Before And After Cabinet Pictures

These are the main cabinets in my kitchen.  As you can see, the maintenance guy did a horrible job painting right before we moved in last year.  He used a cheap paint that was not washable at all.  In fact, whenever I tried to wipe them down, the paint would come right off.

Before

After

These are the cabinets under the sink and the only drawers in the entire kitchen.  They look horrible, don't they?

Before

After

It took me all day, but I am thrilled with how great the cabinets look now. 

Go, Go, Go. All Day Long.

It's almost 9:30pm, and this is the first chance I have had to sit down all day.  I woke up and started painting, which took me all day.  Hopefully I can get some pictures up soon.  I actually remembered to take before shots so you will be able to see how much better it looks now.  I still have so much to do before the BOA people come on Sunday to check out the house.

Tomorrow, I will only have the morning to clean because we have therapy in the afternoon and I want to try and do some clothes shopping after that.  I still haven't found anything I like in the stores, and I am getting discouraged.  So before therapy, I have to get the living room finished.  The new furniture is together, but I still have to get the rest of the room cleaned.  I checked online for some furniture cleaning tips so I can get the couch looking fresh.  Bob sleeps on it every night, so it's a little flat.  I need to find a way to fluff it up a bit.  I don't have to worry about round rock carpet cleaning because all the floors in my house are the fake hardwoods.   I do have to dust all the elephants, which takes forever.  I also have to clean the hamster cages.  If I get to feeling really ambitious, I might even look into air duct cleaning do it yourself .  Or maybe not.  I think that would be the maintenance guy's responsibility. 


For now, I am going to relax before I hop in the shower.  I have so much paint in my hair, it's going to take me a while to get it all out.

Hands Free Talking While Driving

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

The other day, on the way to the grocery store, we were almost hit by a woman who was driving while talking on her cell phone.  In our county, it is not against the law like it is in so many other places around the country.  It is scary for me to think of not only all the adults who talk and text while driving, but the fifteen year olds getting their drivers licenses who think they are invincible also doing it.  Ryan asks me all the time why I won't allow him to get his license, or ride with his friends who have theirs, and my answer is simple; cell phones and driving do not mix.  To me, there is no more deadly combination, except drinking and driving.
You don't even want to get me started on that topic.

Uploaded with Skitch!

Let's get back to the topic of driving and talking on your cell phone.  I am not opposed to the talking so much as the having one hand on your phone and one hand on the wheel.  Hands free options are a reasonable solution, because to me, talking aloud is no different than talking to a passenger.  Or yelling at your kids.  One option for hands free talking is Evie.  This is an app you can download onto your iPhone, and it's really cool because everything "she" does is by voice command.  For instance, you can tell "her" to call a certain number, or even a certain person by name from your contacts, and "she" does all the work for you.  You don't have to try and find and dial the numbers yourself, causing you to remove your eyes from the road.  You can also tell "her" to play you a song or find you directions.  If you are a Facebook addict like most of us are, you can even listen to status updates as you drive.  Pretty cool, right?

As great as this app is, I want everyone to remember how important it is to keep your focus on the road at all times while you are driving.  If you don't your not only endangering your own life, you are endangering mine, too.

Room By Room

I have been so busy cleaning!  I want my house perfect (or as perfect as I can make a rental house where I am not allowed to paint) so I am going room by room, organizing and making things nice.  Yesterday, Kasi and I put together my new desk and bookcase.  I really like it better than the old hand me down desk, mostly because it doesn't have the hutch top.  I no longer feel like I am being punished and sitting in the corner whenever I am online.  What do you think?

I also got a new flat screen computer monitor, and that takes up a whole lot less room than the old one did.  I am happy with how the living room looks, aside from wanting new curtains.  The ones hanging were made by my mom the first year I got married, so 16 years ago.  Wow.  I do think it's time for something new.

Tomorrow, I am going to concentrate on the bathroom.  I asked the maintenance man if I could have some of the paint they use to re-paint when a tenant moves out so that I can at least refresh the walls in there, and he said he would get me some.  I just hope it is before this weekend.  Until then, I have other things I can do in there.

It's a small bathroom, but the lighting is a little weird.  There is one contemporary lighting fixture in there, and it is right above the sink.  I like having that light there when I am doing my hair and brushing my teeth, but that one light doesn't exactly light up the entire room.  Taking a shower can be a kind of dark experience, especially with the curtain closed.  I would love to convince the maintenance man to put up some flush mount ceiling lights in there closer to the tub, but he will probably tell me I'm crazy.  He probably wouldn't be opposed to us buying some Lampclick Lighting with our own money and installing it ourselves.  Heck, we put up a ceiling fan in the living room ourselves. Aside from the lighting issue, I have no complaints about the bathroom.  I found one of those metal racks that goes over the toilet, and I am excited to see how that is going to look in there. 

After the bathroom is done, I have to tackle the kitchen.  I am going to repaint the cabinets with a better paint so that I can actually wipe off spills.  Right now, if I wipe the cabinets, the paints comes right off.  They used a pretty cheap paint when they painted them the first time.  They are white, too, so every spill stands out.  I bought a kitchen/bath paint yesterday that the sales person promised could be scrubbed without coming off the cabinet.

I guess we'll see if that's true!

I Went Shopping!

Last night, we went shopping.  I got me a laptop (finally!) and a new camera.  As much as I love my laptop, I am drooling over my new camera.  I ended up with a Sony.  I did tons of research, and I was debating between a cannon and a Sony, and the Sony won.  It's not purple...it's black.  But, it has 10x zoom and the ability to shoot home movies in HD.  It's pretty.  My friend took this pictures last night with it.  Came out good, right?  It also has the ability to shoot 10 shots per second, or something like that.  I can also set it to take the same picture two different ways...I'm not sure what the two different ways are called, but it's cool.  I have so much to figure out on it.  It took me a while to figure out how to download the pictures onto my new laptop...I think I was trying to do too many new things at one time.  And if you know me at all, you know I am not the least bit "techy". 

I also had a giveaway end yesterday.  Debbie from Suburb Sanity won...congrats to her!  I send her an email, and if I don't hear from her by Tuesday, I will choose another winner.

I am off to play with my camera a little more.

My Secret To Making A Move Easier

I am a pro at packing and moving.  I mean, in the past three years, we have moved twice.  It was not fun at all, but I learned the best way to pack and the best way to move.  Do you want to know my secret?

Pay someone else to do it all. 

No, I'm kidding.  Kind of.  The packing needs to be done by me, because let's face it, I am the only one who will care if my elephants make it safely to their new home.  As far as the moving part?  Well, let the professionals help.  With abf upack moving, you pack and load the truck yourself, and then have a professional come and drive all your belongings to your new place.  Trust me when I tell you this is a lot easier than making fifty trips in a pickup truck.  

Thankfully, I have no plans on moving again anytime soon.  Well, maybe next year, because we want to buy our own place.  At least I know how to pack!

Money. I Need More Of It

It's been three days since my last post?  How did that happen?  Oh wait.  I know.  I have been obsessively researching computers and cameras online so that when our tax check comes in tomorrow, I can spend my money wisely. 

And speaking of money, why does it seem like there is never enough?  I had planned on not only getting myself a laptop, but a new desktop computer as well.  I planned on spending no more than $1200 on both. 

I must have been living in my own little world.  It is pretty much impossible to get both for that amount of money.  Or should I say, it's impossible to get reputable computers for that much.  The laptop I decided on costs $600 by itself.  That's not including the software I have to buy to go on it, or the wireless mouse and laptop case I have my eye on.  So, instead of settling on a less than stellar desktop, I am going to buy a new computer desk and bookshelf to make my "office" a little less confined, and buy a new flat screen monitor for the computer I have.  My dad suggested I go to a pawn shop for that, so hopefully I can find one pretty cheap.

Now I need to find a way to make more money.  I love working from home, and it doesn't make sense for me to go back to work right now.  I wish we had the funds to look into some Dallas investment property and make money that way.  I've heard you can make a lot of money with investment properties, and I am pretty sure that Bob and I could manage the renovations ourselves.  You all saw the pictures of the renovations he did in my mom's kitchen and dining room.  He does great work!  Living in South Carolina, we would have to rely on the internet to find the perfect Dallas investment property.  Thankfully, MyHouseDeals.com offer free access to investment property leads.  I love that thanks to the internet, people from anywhere can find out what they need to know about anywhere else.  Did you follow that?

For now, I guess I'll just have to dream about investment properties.  Maybe someday we can find the time and money to invest in a home, but for now, I'll have to find another way to make some money.  Maybe I'll go back to clipping coupons.  I wonder how many times I'll have to save $.55 before I have enough money for that new computer?

Who Wants To Know Me Better?

 I love getting awards!  Thanks Silvergirl for thinking of me!

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 great bloggers you know.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

 

Now, you all know so much about me, and I really can not think of anything new to share.  So, I did what every good blogger would do and put a shout out on Facebook for my lovely friends to ask me seven questions I would answer about myself.   And they sure did ask some good questions!  Here we go:

1.  What form of birth control do you use?

Well, I don't use any.  We are leaving things up to God, but that's not saying we aren't careful.  I am pretty good at knowing exactly when I'm ovulating, so we avoid doing anything during that time.  It's worked for the past 9 years, so we must be doing something right.

2.  If you were to have another child and it was healthy, what sex would you want it to be?

This is an easy one for me...I would want a girl.  Truth be told, I was so upset when I found out Ryan was a boy.  I wanted a girl so bad, but God knew better than me, and I am so glad he gave me Ryan.  I can not explain how much I love my son...it's different then the way I love my girls.  It's not more or less, just different.  That said, I don't think I could do another boy...all the hyperactivity and struggling so much with school and the attitude!  Oh my.  But, there will not be anymore babies, especially since Brandi says she will give it away because she needs to stay the youngest.

3.  Have you ever smoked ? If you have, what brand did you smoke, how many packs a day. Have you quit and when ? 

I did smoke for many years.  I didn't start smoking until I was 18 years old and almost out of high school.  I smoked until I was about 7 months pregnant with Brandi, and I was smoking about a pack a day.  Yes, I smoked through all of my pregnancies, and I am convinced that that contributed to Ryan's ADHD issues.  I smoked Marlboro Lights.  This past October was 9 years since I quit, and to be honest, I have never even craved a cigarette since.  I am also the worst when it comes to smoking now.  The smell makes me sick!  Bob started smoking again after his dad died, and I HATE the way he smells these days.

4.  What is your favorite time of the day and why?

 

I actually have two favorite times of the day.  I love the few hours after the kids get on the bus in the morning.  I usually go back to bed until 10am, and it's the best sleep I get all week.  I go to bed most nights about 1am, get up at 2:15am to get Bob to work, then again at 5:15am to get the kids off to school.  I lay back down around 7am, and those 3 hours of sleep are heavenly.  I also love the couple of hours before the kids go to bed at night.  Homework is finished, baths are taken, and we usually either play a game together or lay in my bed and watch a little television.  During this time, I don't think about all the blogging I have to do or whether or not the dishes are done.  This is my time to spend with the kids, and they deserve my undivided attention.

5,  If you could move anywhere... anywhere... where would if be and why ?

 

Wow.  To be honest, I wouldn't want to go anywhere.  I would love to move into a house we own, but I would want that to be close to where we now live.  My parents live close by, as well as my brother and one of my sisters.   I love my family, and I want my kids to grow up with their cousins.  Some of my favorite memories of growing up involve my aunt and cousins, and I want the same for my kids.

6.  Do you wear a wedding ring?

 

Yup.. I put it on almost 16 years ago, and it's never been off my finger, except when my fingers swelled so bad when I was pregnant and it was cutting off the circulation to my finger.  Wanna see it?

Pretty, right?

7.  Why don't I drive?

This is a tough one, because I never sound sane when I explain this.  First let me say that I know it's irrational, I know it makes me sound crazy, but I have comes to term with that long ago, and you should too. :) When I became of driving age, I was never pushed to get my license.  My parents were going through a tough time back then, so it wasn't a priority.  I had friends who drove, and I worked at a McDonald's that was close enough to walk to, so that is what I did whenever I didn't have a ride.  I had a boyfriend back then who tried to teach me, but that didn't work out well.  He had me drive his car, which was a manual transmission, and as I was going down a busy street, I got a little freaked out and wanted to stop.  He told me I couldn't just hit the brake, but he wouldn't tell me what I did need to do to stop.  That freaked me out!  Then when I first met my husband, he tried to teach me.  I drove with a permit for a while (always with him in the car), and then one day, there was a spider on the dashboard.  I asked him to kill it, and he wouldn't, so I grabbed a soda bottle and started going after it, completely forgetting that I was driving the car.  I swerved off the road and hit a mailbox.  Thankfully, I swerved back onto the road (I don't know how I didn't over-correct and wreck the car...God was most definitely looking after us that day), but that did it for me.  I was very pregnant with Ryan at the time, and all I could think of was how I would have killed him if I had wrecked the car.  For the past 15 years, I have been living with that fear...of killing one of my kids if I wreck, that I become paralyzed with fear just thinking about driving.  I am also really careful about who my kids ride with.  Like I said, I know this is irrational, but it's me.  Oh, and since I am not a fan of being in public anyway, not driving doesn't normally bother me.  I don't mind being at home, that's why this whole blogging for money thing is perfect for me.  It's also why I am still slightly freaked out about this whole Bank Of America shoot.

Thanks to Dawn and Diana for the great questions!  I am passing this award to the both of you!

Promoting My Blog

I have been thinking a lot lately about how to promote my blog.  I do the entrecard thing everyday, which is great for getting traffic here, but I want to attract more advertisers.  I know many bloggers have business cards that they hand out.  I have even heard stories of some bloggers leaving their cards in common places like libraries and coffee shops, hoping that people will pick them up and become loyal readers.  I have thought about doing the business card thing, but have never followed through with it.

I did have an idea around Christmas time when I was looking for stocking stuffers for the kids.  I stumbled upon a site that does promotional pens, and I got to thinking how cool it would be to have my blog name (and url) put on some.   I think more people would be more likely to pick up a pen than a business card. 

What do you think about these?

They all write in black ink, but I like the bright colors of the pens themselves.  I think if I was to see a pen like this just laying around somewhere, I would pick it up.

I also found some cute promotional pencils.  I prefer the mechanical ones like these:

I would let the kids use these at school.  If they happened to leave one in their classroom and their teachers found it, that would be awesome.  I wouldn't want any of their friends reading this, so maybe that's not such a good idea.  Maybe I'll become one of those bloggers who leaves them in random places around town.

You can find all kinds of cool personalized things at GOPromos.com.  I found these cute little reusable shopping/tote bags, and I think they are a great way to advertise.  Check them out:

I would love to get one of these in purple, but I'm not sure they offer that.  Either way, I think carrying a bag like this would be good way to advertise my blog.  What do you think?

An At Home Spa Day With My Girls, Thanks To Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

Last week, I received a basket from Arm & Hammer filled with all kinds of goodies.  Check it out:

It contained all kinds of goodies to help a girl relax.  The candle smells so good, and the tea was delicious.  My daughters and I decided that today would be a spa day, so we broke out the recipe book and started pampering ourselves. 

The first thing we did was make an exfoliating scrub for our feet.  All we had to do was mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water.  (for a more exfoliating scrub, they suggest adding brown sugar, which we did)  I ended up adding more water to the mixture, just to make it a little smoother.  This is what it looked like:

Brandi and I soaked our feet in warm water with 2 tbsp baking soda and a few drops of lavender oil added.  The water smelled really good.  After fifteen minutes, Kasi used the scrub on my feet and I used the scrub on Brandi's feet.  We used a soft brush to really work the scrub into our heels, and I have to say, they do feel softer.  Once our feet were rinses, we painted our toenails a bright pink.  Don't they look wonderful?

Once our feet were done, we needed facials.  We made a new batch of scrub following the same recipe, only this time we added oatmeal instead of brown sugar.  Check it out:

My girls let me slather it all over their faces, and then we worked it in gently, rinsing after a minute or two.  I made sure to avoid their eyes, but Brandi ended up getting some in her mouth.  Thankfully, the entire scrub was made with edible ingredients (though they may not taste good!) so I wasn't worried about her tasting some.  Don't they look adorable?

I also learned that there are several other ways to use Arm & Hammer baking soda in your daily beauty routine.  For instance, I had no idea that you could put some baking soda in your hand and dip your toothbrush in it to brush your teeth.  I know they have toothpaste that has baking soda in it, but I had no idea you could use it straight like that.  I wonder how it tastes?  I'll have to try it to find out.  You can also use it as a natural deodorant by dusting it under your arms as needed to feel fresh all day.  Honestly, I'm not sure that I would try this, but it does sound interesting. 

I am happy to say that I enjoyed my day of beauty with my girls.  We may have to make this a monthly thing for the three of us. 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Arm & Hammer and received a beauty basket to thank me for taking the time to participate.

It's Triplets!

My daughter is going to need to start using an infant hip carrier if she continues to take her babies everywhere we go.  Let me introduce you to, front left to right, Hayley Brooke, Hazel Brianna, and Hannah Bridget.  Aren't they adorable?

Yes, she named each one herself.  I love how they are all Ha first names and Br middle names.  She's pretty creative like that.  I can't wait to see what she names her real kids one day.

Yesterday, we went into our local Goodwill store looking for a bunk bed for the girls room.  Brandi took one look at the little baby clothes and begged for new outfits for her babies.  I didn't have any money on me, so I told her we would go back when I did and she could pick out a few outfits. 

We went back today, and she picked out about five different outfits, three of which the girls are wearing in the picture.  She tried to convince her dad and I to buy her a stroller, too, but we didn't.  She has a variety of baby carriers already.  It's the fact that she can only carry one baby at a time that has her wanting a stroller.   I have written before about my rule that she can only bring one baby into the store with us, and most of the time she picks Hayley, and that people think she is a real baby.  I wonder what they would think if I let Brandi carry her babies in baby carriers backpacks?   People would probably do triple takes thinking I let my nine year old carry my baby on her back.  

Rearranging

This week I am going to be cleaning like a madwoman and rearranging my living room.  Why, you ask?  It's all because of this Bank Of America thing.  You see, my house is tiny, and we have a lot of furniture.  The way my living room is set up, I have my desk facing the room, which means the unfinished side which is supposed to be against the wall is visible to everyone.  Normally, this doesn't bother me, but if they decide to take pictures here at the house, I want the desk turned the way it is supposed to be.


I also want to move the kids computer, and maybe the entertainment center that holds the television.  The problem with this is that there are a bunch of different cords for your television and I have no idea how they are all attached.  I don't know which are the DVI cables and which are the cable wires.  It also has the wii and DVD player connected, and I have no idea how to reattach all that.  I probably couldn't even figure out how to use the DVI to HDMI cable to be able to connect the computer to the television.  

Now that I wrote all this out, it's probably best if I leave the television alone, and just focus on moving my desk back to the way it should be.  Of course, that means I will no longer be able to watch television while I'm online, but that may end up being a good thing as well.  It may force me to actually be productive and get some work done.

Buying A Home

Bob and I have made a decision about our living arrangements.  Next year, we are going to try and buy a place of our own.  I say try because we both have some credit issues, and I am not sure if we will qualify for a mortgage.  We are thinking of buying a double wide mobile home, which will be cheaper than buying a house.

Right now we are seeing a lot of houses for sale where we live.  It's like homeowners woke up one morning right after the new year and asked, "What's my house worth", and are now trying to sell their houses for that price.  I would love to be able to go to Express Estate Agency and tell them what we are looking for in a home and have them find us the perfect house.  For me, it would have to have four bedrooms, an office, a big kitchen, and a huge living room.   Oh, and at least 2 bathrooms, preferably 3.  Unfortunately, this is not a reality for us.  We can not go to a Quick property sale and buy anything.  We have been working on raising our credit score, but right now, it's still not a great number.   I do think, though, that with a big enough down payment, we will be able to get a mobile home next year. 

At least that is what I am hoping.

Bank Of America Called

Yesterday I received an email from Mom Central, saying that The Bank Of America really liked the post I did about their banking options last month and that they were wondering if I would like to be featured in their annual report as a customer testimonial.  Now, for those of you who know me, you know I have an almost manic fear of being around people I don't know or of being in the spotlight.  I am a very happy wallflower.  From what I understood from the email, I would be contacted by phone for a short interview, and maybe a picture of my family would be used.  Sounded simple enough, right?

So yesterday afternoon I received an email from Bank Of America, saying that they would love to get in touch with me about this whole interview thing.  Of course, I am freaking out a little, but I agree because, let's face it, this is a pretty awesome opportunity.  Nothing is guaranteed, mind you, until the final editing is done, but still.

Today, I received a phone call from them, and oh. my. goodness!  I am blown away by all of it!  The woman I spoke to said that I am in the front of the line for the category I am in, and wants to send out a professional photographer to take pictures.  She said they would fly someone in from NY.  Oh, and there would be a makeup artist, too, who will make me all pretty.  We tentatively set the date for February 7th to take the pictures.

How much weight do you think I can lose between now and then?  And what will I wear?  Should I color my hair before then, or leave it the way it is?  I think I need to go shopping!

Heaven Is For Real ~ A Book Review

I have never doubted that there is a heaven.  I know that someday, when I die, I will be reunited with all of those who have passed before me, and I will be waiting patiently for those who come after I am already there.  I am sure a majority of my readers will admit that they believe there is a heaven as well.  But what would you do if someone confirmed that for you?

In this book, three year old Colton Burpo amazes his family with stories of heaven.  He tells them that during an emergency appendectomy, which occurred while he was seriously ill, he left his body and visited heaven.  He talks about meeting family members there who have never been mentioned to him before, like his Grandfather and his sister, a baby his mother miscarried before he was born.  He described heaven in detail, and all those details were confirmed in the bible.

This book is an easy read, and the story is quite amazing, if you choose to believe it.  I know there are skeptics out there, but I am not one of them.  I choose to believe this little boy, and I can not wait to someday see all the things he discovered during his trip to heaven.

***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.

Dawn's Having A Giveaway!

Dawn is giving away a $15 gift code to CSN stores.  You all know how much I love them.  I have my eyes on a pair of silicone tipped tongs, so I really hope I win.  If you want to try your luck and enter as well, you can do so here.  Good luck!

Random

ignore this, kay?

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Out Of Brandi's Mouth

Last night, the girls and I were watching Biggest Loser.  At one point during the show, they show the contestants running on the treadmills.  Brandi turns to me and says,

"Treadmills are kinda like hamster wheels for humans, right?"

Yup, they sure are!

Shmirshky

Okay, ladies.  I have got to tell you about this book I just finished reading.  It is all about the journey we will all take, or have taken, through menopause.  I am still a few years away from my journey through it ( I hope! ), and this book has more than prepared me for what my shmirshky (that's code for vagina) is going to go through. 

It's not written in a this is this and that is that kind of way, where everything is set in stone.  Instead, it is almost like a guidebook, letting women know what may happen during PM&M (which stands for pre-, peri-, and post- menopause) and the things they should talk to their doctors about.  Most importantly, the author encourages us women to talk about what we are going through with other women.  We should talk to the men in our lives, too.  Heck, we should talk to everyone!  The author shares stories about things that happened to her and her friends as they went through their journeys, which makes for some interesting (and funny!) reading.

Check out what the author has to say about Shmirshky:


You can find out more about this book here.  You can also like Shmirshky on Facebook and follow the author on Twitter.  I did both.

I would honestly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about what women go through during their menopausal journeys.  I think men could benefit from reading this book as well.  I mean, they have to go through it with us, so they may as well be prepared for it.

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.

Roundabouts Review And Giveaway

Roundabouts are little paper sleeves that you wrap around an ordinary cupcake to make it more fun.  I was sent the burger sleeves to try out.  This is what my cupcakes should look like:

This is what my cupcakes actually look like:

The color in the picture is a little off, because in real life, they are the same color as the bottom bun color.  And they are seriously adorable!  I used a peanut butter frosting that I made from scratch (yes, scratch!  I am going to post the recipe on my food blog) on top of devil's food cupcakes, so they taste as good as they look. The only issue I had with the sleeve is that because I overfilled the cupcakes, they didn't wrap around entirely.  But, I think if I were to use the right amount of batter, they would have fit perfectly.

You can check out all the different designs on the Roundabout website.  I found sushi ones and fire engine ones that are pretty cute, and at $8.99 a dozen, they are affordable too.  They also have a skull one that will be perfect for Ryan's Halloween birthday party in November.  I always have my eyes peeled for supplies for that.  If you like what you see, you can like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

I am also going to be giving one lucky reader the chance to win a pack of Roundabouts of their choice.  All you have to do to enter is visit their website, and tell me which sleeve you would like to win, and why.  After this mandatory step, you can gain extra entries by doing any or all of the following (1 entry each):

• like this blog on Facebook
• follow me on Twitter
• follow me publicly on GFC
• follow this blog on Networked Blogs
• spread the word about this giveaway ~ tweet it, blog it, facebook it, get creative!

Please leave a separate comment for each thing you do.  This contest is open to Us and Canadian bloggers only and will run until 11:59pm on Friday, January 28, 2011.  Good luck!

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I Hate When People Who Aren't Handicapped Park In Handicapped Parking Spaces

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

The other day, we ventured out in the snow to help out a friend.  Once we got his car unstuck, we headed to the grocery store.  We found a spot pretty close to the front of the parking lot since there weren't many people out shopping.  As we were getting out, we watched a car park in a handicapped spot.  The person who got out ran into the store to avoid getting covered in the falling snow.  There was no handicapped sticker on his car, and it ticked me off.  Who is he to take the spot of someone who might actually need it?

My mom has a handicapped sticker for her car because of her fibromyalgia.  Sure, she can walk by herself and maybe to other people she doesn't look like she needs the sticker, but she has it, and she only uses it when there are no regular spots close to the front. 

I know some of my readers also suffer from this disease, and it is not fun.  My mom is in pain a lot of the time, and when she over does things, not even her medications can take away all the pain.  I have read articles about people who end up in wheelchairs because their legs hurt too bad to walk.  I pray all the time that my mom does not end up that way.  If she does, my sister and I may have to turn to a NMEDA dealer to find a way for her to still be mobile outside of her home.  These dealers specialize in customizing your vehicle to your specific handicapped needs.  In fact, we would make sure we dealt with a QAP (Quality Assurance Program) dealer, because they must meet the highest standards in the industry.  It may be cheaper to buy a vehicle that is already equipped with wheelchair access, but it seems safer, in my opinion, to have a vehicle made especially for your needs. 

I am hoping that we will never have to find out.  I am hoping that my mom continues to to be mobile, and hopefully someday, she will find a way to be pain free.

Horseback Riding As Exercise?

I have been thinking lately about different ways I can exercise that would be fun.  A blogger friend of mine has been writing a lot lately about her experiences horse back riding, and it sounds like so much fun.  I don't know much about horse supplies or how much work goes into taking care of horses, but I bet it is more fun than going to the gym and walking on a treadmill.  I guess I need to do a little research, and see if there is somewhere around here I could try it out before I commit to anything.  Who knows, I may get thrown off and break some bones my first time out, or I may find out that I am really good at it.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

A Book Blog?

We are already two weeks into the new year, and I feel like it's still 2010.  The kids have been home way too many days.  Bob has been home, too, which has thrown my schedule all out of whack.  School is canceled again tomorrow, which means the kids will be home until Tuesday.  That's right, Tuesday.  I am not happy about this.  At all.

I am having a hard time getting my work done with everyone home.  I had wanted to start a new blog at the first of the year, but that hasn't happened yet.  I already have the food one, the craft one, my personal one, and this one.  Oh, and a picture one.  I haven't touched that one in months, though.  Maybe once I get my new camera I will get back into the habit of posting a new picture every day. 

My new blog will be something different.  I'm thinking about starting one where I review and keep track of all the books I read.  I see a lot of those types of blogs when I drop ecards.  I can't decide if I want to start it on blogger or buy a domain.  I read a hostgator review and according to it's users, it's a great site to use. I have never used them myself, so I would appreciate input from any of you that have.

Hopefully once the kids are back in school I will find the time to actually get the new blog up and running.  That's assuming the kids will, eventually, one day, finally go back to school.

Snow Angel

The kids are going to be home again tomorrow.  Who knows if they'll have school on Friday.  I seriously need some alone time.  I feel like it's summer vacation, only there's no sunshine or swimming.  Instead, I have bored kids who bug me and eat everything in the house. 

Please, mother nature, give me a break.  Send some serious sunshine my way to melt all this ice and snow.  Preferably by Friday morning so the buses will run and take these little monsters I call my kids back to school where they belong. 

Thank you very much.

I Need To Get Organized

 How do you organize your day?  Are you the type of person who makes lists of all the things you hope to accomplish, or are you like me and have everything you need to do written on sticky notes, which are stuck all over your computer monitor?  On any given day, I have at least five or six sticky notes reminding me of all that I have to do each day.  Some days, come bed time, I am scrambling to get things done that I have forgotten.  I need a better way of organizing my day.

I just heard about Taskwise, and I have to say, it sounds like something that I could use to make my days flow a little easier.  I can organize my time, even setting alarms and alerts to make sure that I meet my deadlines.  Check out this little video:


Sign up for a free Taskwise account! Not only can it be used personally, you can also use it to help run a business more effectively as well.   You can decide who sees what, and you can access and share your information with employees easily form nearly anywhere. 

I think this program can make a difference in my day.  I know I need a better system than sticky notes.

Dreams Of Warmer Weather

We woke up yesterday morning to snowfall.  By early afternoon, we had a little over five inches of the white stuff covering everything in sight.  The kids couldn't wait to get outside to play in it.  I, on the other hand, being from New York and sick as a dog, didn't want to leave the warmth of my computer chair.  But, being the awesome mom I am, I bundled everyone up and we headed out for about thirty minutes of fun.

After coming back inside and thawing out, I started looking forward to summer.  I long for warm weather and lounging in the pool.  I miss the time we were spending at my mom's house, cooking out and spending time together, eating hot dogs and hamburgers while sitting on brightly colored patio cushions.  

I know I have several months before the hot weather will make an appearance again.  Living in South Carolina, I am sure it will be warm again by next week, and all the snow will melt away.  For now though, I am going to sit here and imagine that the bathrobe keeping me warm is a towel that I just wrapped around myself after getting out of the pool.

We Eat A Lot Of Pizza

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TABASCO® Original Red. All opinions are 100% mine.

I hate to admit it, but we eat a lot of pizza in our house.  Most days, you will find some type of frozen pizza in my freezer, and whenever we order dinner in, it's usually pizza.  The boys usually get some type of combination of meats, while the girls and I prefer mushrooms and olives.  These days, there are varieties of frozen pizzas that are just as good, if not better, than delivery pizza.  But fresh or frozen, there are ways to make every pizza taste better.

I was online, checking out some recipes, and I stumbled upon the TABASCO® Original Red website, and I found their list of 10 ways to doctor up delivery pizza.  My favorite pizza would be a combination of numbers 1 and 5.  Number one is adding four or more cheeses, and number five is mixing pesto with TABASCO and drizzling it over the pizza.  I love pesto, and cheese, so doing both of these things would definitely  make for a Pizza Perfected. 

I don't think I have ever had hot sauce before, so I am not sure what to expect.  I have heard that the TABASCO original red sauce is "so much more than hot" and will unlock and enhance the flavors already in the food it's added to.  If it can make pizza taste better, than I am all for it.  Pizza is also a great game day item, and with the Super Bowl coming up, you can spice up your pizza with Tabasco, starting a new game day tradition.  You can find a whole bunch of recipes for game day on Tabasco's Game-Day Party Menu.

Which of the ten ways would you use to doctor up your pizza?  Or if you are like me, which combination of the ten would you try?

Where Should We Put A Hot Tub, If We Could Afford One?

I'm sick.  I woke up yesterday morning after a night of nausea feeling like I had been hit by a truck.  This morning (after only sleeping about five hours) I woke up with swollen, itchy eyes, sneezing, and a nice cough.  I am about ready to crawl back into bed.  I think another day of laziness might just be what the doctor ordered.

Junior has been keeping the kids busy, which mean they haven't been bothering me.  The girls have been cleaning their room and doing laundry, while Ryan helps Junior clean up the yard.  I have to admit to being impressed, too.  The guys have raked all the leaves and trash up, and put everything in the shed where it belongs.  Our house seems to be where everyone's trash ends up when the wind blows, which means it is always messy looking.  Junior has spoken to our maintenance guys about doing some improvements outside, like repainting the outside of the house and maybe adding on to the front porch.  I have always wanted a porch where we could put a table and chairs, and maybe our grill, but the one we have is no where near big enough for that.  The maintenance guy said we could do whatever we wanted, as long as it was up to code, so when we get some extra money, Junior will start construction.  I have a feeling he is going to spend the next couple of weeks checking out covered patio design ideas online before we decide exactly what we want to do.   If he gets his way, we'll have a hot tub and big screen television out there.  I am not opposed to this, but I don't want a hot tub by my front door.  Maybe I can convince him that he needs to extend the side porch.  The only problem with that is that the side porch is right by the road, which means we would have absolutely no privacy.  The ideal would be building a back porch, but we don't have a back door, so that's out of the question. 

Maybe we'll just wait until we can afford to buy a place of our own before we put in a hot tub.

A New Baby

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

I became an Aunt once again on December 30th when my sister gave birth to my newest little nephew, Charlie.  He is absolutely perfect and adorable, though I have only seen him through a computer screen, thanks to skype.  This is my sister's third child, and second son.  He looks almost exactly like his older brother, too.

I remember the days of having two kids in diapers, and I know how expensive it can be.  Back when my kids were little, we didn't have the option of buying diapers or formula online.  In fact, the internet was pretty new itself back then.  My sister is lucky that she has the option to buy on diapers.com the supplies she needs.  I believe right now she is breastfeeding little Charlie, so that is one expense she is avoiding.  However, if she were to formula feed, I would be sure to recommend the store brand formulas instead of the name brands.  Nutritionally the same, the store brands can be 50% cheaper than the name brands.  You can like Bright Beginnings on Facebook  to read some great information about their products.

I am so happy that my sister had a good delivery and a healthy baby.  I can't wait to meet my new little nephew in person.

Ryan's Struggling

I never struggled with my grades in school.  There were a couple of subjects that I did okay in, but for the most part, my averages were pretty good.  In fact, if I remember correctly, I placed about 350 in a class of 1200, which isn't bad at all. 

My son is having a really hard time this year.  I just saw his grades for the first semester, and he failed history by one point.  This kills me!  Some of you know how he was struggling with math, and he was able to bring that grade up to passing, which I am proud of.  I think his issue is that when he is focusing on bringing up one grade, he lets the others slip.  I need to help him find a way to do well in every class, and I don't know how to do that.  He already goes to tutoring before and after school.  I told Junior we might need to look into having a tutor come to the house a couple of days a week to work with him, but I have no idea how to even find one.  Maybe I'll email one, or all, of his teachers.

I sat and talked with Ryan last night, and he was pretty upset, which tells me that he isn't just slacking off.  Next year, he wants to go to the technical school, and start working towards his mechanics degree.  I am all for this, but I am afraid he won't be accepted into the program because of his grades.  I know he will be disappointed if this happens.  He wants so badly to have a mechanical engineering career and going to the technical school is the first step in making that happen.  Junior says they will let him in regardless of his grades, but I'm not too sure.  Besides, if he is struggling now, I think he needs more time in the classroom, not under the hood of a car.  But, if this is what he wants to do with his life, who am I to say he can't take advantage of this opportunity?  I'm so confused.  It's just so hard for me to understand why he isn't doing well, since I have never been in that situation.

Any advice for me?

It's Cold In Here!

My house is freezing!  I just received last month's power bill in the mail, and is was $200.  Granted, we have had some cold nights, and a snowstorm, but still.  I hate spending so much money on heat during the winter.  We live in a double wide mobile home, which is not very well insulated.  I asked Junior about putting clear plastic over the windows to try and keep the heat in, but he doesn't want to.  He said it might be better to look into cellular window treatments, which will do the same thing as the plastic yet look a whole lot better.   So, I guess I will be doing some research online, and hopefully within the next moth or so we can have something on the windows to keep the cold out and the heat in.  Without something, I have a feeling our next power bill will be even higher.

Have You Ever Been To Branson?

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

I have written several times about the attractions that would draw a person to vacation in Branson, Missouri.  I have written about the wonderful hotels, and I think I might have mentioned wanting to spend New Year's Eve at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.  Their restaurant hosted an awesome party that I wish I could have attended.  We ended up staying home and sleeping through the new year, which wasn't nearly as fun.

I am now considering planning a summer vacation to Branson and staying the the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing.  I want the kids to visit the many museums in that area, especially the wax museum and the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. We actually saw one of the Ripley museums when we were in Tennessee, but we didn't end up going.  The building looked really cool all crooked and crazy.  I really think the kids will enjoy going there. I want to take them to as many theme parks as we can, too.  I hear there is a pretty awesome water park nearby, and now that I am no longer ashamed to wear a bathing suit in public, I know I would enjoy getting wet with the kids. 

I am sure there are a ton of other things we could do once we get there.  I am sure they have some yummy food and I know my husband well enough to know that he will find somewhere to take Ryan fishing. 

I wonder how long it takes to drive to Branson from here?

Thank You All

I can not express how much your kinds words about Junior's dad's passing mean to us.  It's been a rough week, but I think it's getting easier for him every day.  We are going to go to therapy every week (instead of every other week) for a little while, and hopefully that will help Junior work through some of his anger and pain.  Thankfully, his work has been extremely supportive, allowing him to take this entire week off.  He'll go back to work on Monday. 

I think one of he hardest things for him was that there was no funeral or memorial of any kind.  His brother and sister arranged for him to be cremated, and they are going to scatter his ashes at his favorite fishing hole.  We didn't even expect there to be an obituary in the paper, but yesterday there was a very small one.  I have been trying to keep Junior busy, so we went out to lunch, and I bought a newspaper, not expecting to find anything.  Of course, seeing it in black and white was hard for him, but it also confirmed it for him.  He was just saying yesterday morning how he didn't feel like it was real because he didn't see anything for himself.  Now that he has, I think it will be easier for him to move on.  Make sense?

Please continue to keep him in your prayers.  I know he will be just fine, in time.  He doesn't want to grieve for a man who was nothing but mean to him, but it's human nature.  He was still his dad. 

Not Again

The kids went back to school on Tuesday.  It's funny, but only Brandi asked about staying home because Junior's dad died.  I didn't let her.  I told her that they only let you stay home if you are sad about someone dying, and because she wasn't, she had to go to school.  At the bus stop that morning, one of my neighbors asked if I had heard about what happened during the break to some of the kids in the neighborhood.  I said I hadn't, so he told me about this 16 year old boy who was arrested and charged with molesting four different little boys in our neighborhood. 

The first thought I had was that we needed to contact Express Estate Agency because I wanted to move.   I mean, who wants to live in a neighborhood with a child molester.  The funny thing is, this kid has approached Ryan about playing video games.  I think I might have written about it when it happened.  The kid told Ryan that he was on house arrest, and wanted him to come over to play video games.  Ryan, of course, said no, and came right home.  (I believe he was checking the mail for me when this happened)  A few days later, the kid knocked on our door, again asking if Ryan could go to his house.  At this point, Junior asked him what he was on house arrest for, and he said that he was "wrongly accused" with touching little boys.  Yeah, Junior told him to get out of our yard, and to never come back, then slammed the door in his face. 

Turns out there was enough evidence to convict him, which led to a search of his residence, which led to his mother and a family friend being arrested for providing him with pornographic material.  They sound like a bunch of winners, don't they? 

After thinking about it, though, we decided that we didn't need to contact Express Estate Agency.  We decided that we are going to stay right here.  The kid is in the custody of the juvenile courts, and it doesn't sound like he will be coming home.  Plus, my kids are very rarely outside alone.  They usually ride bikes and play football and stuff together, and I know they know how to protect each other.  Someday, I would love to use the Express Estate Agency's services to buy a home instead of renting, but for now, I am happy not to be packing again.  

You all remember how many boxes of elephants and books I had last time we moved.  I don't think Junior's back can take that again.

I Go To Work In My Pajamas

The other day, Junior and I went to see how much money we would be getting back when we file our taxes.  According to their estimate, this will be the most money we have ever gotten back.  What I don't understand is that we made just about the same amount of money, but our refund will be almost $1,700 more than last year.  I'm not complaining, but I am wondering if the people who did our taxes last year did them correctly.

As soon as the tax preparer heard that I am "self employed", she started asking if I wanted to claim any deductions.  I know I can claim office space and my intertnet bill as deductions, but it's really not worth it.  It's not like I go to work each day, or that I have to spend money on medical uniforms or anything like that.  In fact, most days I "work" in my pajamas.  

I remember when Junior used to be a CNA (certified nursing assistant), we would always be on the lookout for discount medical uniforms.  He basically had to wear white, which was sometimes hard to find.   It would have been a whole lot easier if he could have worn scrubs, because finding discount nursing uniforms was easier.  Heck, they sell those at our local discount store now.  It's been years since he has worked in that field.  Now all he needs for work are nice collared shirts, and those are a lot easier to find.

The The....The Grinch

Written by my friend Teodoro Martin

One of the first memories I have of Christmas is being huddled up on the sofa watching Christmas movies. The one that I remember the most is The Grinch. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to sit on the sofa with my children more then twenty years later and watch the same movies that I watched as a child. This timeless classic always made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. We would watch it every Christmas Eve before we went to bed. My sister and I would always wait up to make sure he didn't come to our house and try to steal all of our presents. Now that they have redone it, it's like a whole new experience that I get to share with my family. The best part is that we can even find on our DirectTV HD . We don't have to drag out all of the holiday movies and search through them and pray that it's not damaged. The Grinch is always on at a reasonable time so even my two year old can watch it. The only thing wrong with the movie is that it is only on a month or so before Christmas, then it is locked away until next year. Maybe that is why I keep an extra copy just laying around.

My FIL Passed Away

I have written and erased, rewritten and erased this post quite a few times this morning.  The words just don't want to come out right, and everything I try to write just sounds wrong.  If you have been a reader for a while, you know that my husband did not have the best relationship with his dad, and about two and a half years ago, we walked away and cut contact with him.  In fact, my husband decided to cut ties with his entire family. 

This did not mean that he stopped caring about these people.  They are his family.  It just meant he got to a point in his life where he needed to put himself around positive influences, not negative ones.  The news of his father's passing was not easy for him to hear.  No matter what happened in the past, this man was his father.  Now, there is no chance of ever reconciling.  He will never hear his dad tell him he loves him.  He will never hear his dad tell him he is proud of the man he has become.  And this breaks my heart. 

We will continue to go to therapy, and hopefully one day my sweet husband can move past this.  For now, we will take things day by day, and hopefully find a way for him to heal.

Coupons

Tomorrow is the big day - the kids go back to school.  They have been home for over two weeks now, and I really need a break.  It's not that they have been bad.  It's just that I have had someone around twenty four hours a day, and this mommy needs some "me" time.  They have also eaten all the food in the house, so a trip to the grocery store is in order as well, and that works a whole lot better if I don't have six other hands adding groceries to the cart. 

I have started using coupons again, which can be very time consuming.  It's hard work matching the coupon to the store where you can get the best price.  The ideal situation is to use a coupon at a store where the item is already on sale.   I have, in the past, actually gotten items for free this way.  It doesn't happen often, but I have also had the store pay me money for an item, when my coupon puts my balance into the negative.  I had this happen a lot with those fruit coupons I printed a couple of months ago. 

I do know that now that the kids will be back to eating two meals a day at school, my grocery bill will go down.  Hopefully this means I will be able to save enough money to get that new camera I need.

2011 ~ The Year Of Forgiveness

I just took my first nap of the new year.  It's raining outside and I'm not feeling the best, so when Kasi and I tried to watch a scary movie, I fell asleep.  Why is it that rain can make a person sleepy? 

Anyway, I have decided to not make any resolutions this year.  What's the point?  It seems to me like I never keep them anyway.  Instead, I am going to start the new year doing one thing.

Forgiving.

There are lots of things I feel like I can't let go of, and I am letting them get in the way of moving on.  In 2010, I finally forgave myself for being overweight, and I accepted the fact that I am who I am.  I don't want to spend another year of my life trying to change who I am.  Sure, I am going to continue playing the wii fit, and hopefully lose a few more pounds, but I refuse to let that become the focus of my daily life.

I forgive the person who feels like she always has to find fault in everything I do in order to make herself feel better.  If your life is so sad that all you have to do all day is write about me and how cold hearted and horrible I am, well, then, that's your deal.  Just know that I forgive you for all the nasty things you have written about me, and if you ever want to apologize and move forward, well, you know where to find me.

I forgive my father in law, too, for hating me simply because I am a yankee.  Some of you know that he is dying.  In fact, from what we have learned, he doesn't have very long left.  I never stood a chance with this man, simply because I am from NY and I married his southern son.  Over the years, I kind of developed a relationship with him, though I am not sure I'd call it a good one. I think it's more like he learned to tolerate me. I always called him Grumpy.  It was my nickname for him.  I wish I could get my husband to forgive him as well, but that's a whole other issue.

I am also going to ask forgiveness for the wrong I have done to others.  I can not think of anything specific, but I am not perfect.  I am sure I have done things to hurt other people, and for that, I deeply apologize.  I want to start this year with a clean slate. 

This year, I only have room in my heart for love, not hate.

Mother Nature Has A Sense Of Humor

I can think of a million others ways to bring in the new year other than with cramps and bloating. I ended up going to bed with a pretty bad headache around 11:30 last night, and woke up this morning to a not so pleasant surprise.  I shouldn't complain too much, though, because I should have begun on Christmas Eve.  I should be happy that I was able to enjoy my Christmas without this misery.  Thankfully, I have no plans today, so I can sit here popping ibuprofen and wallowing in my pain.

I really think I need to get back on the pill.  I am not big on taking daily medications, but at least I would be back on a regular schedule.  The problem with this is that there are so many different pills out there, and it's hard to decide which one is the best, and safest.  Not too long ago, Yaz was the pill to take.  I remember seeing commercials on television where they claimed these pills could help with PMDD and even clear up your skin.  Now I am hearing about the Yaz class action lawsuit.  Apparently these pills have some serious side effects, and some women who have taken them have developed blood clots.  I know all birth control pills have side effects, and weighing that against a regulated period is something I really need to think about. 

Oh, and the fact that if I go back on the pill, I won't have to worry about getting pregnant.  You all know this mommy's baby making days are over.  Or at least I hope they are.

Top Droppers ~ December

The following blogs dropped here 31 times in December

Comedy Plus ~ Deeply committed - Deadly serious. A drop master

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

Unofficial Chart Blog ~ A blog site which updates the weekly UK Top 20 singles & albums each week, along with other posts including Chart Summaries, Eurovision, On This Day In History, and all things Music.

Subjective Soup ~ retired teacher, empty-nester, optimist, diarist

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.

BeadedTail ~ Antics of two cats and a dog! Plus, we make jewelry for animal lovers with proceeds benefiting animal charities! We're making tails wag one bead at a time!

Sparkle ~ Sparkle is the author of two cat-to-cat advice books (no humans!), has her own Muse Medallion-winning calendar and is one of the original cat bloggers - she has been blogging since January, 2003!

All Stace, All the Time ~ My insane life and times filled with teen drama, marital comedy and realizing that 600 miles away from my insane family still isn't far enough!

the way I see it ~ A collection of monologues on my thoughts and opinions. Personal observations on a wide variety of subjects including travel, politics, child sponsorship with Children International. News and views from my perspective. 

My second trial ~ Personal blog with personal impressions