Sausage Balls

 The other day, Junior asked me to make sausage balls.  I have never made them before, but I know they are pretty simple to do.  I have all the ingredients, but I'm not sure about the ratio.  I searched online for Cooking Recipes, and found this recipe that looks beyond simple to use.  (the video of the guy making them was pretty funny, too)  It's just 2 cups of biscuit mix and 10 ounces of cheese for every pound of sausage.  Simple, right?  The only thing I will do differently is bake them in a dish with sides, just to make sure the grease from the sausage doesn't run over.

I really like this site, and will use it the next time I need a recipe.  I wish I knew about it last year when I was searching for a Ginger Bread recipe.   The one I ended up using broke my mixer!

Taco Bell Fail

Imagine this:

You enter your local Taco Bell.

You order $20 worth of food, three of those items are taco salads.

You wait a good ten minutes for them to assemble your order, which is fine, because you like your salads a certain way, with things on the side, and you completely understand that it takes a little longer to have it made special.

During these ten minutes, there are no other customers in the store, but the drive thru is pretty busy.

Your meal is finally put on the counter, and the cashier looks at you and says,

"Oh, I forgot, we ran out of sporks on Christmas Eve."  And then she just stands there staring at you.

Um, okay.  So you ask, "how are we supposed to eat our taco salads?"

She walks away to ask the manager, who says she will send one of the crew to another store to get some.

Um, okay.  So what are you supposed to do?  Wait an hour while they run to another store?

No.  So you ask that the manager come to the front to speak to you, and when she walks up, she says that she will send a crew member to the grocery store across the street to get forks as soon as he is finished making the drive thru food.

Um, okay.  And in the meantime?  What are you supposed to do?

"You can have a seat with your food and we will send out forks as soon as he gets back."

Um, okay.  So you say, "you want us to sit and let our food get cold while you finish making orders, then run to the store to get forks so we can eat said food?"

She just looks at you. 

You ask for my money back, and she looked confused.  You tell her, very politely, that you already waited ten minutes for your food, which was plenty of time for her to have sent someone to the store across the street for forks.  OR, when you were ordering, the cashier should have mentioned that they had no forks, and you would have left to go somewhere else.

The manager does finally refund your money, but with no apologies.  In fact, she didn't say one word.  Talk about RUDE!

Now, had she said "have a seat, and as soon as we get some forks I'll remake your salads so they are hot for you", you probably would have sat and waited. 

Instead, you walk out, money in hand, shaking your head.  You go to a Taco Bell across town, and pay more because apparently this other Taco Bell is not owned by the same people, and they keep their prices higher.

This is a true story.  It took place around 1:37 pm on Sunday, December 26, 2010, at our local Taco Bell.  I wish I had noticed actual names, because I would have totally called them out. 

Are You Being Tracked?

I saw a teaser on television the other day about a news piece our local station is doing about how businesses keep track of their employees.  They were asking questions like, "does your boss have the right to know where you are at all times when in a company vehicle?" and "is your privacy being invaded by your boss?".  I completely forgot to watch the piece, but I do have an opinion on the subject.  Big surprise, right?

I think that all companies should use vehicle tracking systems in their company vehicles.  I also think that if you are on the clock, your boss has every right to know where you are.  I mean, if I owned a company, I wouldn't want my employees parking my vehicles in strip club parking lots, or anyplace else like that.  I would also want to know if I am paying my employees while they go shopping or visit friends.  Company time is company time, and employers have every right to know what their employees are up to when they are being paid to work.

Do you agree?

My Christmas Was Wonderful!

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth...I'm still here.  Junior is on vacation until after the new year, so we have been spending time as a family.  It's been nice, but I will be ready for him to go back to work and the kids to go back to school soon...the family time is interfering with my blogging! lol!

We had a wonderful Christmas!  Christmas Eve we saw my dad and his wife at my sister's house, and after a yummy supper and opening gifts, we settled in to play some cards.  It was nice that Ryan and Kasi were included...they usually feel neglected since their cousins are so much younger than they are.

Christmas morning was nice...the kids were happy with what Santa brought them...and after all the gifts were opened we headed out for our annual breakfast at Hardee's.  I forgot my camera, which means I didn't take the annual picture.  Oh well. 

After heading home and baking some ziti, we headed to my mom's house to spend the day with her, my sister, my brother, and their families.  There were kids everywhere!  My sister and I filled my mom's stocking with gifts, having no idea how much it would mean to her.  In recent years I have come to believe in "it's better to give than to receive", but this Christmas, I was especially happy to have been able to make it special for my mom.  She deserves it!

I got everything I wanted, and more!  The kids showered me with gifts.  I got a new crock pot (which I have been wanting for a while), an elephant candle holder which I adore, earrings, a electric can opener, a movie (Date Night...I can't wait to watch it!) and so much more I can't even remember.  As usual, my dad and his wife gave me an elephant (which I also love) and a sweater I will be able to wear once this wii fit takes off a few pounds.  My mom gave me this cake pan that can make letters (it's hard to explain...but I wanted it and I can't wait to try it out!), a watch, earrings, and new pots.  I love the pots.  Seriously, this is the third year that she has given me good heavy cookware, and I love it all!  Every year she also makes up gift bags for "us girls", and they are filled with lots of neat goodies.  This year mine contained gloves that are also mittens, a snowman wood thing, a snowman cake pan that you make a huge cookie in, and a bunch of other stuff.  One of the things was a little metal planter thing, and it's a ladybug.  As soon as Brandi saw it, she claimed it as her own.  She feels about ladybugs how I feel about elephants. 

The kids ended up with lots of good stuff from my mom, too.  Ryan got a laptop case (which he has been needing!) and Kasi got a CD player for her room, which she has been wanting.  Brandi got the cutest lady bug earrings.  They got a bunch of other stuff, too, but I don't remember what.  It's all a blur.  They all got gift cards from my dad and his wife, so we ventured out to Old Navy yesterday (in the snow) to take advantage of their jeans sale.  Brandi got 4 pairs and a shirt, Kasi got three pairs of jeans, and Ryan got three pairs of cargo pants and a polo shirt.  Then we went to JCPenny's to spend the gift cards they got from my Grandfather, where they each got a couple of shirts each. 

My family is definitely blessed, and it was nice to spend the holiday surrounded by the people we love most in the world.

Merry Christmas!

I'm not sure if I'll be online much the next day or so...so Merry Christmas!  Enjoy the time with family, and I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for!

The Story Of How A Homeless Man Touched My Heart Today

I never give money to the homeless people who stand, with signs, on the freeway off ramps.  I have seen too many news stories about regular people who do this, making more money in one day than my hard working husband makes in an entire week.  I can not tell the difference between the men who really are homeless and the "pretenders", so I just keep my money.

When we moved into this house almost a year ago, I noticed a man who walked by our neighborhood several times a day, most of the time pushing a bike.  (I have no idea why he doesn't ride it)  I would also notice him several miles away, pushing his bike through the town where my kids go to school.  There is no telling how many miles this man walks everyday, rain or shine.  I notice him every day while waiting for Brandi's bus in the afternoon.

Today it was time to deliver the gifts I had bought for close friends.  I don't do adult gifts, but I always bring along a tub or tin of cookies for everyone to share.  I had a couple of cookie tubs in the car today when we got stuck in traffic.  Up ahead, I could see the homeless guy waiting patiently to cross the street at a red light.  I don't know what came over me, but I turned to Junior and told him that I wanted to give the guy a tub of cookies.  Of course, Junior agreed with me, and as soon as we got through the light, we pulled into the nearest parking lot, and I got out of the van to talk to the homeless guy.

I told him that I see him walk past my house every day, and I wanted to give him some cookies.  He looked at me kind of funny at first, so I told him that I had made them, and I really wanted him to have them.  He took them, but really wouldn't make eye contact with me.  I told him that I wanted him to have a Merry Christmas, and he finally looked at me, and very quietly said Thank You.  And smiled a little.  I could see the joy in his eyes as he opened the tub and saw all the goodies inside.

As I walked away, I once again wished him a Merry Christmas.  When I got back into the van, I was happy...happy that I made his day just a little bit brighter.  We went to the grocery store in that parking lot, and the kids watched as he stood there, on the side of a busy highway, and ate his cookies.  I doubt he ate them all...there was a lot in there...which makes me even happier, knowing he has food for later.  If I had planned this, I would have given him a soda or something, too, but by the time we came out of the grocery store, he was gone.

Brandi asked me why I gave him cookies, and I told her that some people, like him, may not get a meal on Christmas, let alone a treat.  I explained that while we may not have a lot, we have more than some people, and that it's nice to share when we can.  She said we should have bought him a sub at Subway!   I told her that maybe next time, we would.

I can not even put into words how full my heart is right now.  I am so glad that we made a difference to someone today, and that I was able to show my kids how good it feels to give. 

I am so blessed.

Ryan's Boots

I went shopping today. I know, I must have had some screws loose, because the stores were packed!  Thankfully, most of the other shoppers appeared to be in just as good a mood as I was.  In fact, while waiting in line at one store, the woman in front of me kept up quite a conversation.  I say that because she hardly let me get a word in, but that was okay.  Listening to her passed the time a little quicker.

While in the store, Ryan and I had a little disagreement about what type of boots he should get.  The kid insists that he needs steel toe boots, and I disagree.  He picked out a pair of Wolverine Boots that were really nice, but I can't make him understand that steel toed boots are for working adults, not school aged kids.  In fact, I am pretty sure that in his school, boots like that would be considered a weapon.  

Now, as soon as he graduates, I'll be more than happy to buy him whatever type of boots he wants.  For now, though, he will have to settle for a soft toed boot.  I have no doubt that he will find a pair he loves.

Charter Mom's - I Love This Concept!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Charter. All opinions are 100% mine.
I use Charter for my cable, home phone, and internet.  There are so many reasons I love all the things they have to offer, but I have never been able to voice these reasons to them directly.  That is why I am so excited about their new facebook page, Charter Moms.  I "liked" them, and have been commenting over there a little bit.

I want them to know how much I love their "on demand" feature.  For those of you who don't know what this is, it is a list of shows from various channels that we can start, stop, rewind, pause, fast forward, and watch whenever we want.  This comes in really handy when there is nothing on regular television that the kids want to watch.  They simply hop over to Disney or Nick on demand, and they can watch Wizard's of Waverly Place or Victorious, or any other show on the menu.  It guarantees me at least 25 minutes of piece, which is like heaven when the kids are all home at the same time.  You all know I will using this service frequently in the next two weeks.
By "liking" Charter Moms Facebook page, I will be one of the first to know about new programming and services, along with all the other fans of the page.  I like that I now have a voice, as small as it is.  I like that I can now see what other mom's like about Charter.  It will be interesting to see if there are other mom's who think like me.

I Wonder What's Under The Tree For Me?

Throughout the year, I give off subtle (okay, maybe not too subtle) hints about what I want for Christmas.  Mostly it's little things, like a silicone tipped pair of tongs for cooking or a new pair of earrings.  There are a few bigger things I've been wanting, like the Wii Fit (which I got this morning!) and a new purse and wallet.  I am seriously tired of buying cheap purses and having them fall apart quickly.  I know with only a few days until Christmas (yay!) it's too late to add to my Santa list, but I was looking around online and I found this really nice Cole Haan purse.  Check it out:

I think it is more of a tote, but that's fine with me.  I happen to carry around a lot of stuff everyday, so a big purse suits me just fine.  I was also looking at Cole Haan wallets, and found this one that kind of matches the purse:

The purse has silver zippers, and the wallet has gold, so they don't match completely, but I am sure no one would notice.  The only thing standing between me and these pieces is the price.  I would have to have almost $450 to buy both.  Normally, I wouldn't even think about making such a pricey purchase, but look at them.  They are Cole Haan. They are worth every penny.

I think I am going to have to talk Junior out of some of our tax money next year so I can spoil myself a little. I'm worth it.

Yester Year Soap Review And Giveaway

I have a new obsession - handmade soaps.  I have fallen in love with the subtle fragrances and gentle lather.  I can not tell you how soft and moisturized my skin is after using it.  I have tried several different brands, and one of them is Yester Year Soap.

I tried their Orange Cinnamon soap, and let me tell you, it smells so good!  It's not overpowering like some soaps, and the scent doesn't linger too long after bath time.  I have a very sensitive nose, and for that reason I do not wear perfume.  Strong scented soaps can also bring on a headache, and I had none of that using this brand of soap.

Aren't they pretty?  The bar I received was square.  As stated on their website:

"Our soaps are made from certified organic vegetable oils, scented with pure essential oils from plant extracts and colored with organic herbs. We use no synthetic fragrances, colorants or preservatives in any of our soap products. The result is a gentle bar suitable for all skin types, even for those with sensitive skin."

 I happen to have sensitive skin, and I had no problem using this soap.  My only complaint is that it didn't last long enough, so now I have to buy some!

Would you like to try some for yourself?  You can head to Yester Year Soap Company and buy your own, or you can enter to win a bar right here.

All you have to do to enter is one or all of the following:

• follow me publicly on GFC
• follow me on twitter
• like this blog on facebook
• follow me on networked blogs
• friend me on facebook
• tweet this giveaway
• facebook status this giveaway
• get creative, and let me know how you spread the word about this giveaway!

This contest will run until 11:59 pm on Friday, December 31, 2010, and is open to US bloggers only.  Good luck!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

A Different Kind Of Mouse Trap

Right after Ryan's birthday party in October, I heard a mouse in my kitchen.  Junior quickly put out some glue traps, and we caught two mice within a couple of days of each other.  We left a couple of more traps out, but after a few weeks, I threw them away, thinking we had already caught all the mice in the house.

I was wrong.  A couple of weeks ago, after getting the kids safely on the bus, I was sitting here at the computer when I heard another mouse in the drawer under my stove.  The weird thing through all of this is that I never found any mouse droppings.  That night, Junior put out another glue trap, and the next morning the mouse was on there.  The thing I hate about these traps is that even though they work well catching the mice, they don't kill them.  These poor mice suffer as they die slowly in the trash.  I know, why feel bad for a disease carrying mouse?  But, they are living creatures, too, and they shouldn't have to suffer.

When I saw these Nooski Mouse Traps, I knew I wanted to give them a try.  They are unlike anything I have ever seen, and they kill instantly, which is what I am after.  Is is also pretty impossible for other animals you may have in the house, like cats or dogs, to set off the trap accidentally.

Here is how the trap works:

• The trap is set by rolling on a latex rubber ring
• The mouse is attracted by the bait
• The mouse works its way into the trap
• The latex ring is triggered
• The mouse dies swiftly inside or next to the trap
• Set the trap again with another ring

Sounds simple, right?  We set the trap up a couple of weeks ago, and have yet to catch a mouse.  I don't think it's the trap...I think it's because there are no mice in the house right now.  Is it weird that I am looking forward to the day I find a poor little mouse with a green ring around it's neck lying next to the trap?

The trap itself was easy to set up.  We always use peanut butter as bait, so we stuck some inside, as per the instructions.  I really like that this trap is reusable, because although those glue traps weren't exactly expensive, the cost does add up when you have to keep buying them.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

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

Are you having trouble finding the right gift for that special someone in your life?  Why not consider giving them a gift that they can use every day for the entire year?  I'm not talking about clothes or jewelry; I'm talking about TiVo.

Right now, you can take advantage of TiVo's Holiday pricing, and get the TiVo Premiere for only $99 when you sign up for a one year plan of only $19.99 a month.  Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!  Having the ability to record your favorite shows and watch them whenever you have the time is awesome.  I know there were times in the past few weeks that I have missed some of my favorite shows because we have been so busy with shopping and the kids holiday concerts, as well as Brandi's birthday.  Not that I'm hinting for TiVo for Christmas.  Okay, maybe I am!

The cool thing about the TiVo Premiere is that it not only connects to your cable, but also to your internet so that you can stream movies from Netflix, downloads from Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube videos, music from Pandora and much more.  I think the days of saying "there's nothing on television" would be over.  Plus, you can access all of these things from a single remote.

So, my advice is to keep this in mind for those hard to shop for people who enjoy television and movies, and for me.  Because I would love this.

The Kids Are Home For Two Weeks....Yay?

There are so many things I look forward to when the kids are out of school.  I get to sleep in, which is always nice, though I do still have to get Junior up at 2:15am this week.  Next week, he is on vacation, too, so everyone will be home.  I know, you wish you were me, right?

I also love when we spend time together as a family, even though two weeks together can be a little much.  In fact, the bickering between the girls started already this morning, so they are in their room deciding if they want to be nice to each other, or spend their entire vacation there.  I am also making them clean their room while they are in there, so there is a chance they will never been seen again.

The one thing I don't like about them being home is that I get no "me" time.  It's so much easier to sit down here and punch out some posts if I don't have three kids bugging me every two seconds.  It's kind of like the phone....I can be with them for hours, and the kids have nothing to say to me.  As soon as the phone rings, every one of them has to tell me something important, that can't wait.  The same thing happens as soon as I open the browser to write up a post.  I will be so happy when I get my laptop in February so I can lock myself in my room to get some work done.

I know I am not the only mom out there who has mixed feelings about school breaks.  It's so much easier to get (and keep) the house clean when they are in school.  I know I am not the only mom who spends a small fortune on food during breaks.  I wish I was young again, and didn't have to worry about how many calories I take in, and how many calories burned each day.  My kids would eat from sun up to sun down if I let them.

So far, I am still in control.  It is only the first day of vacation, so who knows what's going to happen.  I am praying that we all make it through with most of out hair still attached to our heads.

It's Purple, And That's A Requirement!

I have been doing a lot of research online, trying to find a new camera.  For those of you who don't know, my camera broke during Brandi's party last Sunday, and I am trying to find a replacement.  I have looked at several, and have had people suggest some for me to check out.  The one I keep finding in every store I go to is the Kodak easyshare.  I wanted to check out the specifics online, and I found it on Macy's website.  (That's a flat out hint for anyone who still has to buy me a Christmas gift!)  Check out how pretty it is:

Isn't it pretty?  One of my biggest requirements, aside from it having to be purple, is that it comes with it's own rechargeable battery.  My last camera had one, and I found that it lasted longer than the AA's I had to recharge daily for the camera I had before that one.  It also captures video, which I didn't realize my last camera did until I had had it for over two years.  Yeah, I'm just that quick.  This time, I am going to know everything the camera does before I purchase it.

I have done several posts in the past few months about remembering to look for online discounts before making a big purchase, and how I always forget to do that.  Since this camera costs over $150, I am going to need all the discounts I can get.  Savings.com had some discounts for Macy’s, as well as other stores, which will help reduce the cost of the camera.  I am pretty proud of myself that I remembered to look for discounts.  I'm on a roll, too.  Tonight, I ordered pizza online, and was able to save $5 off the order by searching online for a coupon code. 

Now if I could just decide if I really want this camera, or should I keep looking.  Any suggestions?

Holiday Tips And A $50 Bank Of America Gift Card Giveaway!

This time of year, everyone is talking about running errands and trying to get all their shopping done, while still saving time and money.  Some people think this is impossible, but it's not.  You just have to have a plan in mind, and then make sure that you stick to that plan.  You can also make all the running around more fun by doing it with a friend.  I am taking this advice to heart and going shopping with my sister tomorrow.

Not only does this make it more fun, it also saves on gas and babysitting.  I will sit in the car with the kids if she needs to pop into a store for something, and she will do the same for me.  We also have a route all planned out, so we don't end up backtracking.  I had no idea that you could use Map Quest to map out a route ahead of time, putting in all the stops you need to make (up to 26 different locations!) and getting the fastest route.  I always just used Map Quest to get to places I didn't know how to get to.  I think I am going to be taking advantage of this feature frequently in the next week or so.

Another great tip is to call ahead and make sure the gifts you are after are actually in stock before driving all the way to the store.  Last year, we had a hard time finding a wii.  My husband spent fifteen minutes on the phone locating one, instead of spending an entire day driving from store to store.

Once you have all your gifts bought, why not have a wrapping party?  Invite over your girlfriends and spend the evening wrapping gifts, drinking, and eating yummy food.  If you are really ambitious, you can even bake some cookies for a cookie exchange.  I do this every year with my mom and sisters, and it is always a lot of fun.

I also take advantage of the kids being out of school by roping them into helping around the house.  My youngest daughter loves to dust and clean the bathrooms (I know that's weird, but it means I don't have to scrub toilets, so I let her do it...I mean, who am I to stop her if that's what makes her happy?) and my son is a whiz at getting the dishes done.  My middle child has taken over doing the laundry, which frees up a lot of my time, so I can concentrate on blogging and Facebook.  You know, the important things.  My point is, if you have little helpers in the house, let them help.  Ask them what they would like to do, and let them do it.  If they don't want to help, make them.  It's okay, you're the parent.  It's your job to make your kids miserable.

Okay, so maybe I'm kidding a little, but I find that if the kid gets to pick what they are going to do, it gets done better and faster.  And I am all about getting things done fast and easy.  Let's take banking, for instance.  I have been with Bank Of America for a little over a year, and have only been in the bank one time.  I had to go in the day after I opened my account online to make the initial deposit.  Since then, I have done all my banking online and with their ATM's.  Honestly, I have never seen an ATM that can do so much.  You can make deposits consisting of checks or cash.  You don't need to have envelopes or deposit slips, either.  When you deposit cash, you simply put the entire wad into the little window (instead of having to feed each bill into the machine separately), and it prints out a receipt listing not only the total amount deposited, but exactly how many bills and which denominations they were.  I know, it's pretty cool.  You can also have an image of the checks you deposit printed on your receipt.  It really is pretty awesome.

Mostly, though, I do all my banking online.  I can go on whenever I want, and check my balance and transfer funds.  Debits show up immediately, so whenever we go out shopping, the first thing I do when I get home is check online to make sure everything went through properly.  There was one time that a produce stand charged me three times for one order, claiming they were having issues with their debit card machine.  I was able to go home, print out my bank statement, and take it back up there, showing them their mistake. They refunded my money, and I was on my way.

These are just two of the features Bank Of America offers to the people who bank with them.  I know that not having to run to the back for every little detail saves me not only time, but sanity as well.  Banks can gets crazy busy sometimes, and you all know how much I hate being around people. 

Since it is Christmastime, I am going to give one of you a pre-loaded $50 Bank Of America gift card.  I can't have it to you before Christmas, but I am sure that it will come in just as handy after Christmas for all those "after Christmas" sales.  I know I buy a ton of decorations every year after Christmas when they slash the prices.

To enter this giveaway, simply share with me one of your Holiday time saving tips. (of course, if you tweet, facebook, or blog about this giveaway, or follow me, or like me, you can earn extra entries...just leave separate comments for each!)

This giveaway will run until 11:59pm on December 24, 2010, and I will announce the winner on Christmas. or probably the day after, depending on how busy Christmas is.  US bloggers only, please. Good luck!

This contest is hosted and fulfilled solely by my kids are my world.  I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Bank of America and received a Bank of America preloaded gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Better Late Than Never

I know, I should have announced the winner of the Gaddy Nipper Crayon giveaway last Saturday, but I have been so busy.  On top of that, I have an annoying head cold that is kicking my butt.  All I want to do is sleep, because I am so tired, but breathing is hard, so laying down isn't an option...can you see where this is going?  I am cranky and sick, and I have too much to do with Christmas right around the corner. 

Anyway....the winner is Sandra!  I have sent her an email, and if she doesn't respond in a week, I'll pick a new winner.  Two people didn't respond to my Finish giveaway, so I hope that doesn't happen this time.

Congrats Sandra!  I hope you (or whatever kid you give them to!) enjoy these crayons as much as my kids do. 

What Do I Want For Christmas?

That's the question Junior asked me tonight.  I told him I hadn't really thought about it, and he suggested that I think about it tonight and let him know tomorrow.  If you read the post below this one, you know that a new camera would be my ultimate wish, but I know we don't have the money for that right now.  So, I started thinking back though the year, and tried to remember all the little things I had wished I had at one time or another.

The first thing that came to mind is cooking utensils.  I am sure you all remember how much time we spent at mom's in the pool, and how we were always grilling out.  All summer, every time I fired up the grill, I wished I had proper BBQ tools.  You know, a set of long tongs and basting brushes.  One of my favorite things to grill is BBQ chicken, and basting with my little brush always got my hands a little toasty.  I started looking for BBQ sets, and I found this one:

Isn't it awesome?  It has a nice long handled basting brush, and a bunch of other cool tools.  I never let Junior cook anyway, but with this set, he'll never have access to the grill.  Unless it needs to be cleaned.  That's his one and only job.

I was also thinking it would be cool to have a picnic basket to bring to mom's with all of my prepared food in it.  Last summer, I carried a small cooler, but I think this is a whole lot cuter:

I found it searching for insulated picnic baskets.  I need it to be insulated, because I always brought the meat and veggies we grilled, and mom didn't always have room in her fridge.  Being able to leave them in something where they would stay cool was important.

So, I am going to suggest these two things to Junior in the morning.   The kids can help him decide which one would make the better gift.  Honestly, I would love either one.

I guess I need to ask him what he wants for Christmas now.  It's only fair, right?

I Learned A Couple Of Things Yesterday

 First, I learned that this is one of the last pictures my beautiful purple camera will ever take.

I also learned that when you drop a camera, while it's on, onto the road, the lens will bend to a horrifying angle and become unfixable.

I also learned that the easiest way to clear out my house is to announce that Santa is going by outside on a fire truck.  I have never seen so many little kids run outside so fast.

I learned that my house is way too small for all the people that were here yesterday.

One of the worst things I learned was that in the last nine years, since I had a baby, I have lost a lot of my patience.  There were several times yesterday that I lost my cool, and I feel bad about it today.  I think it's a boy thing, too.  I forget how rowdy boys can get when they get together!  I have promised myself that I will try harder next time to be more understanding, and let the kids be kids.

Here's a shot of my birthday girl with Santa.  This was taken after my camera was dropped, so I am impressed it came out at all.  I am now shopping around for a new one...I really want another purple one, and Dawn found me an HP one that looks really cool.  I don't need anything fancy, just a simple point and shoot.  Any recommendations?

I Have Some Winners To Announce!

I had three giveaways end yesterday, so I just used random.org to pick the winners.

First up, we have the finish giveaway.  I was able to pick five winners for this one, so the following people need to email me their addresses:

mamipdx, Cheryl F, Dawn, Terra, and 1stopmom.  Congrats to all of you!

Next up, we have the eyeglass celeaner, and the winner of that is:

Dawn!  Congrats! 

And last but not least, the winner of the csnstores giveaway is:

Terra!

All winners will have until Tomorrow night to email me their information, or I will choose new winners.  Thanks again to all who entered! I am sure I will be hosting more giveaways in the near future, so check back often!

Our New Year's Plans

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

This year, Junior has the week between Christmas and New Year's Day off.  When he put in for this vacation, we did not think it would be approved.  Luckily, his boss really likes him, so she approved it.  We were thinking about maybe going out of town for a few days, but we can't seem to agree on a destination.  If money were no object, I would be taking my family to Branson.

Specifically, I would want to go to the cocktail lounge at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.  They are having a New Year's Around The World party on New Year's Eve, where you can watch, on large screen HD televisions, as new year is celebrated in cities all around the world. Cocktails will be served that are inspired by the city that is on the television.  I think that is an awesome idea! They will also serve a complimentary glass of champagne at midnight, and hors d'oeuvres will also be served.  The cover charge is only $15 per person, which is a really great price.  Of course, we would book a room at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing so that we would have somewhere close by to crash after the party.

But, since we don't have any extra money, we will probably end up staying home and ringing in the New Year with the kids.  And you know what?  That's exactly where I want to be.

Customized To Meet Your Needs

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

Yesterday afternoon, after taking Brandi to the doctor, we were driving behind a "tricked out" car that had three teenaged boys in it.  They were passing around a joint.  I may be a little naive, but I was shocked that they would so openly flaunt their drug use.  Thankfully, as we both pulled into Walmart's parking lot, Junior spotted a police car and was able to point out the teenagers to the cop, who pulled them over.  I like to think that we saved someone's life yesterday.  There's no telling what might have happened if these reckless teenagers had continued to drive while high. 

These kids could have hurt themselves, too.  If they had wrecked, there is a good chance they would have ended up either dead or handicapped for the rest of their lives.  That is a tough price to pay, especially when they have their entire lives ahead of them.  Instead of their "tricked out" car, they would end up driving a van equipped with the necessary  equipment to handle their wheelchairs, or whatever.  The good thing is that there are NMEDA dealers who are willing to help them find the right handicapped equipment to meet their needs.

As defined on their website, "NMEDA is a non-profit trade association of mobility equipment dealers, driver rehabilitation specialists, and other professionals dedicated to broadening the opportunities for people with disabilities to drive or be transported in vehicles modified with mobility equipment. All members work together to improve transportation options of people with disabilities".  It is obvious that no two disabled people are the same, so having a vehicle custom fit to meet a handicapped person's need is better than trying to adapt to a vehicle that has been customized for someone else.

You can visit the NMEDA website to find a dealer near you.  The dealer nearest me is about twenty minutes away, and I'm thankful that at least for now, I don't have top pass that information along to any of those three kids parents.  I am seriously hoping that being pulled over by the police yesterday scared them enough that they won't be driving while smoking pot ever again.

Kitchen Remodeling

For the past four months or so, my husband has been my mom's slave on weekends.  She decided that she wanted to redo her kitchen, and asked Junior to do it.  This is what it looked like before:

And this is what it looked like Thanksgiving Day:

Big difference, right?  He removed all the cabinets, and completely rebuilt the bottom ones.  He also left off the bar and made an island instead.  I think that is my favorite part of the entire kitchen.  It has huge doors that open up the entire front side, and inside there is a shelf.  All my mom's small appliances and pots and things fit in there perfectly.  She didn't want upper cabinets put back up, so Junior made her some shelves.  You can probably tell that there are still things left to do...the molding isn't finished, and the floor needs some tiles replaced.  Junior replaced the ceiling fan and the light fixture above the sink, too.  I think the only things he didn't replace were the Kitchen Doors.  

He also redid the dining room walls.  Here is a before shot:

And here's what it looks like now:

Not bad, right?  I love the blue my mom picked out.  It's so bright.  The kitchen has been put on hold until after Christmas, so Junior is finally able to relax a little on the weekends.  I think he's earned it!

Brandi's Kaplan Experience

Two months ago, I signed up to test out an online tutoring program through Kaplan.  I signed Brandi up for it, knowing that she didn't exactly need tutoring.  She needed to be challenged, and through Kaplan, she was.

Here is a screen shot of her progress with the program:

You can see that she started the program with 44% of 3rd grade reading skills mastered, and she finished at the same percentage.  This had a lot to do with her liking the math better, and pretty much ignoring the reading.  She started the math at 22% mastered, and ended at 43% mastered.  She even started working on some 4th grade math skills, which I am sure she will master if we decide to continue the program.  There were several times I found her sitting at the computer with a pen and paper, taking notes as she did her math.  she was so proud of herself when one day at school, in her advanced class, the teacher started talking about fractions, and she already knew all about them thanks to Kaplan.

As the kids work on their skills, they rack up points that they can spend in the reward zone.  Brandi chose a room to decorate with her points, and so far, this is what it looks like:

 

She  still has several hundred points to spend, but she prefers to do the work instead of playing in the reward zone.  Weird, I know.  She loves to learn.  I love her for that.  

All in all, I am very impressed with the program.  Once I showed her how to log in, she was able to do it herself.  I would recommend this program for all kids; the ones who do well in school and the ones who are struggling.  The program can tell when a child is struggling with something, so they focus on that skill until the child masters it.  Or if a kid like Brandi uses it, the program challenges her, and lets her learn at her own pace, which is just a little faster than what she's doing in school.  

If you would like a free one month trial for your child, simply go here, select "buy program now", and use the coupon code FB1MO on the account setup page.  You can find out more information here.  You can also find Kaplan on Facebook.  For every page of theirs that you "like", and there are several, they will donate one dollar to the Make-A-Wish foundation, up to $50,000.  You can find out more information about that here.

Let me conclude by saying that I think Brandi had an awesome experience with Kaplan.  She learned a lot, and enjoyed it.  I believe that when a child enjoys what they are doing, even if it is leaning, they will want to do it more.  Kaplan makes learning fun.  I think Brandi is going to be begging us to continue her membership. 

And we just might.

I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Program by Mom Central on behalf of Kaplan 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.

A Christmas Party

Last night was my husband's work Christmas party.  Honestly, I was very surprised when he informed me a couple of weeks ago that he actually wanted to go.  This is the first time in five years that he has had anything to do with work outside of work.  Did you follow that? 

I am usually a little anxious about things like this, but I ended up having a really good time.  I know a few of the people he works with, and we all sat together and had a nice time.  There was good food, good conversation, and then the DJ got to work.  You could tell who was drinking and who wasn't by the way people were dancing.  And of course, once the DJ finished setting up karaoke equipment, you really knew who'd been drinking.  You also found out who could sing and who couldn't.  Unfortunately, my poor ears didn't think any of last nights "singers" were very good, but I give them credit for getting up there and doing their thing. 

We didn't stay for the whole party, though.  Once they started playing "Baby Got Back" and that song that Sandra Bullock sings in the woods in The Proposal, I was ready to go.  I know, I am such an old lady! 

I am looking forward to getting together again with some of Junior's coworkers.  I just hope I don't have to wait another year to do it.

I Am NOT Moving Again

We have lived in this house for almost a year now.  In that time, I have never felt afraid.  Junior works early mornings, leaving the house between 3:30 and 3:45am.  That leaves me and the kids alone until I walk them to the bus stop at 6:20am.  Then I am alone until Junior comes home from work.

For most of our marriage, I have been home alone at night while Junior worked 3rd shift, usually 10pm to 7am.  In all the places we have lived, I have never been afraid of being alone with the kids at night.

A couple of weeks ago, Junior discovered that someone was messing with our shed, trying to break into it.  It is on the opposite side of the house from where my bedroom is, so I never heard a thing.  It is right outside Kasi's room, and she didn't hear anything either.  The funny thing is that this was a night when Junior was home.  Thankfully, they couldn't get inside the shed, so nothing was taken.

For a moment, Junior considered moving. The thing is, I refuse to move again.  I don't want to have to pack up all my books and elephants again.  I know, it sounds weird.  It's pretty simple packing the bedrooms and clothes and dishes, because none of that stuff is breakable.  I could even hire a Moving Company to move all of that for me.  But my elephants are fragile, and they need to be handled carefully. By me.  Because no one else realizes how much they mean to me. 

Okay, maybe Junior does, because in all the times we have moved, only a couple of elephants have been broken.  Either way, I am not moving again.  Junior spoke to the neighborhood maintenance guy, and he said it sounds like a couple of kids in the neighborhood we probably responsible.  I tend to agree, because I think if it was a "real" thief, they would have gotten into the shed.  Whoever it was left behind the sledge hammer they were using, and a "professional" wouldn't do that.  So I tend to agree that it was a couple of kids who got scared and ran before doing any real damage.  My husband's solution was to booby trap the door of the shed.

So far, no one has been caught in it.

Thank God.

***this is a sponsored review

Hickory Farms

Holidays.  In my family, the Holidays mean food.  Lots of food.  Noshies (our name for appetizers), the main meal, and then dessert.  Lots and lots of desserts.  Most of the time, the noshies are better than the actual meal.  Just take a look at this tray of food and tell me what you think:

This is the "Home For The Holidays Gift Box" from Hickory Farms, and we enjoyed it on Thanksgiving .

Included in the box was:

-2 - 10 oz. Our Signature Beef Summer Sausages

-10 oz. Italian Recipe Beef Summer Sausage

- 8 oz. Big Barn Cheddar®

- 7 oz. Cheddar & Havarti Blend

- 4 oz. Three Cheese & Onion Wedge

- 4 oz. Smooth N Sharp Wedge

- 2.25 oz. Sweet Hot Mustards

- 2.5 oz. Honey Pineapple Mustard

- 2 - .5 oz. Cracked Wheat Crackers

Let me tell you...it was all delicious.  I have to admit that I had never tried a summer sausage before.  I could kick myself now that I know what I was missing!  I am also not a fan of onions, but the three cheese and onion wedge was my favorite cheese.  The crackers were a little bite of heaven as well.

The box I received for review is one of the boxes in their "military section" that can be sent to any APO/FPO military address around the world with free shipping.  How cool is that?  I remember how hard it was the first year my brother was in the military, when he couldn't be home with us.  I can only imagine that it was ten times harder on him.  I think he would have appreciated a little something from home, and these Hickory Farms gift boxes are the perfect reminder.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Hickory Farms and received a signature gift box from Hickory Farms to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Red Crystal Earrings Giveaway Winner!

Congrats to Jennie @ Modern Mamaz for winner the red crystal earrings.  I wore mine last night to Junior's Christmas party, and they were perfect.  I felt very festive.

If for some reason I don't hear from Jennie in the next two days, I will pick another winner.

And remember, my big csnstores giveaway will be over in two days, so make sure you get all your entries in!

Udderly Smooth Giveaway Winner

Now, before I announce the winner, let me say that I had to delete a few entries,because they entered after the December 3rd deadline.  That also means that I had to delete those entries from the csnstores giveaway as well.  I assumed when I wrote the post that it was implied that you could enter current giveaways, not expired ones.  So, if you are one of those comments I deleted...sorry.  Feel free to enter any of the other current giveaways I have going right now.  You can find links to them in my sidebar.

I guess it's now time to announce that Amy is the winner of the Udderly Smooth Lotion giveaway!  I have sent her an email (she doesn't have a blog), and if I don't hear from her by Tuesday, I will pick another winner.

Congrats again, Amy!

It's My Sweet Girl's Birthday

Today, my baby turned nine.  My baby!  It is so hard for me to believe that it has been so many years since she was born.  She was my hardest pregnancy, simply because I was working at the time (I didn't work with Ryan or Kasi) and I was always tired.  By the time I went on maternity leave, I was swelling so bad I was falling.  That's right.  I could be walking a straight line and simply fall over.  I had a tendency to do it in parking lots, in front of tons of people.  It was so embarrassing!  After I had her, my feet swelled so bad I couldn't get shoes on my feet.  But, she was worth every second of pain and discomfort. 

In her nine years of life so far, she has shown everyone who knows her that she is a super smart, caring and compassionate little person.  She worries about everything, and is a perfectionist to the point of being anal sometimes.  She is a mommy's girl, and I love that.  She shares her birthday with her cousin, Kevin.  They are exactly one year and eight minutes apart.  I try to get a picture of the two of them every year, but my sister hasn't been down to visit this year.  Maybe next year.

Anyway, I want to wish my beautiful baby a very happy birthday!  I love you!

Online Children's Books

As you can see in the video, these Story Time For Me books are pretty neat.  Brandi spent a good bit of time reading along with a couple of them, and she really enjoyed them.  Each book is narrated, with music and sound effects added in.  The characters are adorable, and they offer the option of personalizing the books with your child's name.  I know that with some kids, getting them to read can be a challenge.  I also know that if you put them on the computer, they will do just about everything, even read.  I went through this with Ryan.  In fact, I still go through this with Ryan.

You can check out two of the books for yourself, for free, by following this link.  I would recommend these books for kids who are learning to read, and for those who like to be read to.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Don't Forget The Table For The Holidays!

Guest post written by Samantha Smith

With all the holiday entertaining that people do around the holidays, they a lot of times forget to incorporate holiday decorating onto the dining room table. I mean, almost every holiday party has food, so even if you aren't having a sit-down meal, you have to serve the food from somewhere. Therefore you need some kind of table decorations anyway.

I decided it was time to find a new centerpiece for my dining room table. I went online with my ClearWirelessInternet to try and get some ideas for what I wanted to do, but couldn't find one that was exactly what I wanted.

I decided to just go shopping for things to include in my DIY holiday tablescape because I figured that I would get the inspiration while I was there by knowing what I wanted when I saw it. I mean, table decorations all don't have to be in one big whole piece. I bought a whole bunch of little candle votives and holders to scatter throughout the table top, along with a lot of other festive looking things.

Family Christmas Lights Celebration

Guest post written by Debbie Robbins

It's always a big deal once we have all of our Christmas lights decorations up on the inside and outside of our house. It's actually quite a bit of work to do all of that and get it ready. So there really is a huge need to celebrate all of that hard work!

I was actually looking up some recipes to fix for our huge Christmas family kickoff, when I came across some satellite internet deals and after I found some more info about it I decided to sign up our household for it.

We don't turn on our Christmas lights until after Thanksgiving and as soon as we do that it seems like I blink and then the whole Christmas season is over with! But, the Christmas lights kickoff was really successful, like it is every year. We invited a lot of our neighbors over even though it started off years ago as a family thing. Our two girls that are in college also came home for it and brought their boyfriends along with them too.

Gaddy Nipper Crayons Review And Giveaway

All kids love to color.  Heck, I have been known to pull out the crayons and coloring books and color alongside my kids.  There is something therapeutic about it.  I remember how impressed my kids used to be that I could stay inside the lines.  Now that they can too, it's no longer a big deal.

Both of my daughters are very creative, and I like finding products that encourage that creativity.  When I saw these snowflake crayons, I thought they would inspire my girls to make something Christmassy.  (yes, I made up that word, but it works for me) and they did.  They used them to make a paper chain to hang with the Christmas lights around the house.  They decorated each link with a Christmas picture or saying, and it came out beautiful.

 These snowflake crayons were made by Gaddy Nipper Crayons.  They use only the best Crayola crayons and transform them into different shapes.  They have letters to form your child's name, which is pretty cool.  They also have lego bricks and trucks.  Oh, and my personal favorite - elephants!

These crayons are perfect for toddlers, too.  They are big enough to grab with little hands, making coloring a little bit easier.

The owner of Gaddy Nipper Crayons is graciously allowing me to give away a $10 gift certificate to her etsy shop.  Any of her crayons would make great stocking stuffers!

To enter, all you have to do is add Gaddy Nipper Crayons as a friend on Facebook.  Simply leave me a comment letting me know you sent the request.  I will pick the winner on Friday, December 10th.  Good luck!

And don't forget...entering this giveaway gets you five extra entries in my csnstores giveaway!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

A Use For Old Christmas Cards

Guest post written by Zach Hendricks

I know that people don't really put all that much time into signing and addressing a Christmas card. But I love getting them and don't really have the heart to throw them away or even recycle them after I get them. I always want to do something special with them and display them somehow, but I never can come up with anything that doesn't take a huge amount of time.

I thought that during my annual Christmas decorating, that I'd finally put those old, especially nice card to use and used my Clear-Internet to look up something to do with them.

I found a couple of different ideas, most of them it seemed like would take a lot longer that I was willing to put in. The idea that I settled on though was DIY card garland, which really just consists of hanging old cards on ribbon and then hanging it up along my mantle in my living room. I'm pretty excited about how it looks, especially because it barely took any time to do it.

A HUGE CSNStores Giveaway!

Okay...I promised you guys a HUGE giveaway...so how about this:

You can win a $115 csnstores shopping spree! 

That's right....one hundred and fifteen dollars!  Think of the Christmas shopping you could do with that much money.  I bet there is someone on your list who wants something special that you can find at csnstores.  I know there are lots of things I would like to have, like this:

Isn't it adorable?  I found it while searching for kids backpacks, and you all know about my obsession with elephants.  I told Junior I want it for Christmas, and he just rolled his eyes.  Men.

Okay, so you want to know what you can do to win this awesome giveaway, right?  I am going to make it easy...just do any or all of the following.  Just make sure you leave me a seperate comment for each thing you do.

• follow this blog publicly on GFC
• follow me on twitter (the link is over on the right sidebar)
• like my blog on facebook
• follow this blog using networked blogs
• tweet this giveaway (please leave a link to your tweet)
• facebook status this giveaway (leave the link, please)
• post about this giveaway, linking to my blog and this post (please leave the url to your post)
• enter any or all of my other current giveaways (this will earn you five entries each, so leave five separate comments mentioning which giveaway you entered, please)

I want whoever wins to be able to get whatever product they choose before Christmas, so this is going to be a short giveaway.  You will have until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, December 8th to enter. 

Update: I was just informed that this contest is only open to US and Canadian bloggers.

Good Luck!!!!!

A Thing Of The Past

Sometimes, a simple little thing can make a memory come flooding back, bringing a smile to my face.  Today, it was shoes.  Specifically, this video:



Watching this video made me think of the year my Grandmother bought me shoes for my birthday.  I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I do know that it was the first year that Velcro sneakers became popular.  My Grandmother and Grandfather took me to the mall, where they had the best shoe stores.  I was allowed to pick out whatever sneakers I wanted.  Back then, they had shoe salesmen who fitted you for your shoes.  I remember taking off the shoes I was wearing, and standing on the metal foot shaped thing that had the sliding thing on the side.  The salesman figured out what size I was and went back into the store room to find the sneakers I wanted.  Back then, they didn't have the self serve stacks of shoes like they do in the stores now, and there was no such thing as ordering online, because the internet didn't exist yet.  Wait, when did I get so old?

These days, finding shoes that fit properly can be confusing, especially for little kids.  Start-rite makes it easy to find the cutest shoes.  They have everything from boots to dress shoes.  They also have several articles and videos (like the one above) explaining how to find the perfect fit for your child. 

I wish my Grandmother was still with us, but she died before I had my first child.  I know she would have enjoyed taking my little ones for shoes, too.  I bet they would have been able to find some Velcro ones, too.

Top Droppers ~ November

The following blogs dropped her 31 times in November (which is, again, weird since November only has 30 days, but you get the point....right)

Photography by KML ~ Photography by KML features the fine art and stock images of photographer, Kathy Libby. KML specializes in Landscape and Nature photos. The stock photos include concepts, food, backgrounds, abstracts, sports, architecture, transportation, and people.

My second trial ~ Personal blog with personal impressions

Funky Town Disco Music ~ Once upon a time the music of the 70s, Disco Music, Funky, Soul, Pop Music, who made the history of those years. I was born in the mid 60s, so i lived right in the evolution of these sounds. This blog wants to revive after more than 20 years, the music of those years, memories, friends, first loves ..... For those not familiar with these genres, is a good opportunity to approach these fantastic sounds.

Moonangelnay on Etsy ~ A contemporary handmade, fine art, photography, crafts, gifts, jewelry, fashion and Etsy focused blog, sharing weekly features, tutorials, original works and interviews of the new artists of Etsy.

Smart Money Success ~ Personal and Professional Development Center for Money Success.

Buy Cheap EBooks 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

comatised ~ Dreaming in digital

Online Success Centre ~ Professional Resources for Online Success

Just Plain Tired..... ~ Words, ranging from coherent, to not so much coherent. Come along for the ride, what else do you have to do right this minute?

Comedy Plus ~  A place for a few laughs

Thanks to all of these bloggers, and to the ones who didn't make the list.  I appreciate you all taking the time to stop by and drop every day.