but there is a stink in my kitchen that I just cannot get rid of! I can't figure out where it's coming from. This happens every now & again. It definitely does not smell like an animal or something gross. (Ugh, I actually just dry heaved a little thinking about it.) It smells like spoiled food. It smells stronger the closer I get to the sink. Maybe something is trapped in the pipe? The water isn't clogging up or anything. But gross.

Also...I am not sure what's happening to my kiddo's clothes. When I buy clothes, I am usually ready to do it when practically everything needs to be replaced. One big buy & then I wait for another growth spurt. Last time I shopped I got a bunch of stretchy leggings (I think 4 pairs). Two pairs of jeans (and brought 2 pairs out of a closet that I had found earlier on clearance for $1.50 each!), about 8 different shirts that would be for school & church (the old shirts went into the 'play clothes' drawer), one skirt with a Hannah Montana t-shirt (I tend to stay away from character stuff, but it was a reward for some good behavior)...some new socks & a pair of canvas shoes that were sort of 'ballet flat' style. Not like sneakers. Well, now I am down to about 2 pairs of leggings (one missing, one with a hole in the knee), 2 pairs of jeans (the other 2 are missing), 3 shirts (NO clue where the shirts have gone)...and the shoes smell like old seaweed & sweat.

I am not in a position to go out for more clothes. We're not due for that until closer to spring...when usually I change the season of her clothes!

Oh...did I mention the hoodie jacket that was super cute until it got ruined by a mysterious yellow/brown stain that won't come out? It happened at my mother's house. Hmm. I had to pull out an older jacket that is a little too short in the sleeves. Hopefully we won't have many more freezing days. Someone gave me a poncho thing for Jocelynn...but she won't wear it. It confuses her. She's not stupid...but everything she has worn up to now has had SLEEVES in it. She just does not get the concept of no sleeves.

So, here I am. Awake. Because of a stink. I am also trying to do laundry, hoping the clothes will somehow turn up. They are not in my car, and not at the grandma's house! If anyone sees them...please return!

Frugal Momma - PARTY!

2009-01-10T16:22:00.002-05:00

Yeah...you're broke...but it'd be nice to entertain once in a while, right? Well, if you've got an event coming up that you'd like to celebrate, or you're one of those Super Bowl partiers...here are a few frugal ideas:

BYO...Make it a pot luck and have people help with a side dish. Spiffy things up & choose a theme like foods that start with L...foods that are red...foods that don't require forks. It seems less mooch & more more mood-setting that way.
Brew it up right. Instead of spending money on expensive and BAD FOR YOU sodas...brew up some tea. Family size teabags are 2 bags per gallon. You can reserve pitchers & make sweetened or unsweetened. I sometimes fancy up my gallons of iced tea with a single bag of flavored herbal tea steeped with the regular teabags. Try mint or ginger tea.
Set a specific end time. Partying into the night might be fun once in a while...but if you set a specific end time, then you don't run out of refreshments & have to go racing to the more expensive (but more convenient) corner store instead of the bigger grocery.
Snack light. Pretzels are less expensive than chips, and not covered in greasy oil. Little bowls of raisins can replace M&Ms. Fresh salsa is cheaper per pound than the pre-made stuff & it's easy to personalize. Salsa is really just a mix of chopped tomato & onion (canned tomatoes are pretty inexpensive & often come in different flavors or even heat intensity) and your preference of herbs. Cilantro, cumin, garlic (okay, not an herb)...
Homemade dips can also be easy with a little bit of sour cream or low-fat/no-fat yogurt and a soup mix.
Buying naked chicken wings to cook & flavor yourself is also usually cheaper than ordering from a deli or specialty restaurant.

Enjoy your fun...and clean up as you go so you're not in the kitchen until midnight.

To help get frugal with food...

2009-01-06T01:39:00.005-05:00

Here is a recipe for some nice Indian food that hopefully will be a cheapy dinner.
Chicken Curry:

3 TBSP Olive Oil (36 cents)
1 small onion, chopped (25 cents)
2 cloves garlic, minced (25 cents)
3 TBSP curry powder (50 cents)
1 tsp ground cinnamon (20 cents)
1 tsp paprika (20 cents)
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp ginger root (20-60 cents for ground versus fresh)
1/2 tsp white sugar
salt to taste
2 breast halves, cut into bite sized pieces ($1.29-2.99/lb for bone-in vs. boneless)
1 TBSP tomato paste (25 cents)
1 cup plain yogurt ($1.50)
3/4 cup coconut milk ($2.12/can)
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion until lightly browned. Stir in garlic, curry powder, cinnamon, paprika, bay leaf, ginger, sugar and salt. Continue stirring for 2 minutes. Add chicken pieces, tomato paste, yogurt, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Remove bay leaf, TASTE and [if desired] stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Simmer 5 more minutes.

Remember the lemon & pepper will add tart & hot to your sauce...which is why I recommend a taste. I found prices where I could and then divided the prices into cost per tablespoons & teaspoons. Some prices were so small, it was mere pennies or LESS per serving (like the sugar). I used the lower price on the items with a range...just to give an idea. I added that meal up to about $7.12. To feed four that is $1.78 PER PERSON. Most people will serve this over rice...another item that is pennies to the serving. Even rounding it up to $8, still means you served your family for $2 a person. How satisfied would your family be if they had to spend that same $8 at a fast food restaurant??

If you'd like to add another $3.40ish to your bill, try this naan bread with your curry.

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast (60 cents)
1 cup warm water (free!)
1/4 cup white sugar (40 cents)
2 TBSP milk
1 egg beaten (15 cents)
2 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups bread flour ($2)
2 tsp minced garlic (optional)
1/4 butter melted (25 cents)

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes, until frothy. Stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt, and enough flour to make a soft dough. Knead for 6 to 8 minutes on a lightly floured surface, or until smooth. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and set aside to rise. Let it rise 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in volume.
Punch down dough, and knead in garlic. Pinch off small handfuls of dough about the size of a golf ball. Roll into balls, and place on a tray. Cover with a towel, and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
During the second rising, preheat grill/skillet/griddle to high heat.
At grill side, roll one ball of dough out into a thin circle. Lightly oil grill. Place dough on grill, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until puffy and lightly browned. Brush uncooked side with butter, and turn over. Brush cooked side with butter, and cook until browned, another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from grill, and continue the process until all the naan has been prepared.

The naan rounds out your meal for just over $10 total. And it's unlikely you'd have to purchase ALL of these ingredients to prepare this meal! I think all I need to add to my shopping list is bread flour, coconut milk, and yogurt.

Enjoy!

ETA: Had an email suggestion of adding a bag of frozen peas & carrots to the curry...the mix with the little square carrots is apparently the best way to go...Thanks!

Frugal Momma - Kids!

2009-01-06T01:11:00.003-05:00

You've got 'em...but how do keep after one...or two...or...more?

Now, I've only got girls, so those of you with boys may be able to send me an email or two & give me some hints...but I've got some quick keep-your-cash ideas on how to take care of these little buggers.

Stop the treats! It might be hard to listen to the whining at first...but don't give in to treats or extras when you are out shopping. I know I have been guilty of doing the, "If you're very good, Momma will let you pick something out..." when I just want to get through a shopping trip without tears. Besides, if it happens less, then it TRULY becomes a treat & they might just learn to appreciate it a little more.
Hide the toys. No, I'm not being cruel...I promise. (Not about this anyway.) See what your kids can live without for a while. You might come to see they do not need a whole toybox, a closet, a rubbermaid tub, a basket, and a backpack full of toys. If you hide a few toys for a while, when you give them back...it will be new & exciting again. If the toys always stay new & exciting, the kiddos may not ask for new toys as often (thus you don't have to say no as often...and keeping the crying to a minimum). I have a box in the top of the closet & bring them out when I start hearing how boring things are. While they're digging through the "new", I toss a few old into the box to bring out when the boredom hits again.
Recyle the toys. I have two little ones a few years apart. Every few months (usually near a birthday or other gift-giving holiday) I will go through the toybox and pull out all the broken toys, the toys that have been outgrown (teething rings for a 3 yr old?? I'm sure it's not the favorite anymore), and anything that might be simply taking up space (happy meal toys come to mind). Anything that is still intact but too young for the current child I'll put away for the next. Chances are...enough time will pass when it's time to give the toy to the next in line that the previous owner has forgotten about it. If they haven't...just remind them that toy stores make a lot of the same toys. ;)
Keep the Summer dresses. Okay, so this is girl-specific, but it's a good trick! Some of you might be tempted to put your boys in dresses just to take advantage. :) In Florida, we have fairly mild Winters. There are a few freezing overnights & just above freezing days...but for the most part, we can get through with just a light covering. Instead of tossing the Summer dresses (which have gotten shorter by Winter because of growth spurts), I pair them with warmer items. I find a few long sleeved shirts & some nice leggings of different thickness. I usually find the leggings in 3 packs, and they might come black, white, & red to a box. So the dress turns into a little jumper. I find tights that are fairly thin (similar to a woman's pantyhose), to thick...probably equal to a pair of cotton leggings...which is another excellent item to put under a dress as it gets shorter and your girls get taller.

Okay...much shorter list than last time...and probably for the good!

Frugal Momma - Food!

2009-01-01T14:20:00.006-05:00

Everyone is having some tough times...and trying to figure out how to save money in various places. Well...as someone who has fed a family of four on about $200 a month, I hope I can give you some tips!

Sales and coupons are great...but keeping your menu basic works best. I do waffles/pancakes, eggs, or cereal (varies between hot & cold) for breakfast. Lunch is sandwiches or leftovers. Dinner is where I will make some variety...but sticking to some basics like chicken, rice/pasta, beans...and then changing that up with different seasonings and veggies.
Go vegetarian a few nights a week. You don't HAVE to eat meat at every dinner. If you're worried about getting enough protein, then eat eggs for b'fast & PBnJ for lunch. I also stretch my meat with beans. Works best when you are using ground or shredded meat.
Go halfsies with the milk. Half REAL milk...half powdered. This works well on little kids. If they complain that it tastes funny, add a little chocolate syrup or powder. A lot of chocolate milk powders are fortified now-a-days...so you're not doing too much damage if you go with that over the syrup.
Puree away! When you have fresh veggies or fruits that are getting a little past their prime and might be unappetizing, puree them and add them to other foods. Veggies can be added to sauces or meatloaves, and fruits can be put in with muffins, pancakes or breads (think banana bread not sandwich bread).
Learn to bake. Baking helps with the above suggestion...but in the long run one 5 pound bag of flour lasts much longer than a single box of cake mix or cookies. You can also control how much GOOD nutrition goes into your family's food when you bake it yourself. Use whole wheat flour & brown sugar instead of the white, overprocessed stuff.
Recycle...This might sound weird for food...but think about it. If you buy a can of bread crumbs...what do you think it was before it was in the can?? BREAD! Instead of tossing the last few pieces of bread from a loaf, put it in a plastic bag into the freezer. When your bag is full, stick it in the food processor and you have your OWN bread crumbs. You can season it any way you like. Stale bread also works for french toast, stuffing, croutons, or casseroles. (Best for casseroles that will have a lot of liquid in it, or is being made with a lot of egg, just tear it up & toss with your ingredients.)
Leftovers. This goes along with the recycling. If you are having chicken for dinner, shred the leftovers for enchiladas or soup. Try making more than one meal out of what USED to be a single evening's fare. Roasted potatoes for dinner means home fries for breakfast.
Go international. It changes things up a bit! Naan bread has ingredients most people have in their pantry...and since Indian dishes don't use beef, you already have a chance to find some cheaper items to go in your curry! Mexican food is REALLY easy to do cheaply. Flour tortillas can be made at home in seconds...add some beans, rice, and fresh tomatoes & you're done. If you want a little decadence then add some sour cream...store brands aren't usually more than a dollar for a medium sized container.
Shop with a LIST and stick to it! And don't just put random things on your list. Make sure you have exactly what you will need. There is a great tool on http://www.allrecipes.com/ that lets you choose recipes and then add the items needed onto a printable shopping list. I do this for my dinners. I typically choose 5 dinner meals and put them on my list. Why 5? To give me 2 nights a week to let me work with leftovers and in case our schedule gets mixed up and we end up having grilled cheese one night b/c it's faster than a roast. And in case we go all week and stay exactly on schedule or have no leftovers, I always grab a jar of pasta sauce & spaghetti to have on hand. (Although, it might be to your advantage to make your own spaghetti sauce in a crockpot and then freeze it in manageable size freezer bags!) The shopping list lets you delete items you won't need to buy (things like water, or items you know are already stocked in the pantry) and add things you will need in addition to the specific recipes.
When you DO buy meat...look at the packages carefully. Yes, boneless skinless are more convenient...but more expensive, too! Buy bone-in and do a quick de-boning before or after cooking. You can boil the bones in some water (add herbs!) to make stock. Whole chickens are about or just under a dollar a pound right now. Roast 2 in the oven at the same time...pick out your pieces for that night's meal & at cleanup go ahead & carve or pull the meat off the bones. Stick it in a bag for the next night...or a freezer bag for next week! And again, boil the bones for stock! If you put the stock in the fridge overnight, any fat will rise & harden on the surface...pick it out for a lower-fat stock. Stock can be used for soups, adding to a roux for gravy or used in place of water in things like rice or mashed potatoes.

Last one...I promise!

Use your crockpot! Crockpots help you make larger batches of food. You can eat some now & freeze the rest for later. It also keeps cheaper, tougher cuts of meat tender & juicey. If you don't have a fancy crock with a timer that shuts it off on it's own...you can still make foods while you are away at work or school. Buy a timer switch (like this one http://tinyurl.com/8zm68z). You plug one end into your crockpot & then plug it into the wall. Set the timer and it will automatically shut off your crockpot. That timer might look familiar...I have seen people use them for lamps, lights, and TVs when they go on vacation...to make it seem like someone is home. :)

I hope you enjoyed my Frugal Momma article on food. I think I might make a short series out of this...so keep your eyes peeled!

Aha!

2008-12-31T22:16:00.002-05:00

You thought I'd skip a whole 'nother month huh? Well...I DIDN'T and here I am...just a few hours before the new year.

Remember, it's better to sleep in your car than use it as a deadly weapon! Also...if you're the DD, then try and get some cash from your drunk friends. They will NEVER remember it in the morning. ;)

I missed a whole month, huh?

2008-12-07T16:30:00.003-05:00

Okay...thanks to the incompetence of Verizon, I was without internet for some time. I used a family member's computer for the important stuff (like..ya know...getting another internet provider!).

But I am back online and hopefully will have some holiday projects and postings to share. :) In the meantime, check out my post below...

Let's Say Thanks.

2008-12-07T16:28:00.001-05:00

So...say it.

How To: Pop Top Project.

2008-10-20T12:34:00.007-04:00

For this project, you will need:

1 pop-top can. I used Progresso soup.
1 safety can opener
sticky strip adhesive, craft glue, and strong glue that can be used on metal.
decorative paper
small gift item
scissors and/or paper cutter
ribbon

Use safety opener to take lid off can.
Peel away label & wash can/lid.
Cut decorative paper to 11" x 4 ¼".
On one end of paper, attach sticky strip.
You may want to use a small amount of adhesive on the paper, to keep it from slipping off the can as you attach the paper. I used paper mod podge. Just a little bit.
Wrap paper around the can, adhere with the sticky strip.
Cut ribbon to 11". Wrap ribbon around bottom of can adhering with craft glue. I used a pencil eraser to help me hold it down and mash it into place a little better. There is a slight lip/indent where the bottom of the can meets the side.
Fill can with small gifts/goodies. (Idea: Use the individual fruit cocktail cans for a kid's class party.)
Use a heavy duty adhesive that works on metal around rim of lid to seal the lid in place - you may want to set something heavy on top of it - dry for about 24 hours.

Be Mine!

2008-10-15T23:01:00.003-04:00

I could not scan this, b/c of the beads & chipboard. So I had to take a picture and I am not sure I like it. But it is here. This was another challenge. I had to use at least 3 different pattern papers and 2 "blingy" type things. I used glitter and beads. I'd like to add a journal spot about where the big pink heart is...but I wanted to type it out and for some reason, I have having issues printing on card stock. Hmm..

Anywho...the pictures are the girls on Valentine's Day.

You belong in a zoo..

2008-10-14T23:44:00.003-04:00

My mom took Jocelynn to Busch Gardens for the day to hang out with my brother, Cully, who is only in town for a short time before his next duty station.

Best freaked out kid picture EVER! Lol...I know I shouldn't delight in my kid's fear...but Jocelynn is afraid of everything...so you get used it. ;) Anyway. She was terrified of these birds. They have NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER in Jocelynn...but she was totally terrified anyway. Lol...it's almost like she's super conceited. EVERYTHING is out to get her. (Jocelynn with my step-dad.)

This is in The Land of The Dragons! It's like a kid play place...mostly for youngish kids. It's really awesome. I used to have a pass to Busch Gardens and would take the kids I babysat...just to get to play in this place!

Cully and Jocelynn in the skyride that takes you above the whole park. See the expression on Cully's face? He's like that all the time...and Jocelynn? Well, her face tells you how she reacts to it. Lol...She gets very annoyed sometimes (but she SO loves him)...and it is hard to explain to her that this is just how boys act. This is what having a brother is like!

This was the morning mom took off to Busch Gardens. I was taking Anicah to her one year check up. So we got a picture of the baby girl with her uncle. This trip to see us was the first time ever that Cully had seen Anicah. He was out of the country when she was born. We got a phone call and a gift shipped from a website...but this is what we were waiting for! I love that my brother loves my babies!

A day to celebrate.

2008-10-14T23:33:00.004-04:00

This first photo was the best shot I had of Anicah in her birthday tutu. A lady I was at a craft fair with made this. It's a tutu onesie. (If you think this is adorable and you are okay with spending a lot of money on this type of thing, I highly suggest checking out her stuff: http://polkastripe.com/) This was a gift for Anicah...from the lady.

And here we have the birthday spread! I did a bunch of finger foods and tea party fare. I also made pumpkin soup. It was pretty awesome. I realize this may not seem like typical kid-party type stuff...but we so rarely get to have a super awesome tea party like this, that I take the chance to do it before my kid becomes enamored with some ridiculous character or something crazy. There are mini quiches, watercress & cucumber sandwiches, berry tarts, shortbread cookies, and curry pumpkin soup. The "birthday cake" was little mini bundts, made of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Since I hand made everything else we skimped on the cake and icing and bought box mix and frosting in a can. Neither tasted like carrots or cream cheese. Bleh. But everything else was friggin' AWESOME!

It was her special day.

2008-10-14T23:23:00.005-04:00

During the rehearsal for the wedding, I tried to explain to my daughter how important her job was as flower girl, and how she needed to be on her best behavior and do everything we asked her to do. I was basically trying my best to avoid a four year old's total meltdown. They happen. You can't predict them, you can't stop them...but if you explain things in just the right way...you may be able to prevent one from happening at just the right (wrong?) moment. So, after this little speech, she says, "It's MY special day!" We couldn't help but laugh. Even the bride thought it was cute. The flower girl, took it upon herself to make the Maid of Honor the "assistant to the Flower Girl".

Layout: 1980

2008-10-14T23:15:00.003-04:00

Found my late mother-in-laws senior photo. She graduated in 1980. The verse on the bottom I found in her yearbook. I used "Enchante" papers from Stampin' Up. Yes, I know there is a shadow on it...I did a digital stitch, and I can't seem to keep that out of there. And I had to darken it just a tad, otherwise you couldn't see anything on the tag.

I'm such a liar.

2008-10-14T23:13:00.002-04:00

Yeah...that last blog entry...I totally did NOT do the craft fair. Sorry. Yes, I know my pants are aflame. BUT, I did do some scrapping for a challenge...which I'll share.

Buzz..

2008-10-01T11:29:00.002-04:00

I have been and will continue to be SUPER busy. Just an update for September (which is now over...oops!).
Craft fair again - did okay...it was a lot busier and we had a lot more interest.
Anicah's birthday - She's ONE! Had a little birthday party to celebrate with family.
My brother is home - he's finally home from England. He was stationed at RAF Lakenheath for about 2 years. He is just visiting now, but will set off to his next duty station soon. Watch out New Mexico.

Things upcoming:
MORE craft fairs. This time they are a little closer...and also more expensive. Ugh. It's a parking space people...if I wasn't giving you money, there would be a CAR IN IT. Oh well, hopefully they charge more b/c they have so much traffic. That is at the end of the month...My regular fair will be next week...and I have tried to get info about a fair that holds every Saturday in October. No luck. Oh well.

I have also gotten involved in a scrap challenge that lasts for the whole month of October. So in addition to preparing for the craft fairs, I am doing some things of my own. I will get a link to the scrap challenge as soon as I can...I will also be putting some of my work up on the blog. Apparently that's good exposure. ;)

Flower time.

2008-08-20T23:04:00.002-04:00

My friend is getting married in October & has bestowed the privilege of flower girl upon Jocelynn. She is SO excited. She is also SO cute in the dress.

Cone of Danger!

2008-08-18T09:51:00.001-04:00

May be having some Non-Florida Approved weather soon...I'm a little west of the orange dot.

New shoes!

2008-08-18T09:47:00.002-04:00

Baby girl got her very first pair of shoes this week. Dad said she didn't need them b/c she can't walk...but HELLO! She might not be walking b/c she doesn't have SHOES. Duh. Didn't wanna leave big sister out, so she also got a new pair.

We Can Bake It!

2008-08-13T15:47:00.002-04:00

Wanted to pass this on to those that have that baking gene & wanna share it. I don't think I can get involved with it right now, b/c I'm doing some other projects, but I hope that by sharing I am still helping.

http://operationbakinggals.blogspot.com/

Things I'm annoyed with today.

2008-08-13T11:10:00.003-04:00

Jocelynn wouldn't eat breakfast until I gave her milk.
I have been dealing with a health insurance claim since last Novemberish & am STILL getting the runaround. JUST PAY ME MY $300 already!
There is something wrong with the cable box.
We don't have a lawnmower yet.
I have to attend a bridal shower for a dear friend and I still haven't purchased a gift...and will probably be running around the day before.
Poop. Specifically baby poop. The kind that stinks up the entire house so bad you've got to bundle the old diaper in a plastic bag & then take it outside.
Spilled rice. It's just so friggin' hard to clean up!
Deadlines. ARGH. I need more time to think before I submit an application.

Saturday Craft Fair

2008-08-12T13:45:00.004-04:00

I meant to take more pictures, but only took the one, as we were getting set up. Next time I go, I will not have the baby with me, and will have a little more freedom. I tended to stay in the canopy to keep from being in the sun for too long at a time.

For those not in the know, the town of Plant City's Merchant Association started an antique market a few years ago that has grown from being just antiques to be more of an open market with food & organic items last year...and this year they started up a month early (August) to include some additional vendors - mostly arts & crafts.

It was off & on rainy...and a lot of people were totally gone by noon. Also, according to some attendants from prior years, it is usually much bigger. The early start may have caught some off guard & they weren't prepared to set up in August. So...hopefully next month will be bigger. (And I have to think it will be...I have never been to an event at McCall Park that was SO very sparse!)

Directly behind my friend Jeannie is the old train depot. There is a really neat-o museum inside. Oh...and air conditioned, clean bathrooms. :)

Update - I made it!

2008-08-11T11:15:00.006-04:00

Here is the completed scrapbook...it's just a couple of pages long.

Here is an example of how a tag can be pulled out of the cards. I mentioned before that vertical left side open cards are easiest & nicer looking. Because it gives the cards a sort of order of pulling out tags top/side/top/side.

And here is a tag being pulled from an envelope. If you'll notice, the envelope is going the "wrong" way. What is normally the top, open flap has been glued down, and it's the bottom that is open. I did this on purpose. (No, really!) I used a template to make envelopes with some paper that matched the papers on my cards. When I folded up the envelope the right way, there was a LOT of opening for the tag to fall out of accidentally. With less of an opening (by leaving the bottom open and the top closed), the tag sat in the envelope a little better.

Buy this car!

2008-08-11T10:55:00.002-04:00

I would rather sell something at a loss just to have it GONE, than to hang on to it forever to get an extra $50 out of it!

Four people have come by my house & asked if I would sell a car we have sitting in the back yard. It was originally purchased to help my father in law get around and get a job...but he left for Texas before he could even use it.

And those people that stopped? Saw the car at the BACK of an acre. We're not even advertising a sale. So far, the biggest offer we've had is $350, and we can keep the battery (which we purchased new when the old one conked out). That's $50 less than what we paid for it...but I would rather take the $50 loss than have it sitting back there.

I know my neighbors are going to start calling city code enforcement.

Uh-oh.

2008-08-07T10:10:00.002-04:00

I do not want to fall into that category of bloggers that does this a few times, then drops off the face of the earth.

I tried to get pictures...I really did. But for some reason, when I tried to load my photos from my digital camera, it kept not loading and then deleting them from my camera. ONLY the craft object photos, though. Not the pictures of my babies or anything...which would have REALLY ticked me off.

Also had a death in the family...and a divorce (not mine!). So things have been a little hectic.

I am also in the process of getting some items together for a craft fair...I was going to say, "I'll post pics!" but then realized I may not be able to. Bleh!

I made it!

2008-06-26T10:52:00.003-04:00

I made a cutesy craft thing...I will give the instructions for it now, and hopefully figure out how to do some pictures of it later. But for now, if you want to make a mini-scrapbook out of cards & envelopes...

You will need:

4-5 greeting cards (purchased, handmade, etc...) of the same size, and same theme. It seems to work a little better (technically & aesthetically) when they are vertical cards with the fold on the left.
4-5 envelopes to match cards - they will be slightly larger than the card, but that's okay.
Sticky strip or adhesive. (For sticky strip, I buy from pennywisearts.com, they seem to have the most sizes.)
1/4" hole punch. Hand held, or a 3 punch with resizing options.
Book rings. (Office supply store, or office supply aisle of a local "everything" department store.)
Various bits of card stock, patterned paper, ribbons, staples, brads, etc. to decorate your envelopes & tags.
Photos - sized to fit your tags & envelopes. I used all wallet sizes - 2"x3".

Hold your card with the folded side on the left. Use sticky strip or glue to close the bottom & right side of the card. Be sure to leave the top open. Do this for the rest of your cards.
Use a 1/4 inch hole punch to put holes, evenly spaced, in the left (folded) side of the cards. Line up one of the hole punched cards with your envelopes & punch holes opposite the opening.
Make tags to slip into the top of your cards. On the tags you can do journaling, pictures, or reminders from an event (ticket stubs, notes).
To finish the envelopes, glue the flap to the inside of the envelope. Lick the glue strip like normal, but instead of gluing it closed, fold it into the inside.
Put your additional photos or tags into the envelopes.
Stack your cards and envelopes so you have a card first, then an envelope. Alternate until finished.
To secure, use book rings in the holes. You can usually find them in the office supply areas.

I hope this makes sense without pictures! And I will get those up soon. (Hopefully!) I thought this was a cute idea b/c I end up with a LOT of cards being sent to me that I love & want to save...but then end up with a stack of cards that I can't do anything with. And I know my friends have put so much time & effort into them! Or I make cards...but don't send them. I'm really a bad pen pal. I did not use store-bought envelopes for this project. I made my own with a template...so the paper of the envelope matched my cards.

Just playin' around.

2008-06-23T10:47:00.002-04:00

I did a little bit of goofing around with some of my settings & layouts. My slideshow doesn't work b/c I'm too new to flickr. I guess I've gotta wait for someone to make sure my pictures are safe! I am also getting ready to share my blog with actual people. Maybe I won't feel so much like I'm just talking to myself now. ;)

In The Beginning...

2008-06-20T20:56:00.000-04:00

...There was blog! This is my first blog.

So far, I just wanna start this up because I figure...It's about time. Blogs have been around for a while, and it seems like I'm the last one to jump on the blogwagon. I don't mind. See, I thought the world was going to end...so why start up a blog if it was just going to get blown to smithereens? Prophecies have so far, been proved wrong. No world evacuations to Mars. Everything is still here. Cockroaches included.

I don't think this will be a themed blog. I have too much on my mind to be consistent. Let's see how things go. I might change my mind.

I'm a momma...a wifey...I could say "stay at home mom". But what's that like? Sit. Stay. Good mom. ? I don't think so. It's not quite like that. I work at home. But not that kind of work that makes money. Just the kind of work that has no pay...unless you get into the whole "parenting is it's own reward" kind of thing. Blahblahblog. Turning rebel infants & pre-schoolers into decent human beings is hard work. That is the work that I'm talking about. And sometimes...in between diapers, nursing, grilled cheese sandwiches, park days, waking nights, & educational cartoons...I get to be myself. Hopefully what I share will be half interesting enough to keep people coming back for more.

That's the David Copperfield of it all. Hope to do this again soon.