Embarrassing!

 I made a complete fools out of myself a couple of weeks ago.  Let me start by saying that I am pretty illiterate when it comes to computers and all the Coolest Gadgets that go along with them.  Most of the time, I can turn on my computer and do what I have to do to post here, but that's about it.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I came home from work and sat at my desk, ready to start up my laptop.  One of the kids had been on it, so it was already on, so I just clicked where I wanted to go and poof, my computer went dead.  I tried to restart it, and noting.  I made sure the power cord was plugged in, which is was, and still nothing.  I looked to make sure it was plugged into the wall, which is one, so I started freaking out.  My computer is only about 6 months old, so I shouldn't be having problems with it.  I was ready to start looking for Dell coupons so I could buy a new laptop.  Instead, I called my dad.   He's pretty good with the computer, so I told him what was going on.  He told me to check the power cord again, and when I did, I realized that even though it was plugged into my computer and the wall, the plug that goes into the middle part of the charger was unplugged.

I felt like such an idiot!  At least I was only an idiot for my dad, and I didn't go into a store with Best Buy coupons to buy a new laptop. That would have been a waste of money, even if I had gotten a good deal.

The Last Weekend Of Summer

Even though we technically have another month of summer left, this weekend is generally known as the end of summer.  Kids around the country are heading back to school next week.  That is, the ones who haven't already started back.  My kids went back three weeks ago.  My nephews go back this coming week.

Just because summer is coming to an end doesn't mean that summer fun has to end.  I am a big swimmer, and so are my kids.  One of the things I have always wanted to, but have yet to do, is visit a water park.  I mean, what can be more fun than sliding down huge slides into huge pools of water?

We live pretty close to a huge indoor water park, and I have been wanting to visit it for a while now.  I think the kids would love it.  Okay, who am I kidding?  I would love it too!  The best thing about indoor water parks is that the weather doesn't factor into the fun.  It could be freezing outside, but inside, we could be in our bathing suits having a ball. 

Hopefully by this time next year, I can say we visited the park, and I'll let you all know how much fun we had.  Oh, and I'm sure I will have tons of pictures to share, too.

Why Would Someone Want To Be Me?

I have never really given much thought to identity theft, mainly because I don't think anyone would want to be me.  I mean, my credit score is horrible right now, so getting credit under my name would be impossible.  I am working on improving my score, since I am now the only one responsible for it around here.  I have been trying so hard (and succeeding!) to pay all my bills on time.  Since everything is in my name only now, it is important that I start out on the right foot.

Once I do have my credit back where it should be, I will do everything I can to make sure it stays there.  I plan on keeping an eye on it using one of those free credit score sites to make sure no one tries to bring me back down. 

I lived my entire married life thinking our credit score didn't matter.  I realized quickly once I was on my own just how important it is.  When I first got my license, I needed car insurance.  I called around for quotes, knowing it would cost an arm and a leg because I was a new driver.  What I didn't expect was being turned down by several insurance agencies because of my credit score.  I had no idea such a thing would matter to them.

Thankfully I was able to get insurance, even though I do pay quite a bit for it.  Hopefully, once I establish some good credit in my own name, I can shop around for a better deal.

Trying Out ~ And Not Getting In

My daughter Brandi is in 4th grade this year.  She started a new school, in a new district, so everything is new.  Not just for her, but for me as well.  In their old district, kids could join chorus if they wanted to.  They didn't have to try out until they were in 6th grade.  Brandi wanted to join chorus this year, and had to try out.

She didn't make it.  What made me furious was that they didn't tell the kids at school if they made it.  Each child had to bring home a letter last Friday.  My poor child was so excited to open hers, only to find out that she wasn't good enough.  Saying she was crushed would be an understatement. 

In her old school she was in the gifted and talented program.  They told me at registration this year that she would be put in this districts gifted and talented program as well.  Last week, they had their first class, and she wasn't included.

Are you kidding me?  She was crushed once again.  I am not kidding when I say that she is super smart.  She would do math manipulatives for fun if I had some.  Yesterday, she brought home her pass scores, and she scored at least 100 points above her goal in every subject.  How could she not be included in their program?

I ended up calling the school and asking, and was informed that they have to wait for her transcripts from her old school before placing her in the program.  It's been three weeks.  My question is, what is taking so long?  We moved acroos town, not across the country.

I'm hoping by next week things will be straightened out.  This girl needs some acceptance in her school right now.

Backing Up Your Files

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

I read a lot of blogs.  I really do.  I may not comment all the time, but while dropping ecards, if a post catches my attention, I'll stop and read it.  If it's a really good post, I might even take the time to read another post.  I have made several really good friends over the years through reading blogs, though I have never met any of these people in "real life". 

A topic that comes up often on blogs is backing up your files.  Honestly, I have never done this, and from what I've read, I am making a huge mistake.  The funny thing is, with programs like Carbonite, backing up your files is really easy.  This program works in the background, backing up your files when you are online.  You can easily access these files from any computer, or even from your smartphone or iPad. (the app is free!)

You can get this computer backup  program for only $59 a year, with a free 15 day trial.  If you decide to purchase, you can use the code BLOGAD to get two free months.  You don't even need a credit card to try out the program's free trial.

I think it might be time I listen to everyone and start backing up my files.

That's One Big Boy!

 

I took this picture several months ago when the kids and I went with my mom to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. Believe me when I tell you that this turtle was huge!  He was right up against the fence, and we all got to reach over and touch his shell.  I made certain we all stayed away from that mouth, though.

My son has been having some health issues.  I know, what does a huge turtle have to do with Ryan?  Nothing really, except that they are both big boys.  

Last weekend, Ryan started complaining of chest pain.  He said it was hard to take a deep breathe, and he felt like he wasn't breathing right.  I assumed he was getting sick, so I told him to take it easy and rest.  Monday, he came home from school with a migraine level headache, and all he wanted to do was sleep.  I was trying to figure out what was causing him to feel this way when it occurred to me that he recently started back on his ADHD medicines.  

Tuesday morning I called my doctor, just to see if he could suddenly develop side effects from medications he has been on for years.  When the nurse called me back, she informed me that the doctor wanted to see him ASAP.  Since I was at work I couldn;t get him up there before about 5.  They stop seeing patients at 4.  

This should tell you how awesome my doctor is...he waited on us to get there.  They checked Ryan's blood pressure, and it was 156/94.  Yeah, way to high for a 15 year old boy.  They said it was probably higher the night before, which would have been the cause of his headache and chest pain.  He told me to stop both medications immediately, and to bring him back Thursday morning for blood work.

I wasn't able to get off work, so my mom took him.  When they got there, not only did they take his blood, they also did a chest xray and EKG. They are waiting for the results from the blood work before they decide whether or not to do an echo-cardiogram.  Scared me to death when my mom called and told me.  My doctor also sent a note to Ryan's school asking the nurse to check his blood pressure several times a week and fax him the results.  When he had it checked Friday, it was 112/60, which is a lot better than what it was. 

I can not tell you how relieved I am, since it kind of confirms that it was his medications causing the problem.

That said, my doctor also wants Ryan to lose weight.  He put him on a strict diet, especially watching his sodium, which contributes to the high blood pressure.  He recommended walking, so every day Ryan has been doing just that.  This morning, I joined him in a walk to the grocery store.  It was nice spending time with him without the girls.  It gave us a chance to talk about anything he wanted to.

So, for now, I am waiting to hear the results of all the tests, keeping my fingers crossed that everything comes back normal, proving he is a healthy teenager.

Great Phones For Teens

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

The biggest mistake parents can make is giving their teens a phone that has limited features.  In this day and age, texting has become the main way kids communicate.  If you don't have unlimited texting on your kid's phone, I am almost certain that you will end up with an outrageous phone bill. 

I have a Straight Talk phone as my personal cell, and it's awesome.  It has everything you need and I pay only $45 every month.  That covers unlimited talk, text, and web.  I can call a friend or send pictures, without worrying about going over my monthly minutes and ending up with an expensive phone bill.  Here lately, I have been texting a lot, so having unlimited texts is a blessing.

Trust me when I say mom knows best when it comes to these phones.  I speak from experience.  I plan on getting one for Kasi for Christmas.  She's 14, and has been begging for a phone for a while now.  I think the time has come where she deserves one of her own.  I know that by getting her a Straight Talk phone, I won't have to worry about her running up a huge phone bill.

Thinking Of Christmas

 Every year around this time start thinking seriously about what to get family members for Christmas. I mean, there is less than four months left before the big day.  My kids are easy, because they supply lists of exactly what they expect (or hope to see) under the tree from Santa.  The adults in my life are a little harder to buy for, because at this point, they have everything they need, and most of the things they want.  I always have the hardest time figuring out what to get my dad.  I mean, the guy can only get shirts from me for so many years.

I saw these Gift Hampers online, and thought they would make the perfect gifts for all the "hard to buy for" people on my list.  A lot of the hampers have meat and fish in them, but as I was looking through the Christmas Hampers I found one full of cake.  Yes, they have the most delicious looking petit fours.  Don't they look yummy?

When we had cable, I used to watch a lot of food network, and a lot of the chefs would make these tiny little cakes.  I have always wanted to try them, and I figure if I give these as a gift, the recipient would have to share.  Right?

The website actually had a nice selection of Christmas Food Hampers.  There was one that had a whole little pig in it, and I thought about getting it for my mom, just to see her expression when she opened the box and a dead pig was looking up at her.  I mean, how would you react if you opened a Christmas gift and saw this looking up at you?

I  bet you could thing of a few people who would find that funny.  I know I would. My mom may not find it funny, but I am sure those of us watching her open it would die laughing.

Know Your Rights

 One of the best things about the kids and I moving to this apartment was that I didn't transfer my phone with us, and I don't have a current home phone.  That means all the collection agencies can no longer call and harass me about old debts.  I wish my ex and I had been more responsible with our finances, but I can not change the past.  The only thing I can do is try to repair the damage that has been done to my credit score, and that is exactly what I have been doing for the past four months.

If you are having a problem with Debt Collections like I was, you have rights.  I was under the assumption that these collection agencies could call me when ever they wanted, as often as they wanted.   After doing a little research online about how to Stop Collection Calls I discovered that there are only certain hours that they can call.  I wish I knew this a year ago when I was getting calls at 7am.   If I had known my rights back then, I would have known that there are ways to Stop Debt Collectors from harassing you.  For instance, did you know that if you write to them and tell them not to contact you, they can't.  This doesn't make the debt go away, but it will stop all the calls.

That probably would have been easier than getting rid of my phone, but that worked too.

Caffeine ~ I Need It!

 I woke up this morning with a horrible headache.  I hate when that happens, because I usually can't get rid of it, and it ruins my entire day.  I kind of knew that this mornings headache was due to my lack of caffeine intake, because as soon as I got some diet coke into my system, my headache eased off a little bit.  It never really went away, but it did get tolerable.  Instead of a pounding, it became a dull ache. 

My life would be easier some days if I drank coffee, but no matter how many times I try it, I just don't like it.  I have two sisters and a mother who live on coffee, whether it be hot or cold.  My mom has a few different types of coffee makers, from a cup at a time one to a cappuccino machine.  I think the only thing she doesn't have is one of those Saeco Espresso Machines.  I have days when I wish I could down an espresso or two.  Driving all day can be tiring, and all the caffeine in an espresso would surely keep me awake.

For now, though, I'll stick to my diet cokes, and hopefully they will keep my headaches away.

Clean

Last week, there was a letter stuck in my mailbox from the management office of our apartment complex saying they were doing inspections on Tuesday, and that everyone's apartments needed to be in tip top shape.  Now, we moved into our apartment on May first of this year.  That was four months ago.

My daughters still hadn't unpacked their room.

I said from the beginning that I was not going to do it.  They are both old enough to organize things on their own.  Or so I thought.  This morning, I woke up determined to get their room cleaned so that it would be ready for the inspection.  It took me several hours, but it is finally all unpacked.  As I was cleaning out the boxes from their room, I thought about how much at home carpet cleaning austin would cost, because I was sure their carpet would be a mess.  Thankfully, the carpet was clean.   I will, however, keep http://www.thesteamteam.com/ in mind for the future, because with three kids, I am sure there will be messes that need to be cleaned out of our carpet.

I should have taken before and after shots of the girl's room, because you wouldn't believe how much stuff they had tucked away in their closet.  I ended up taking several tubs of books and dozens of stuffed animals to Goodwill, and I also brought some books to my mom's house.  I found several boxes of VHS tapes, and since we no longer own a VCR, I gave all of them to my ex.  The only thing that mattered to me was that they were out of my house, and my girl's can now walk into their bedroom without tripping over boxes.

Do You Believe In Palm Readings?

I have never been one to believe that my future could be told by someone who looks at my hand.  But, I have always thought it would be fun to see what my hand says about me.  I found this site online that shows you how to read a palm, so I gave it a shot.

All I had to do was select a hand that best matched the shape of mine, and then pick from a selection of lines that also matched the ones on my hand.  Although none of them matched exactly, the ones I chose were pretty close.  I didn't have time to create an account, and I need to before I can find out what my hand says about my future. 

I'll let you know when I do go back, so we can see how accurate the palm reading was.

Thank You Entrecard

Please read the sarcasm in that title!

I started dropping again about a week ago, and already my computer was infected with a virus.  My dad had to come over and fix it for me, and luckily he was able to get rid of it pretty quickly. 

Am I the only one having this issues with entrecard?  I thought they had gotten better about their approval process.

Am I wrong?  Should I stop dropping again?  Help a girl out!

On The Road

 I work for a delivery service. Every day I go to work not knowing what my day is going to be like.  I usually end up driving hundreds of miles a day, and I love it.  We don't do anything like Car Shipping, but I do deliver big air conditioning units that are as big as my van.

When I drive the interstates, I see a lot of different kinds of vehicles.  I used to be afraid of the big rigs, but I'm not anymore.  Most of the drivers are very courteous.  In fact, there have been several who flirt with me from their trucks.  There is one kind of truck that I hate being behind, and those are the Auto Transport trucks.  The way they have the cars stacked on the trailer scares me.  They always look like they are about to fall off.  I'm positive that that is not an actual possibility, and the Car Transport drivers know what they are doing.  

But they still look scary.

There is another thing I hate running into on the road - chicken trucks.  These trucks have hundreds of crates filled with live chickens, and aside from smelling absolutely disgusting, there are always feathers flying off of it.  Trust me, it's horrible being behind one of those trucks.

Back To School With Dollar General

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

Check out this coupon!  This Saturday, when you spend $25 you can get $5 off your total.  Not bad, right?  Especially for all you moms and dads out there who are still trying to get all the supplies your kids need for school.  You can all Get more of your Back to School needs for less at Dollar General  Dollar General.  Thankfully, my kids went back to school with full book bags last week. 

That coupon is just one of many that you can print out to help with your kids back to school needs.  I know how expensive it can be to get kids ready for school.  I have three, and they each need about $50 worth of supplies.  From scientific calculators to jump drives, the older my kids get, the more expensive their supplies get.  Thankfully, I still have a little one who only needed binders and notebooks.  You can find those and more in the Dollar General Back to School section. 

Make sure you check out all the coupons available before you head out shopping.  You may end up spending a small fortune like I did, but it will feel better knowing you also saved some money.

Cute!

One of my favorite new places to spend time is Hearts Of Clay.  I took the girls last weekend because they had gotten gift certificates for Christmas that we never used.  Kasi painted a fairy.  Brandi painted a vase and a cat.  Pictures of those will be coming soon.

I, of course, painted this cute little elephant.  She is an adorable addition to my collection.

No Contract Cell Phones

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

My girls want cell phones.  Ryan and I both have pre-paid phones, which are awesome.  These phones have come a long way.  Ryan has one that only has texting, and mine has unlimited talk, text,and web.  The things I like best about our phones are that neither one requires a contract, and there are no surprise charges every month. My friend recently got a phone bill that was a couple of hundred dollars, all due to her daughter's texting.  Let's face it, in this day and age, for teenagers, texting is the way they communicate.  And honestly, I have become addicted to it myself.  I have a friend, and we spend most of the day texting each other.

It's fun.

If you are looking for a phone for your child, I would suggest checking out a TracPhone.  They have so many features and you can get either a simple phone like mine or one of those fancy smart phones.  You can check out what real TracFone customers have to say so you don't have to take my word for it.  There are also several "plans" to choose from, and you can pay as you go online of with pre-paid cards, which are available almost everywhere these days. 

Like I said, hearing what real TracFone customers have to say can help you better understand how great these phones are.

Strength

 

See those three faces right up there?  They are the reason I found my strength.

In a few days, it will be six months since the day my husband left.  Six months.  Some days it seems like only yesterday, but most days, it seems like eons ago.  I can not believe how much my life has changed since then.

If you read this blog before then, you know how much I depended on my husband.  I depended on so many people for so many things.  I always thought I was independent, but I wasn't.  Not even close.  I was 39 years old, and I had never lived on my own.  I never drove a car.  I worked, but only part time.  I was never responsible for my own finances.  I was overweight...hell, I was obese.  I lived my life inside the four walls of my home...and we had many homes over the 16 years I was married.  

The day my husband left, I fell apart.  Not because he was gone, but because I didn't know what I was going to do.  I remember calling my sister that day, and her coming over to get me.  She found me in a ball, on the floor, hysterical.  I just kept asking her "what am I going to do?".  How was I supposed to take care of my kids when I had no money coming in (other than child support), no car or license, no hope?  

A week or so later, I was determined to get my act together.  How could I not?  I got my permit, and learned to drive.  I applied for dozens of jobs.  I knew I had to find a cheaper place for the kids and I to live, and planned on moving in with my mom.  

My husband and I fought.  It was an adjustment figuring out how life was going to work from then on out, and we had a hard time agreeing on things.  I think, looking back, we both wanted the same things, we just didn't know how to get there.

Today, I can say that I am an independent single mom, and I have never been happier.  I love going to work every day.  I love having a place for the kids and I that I can afford on my own.  It would have been easier to go and live with my mom, but I wanted to stand on my own two feet.  I wanted to prove to everyone that I wasn't broken.  Sure, I have needed help from time to time.  I don't know what I would have done if my dad and his wife hadn't help me out with a car, and my mom has been my rock...someone I can talk to and vent to...who understands what I am going through.  I have realized that in order for me to be a good mom, I have to be happy.  I have to take care of myself.  I have learned that I am worth something.  I can be beautiful.  In fact, I have learned that I am beautiful, inside and out.  Sure, losing all this weight has helped with the outside view of myself, but I have also learned to be a better person on the inside.  I used to be so unhappy, and I think I let that make me distant from people.  I was unfriendly and self-conscience all the time.  I was afraid that someone would see past the guards I had put up, and I didn't think I could handle that.  Now, I am not afraid to show my feelings.  I am happy, and I think that shows.

So, in six more months I can get my divorce.  My husband and I have gotten to a place where we no longer fight.  It's not worth it.  He sees the kids as often as he wants, and he talks to them every single day.  We may not have been destined to stay together, but he is a good dad to our kids, and I really can't ask for more than that.  It's funny...there was never a question of us getting back together.  Neither of us wants that, and I think that makes it easier for us to be friends.  And I think that is exactly what we are right now. 

I still have things to work on...don't we all?  But, those faces up there give me the motivation to keep doing just that.  My therapist asked me once what made me decide to get my license and face my fear.  I told her I didn't have a choice.  She said I did have a choice, everyone has choices.  In my mind, I could have either let my kids down, or I could show them how strong I really am.

They are my world.  They are my strength.  And they are the reason I faced my fears and became the woman I am today.

Free Lunch

Yesterday was a busy day at work.  I drove all day!  I usually end up driving a few hundred miles every day when all is said and done.  Most days I get to come home for a little while during the day, but yesterday I didn't even have time to stop for lunch.  It's a good thing I keep granola bars and almonds in my van for days like that.

This morning, my boss gave me money to buy myself lunch, saying he appreciated all my hard work yesterday.  How awesome is that!  I have the best boss in the world.  Thankfully, I was able to stop and eat today.  I tink it tasted so good because I didn't pay for it!

Protect Yourself

Now that I am a single mom, I am learning how to take care of myself.  Not that I didn't before, but now all the family finances fall on my shoulders.  I am proud to say that I am doing a great job so far.  I  know there are things I should be doing that I'm not, like worrying about identity theft protection.

I have heard so many horror stories about how easy it is for someone to steal all your personal information.  Recently, I heard that your credit cards can be swiped by someone while they are in your wallet.  That is a pretty scary things.  If you are like me, you do a lot of shopping and business with your back online, and that is another way someone can get your information.  It only takes a few facts about you for someone to use your identity.  You can use a service like IdentityHawk to find out where your identity is vulnerable, and protect yourself. 

I am working really hard to get my credit back on track, and I don't need someone else messing it up.  I may need a little of this protection for myself.  Life is hard enough right now.  I don't need to worry about someone stealing my identity. 

I'm Dropping Again

I've decided to start dropping again.  To be honest, I miss the traffic.  My numbers are horrible, and I miss comments on my posts, even though I haven't been posting regularly either.  I plan on posting more, too, so maybe the comments will come again.  I need to do something.  I miss blogging.  Now that my life is back into some type of order, I feel like the time has come to enter the blogosphere once again.

Friendship

There was a time, years ago, when I had tons of friends.  I was in high school and working full time at McDonald's.  There were a bunch of us who hung out together all the time.  I remember when birthdays rolled around, I didn't hesitate to spend money on my friends.  I mean, I was living at home with no bills of my own, so what else did I have to do with my money?

I had this one friend who I was super close to, and for her birthday one year I bought her a claddagh ring.  To us, it was symbol of friendship.  The one I bought her was plain gold.  Recently, I was looking at celtic jewelry online, and I found a silver ring with a green stone.  It's beautiful, don't you think?

I would love to find one with a purple stone, but I think it would be funny to buy one for myself.  The problem is, I don't have any close girlfriends anymore.  The friends I do have are great, but I am not super close to any of them.  At least not close enough that they would buy me jewelry. 

Maybe it's time I go find me a boyfriend?

Save Money On Glasses

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

My kids go back to school on Monday.  I cannot believe summer vacation is over.  They are all excited to be starting new schools, and I am excited that they will have something to do during the day while I'm working instead of just sitting at home, bored.  The one thing I don't like about them going back to school is how expensive all their back to school supplies are.

Ryan is the only one of my kids who needs glasses, and at the end of last year, he broke his only pair.  I was debating where to go to get him new ones when a friend of mine suggested Zenni Optical.  I have heard good things about them, so I let Ryan take a look at their selection, and he chose these:

They are very similar to his old pair, but it's what he likes.  The part I love is that they cost less than $7.  I knew you could save money on prescription glasses with Zenni, but I had no idea you could save so much.  I was worried about where I would find the money, but now I don't have to. 

Now I can worry about where I am going to get the money to buy book bags and binders.

NMEDA

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

I am a new driver.  At 39 years old I finally decided (okay, maybe I was forced to due to circumstances beyond my control) it was time for me to get my driver's license.  On March 21st of this year, I passed my driving test and became a legal driver.  Since then I haven't stopped driving.  I got a job driving a delivery van, and most days when I get home, the kids are wanting to go somewhere.  I find it hard to believe that I used to enjoy sitting home all the time, depending on other people to get me where I needed to go.

For the past couple of weeks, my car had been acting up.  She spent more time with the mechanic than she did with me.  I went crazy not being able to just get up and go. I love my new found freedom.  I know there are people out in the world who don't drive, or who can't drive.  Some of those people have handicaps that prevent them from being able to operate, or even get into, a vehicle.  NMEDA is a non-profit trade association that educates consumers on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer.  These dealers specialize in customizing vehicles to a person's specific needs, which is pretty important.  They also have QAP dealers. The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

If you are, who know someone, who is handicapped, check out the NMEDA website.  Through it, you can easily find a NMEDA dealer near you.

I Need A Vacation

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

Seriously, I am so overdue for some down time.  I have been working all summer, and the kids have been cooped up in this house.  We all need some time for just play, and Dells sounds like the perfect vacation spot. 

I was reading abut them online, and they have something for all of us.  I have always wanted to visit a water park, and they have a huge one with a lazy river ((20 feet of pure relaxation!) and all sizes of water slides.  I've never been on a water slide before, and to be honest, I'd probably chicken out, but I would love the opportunity to try one out.

The kids would love the laser tag and mini golf available at their indoor/outdoor theme park.  The park also has arcade games and go carts, which every kid would love.

Right now, you can enter this contest  to win a free stay at a Kalahari Resort valued at over $200! To enter, do these two things:

1.) Leave a comment on the contest post about the feature or amenity you are the most excited to experience when visiting a Kalahari resort

2.) Tweet out a message containing a link back to the contest rules and the hashtag #KalahariResorts

I know I am going to enter.  Like I said, I desperately need some down time!

Dream Living At Valencia Reserve

Every now and then, I dream about what it would be like to live my life without having to worry about money.  I have lived paycheck to paycheck for so many years, and while I am not complaining (I know there are people who don't make enough to live) it's nice to imagine how the kids and I would live if money was no object.

I found these pictures of Valencia Reserve, and it looks like a wonderful place to live.   The houses themselves are beautiful, though I am not a big fan of having the front door pushed back.  What I mean is, the garages come out further than the front door, so there is a path leading to the door that has walls on both sides.  I am sure there are some models that don't have this feature, so I'm sure I would be able to find something I love.  Check out all that they have to offer:

• 41,000 total sq ft grand clubhouse
• Full time staff
• Planned for Manned entry gate
• Resort style outdoor pool / Lap Pool and Spa
• Fully equipped fitness facility
• Nine lighted Har-Tru tennis courts
• Grand Ballroom
• Card rooms
• Billiards room
• Internet Cafe
• Basketball Court

If you know me at all, you know the pool would be where I spend most of my time.  I would probably take advantage of the fitness facility as well.  I am desperate to get the rest of this extra weight off of me.  I like the fact that it has a manned entry gate as well.  These days, you can never be too careful. And between the billiard room and basketball court, I'd probably never see my kids.

Living in Boynton Beach Florida would definitely be a change for the kids and I.  They would love to live close to the ocean.  I grew up on Long Island, so the ocean was always around us (obviously).  My kids have never even seen an ocean.  I keep saying we need to take a trip to Myrtle Beach one of these days, but it's hard to find the money.

Maybe I Need A Boca Raton Divorce Attorney

I am sure all of you know by now that my husband and I plan on getting divorced as soon as we reach our one year anniversary of being separated.  In South Carolina, that is a requirement for a divorce.  Personally, I think it's ridiculous since we both know there is no future for us, and we have moved on with our lives.  I think we are both looking forward to February of next year, and I am sure one of us will file as soon as possible. 

We have already split all our possessions, and there really isn't anything we fought over.  I have custody of the kids, and he gets to see them as often as he likes.  We said from the beginning that we wanted to remain friends, and after a few rough months of adjustment, I think we might be there.  Now, this doesn't mean we will vacation together, or do research About Boca Raton as a place to retire together, but this afternoon, I hung out at his house for a bit while Ryan helped him do something to his van.  In fact, just last week when my car was in the shop he offered me the use of one of his vehicles while mine was being repaired.  

I am not sure how the divorce proceedings will go, because I want to go through attorneys and he doesn't.  I can see his side, because like I said, we pretty much agree on everything, but there is a part of me that wants to make sure we cover everything.  Hiring a Boca Raton divorce attorney or someone local just to make sure we have everything in order doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.  I believe that we can even use the same one, therefor saving some money. But like I said, I'm not sure what is going to happen.

Balls Should Be Chased

 I drive.  All day long.  Up and down the highway.  Hundreds of miles a day.  I pass lots and lots of billboards, and to be honest, most of the time I don't really pay attention to them.  Today, one happen to catch my eye.  It was a picture of the cutest, fluffiest black kitten swatting a ball of red yarn.  In big letter, it read, "balls are meant to be chased...have your pet neutered".  I couldn't believe it!  I actually laughed out load.  Who thinks of these things?  A Florida Ad Agency?

The funny thing is, it got my attention, and isn't that the whole point?  If you want to get your brand or product out there, you should hire someone who can come up with stuff like that.  Because honestly, if it was just a sign that said "neuter your pet", I probably wouldn't have noticed it.

It also got me thinking if I could be creative like that, and honestly, I can't.  I couldn't come up with a slogan to advertise South Florida Culture or anything else for that matter, even if my life depended on it.  I mean, I can be funny sometimes, but put me on the spot, and I got nothing. I remember an episode of Friends, where Chandler starts working for an advertising agency, and he comes up with the stupidest, most obvious campaign slogans.  That would be me. 

One of the best campaigns, I think, that sticks in my head from when I was a kid was one for Coke, where they sing that "I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke" song.  Do you remember that?  I could probably still sing that entire commercial.  Or McDonald's.  Ba Da Bot Ba Ba I'm Loving It.  Dang, now that is going to be in my head the rest of the night.  Talk about good advertising!

I think tomorrow, I might pay a little more attention to the signs I pass.  I bet I can find a few more that are pretty funny.

Me

Okay, the top picture was taken pretty soon after the hubs left in February.  The bottom picture was taken this morning.

I have lost a total of 90 pounds according to the scale this morning...about 60 or so has been since Bob left.  I think I can tell a difference...what do you think?  Feel free to tell me how awesome I look!

Junk

 One of the best things about my separation from my husband is the lack of junk around my house.  It didn't matter where we lives, my husband would always bring home junk that would end up in my yard, in my house, and anywhere else he could find a place for it.  He would always say that he would need it someday, and honestly, I could see his point.  I have the same tendency to hold on to thinks I might use someday, though I was never as bad as him.  The funny thing is, Ryan is turning out to be the same way.  The other day, we were at my mom's house, and he wanted to go for a walk.  Down the road from my mom's house is one of those do it yourself car washes, and as we were walking by, Ryan spotted something by one of the trash cans.  He ran over and discovered that it was one of those little hand weights, and he had to have it.

Before we moved to this apartment, I had to clean up our last place.  Since my husband had moved out, I was stuck cleaning the yard of all the "junk" he left behind.  I was seriously considering hiring an Appliance Removal Chicago person to come get the crap out of my yard.  There have been times when we have had a collection of stoves and refrigerators which my husband was saving to take off as scrap metal.  Thankfully, between Ryan and one of his friends, my yard was (mostly) cleaned up, and we were able to start anew here at the apartment.  Now that we no longer have a yard, I don't have to worry about it becoming a junk yard.

Oh, the benefits of apartment living.

Clothes

Clothes.  I hate the thought have having to shop for new clothes.  I don't necessarily have a style, and usually settle just for what fits. These days, that means blue jeans shorts and a cute to.  I am trying to steer away from wearing tshirts, especially at work.  Eventually, I think my boss might get me some tshirts with the company logo, but for now, I just wear what I have.

I'm not sure if it's just me, but finding cute tops for someone my size can be difficult.  I still have a belly, and now that my boobs are smaller, a lot of tops make me look like I am pregnant.  But, like I've said before, I find that I am more comfortable these days in tops that fit me, not just drape on me.

Men have it easier, I think.  They have places where they can buy Big and Tall Clothing, and lets face it, there are only so many different shirts a guy can wear.  They don't have to worry about how their boobs look, if it's too low cut, or not low cut enough.  Most guys I know don't even care much about what color they wear. 

Once I lose the rest of this weight, I am going to buy myself an entire new wardrobe.  And I am going to enjoy finding clothes that fit properly.

Do You Need A South Florida Workers Compensation Attorney

 I don't think I have talked much on here about what I do every day when I go to work.  In the mornings and afternoons, I deliver mail. In between, I am a courier of sorts, delivering different products between businesses.  I get to meet some pretty interesting people, but I spend most of the day, alone in my van, which I love.  I turn the radio up and sing along, which gets me some pretty funny looks from the other drivers on the road.  I drive a van, and I have to climb my big old butt in and out of it at least 50 times a day. The seat, when I am standing outside, is higher than my chest.  I am short, so to a normal person it is probably not that high, but for me, it's a climb.  It is doing wonders for my legs though, so I'm not complaining.

I am, however, waiting for the day that I actually fall out.  It hasn't happened yet, but I have come close several times.  I don't know much About Workers Compensation, but I do know that if something did happen to me on the job, my boss would make things right.  I don't think I would have to hire a South Florida Workers Compensation Attorney or anything like that.  

A friend of mine fell at her job a few years ago, and she ended up suing the company because she had lasting problems.  I believe when all was said and done she ended up with several thousand dollars.  Her lawyer worked hard to get her that settlement, but it was worth it.  I mean, the company didn't even want to pay her medical bills...she needed someone to fight for her.  If you ever get hurt on the job, wouldn't you want someone on your side who would fight for you?

Find Investors To Make YOur Dream Come True

 I work for a very small company.  It's so small in fact that I am the only one who can do my job, so if I ever call in sick, my boss would be in trouble.  Last week, I had to take a couple of hours off one day to register Brandi for school, and it took him a week to figure out how to get my job done without me.  I guess I could look at it as job security, but sometimes, it would be nice to have some time off during the week when businesses are open so I can get some errands done.  But, I shouldn't complain, because there are a lot of people who are out of work, and I am lucky that I even have a job.

There was a time when I would have loved to open my own business. In fact, I went to college with the hopes of one day opening my own day care center.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love me some babies.  I know it would have been a lot of hard work, find investors and start up money, but I know I would have enjoyed going to work every day.  

Some people, like me, only dream of having their own business, because they think the time is never right take that leap.  Finding smart money and applying for small business loans, and putting everything on the line can be a scary thing.  But, I don't think there is ever a right time, and if you really want something like this, you just have to do it.

Maybe someday I'll find the courage to make my dream come true.  Right now, though, I am going to continue working for my boss, who made his dreams of owning his own business come true. I need the security of a weekly paycheck.  Who knows, maybe I will find and marry a rich man someday, who will support me in chasing my dream.

My Sister Told Me I Was Pretty

 My sister is visiting from New Jersey this week, and I haven't seen her in over two years.  Not only can she not believe how big my kids have gotten, but she also thinks I look great.

And I do!  These past few months I have really been taking care of myself, which is something I haven't done in a long time.  When I with my husband, I let myself go.  I think a lot of people do when they are married.  I didn't care about my weight or my appearance, but now that I am single again, those things are kind of important to me.  I want to look my best when I leave for work every day, and that means I had to make a lot of changes.  I have started using a Body scrub instead of just soap in the shower.  I have been having my eyebrows and upper lip waxed.  Now that I have lost weight, I bought new clothes that actually fit me right, instead of the tents I used to wear hoping to hide my fat.

I wasn't fooling anyone with that, by the way.  I mean, I was a whale, and you can't hide that much blubber no matter how loose fitting your clothes are.

I have learned how to exfoliate and take care of my skin.  I wear makeup every day. I blow dry my hair instead of letting it air dry into a stringy mess. I have confidence now, and I think other people can see that.

I have changed my attitude, too.  I used to be so unhappy, which made me kind of unpleasant to be around.  Now that I have found happiness, it shows in everything I do.  I think I might have already mentioned this, but my boss told me a couple of weeks ago that I am the first employee he has ever had that his customers don't call and complain about.  In fact, several have called to brag on me, which is an absolutely wonderful feeling. 

One of these days I'll get around to posting an updated picture so you all can see how much I have changed. 

Adding Color To My Kitchen

 When I moved into my fist home with my then husband, I was so excited to decorate the place.  I knew what I wanted, and though it took a while, I did get things looking how I wanted.  My favorite room was always my kitchen.  I had black appliances and stainless steel accents.  When the kids and I moved into this apartment, I couldn't bring my appliances, and the ones in here are white.  I have been thinking lately that it might be time for some new kitchen decor.

My only problem is that I can't decide on a new color scheme.  I still love black, but it's just not working now.  My stainless accents look a little weird next to 10 year old white appliances, to.  I don't have to worry about kitchen curtains though, because my kitchen doesn't have a single window. 

Growing up, my mom always went for the country look.  I remember our kitchen being red, with strawberry themed accents.  I don't think I want to go that route, but I do want to add some color.  If you know me at all, you know I am leaning towards purple, but I'm not sure how I would make that work.  I think I might have to do some searching online to find the perfect look.

Looking Good In Scrubs

 I have been going to the same doctor for years.  In fact, he is the one who confirmed that I was pregnant with Brandi.  He has a great bedside manner, and it doesn't hurt that he is kind of hot.  And trust me on this, I am not the only one who thinks so.  He is always dressed nicely.  I don't think I have ever seen him in doctors scrubs but I am sure he could make those look good, too.

The last time I was in the ER with Brandi, I couldn't help but notice how much cuter the ladies looked in their scrubs than the guys did.  The male nurses all had on blue scrubs, but the women nurses wore scrub tops with designs on them.  I am not sure if it is uniform code thing, but the guys need to shop here, http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/, for at least some variety in color.  

I know some women who aren't nurses or doctors who wear scrub tops.  I think for them it is a comfort thing.  There are some cute designs out there, especially around the holidays. 

I wonder if I could find some with elephants on them?  I bet I could if I tried.

TEP

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

I don't know how I lived so long without a cell phone.  If I happen to leave the house without it by mistake, I feel like I left a part of myself at home.  Crazy, I know.  My phone is not fancy, but it makes calls and I can check Facebook from it.  I hope to upgrade next year, to one of those smart phones, because I hear there are all kinds of cool apps for them.

Right now, if you have a Sprint phone, you can download their Sprint Total Equipment Protection App.  You only have until August 30, so don't wait too long.  From what I have read about this app, it's pretty cool.  It allows you to:

1) Locate phone
2) Sync contacts
3) Remote wipe phone
4) Lock phone
5) Sound alarm

I think the feature I like the best is the ability to remotely wipe your information off your phone if it is ever stolen or lost.  I would hate to think of someone getting their hands on all the numbers I have stored in my phone.

It costs $8 a month for this app, but it is worth it, in my opinion.  There is a deductible, but the money you could save if you have to replace your phone makes it worth it.

Who Doesn't Have A Cell Phone?

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

I think these days, people would look at you a little weird if you said you didn't have a cell phone.  Up until recently, I was one of hose people who got the weird looks.  Before my husband left, I stayed home most of the time, so there was no need for me to have a cell.  Now that  am working, I carry two.  I have one from my boss that I use for work, and my personal cell. 

My personal cell is pretty cool.  It's a Straight Talk phone.  When I was trying to find a phone that would meet my needs and not cost a small fortune every month, I did a lot of research.  I know that I could call a friend on any phone, but I wanted one that would also give me internet access.  My Straight Talk phone gives me internet, unlimited calling, and unlimited texting for only $45 a month.  It has everything you need to stay connected. 

When I found out I didn't need a contract, I was taken in, hook, line and sinker.  There are no overage charges no matter how much I use it.  I even get free 911 and 411 services.  I don't even get free 411 on my house phone!  I plan on getting Ryan and Kasi their own Straight Talk phones next year, too.  I feel good knowing that they can use them all they want and I won't get any surprise bills in the mail.

I have enough bills to pay without worrying about cell phone overages.

My Coke Rewards For Schools

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

I drink a lot of Sprite Zero and Diet Coke.  I noticed recently that there are codes on the bottles, and I was wondering what to with them.  After a little research, I discovered that I can use the codes to get points, which I can donate to help my kids' schools get supplies, like books, classroom supplies, and sports equipment.  I went on the My Coke rewards for schools website and found out that both of my kid's schools are already registered, so it was really simple for me to donate points. 

Now through September 30, "Sprite is giving away 25 playgrounds, worth $25,000, to schools and are giving consumers who purchase and enter a code from any package of Sprite/Sprite Zero an entry into the sweepstakes to help their school win. In addition, every three points donated to the school through the Sprite Spark Parks for Schools sweepstakes will give the school additional chances. Any new school that registers will be given a chance to win".  I would love for my daughter's school to win one of these playgrounds. 

If you go to the site and find that your child's school is not registered, you can go ahead and register it yourself, that way it can start collecting points.  You can become your school's coordinator and manage their account.  There are so many ways that this program can help the kids and the schools, it just makes sense to make sure your child's school is participating.