The Swagger Wagon

This is really funny.  Make sure you watch with the sound on!

Teenagers

Teenagers.  I now have two living in my home.  My son Ryan is 14, and he has started testing his limits, and seeing how far he can push me, and his daddy.  Let's just say that I have a little more patience than Junior does.  Kasi just turned 13, so I am still waiting for those girly hormones to kick in.  So far, the worst thing we are facing is acne.

As of yet, I have not tried any special acne treatments.  I have reservations about using these creams that have chemicals and things in them.  I am hearing so much about this accutane lawsuit, which was filed by people who used the drug accutane to clear up their acne.  Turns out there are severe side effects that no one knew about.   I don't want my kids using something on their skin that can cause other problems, and the truth is that a lot of these products do have side effects.  Some a mild, but some can be life threatening. 

If their skin gets worse, I think I will look into some natural products that can help clear up their skin.

Shopping For Myself

Why is this so hard for me to do?  People give me gift cards as gifts, and I always have the hardest time deciding on what I want to buy for myself.  This is especially true if the gift card is to a store that offers a variety of things.  Take CSNStores, for instance.  I have the opportunity to review one of their products, and I am having the hardest time deciding what I want to get for myself.  I was looking at wall sconces, and found this candle one that I really like:

We rent our home, so I can not put up a sconce that runs on electricity, so this candle one is perfect.  I know exactly where I would hang it, too.  The wall above my desk is bare, and I have been looking for something to hang there.  A couple of these would look great.

  I also found these outdoor candle holders, and think they would look beautiful around my mom's pool:

I also love their selection of housewares.  I could spend hours drooling over sauce pans and spice racks.  I found this one that would look perfect hanging on the wall in my kitchen:

 When all is said and done, though, I think I am going to get myself something.  Not something for the house, or for a family member, but something for me.  This is where I need help.  

What would you suggest I get for myself from one of the 200+ CSNStores?  Maybe a new purse?  Or something with an elephant? (and yes, they have elephants...it was one of the first things I checked!)  How about shoes?  There are so many choices...how will I ever decide?

Visiting Morey's Piers

 Are you looking for something fun to do with the family this Summer?  I am trying to find vacation ideas that won't break the back, and the solution I have come up with is to travel somewhere I have family, stay with them instead of in a hotel, and spend my money doing fun things with the family.

I have a sister who lives in new jersey, so one of the places I have been looking into going is Morey's Piers.  This is a seaside amusement park in Wildwoods, NJ.  I want to check out their new attraction, the Ghost Ship at Morey's Piers.  The ships name is Ignis Fatuus, and it features 15,000 square feet of terror, with live actors, stunts, and animatronics waiting to scare you to pieces. 

Sounds like something I would enjoy. 

Eclipse

I guess the big question today is have you seen the movie yet?

No, I was not one of the fanatics who went to a midnight show last night.  I do, however, plan on seeing it this weekend with the girls.  I was wondering, though, if it is too scary for Brandi (she's 8) to see.  I know they have the big fight scene between Edward and Victoria, and watching the previews, this one looks 'darker' than the first two.  I don't want to take her and then deal with nightmares for a week.

Opinions?

It's All About The Kids

 Did you know that there is a contest going on right now that is offering the chance to have a show on Oprah's television network?  I didn't either, until this morning.  One of the contestants is Jessica, and I love the concept she has come up with for her show, if she were to win. 

It's all about kids.  The things that they love, the things that are bothering them, and the issues they face.  All of these things will be addressed.  If you want to see Jessica's audition tape and hear for yourself what her show is about, you can Watch Now.  

I voted for her.  Will you?

Chicken Fights

We were at my mom's house last week swimming (surprise, surprise) and the kids decided to have a chicken fight.  Brandi got on Ryan's shoulders, and Colleen got on her husband, Mike's, shoulders.  It was pretty funny watching Brandi try to knock my sister down.  She didn't win, but she gave it all she had!

At one point, my sister got on my shoulders, and we fought against Ryan and Brandi.  I could barely stand up I was laughing so hard! 

We haven't been to my mom's in a couple of days due to thunderstorms, but we are planning to swim this afternoon.  The kids have so much fun, and to be honest, so do I.  I have always been a water rat.  I was always the first one in the pool, and the last one out.  My girls inherited this from me, I think. 

Now we just have to pray that the storms stay away for today so we can get a little swimming in...

Mom Enjoys Finger Licking Good TV Cooking Shows

Post written by Michelle Worth

As a mom when I need to relax I like to watch food network TV. While I unwind from a busy day, it's fun to see what other ideas I can find for family dinners. Beyond new ideas for dinner, it can also be very entertaining. Dinner Impossible, is very amusing to watch. Preparing and eating food is something everyone has done at one point in their life. Some of us prepare food for our family every day. While others cook occasionally. Despite our expertise, each of us can enjoy some form of cooking show on TV.

Another show my family enjoys is Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. This one is interesting because it shows diners around the country. Food holds memories. Some foods like corn dogs, remind me of going to the State Fair. While watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives the variety of food on the show brings back past memories.

Another form of cooking show that is very entertaining is cooking contests. There are a variety of cooking shows that are made up on competitions. It was fun watching a chili cook-off. I also like the cake decorating contests.

The Cake Boss is another great show. I don't know what is more entertaining watching how to decorate a variety of cakes or watching the interaction between Carlo's family. As reality TV becomes more and more popular and cooking shows expand, I will continue to enjoy Food Network on my Direct TVsatellite TV.

And Yet Again, I Cried

We all knew before this season of Deadliest Catch started that Captain Phil died. 

But we watch, week after week, waiting for the inevitable. 

I thought it was going to be last week.  Then I thought maybe this week.

I found out this afternoon that they are going to air the episode where he dies in two weeks, on July 13.

I know it's crazy, but last week and tonight, I cried during the entire episode.  I know I will continue to cry for the rest of the season.  It's not like I knew this man personally, but I do feel like he shared a big part of his life with not only me, but the millions of other people who watch this show.  It is hard to watch his sons deal with what is happening to their dad. 

I almost lost my dad to a brain aneurysm 16 years ago.  I know how hard it is to sit by and not be able to do anything but wait.  Thankfully, my dad recovered.  But maybe that is why I am so emotional watching this show.  I have been where Jake and Josh are. 

And it's not a good place to be. 

Coffee Makes A Great Gift

Coffee.  Some people can not live without it, but thankfully, I am not one of them.  In fact, I do not drink it at all.  My mom and sisters all drink it, and I believe my husband would, too, if I ever made any. I don't own a coffee maker, though, and the last time I tried to make coffee at my mom's house, I was told by several of the people subjected to drinking it never to make it again. So I haven't.

I have found, though, that coffee makes a wonderful gift.  Especially if it is a special, gourmet coffee. The problem with this is that special, gourmet coffee can be expensive, and you all now how thrifty I can be.  (that's the nice way of saying I'm cheap)  I will look up Gevalia coupon codes before buying it, and make sure that I find a good deal. There are so many different gift option on the Gevalia website, and using coupon codes for 10 or 20% off, or free shipping, can save you even more money.  I know it is only June, almost July, but I have been thinking about Christmas a lot lately.  Last year, I wasn't able to buy for everyone I wanted to because of financial reasons.  I figure if I start shopping now, I might have something for everyone this year.  Using coupons is a great way to make the money I have go even further. 

And I know that my mom would love getting coffee for Christmas.

Huge

ABC Family channel premiered a new show tonight called Huge.  It is about a bunch of kids at a fat camp.

I watched it, and am not too sure how I feel about it.  The main character is played by Nikki Blonsky, you know, the girl who played Tracey in the movie Hairspray.  She is at this camp, but does not want to be there.  She claims she doesn't want to lose weight, because she is happy with herself.  She says it's her parents who are embarrassed of her weight.  But by the end of the show, she decides that she is going to give it a try.

Now, I am all for kids getting healthier (that is what the counselor says the camp is all about) but what does this show says to kids who are struggling with their weight?  Sure, most of the kids on this show are extremely overweight, but a few are just kind of heavy.  This is where I am struggling.  Kids have a hard enough time with being heavy (I know from experience...I was always the fat girl growing up), shouldn't we have shows about it being okay to be who you are?  Not all shows have to be about being (or getting) thin.

I don't think what I am trying to say is coming out right.  Did you watch this show?  If so, what were your thoughts?

Golf Gear Online

Post written by guest blogger Lena Bohn.

Shopping for father's day gifts can be easy, when doing the purchasing with the aid of the best satellite internet serviceavailable. Instead of rushing to the store last minute, be sure to take some time to peruse gifts online. Ordering gifts online ahead of time save you immense time and hassle. This article will discuss some gift ideas that you can purchase online which will ultimately provide you with the luxury of convenience.
 
One great gift idea is buying a coffee mug for your father. While this may seem like a boring or trivial gift, the truth is that fathers love coffee mugs. They are one of the most practical gifts you can get, since the majority of men love drinking coffee. Many men love having special mugs that they can take to work and show off to their colleagues. A coffee mug can be an even more extraordinary gift, if you personalize it with a photo of you and your father. With a personalized coffee mug, your father will be so proud to have you as a daughter!
Another great gift idea, for those that may need to save money, is a set of golfballs. Golf balls are a gift revered by fathers everywhere. It saves your own father the hassle of having to go buy his own golf balls before heading to the golf course.

These are just a few ideas to get started. Remember, the earlier you order online with one of many hughesnet packages, the more hassle you save yourself in the long run!

It's Crystal's Birthday!

Do you guys know Crystal?  She has had a few blogs over the last couple of years, and is now blogging at The Sounds Of Laughter.  I met her a couple of years ago...now that I think about it...maybe almost three years ago?  I know it was before my surgery, because she was such a great support to me during that time.  It was crazy to me that I could be so close to someone I had never met!  Anyway, she knows I love her, and I want all of you guys to go show her some love today, too.

This Guy Almost Needed A New House

Yesterday, we were driving home from the store and we saw this car that was one fire.  Of course Junior had to pull over and see if he could help.  First he made sure the car's owner had called 911, then he helped to keep the flames under control until the fire department got there.  The poor guy who owned the car stopped at his friends house, was inside for a few minutes, and came back outside to find his car on fire.  The homeowner was lucky the gas tank didn't explode!  He would have been looking at new house plans for sure. The kids and I were parked across the street.  I made sure Junior parked the van far enough away that we weren't in danger, but I could still get some good pictures.

There's A Storm Coming

How cool is this picture?  To the left, stormy sky.  To the right, sunshine.

We were in the grocery store parking lot, and I just had to take this picture.  I have never seen the sky divided so precisely before. 

a Girl's Guide to Life

I was really looking forward to reading this book, and I was not disappointed.  When I first read the title, I knew that this would be a book that I would want Kasi, and someday Brandi, to read.  I was right.

The book starts off discussing how a girl should be true to herself, and be who she wants to be, without worrying what other people think of her.  Talk about easy words to say, but hard words to live by.  Growing up as a girl (you're shocked, right?) I could relate to so many topics in this book.  From weight issues and eating disorders, to dating and having a period, this book covers it all.  I love that it lists "Big Myths" along with "Real Deal"s, guiding girls to choose the right path.  I remember having so many questions as a pre-teen and teen, but not feeling comfortable discussing them with my mom.  Those questions are answered in this book.  Do I think this book should be a substitute for my girls talking to me about things?  Absolutely not.  I do hope that this book will open up the lines of communication between us.

I will say, though, that I did not agree with all of the advice given, and I will explain my reasons why to my daughters.  But as a whole, I think this book can be a great tool for girls and parents alike.

***I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Four Generations

Kasi, me, Brandi, my Grandmother, and my Mom...four generations of women.

I normally hate having my picture taken, but wanted to make sure that my girls have a picture to look back on one day.  I mean, my grandmother is 84 years old.  I hope she is around for a while longer, and she probably will be because she is in excellent health, but you never know.  

I really hope she'll be around when one of my girls has a daughter, so we can get a five generation photo.

Webhosting

 Last year, I switched this blog from a blogspot url to my own dot com.  At the time, I took the advice of a friend as to which host to use.  I haven't had any problems myself, but I have read on a lot of blogs that this particular hosting site has been hacked. 

Repeatedly. 

This makes me a little nervous.  I renewed with them recently, so I think I might be stuck for the next two years.  I am just hoping that my account doesn't get hacked.  If it does, I guess I will spend some time reading webhosting reviews and deciding who else to go with. I know different sites offer different things, and all I need, basically, is my domain.  I still have my blog through blogger.  I know a lot of people prefer wordpress, but I do not know enough about the technical side of blogging to go that route.  It took me long enough to understand blogger, and they are pretty simple. 

Which site would you recommend I look into?

Follow Me Friday ~ Again

Last week I wanted to get to 300 followers...no such luck.  I didn't even get one new follower.  It could be partly my own fault, though, as I didn't get a chance to follow anyone, either.  I have been so busy!

I guess I'll try one more time this week, and join in Lydia's Follow Me Friday.  I know I won't have time until Saturday to to make the rounds, but I will get to it.  I promise!

Shopping for Father’s Day Gifts Online

This is a guest post by Courtney Nobrege

I almost forgot that Father's Day is coming right up! I’m going to get on the internet this weekend and do my shopping for my dad, my husband’s dad and of course for my husband himself, the greatest father I know. I always have a hard time finding just the right thing and that’s why the internet is such a great place to shop. There is just no limit to what you can find on our hughesnet internet and with quick shipping available from most sites, the gifts will be here long before Father’s Day.

My father-in-law is an avid fisherman, and I’ll be looking for some special tackle for him. I plan to shop in several sporting goods stores online and find just the perfect set of spinners for his next fishing trip. I’ll also include a few camping items that he doesn’t have for his special weekend at the lake.
Then for my father, an avid reader, books will be the perfect gift. I know the latest historical novels will be easy to find. Since I share his love of reading I will pick up a few books for myself too. And last of all, my husband, so appreciated by us all! I’m really not sure what to get him so this is how I will spend most of my time shopping online.

I Just Want To Play

I have a crush.  It's not a secret crush.  In fact, I am pretty sure that everyone who knows me knows how much I adore Keith Urban.

Recently, I was watching the CMT awards with my daughters, and Keith won one of the awards...I think it was male video of the year.  Anyway, I made a comment about how yummy he looked, and Brandi said, "mom, you're married!".

I said, "I know.  I don't want to marry him, I just want to play with him for a little while".

Brandi hung and shook her head as she walked away....

What Is Right For You May Not Be Right For Me

 I am always weary about taking prescription medication.  I will take antibiotics, but that's about it.  Pain medicine makes me loopy, and everything else scares me.  Junior took an antidepressant a couple of years ago, and although it made him less depressed, it also made him a shell of who he was.  I mean, what is the point of being medicated if it changes who you are, and it makes your life less enjoyable.  I know this sounds funny, but sometimes antidepressants have the opposite effect on some people.  I think that is why there is a paxil lawsuit, and other lawsuits out there.  I read that some people even become suicidal on antidepressants.  To me, that is about as unhelpful as it gets.  When you are depressed already, why take a medicine that makes you want to kill yourself?

Now, before I get some negative comments, I am only speaking for myself.  I know that some people need antidepressants, and that they live a full and happy life taking them.  I am not against medication in general.  I mean, my son takes Ritalin every day of his life.  I am just speaking about my own personal experience, and what I believe is right for me.

Hot for Betty White in Cleveland

Guest post written by Sherri Mills

I grew up on the “Golden Girls.” So I was thrilled to go and see “The Proposal” and Betty White’s hilarious performance in it. I also was one of the many that joined the successful campaign on Facebook to get Betty to host an episode of Saturday Night Live.

I made sure to tune in, DVR and tweet with my Direct TV and Clear internet about her guest spot on SNL, which ended up making that night’s episode one of the best I’ve seen in years.

That’s why I’m even more excited about Betty’s role in the new TV Land series “Hot in Cleveland.” She’s sure to be hilarious as the caretaker for a group of single L.A. women, including Wendie Malick who I thought was always so funny on “Just Shoot Me” when I watched it through Clear Bundles.

What makes this show even better is that I’m actually originally from Cleveland! I don’t live there anymore and I heard that the show is actually filmed in L.A., but it still thrills me.

I’m sure the show will get rave reviews with Betty White involved. It seems that she can do no wrong, all within good reason.

It's My Anniversay

It was fifteen years ago today that Junior and I got married.  It was a simple ceremony at the courthouse, and some people didn't think we would make it a month.I think we proved them wrong!

My mom took us all out for a delicious supper to celebrate, and the kids made us wonderful cards.  I know how lucky I am, and I hope Junior and I have many more happy years together.

Staying In Monterey Bay Hotels

The last time I stayed in a hotel when when my brother got married about ten years ago.  We traveled from SC to Ohio, and spent three nights in a hotel.  It was the first, and only, time that we traveled with the kids where a hotel stay was necessary.  They did fine, but I realized then that there were certain amenities that we just can't live without if we ever have to stay in a hotel again.

I have been researching Monterey Bay Hotels, trying to find one that meets all my requirements.  The first is that there must be a fridge in the room.  I drink a lot, and the kids do too, so having cold drinks in the room is a necessity.  I know there are ice machines to cool warm soda, but I prefer cold, cold soda, so a mini-fridge is a must.  The second thing is free breakfast.  It doesn't matter to me if it is hot or cold, as long as the kids have something to munch on while getting ready in the mornings.   The third thing, especially in Summer, is a pool.  We all love to swim, and it wouldn't be a true vacation if we weren't getting wet.  I would really love one that has a slide, but that isn't necessarily a requirement.

I am sure I could think of other things I would like, but those three are deal breakers.

Is Tonight The End?

I am kind of dreading watching Deadliest Catch tonight.  This is the episode where Phil has the stroke, and I am not sure if this is the end, or if they will drag it out until next week.  Either way, I know I am going to be emotional watching it. I have been watching this show since it started, and Phil has always been my favorite captain. 

I wonder if they will continue to follow the Cornelia Marie next season, or if there will be a different boat?

The Tulsa Zoo!

Guest post written by Krista Wilkie

The Tulsa Zoo is about a two hour drive from our house. Last weekend we were excited to take the kids to see the animals. We would be gone all day so I set the home alarm products before we left to go. We stopped and picked up some food along the way. When we got there, we rented a wagon so the kids would not have to walk the entire time. They really enjoyed this all day. My favorite animals that we saw were the penguins. I had never seen them at a zoo before this trip. They were so cute running around playing in the water together. The girls really enjoyed the tigers. One of them was right up by the glass next to us. He didn't seem to be afraid of us. He just laid there taking a nice nap. We were able to take them on the little train ride. They enjoyed this part too. We got dipping dots for a snack. I love them and you can't find them at all where we live. We got cookies and cream flavor. Overall we had a wonderful day together. The zoo only took a few hours to look at everything but it was worth the drive to Tulsa.

Can You Spot The Lie?

 

Diana tagged me for this last week, so I figured I needed to get one the ball! 

The rules are as follows:
- thank the person who gave you the award
- copy the logo and place it on your blog
- link to the person who nominated you
- tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself and at least one outrageous truth, or vice-versa
- nominate seven "creative" writers
- post links to the blogs you nominated


Okay, so here are my "truths".  Can you spot the lie?

1.  I hate talking on the phone.  In fact, if I know I have to call someone I am not used to speaking with, I have a mini panic attack.  A few of my favorite bloggers have even send me their phone numbers with an invitation to call them, and it completely freaked me out.

2.  I have eaten cat poop.  I can only assume I thought it was a tootsie roll.

3.  I will eat anything.  In fact, one of my favorite things to do is try out new, unfamiliar foods.

4.  I don't drive.  I have never had my license and probably never will, unless something happens to my husband and I have no other choice but to drive myself.  I have a very irrational fear of getting in an accident, and something happening to my kids.  I would never be able to forgive myself.  I know, I'm crazy.

5.  I had a breast reduction, and the doctor removed 15 pounds of breast tissue.  I am now a new, more confident woman.

6.  I collect elephants.  I have around 300 in my collection right now, and I can tell you where each one came from.

7.  I hate the movie Halloween.  The original one, not the remake.  This is weird because my daughter and I are scary movie buffs, and watch them every chance we get.  There is just something about Michael Myers that scares the crap out of me.  And that music?  Too creepy.

Okay, so do you think you know me well enough to spot the lie?

At this point I am supposed to nominate other bloggers to do this, but I am going to leave that up to you.  If you do decide to play along, let me know and I'll give you some link love!

I Want To Win The iPad!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of EZWINGAME.com. All opinions are 100% mine.
 I love Facebook.  I am on there several times a day, taking care of my pets and crops.  I have noticed lately that a lot of my friends are entering sweepstakes to win some pretty great prizes.  Of course, I had to check it out for myself, because I want to win, too.  I was cautious, though, because I know some of those apps on Facebook ask for a lot of personal information that I am not comfortable giving out, like my cell phone number.  I was pleasantly surprised when I signed up at EZWINGAME.com, and they didn't ask for anything more than my email address.   Registering took about thirty seconds, and I then I was entering to win prizes. 

There are ways to get more entries, like inviting your friends and family, or posting your entry as your Facebook status so those friends can enter too, using your specific referral code.  The great thing about this is that if the person you referred wins, so do you.  Not bad, right?  You can also play games to earn entries.  I just put together a puzzle, which was pretty cool, and when I play four more games, I will be entered into the sweepstakes. And the prizes are great!  They give away ipods and ipads, computers and wii's, and more.

Go check it out for your chance to win.  What have you got to lose?

So, How Was Your Father's Day?

Junior says he had a good one, but I'm not too sure. 

I made breakfast in the morning, cantaloupe and biscuits, and then we just kind of hung around the house for a while.  Junior's hand is still bothering him (he goes back to the doctor tomorrow), so the only thing he wanted to do was hang out inside, where he would be cool.  After a little while, though, being stuck in the house got to all of us, so we headed over to my mom's, where Junior could hang out inside while we played in the pool.  I cooked supper on the grill, and then we headed home.  I felt bad that Junior spent his Father's Day sitting inside while we all had fun, but he insisted that he didn't want all of us to be miserable just because he was. 

I told him that next weekend, when his hand is feeling better, we will do something special.

I Have No Sense Of Fashion. At All.

I do not know much about fashion.  I am not sure what the hottest trends are right now, or what is the must have item of the season.  I wear simple clothes.  I don't wear makeup.  I am probably a fashion disaster, but that's okay with me.  I do, however, know what I like, and I am loving this leather jacket.  Not for myself, of course, but for Junior.  I think he would look great in it.  It has almost a classic look, which I like.  It's something that he can wear today, and also five years from today.

At least that's my opinion.

It was designed by Bian Variani. Fashion Designer Bian Variani designs for Massari "Be Easy" Music Video Hit's #1 on the Charts. When you watch the video below, check out the orange and white jacket the singer is wearing while leaning up against the car.  That was also designed by Bian Variani.


The colors of that jacket are a little bold for me, but that is what this designer is known for.  In fact, I read that "his signature style can be characterized as sexy to the point of excess, with an unabashed use of vibrant color, streamlined cuts and a high fashion approach to both fabric choices and design".

It doesn't sound like he would design something I would wear, but then again, I'm no celebrity.  At least not to other people. In my own mind, I'm a rockstar!

Kasi And Her Great Grandmother

Can you see a resemblance?  Maybe a little?

I am so glad that my kids are getting the opportunity to spend time with my grandmother.  They didn't really get to know my Pop Pop, because he died when they were little.  They are old enough now to remember this time they are spending with her, and that makes me happy.

The Fairly Odd Parents

The Fairly OddParents is one of the shows that I most enjoy watching with my children. This is due to the fact that the show can be accessed any time through the options and menus provided by my Satellite TV service, which is one reason I chose it when I compared cable tv vs satellite Chicago. Usually, my children enjoy watching television while doing their school work when they return home from school. The option of being able to view the show anytime I like is simply great, and is also very pleasing for my children.

The fairly OddParents is a children's show that is like no other. My children enjoy watching this show for its funny jokes, cool animation, quirky characters, and immense story lines. While the show does not have many deep themes, it mainly focuses on issues that children may face in regards from doing what is right and what is wrong. The show allows my children to gain knowledge about what is right and what is wrong, while also being able to laugh and enjoy themselves during homework time.

Out of all kids shows, The Fairly OddParents is one that stands out. This is due to the fact that my children can have enjoyment while learning and doing their homework. I allow them to view this show while they do their school work due to the fact that it also is teaching them, so either way they are learning. Simply put, The Fairly OddParents is a great show that can be enjoyed by children, teens, and parents alike.

My Day. It Was A Long, But Good One

Brandi is still sick.  Well, I say sick because she is running a fever, but she has no other symptoms.  When I ask how she feels, she says nothing hurts (ears, throat, chest, stomach), she just doesn't feel good.  For a while this afternoon, her fever broke, and I thought she was doing better.  She even got in the pool for awhile.  When we got back home, her temp was back to 101.7.  I'm thinking we might just hang out at home tomorrow and let her, and Junior, start feeling better.

Junior's hand is looking better.  It is in no way looking good, but it look better than it did yesterday.  This is a good thing, because it means he won't go in for surgery on Monday.  Huge sigh of relief.  I think the high dose of antibiotics is doing the trick.  He is still hurting, but the pain medicine is making it bearable.

I spent today with my mom, sister, Grandmother, and my favorite aunt.  I was so close to her growing up, and it was wonderful to spend time with her today.  She has to fly back to Florida in the morning, so I dragged Brandi over to my mom's house and set her up in bed with her movies while I visited.  Do I get the bad mom award for that?  I am not usually emotional, but I cried when I saw my Aunt today.  It's been about 6 years since I have seen her.  When I was little, I used to spend weeks at a time at her house.  If we had a vacation from school, I was at her house.  During the summer, I spent weeks on end over there.  She is the only person in the world still allowed to call me Jenny.

I guess that's about it.  I am beat, and ready for bed.  I know I have said this before, but swimming, and being in the sun, wears me out!

What's Your Opinion?

I want new glasses.  The ones I am wearing now are a few years old, and a little outdated.  They are gold, rectangular looking things that really don't fit we the right way.  I always feel like I have to really focus my eyes to see through them.  I really want to order a couple of pairs from Zenni Optical.  They have glasses (full pairs) starting at $8, so I could order a couple of pairs. 

I remember when I first started wearing eyeglasses.  They didn't have online stores to order from, and there was never a store offering such good quality glasses as such a reasonable price.  I have been reading, though, that those of us who want to order these glasses online are having a hard time finding an Optician who will measure them for their PD, which is the distance between the pupils of the eyes, center to center, in Millimeters.  Many of them are wanting to charge a fee for this service, and to be honest, I can not blame them.  Do I think it should be some outrageous price?  Absolutely not.  But I do think they need to be compensated for their time. I mean, by buying glasses online, you can save a lot of money, sometimes even hundreds of dollars.  Shelling out a little more to find out your PD shouldn't be that big of a deal.

At least that is my opinion.

When It Rains, It Freakin' Pours!

Junior's hand is a mess.  He had to go back to the ER this morning to have it checked, and the doctor didn't like the way it looked.  He didn't think the antibiotic was working well, and Junior lost some range of motion in his hand, so the doctor sent him to a specialist.

The specialist really didn't like the way it looks.  He put Junior on another antibiotic (a very high dosage) and finally gave the poor guy some pain medicine.  He also re-packed the wound, and showed Junior how to do it himself, because between now and Monday, Junior has to pull the old dressing out and put in a new one, twice a day.  We had to get a special (aka expensive) medicated gauze to go into the wound.  If the medicine doesn't kick in over the weekend, Junior is looking at having surgery Monday morning.

Fun, right?  The poor guy is freaking out, and I can't blame him.  They are talking about going in and scraping out the infection.  I used a black sharpie to outline the redness today, that way we will know for sure if there is any improvement.  I remember them doing the same thing to my boob.  I am hoping and praying that by tomorrow we see it getting better, and that there is real improvement by Sunday.  If you find it in your heart, send up a little prayer too. It would be greatly appreciated.

To top off today, Brandi decided to get sick.  She is running a fever (101.2) and not feeling great.  I was supposed to babysit my nephew in the morning, and my grandmother and aunt are coming in tomorrow, too.  If she still has a fever in the morning, we won't be able to go see them.  I'm not to worried about seeing my grandmother, because she will be here all week.  My aunt is leaving on Sunday, though, and I really wanted to see her.

We are also supposed to go to my dad's house on father's Day, but I am not too sure if Junior will be up to socializing.  Right now, he is in a drug induced sleep (thank you lortab!), and I think he wants to stay that way.  I can't blame the guy, though.  If there was gauze stuffed into a cut on my hand, I'd be wanting to sleep away the pain, too.

I am off to get some work done, and maybe go take Brandi to bed.  She is looking pretty pitiful. :(

What Is Your RingTone?

You can tell a lot about some one's personality by the ring tone they choose for their phone.   My ring tone is the one that was programed into my phone when I got it, which tells people that I am too lazy to personalize it.  Or too cheap to pay for a song.  Honestly, it's a mixture of both of those things.  I'm too lazy and too cheap.

Ryan's phone plays Pants On The Ground.  Every time his phone rings, I cringe, especially when we are in public.  I wish he would choose something different, maybe something by Katty perry (I know her name is spelled wrong).  He used to have it play Highway To Hell by AC/DC, but I made him change that.  I am all for letting him be his own person, but we would get strange looks when his phone rang in public.  You know the look that you give a mother who is knowingly letting her kid do something wrong.  Yeah, that look. 

We were in the store last week, and the woman in front of us in line had a call come in, and her phone played Smile by Uncle Kracker.  I love that song, but Ryan hates it.  He asked me if he could ask her to borrow her phone to change her ring tone.  He's a funny kid.

Third Time's A Charm?

I am once again participating in Follow Me Friday, which is hosted by the lovely Lydia from Still On The Verge. 

If you are also participating, welcome to my blog!  I am hoping that this week, I can get over the 300 mark.  

*fingers crossed*

I have a lot going on today, so if I don't get to visit you, fear not.  I will be making the rounds as soon as I can!

A Cool Giveaway

I just entered to win a $10 gift card to racetrack, that I can use to get myself a refillable mug, and a few snacks.  The mug is awesome, though, because I can use it all summer to get free refills!  Now, I am constantly drinking.  Whenever we leave the house, I make Junior stop and get me a drink.  The store right up the road sells 32 ounce drinks for $.69, which is awesome, but FREE drinks is even better!

I know...you want to enter too.  Just head over to A Caring Heart and enter her giveaway here.

Good Luck!

My Poor Husband

Recently, my husband cut his hand.  He doesn't remember exactly how it happened, but he thinks it was when he was cutting down trees at my mom's house.  The cut is on the top of his hand, and a couple of days ago, he started complaining about it hurting and swelling.  Yesterday, he decided that he needed to do something about it, so against my advice, he tried to stick a needle into it. 

Sure enough, all kinds of gross stuff came out, but it didn't help with the pain.  Today at work, he noticed he couldn't close his fist.  His hand was that swollen.  So he left work and headed to the ER.  (these are the times I wish we had insurance...he could have just gone to a regular doctor)  A few hours later he was home, and this is what his hand now looks like.  Turns out he has a nice little staph infection, so they numbed him up, cut it open, drained it, stuck gauze into the hole with a drainage tube, and he is out of work until he goes back to the ER on Friday for them to take all that crap out of it and see if it's healing.  He is also on antibiotics.  The doctor didn't give him anything for pain, but luckily we had some leftover painkillers from Brandi's last ear infection, so for now he is sleeping. 

Drug induced sleep, but at least he is resting. 

A New Knife For Junior

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Swiss Army. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have shared many, many stories about my husband, Junior, since I started this blog.  Those of you who have paid attention know that he is a jack of all trades.   He will drop everything to help out a friend, and he doesn't think twice about getting dirty to get the job done.  Right now, he is transforming a lean-to at my mom's house into a storage shed for pool supplies.  I have pictures I will post as soon as the job is completed, so I can show before and after.

Because he is so handy, Junior has just about every tool known to man.  He carries them around in the van, so he is always prepared if an emergency arises.  The only problem with this is when he takes Ryan fishing, and they need a knife or a saw or something, Ryan has to run back to the van to get it.  You're probably asking why they need a saw, right?  Well, Ryan told me the last time they went night fishing, they were cutting down small trees and burning them in a huge fire.  Junior didn't have a saw to get the branches and twigs small enough, so they had to break them by hand.  This year for Father's Day, I want to get him a Dual Pro X Swiss army knife so that he will be prepared, even when he is fishing. 

I also want him to become a fan of the Share the Adventure Facebook Page, where he can participate in Share the Adventure for a chance to win great products and compete for a $25,000 Ultimate Adventure. You should fan them too, so you can join in the fun. 

It's Getting Hard To Watch

I am going to warn you now...if you haven't watched tonight's episode of Deadliest Catch, and you don't want to know what happened, stop reading.

Everyone else, let me ask you a question.  Are you finding it hard to watch the show knowing what is going to happen in the next few weeks?

I know tonight, the last five minutes ripped my heart out.  Listening to Phil tell Jake that he wanted nothing else to do with him, and then hearing Jake admit to being an addict...holy crap.  I wanted to yell at the television that they needed to make up, because there isn't much time left.  I don't want Phil to die feeling that way about his son, and I don't want Jake having to live with that.  I am hoping that on next weeks episode, before the inevitable happens, that they can sit down and make up.  Or that it happens while Phil is still alive in the hospital.  I want Jake to get the help he needs. 

And on another note, what is up with the other Jake's (Northwestern) father being missing?  Why haven't I heard anything about this before tonight?  I hope everything works out for him and his family, too. 

This episode really got to me, and I am trying to prepare myself for what is to come.  It's going to be hard.

The Perfect Gift

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of FriendGiftr. All opinions are 100% mine.
Father's Day is this weekend, and I have no idea what the kids and I are going to get Junior.  We usually get him tools of some sort, but he is at the point where he has just about every tool he needs, and then some.  Ryan always wants to get him fishing stuff, but I never know what he has or what he needs.

This is where FriendGiftr comes in handy.  I can get Junior a gift card with $10, $20, $25, $35, $50, $75, or $100 on it, to one of 120 different stores.  I would, of course, get him a gift card to Bass Pro Shops.  He has been talking for years about taking a trip to the closest store to us, which happens to be an hour or so away.  I think having a gift card to spend might motivate him a little more to make the trip.

Of course, if he doesn't want to shop at that store, he can trade in his gift card and get one to another store, completely free of charge.  I love this idea, because there have been times I have been given gift cards to stores I never shop at, and I would have loved to trade them in.  That is why from now on, when I give a gift card as a gift, I will use this site.  That way I know that the recipient will be able to get what they want.  I won't even know if they trade it in for something else.  Talk about the perfect gift!

Quick Update

Can you tell how much better it looks?  I have been putting a lot of after sun lotion and a Jergens hydrating lotion on it, and it seems to be healing. 

I am looking forward to this weekend.  Not only is it Father's Day, but my grandmother and aunt are coming to visit, and I haven't seen them in years.  Brandi was so little she doesn't remember ever meeting them, so this will be good for her.  My aunt is only here for the weekend, but my Grandmother is staying for the whole week. 

I see a lot of swimming and cooking out in my future, which is awesome!

Saving Money On Baby Formula

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.
Do you have any idea how much money parents spend on formula for their kids?  I just used the Parent's Choice Savings Calculator and I was shocked by the number it came up with.  Check it out:

The prices they used are from 2008, so I am not sure if they are reflecting the prices of formula today, but still.  By buying the store brand, instead of the name brand formula, you can save over $600 a year.  Think about all the things you could do with that money.  You could start up a college fund, buy diapers, or any number of different things.  It has also been proven recently that all infant formula must meet specific FDA guidelines, so the name brand is just as nutritious for your baby.

I remember when we had Brandi, she went through several different types of formula before we finally settled on a lactose free one, so I know first hand how hard it can be finding the perfect formula.  If you need help, try using this Parent's Choice Formula Finder. Just answer three simple questions, and they will recommend one of their formulas.  Don't think it's a definite, though, because when I answered the questions based on Brandi's needs as an infant, they told me they didn't have a formula for her, which is weird.

I love that Parent's choice has so many different resources available to help parents find the answers they are looking for.  I wish I knew about this when my kids were infants.

A Day Off

 Gotta love that smile!

We didn't swim today.  I needed a break from the sun and to get my house clean.  Thankfully, both things have been accomplished.  I did run up to the grocery store with Junior, and I am happy to be back in the AC.  It is hot outside!

Masters Online for Me

Guest post from mommy blogger Karen Stifler

Using satellite internet services to take classes is a really great idea if you have children as I do. I took a few classes on the internet as an undergrad and I really enjoyed the freedom. During my undergrad the classes I took were through my regular commuter university, for my masters I am doing completely online. I am even taking my classes from a university that is about a thousand miles away from my home. Since the program is set up entirely online I never have to visit the brick and mortar campus at all.

When my husband and I first moved to our new home with our three small children I decided I wanted to get a master's degree. Since I wasn't a resident yet I would have had to wait a year to take classes at the nearby university for in state rates. After I thought about it I decided to look into online classes, this way I could get my Master's and stay home with the kids.

Thanks to hughes net satellite internet, we live so far in the county we couldn't get cable, I have had no problem meeting the demands of an all internet course load. I am going to school online, full time while my kids sleep. I am getting a full accredited Master's in Education. The classes are no more difficult than they would be in person and I have the freedom to work at my own pace. I will never go back to a traditional campus setting.

Better?

Okay, so the sunburn is a little better today.  I think the burn cream is working, and I had on a lot of sunblock today while I was in the pool.  I have to tell you...I am exhausted!  Being in the pool/sun all day for a few days can wear a person out.  Aside from the burn on my chest, the rest of me is finally getting tan.  (can't you tell?) We are staying home tomorrow, though.  This way, I can have a day out of the sun, and maybe catch up on all the housework and computer stuff I have been neglecting.

Maybe...or I might just be lazy and re-watch the new episode of True Blood on demand.  You know how much I love my vampires.

This Is How It Looks Today

I. Am. In. Pain.

Yup, it seems to be getting worse before it gets better.  The only thing that seems to ease the burn is an actual burn cream that Junior got for me.  I haven't tried the vinegar yet, because I don't have any in the house and I forgot to get some at the store today.  Aloe makes it hurt worse, which is weird, but when I put it on, I had to pour an entire bottle of water on it to ease the burning as I wiped it off.  I have an after sun cream that is working on the rest of my chest and back and shoulders.

The funny thing is, today we were in the pool for about 6 hours (I know!) and it didn't hurt then.  I was, of course, covered in sunscreen.  I took this picture about five minutes ago.  I just got out of the shower, and put the burn cream on it...that's why it's shiny.

Is it crazy that I plan on spending a few more hours swimming tomorrow?

Avalon Wall-to-Wall Panoramic Windows

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

I have always wanted to go on a cruise.  I love the water, and the thought of visiting foreign places on a boat is really exciting.  I would love to experience a cruise on Avalon Waterways.  The rooms on these ships look beautiful.  You can get a room that has a huge window.  Check it out:

Isn't that amazing?  I know when I think of cruise ships, I think of rooms with little port hole (is that what they are called?) windows that don't open.  Imagine the fresh air and view from these windows!  You wouldn't miss a thing if sea sickness kept you in your room the whole cruise.

You can find out more about these rooms, and the ship, at www.avalonwaterways.com.  You can take a 3D tour of the ship, which for some reason I wasn't able to do on my computer.  I was able to check out the amenities, and there are a bunch, like flat screen televisions and mini-fridges.  You can Request a free cruise brochure and see if one of these cruises are right for you.

I'm thinking I would like to visit the Galapagos Islands.  Or China.  Or Egypt.  I think I might just have to take several cruises so I can check out all these wonderful destinations.

My Sunburn

Nice, right? 

This is my chest, and it hurts! 

This seems to be the worst spot though, and right now it is peeling.  In fact, my entire back, chest, and shoulders are peeling.  I had Kasi peeling me this morning, and then while I was in the pool this afternoon, my skin was sliding off. 

I know, it's gross.

I'm hoping from here on out I will just tan.  And yes, I am wearing sunscreen...it just doesn't work too well.

Keeping The Heat Out

Right now, I have a sheet hanging over the big windows in my living room.  As much as I loved the sun and how it brightens this room, it also heats it up very quickly, and then the air conditioner runs non-stop.  Since hanging the sheet, it has been a lot cooler, and our power bill hasn't gone through the roof.

I wish I could hang something other than a sheet, though, because it looks horrible.  I was looking into Window Film and More and found a design I really like.  Check it out:

I would love to hang this film on my windows.  If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I want everything in my house to be black, from my appliances (which are) to my couches (which will be when we replace these old hand me downs someday).  These little rectangles will allow a little sunlight to come in, but I don't think it will be enough to heat up the room like direct sunlight does.  I read the customer testimonials, and every one praised the product, from ease of installation to the quality of the product.

If only they had an elephant pattern.  That would have been perfect for me. :)

I Am Trying Here, People, But I Still Don't Get It

I have been Tweeting, irregularly.  I just set it up through Facebook that when I post a new blog post, it will show up on my Twitter page.  I tweet to enter some contests, but only if I can just copy and past.  I don't understand all the # and @.  I really don't.  Reading some of the status' of the people I follow gets really confusing sometimes with all the links.  Seriously, I just don't get it.  I have people I have never heard of follow me.  For about a week, and then they run away.  I don't blame them, though, because I do not tweet on a regular basis, and i usually don't follow back.  The only people I seek out, most of the time, are celebrities and musicians.  For instance, I follow "Coop" from Nurse Jackie, and his tweets crack me up.  Especially on Monday nights when they are about the show. 

But anyway, do any of you have any advice for me?  Tell me what it is you love about twitter.  Convince me this isn't the stupidest invention in ages, because believe it or not, I really do want to understand.

Work Before Play, At Least For Today

No pool for us today.  I couldn't have timed a day away from the pool better, because it is raining outside, which means we couldn't have swam anyway.   I told my mom yesterday that I wanted to stay home today and get some stuff done around the house that I have been neglecting.  Plus, my sun burn is really bad, and I think a day out of the sun will help it get a little better.

Junior also made plans today, so he couldn't have taken us over there anyway.  When he got off of work, he came and picked up Ryan and they went to work on a Toyota Corolla.  The car belongs to a friends of Junior's ex-father-in-law, so he won't make much money putting in a new water pump.  But that's okay.  This is an older man who doesn't have much money,  and taking his car to a Chicago auto repair shop is out of the question, so Junior does the work cheap.  I believe in karma, so doing this for him will come back around to us someday.

Tomorrow, though, we are heading back to mom's to swim, and help her get the steps into the pool.  My foot and lower shin are bruised from where I fell trying to get out of the pool the other day, so I am looking forward to the steps being in.  It will be easier on the kids, too.  They are continuously getting out of the pool to jump back in down in the deep end. Brandi is a maniac, and yesterday always hit her head on the side of the pool as she jumped and spun on her way into the water.  Ryan has been working on diving, and he's getting the hang of it.

My dives are looking pretty good, too.

I Got My Free Chicken, And Then Some More

Last Friday, we headed to Chick-fil-A with our coupons to try their new spicy chicken sandwich.  After we ordered, we were each handed an envelope.  Inside was a thank you card, with three more coupons for free spicy chicken sandwiches.  That means I now have 12 coupons for free chicken sandwiches.  My first thought was to give some of them to you all, my dear readers.  But, they can only be used at my local Chick-fil-A, so they would be useless to you. 

I guess we'll be eating free chicken for a while now.

Family Movie Night

Thanks to Jacob Resnel for the guest post.

You would think that summer time would be different, but for most families, the truth is just the opposite. We watch TV during all the other seasons, but I think the good shows really seem to come on in the summer. Our directv choice package provides us with all the outlets we need when it comes to finding movies and such. While we would normally watch a movie every weekend during the school year, we watch at least one a night during the summer time.

We will build a fort in the living room and have a picnic inside it while we watch a movie. Sometimes we’ll act out the movie as we watch it, each person in the family will have a specific role to play. Occasionally we’ll have a complete movie night with popcorn, nachos, soda and candy. Very rarely we will have a movie marathon night and fall asleep in our chairs or on the couches.

Family movie night is more fun during the summer because you have to come up with ways to keep it fresh and inviting so it doesn’t get old. When you have movie night every night, the clean up isn’t that fun, but paper plates and cups solve that dilemma. Movie night comes with all sorts of options and benefits; the best part is how much fun you have coming up with a movie everyone will enjoy.

I Hate Pop Ups

Okay fellow bloggers.  I can not tell you how much I hate pop ups on your blogs.  If I want to subscribe to your feed or leave my email address, I will find a way to do it without the pop up.  Just put a little button in your sidebar or something.  If I visit your blog and I am met with a pop up, I will not go back.  I find them that annoying, and I doubt I am the only one.  This also goes for pop up ads that I have to click through to get to your blog.  Annoying.

Don't even get me started on the blogs that play music....they are the reason I keep the volume muted on my computer whenever I blog hop.

Playing With Paint

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.
One of the things I hate most about renting is that we are not allowed to paint the walls.  To me, when I want an easy change in a room, throwing a coat or two of paint on the walls is the best way to go.  I used to do this all the time when we weren't renting.  My biggest problem was always deciding on a color.

For instance, there was this one time when I wanted to repaint our living room.  I knew I wanted a shade of purple, but I didn't want something too pastel.  I was wanting something a little gray.  Junior took me to the store, and where I got a bunch of those color cards, but it was hard to imagine the color on the walls.  I should have gotten some Glidden paint testers, that way I could have seen the color on the wall.  The paint comes with a brush attached to the lid, so getting it on the wall is easy.  But I didn't, and I ended up painting the room a few times before I got the color I wanted.  It was not only a waste of time; it was a waste of money.

I just played around on www.Glidden.com, and was able to play around with the colors virtually.  As you can see below, I found a purple I liked for the walls, as well as lighter shade for the trim. 

You can choose colors based on your mood, or find a top ten pick for the room you are painting. I think is a great way to find exactly what you want, and they will even find the closest Home Depot for you so you can go get your paint choices.  My mom is in the process of painting her new house, so i think the next time I am over there, we'll check out this site together.  I am curious to see what her favorite colors will be.

Hey! Remember Me?

It is so weird, but I have hardly been on the computer at all the last three days.  This is why:

(that's Brandi under the water...she just jumped in)

Mom finally got the pool open, after a lot of hard work, and we were able to get wet and have fun.  We spent most of Saturday, yesterday, and today over there, enjoying the pool.  Tonight we had a throw together at the last minute cookout with mom, colleen, and the kids, and it was great.

The kids love the water as much as I do, which is awesome.  As a kid, I was always the first one in the pool, and the last one out.  My kids are the same way.  Ryan and Kasi are both swimming well enough to be in the deep end, but Kasi is not confident in her swimming enough to jump in yet.  but she'll get there.  Brandi has no fear at all, but I make her wear swimmies at all times, just for my peace of mind.  

I plan on spending a lot of time over at mom's this summer, so if I disappear for a few days, you'll know where to find me :D

Look What I Won!

Isn't it adorable!  It's a YooHoo friend

I entered a giveaway on Tammy's blog, and was tickled when I won, because I never win anything.  It came in the mail today, and the girls freaked out when i pulled it out of the package.  I had no idea that these little critters are actually a hot little toy to have around here.  My problem is that I won one toy, and I have two daughters. 

What to do?

I think I might just keep it for myself.  I mean, it is purple...