We Need Some Inflatable Rafts

I spent the day yesterday in a pool.  Now, if you read my blog last year, you will remember that I got a pretty bad sunburn. 

You would think that I would have learned from that. 

You would think that I would have lathered myself up with sunscreen so it didn't happen again this year.

Um, yeah, I didn't, and now, I look like a lobster.

Again.

And it hurts like crazy.  The good news is that I had fun yesterday.  So did Brandi.  She got to play with a friend of hers, and they had boogie boards in the pool that they were playing on.  That got me to thinking that she would really enjoy playing on the lake with tubes and inflatable rafts.  I know they have some that have motors on them, but I would get her one that she would have to row.  Heck, she could even row it in the pool, especially my mom's pool.  Her pool is definitely big enough for something like that.

I am looking forward to spending another summer in the water.  I really enjoyed our cookouts last year, and spending time with my mom.  I hope we have just as much fun this year.

Researching Loan Officer Training Programs

I am in the middle of enjoying a three day weekend.  I don't have to work on the days that the post office is closed, so that means no work for me tomorrow.  I was looking forward to spending the day being lazy, but that is not going to happen now.  I am going to babysit my niece and nephew all day today and overnight, which means sleeping at my sisters house, which means not in my bed, which means I will not get a good night's rest.  Then tomorrow, my boss was nice enough to find me some work to do so that I don't lose a days pay, which is awesome because right now I need every cent.

I have had people ask me if I am happy at my job, and I really am.  I am getting to know the people at the businesses I stop at, and everyone is so nice.  I would love it if I could make more money, but right now, I am thankful to even have a job.  Every now and then I will get online and look at going back to school, but right now, I just don't have the time.  I could take a class or two, or maybe research some Loan Officer Training Programs. It would be nice if I could have some type of certification for something, and TrainingPro pioneered the National Cross Certification Program, saving their students time and money.  I need something that will save me time and money, which in the long run will help me make more money.

But for now, I am going to continue driving, and enjoying what I am doing.

Just A Kiss

 I am loving the new Lady A song, "Just A Kiss:".  You can listen to it here.

Lyrics:

Lyin' here with you so close to me
It's hard to fight these feelings when it feels so hard to breathe
Caught up in this moment
Caught up in your smile

I've never opened up to anyone
So hard to hold back when I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this
Let's just take it slow

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight

I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real, no it's never felt so right

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, with just a kiss goodnight

No I don't want to say goodnight
I know it's time to leave, but you'll be in my dreams
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight

Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
And I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright, oh, let's do this right, with just a kiss goodnight
With a kiss goodnight
Kiss goodnight

Blogs

 The time has come for me to renew my other domain name.  I have been neglecting my craft blog, well, actually, I have been neglecting all of my blogs since I started working. I find that after working all day, when I get home the last thing I want to do is get online.  Weird, I know, considering I used to spend all day, every day online.

I have to make the decision about whether or not I even want to renew the domain on my craft blog.  I renewed this one for two years, and this is the one I write on mostly anyway, so I know I will keep it.  My concern is, if I renew the other one, will I even post on it, or would I just be throwing money away?  I know it doesn't cost that much, but when every penny counts, even $8 can be too much.  That blog isn't making much money these days either.

I have been thinking about maybe trying to find a cheaper place to buy the domain name, but I don't know where to look.  I found an ipage review online and the reviews were pretty good, but I am still not sure.  They had coupon codes, too, which was nice. There are just so many choices.  Anyone have any advice?

I think I have until July to make up my mind.

Bills

 I am loving this new apartment.  I got my first power bill, and while it is a little high for only a few weeks, it is a lot better than my power bills from the old place.  I know it's a little high because the air conditioning was broken for the first few days, and it ran non-stop, which I am sure used up a bunch of power.  Right now, my air is set at almost 80 degrees, and it is really cool in here.  It's also 94 degrees outside, which should heat it up in here, but it doesn't.  Hopefully, the entire summer will work like this.

I think this being an apartment is helping keep the place cool, since only two walls actually face outside.  I am not sure what type of insulating foam sealant they used in the walls, if any, but this place seems better insulated than the last place we lived.

I just hope my water bill is low, too.  I haven't had to pay a water bill in a few years, and we do a lot of laundry and showering.  Once I get full months bills for everything, I can better plan out my budget.  It's going to be interesting to see how I can pay everything with what little money I make.

Watches

I have this friend, and he has the coolest watches.  It seems like he wears a different one every day.  One of them doesn't run on a battery.  It doesn't wind, either.  I'm not really sure how it works, but it is awesome. 

I was thinking of maybe getting Ryan a new watch, because the one he got for Christmas broke already.  I'm not that upset, because it didn't cost too much, but he really wants a new one.  He was looking online at Military Watches, but he can't decide what type he wants.  I, personally, hate digital watches.   Thanks to those types of clocks and watches, kids don't feel the need to learn how to tell time on a real clock.  In fact, my Brandi had a pretty difficult time learning how to tell time, and she is in advanced classes.

I need a new watch myself, too.  My mom gave me one, and it broke a few days later.  It was really pretty, too.  It has a bracelet strap, with purple and pink beads. You can buy different straps that the watch face can clip on to.  The clip part is actually the part that broke. My mom said she can fix it, I am just waiting for her to do it.

Babies

 Brandi loves to play with her baby dolls.  This comes as no surprise to my long time readers, who know all about Hailey, and how people always think she is a real baby.  Since the move to the new place, Hailey has been neglected, because the girls still have not unpacked their room, which means that all of Brandi's toys are still in boxes.  That includes all of her baby accessories.

You would think that at 9 she would be outgrowing the playing with dolls stage, but instead she is asking for more.  She used to have the swing, playpen, stroller, and high chair, but over the years they have gotten broken and were thrown away.  Out of all of those things, I think she misses the high chair the most, so I went online trying to see if I could find one that would last longer than the last one, and I found a site that sells amish toys, doll furniture.  I found the cutest little wooden high chair that I think she will love. Check it out:

Cute, right?  Now I just need to find the money to buy it.  Maybe I'll just start saving now and buy it for her for Christmas.  Is it too early to already be thinking about Santa?

New Florida Homes

I got the call today...my kittens are ready to come home.  My friend's cat had babies about six weeks ago, and they are ready to leave their mama.  I love that I am able to have pets here, even though I will have to pay a non-refundable pet deposit.  I miss having cats in the house. 

It would be better if I owned my own home, but right now that is not an option.  It's fun to look at new Florida homes online and dream about owning one, someday.  I would love to live close to the ocean, and be able to watch the sunset over the water every night.  I bet that would be beautiful.  But buying a home is a huge decision, and one that I can not make right now.

Maybe someday, when I meet and marry a rich man, I will be able to have the home of my dreams.  For now, though, I am going to make this apartment "home" for me and the kids.  I think I am doing a pretty good job.  We are settling in, and are almost completely unpacked.  I know we will be happy here, and that is all that matters right now. 

Repairing My Credit

Now that I am on my own with the kids, I am finding out how hard it is to repair my credit.  While married, I let my credit slip, and it is so hard getting it back on track.  I am not sure what my actual credit score is, but I do know it is not where it should be.  I had trouble having my power turned on at the new place because of it.  I actually had to have someone sign as a guarantor. 

I know it's pretty simple to find your free credit score online, and knowing this can help get my credit back where it needs to be.  This is one of the things that I really want to do for myself.  I am learning the importance of paying my bills on time, and I really want to start this new chapter of my life on the right foot.

Speaking of my new life, the kids and I are really loving the new place.  The only thing we miss is television.  I can't afford cable right now, so we have been watching a lot of movies.  I plan on setting up netflix through the wii, but I just haven't had the time.  I feel like I am never at home anymore.  Today was the first time all week that I had time to actually relax. I also cleaned my house, because I want to start a new work week with a clean house.

It's a lot more calming to come home to a clean house.

Games

 I love playing games.  In fact, right at this moment, Brandi is setting up a game of Pictureka for us to play.  My love of games is not limited to board games, either.  I love all kinds of games.  The kids and I play cards and video games, and Brandi loves to give me makeovers.  Recently, I have discovered the joys of online games.  I am not only talking about the games you have to pay to play, because I have never tried any of those.  I love the free games that you can find online.

I am new to skill games, and find them extremely addicting, especially the ones where you can play against your friends.  Most of you know that I have an addictive personality to begin with, so when I start playing a game I have to finish it, no matter how long it takes me.  It's funny, but there are a few games that Ryan has for his Playstation that he needs my help with to clear levels.  Of course, I never tell him no.  Like I said, I am a gamer. 

Nowadays, though, I don't have time for much of anything.  I work all the time, and by the time I get home in the afternoons, the only thing I want to do is sit and relax.  These games can be relaxing, but they can also make me crazy. 

And these days, I avoid crazy at all costs.

Just As Good

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of storebrandformula.com for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I know you have all heard the argument that breastfeeding is best for your baby, and I tend to agree with that statement.  But, sometimes, as was the case with all of my kids, this is not an option.  Women like me need to depend on formula for our babies, and if you are anything like me, you only want the best for your kids.

Back when I had Ryan, I thought this meant buying the most expensive formula.  My thinking was, if it cost more, it must be better for him.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  In fact, this past week a U.S. Circuit Court upheld a $13.5 million false advertising claim against Enfamil maker Mead Johnson.  (You can find out more information  clicking the link)  It seems they were claiming that their formula was superior to store brand formulas, which is untrue.  All infant formulas have to be held to the same standards, making the store brands just as good for your baby. 

Thankfully by the time I had Brandi I was aware of this fact, and I was able to save a bunch of money.  If you want to learn more about infant formulas, check out storebrandformula.com. 

Brighter?

I am still on a mission to find myself some clothes.  The stuff I have just isn't fitting right anymore, and I feel almost dumpy looking, if that makes any kind of sense at all.  I know it is because I am losing weight, and I know I am in that awkward "in between" stage where I shouldn't invest in clothes because I am still losing, but I really want to look nicer.

What to do?

I decided to browse online to see if I could find anything different than what I already own, and I found some cute Michael kors stuff.  My problem, according to my best friend, is that I like solid, dark colored clothes, and she thinks I need to wear things that have a little more of a pattern to them and brighter colors.  

I got frustrated trying to find clothes, so I ended up looking at pocket books and shoes instead, and check out this awesome cole haan purse I found.

I love the style and the color!   I know it's a little plain, but so am I.  I also found these stuart weitzman shoes that would totally match the bag.

I wonder if getting these would get my best friend off my back for a while?

Our New Home

Okay, after getting several requests for pictures of my new place, I finally found some time tonight to take some pictures.  I don't know why the bottom of this shot is missing, but this is my kitchen, shot from standing in my dining area.

This is my dining area.  Don't pay attention to the mail tubs along the wall...they were used to move and are being returned to the post office tomorrow.

This is my living room.  I love the little alcove-ish area with the windows.  It was the perfect spot for my desk.

This is a shot of my kitchen/dining area from my living room.

This is my bedroom.  I refused to bring my bed, so I am using the mattress from the bottom bunk of my girls bed for now until I can afford to buy myself a new bed.

This is a close up shot of my desk area.

This is down the hallway towards the bathroom and the kids rooms.  As you can see, they still have a lot to unpack...there crap is overflowing into my hallway.

That's my front door.  The laundry room is on the left and my bedroom is the door on the right.

We really are happy here.  I love my new living room furniture, which was a gift from my best friend.  We have more space here, and are settling in quite well.  I have so much more to share with you all about what is going on in my life, but I have stalkers, and some things are meant to remain private.  Message me on Facebook if you want an update, kay?

Did You Get Mother's Day Flowers?

 Yesterday was Mother's Day, as I am sure you all know.  I was showered with lots of home made cards from my girls, with a hug thrown in from Ryan.  I have to say, I love the hand made stuff so much more than anything they could have bought me at the store.  That said, I certainly did enjoy my cookie cake that the girls decorated for me, thanks to my mom.

I know there are moms out there who received Mother's Day Flower Delivery, and I hope someday when my kids are grown and on their own that they might remember me on Mother's Day with some flowers.  I also hope that they look up ProFlowers coupon codes online before making a purchase.  I forget sometimes that you can find all kinds of coupons, not just ProFlowers coupons, online and save money.  

I spent my Mother's Day with my mom and my kids.  My mom took all of us to the zoo, and you all know how much I love going there.  I took lots of pictures, this one being my favorite:

Yes, that is me and my babies (who aren't babies anymore) posing on and around an elephant statue.  This is my family now, and I couldn't love them more.

Acapulco Cruise

Content by Mitch Osborne

I've taken a cruise to many ports in Mexico, but this last trip was my first time to visit Acapulco. I didn't know quite what to expect when I set my home security alarm (www.HOME-ALARM-SYSTEMS.com), picked up my suitcase, and followed my sister out the front door of my small house in Los Angeles. I was afraid that Acupulco might be a crowded tourist trap.

But the trip on board the ship was so pleasant that I forgot my worries. I had such a good time with my sister as we flirted with a couple of single guys, danced in one of the clubs, and pigged out on as much delicious food as we could stand. By the time we got to Acapulco, I was in full-on fun mode.

And the resort did not disappoint me. This is a quaint, lovely little town. Yes, there are lots of tourists, but that's because there is so much to see and do. The shopping is great there and the beaches are gorgeous. There is swimming and sailing and lots of warm, soft sand. I was even tempted to try surfing, but there wasn't enough time. We had to hurry back to the ship. I told my sister that night that we're going back to Acapulco for a week so we can really enjoy the resort itself.

Kasi's Birthday

Kasi's birthday is in less than a week.  She is going to be 14.  I am sitting here wondering when I got old enough to have two teen aged kids.

It really blows my mind, because I don't feel like I am almost 40.  I don't act like it either.

Anyway, she has decided that she wants me to take her and a couple of her friends to the movies for her birthday, and then come home and have more girls come over for a slumber party.  Sounds like fun, right?  You wish you were me, don't you?

Thinking about parties got me thinking about Ryan's birthday, and I was trying to figure out how I am going to do his annual Halloween bash in this apartment.  I have already been looking at Plus Size Costumes trying to find something that I could wear.  Now that I am separated, I can do what I want and dress up.  I found some pretty cute Halloween Costumes | Plus Size Costumes | Childrens Costumes at HalloweenAdventure.com, and I am thinking about ordering costumes early this year so there is nothing to worry about in October when money gets tight.  I'm not saying that money isn't tight now, but if I start buying one costume at a time, I think I'll be alright.

But before I do any of that, I need to get through Kasi's party next weekend. 

Wish me luck.

Working As Copywriters?

 I've been working for a few weeks now, and my body is slowly adjusting to the lack of sleep and constant going and going and going.  The great thing is...I am enjoying every minute of it.  I have an awesome boss, and I can listen to the radio all day long as I drive.  I wish it paid more, but I am truly thankful to be working at all.  I must have filled out dozens of applications before landing this job, and not one place ever called me.  Not even McDonald's. 

That's just sad.

I was reading online about different types of jobs that I might be qualified for, and to be honest, without a degree of some sort, the pickings were slim.  I was even looking at a copywriters course, but I just don't have the time to devote to going to school right now.  I wish I did.  Maybe once the kids get a little older and I can find time to breathe.  I read that copywriters can do freelance work, which is pretty awesome.

For now, though, I am going to continue doing what I am doing, and enjoy my job.  I am also enjoying the fact that I am standing on my own two feet for the first time, and I am surviving.  Sure, I have help from family and friends, but that's what they are for.

Right?

Glasses And Clothes

I am exhausted.  I need about 14 hours of sleep to feel human again.  Or as close to human as I am.  Work has been great; I still look forward to it every day.  I love the variety every day provides.  I never know where I am going to go or what I am going to do, and I really do like that.

The other day I was driving and I realized that my glasses were dirty.  I do not recommend taking off your glasses to clean them while you are driving, but that is what I did.  Not only were they dirty; they are all scratched up.  I think I am going to have to look into getting some new prescription eyeglasses.  My only issue is that I don't have any extra money these days.  Thankfully, there are places like ZenniOptical that sell glasses for really reasonable prices.  Their glasses start at $8, and I have friends who have actually ordered some and they are very satisfied.  I know that I would want to get a similar style to what I have now, so I don't have to worry about getting a pair I don't like.

I also need some new summer clothes.  All this weight I have lost has my clothes hanging off of me, and I hate the way they look.  There is a part of me that thinks I should wait until I am done losing before investing in clothes, which is probably what I will do.