2011 - A Year Of Self Discovery

2011 didn't start out so well for my little family.  I am sure you all remember that day last February when I wrote a simple post letting you all know that my husband decided to leave me.  I remember that day.  I remember feeling so many things...the most prominent feeling being hopelessness. 

I can honestly say that I am going to start 2012 full of hope.  I learned so much about myself this past year, and I love who I have become.  I always used to say that I loved myself, but looking back, I don't think that was true.  I always thought I was happy, but I don't think that was true, either. 

Today, on this last day of a hard year, I can honestly say that I do love myself, and I have never been happier.  It took the ending of my marriage for me to realize that although my life before was important, I wasn't really living. 

In the past ten months, I have learned

• how much fun it is to live. 
• that I am beautiful, inside and out.  
• that being a single mom is hard work, but worth every second.  
• that I love working. 
• that I can stand on my own two feet.
• that it is okay to ask for help when I need it.
• that flirting is fun!
• that there are men out there who find me attractive.
• that I don't have to depend on other people for my happiness.
• that I can forgive...even when it hurts me to do so.
• that I can be friends with my ex, which is important to me for the sake of my kids.
• that driving isn't scary!

So, those are a few things I have learned, and I am sure there are many, many more.  I know I haven't been blogging much about my personal life.  I know there are readers (or a better word might be stalkers) who read this blog simply to know what is going on with me because they are insecure in there own lives and have nothing better to do than wish they were like me.  I know I am amazing, and I don't need a man to make me feel this way.  I am amazing because of the things I have done this past year for myself.  For my kids.  For my little family.  My kids will always be the most important part of my world, but I have learned that they are not the only part of my world. 

I haven't mentioned this little tidbit before, but for the past six months or so I have been seeing someone.  It's not a relationship, because neither one of us want that.  I wanted someone who would be okay with hanging out only when my kids are with their dad, and I found him.  My kids have never met him, though they do know I see someone.  I am a big believer in keeping my personal life away from my kids.  When they are with me, they are my priority.  That said, have recently discovered that in order for me to be the great mom that I am, I need time to myself.  I am a woman after all. 

I know this post comes off as me tooting my own horn, but I'm okay with that.  I spent too many years being unhappy with myself, and now that I am finally the woman I think I was always supposed to be, I am proud of myself.

And that is why 2012 is going to be awesome! 

Parents' House

Guest post written by my buddy Hans Hale

I bought my parents’ house from them when they decided to move to Florida and boy has it been a lot of work. I love this place but there’s so much to do to bring it into the 21st century – it’s like they haven’t remodeled anything since my brother and I were born. I got direct tv for the main TV so it would be a bit more modern and my wife’s been thinking about paint colors for both inside and outside the house. I know when we’re done this is going to look like a totally different place but right now I’m a little worried I maybe should have thought about looking into new construction instead of this. I love this house and it’s got good bones (no big home issues when we moved in which was nice) but it sure is going to be a lot of work to get it looking good. Mom and dad were great parents but they weren’t the best decorators on the planet, that’s for darn sure!

Sconces

I want this light in my house!  When we lived in the duplex a few years ago, the only lights they had in every room were wall sconces.  They weren't nearly as beautiful as that one up there, but I did like the way they lit the rooms.  I am a sucker for anything black, which is probably why I like this one. I would use them as accent lighting here, because we have ceiling lights in the apartment.  I just think they are pretty, even as just a decorative touch to my living room. Or my dining room.  Or my bedroom.  Well, you get the idea. 

No More Rack

My sister-in-law came out yesterday to take my mom shopping and show her how to get the most out of using coupons. I will admit to using coupons in the past, but I am not very good at it.  I usually end up spending more money because I buy what I have coupons for, even if they are for things I don't normally buy.  For me, it's easier to shop clearance sections, and plan my meals around the deals I find. 

The same holds true for everything I but.  I refuse to pay full price for things like shoes and clothes.  I only buy what is on clearance.  It's a good thing I am not too worried about dressing in the latest fashions.  When I learned about No More Rack, I knew I had to check it out.

Simply put, you can save tons of money on some pretty cool stuff.  They offer merchandise for up to 90% off retail prices, but you have to be quick.  They have new deals everyday, and they even have free stuff sometimes.  That's right.  I said free.  And who doesn't like free stuff?

I did a little research, and some people believe that there is a nomorerack scam because their site was hacked.  I know of several very reputable sites than have been hacked in the past, so to base your opinion on this one thing can make you miss out on some awesome deals.  Plus, there are all kinds of nomorerack reviews you can read written by people who have used the site and know what they are talking about.

I just clicked on the site to see what kind of deals they are offering right now, and they have a Nikon Coolpix S4100 digital camera for less than $7.  It was one of their insane deals.  I wish I had signed up, because I would have snatched that up.  They also have a $2 flat shipping rate, so you don't have to worry about huge shipping costs.

After checking out their current deals, I plan on signing up.  I don't want to miss out on any more of the awesome deals they offer.

It's Over

The kids and I had a wonderful Christmas.  It's funny how after waiting all year long it is always over way too quickly.  I was worried that I didn't get the kids enough, but they loved everything they received, not just from Santa, but from my family as well.  We spent the day with my mom, sister, brother, and their families.  Nothing is better than being surrounded by the people you love.

Now that Christmas is over and I spent all my money on my kids, it's time for me to find some cash to spend on myself.  I need new clothes and sneakers, but honestly, I just want money to blow.  I want to buy things I want, not need.  I do have a birthday coming up in a few weeks.  The big 4-0.  I am thinking about making a list of the things I want, making it easy for those of you who love me to buy me gifts.  Searching sites like www.paviliongift.com and www.h2-z.com can make putting a list together pretty simple.  It also makes it easier for people to buy me things, since they can do it from the comfort of their own home. 

Okay, so I am not really that into the whole "I'll tell you exactly what I want so buy it for me".  In fact, I would rather spend time with the people I love instead of getting a bunch of presents. 

And honestly, the only thing I am looking forward to getting for my birthday is a divorce.

Some Christmas Pictures

Me and my kids.

My mom and my kids.

This is my favorite picture from Christmas...Brandi's face when she saw my mom had gotten her the bike she wanted!

Boo and her new bike.

Merry Christmas!

from my family to yours!

Being The Best

 A couple of weeks ago Kasi had a concert at school. Sitting in the auditorium, listening to the orchestra, chorus, and band, it finally occurred to me that I tortured my parents the same way when I was in school.  It's funny, really.  I enjoyed the chorus, and not just because that is where my child performed. They were really good.  There are some very talented girls at Kasi's school. I also enjoyed the band.  The orchestra?  Not so much.  I was actually cringing.

I think I was so critical because I was in orchestra.  I played the viola for 8 years, and I sat first chair for 6 of those years.  I was awesome.  Thinking back on it now, though, I am sure my orchestra sounded just as bad as the one at this concert.  We all probably could have benefited from a violin lesson or two.  

I have always had this need to be the best, no matter what I was doing.  Not to brag about myself, but I have never gotten a less than perfect review at any job I have ever worked.  I am most definitely a people pleaser.  I am a rule follower, but I think that has more to do with my fear of getting into trouble than anything else. 

I know there are many more concerts in my future, and I hope I can be a little less critical of future performances.

Smile!

I've had my camera for almost a year now.  I never read the book that came with it, and every now and again I discover a new feature I didn't know about.  A couple of weeks ago, I was at my moms, and the girls and I were messing around, taking silly pictures.  I pressed something on my camera, and it suddenly started taking pictures all by itself.  After checking out what setting we had it on, I discovered that my camera is pretty smart.  I have a setting that will take a picture automatically whenever it detects a smile.  It's the coolest thing!

It captured this smile pretty well, didn't it?

Being Proactive!

 I am turning forty in about a month and a half.  Most women dread this number, but I am looking forward to it.  I am done having babies, and the babies I do have are about grown.  I'm lucky.  Some women try their whole lives and never have one baby, let alone three.  These days, there are so many options available for women who want to have children.  Women of all ages are now freezing their eggs, though it seems more and more women are doing it while they are younger to use at a future time. 

I was never into having a career.  I always wanted to be a mom.  But, some women put their careers first, and then find that when they are ready to have kids, their biological clocks are no longer cooperative.  It's women like this, among others, that are being proactive, and freezing their eggs while they are still young.  Of course, there are also women who donate their eggs to women who can not produce their own, and a lot of these eggs are frozen as well.  It's funny.  I have heard of sperm banks before, but never about places that store a women's eggs.  It makes sense now that I think about it, though.

Some people may be uneducated about the whole thing (like myself), and there is a ton of information available about the safety of egg freezing.  It's pretty interesting stuff, too.  Nowadays, couples who can not conceive have so many options.  I remember when adoption was the only way for infertile couples to become parents.   Having carried three children myself, I can understand a women wanting to carry a baby herself.  All this new technology has done wonders for making that a possibility.

Thankfully, I didn't have problems getting pregnant, and I hope my girls have just as easy a time when they decide to have families of their own.  I just hope they don't make that decision for many, many years.

Rubber Mulch Under The Swings

My kids are getting older.  Ryan is 16, Kasi is 14, and Brandi, my baby girl, just turned 10.  I thought they were getting too old for playing on swing sets, but I was wrong.  When we moved into this apartment complex, they were so excited that it had a playground. Of course, I had to have a conversation about playground safety with them, especially since all the kids in the neighborhood play there.  

One of the things I like best about our playground is that is has Rubber Mulch underneath the swings and slide.  I know that when the kids are down there, even if they fall, they will land on something other than cement.  Trust me when I say, little kids may play hard, but bigger kids play rough.  Falling into mulch cuts down on scrapped knees and elbows.

I also like that I do not have to do the upkeep on the playground.  Heck, I don't have to do the upkeep on anything.  I don't have a yard, though there is a grassy area on the side of our building where Brandi likes to play with her little friends.  The maintenance man keeps the grass cut and the landscape mulch looking pretty.  He compacts the trash twice a day and picks up any litter around the complex.

It's nice not living somewhere that looks like a junk yard.  I spent too many years doing just that while I was married.

Kasi Broke My Couch

A few weeks ago, Kasi broke my couch.  She went to sit down, lost her balance, and fell, plopping down hard onto the couch.  Unfortunately, the bottom of the couch gave out and she ended up sitting almost completely on the floor.  I am now going to have to do some furniture shopping, and I can not tell you how difficult it is to make a decision.  The couches I have found that I really love do not go with my current furniture at all, which means I will have to buy all new end tables and a new coffee table.

I love the modern sofa bed in the picture above.  Can you believe that is a futon?  There are several reasons why I will never own this particular piece of furniture.  First, it's white and I have kids.  They are older, but they still spill things and make messes, so it would never stay white long.  Second, my end tables are wood, and the feet on this futon are metal.  Not a good combination in my book.  And third, as comfortable as it looks, I want something that has arms.  I need somewhere to rest my mouse for my laptop.  I hate having to use the finger pad, if that is even what it is called.

I am going to have to do a bit more browsing before making a final decision, but I wil let you know what I buy once I buy it.

Almost Done Shopping

 I must be crazy!  Due to financial restraints, I have not yet finished my Christmas shopping, and Christmas is five days away.  I have to go shopping Friday when I get off of work because that will be my last paycheck before the big day.  The stores are going to be so busy I am actually dreading having to go.

I would have been done weeks ago if I had more money, but there just never seems to be much left after I pay bills every week.  I know there are ways I could have gotten some cash, like taking advantage of a Utah cash advance place, but I want to do this all on my own without having to add more bills to my already full months.  I've used cash advance places in the past and they have been lifesavers.  Especially when en unexpected expense pops up.

But, right now, I can't take on another bill.  My plate is full enough.  My kids will get what I can afford to get them and nothing more.  I have learned this past year that living within my means is boring, but necessary.  I've spent too many years not being able to pay rent each month and having our cable turned off.  It's been ten months (WOW!) since my husband left, and I am doing a great job on my own.

And it feels so good!

Shop ALDI For Your Holiday Party

 Last weekend, I had an intimate little Christmas party.  Okay, so maybe "party" is not the right word since it was just myself and a very special friend of mine.  I served some simple foods that paired well with wine, all courtesy of my local ALDI grocery store. 

It had been a while since I had shopped at ALDI, and I honestly had no idea they had such a wide selection of wines, all very reasonable priced.  In fact, everything they sell is reasonable priced at almost 50% less than traditional supermarkets. I got four different bottles of wine, totaling about $24. Since I am not normally a big drinker, I was a little clueless when it came to picking out the wines I wanted.  The manager of the store heard me talking to myself and came over to help me find the selections I needed.  She was awesome!  She even walked around the store with me as I selected the rest of my purchases.  I was very impressed with the customer service I received.  The only drawback was that I forgot that they do not bag your groceries, so I had to purchase a reusable shopping bag to bring my things home in.  It was only $1, and I can use it again the next time I shop there (or anywhere else!), so it was worth it.  

My favorite wine was the Gonfalone Chianti, and I served it with cheese and crackers.  I used a recipe ALDI supplied for a Baked Brie, and I can not tell you how delicious it was.  It was so simple to make, too. 

ALDI Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:
1 wheel edenVale Brie Cheese
1/2 cup Southern Grove Dried Cranberries
1 cup Burlwood Cellars Chardonnay
1/2 cup Berryhill Blackberry Fruit Spread

Directions:
 1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Place unwrapped brie on a foil-lined baking sheet.  Heat in oven 12-15 minutes or until brie is warmed through and soft to the touch.

2.  Meanwhile, bring dried cranberries and white wine to a boil in a small saucepan.  Add fruit spread, reduce heat to medium high and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring often.. Sauce is ready when liquid has thickened and coats the back of a spoon.

3.  To serve, pour over warm brie.  Can be eaten alone or spread on crackers.

The final result:

Okay, so maybe it doesn't look as good as it tasted, but trust me when I tell you it was delicious!  I served it with ALDI's Savoritz Entertainment Crackers - Six Cracker Assortment.  I plan on making it again the next time I have guests over.

I am big on desserts, so I also bought a Belmont Premium Cheesecake Sampler and paired that with the Chaza Moscato, as ALDI suggested.

This was my friend's favorite wine. I liked it, too. In fact, we finished off this entire bottle! I am a huge cheesecake fan, and I can say without question that this cheesecake was awesome.  I especially liked the turtle slices.  The raspberry was great, too.

ALDI has so many great selections when it comes to party food, and this time of year, we are all either having our own or attending friends and families Christmas parties.  You can look like a rock star if you hit up ALDI first and arm yourself with some of their wines.  Just don't forget to pick up all the goodies they offer that pair with the wine so well.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of ALDI and received a gift certificate to facilitate my review

They All Passed!

 I got Ryan and Kasi's report cards in the mail today.  Brandi brought her's home with her yesterday.  They all passed.  Brandi and Kasi got all A's and B's.  Ryan passed, but by the skin of his teeth.  It's funny.  I just wrote a post about how well he is doing off his ADHD medication, and yesterday he asked me if he could start taking it again.  He feels like he is starting to lose focus, and his end of semester test grades proved just that.  He did well for the semester, but failed two of his end of course exams.  Thankfully, those grades didn;t bring his averages down to failing, but it was pretty close.  I'm not sure what I am going to do about his medications.  He has two weeks off before school starts again, so we'll see.

It was so much easier when they were little, and school was actually fun for them.  Nowadays, the internet is full of games that help little kids learn. You can find all kinds of online math games for kindergarten kids that make learning even more fun.  My kids used to love to play Memory, so I did a search for online memory games, and found this site where kids can play a matching game to discover interesting facts.  My little nephew is five, and he plays all kinds of games on the computer.  It amazes me that kids that age, and even younger, are pros when it comes to the computer. 

I wish I could find sites that offer games for kids Ryan's age.  He's struggling in English right now.  He said his end of course exam in that subject was reading a passage and then answering questions that required him to really comprehend what he had just read.  Now, reading has never been his strong suit, and I am at a loss as to how to help him with that.  The school has taken notice of his struggling and put him in a remedial class for next semester.  He told me he is going to try and get out of it, but I told him not to.  I may allow him to slack in other classes, like history, but English is important, and if he needs to be in a class where he will get extra help, than I think that is what is best for him. 

If only he could see things the way I do.

Bills

I got my power bill the other day and it was only $93.  I couldn't believe it!  Last year at this time, when we were living in the double wide, our power bills was close to $250. It's amazing what proper insulation can do for your heating costs.  The funny thing is, I have only turned our heat on a few times this season.  Even though it does get down into the 30's at night, we have been having really warm days, with temps almost to 70.  Right now, my air conditioning is running.  And it's a week before Christmas.  To my New York mind, this is really weird.  But, I will not complain because it's keeping money in my pocket.

I remember living in the double wide, and every time the wind blew we would lose shingles off the roof.  We didn't have siding new jersey on the trailer, just some type of wood siding.  The walls were very thin, too, with very little (if any!) insulation.  Whenever it rained, we could literally hear every single drop hit the roof.  Living here, it could be storming like crazy outside and I don't hear a thing.  It's wonderful!

I am hoping that my power bill will continue to stay reasonable, because my water bill is outrageous.  We live within the city limits, so we have to pay sewage.  They take whatever my actual water is, multiply that by two, add it to my water bill, and that is what I pay.  The past two months my water bill has been close to $90.  That's $30 worth of water and $60 in sewage fees.  It's crazy!  But, we are clean, our clothes are clean, and we can drink water right out of the faucet.  I guess that makes it worth it.

Out Of School

My kids are out of school for the next two weeks.  Unfortunately, I have to work those two weeks, and I am a little nervous about leaving them home themselves.  I am already resigned to the fact that my house will not stay clean.  I am also prepared for all the phone calls from Ryan because Brandi and Kasi are fighting.  Brandi has become quite the little monster these days, and I have started cautioning Ryan and Kasi to not anger her, because she gets downright mean.  I know this isn't very good parenting, but it keeps the peace while I am out on the road.

I am dreading next summer when Ryan is working and the girls will have to be home together every day.  I am thinking about sending Brandi to Camp for a week or two (or all summer!) just to keep her busy.   Or maybe I'll send Kasi.  I know at her age, sleep away camp is a dream, especially if it means getting away from her sister (and me).  I remember being 15 and not wanting anything to do with my parents.  I used to lock myself in my room with a good book and not come out for anything.  I could have been doing worse things (don't even get me started on all the ways my sister spent her turbulent teenaged years!) than reading, and I don't want to give Kasi any reason to rebel.  Going away to Overnight Camps could be just the thing she needs to keep her sanity.  She's such a good kid.  I want her to stay that way.

Of course, if I let her go away for a week or two, Brandi will be Ryan's responsibility, and I'm afraid he might actually tie her up during the day if she starts in with him.  Maybe I'll just send them all away and have a quiet summer all to myself.  Yeah, that will never happen.  I miss them enough when they are with their dad for two nights.  I couldn't let them go away for longer than that.  They will just have to learn how to get along with each other.

Dreaming Of What Could Be

I am so bored.  I got up this morning and cleaned my house from top to bottom.  The kids had half a day of school yesterday, and it amazed me at how fast they messed up my house.  I cringe when I think about them being home for the next two weeks.  I cleaned this morning and pretty much threatened their lives to keep it this way.  We'll see what happens.

As I was scrubbing toilets this morning, I started thinking about what my dream bathroom would look like.  I would want an old fashioned claw foot tub, and a vanity to match.  Some bathroom vanities can look modern and old fashioned at the same time, kind of like the one in that picture.  The bowl sink gives it that old fashioned look, while the sleek mirror and faucet give it a modern flair.

My entire dream house would be a mixture of modern and old fashioned furnishings.  My kitchen would have huge stainless steel appliances, but my bedrooms would have four poster beds with frilly bed skirts. It would also have a wrap around porch and huge picture windows. Now, if I could just find the money to build it!

Last Minute Shopping

 Christmas is a week from tomorrow.  Seriously, people, how did that happen?  Where did this past year go? 

I am not even close to being done with my Christmas shopping.  I haven't gotten a thing for anyone but my kids.  A lot of that has to do with my not having any money.  I also have no idea what to get anyone this year.  I still have to get a few things for Ryan, and I'm not even sure what else he wants.  It is so much easier for me to shop for my girls. I don't want to ask Ryan for a list, because now that he is 16, he is asking for things like a car and Sea Ray boat tops.  

I feel bad that I didn't get anything for my nieces and nephews.  I will have a little extra money this week to do some last minute shopping, but I am going to spend it on my kids.  I still need to get stuff for their stockings.  I am usually done with my shopping my the beginning of November, so having to shop on Christmas Eve is going to be interesting.

I hope I make it out of Walmart alive!

Chandeliers

 I love this light fixture!  I am not a fan of chandeliers that have the lights facing down.  I like ones like this that have the bulbs facing up.

Which do you prefer?

I Love Candles!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

How gorgeous are these candles?  I found them on the PartyLite Facebook page in their Clearly Creative Collection.  I am a huge fan of candles, though I hardly ever burn them.  I like to use them more for decoration.  These particular candles are pretty great because you can fill the bottom with whatever you want.  I already know what I would put in them for each holiday.  With Christmas right around the corner, I would put some tinsel or little candy canes in them. 

I attended a PartyLite party once at my sister's house, and I fell in love with all the candles.  She ended up getting a whole bunch of free stuff for being a hostess, too.  If you want to earn some free stuff, you can register to hold your own party.  If you register by December 15th, you get automatically entered into the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes Sweepstakes where you can possibly win 1 of 5 $500 PartyLite gift certificates! I don't know about you, but $500 worth of candles would put a big dent in my Christmas shopping. Their Winter/Spring catalog comes out on December 16, which I can not wait to look through. 

I "liked" them on Facebook, and if you want to be kept up to date about special monthly offers online for party hosts and guests you should do the same. 

I Say Merry Christmas!

I am so tired of people being afraid to say "Merry Christmas".  I deal with people all day during my deliveries, and for the past week or so, everyone has been telling me to have a Merry Christmas, just in case they don't see me again before the 25th.  But, if I go into a store to shop, I am told to have a Happy Holiday.  To me, it's just not the same thing.  It's Christmas, people.

I found these glasses on ZenniOptical.com, and for only $12.95 I can wish everyone a Merry Christmas without even opening my mouth!  I love it.  I know several people who have bought cheap eyeglasses from Zenni and have been more than satisfied.   Being so close to Christmas, I have better things to spend my money on than glasses that cost $100.  I can get these Christmas glasses for under twenty bucks, and spend the rest of my money on more gifts for my kids.  Ryan is a little behind the girls in the gift department, which means I still need to get him a few more things. 

You should check out Zenni if you are looking for new glasses.  They have several other Christmas themed eyeglasses, and tons of regular glasses too, all at more than reasonable prices.  Check them out, then come back here and let me know which ones you would wear to express yourself.

I Want This Phone

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

My phone has about had it.  I bought it in February, and it had been abused.  I drop it all the time!  It is just your basic flip phone.  I bought it because it was the cheapest one they had.  I really want to upgrade, and I think I have decided on an Android.  I just hope this phone is not smarter that I am and I can figure out how to use it.  I'll probably let Ryan have it for an hour or so, because that is how long it will take him to figure it all out.  Then he can teach me!

If you are looking for a new phone, now is the time to get one.  Sprint is offering one of their Android™ powered EVO 4G devices free for three days only, December 12 through December 14.  You have to order online, and they will waive the activation fee for new lines.  They are also offering free shipping. 

I can not decide if I want the one in the picture or the one that has the slide out keyboard.  I do a lot of texting these days, so the keyboard might come in handy.  Whatever I decide, I am going to make sure I get some type of protective covering for it, because like I said, I drop my phone a lot. 

Choices

I recently made the decision to take Ryan off of his ADHD medicine.  Some of you may know that at the beginning of this school year, he had a severe reaction to his Ritalin.  It caused his blood pressure to skyrocket, and after all kinds of tests it was decided that we would try him on Straterra. This is a non-stimulant ADHD medication, and to be honest, I didn't see a difference in Ryan while he was taking it.  It was, however, keeping him from sleeping. 

So, after weighing my options, I decided to let him go a couple of weeks without taking it to see how he would do in school.  For the first time since he was diagnosed with ADHD he started getting A's and B's.  He is able to focus and get his work done without any problems.  He's been off the medication for a couple of months now, and I have no plans of starting him back on it.

I am not sure if it maturity or the fact that he loves his classes that is allowing him to get such good grades.  The only subject he seems to be struggling with is social studies.  Luckily, he has a few options for next year, and I think he is leaning towards some criminal justice classes.  He has always said he wants to be a mechanic when he graduates, but I think he should be open to other things.  For instance, I think if he enjoys his criminal justice classes he should look into a career as a california criminal lawyer.  I know that requires a whole lot more schooling then becoming a mechanic does, but I believe in him enough to know that if he puts his mind to it, he could be whatever he wants to be.  I'm not sure he would like the prosecuting side of being a lawyer, but he has a knack for defending himself, so maybe becoming a los angeles criminal defense lawyer would be more up his alley.  He might enjoy the challenge of convincing a jury that a person is innocent.

As his mom, I will support him no matter what he decides to do with his life. 

My Carpet Is Gross!

 A few weeks ago, Ryan got into a little argument with the apartment handyman.  It seems that someone stole Ryan's bike one night and left it by the dumpster.  The handyman found it, but instead of trying to find out whose bike it was he threw it in the compactor and crushed it.  Ryan found ti and jumped in after it, which caused the handyman to yell at him.  Ryan yelled back.  This all happened while I was at work, so when I got home I had to go find out what was going on from the apartment manager.

Let's just say I left there bewildered, because I got in trouble for my kids bikes being outside, which is exactly where the former apartment manager told me they could be.  The new lady told me their bikes need to be kept inside.  So now, the kids drag their bikes outside everyday.  When they bring them back in, the tires are covered in dirt and mud and they roll them across my carpet.  Needless to say, my carpet is now a mess.  I am thinking about contacting someone like http://www.thesteamteam.com/austin-carpet-cleaning to come clean my carpets and sending the bill to the apartment manager.  Or maybe I'll just ask carpet cleaning Jollyville to contact my apartment complex and offer to clean the carpets.  Something needs to be done.  It would be easier if I had an outside storage unit, but I don't.  They don't offer that here.

I guess I might just have to get the kids to wipe their tires clean before bringing their bikes back into the house.

What A Deal!

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

I have become friends with a lot of people on Facebook who enter all kinds of giveaways.  A lot of them encourage you to persuade your friends to "like" their page for more entires.  Most of the time I pass right by, but recently, one caught my eye.  You want to know why?  It's because I still need some Christmas gifts, and this giveaway is for $25 gift cards to Applebee's.  All you have to do to enter is like Gift Card Weekend on Facebook, and from December 10 to December 18, they will be giving away one gift card daily.  Encourage your friends to like them too, and make sure they say you sent them to increase your chances of winning.

I suppose you are wondering what exactly gift card weekend is.  Simply put, it is a once-a-year event where participating retail partners give featured offers for gift cards purchased during the Holiday season and redeemed from January 6 - January 8, 2012.  Some of the participating retailers are:

-JCPenny
-Regal Cinema
-Subway
-Sephora
-Applebee's
-Bass Pro Shops
-Adidas
-Buca di Beppo
-Lowe's
-Spa Finder
-Marriot
-Giant Eagle

By taking advantage of redeeming your gift cards that weekend you can get more for your money.  If you are giving gift cards this Christmas, think about giving one to one of the participating retailers, and let the recipient know about Gift Card Weekend. 

Also, make sure you check out their Facebook page daily.  There are lots of cool places besides Applebee's giving away gift cards this month.

Slim-Fast

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

I am the queen of dieting.  From the time I was old enough to know that I was overweight I have tried every diet you can think of.  I remember a time when I was just out of high school that I tried Slim-Fast for the first time.  Back then, you bought a can of powder that you mixed with skim milk to make the shakes.  They were horrible!  They tasted gritty if you did not mix them for a really, really long time. Needless to say, I did not buy another can after the first was gone.  I also remember not liking the fact that I had to drink my meals.  I am a big fan of eating, so only having one meal a day I could chew just did not work for me. I am also a big snacker, so only having two shakes and one meal drove me nuts. 

I was asked to try the new Slim-Fast shakes, and I will admit to not having very much confidence that I would like them.  So, yesterday I ran up to my local grocery store to buy the shakes, and I was impressed that their selection has grown from the standard chocolate or vanilla that I remember from way back when.  I chose the new Rich Chocolate Royale.  I stuck them in my fridge to cool, and this morning I tried one. 

The first thing I want to say is it was really good.  I am a huge chocolate fan, and I don't think I will have a problem drinking two of these a day.  The second thing that impressed me about the new Slim-Fast is their new 3•2•1 Plan.  On this plan, you have the choice of either drinking two shakes or having two meal bars.  Or you could have one of each!  Of course, you still have your one 500 calorie meal each day.  The plan suggests filling half your plate with veggies, a quarter with protein, and a quarter with whole grains.  My favorite part of the plan is that they now allow you to have three snacks.  They have 100 calorie bars, or you could choose to eat fruit, nuts, or veggies.  Either way you choose, you can actually eat!  This really does sound like a diet plan I could stick to.

There are five flavors of shakes to choose from:

• Creamy Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla
• Rich Chocolate Royale
• Cappuccino Delight
• Strawberries N’ Cream

Each shake provides up to four hours of hunger control and offers 10 grams of protein, five grams of fiber and 24 essential vitamins and minerals.  I bought my shakes at Bi-Lo, and they are available at other stores like Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger.  They are also available online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.  I liked them on Facebook, and you should too. 

I am going to try the new Slim-Fast 3•2•1 Plan.  I'll let you know how it works for me!

Vacation To Anywhere

Tax time is coming, which means I will finally have a little "mad money" to spend on myself.  This is the last year my husband and I will file together, which means it's also the last year we will get a pretty sizable refund.  I have been thinking a lot about taking some of that money and taking a vacation.  I haven't been on a vacation in years, and now that I have a certain someone in my life, I think it would be nice to get away together for a weekend. 

If I could get more than a weekend off from work I would consider taking a cruise somewhere.  I have always wanted to take a cruise.  It wouldn't matter to me where the ship goes, either.  I would love to go somewhere warm or tropical, or somewhere cold and beautiful.  I would enjoy Cancun as much as patagonia tours.  I would also enjoy a weekend in the mountains.  Heck, I would enjoy a weekend locally in a fancy hotel with room service and an indoor pool.  And in room massages.  And cable television.  I miss television. 

I guess all I really want is a weekend where I can shut out the rest of the world and just enjoy the company of a good friend.  And relax.  I miss relaxing. 

I Want To Buy A House. Eventually.

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about where the kids and I are headed.  In a little over two months I will finally be able to file for divorce.   I have been looking forward to this for the past ten months, since the day my husband left.  I have written enough about how much I have changed and how much I am enjoying my new found freedom, but what I haven't really discussed are my goals for my future. 

My biggest dream is to finally own my own home.  I have a lot of work to get there, so I consider it a long term goal, but one I hope to eventually reach.  My biggest obstacle is going to be improving my credit score.  I have been trying to pay off all our old debts, because trust me when I say there are quite a few people we owed money to when my husband left.  I spent my entire married life living paycheck to paycheck, and I hated it.  There was never enough money to pay everyone, so I got good at putting things off.  Unfortunately, right now I am also living paycheck to paycheck, but I make sure all my bills are paid on time every month.

I don't make a lot of money right now.  In fact, I make minimum wage.  But, I work hard and my boss is very good to me.  I have considered looking for something else, but I don't know if I would find another job that would allow me to work the same hours I do now.  Plus, I love spending the day alone, listening to my radio and singing along at the top of my lungs to all the songs I love.

I have been hearing a  lot of commercials lately talking about home ownership, and according to them, right now I am throwing money away by renting.  According to these commercials, I could own a home for less than I am paying in rent.  I'm not looking for something brand new, just a home that doesn't need too much work and is big enough for me and the kids.  I may have to compare Aurora Bank mortgages and see if I could afford a mortgage payment.  Seeing as how I have never looked into this before, I have a lot of questions.  I don't know what good rates are or how much I would need for a down payment or closing costs.  Thankfully, there are sites like this that can help me find the answers to all of my questions.  

I am sure I could call my dad, too, for a little information.  I call him a lot these days with all kinds of questions.  I may have found my independence, but I still need a little help now and then.

GravyMaster ~ Not Just For Gravy!

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

I will admit to not being a fan of gravy.  I prefer my turkey dry with lots of salt and my potatoes loaded down with butter and bacon bits, maybe even a little cheese.  I have never attempted to make gravy, so I never had the need to buy GravyMaster.

Until now.  You see, I discovered that this ingredient can be used for many things besides making gravy.  GravyMaster can be used to caramelize foods and help lock in their flavor, or you can add it to sauces to give them that little something extra.  With Christmas just two weeks away (how the heck did that happen?) I was searching online for new recipes, and I was not having much luck.  I wanted to make something new, but I decided to just give something old and traditional a new twist.  I decided to Master the meal and check out the GravyMaster website, and I found this recipe for Holiday Ham.  As a girl who has only ever put mustard on ham, I have to admit this glaze sounds delicious!

Holiday Ham

Servings: 16
Cook time: 15 minutes per pound
Prep time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup Dijon-style mustard
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed to measure
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon GravyMaster®
1 fully cooked ham (about 12 pounds)

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, combine mustard, vinegar, sugar, honey, oil, soy sauce, dry mustard and GravyMaster®.
2. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Place ham in open shallow roasting pan. Bake at 325° F. until meat thermometer registers 140° F., allowing about 15 minutes per pound.
5. Remove ham from oven 30 minutes before end of baking time.
6. Remove any rind.
7. Trim and smooth fat.
8. Score deeply in a diamond pattern.
9. Brush ham with glaze; return to oven.
10. Bake 30 minutes, brushing several times during baking with remaining glaze.
11. Serve immediately with remaining glaze, heated, on the side. Makes about 16 servings.

Not only does this recipe sound good, it seems like it is easy to do, which is important to me, because on holidays, I want to spend time with my family, not cooking.  If you are looking for new ways to use GravyMaster this Holiday season, check out their website, then come back and let me know which delicious recipe you are going to try!

Clothes For My Girls

I have been doing laundry all day.  The funny thing is, hardly any of it is mine.  Most of it belongs to my ten year old.  She has more clothes than the rest of us combined.  One of these days I have to find the time to go through her closet and her dresser and weed out all the stuff she has outgrown.  I have a friend who I give all her hand me downs to.  In fact, all my kids need to go through their clothes.  And with Christmas coming up, I know they will all get more clothes, so I really do need to get on top of this.  Or better yet, the kids have the week before Christmas off from school, so maybe I'll just get them to do it themselves.

I am sure once all the stuff that no longer fits is gone Brandi will need some new things.  I was checking out the tea collection wesite, and they have some really cute things.  I found this, and I think it would look adorable on Brandi.

For Kasi, this is perfect.

Yeah, if you know my fourteen at all, you know I'm kidding.  Kasi is all about tshirts and jeans.  She wouldn't be caught dead in something like this.  Now, if I was thinner, I would want it for myself!

Christmas In February

 I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about Christmas and how I am unable to get the kids all the things they really want, seeing as how I don't have much money this year.  I've told them that to make up for it, I will let them have some money when I get my taxes back in February to buy whatever they want.  The girls both want cell phones, but I am not sure that will be possible, since a gift like that comes with a monthly bill that I can not afford.  I was thinking I might try to talk them into laptops.  Ryan already has one, and the girls are constantly fighting over mine. Having their own would stop the fighting.

Of course I would do some research first to find the best deal.  There are Think Geek coupons online that I can use on all kinds of electronic devices and other things, and of course I am sure I could find a Dell coupon or two as well.  My computer is a Vaio, and I love it, but it cost me $600, and I am not going to be able to spend that much on my kids.  My mom has a Dell, and she has never had a problem with it.

Ryan is going to be harder to buy for.  Since he already has a laptop and a cell phone, it will be harder to find something that he wants.  He has been talking about an xbox, but if I get that, which I plan on doing, it would be for all of them, not just him.  Maybe I will just hand him a ThinkGeek promo code and let him decide what to get for himself.   I would give him a price limit, of course.  Otherwise, he's likey to spend my entire refund check.

Michael Masterson Can Show You How To Reach Your Goals

We all have things we need to work on in our lives.  Not one of us is perfect.  I know, that comes as a shock to some of you, because if you are like me, you really do think you are.

No, I'm kidding.  I know there are things I have to work on, the biggest one here lately is forgiveness.  A lot has changed in my life this past year, and most of it was not by my choice.  If you are a long time reader, you know that last February, my husband left.  When he walked out the door, he left me unemployed, without a drivers license, and basically, no hope for my future.  I can not tell you how thankful I was that I was already seeing a therapist, because without her, I do not know what I would have done. 

What I did was put on my big girl panties.  I got my license and a job within a few weeks, and I moved the kids and I to an apartment that I could afford on my own.  I learned how to support myself, and most importantly, how to depend on myself.  You see, I was dependent on other people all my life.  There was no reason for me to get my license because there was always someone to drive me where I needed to go.  Well, that I and my paralyzing fear of being behind the wheel.  I also didn't need to work, because even though we struggled financially, we made the decision for me to be home with my kids. 

I forgave my husband for leaving me.  A lot of people couldn't believe I did, but I knew right away that I couldn't live my life hating him.  I hate what he did to me, but I can't change it, so why let it consume me?  But, I am having a hard time forgiving the woman he left me for.  You see, she hasn't exactly been nice to my kids.  That is why I can't forgive her.  It's not the impact she had on my life that angers me but the impact she has on my kids lives. 

I found this video of Michael Masterson where he talks about achieving the goals, both professionally and personally, that you set for yourself.  You can even sign up for his Early To Rise program, which is an online email newsletter offering self help tips, online money making tips, goal setting, success secrets and healthier living advice.  I am going to sign up, because I need daily affirmations that I am doing the right things.  I want to be a success, not just professionally, but as a mom.  I also want to set a goal for the new year.  I know, you are rolling you eyes.  New Year's resolutions never last long, but I am going to try and forgive not just this particular woman, but all the people who have doubted me or negatively impacted my life this past year.  I have found happiness, and I don't want my unwillingness to forgive to get in the way of that. 

I love this new life I have created not just for myself, but for my kids as well. 

Christmas Money

I am desperately trying to come up with ways to make a little extra money in the next couple of weeks so that my kids will have a few more gifts under the tree Christmas morning.  I know there are odd jobs to be found, my problem is finding something I can fit into my already tight schedule.

A friend of mine does house cleaning, which sounds like it would be an easy way to make extra money, but I honestly don't know if I have it in me to clean a stranger's bathroom.  I mean, I used to have to clean the restrooms when I worked fast food, so I guess it's not that much different.  Right?  I also know someone who cleans office buildings at night, which would be okay if I could find someone to watch my kids.  There are places like green cleaning oklahoma city who hire people to clean commercial businesses, but I think I would want to find places on my own, that way I am paid directly.  Does anyone know if businesses do that?  Hire people off the streets to vacuum their floors and wash their windows?  You might need to have some type of license or something.

I know Christmas is only a little over two weeks away, so I am probably out of luck.  I do have gifts for the kids, though not as many as I would like.  The good thing is, none of my kids believe in Santa anymore, so they understand that I did the best I could.  In fact, Brandi found my stash of gifts and admitted to me that there wasn't a lot there.  When I told her I wished there was more, she said to me, and I quote, "Christmas is about family, not presents, so it's okay, mom".

I seriously have the sweetest kid in the world!

My Weight

I haven't really written anything lately about my weight.  Mostly because I seem to be at a standstill.  I am still about a hundred pounds lighter than I was a couple of years ago, but I haven't lost anything recently.  I am pretty proud of the fact that I haven't gained any of the weight back (except for about 3 pounds thanks to Thanksgiving) because those of you dieters know, losing weight for obese people hardly ever "sticks".  I can not tell you how many times I have lost 30 or 40 pounds only to gain back 50 or 60.  So keeping this weight off for almost 6 months is something to be proud of.

I know what it will take to lose the rest of this weight.  No, it's not going to be something as sinple as investing in bariatric products or starving myself.  What I need to do is start exercising again.  My problem is; there just are not enough hours in the day.  By the time I get home from work at night I am exhausted.  All I want to do is sit down, put my feet up, and be lazy.  It's a good thing the kids help out around the house, too, because I have been pretty slack in that department as well.

What I need to do is make myself commit to at least 30 minutes on the wii every day.  You wouldn't think this would be too hard because I love my wii fit.  But, like I said, I am in lazy mode these days.  I blame the weather.  It gets dark so early now, and by 7pm I am ready for bed.  Getting up at 5 every morning doesn't help, either.

What tricks do you use to stay motivated to exercise?

The Birthday Boo!

Quite a beauty, huh?

An Edible Ladybug

My daughter is obsessed with ladybugs.  She has been for years.  This year for her birthday she asked my mom to make her ladybug cupcakes, and I think she did an awesome job.  She has been baking cupcakes for a while now, and she is always coming up with new ideas.  My personal favorite are her chocolate cupcakes that she fills with peanut butter.  These were strawberry, and the ones that didn't have ladybugs on them were filled with a strawberry/chocolate filling.  I can not even begin to tell you how good they were.  Everyone loved them!  Thanks again mom!

Writing A Book

 I love reading other people's blog.  I don't have the time these days to comment on all the posts I read, but I do spend a lot of time reading.  A blog friend of mine recently went through the process of self publishing a book, and I wish I had the money to buy a copy.  The story sounds amazing, and as soon as Christmas is over and I have a little money to spend on myself I am getting a copy. 

I have always thought it would be fun to write a book.  I have several ideas running around in my head, but honestly, I don't think I have it in me to put the words on paper.  I read a lot.  In fact, I am always in the middle of something, whether it be a book or a magazine.  I always keep a book and magazine in my van for those times when I am waiting to be loaded and unloaded.  I know how descriptive writing needs to be, and to be honest, I just don't think I can do it.  I am a simple girl.  If the grass is green, it's green.  I can not make that simple statement into a paragraph in a book.  I would love it if someone would take my idea and write a book off of that, but I want no part of the actual writing process.

If you are interested in my friends book, called Jordan's Return, check out her blog.  It's All Stace, All The Time, and the link is over there in my sidebar.  On her blog she has links to her book's website, and to the many places where you can purchase the book online. 

Junk

 I may have mentioned this a time or two, but I love apartment living.  Last night, Brandi wanted to spend the night with her friend Brianna.  She has never spend the night with a friend before, but Brianna lives directly under us, so I knew I wouldn't have to get in my car and drive in the middle of the night to get her if she wanted to come home.  All she had to do was walk upstairs.  I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up this morning and realized that she was still gone.  I am very proud of her.

Another thing I love about the apartment is that we are all required to keep our stuff inside.  I have lived the past 16 years with a man who felt the need to keep everything.  My yards always looked like junk yards, and I hated it.  No matter how many times I told him he didn't need old pallets or tires, he insisted that he may find a use for them someday.  It used to drive me crazy!  I kept the inside of our homes beautiful, and I wanted the outside to look nice as well, but it never happened.  There were several times I thought about calling Sugar Land Junk removal to come and haul off everything while he was at work.  But, I never did. I just put up with it, because I was a good wife.

Now, I come home from work to a beautifully landscaped apartment complex.  I no longer have to look at used appliances and tools thrown all over my yard.  In fact, I don't even have a yard, and I am just fine with that. 

Weird

I got a letter in the mail recently that had me a little baffled.  It was address to my ex, which was weird since I only forwarded my own mail when I moved.  He told me to open it, and it was a letter from a collection agency about a car my ex had repossessed many, many years ago.  I was surprised that they were actually still trying to collect and even more surprised that they sent the letter to my address.

We have dealt with our fair share of collection calls in the years we were married.  I am not really sure what the legalities of his debt is now that we are separated, but none of it is in my name.  I have a feeling I might still be responsible since we were married at the time, but I'm not sure.  I wish there was a way to stop collection harassment for good.  I wish they would understand that if we had the money, we would have paid them.  

I have learned this year to live within my means, which is a lot easier to do since I am the only one responsible for my bills.  I no longer have to worry about my ex writing a check and forgetting to tell me, or assuming he paid a bill when he never did.  I won't have to worry about figuring out how to stop collection harassment California  because I have been able to keep all of my bills current.  I am hoping that sometimes in the next year or two I can trade my car in for something newer, but I am worried about adding a car payment to my monthly budget.  I might have to talk to my boss about getting a raise. 

Time

My job requires me to always know what time it is.  I am on a schedule most days, and making sure I get my deliveries where they need to be on time is very important.  The clock in my van is two minutes slow, which is kind of annoying, especially when those two minutes make a difference like they did today.  I thought I arrived somewhere before noon, when it was actually one minute after, and they refused to unload me until they got back from break at 1.  I went and ate Taco Bell, but it was a waste of an hour.  I hate when that happens.

I have a feeling you will suggest I just fix the time on the van clock, but I don't know how.  Trust me, I have tried several times to figure it out.  I think my best bet would be to invest in a watch for myself.  There are so many pretty ladies watches out there, I know I will have a hard time deciding what kind to get.  I used to have a gold one that had diamonds and amethysts around the face.  I loved that watch!  I still have it in my jewelry box, but the band is broken and it costs too much to have it fixed.  Plus, I need something a little more sturdy to wear to work.  I bang my hands and arms all the time on the van doors.  I know if I wear a delicate watch to work it will break within a week.

I'm thinking of getting one with a black leather band and a simple face.  Or maybe something purple.  I'm not sure, but I'll let you know when I decide!

Sending My Kids To Camp

I never went to camp as a kid.  Whenever I got bored during the summer months my mom would send me to my aunts house for a couple of weeks.  I loved spending time with my aunt, uncle, and cousins.  Even now, this particular aunt is my favorite.

The closest I ever came to going to camp was attending this weekly program that my elementary school offered for a few hours every day for a week.  I never had the experience of bunking in a cabin with other kids or swimming in a lake.  I wish I could let my kids experience what I didn't. 

I am sure they would love attending a Youth Summer Camp.  I was trying to figure out a way that they could attend Camp and I could squeeze in a vacation for myself at the same time.  This thinking led me to researching camps in New York.  I still have two sisters up north, and I would love to visit with them while my kids enjoyed some fun in the sun.  I want them to make friends with kids from other parts of the country who they can stay in touch with for years to come. I am sure there aren't many kids left who don't have a Facebook account. Isn't it funny how instead of saying I want them to be pen pals with their new found friends I talk about Facebook?  I remember a time, before computers, when you had to wait weeks for a response to a letter.  Nowadays, you can chat instantly online with people from all over the county.  Heck, you can chat with people all over the world. 

But that isn't my point.  My point is that I want my kids to have the camp experience that I never had.  I know they will enjoy it.

Accounts

I used to have a savings account attached to my checking account.  When my husband left back in February, I had to close it because it was sucking money out of my checking account.

Let me explain.  I signed up for a type of account where whenever I used my debit card, it would take the change (up to the nearest dollar) and transfer it to my checking account.  It was great for a while, but when money became tight, I had to have access to all of my money, and the bank started charging me when I would transfer the money back into my checking account.  So I closed the account.

These days I am still struggling with money.  That said, I want to open a savings account so that on the weeks when I do need a little extra cash, I will have it stashed away somewhere.  Plus, with tax refund time approaching, I know I will have some money to put aside into a savings account.  As I usually do, I headed to the internet to find some information on the best onl​ine savi​ngs acco​unts ​.  I found an article on a bank's website that discussed the benefits of interest rates and customer service, and to be honest, I am leaning towards opening a savings account with them. A few of their benefits include: no monthly fees, flexible access with ATM card, and the ability to link your savings account to other accounts for overdraft protection.  They are FDIC insured, and offer convenient online banking features.  The online banking is important to me, because I am obsessive about checking my balances and transferring money online, especially since I make quite a bit of money through paypal. 

I am hoping that by opening a savings account, I will be motivated to keep money in it.  It would be nice to not have to hit my dad up for cash on the weeks I just won't make it until Friday.

Top Droppers ~ November

Top Droppers

Rambling Thoughts ~ My rambling thoughts in a school I teach and learn.

 Comedy Plus ~ A place for a few laughs.

 Poet @ Jaybern ~ A poet strives to reinvent himself following a road traffic accident in 2008 in which he lost his old self.

 My Linux Today ~ My blog about linux and other computer information

 Seek No More ~ Seek No More is an online community whose main purpose is to provide a place where both experts and newbies can learn, interact and discuss business, career and entrepreneurial opportunities.

 Business Books ~ Buy Cheap Bargain Books Online on Cheapest Online Bookstore.

 Serian Man ~ Some thoughts on teaching and the exploration of the land of the hornbills, my beloved Sarawak, on the island of Borneo.

 Bible Examples ~ Practical lessons based on Bible examples.

 Thrifty Momma Ramblings ~ A blog about frugal living and tips as well as ways to make extra cash.

 Cooking Japanese Style ~ I'm a Home Cooker and Food Blogger. This is one of my passion to share Japanese Home Cooking Style to everyone around the world. Try some of the many recipe I have to share.

Thanks to all who come by and drop every day!