Top Droppers ~ August

The following bloggers dropped here 31 times last month!

comatised ~ Dreaming in digital

Guitarbench.com ~  Our aim is to provide you with free, valuable, original and timeless content written for real human beings. Not computer search engines.

Teen Suicide Talk ~ Teen Suicide and depression is such a huge problem in our society today. I'm trying to raise awareness and make resources available to anyone facing this huge dilemma.

Urban Art Blog ~ Urban art, fashion, music, movies and events.

One World Realty ~ a blog on real estate, investment tips on real estate business, and everything about real estate services in the Philippines. In Alexa's Top 100,000 websites in the world.

Parent Times ~ Parenting and personal insights of a working mother.

Professional Learning Resource Center ~ Center for Personal Development, Professional Learning and Education, Business Success, Business Management, Business Strategy, Leadership, Project Management, Sales, Marketing, Investment, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Stock Trading, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, Law, Insurance, Human Resource, IT Computers, Technology Update, Lifestyle Improvement.

bethere2day ~ bethere2day is a personal blog about anything and everything, fun, humour, randomness and rants.

Slightly Sarcastic ~ Sarcasm, stories and lots of BS

Cheapest Discount Bookstore Online ~ Buy Cheap Bargain Books Online on Cheapest Online Bookstore. BUY PDF EBOOKS on Online Discount Bookstores. Business, Investment, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Sales, Marketing, Business Strategy, Management, Leadership, Stock Trading, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, Law, Insurance, Human Resource, Project Management, IT Computers, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Bioengineering and many more

Thanks again!  You guys rock!

Boudreaux's Butt Paste

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux's Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.
 It has been a really long time since I have had a child in diapers.  My youngest potty trained herself at about 18 months, which was awesome.  I remember those diaper days, though, and sometimes, no matter how often you change them, babies get diaper rash.

If you have a baby, you should try Boudreaux's Butt Paste the next time you are dealing with a diaper rash.   (if you click on the link you can get a free sample!)  This Butt Paste was "specifically formulated by a pharmacist with direction from a respected pediatrician to provide effective diaper rash care".  My sister actually uses is, and she loves it.  Unlike other diaper rash creams, it wipes off easily.  If you are a mom of a child with a red butt, you know how important it is not to have to fight to get the diaper rash cream off.  I mean, you are using this stuff to help their little bottoms feel better, not worse.  You can easily throw some in your diaper bag, too, because it comes in a variety of sizes, from 1 ounce tubes to 16 ounce jars.

I am going to keep this stuff in mind the next time I have to make up a gift bag for a baby shower.

Sorority Row

Most of you know that Kasi and I are big horror movie buffs.  It is one of the things that her and I do alone together, without Ryan and Brandi.  This past weekend, we rented Sorority Row.

When this movie first came out, there was a lot of talk about it because it was Rumer Willis' first "big" movie roll.   (for those who don't know, she is the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore)  A lot of people were wondering if she could act, and I have to say, she did a pretty decent job. 

The story itself was pretty good, too.  A lot of horror movies are pretty predictable, but I was surprised when we found out who the killer was in the end. 

I recommend this movie for all you horror movie buffs out there.

Coupon Chief ~ A Great Place To Find Coupon Codes

I did it again. 

I bought something online without checking for coupon codes first.

Seriously, people.  What is wrong with me?  Ryan found a book bag that he wanted, and I just went ahead and bought it.  It was only after I hit the "submit order" button that it occurred to me that I might be able to find Amazon coupons online.  In fact, I went ahead and looked anyway, and sure enough, I found a bunch of coupon codes on http://www.couponchief.com.  This site is pretty cool, because it lists all kinds of discount codes to hundreds of different stores.  It is easy to find the store you are looking for, too, because they are arranged alphabetically. 

I was browsing through the stores, and was actually surprised to find a couple of coupon codes for Claire's.  We have one of these stores in our local mall, and Brandi has been drooling over all the earrings.  She won't be able to wear any for a while because her ears are still healing from the piercing, but I want to get her some for Christmas.  I found a Claire's coupon code for $10 off a purchase of $15 or more, which is an awesome deal.

Let's just hope that I remember to use it.

Thank You, Amazon.com

My child is obsessed with all things Selena Gomez and Wizards of Waverly Place.  When we were buying her school supplies, she wanted everything we bought to be that theme.  Unfortunately, the only thing we could find was her book bag, which has Selena Gomez on it.

Last week, Kasi was looking for a book bag online.  I had gotten a bunch of gift codes for Amazon.com, so I told her to find a book bag she liked and I would get it for her.  What I didn't know was that Brandi heard me tell her that, so she started scouring Amazon for anything Selena Gomez.

She found a lunch box.  She already has a lunch box, so I told her no.  She begged.  And begged.  And BEGGED for the Wizard's Of Waverly Place lunch box, and because I am a sucker, I bought it for her.  It was delivered Saturday, and she was thrilled to be able to use it today.

Kasi did find a book bag, and that came last week.  No pictures, though.  You know how teenagers can be.

Finding Cheap Car Insurance Online

Last February, Junior paid for a year's worth of car insurance so that we would have one less bill to worry about every month. I think he paid around $250 for a years worth of coverage.  Since he is the only driver and has a pretty good driving record, he was able to get a pretty good deal on affordable car insurance.

Now that Ryan is going to turn 15 soon, he thinks he will be able to get his learner's permit.  Now, I am not opposed to him learning how to drive, but I don't think that just because the laws says you are old enough to do something, that you should automatically be allowed to do it.  There are a lot of factors that come into play, such as maturity, and with me, his grades.  I believe that he needs to prove to me that he is responsible enough before he can drive.

Another factor will be finding discount auto insurance that will cover a new driver, especially one so young.  I know it is going to be expensive having him on our policy.  I have heard horror stories about the price of insuring  teen aged drivers.  I am sure Junior and I will be getting quite a few free auto policy quotes before deciding which offers the best deal.  The only thing I know for sure is that whatever we decide will have to wait until after Christmas.  Santa has a lot of shopping to do before spending money on car insurance.

Trust

 Does your employer have the right to know exactly what you have been doing on your computer at work?  I know some companies do not allow internet access, while others simply limit the sites you can visit.  I would hate to work for a company that felt like they couldn't trust me, but I guess these policies are in place to make sure nothing illegal is going on.

I have the same conflicted thoughts when it comes to monitoring my kids online activity.  I have no problem checking their histories to make sure they aren't visiting porn sites, or places like that, but I don't think I need to know their every key stroke by using spy software.  When I was growing up, computers were fairly new, and the internet didn't exist.  Parents snooped on their kids by going through their rooms.  Now parents would have to check cell phones and computers, as well as bedrooms and dresser drawers.  I know some parents think it is their right to do this.  I don't agree with that.  Now, if my kids give me a reason not to trust them, then all bets are off.  You know I will be all up in their business, checking whatever I felt necessary.  But as far as searching their rooms, or computers, looking for who knows what, well, I don't think I could do that.  I want my kids to trust me, and know that they can come to me for anything.  I think that I have to show them that I trust them in order for that to happen.  Does that make sense?

Who knows.  In a few years, when my kids are a little older, I might change my mind.  I may need to monitor their online activity more closely, to make sure they are staying on the right path.  All I know is that for now, I am going to trust my kids to make the right choices.

Finally, A Relaxing Weekend!

 I know Summer is coming to en end, and as much as I don't want it to, a part of me is looking forward to the lazy Fall days ahead.  This past weekend, we were supposed to spend Saturday and Sunday at my mom's house, but Saturday morning, a friend of Junior's called and asked if he could help move a building, so he went and did that.  Made an easy $80, so it was worth it.  He took Ryan with him, which left me and the girls home alone.

Kasi and I found a scary movie to watch while Brandi was playing with her play-doh.  This kid goes through phases, where she will play with one thing for days on end, and then suddenly switch to something else.  Right now, it's play-doh.  She has been building with it and pretend cooking with it and using her imagination in some awesome ways. 

On Sunday, we did go to my mom's.  Ryan and Junior worked while the girls swam.  I got in the pool for a little while, but I was so tired I fell asleep on a float, which is not a good thing to do when watching kids.  So I got out and decided to spend some time with Dean Koontz.

I have read just about all of his books, except the Frankenstein series.  A few months ago when the 4th book came out, I decided to start reading it.  I was able to find one book that had the first three books in it (a collection of sorts) and I haven't been able to put it down.  I was expecting a re-telling of the old Frankenstein, but that's not what this is.  This is a modern day story that has completely sucked me in.  I am almost finished with the second book, and can't wait to see how this all ends.

I Am Over My Addiction! (At Least For Now)

 Do you have an addictive personality?  I'm afraid that I do.  When I find something I like, I do it (or eat it!) until I can't stand it anymore.  I used to be this way about all the games online, but I have finally grown tired of most of them.  In fact, there is only one game that I still play on a regular basis, but not everyday.  It's nice not worrying about feeding my pets or my food spoiling. 

I think I might have passed my love of games onto my kids, though, which may not be a good thing.  My son especially spends a lot of time playing online, though now that school has started back, I limit his daily computer time to 90 minutes, unless he is working on homework.  I have the same rule for the girls, but they usually just spend a few minutes online a day.

Junior will occasionally get online, but he isn't too interested in playing the games the kids and I like.  He would rather play card games or slots.  I usually don't have a problem with this, as long as he doesn't play on "real money" sites.  There are websites that list the best sites to gamble at, and they help you to find places to do some Online Gambling UK.  I make sure that Junior stays away from these sites, because we don't have an extra money for him to be gambling.  Playing for fun is one thing, but gambling can become addictive, and I don't need him developing my addictive personality.

One of us in the house is enough.

A Great Giveaway!

See all that General Mills products in the picture?  Small Town Mommy is hosting a giveaway, and the winner will get all those things, plus a $25 Target gift card.  How cool is that?  Today is the last day to enter, which you can do here. 

Good luck!

Life Is Good

I have a bad habit of stealing things off of other people's blogs, saving a draft in my posts, and then forgetting where I got it from.  This is one of those things.  I don't remember if the above is an award I'm supposed to pass along, or if it was just decoration.  I don't remember if someone asked me to do this, or if I just "stole" it.  If it was from you, give me a shout out, and I will totally give you credit.  If you want to steal it from me, that's okay too. :)  So, onward we go....

1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing it that way; if you are not anonymous do you wish you had started out anonymously so you could be anonymous now? 

I am about as non-anonymous as they come.  If I'm feeling it, it ends up on a blog.  Maybe not this one, but on one of them.  My journey tends to get the most personal, but I like to believe I am honest in everything I write.

2. Describe one incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

Oh my.  There are so many, I am sure, but none come to mind right now.  I'm sure if I asked Junior, he could rattle off a million examples. LOL!

3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?

Beauty.  Seriously, I may be unhappy with my weight, but I know I am beautiful...on the inside as well as the outside.  Do I sound a little conceited?  Oh well.  It is what it is. :p

4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Diet sprite or ice cold water...either one suits me just fine.

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

I read, or watch a good movie.  Mostly reading, though.

6. Is there something you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

Eventually, I want to get over my fear of driving and go get my license. Will that actually ever happen?  Who knows.  Probably not.

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the class shy person, or always ditching school?

I was the kid all the teachers put in charge when they left the room.  Every time.  I was quiet and shy, and still am.  Until I get to know you.  Then I never shut up.

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what do you see?

Wow.  This is a tough one.  I guess I'd say the day Ryan was born.  Or, more specifically, the next morning, which was the first time I remember holding him.  I had always wanted nothing more in life than to be a mom, and he granted me that. (okay, I don't think that sentence makes sense, but you get the point)

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?

Again, I think I write from my heart, so it's easy to share myself.  I mean, most of you who have been reading this blog for any length of time know that I don't hold back.

10. If you had the choice to sit and read or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

Read.  I HATE talking on the phone.  Seriously, there are days that my phone never rings, and that is fine by me.  In fact, there are many, many times when I will sit here and let it go to voicemail because I don't feel like talking.

So there you go.  A little bit more about me.

Another Halloween Themed Birthday Party

 It's almost that time of year again.  In a little over two months, Ryan will be turning 15.  Most days I can't believe I am old enough to have a child that old, but I guess I am.  Where have the last 20 or so years gone since high school?  It's crazy how fast time flies.

So, I asked Ryan the other day what he wanted to do for his birthday this year, and he said he wants to have another Halloween party.  You have no idea how happy this makes me!  For the past three years, he has had Halloween themed parties for his birthday.  Last year, after Halloween, I bought all kinds of Halloween Decorations when they went on clearance, so I have tons of new stuff to use.   I even have a pumpkin pinata.

My house is small, so I will probably set up the gazebo tents in the yard and string some lights on them, that way the boys can hang out outside.  I am hoping that this year Ryan will want to invite some girls.  I think he's getting to that age where having a boy/girl party is the thing to do.

Either way, I am looking forward to seeing how all the kids dress up.

Saving Money On Movie Tickets

Do you go to the movies often?  We don't, simply because it costs so much money these days.  The girls and I went to see Eclipse recently, and we went to the first show of the day so that we could pay matinee prices.  Even then, I still spent over $20 on three tickets.  I wish I had looked online and found these Fandango Bucks Movie Ticket Gift Certificates.   You can buy them for less than half of what they are worth, and then use them to buy movie tickets on Fandango.com.  That's not a bad deal.

Braids

Every morning, Brandi tells me how she wants her hair.  Some days, she is happy with a ponytail.  Some days, she just wants it brushed.

Then there are the mornings when she gives me specific instructions, and I better get it right.  This morning was one of those mornings.  She wanted a braid on each side, connected into one braid in the back.  I think I nailed it.

I don't know where she comes up with these hairstyles, but this one was pretty cute.  I wonder what I'll be doing tomorrow???

I Still Don't Understand HTML Or SEO

Last week, I helped a friend change her blog over from a blogspot URL to her own dot com.  Anna, I know you are probably laughing at me, but you should be proud!  I didn't do any of the technical stuff, but I did help her figure out that she had to do a few things on blogger to direct her new URL there.  (I actually remembered that part from when you helped me) Once we figured it out and had everything working, we discussed blogging in general, and how different blogs have different widgets and things on them.  I confessed to knowing nothing about Search Engine Optimisation.  I have tried, in the past, to get a grip on all the technical stuff that goes along with having a blog, but I just don't get it.  My mind is not wired to understand.  The only things on my blog are things that I have seen on other blogs, and I was able to find step by step directions on how to get it on mine.  If blogger didn't make it so easy to add all the HTML things to my sidebar, I am not sure there would be a thing over there.

Maybe I need to find a "Website Building For Dummies" book in the library.  Do you think they have one of those?

This Guy Reminds Me Of That Movie, A Bugs Life

Remember that movie?  With the evil grasshoppers that make all the ants collect food for them?  I haven't watched that movie in a long time, but as soon as I saw this guy I immediately thought of it.  Of course, my husband was more than happy to pick him up for me to get a good shot.  I felt bad for the little guy, though, because he only had one back leg, so he was kind of hopping a little crooked. 

Yeah, it was pretty funny, too.

Planning a Birthday Party With Online Sources

I appreciate the guest post, Lindsay Valdez

Planning a birthday party, whether for a child or an adult, can be a daunting task. I made it simple by using online resources, which saved me a lot of time going from store to store hoping they would have what I needed.

After checking hughesnet availability I was able to locate great websites that gave me party theme ideas, games to play during the party, food suggestions and more. I could even order a birthday cake for the party online.

Some of my favorite sites like Party City offer matching plates, napkins, cups and tableclothes which really look great, and a huge selection of party favors and balloons. For those of us who like to prepare our own cakes, there is a whole section of cake pans and cake decorating supplies available at good prices. Many of the online party supply places do custom invitations, which always adds a personal touch to any birthday party.
I find that using the internet to plan a birthday party quite often saves me money, and always saves me time!

Cruising

One of the guys that Junior works with just got back from a cruise.  He was telling Junior how much fun it was, and how he believes that we would have a good time if we went.  We have been thinking about doing something different for vacation next year, and taking cruise holidays would definitely be something different.

I told Junior I would look up cruise deals online, to see how much it would cost for us to go on a cruise as a family.  I was surprised to find out that a lot of cruise ships these days have wonderful things for the kids to do.  Some of them even have 'slumber parties" so that parents can have a night to themselves.  I think that is pretty cool.

I was browsing Ideal Cruising and found some pretty awesome cruises from uk, at really reasonable prices.   This site gives you the prices of different cruises on different ships, so you can compare and pick the cruise that is right for you and your family.  I had no idea that you could take two week cruises.  Imagine how relaxed I would be after two weeks on a ship that offers so many things to do. 

Sounds like heaven to me.

Banquet Fruit Pies

Check out this picture.  I took it a couple of hours ago.  Doesn't it look like a professional shot?  Can't you just taste the yumminess of the pie just by looking at the picture?  Yeah, me too!

You might be surprised to find out that on that fork is a bite of Banquet's Apple Pie.  I know when I think of Banquet, I think of affordable "TV dinners" and pot pies.  These new pies are just as affordable as Banquet's other entrees.  I paid $.88 a piece for each pie that I bought at Walmart.  I also saw them in my local grocery stores for about the same price.  I bought all three flavors: apple, peach, and mixed berry.  Actually, I bought two of each because I wanted to do a little experiment.  On the box, it has both microwave and conventional oven directions, and I wanted to see if one way tasted better than the other.  I can honestly tell you, they tasted pretty much the same.  The one I cooked in the oven had a slightly crispier crust, but not enough so that I would prefer it over the microwaved one.
I was actually sent four coupons to try out these pies for free, but I didn't use them.  I bought the pies for myself so that I could pass along the free coupons to you!  I have four of them, so leave me a comment if you want to try these pies, and I'll send you one.  If more than four people comment, I will use random.org to pick who gets them.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received free coupons to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Who Doesn't Like Saving Money?

I am a "sometimes" coupon user.  For me, the coupons have to make the purchase worthwhile, or I will not use them.  For instance, if I have a coupon for veggies, and even with the coupon the name brand veggies cost more than the store brand, I will but the store brand.  I am just cheap that way.  The last time we food shopped, I had two coupons for $.50 cents off Chex Mix.  It just so happened that the store I was in had them on sale BOGO at 2 for $5.00.  The bags also had a $1.00 off two coupon, so I went to the counter expecting to pay $.50 for both bags.  Well, imagine my surprise when I realized that the store doubles coupons under $1.00, so my $.50 coupons were now $1 off each bag, which in the end meant I made money buying the Chex mix.  Not bad, right?

The one place I always try and use coupons is when I buy things online.  For instance, when I renewed my domain names a few months ago, I searched online for coupon codes, and ended up saving 30%.  It's such an easy thing to do, too.  You can find coupon codes for just about anything at Savings.com.   I wish I had thought about looking up coupon codes when I bought the girls some stuff on Amazon last week.  Kasi got a book bag, and Brandi got a Wizards of Waverly Place lunch box, and I may have been able to save some money if I had thought about searching for coupon codes.  Savings.com also has an "Answers" page, where you can ask questions about the things you want to save money on, and other people can respond in real time with (hopefully) helpful answers.  I know when I find a good deal, I love to tell people about it so that they can get in on it, too.

I bookmarked this site, so hopefully the next time I am buying something online I will remember to use it.

Where Did the Weekend Go?

Now that the kids are back in school, the weekends are the only days that I can get continuous sleep.  After a week of getting up to get Junior up, and again to get the kids to school, I am ready for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

That didn't happen this past weekend, and I am dragging today because of it.  On Saturday, we spent the day at my mom's house.  Junior is still working on her kitchen, and the girls and I were hoping to swim.  It started raining, so I left all the kids with Junior at my mom's while I went shopping with my mom and sister.  After that, we ate at my sister's house and then played cards until 8ish.  I still had to run to Walmart so we didn't get home until after 10pm, and I still had to drop ecards.  Needless to say, I didn't get in the bed until almost 1:30am. 

Sunday it was up early (7am!) to head to Rock Hill for my niece's dedication ceremony at church.  I loved the service, and wish I lived closer to attend their church on a regular basis.  After sandwiches and cupcakes, we headed back to my mom's to swim and have supper.  We didn't get home last night until after 7, and I don't think Brandi feel asleep until after 9pm.  Then she got up at 4 because she had a nightmare, and didn't want to go back to sleep.  So, we got up and watched some Victorious (one of my favorite new kids shows!) until it was time to get ready for school.

I just knew that we would have an issue when the bus showed up, and I was right.  In fact, as soon as we walked out the door to head to the bus stop, she stared crying, saying she was too tired to go to school.  Being the caring mother I am, I told her to suck it up, because she was going, even if she was crying.  Needless to say, she was in tears getting on the bus, but she made it all day without crying at school.  She did, however, come home exhausted, so it's going to be an early night tonight.

That about sums it up for me.  I am pretty tired too, so it might be an early night for me, too.

Do You Love Math Or Science And Want To Teach?

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

Did you know that there are a shortage of math and science teachers in our schools?  I sure didn't.  Math was always my favorite subject in school, and I was pretty good at in.  In fact, my sister just started college, and the first class she is taking in math.  When I talked to her the other night, she was telling me that she has forgotten so much since high school (she graduated 12 years ago).  She started asking me questions, and I was pretty impressed with how much I remembered.

I have been toying with the idea of going back to school, which is something I wish I had finished right out of high school.  I was thinking of maybe getting some type of English degree, but now I might look into math.  I mean, if there is a shortage now, it's a good time to look into that career, right?  In fact, if you are a recent college graduate or someone who works in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or math) and is looking for a career change, you might want to look into The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship.

To qualify, candidates must:
- Have completed an undergraduate degree in a STEM field by June 2011.
- Have graduated with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the program and its goals.

If selected as a fellow, you will receive a $30,000 stipend to complete an intensive master’s degree program at one of fourteen participating universities. You will also complete a field-based master’s degree in teacher education, commit to teach for at least three years in a high-need school, and receive intensive support and mentoring in the classroom.

For more information, or to apply for this fellowship before the September first deadline, visit www.wwteachingfellowship.org.

My Poor Baby Girl!

Yesterday, I got a phone call from the nurse at Brandi's school.  She said Brandi had taken a spill during creative movement (dance class) and was pretty upset.  I asked what happened, and she said Boo was doing a cartwheel, and ended up landing flat on her back on the gym floor.  I asked if she was broken (yes, that is exactly what I asked!) and the nurse laughed and said no, she wasn't broken, but she did have a pretty good sized red spot on her back.  I asked to talk to her, and when she got on the phone, she was pretty upset.  I felt so bad for her!  She said the nurse gave her ice to put on her back, and that she was wanting to go back to class.  You can kind of see in the picture where the red spot is on her lower back.  I took this picture yesterday, and looking at it this morning, it looks like it might bruise.

My poor baby!

I Want One!

 The last time we went camping, we set up two different tents, plus our gazebo.  One of the tents held just food, and the other one was where the kids and I slept.  Junior rigged up an air conditioner in the door, so it stayed pretty cool inside, but we only ran it at night.  Junior ended up sleeping in the van because of his bi-pap machine. 

I can't help but think how much easier camping would be if we had an RV.  We would be able to keep the food at a constant temp, without having to use coolers and ice, and we would have somewhere that we could all sleep together.  We would also have somewhere close to use the bathroom, instead of having to hike to the public restrooms in the middle of the night.

I dream about owning an RV like the one pictured.  Isn't it beautiful?  There are so many different rvs for sale, it's going to be hard picking out the perfect one for us.  I am not picky, so anything that can sleep the five of us comfortably and has air conditioning would be fine with me.

I Give Up!

I think this is the best I am going to get. 

I tried once again to get a decent picture of the three of them, but I think it's too early in the morning for happy faces.  I wouldn't be happy if someone was trying to take my picture at 6:15 am.  heck, I'm never happy having my picture taken.  Maybe they get that from me.

American Public University

Going back to school can be a difficult decision to make, especially if you are a mom.  I know I have been struggling with it for quite some time now.  My kids are old enough now where I do not have to cater to their every need, and they are all in school during the day.  I know now is the perfect time to start focusing on myself, and better my education.  I have been giving a lot of thought to what I would want to study, and I am leaning towards something to do with writing.  I don't want to be the next great novelist, but maybe I could better my grammar and understanding of the English language enough to get a real job writing articles for magazines, or something like that.

I was actually inspired by my sister who recently enrolled in college.  She just turned 30 and has two young children, one of which is under a year old.  She works full time, and is still finding the time to go to school.  I think if I finally decide to do this, I would want to go to school online, just because it would fit into my lifestyle easier.  One of the major thing to consider is what school I want to go to.

I was asked to write about American Public University, so of course I read up on what they have to offer, and to be honest, I was impressed.  They offer monthly courses instead of semester courses, and the classes are 100% online.  If you are like me and took a few college courses when you graduated high school, some of those credits may be transferable.  I am not sure how many of mine would be since it was about 20 years ago, but it's worth looking into.  Back then I was focusing on Early Childhood Development, and as much as I still love kids, I'm not sure that is the direction I want to take right now.

Another obstacle standing in my way is the cost of going to school.  I am pretty sure that I could qualify for some type of grant, seeing as how I am a mom, and my husband doesn't make very much money.  That said, the tuition is very reasonable.  For an undergraduate, it's only $750 for a three credit course.  (they have not increased undergraduate fees in over 10 years)  Graduate courses are $900 for a three credit course. 

These are just a few of the highlights of attending American Public University.  For more information, click here.  You can even chat live with mothers who are currently attending the University, and hear how they are making it work in their busy lives.  Helenjene Curtis is going for a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and will be live chatting on Tuesday, August 24 at 8pm ET.  Jenn Deater is working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management, and will be live chatting on Thursday, August 26 at 12pm ET.  You can follow the link above to find information about registering to chat with either (or both!) of these ladies.  I am sure they will have lots of interesting tidbits to share about how they are juggling family, careers, and studying.

I requested some information from the University to learn more about the 100+ degrees and certificates they offer, and hopefully I will be able to pinpoint exactly what I want to study. 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Public University. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Let's Do Lunch

The cover of this book reads, Let's Do Lunch Eating All The CALORIES and CARBS you want to lose weight.  Seeing as how I am a girl who has tried every other diet known to man, I was excited to read about this plan that would allow me to eat CARBS and lose weight.  I didn't really care about the calories, I just wanted to read about the diet that claims you can lose weight without giving up bread.

I wish I could tell you this book lived up to the title, but it didn't.  In fact, I found the claim of "eating all the CARBS you want" to be extremely misleading.

I was so disappointed with this book.

The real title should be "the frozen grape diet", or "the eat fruit smoothies until you get sick diet".  The only CARBS he allows on his diet plan are veggies and beans.  No bread.  No pasta.  No potatoes.  No white flour.  No sugar.  The last time I checked, these were CARBS.  If he claims I can eat all the CARBS I want and still lose weight, then I should be able to eat whatever CARBS I want.  The front of the book does not specify that you can only eat certain CARBS, and to be honest, after the first twelve times he claimed this diet not to be a fruit diet, I wasn't so sure.  The basis of this diet is eating frozen grapes.  Or popcorn sprayed with olive oil, which quite frankly, sounds a little disgusting.

If you are looking for a diet plan where you can eat protein once a day (at lunch time) and fruit the rest of the time, this is the book for you.  For those of us who actually like to eat, it is not a plan that would be easy to follow.

And that's very disappointing to me.

***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.

If Just For A Moment

This morning, I was number one!  Of course, it didn't last long.  By the time I finished dropping my ecards for the day, I had dropped to number 2.  Oh well.  It was nice while it lasted.

It's A Book

I just watched the trailer for "It's a Book" (above), and I have to say, I can totally relate to the poor ape.  In this day and age, my son would rather be online than read a book.  The good thing is, he does know what a book is, because I read them all the time.

The donkey asking questions about what a book can do is interesting, and I could totally see my son asking the same questions.  I would answer by saying, a book can take you on an adventure; an adventure that you can see in your mind.  It belongs to you, and you make it what it is.  To me, that's pretty cool.

"It's a Book" will be available at Macmillan kids on August 31, 2010.  

What's Up With Blogger?

A couple of weeks ago, I tried to upload a video, and it wouldn't do it.  Today, I just tried to upload pictures, and it won't let me.  What's up with that?  I hope it's only a temporary thing, because I will be pretty ticked if I can no longer do those things.

I mean, me blog without pictures?  No way!

Spy Or Limit?

 I am always on the computer we have here at home, so it's difficult for the girls to get online time.  Junior was talking about this to a guy he works with, and the guy offered to build the girls their own computer.  He gave it to us a few weeks ago, and it is working out really well.  I have it set up right in front of my desk, so when either of the girls are online, I can pretty much keep an eye on them.  However, I am not a naive parent, and I know kids will try and visit sites they know they shouldn't.  Especially kids who are Kasi's age.

I was thinking that there has to be some way that I can see what they are doing, other than checking their history, which we all know can be erased.  I don't want to spy on them, so I was wondering if there was a way to limit the sites they can visit.  After a little research, I found this parental control software that does just that.   Parents get a supervise key, which downloads the software the first time you use it.  When the kids want to go online, they have to plug in an age appropriate key, which only allows them access to websites that are considered safe for that age group.  The keys come in under 9, 9-12, and teen.  If the parent wants unlimited access to the internet, they just have to plug in the supervise key.  I love this concept, because it keeps me from having to spy on my kids by limiting what they can see from the get go.

Would you rather spy on your kids or limit their internet access?

I Am Going To Try Again Tomorrow...And The Next Day If I Have To!

Seriously, what is up with my kids?  The rain didn't help this morning, and Ryan and Kasi were still reluctant participants in my picture taking.  Is it so hard to smile nicely for the camera?  (I also hate the Mr.T shirt)

I did get this cute shot of Brandi...the other two flat out refused to have more pictures taken.

What they don't realize is that I am going to whip out the camera every morning until I get the "back to school 2010" picture I want.

Babysitting New Family

Guest post written by Clarice Hillson

I started watching my new grandson after my daughter-in-law’s maternity leave expired. She and my son wanted to put Henry in daycare but I told him I would love to take care of him so I could spend more time with him in an environment they already trust while saving them some money.

Right now he’s so young that he normally just sleeps and eats throughout most of the day. He’s precious and I’m enjoying his company. But I also look forward to when he can play and interact with me more. When he naps in his crib in the spare bedroom, I normally watch my soap operas or talk shows in the living room. But a lot of times he wakes up during these naps crying and upset. Then it dawned on me that maybe it was the TV that was waking him up. My son says that I should get my hearing checked out.

Once I saw that it was making Henry lose rest I looked up hearing aids cost and got a digital hearing aid. Since then he seems to sleep a little longer, which gives me a little more time to catch up on my soaps.

This Is What I Got:

Horrible pictures of the first day of school.  Here they are, thrilled that I wanted a picture.  Can you tell?

My beautiful girls...if only they didn't look half asleep.

My poor Kasi.  Her hair turned green from the pool, so my mom gave her this stuff that was supposed to take the green out.  It worked, but it made all the green hair a coppery orangy red color...can you tell?  Yeah, I know.  but it's better than the green!

I think Ryan was actually sleeping while standing at the bus stop.

Brandi...being Brandi.  Enough said.

A final wave (and the loser sign from my son) and off they went.

I am taking my camera again tomorrow morning, and I better get some better shots...we'll just pretend they are from today. Shhhh...don't tell anyone.  K?

A Science Experiment Of Sorts

See that pen and pencil in the picture?  They are the new biodegradable products from Paper Mate.  I was so excited when I learned that I was going to be doing a review of these pens.  The first thought I had was how much fun it was going to be for my kids.  But before we get to that, let me tell you a little about these products.

If you look at the pens, you will notice a cream colored part.  This part of the pen or pencil (and the green clip parts at the end) is biodegradable.  These biodegradable parts are made from a corn based material.  The pens come in four colors: blue, black, red and purple, and the pencils come with a biodegradable holder for the extra lead.  Both are comfortable to hold, and write smoothly.  It takes a year for them to completely break down once they are buried in soil.  This is where my little science experiment starts.

The kids and I took the pen apart, and threw away the parts that are not biodegradable.  Then we took the rest of the pen and "planted it" in an old hanging basket I had.  We were going to plant it in the ground, but this is a rental house, and though we are hoping to be here next year, who knows.  Plus, with it in a planter, we can carry it inside and check out the progress. (Brandi made the "tombstone" we stuck in the planter)

Once a month, the kids and I will uncover the pen, and see how much it is breaking down.  I will, of course, be taking pictures and sharing them with you.  I am excited to see how this works, and my kids are, too.  It will be interesting to see if different weather conditions make it break down more or less. 

Any thought or ideas about all this?  Do you think the weather will play a part in the process?  Are you interested in seeing what happens to this pen over the course of the next year?

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Paper Mate and received the products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

New Living Room Furniture

Last night was our first official "school night" for the kids.  That means I enforced bedtimes, and my house was quiet by 10pm.  It was so nice!  The only glitch was finding somewhere for Junior to sleep.  He's been sleeping in our room, (you know, where he should be sleeping) but that is where Brandi sleeps.  For now he is back on the couch in the living room, and I know it is uncomfortable for him.  Our plan is to eventually get bunk beds for the girls room, or buy a sleeper sofa for the living room, so at least he will have a "bed" to sleep on, even if it is a pull out.

I was curious to see how much living room furniture costs these days, so I played around online for a little while.  I found this pretty nice sleeper sofa, and it is only $399.  I wasn't sure if modern furniture would fit in with my current entertainment system, but I think this sofa will because it's not too modern.  In my ideal world, I would be able to replace all the furniture in the room, and I am sure  would pick modern, contemporary pieces.

For now, though, Junior will have to tough it out on our current hand me down couch.  Poor guy.

I Have One Lovely Blog

My sweet friend Stacey from All Stace, All The Time passed this award along to me.  I love getting awards, too, so this made my day!  Thanks Stacey!

 

The rules for this award are as follows:

1.  thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.

2.  share 7 things about yourself.

3.  pass the award to 7 fellow bloggers that inspire you.

4.  let them know about the award.

Okay, so now I have to share seven things about me...hmmm.....

1.  I love having my toenails painted, but I hardly ever paint my fingernails.

2.  I have never had a professional mani/pedi, but Kasi gives me mani/pedis all the time, and they rock!

3.  I am one of those moms who go back to bed once the kids are safely on the school bus.  Don't judge me. :)

4.  I can not remember the last time I went to bed before 2:30am.  I am hoping this will change a little when school starts back.

5.  I am an extremely loyal friend, and I expect the same in return.

6.  My kids have the kind of relationship with my mom that I wish I had had with my grandparents.

7.  I can watch the same movie over and over for weeks at a time if it's one of my favorites.

Now I get to pass this along to seven blogs that inspire me....this is going to be hard only picking seven...

Crystal from the sounds of laughter
Jenn from believe the impossible
Jeanette from a hippo with a headband
Diana from forgetfulone
Lydia from still on the verge
Tammy from crazy mom with 4 boys
Tammy from mom knows everything

I can't wait to read what these seven people write as their 7 things!

I'm Not Yet "Branded". Or At Least I Don't Think I Am

I have been reading a lot about how to make my blog better, and one of the things that I find in article after article is that I should have my own "brand".   I should have something that I am known for, that people will think of me when they see it. 

Yeah, I have absolutely no idea what that means.  I have tried to figure it out by reading more articles, but all this technical stuff is way above my head.  If you know me at all, you know that the only way I will ever understand all of this is if I hire an interactive marketing agency and let them do all the work for me. Then they could just explain it all to me when I am "known", and I'll pretend to understand it all.  They can talk about how they marketed and branded me, or how they redid my blog to be all welcoming and easy to navigate.  I'll just nod along like I know what they are talking about.

Then I'll just leave it all in their capable hands forever.  I mean, if it's what they do, why not let them do it for me?

Go Ahead, You Know You Like Me

I have be seeing a lot of people setting up facebook pages for their blogs, so I figured I would jump on that bandwagon and make one for this blog.  When I went to enter the name of my blog as my kids are my world, I got a message saying someone else has claimed that so I couldn't use it.  Weird.  So, I just added the "blog' on the end, and it went through. 

I am not sure what I am supposed to do now.  Do I just post the links to my posts?  And is that kind of overkill since all my posts auto-post to my facebook page?  Send me some advice, those of you who have a page for your blog.  Or those who don't.  It doesn't matter.  I just need a little guidance. 

Cash Or Debit?

A few years ago, my sister started making pocket books.  At first, she was only selling to family and friends, but eventually she started hosting parties and doing craft fairs.  One of the best things she did to help her business make money was to get a credit card machine.  Being able to do Merchant Processing on the spot for people who didn't carry cash allowed her more sales, which meant making more money.  I know I never carry cash anymore.  I always use my debit card. 

This is also a great idea for people who sell their products online.  Being able to accept credit/debit cards would boost their sales, at least in my opinion.  The more options I have in terms of payment, the more likely I am to buy something.

What about you?

Look What I Won!

Mom. Undecided hosted a giveaway for this "Benny And His Peeps" print from Stubborn Dog's etsy shop, and I won!  Yay me!

A New Workout For Me

I can not believe that tomorrow night is a "school night".  Where has this summer gone?  It seems like only yesterday they were finishing up school for the year, and now they are going back.  This means I will be able to get back into a routine, and this year I want to try and get into the habit of working out in the mornings.  Years ago, I used to go for a walk once the kids got on the bus.  I also had a bunch of VHS workout tapes that I can no longer do (my VCR finally kicked the bucket), so I want to find a good workout on DVD.  I was thinking about joining a gym, but I don't think I would ever go.  I don't think people want to see my huge behind on the treadmills.

 I recently read about this Insanity Workout, and I really want to be able to do this program.  It's a 60 day total body conditioning cardio workout that comes on 10 DVDs.  It looks like these videos focus a lot on your abs and your core (are they the same thing?), which is something I really need to work on, once I get rid of the ton of fat covering my six-pack.

Once I get my abs in shape, I am going to have to work on my butt.  I mean, I can not remember the last time I put on a pair of jeans and liked the way my butt looked.  The Brazil Butt Lift sounds like something I will enjoy doing.  The DVDs use a mix of samba, caopeira, ballet, and traditional cardio to tone up your behind.  This workout was designed by the trainer for the Victoria Secret models, and we all know how fantastic their butts are.

Turbo Fire is the latest workout from Chalene Johnson. It's 3 months of high intensity interval training, core work, stretching, resistance training (with the bands that are included) and traditional training.  I think a combination of these workouts would completely kick my behind right now, but I am hoping that by losing some more of this weight I'm carrying around I will be able to do some of them.  I mean, we all have to start somewhere, right?

Third Grade

Back in April, I wrote a post about splitting kids into gender specific classrooms because Brandi's school was going to be offering just that to the upcoming third graders.  I really didn't know a lot about it, but felt that it wasn't something I really wanted for her.  I checked the box on the paper that said "not interested", and that was that.

Or so I thought.

Yesterday we registered her for school, and found out she is in an all girl class.  Honestly, I was shocked because I didn't want that, and it was supposed to be the parents choice.  Turns out, not enough kids signed up, so the principal asked the second grade teachers to recommend kids who they thought would flourish in this kind of environment, and Brandi's teacher picked her.  We stopped and talked with her on the way to meet Brandi's new teacher, and she said that she truly believes that Brandi will do awesome in this class.  She couldn't stop hugging Brandi, and she was going on and on about how smart she is, and how she just knows that she will love being in this all girl class.

So off we went to meet her teacher.  I was so glad to find a young, energetic woman who is so excited to be teaching just girls.  I asked her specifically what the benefits would be for the kids, and she said that because boys and girls learn differently, focusing on just one gender would help the kids learn more, and score better on tests.  For a second I thought about switching Brandi to a regular class, but Junior and I decided that it's only for one year, so we'd give it a try.  If Brandi hates it, next year we will put her in a regular boy/girl class.

Brandi was also accepted into the school's CLIMB program, which is pretty awesome.  This is a program they test the kids for in second grade, and those who show the qualities they are looking for are accepted.  These are their criteria to being accepted:

Reasoning Abilities:
Reasoning abilities are those higher level cognitive processes that reflect general aptitude for thought-strategies such as inferring, analyzing, and problem solving.  National normed tests are used.  Students must demonstrate high aptitude in one or more areas.

High Acheivement in Reading and/or Mathematics:
Acheivement refers to academic performance in the areas of reading and/or mayhematics.  Students must demonstrate high acheivement in either or both areas as measured by nationally normed acheivement teats (SC PACT).

Intellectual/Academic Performance:
Intellectual/academic performance is the student's demonstration of a high degree of interest in and commitment to academic and/or intellectual pursuits.  Students may demonstrate intellectual characteristics such as curiosity/inquiry, reflection, and persistance/tenacity in the face of challenge and creative productive thinking.

Students with outstanding talent perform or show the potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment.
These students exhibit high performance capability in intellectual, creative, and/or artistic areas, possess an unusual leadership capacity, or excel in specific academic fields.  They require services or activities not ordinarily provided by schools.

Sounds like my kid, right?  With all of the new stuff she will be facing this year, I hope she does great!

Blog Copy

Have you ever wondered what it is that your readers like most about your blog?  Do you know which posts they are connecting with, and maybe sharing with other people?  Thanks to Blog Copy you can find out. This program monitors what your visitors are copying and pasting from your site.  It only follows that what they copy is what they like, so having this information can help you to write more about the things your readers are connecting with.

I bet my readers love when I write about myself.  I might have to check into that.

Win A Cute Little Kitty!

How adorable is that?  Tammy @ Mom Knows Everything is hosting a giveaway for one of these cute little kitties, and I need to win it.

Yes, I said need and not want.  You see, the last time Tammy gave away a stuffed animal, I won.  That little purple guy is still sitting on my desk, because my daughters fought over who should get it, so I decided to save it for myself.  If I win this stuffed animal, then they could each have one. 

If you want to enter, too, go here.  Good luck!

Okay, Ladies, It Is Time To Get Serious

I don't usually write about serious stuff on this blog, but I really want to share the following information with you, because I truly believe it is important.  If you are one of the men who read my blog, you may want to skip this post.  Or read it and pass the information on to your wife/girlfriend/mother/daughter, or any of the other women in your life.

I want to talk about cancer.  Specifically, cervical cancer.  Most of you are aware of the "new" HPV vaccine, and how it is recommended that young girls who have not yet had sexual intercourse should receive it.  I have a 13 year old daughter, and to be honest, I have not yet decided if I want her to get it.  I want to do more research, and find out about all the side effects.  Thankfully, I still have a few years to do just that.

I also have to think about myself, and I have just learned that there is a test that can detect the presence of 13 high-risk types of HPV.  Gynecologists can do this test when they do your annual pap smear.  The problem is, a lot of doctors don't.  It is so important that as women, we ask for this test, and protect ourselves, as well as our daughters.  We all, at one time or another, have had some type of HPV infection.  As young women, our body should naturally fight off the disease, but as we get older, the chances increase that the HPV infections persist, and can turn into cervical cancer. That is why it is so important that us women over 30 ask for this HPV test, even if you have been vaccinated in the past.  We all know that cancer is best treated in it's early stages, and knowing you are at risk can help make early detection possible.

This is only an overview of the HPV test.  Please visit www.theHPVTest.com for more information about this test, and to find out what you can do to keep yourself healthy.  I mean, how can we teach our children to take care of themselves if we don't do the same?

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the QIAGEN digene HPV test. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

I See School Supplies!

I appreciate the guest post, Rodrigo Coffey

Shopping for back to school supplies is exciting. Searching online and in the sales circulars to find who has school supplies on sale is a must. Most times I find that Wal-Mart usually has some really good sales - if you catch them early!

I have to purchase uniforms, composition books, spiral notebooks, pencils, three-ring binders, filler paper and a book bag for my daughter. I compare the prices I see advertised in the circular with the prices I see online and in the store. Sometimes Wal-Mart will offer online only specials and then you really save on time while you shop!

Before I leave out I have to set mydoor home security in Virginiasince my daughter goes with me when I shop for school supplies. She loves butterflies and fairies so as long as I find her a couple of packs of pencils with butterflies and fairies on them she's okay. One year I was lucky enough to find a book bag with butterflies on it that my daughter loved. Maybe this year I'll get lucky again!

No Comments About My Sausage Toes!

I am seriously enjoying my Summer, and for the first time, I am not looking forward to it ending.  We have been spending so much time with my mom, and I love it.  We swim and eat together at least four time a week, some weeks even more.  I am going to miss that once school starts back next week.  I am a creature of habit, and one of my biggest things is that we do not stay out late on school nights.  Homework and bedtimes are very important to me, because I want my kids to do the best they can in school, and those two things help tremendously.  But for now, I am going to enjoy this last week of freedom.  I am going to swim.  And eat.  And enjoy the time I spend with my mom.

Oh, and I am going to continue rocking the black toenail polish!

Are You Being Rewarded?

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


I think I am one of very few people in this world who doesn't own a cool cell phone.  Junior and I have those "pay as you go" phones.  They can text and take pictures, but that's about it.  We end up spending about $60 a month on each phone, which is more than we would pay if we went out and signed up for a monthly plan.  We have been talking about what type of phones we should get when we switch, and I am leaning towards a Blackberry.  School is starting back for the kids soon, and it will nice to have a phone that can keep track of all of our commitments.  I also want to be able to get online and sign up for WeReward for iPhone.





What's that?  You don't know what WeReward is?  Well, let me tell you all about it.  It's a new app from the folks at Izea, and it basically pays you to do things you would do anyway.  Let's say you want to go out to eat.  You can go to the WeReward app and see if any local restaurants are offering "points" to eat there.  You may have to take a picture of yourself inside the restaurant, or something like that, to earn your points, and when you get earn enough points, they can be be turned into cash.


Right now, you can get WeReward for Android and the iPhone, and hopefully by the end of this month, it will be available for the Blackberry.  If you want all the details, check out WeReward.com.

My Mushrooms Have Cleavage

Okay, I have a confession to make.  I am a stalker.  I love reading the popular blogs, but I never, ever comment, because seriously, these women don't want to hear what I have to say.  They get hundreds of comments on every post, and I never feel like my comment would be original anyway. There are some posts that stick with me, and others that I forget about until something jogs my memory.  Saturday, at my mom's house, something jogged m memory, only I didn't realize it at the time.

Let me explain.  I have been taking lots of pictures at my mom's house lately, mostly because we are over there just about every day, and she has beautiful flowers and trees in her yard.  Due to all the rain recently, she also has a ton of mushrooms.  I have been posting pictures of them on my picture blog.  It seems like every day, there are new mushrooms.

Saturday, she had these growing in her yard:

I commented to my sister that they were "boobie mushrooms", because, well, they look like boobs.  I thought I was being pretty funny! 

And then last night it hit me...I'm not funny at all.  The Bloggess posted a picture of the exact same type of mushroom a while back, and she talked all about how it looked like a boob.  Turns out I can be funny when using someone else's material. 

Darnit.

But, her mushroom picture was one mushroom...I found a pair of boobies, and they have some rockin' cleavage!  That should count for something, right?

All Together

I want to tell you about this site I just heard about called BigMarker.com.   This is a site where you can video conference with people all around the world, and share your passion for whatever it is you have a passion for. 

Or, you can video chat with your family and friends.  I don't have the need to conduct a conference, but I would love it if my sister in New York and my sister in New Jersey could video chat with not just me, my mom, and my sister separately, but all together.  (This is one of the things that skype can't do)  I can only imagine how fun it would be to have the five of us trying to talk above each other.  Using this website is completely free, with no trial period or monthly fees.

Now I just need to get a webcam, and I'll be good to go.

Brandi Found A Book Bag. I Wish Ryan And Kasi Would, Too.

Every year, it's the same thing.  School is about to start back, and the kids are deciding which kind of book bags they want.  Brandi found this one a couple of weeks ago:

and I bought it then because last year, the book bag she wanted was sold out by the time we went shopping.  Ryan and Kasi, on the other hand, are having a hard time deciding on their backpacks and book bags for back to school.   I am struggling, too, because as much as I want them to pick out cheap ones, I know they will not last.  In fact, last year, Ryan's didn't even last a month, and Kasi's didn't last much longer than that.  I ended up spending more money on book bags than if I had just bought them the better made ones to begin with.

So this year, I think we are going to buy the well made ones to begin with.  Of course, that means I have to do a bit of digging to find some that are reasonably priced.  I had Kasi looking online yesterday, and she found a bunch she liked.  It is my job now to find coupon codes for usoutdoor.com so that I do not have to pay full price. 

I may want to buy better made book bags this year, but I am still cheap. 

Stuck Like Glue ~ New Sugarland Video

No More Squinting Because Of The Sun

I love to swim.  I really do.  Sometimes, I like to just float around in the pool, soaking up the sun, but most of the time, I am in the water with the kids, having fun.  Since the beginning of summer, I have been taking my glasses off before getting into the water.  It makes it a lot easier to go under the water if I don't have to worry about them.  The only problem is that I can not see, and the sun is really, really bright bouncing off the water.

When we were in the pool yesterday, I was getting in and out a lot to check on the steak that was on the grill.  I kept having to put my glasses back on, and then take them off, and at one point, I got into the pool with them still on.  It was interesting to actually be able to see in the water!  Now I think I want to buy a pair of prescription sunglasses to wear in the pool.   I found this really cool pair at ZenniOptical.  What do you think?

Pretty funky, right?  There is no way I would wear them in public, but I would totally wear them in the pool.  I mean, they're purple!  I also found a bunch of "normal" frames that I would wear in public, and because they are so reasonably priced, I could get more than one pair. 

Maybe I'll get these to wear in public:

They are pretty nice, right?  I think I could pull these off.  They are the same shape as my regular glasses, so I know they'll fit my face.  All I know is that it will be nice to be able to see while blocking out the sun.