Oh, Facebook, Why Must You Be So Frustrating?

Every morning when I wake up, one of the first things I do is get online. I check my email, see if I have any pending opps, then it's on to Facebook. This morning was no different.

However, when I logged into Facebook, it wouldn't let me. It kept saying invalid email.

Weird.

So I tried a bunch of different things, and nothing. But, somehow, I started a new profile with the same email address, so now my old profile is inaccessible. And, apparently, having two facebook accounts is against their terms of service, so now I am a rule breaker.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to contact the people at Facebook? It took me for-ev-a to find the right screen, and then I get an email saying they get too many requests, and that it could take them a while, if ever, to respond to my problem.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? Any ideas????

2010

As I was blog hopping today, I noticed a lot of "year in review" type posts. I did one last year, but I refuse to do one now. I don't really want to remember any part of this past year. I am ready for a new year...a new start.

I have a few goals for this year, and I think most are pretty attainable. First and foremost, I want to move. This is on the agenda for February, and we are already trying to find the perfect place to live. I want something with three bedroom, and a living room big enough for my family of five. That's not too much to ask for, right?

Second, I want to lose more weight. I am ending this year 40 pounds lighter than when it started, and though I do not know the reason behind the weight loss, I want it to continue. I really want to get the wii fit now that we have the wii, and I am hoping that will help me continue down this path.

Third, and this is going to be the hard one, I want to make more money on my blogs. I want to get out there and be read by more people, but I haven't figured out the best way to do that yet. I am going to have some cheap business cards made so that I can have them handy if I need them. I am thinking of doing more giveaways, and giving away things people will want to win. Then when I send out the prize, I can put my business card with it. I have read about bloggers leaving their cards in random places, like libraries and bookstores, but I am not sure I want to go that route. If you have cards and give them out, feel free to tell me how you do it. I am really curious.

Fourth, and finally, I want my husband to find peace. I know this is a weird one, and not really something that I can help him with. But, he has spent so much time worrying about what his family will do to him, that he has forgotten how to relax and enjoy life. I want us to continue therapy, and I want him to come to terms with his childhood, and be able to let things go. I want him to be truly, genuinely happy again.

Okay, that sounded like he is miserable all the time, but that is not the case. He doesn't walk around miserable...he just spends too much time looking over his shoulder for things he can't control.

Anyway, that's my year end post. Not a look back, but a look forward. I know 2010 is going to be a wonderful year. I am going to make sure of it.

All Better!

Thanks to Stacey, my computer issue seems to be fixed. She ended up with the same thing, and is blaming entrecard. My problem also started last night while dropping, so I am led to believe the same thing. I wish I knew which site did this to me so I can avoid it in the future, but who knows.

I am just glad the pop ups have stopped, and I am no longer assaulted with images that I don't want my family seeing.

Tuna Is Good For Babies Brains

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

I have three kids, which means I have been pregnant three times. During each pregnancy, I tired to eat the right foods to stay healthy. I developed gestational diabetes during my second pregnancy, and was borderline with both Ryan and Brandi, although I didn't become borderline with Brandi until my 35th week. It was because of the diabetes that I had to learn what was good for me, and what was bad.

One of the things I remember most was being told not to eat too much fish that contained mercury. I assumed that this included tuna, which was not true. Eating healthy tuna during pregnancy can actually help the child's development. One study showed that women who ate 2 ounces of fish a day had children who had higher developmental scores than those whose mothers ate less fish. Did you follow that? Simply put, eating the right fish during pregnancy can actually benefit your baby.

Of course, you should stay away from shark and swordfish, because these fish are high in mercury, and that is not good for the baby. I didn't eat any fish during my pregnancy, but that was only because I don't like fish. There was a study that found that women who stopped eating fish during pregnancy had a higher risk of depression. I wasn't depressed, but I never ate fish before getting pregnant, so my body wasn't missing anything. At least that is the way I see it.

You can check out these studies for yourself here. They are really interesting, and if I were to ever get pregnant again, I will try and include some tuna in my diet.

Virus

My computer is not cooperating with me. I called in the expert (my brother) and it seems I have picked up a nasty virus. That means probably no dropping or posting in the next few days. I am hoping he can fix it for me when I see him on Friday.

I am going to go through withdrawals if I can't get online...

So Much Moving Going On

A few months ago, my sister and her husband bought a new house. Last month, my mother bought a new house. In the next couple of months, my brother plans on moving, and so do we. It seems like everyone is ready for change, and now seems to be the best time for it. A new year is upon us, and with it comes endless possibilities.

If you are moving in the near future, too, you should check out moving companies to help make the move a little easier. You can have them drop off a container (or trailer) three days before the move, and you can take your time packing it your way. Then they come and move the container to your new place, and you will have three days to unload it. This sure does beat the million trips we are going to be taking with our little trailer.

Maybe we'll have money in our budget to use this moving company...

Our Slightly Odd Christmas Morning Tradition

For the first 12 Christmases of Ryan's life, my mom and sister have come to our house Christmas morning to watch him open gifts. Last year, which was our first Christmas here in the apartment, I told my mom she didn't have to come. Not because I didn't want her here, but because my kids were getting older, and I wanted her to start this tradition with her other grandchildren.

Last Christmas she went to my brothers house, and this year she went to my sisters. I know it meant a lot to her to spent time with the grand kids, and I know they love spending time with her.

The years she came to my house, I always made breakfast, which was usually some combination of eggs, biscuits, and home made cinnamon rolls (which are yummy!). The last year she came, though, she didn't stay for breakfast, so instead of cooking, we went to Hardee's, usually getting take out, and so began our new Christmas tradition.

This year, we decided to go in and eat. The kids were still all excited from opening gifts, but I was ready to go back to bed. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast of biscuits and hash browns, and lots of caffeinated sodas. (yes, we were all drinking soda at 7:30 am...it was Christmas...get over it! lol)
Surprisingly, we weren't the only ones there. There were also lots of men, which was kinda weird because there were no women. Maybe they were the dads who didn't get their kids until the afternoons.

Either way, we ate and headed back home, where I went back to sleep for a few hours. I'm thinking next year that we will venture to somewhere more exciting than Hardee's on Christmas morning...I just need to figure out what else is open!

More Winter Weather?

It looks like it is going to be a wet and cold new year. Our forecast is saying there will be rain, maybe sleet, on New Year's Eve. Thankfully, we prefer to stay home that night, so we don't have to worry about all the drunk drivers on the road. We will probably cook up a bunch of junk food and play some games.

I know it is only December, but I am so tired of the cold and rain. I am tempted to look online for San Diego homes for sale, and then spend the new year convincing Junior we need to move there. It's all sunshine in California, right? I want to be somewhere warm, where we can go outside without having to wear coats, gloves, and hats. Is that too much to ask for the new year?

I Need To Sing

I love music. I really do. I listen to a variety of country, American Idol contestants, and 80's music. I have this insane need to know all the words to all the songs I hear. This gets quite annoying when I am in the car and hear a song for the first time. I make everyone shut up, then I turn up the music and listen to the words. If I like the song, I will make it a point to look up the lyrics online when I get home.

I can not sing. At all. But I love to sing. In fact, I can not listen to a song without singing it. This can get annoying when I am in the car and I love the song that comes on. I make everyone shut up so that I can sing along. The only bright light in this situation is that the radio usually drowns out my singing.

The same can not be said when I am sitting here at the computer, especially when I am dropping ecards (which in and of itself is really boring). I used to do it at midnight, but then decided that I like my sleep more than blog traffic, so I started doing it at night after supper. Since my desk is in the living room, I can either listen to whatever drivel the kids or Junior are watching on television, or I can put on my mp3. The only problem with that is that when I put on my mp3, I have to sing along, and since it is my own mix of music, I know every word to every song.

So I sing.

Badly.

Well, tonight Junior started making fun of me, and he really hurt my feelings. The thing is, I know I can't sing, but I can't stop. Even when I told him I would never sing again, two minutes later I was singing again, and I didn't even realize it. Which just led him to making fun of me even more.

He actually told me to go mow the grass so I would sing outside where no one would hear me.

Oh, how I wish it were summertime....

Gift Baskets Full Of Cheese Or Chocolate

I remember watching an interview with Sugarland years ago, when they were still a trio. The interviewer asked what their favorite food was, and without skipping a beat, Jennifer Nettles said cheese. You may be wondering why this stuck with me, so let me explain.

We are big cheese eaters in my house. Junior loves his cheddar, while I prefer white cheeses, like mozzarella and provolone. Oh, and muenster. The kids will pretty much eat whatever is in the house, so I try to keep a good variety in the fridge. Imagine how excited I was when I discovered that you could buy gift baskets full of cheese. This would be the perfect gift for us. I have a feeling that it wouldn't matter which types came in the basket; we would eat them all.

I decided to see what kinds of cheese baskets I could find, and was floored when I found this basket:

Godiva chocolates. I am seriously drooling right now.

I love nothing more than chocolate, and this basket has a variety that would keep me happy for weeks. Or days. This basket contains a Godiva Assorted chocolate bar, Godiva Biscuit Gift Box, Godiva Pearls with Caffee Latte, Godiva Dark Pearls with Orange , Godiva 72% cocoa chocolate bar, Godiva Chocolate Biscuit Snack Size, Godiva Milk Chocolate Cashew Tote and Godiva Dark Chocolate Cherry Tote. They all sound delicious. I have never had Godiva chocolate before, but I am willing to give it a try.

For those of you who keep track of these things, remember this post in February, when my birthday comes around and in March when Junior's birthday comes around.

Meet Princess

For the past few months, all Brandi has talked about is getting a hamster for Christmas. She was very disappointed Christmas morning when there was no hamster from Santa. She was beyond excited, however, when Nana walked into the room with one at my sister's house. I wish I had captured the look on her face, but I was too excited for her to snap a picture. The hamster really is cute...it's a long haired calico. Brandi named her Princess. So far, she is doing a great job taking care of her.

We'll see how long that lasts! lol!

House Hunting

The packing has begun, and I am actually excited about it. We still haven't found the perfect place to live, but we have been looking like crazy. We did find a really cute house that is for rent, and also for sale. The owner may do a "rent to own" deal, but we're undecided. Our last house was "rent to own", and you all know how well that worked out.

This house is green. I mean, really green. It is painted light green, and has dark green trim. Even the floor of the car port is green. I am thinking this might be part of the reason they haven't had any offers. We only peaked in the windows, but the parts I saw were really nice. The living room is a good size, and the dining room is big enough for my table and hutch. The washer and dryer are in the kitchen, which I found out I hate living in this apartment, but if I had to, I would deal with it. The best part, I think, was the kitchen.

It is huge! It has lots of cabinet space, but not too much where it overwhelms the room. I think I saw a dishwasher, which is okay, but to be honest, not really a deal breaker for me. The last place we live in that had one, I never used. I prefer to hand wash my dishes. I know, weird. But that's me.

If we were to buy this house, I would redo a few things in the kitchen. The first thing would be to install an undermount kitchen sink. I fell in love with this type of sink at a friends house. The best part of this particular one pictures is the low separator. It allows you to get big pots and pans into the sink to wash without having to bend all the way over. Know what I mean? nothing annoys me more than having to bend over the sink to scrub a cookie sheet.

I would also replace the appliances with mine. The ones in the house are white, and pretty outdated. I want my flat top stove and my big refrigerator. Eventually, I would want to replace the counter tops with something a little darker than what they are now, but that is not a priority.

The priority is deciding whether or not we even want this house. It would put Brandi in a different elementary school, and she is pretty upset about that. It is also a little more than we are paying now for rent, but the van will be paid off in a few months, so we could swing it financially. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it is still available in February when we are ready to move.

Merry Day After Christmas

Hello blogland! I have been enjoying my family the past few days, and not really spending much time on here. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I know we did. Check out all the loot that Santa left! The kids declared this the "best Christmas EVER!", but since they say that every year, I am sure nest year will be even better than this one. The wii was a hit, and I have a sore arm and back from all the tennis and bowling. I am looking forward to getting the wii fit, and for those wanting to get me a birthday present, the biggest loser game would be greatly appreciated! (my Birthday is in feb, but if I start sending out hints now I might get what I want! lol!) Anyway, the girls are wanting to bowl, so let me get off of here! I'll see you in a day or two.

Merry Christmas!

The Big Fight

Where are you going be on March 13, 2010? If you were to ask my husband that question, he would probably say that he will be sulking at home. If he had his way, we would both be in Vegas, watching the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight at the MGM Grand Arena. Well, we would both be in Vegas, but I doubt we would both be at the fight. I would get him Pacquiao/Mayweather tickets, but he would have to take someone else. I get queasy at the sight of blood, and we all know how bloody these fights can get. I might go get a massage or something while he enjoys the fight.

My brother-in-law might enjoy going with him. He is a big fan of Mayweather, and thinks he will win. My husband is rooting for Pacquiao, so it should make for an interesting night.

Gifts

Check out the gifts under my tree right now:

The girls asked for wrapping paper this morning, and an hour later I had all these gifts under my tree. I have no idea what they are, but they are labeled for each other. Brandi has a habit of wrapping things she owns that she knows the other kids like. I am looking forward to seeing what she is giving everyone.

Link Wheels

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

I am sitting here, reading this article about SEO, and as usual, I am completely confused. There is so much that I do not know, and it is driving me crazy. Even after reading several articles, my mind can not grasp the simplest concepts, and I think it is because I don't know enough about how the internet works. I truly believe that the only way I am going to make my blog a success is to hire a professional.

After some research, I found this site where they build link wheels. Now, this is going to be my very basic explanation about how it works. They take your website, or blog, and make that the hub of the wheel. They then link that to another site, and then link that site to another site, and all the while they are building back links to your site. Did that make sense to you? I don't understand the mechanics, but I know that having back links is a great thing, and it is one of the factors that helps to determine your page rank. Right no this site has a PR2, and I would love to get it higher. But as I said, I need some professional help with that.

I think building a linkwheel will also help to raise your ranking in search engines. It's great to have a blog, but if no one can find it, no one will read it. These link wheels are designed to drive more traffic to your site, which also helps with your page rank. These link wheels are not cheap, but when you consider them an investment into your site, you will see it as money well spent.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I have been baking all day. The girls helped me make some sugar cookies, and I made some peanut butter chocolate ones for my dad. I am also making brownies and cupcakes to take to my sister's house on Christmas.

Do I have to tell you how good my house smells?

Junior walked in from work and started drooling, and sampling all the cookies.

I was sampling, too, and they are all soooo good!

An Easy Way To Find Cheap Apartments

Junior worked until his usual 1pm today, and when he got home, we decided to play Santa, and deliver the banana breads I made this morning. My mom was keeping the kids tonight so that we could finish up our shopping, so we had some time to kill between playing Santa and dropping them off. We decided to ride around and see if we could find any cheap apartments for rent. I know we said we would never do another duplex, at least not one like this, but apartments are different. There are no yards to share. The down side of this is that there is no yard for the kids to play in. We would have to find cheap apartments in an apartment building that has a playground, and maybe even a pool.

I looked up cheap rentals online, and this site was pretty helpful. They offered pictures of the apartments, as well as nice descriptions. The only bad thing was that there aren't any apartments available where we want to live. I guess this means we will be back to driving around, seeing what we can find.

We did walk through a three bedroom trailer today. It was in the perfect location, has very reasonable rent, and would keep Brandi in the same school. The only problem is that it is too small, and I wouldn't be able to fit all my furniture. The two kids bedrooms wouldn't even fit a twin bed. They were that small. It was disappointing, but at least now we know it's not a good fit for us.

We'll keep looking, though.

Done.

We are finally done shopping.

Huge sigh of relief.

Stockings will be stuffed, and the kids will be happy.

Scratch that...the kids will be ecstatic!

Is it Christmas yet??????

Is It Vacation Time Yet?

This year has been a tough one. I am glad it is finally coming to a close, and I can not wait to see what 2010 has in store for my little family.

I think next year we are going to take a week long vacation, instead of just a couple of days. I would love to be able to get on a plane and fly to wherever the next flight leads. Maybe we'd end up in Hawaii, where we can swim in the ocean and enjoy the sandy beaches. Or maybe we'd end up overseas somewhere, like Italy, where we would tour every landmark, all the while being driven by the best Car Hire Italy has to offer. We would dine on the best Italian food, and drink the best Italian wine...

Okay, let's get back to reality. For one thing, I would never get on a plane. Secondly, I could never afford to go anywhere that exotic. I could if I won the lottery, but I don't see that happening any time soon, either.

I think we will just stick to our annual camping vacations, where we can fish and swim and just enjoy being a family. No pressure, no cell phones, no worries.

At least for a little while...

Home Baked Gifts

Lack of money means I am giving baked goods as gifts this year. Check out the yummy banana bread with cinnamon crumb topping I made this morning. Don't they look delicious?

It is taking all of my willpower NOT to go in there and cut into one. What was I thinking not making one for myself?

December 22, 1994

On this day, fifteen years ago, I met my husband. I know I have told this story before, but for those of you who are new, I am going to share it again. For those of you who are regulars, you'll have to suffer through it one more time! lol!

I had moved to SC from NY in April of that year, after a three and a half year long relationship ended. I was broken hearted, and had no idea what direction my life was going to take. I was depressed, and spent the next few months just moping around my moms house. I finally got a job working fast food, and made some great friends. A few of these friends decided it was time for me to find someone new, and they made it their mission to make that happen. The first guy I was set up with was my age, and had a little boy. We talked on the phone for a few weeks before we ever met, and we got along great. We had a lot in common, and I was looking forward to spending time with him. I think it was at this point where I finally realized what it's like for people who hook up online in free vampire chat rooms or on dating sites. I was amazed that I could get to know someone so well by just talking to them, and never actually meeting them.

Well, a few weeks later, he decided to come to where I work, so we could meet face to face. Now, back then I was a skinny minnie with a nice figure (I had just lost about 50 pounds) and I was very confident. He comes in the store, and we "met", and then he left.

And he never called me again.

To this day I am still baffled, because I am not by any means ugly (tooting my own horn here). The friend who set us up claims that he drove by my moms house after he left the store, and decided that I was too "rich" for him. He didn't think he would fit into my world. Yeah, okay. I was working fast food and living in my moms house! I was not rich by any stretch of the imagination. But, whatever. It was his loss, and it was not soon after this that I met my husband.

When my best friend at the time decided she knew the perfect guy for me, I was hesitant. I mean, I had just been "dumped" by a guy right after he got a look at me, and I didn't really want to go through that again. But, she was persistent, and a week later Junior called me. He wanted to meet at a bar, and I told him I didn't drive. He laughed, and then agreed to pick me up. We had a nice time at the bar, talking, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I had never been a big drinker, and as most of you know, my husband used to be an alcoholic. So we left there, and just drove around talking.

After that night, we were pretty much inseparable. His family wasn't exactly welcoming to me, and some of my family had issues with him. To be honest, he brought that on himself, and has been paying for it for the last fifteen years. He proposed on my birthday in February, and it was that night that we conceived Ryan. (I am sure you were dying to know that!) We were married on June 22, 1995, exactly six months after we met. It was a small, civil ceremony at the courthouse, because I was pretty pregnant by then. People said we wouldn't last a year, and here we are, fifteen years and three kids later, still going strong. Not bad for a blind date, right?

So when people tell me they met their significant others online, in chat rooms, or on a blind date, I get it. I know it's possible to find the one you are meant to be with in an unconventional way.

I'm living proof of that!

Angels Among Us

I can not begin to tell you all how blessed my little family has been in the past few months. We have been struggling financially, like everyone it seems, and I have been so worried about how my kids Christmas wasn't going to be as Merry as I would love for it to be.

I know that Christmas is not about the gifts, and my kids know that, too. But they also deserve to get the things they want, because they go without all year long, because most times we can not afford to get them the things they want. Did that just make sense?

Anyway, I have been pinching pennies, and the kids had gifts for Christmas morning. Not a lot, but enough. Then this afternoon, as Junior was getting ready to leave work, he found a card in his locker. It was addressed to "the wylie kids" and was from "santa". Inside the card was a $50 visa gift card. He has no idea who left it for us, but I am in awe of the generosity of whoever it is. It warms my heart to know that someone else wants my kids to have a good Christmas. I wrote a thank you card to all the workers at his store, because on top of the gift card, the store collected money to help us with our bills. When I say that we have been blessed, I mean, we have been really blessed, and I can not wait until we can do something to give back to those who gave to us. My heart is overflowing right now, and I hope someday I can give someone else this feeling.

NYE Hotel Packages in LA

This is a sponsored guest post written by Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau on behalf of Hotels in Los Angeles. Post powered by Sponzai.

As we bid farewell to 2009 and welcome a brand new year, celebrate in style at one of the premier hotels in Los Angeles. Hotels across the city are offering several fun-filled options to help ring in the New Year.

Millennium Biltmore Hotel

At the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, guests have the opportunity to choose from two exciting dining options on New Year’s Eve. An elegant four-course menu is featured at the hotel’s Rendezvous Court or head over to Sai Sai where guests can enjoy a lavish tapas buffet of fresh Asian seafood, robata and sushi. Dinner includes tickets to the annual NYE Gala in the hotel’s Crystal Ballroom where there will be live DJ music followed by champagne and a shower of balloons from the ballroom’s ceiling at midnight. After an evening of celebrating, find peace and quiet in one of the Biltmore’s guestrooms. Package includes one night's Classic or Club level accommodations, your choice of NYE Dinner for 2 in the Rendezvous Court or Sai Sai, 2 tickets to the NYE Gala and valet parking. Dinner at the Rendezvous Court is $99 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. For reservations call 213.612.1562. And dinner at Sai Sai is $89 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. For reservations at Sai Sai call 213.624.1100. New Year’s Eve room packages include dinner, the gala celebration and an overnight stay. Prices begin at $379 and are subject to availability. www.millenniumhotels.com; 506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071, 213.624.1011

Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel

At the Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel in San Pedro, guests will have an opportunity to ring in the New Year at an elegant New Year’s Eve Gala in the hotel’s San Pedro Ballroom. The gala, beginning at 6 p.m., will include dining, dancing and a live DJ. The evening will conclude at 1 a.m. Guests who attend the gala can stay at the hotel for a rate of $99 plus tax, based on single/double occupancy. For reservations call 310-521-8026. Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor, 601 Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, 90731;

ww.crowneplaza.com/laharbor

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

Visit Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel’s restaurant, Ocean and Vine, to ring in the New Year above the clouds. Enjoy live entertainment and an exquisite four-course pre fix menu with choices including white asparagus cappuccino, caramelized Mano de Leon sea scallops, and Beaumes venise poached pear. The 6 p.m. seating is $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity. The 9 p.m. seating is $125 per person, plus tax and gratuity. A special “New Year’s Eve” package includes luxury guestroom accommodations, a Champagne welcome amenity, preferred dinner reservations in Ocean and Vine (a $320 value), complimentary parking and a 2 p.m. late checkout time. Rates starting from $725 per couple. For reservations, please call 310-458-6700. Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, 90401;

www.loewshotels.com/santamonica

The Standard, Downtown LA

The Standard, Downtown LA is hosting a free New Year’s Eve rooftop party. Guests can expect a multi-zone dance party with floor to ceiling lobby and rooftop visuals, a digitally projected countdown at midnight and a multi-level champagne toast. Also at the hotel is a pre-fix 3-coarse New Year’s Eve Dinner menu for $45 per person. For reservations, please call 213-439-3030. The Standard, Downtown LA, 550 S. Flower Street, Los Angeles, 90071;

www.thestandardhotels.com

Beverly Hilton Hotel

At the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Trader Vic’s Lounge, located poolside, will feature a special offer on New Year’s Eve. Beginning at 5 p.m., guests can enjoy an appetizer buffet with one Mai Tai for $45 per person. A live DJ will play music until 1 a.m. For more information and reservations, please call 310-285-1300. Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 90210;

www.beverlyhilton.com

Omni Los Angeles Hotel

Also Downtown, the Omni Los Angeles Hotel is offering a “Standing Ovation” package for New Year’s Eve along with a three- or six-course dinner at the hotel’s elegant Noé Restaurant. For those guests celebrating New Year’s Eve at the Music Center, STAPLES Center or the NOKIA Theatre, the Omni Los Angeles Hotel will provide sedan transportation to the destination along with deluxe accommodations, a $100 credit to Noé Restaurant, overnight valet parking and breakfast for two in Grand Café. In addition, guests will receive a choice of opera glasses or a wine amenity during their stay. Guests not attending the theater can spend the evening dining at Noé and enjoying a live jazz trio, along with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. If restaurant patrons wear a masquerade mask, they will receive a complimentary half-bottle of champagne. The three-course dinner is $60 per person while the six-course dinner is $100 per person or $160 per person when paired with wine. www.omnihotels.com; 251 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213.617.3300

SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills

Across town at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills guests can dance until dawn and take the elevator home to one of the hotel’s luxurious room accommodations. New Year’s Eve Packages include tickets for two to the SLS New Year’s Eve Gala and room accommodations at special rates. Additional evening packages are available for those who don’t need a hotel room and just want to enjoy a dinner at The Bazaar by José Andrés, then head over to the SLS New Year’s Eve Gala for dancing with a live DJ in Bar Centro and the Albert Ballroom. New Year’s Eve gala packages begin at $500 and the Star Lit Soiree - dine, dance & indulge packages begin at $600. To reserve, please call 1.866.716.8149 and don’t forget to mention the promo codes; SOIREE or GALAPKG.

www.starwoodhotels.com; 465 North La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048, 310.247.0400

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

At the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel , guests can ring in the New Year at the hotel’s world-class restaurant, The Blvd. An early seating will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will offer a three-course tasting menu. There will also be a Gala Dinner beginning at 8:00 p.m. that will offer a five-course tasting menu along with a champagne toast at midnight. Talented musician David Sparkman will entertain the room all evening. The early seating tasting menu will cost $75 per person while the gala dinner will be $250 per person.

www.fourseasons.com; 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, 310.275.5200

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Over in Hollywood, guests can check out the 5th Annual New Year’s Eve Bash at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel which will be celebrated throughout the hotel in the historic lobby, the Blossom Ballroom and Tropicana Pool.

www.hollywoodroosevelt.com; 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028, 323.466.7000.

Mondrian

At the Mondrian guests can celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Skybar Speakeasy with open bar and champagne toast at midnight or dine at the popular Asia de Cuba with a four-course meal and champagne toast at midnight. An early seating will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for $75 per person, tax and gratuity not included and the last seating from 8 p.m. until sold out will be $100 per person. Admission to the Skybar Speakeasy is $150 per person or $125 for hotel guests and Asia de Cuba patrons. Room rates begin at $395.

www.mondrianhotel.com; 8440 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069, 323.650.8999 or for reservations call 800.606.6090.

Terranea Resort

For those looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the city’s newest destination, guests can join in the festivities at Terranea Resort, located just 30 minutes south of Downtown Los Angeles on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The VIP Velvet Rope Experience includes overnight accommodations for two, along with admission to the hotel’s New Year’s Eve Celebration and Countdown featuring sumptuous foods, desserts and a hosted bar. Rates starting from $635 per night.

www.terranea.com

; 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275, 310.265.2800.

The 20th Survivor

I am so excited about the next season of Survivor. Is it even a season since it is the second one this year? By this year I mean television year. Anyway, it is going to be heroes vs villains, and I can not wait to see who has been invited back!

Will we see Russell again? How about Rupert? Or Johnny Fairplay?

I found an "unofficial list" online, and these are the players they are claiming we will see:

Heroes: Colby (Australia, All Stars), Rupert (Pearl Islands, All Stars), Tom (Palau), Stefanie (Palau, Guatemala), Cirie (Exile Island, Fans vs. Favorites), Candice (Cook Islands), James (China, Fans vs, Favorites), Amanda (China, Fans vs. Favorites), Sugar (Gabon) , JT (Tocantins)

Villains: Jerri (Australia, All Stars), Rob (Marquesas, All Stars), Sandra (Pearl Islands), Danielle (Exile Island), Parvati (Cook Islands, Fans vs. Favorites), Courtney (China), Randy (Gabon), Coach (Tocantins), Tyson (Tocantins) Russell (Samoa)

I have done a little more digging, and another list has Amanda (remember her...made it to the finals twice and lost both times?) and Tina on it, as well as a bunch from above.

Here is another list:

Ace Gordon (Survivor: Gabon)
Amanda Kimmel (Survivor: China)
Benjamin "Coach" Wade (Survivor: Tocantins)
Cirie Fields (Survivor: Panama)
James Clement (Survivor: China)
Jean-Robert Bellande (Survivor: China)
Jenna Morasca (Survivor: Amazon)
Jerri Manthey (Survivor: Australia)
Jessica "Sugar" Kiper (Survivor: Gabon)
Johnny Fairplay (Survivor: Pearl Islands)
Ozzy Lusth (Survivor: Cook Islands)
Natalie Bolton (Survivor: Micronesia)
Parvati Shallow (Survivor: Cook Islands)
Randy Bailey (Survivor: Gabon)
Rupert Boneham (Survivor: Pearl Islands)
Sandra Diaz-Twine (Survivor: Pearl Islands)
Sierra Reed (Survivor: Tocantins)
Shane Powers (Survivor: Panama)
Stephenie LaGrossa (Survivor: Palau)
Tina Wesson (Survivor: Australia)
Tom Buchanan (Survivor: Africa)
Tom Westman (Survivor: Palau)
Twila Tanner (Survivor: Vanuatu)

I guess there are lots of people speculating.

Who do you think the heroes and villains are?

Custom Sodas

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

Remember the post I did around Thanksgiving about the turkey and gravy flavored soda? As you know, we did not care for that flavor, but I am really excited to try one of their other flavors. I was browsing their website, and discovered that they have several different flavors, as well as the option of making your own custom label.

I made a label with a picture of my family. I figured since I didn't send out Christmas cards this year I could give everyone a myJones custom soda instead. It was really simple to do. All I did was upload the picture I wanted to use, and they format it to fit the label. You also get to pick the flavor soda you want, and I chose grape. If I was thinking, I would have picked one of their holiday flavors, like Holiday Cheer or Snowdrift Soda. Then again, who knows what those would taste like, so maybe it's best to stick to a flavor I know is good.

These sodas would also make the perfect gift for those "hard to buy for" people. I never know what to get my nephews for Christmas, and I think they would get a kick out of seeing their own faces on the front of their favorite flavored soda. Heck, my kids would love it too.

I want to know if you make your own soda. You can do your own post with a shot of your custom label. I am interested to see the pictures and flavors you choose.

Thw Wylie Family Christmas Card

I had the best of intentions. I had my sister take a family picture (which is now this blogs header) and I was going to make it into Christmas cards.

It didn't happen.

At this point, there is no way they will make it to people before Friday. Besides, I don't have money for stamps.

Maybe I'll do better next year...

An Easy Way To Find Foreclosures In Your Area

The trailer that Junior and I had our hearts set on is now rented. This means we have to search for somewhere else to live. I knew it was a long shot that the trailer would stay vacant until February, but we were hoping. Today on the way home from my moms, we drove around a little, seeing what else we could find.

I was thrilled when we found a cute little house that is for rent, and it is a three bedroom. Junior is going to call the number on Monday to see how much it is. It is also for sale, so we are thinking they might offer us a rent to own option, which would be awesome. I tried looking it up online when we got home, and after an exhausting search, I finally found it. It is listed for about $95,000, but it didn't give the rental price.

My mom has become the expert at finding houses online. She used to scour Foreclosure Listings before she bought her house. She was convinced that a foreclosure was the way she wanted to go. Sometimes I think Junior and I should go that route, too.My problem is that I have a hard time finding things online. Having a site that lists foreclosed homes, like foreclosurepatch.com is a great way to find listings in your area. I searched my town, and found quite a few nice forclosure homes that were really inexpensive. The only problem we will have is qualifying for a mortgage. But, if we stay on the path we are on right now, in a few short years we shouldn't have any problem buying a home, and trust me when I say I am really looking forward to that day!

Let's Get Packing!

Now that mom is settled in her new house, it's time for me to start packing my house. I am getting all of her boxes, which are really good ones, which will make my packing a little easier. I told the kids today that after Christmas, I want to get as much done as I can before they go back to school. I am thinking about putting my bed out here in the living room, and using my room as a place to put the packed boxes. It will only be for a month or so, and no one ever comes over because I am embarrassed to have people here, so who cares if I have a bed in the living room.

Orange County SEO, And Other Ways To Advertise

I am trying to learn all I can about SEO. Trust me when I say I am no expert. In fact, there is so much I do not know that I will admit to being quite ignorant about the subject. For instance, I had no idea that SEO can be geographically specific. If you do business in Orange County, then you want Orange County Seo. If you do business worldwide, then you want worldwide SEO.

Getting the word out about your business, or blog for that matter, can be a daunting task. You could try using a Pay Per click company, where you can pay to run ads that you only pay for when someone clicks on it. Using Pay Per Click management services can help get the word out faster than regular advertising. You may even see results immediately.

I am going to look into this a little more, because I know there are ways of advertising this blog that I am unaware of. And don't we all want people reading what we write? I mean, if no one is reading, why are we writing?

My Poor Thumb

Tonight for supper, I went all out. I made my famous Parmesan crusted chicken with mixed veggies, herb buttered angel hair pasta, and garlic cheese biscuits. Sounds yummy, right?

Well, it was!

But, before I got to enjoy this delicious meal, I burned the crap out of my thumb. I had everything done, and was taking the biscuits out of the oven. The pot holder I grabbed was wet (I didn't realize it) and the heat went right through and started to burn my hand. So stupid me grabbed the pan with my other hand, and burned my thumb, right in the crease where it bends. I threw the pan onto the counter, and started screaming. Everyone came running, and then laughed at me because I was jumping up and down, laughing myself, trying to make it stop burning. We learned from our experience with Kasi that you should never put ice on a burn, so I just had to let it cool down on it's own.

Let me tell you...I never knew how much I use my thumb. Now that it hurts, I am very aware of how often I use it. I keep hitting the blister (yup, there's a big ole blister) on everything!

But let me assure you...those biscuit were so yummy, it was worth a little burn.

REIN: The Rejuvenator

Karma. Have you ever wondered where that word came from, and how it came to be? I am not sure what the official definition of that word is, but I believe it means that the things you do in life affect the things that happen to you. For instance, if you are mean to someone, then someone else will be mean to you, and so on and so on. The same can go for doing something nice for someone.

There is a movie about Karma, and reincarnation. It's called REIN:The Rejuvenator. This movie tells the story of how REIN came into his powers of reincarnation, and how him and two others (the twins) can make the decisions about the future of peoples souls. When Rein one decides to pass his powers to someone else, they all have to help the next Rein learn how to do the job. From what I read about this movie, it sounds interesting, although it is not something I believe in myself. But, that's the thing about movies. You don't always have to believe everything you see, but you can still enjoy a good storyline.

You can check out the REIN: The Rejuvenator Official Sitefor yourself to find out more about this movie. You can even read what the actors in the movie are saying about their experience with it. You can even find information on contests that they have going on.

Bike Riding On The Ice

I don't have the brightest kids in the world, or at least I didn't this morning. They decided it would be fun to see if they could ride a bike on the ice. Ryan went first, and made it without falling. He was sliding all over the place, but managed to stay on. Kasi tried after him, and she was sliding all over the place, too. I am just glad that I heard all this from Junior, and that I didn't witness it for myself. I probably wouldn't have let them do it had I known they were outside.

Alice

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

I have been trying very hard the past few months to stick to a budget. Mostly, I have stayed on track. The things that throw me over are household supplies, like cleaners and toilet paper. I don't know why I always underestimate the amount of toilet paper this family uses. I am constantly sending Junior out to the store to buy more.

Oh, and trash bags. For some unknown reason, we are always running out of trash bags. I think it's because Ryan is in charge of taking out the trash, and he never tells me we are running low. He just tells me when there are none left, and I think that half the time he only claims to have told me.

There is a site called Alice.com where I can get toilet paper and trash bags sent right to my door, so I never have to worry about running out again. But it's not just toilet paper and trash bags; they have so much more! Soap, cleaning supplies, shampoo...they have it all. And, did I mention that most products are cheaper than they are in the store? That's right. Alice automatically applies coupons to your order, and shipping is free. FREE! That means for the same price, or in most cases a cheaper price, I can have all the items I usually forget to buy shipped right to my door.

I signed up, and I want you guys to sign up too. Not just because I can save you some money ($10 off once $50 is spent on the site) but because you can make me a little money (I get 3% back of the purchases you make for a year). This is all part of their Refer A Friend program.

So, go check out their prices, and if you like what you see (trust me, you will) place an order and see what Alice can do for you.

Happy Puppy!

I know you guys are probably tired of hearing about my current facebook obsessions, but I just had to share a picture of my Happy Pets. It used to be that you would buy kittens, and they would grow into cats. Yesterday, or the day before, I forget which, they added a new feature where you can breed your cats. I now have three baskets, each holding a baby kitten I will get to see in a few days. Then this evening, they finally unlocked the puppies! Check out my little white one. Isn't she cute?

I am not normally a dog person, but I couldn't resist. Besides, I want to see what she looks like when she is fully grown.

Ice, Ice, And More Ice

Can you see the sleet falling? This is what my yard looked like around 3pm today. Luckily, the kids had half a day, so they were home before the ice really began to accumulate.

When I went to get Brandi off the bus at 11am, I stood in a sleet storm. It's was so cold! She got off the bus and we ran for the apartment. It didn't help that my yard is still one huge mud puddle, but we made it.

Colleen picked up Brandi and I for cookie day at moms, so Junior just went there straight from work. I was glad that we came home when we did, because by 8pm, our yard was covered in ice. The news is saying that there are thousands of people without power already, and I hope that we make it through the night with ours.

Going Back To The Dermatologist

Kasi goes back to the dermatologist about her back in a little over a week. The ointment we are using on her back seems to be making it softer, but it still not completely gone. I will admit, though, that there are days we forget to put the ointment on.

It's her fault, not mine.

I kid. I kid. It is totally my fault. As the parent, I should remember these things. If I keep forgetting, we may end up at a Chicago Dermatologist for a second opinion. A spider bite still seems a little odd to me, but my therapist said she has seen this before; a little spider bite getting bigger and bigger until it was treated.

I just hope the dermatologist decides we don't have to go back. This driving an hour each way is getting a little old.

Boo And Her Daddy

Here's another shot from Kasi's concert the other night. This is one of those rare moments where Brandi is not beating up on Junior, and actually showing her affection. Usually, the two of them are picking at each other mercilessly, and to be honest, it is quite amusing. The combination of insults they throw at each other crack me up. People who don't know us think they're crazy, but that's okay.

Those who do know us think they are crazy, too, but they love us anyway!

It's Almost Christmas!

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

One week.

Seven days.

One hundred sixty something hours.

Eight thousand eight hundred and something seconds.

Wait, I think you get the idea. This is how long we have until it's Christmas. I can't believe it. For the first time in quite a few years, I am not done with my shopping yet. I am usually pretty good about getting it done early, but finances have prevented that this year, and I have a feeling I will be shopping up until the last minute. At this point, I can take all the help I can get.

This is where the Dirt Devil Holiday Guide comes in handy. It offers over 300 tricks, tips, and websites that can make Holiday shopping a little more pleasurable, if that is at all possible.

I was reading through the guide, and found a lot of information. Some of it I already knew, but some of it was brand new to me. For instance, did you know that some promo codes use the number of the month they are good for in the code (November would be 11) and that sometimes you can change the month and the code will still work. Or, google the code and see if you can find similar savings. Both of those tricks are new to me, and I will most definitely use them in the future.

The guide also lists a bunch of websites where you can find unique, one of a kind gifts. These are perfect for the kids, or adults, who have everything. I have a sister and her family who are so hard to buy for, because her kids have so much stuff, and she has everything she needs, and wants. I am a big supporter of etsy, and have bought quite a few things for my girls and the adult women on my list this year. I wish I had half the talent that most of those etsy sellers have.

I think I need to get up from here and hit the stores. I wish I could just twitch my nose and the shopping would be done, but that's not the case. I have to go put in the man hours, and as I mentioned at the top of this post, those hours are slipping away!

Winter Weather Warning

It's supposed to snow tomorrow. Depending on who you listen to, it can be anything from a rain/sleet/snowy mix that will fall starting tomorrow afternoon, or we are getting 6 inches of snow between tomorrow morning and Saturday afternoon. I am hoping for none of the above, because tomorrow is "cookie day", and I want to be able to go have fun baking at my mom's house.

The kids have half a day tomorrow, and then 2 full weeks off. I am looking forward to sleeping later than 5:20 every morning, but am not looking forward to being stuck in the house with the kids. Although, after Christmas, we will have new stuff to play with.

Whatever tomorrow holds, I know I will be busy. In fact, I don't see me not being busy until after we move.

It's going to be a long couple of months.