Book Report

Yep! Just finished another (time flies when you can't renew a book because someone has it on hold). Hope in a Jar, by Beth Harbison is about two best friends who make their way back to each other to remind each other the preciousness and importance of being true to yourself and your life. I really enjoyed it even though I had to read it in a hurry. Enjoy!

Coupon City!

Ever since I was little, I was inspired by my older sister to clip coupons. Every Sunday I couldn't wait to find the Sunday paper and tear into it, right past the funnies, and dump out ALL the coupons for the week. I would eagerly eat Sunday dinner and then grab my coupon folders (inherited from my sister when she went to college) and got to clipping! It was so fun, but more importantly, it was so important. You see, with those coupons, I saved my family money which in turn meant more money that could be spent on me (tee hee just kidding...maybe). But really, clipping coupons is the first step in saving money. When I first went to law school and really started living alone, I realized how much money I had been wasting by not investing the $.75 for a Sunday paper to clip the coupons so I went out and bought a cheap coupon holder (which are harder to find than you may think) and got to clipping. The key to clipping coupons is to be realistic. Are you really to going to buy 2 gallons of milk without wasting it? Doubtful unless you REALLY like milk, have a lot of kids or it's baking season. Clip only things you are going to buy and leave the rest. My mantra is, unless otherwise needed, I will only buy things I have coupons for (within reason) therefore, I skip over coupons for high fat favorites like cookies, cake, etc and only clip for things like fiber bars/cereals, yogurt, etc. However, for coupons to be effective, they must be readily available. Put them neatly into a coupon book and on a day you may go grocery shopping, pop it in your purse with your list. Speaking of which, NEVER EVER shop without a list...even if you think you know everything you need, you will ALWAYS get side tracked. The key to a good grocery list? Organization. Pick a day during the week, sit down and list everything you need. What works best for me is writing things we run out of during the week on a list on the fridge then, on Friday when I am by myself and not distracted, transferring that "running" list to a new paper and fill in anything else I may have forgotten. I even look up a good 5 recipes and list all the ingredients I will need to prepare those meals during the week (which I cook all on one day and freeze but that's another post). After completing the list, I take my glamorous coupon book and go through it item by item to find a coupon for it. Some items are what I call "coupon-able" meaning if I don't have it in my book there has to be one out there in cyberspace. Those items are usually things like diapers, juice, headache medicine, etc. I simply go to my fav brands website and look and 9 times out of 10 I will find a printable coupon. Excellent! I heart HEB because they have Meal Deals which comes with tons of free sh*t and combo locos. The best is finding something on sale that you have coupon for which can lead to the item being free or even the store giving YOU money back. Awesome! It sounds like a long, painful process, but once you get it down and look at your grocery receipt and see you have saved over $20 by just taking the time to be organized and dig for savings, you will know it's all worth it. Then you can take that $20 and blow it on food, clothes, whatever :) For great coupons, go to sites like Coupon.com that have printable coupons, visit your favorite brands websites and sign up for their email list (which is extra awesome because they send out free stuff sometimes) and watch for mailers. If you go shopping on Saturdays, go ahead and pick up the Sunday paper at the store, that way you dont have to pay for a subscription and you still get the same great coupons! Happy clipping :)

And a Middle Finger to You

I am hotly irritated. One of my pet peeves is when people say a whole bunch of words to basically say one thing. Get to the point people! If I can finish your sentence you are probably taking too long. Blah blah blah. Ugh! If you want me to do X, then just say, "will you please do x?" don’t say "well, after I saw ABC and then asked d about e then I figured f but then g was a possibility but did YOU even think about h? so now I think you need to do x..." I don’t have time for these needlessly long conversations... And for the record, I don’t give a hot damn how much you think I should or should not eat. Thank you very much. When your fat ass gets on a treadmill and loses over 60 pounds then we can talk but as for me? Obviously my formula is working so bug off...assholes. Ugh. I totally feel judged today...

Magic of Massage

So I was in the store the other day and saw one of these bad boys:

I was like O.M.G. Just imagine if I had one of those things in my office! I would heart going to work like everyday!

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely heart massages. If you haven’t had one, you must find one today. And don’t sign up for one of those 10 minute deals, to get great results you need at least 50-60 minutes; otherwise, you will just be longing for more when it’s over.

Massages are more than just a tool for the rich and famous. Massages are proven to lower blood pressure, improve circulation (for all those puffy, bloated people out there), lower heart rate (great for after a scary movie) and even boost the immune system! To have the ability to sit back and get one every day at home would be AWESOME! I first experienced my love for massage chairs when my sister bought by a massage chair attachment when I was pregnant. Talk about relief! It massaged...heated...vibrated. I was in l.o.v.e.

The above chair is by human touch, the maker of hundreds of massage chairs, and you don’t have to spend big bucks to get relief and deserved relaxation! Just look around and find something you like. Be sure to test it out first because it would be a major bummer to get it home and it turns out to be more frustrating then relaxing. In the end, I didn’t get that chair but I haven’t totally written it off yet. To get a message every day in the comfort of my own home? Would be nothing less than heaven. For more info, check out Massage Chairs

Book Report

This week, we brought home the Birkin (or read about it anyway). Bringing Home the Birkin, by Michael Tonello, is a very light and witty recount of Michael's ability and experiances of purchasing and reselling the highly sought after Birkin bag (I didn't even know this thing existed...so on another level). Just when you think things are going to get monotonous, something exciting happens and it even has quirky illustrations! Awesome! I give it two thumbs up for a great summer read!

Thankful for...

Today I am especially thankful for:

mmm pancakes, sausage, butter (now I choose margarine) and hot syrup...my mouth just waters thinking about it. And, contrary to popular belief, the ewwy-gooey goodness of pancakes is NOT THAT unhealthy...if you can stomach it without the butter and use a nice fat-free (and/or sugar free) syrup you are well on your way to calorie savings. But me? I indulge and choose to not eat anything else (unhealthy anyway) for the rest of the day...and do something to burn those carbs off (run, walk, run-walk)

Thankful for...

Today, I am thankful for:

yes, free stuff. Especially good, quality free stuff...especially when it's a surprise free. Ah yes, free. Discount is good but free is better!

Shutters

and not down your spine...haha no, but really, if your shutter blew off during the last hurricane or if you are looking to upgrade (like me)
vinyl shutters may be a good bet...I'm just throwing it out there folks.

Home Security Soap Box

I don't know about you, but at night, when I am home by myself (ok, so the kids are there but sleeping), I sometimes get a little scared. I know, I know but sometimes I hear things and it doesn't help that our back door was kicked in right before we moved into the house (though nothing was taken because everything was bolted down but alas) and then my car break-in...eh.

While not a lot of serious crimes have taken place around my house (that I know of), you can never be too safe. That's why I pay my house alarm bill promptly and love to hear the chime chime when I turn it on. Is it fail proof? Heck no, but at least I will get a 2 second warning before some sh*t goes down, and with the kids in the house, that's more than enough time for me to fly into their rooms and prepare to get all ninja on the intruder's as*.

Most recently, however, I have found a new use for the alarm. My son tends to sleepwalk sometimes and now he knows how to unlock and open the front door. It never really posed a problem until one day he went outside without permission looking for hubby. I began to think "what if that were to happen at night?" Needless to say, I had a freak-out session but quickly calmed down when I found our alarm has a door chime feature I could turn on...that way, if he went outside, I would so hear him.

Guys, all I am saying is that home security is important. Go to http://www.homesecuritychoice.com/ for more info on home security and how to protect your house and your family. I am from a small town and never even thought of a house alarm but all that has changed. Even if you have a home security system, make sure it's top of the line, linked to police and fire and you have all the proper permits. And don't be lazy, get up and turn the dang thing on. What's the use of having it if you aren't going to use it?

Now, if I could just find a way for my alarm to say "PROTECTED BY VIPER! STAND BACK!" That? Would be freakin awesome. http://www.homesecuritychoice.com/">home alarm

Thankful for...

Today, I am thankful for the ability to:

laugh. Let's face it, if you don't laugh about some things, you would be crying all the time. You would be on a one-way trip to insanity city. Laughing burns calories, increases endorphins and makes you feel good. I love to laugh but mostly I love to make people laugh (even if it's just myself) so go ahead, laugh at your situation. It may be ugly but even ugly things have a funny side! You know what really works? Looking in the mirror while you are crying...now that's some funny sh*t.

Book Report

Yes, I know, it's been a while. I have totally slipped on my book-reading roll but I finally managed to finish this one. Though it wasn't as funny as Such a Pretty Fat, Bright Lights Big Ass, by Jen Lancaster, is a nice, light, funny read. It's a memoir about Jen Lancaster's life in the big city of Chicago and you are guaranteed at least a chuckle on every page. I enjoyed it thoroughly though I wish I had had more time to concentrate on it.

Be forewarned, you may have to get on the hold list if you are going to check it out from the library...it's THAT popular (as are all of her books).

On to more reading! Wee!

Thankful for...

Today, I am thankful for:

ah yes, water. Pure, clean, (room temp) water. I used to barely drink any water...surely not enough to get through the day, but since I have committed to drinking the tasteless substance, I have noticed my skin is more moisturized, I have a little more energy and I reduce that nasty water weight every time I give into my "cheese fry" desires (and warm salty buttery bread sticks with Alfredo sauce...mmm). So, if you aren't drinking enough water, I am telling you, you are missing out! Go fill up a cup today! Cheers and Hooray! Make this a water-full day!

Pink Ribbon Gumballs!

Bubble Gum for a cause? Awesome!
Breast Cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. The term "breast cancer" refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. There are 4 stages of breast cancer, but, thankfully, many things can be done to avoid getting past stage 1. Regular checkups help tremendously with prevention so don’t neglect your yearly breast exam and contact your doctor if you feel something out of the ordinary.
An estimated 1 in 8 women get diagnosed with breast cancer each year. That number is staggering, but don’t panic. Your risk factor is determined by several variables including age. As you get older, your risk of breast cancer increases dramatically. (See more about risks and factors here.)
Breast cancer research has come a long way but more research needs to be completed for more preventive care. More research costs money, so many organizations sponsor fundraisers and charity events to fund research efforts.
For example, WBCA Pink Zone has started a "Pink Ribbon Gumballs" campaign and I think it's the best idea. Businesses, hospitals and, heck, households should get this cute machine under their roofs to support a GREAT cause. All profits from the machine will be used to support breast cancer research. How could you not help such a worthy cause? (and you get bubble gum. does it get any better than that?!)
Get more info at pink ribbon gumball machine

Thankful Series

For the rest of the month, I am going to post something I am thankful for. Of course I am thankful for God's love for me, my family, my husband, health, $$ (what little I have) and sanity (again, what little I have) but these are the other things I am thankful for...things you don't really think about too often that may not make the top 10 but are still on the list...don't judge me on my selections :)

For today, I am thankful for:

oh yes, hot ooey-gooey cheese fries with a side of ranch (the good ranch though). My favorite form of fat. Outback has the best cheese fries hands down but I will pretty much take anyone's as long as they are fresh with shredded cheese, not nacho (yes, there is a difference...again, don't judge me)

What's That Smell?!

As I was sitting in this afternoon’s meeting the strangest thing happened. As all conference rooms get, the conference room we were in was tight, hot and stuffy. With my pen poised to doodle and my mind already on "what’s for dinner" something hit me. Sniff. Sniff. Gag a little. "It smells like musty feet in here!" I quickly look down to the guy’s shoes next to me since he had previously showed me, with great pride, the penny loafers he has scored on EBay. "Is it those damn cheap shoes?" I wonder. But before I could pass judgment, I see the culprit. Out of the corner of my eye I see a nice stack of fat feet rubbing themselves nervously back and forth. The pleasantly plump lady sitting across from me had taken her shoes off! UGH! The guy next to me looked at me with an expression of SOS. The smell just got worse and worse. My throat started getting tight and everyone started making excuses to leave the room. "Need that file? No problem! Let me go get it!" "Did you hear that? Sounds like it came from outside, let me go investigate." Slowly people left and never returned leaving pens, folders and writing pads in their empty places. O.M.G. It smelt like burning Fritos! Note to self, please please please NEVER take your shoes off in public and avoid anyone you think may do so. Gag.

Local Events Calendar Widget

During the summer, parents scramble to plan the perfect summer. Whether that is to enroll their children in summer programs, summer school or just stock up the fridge, included in the equation is usually a fun family getaway. When I was growing up, my mom made it a point to take us somewhere during the summer so we could see the “world” (which usually amounted to nothing more than a little piece of Texas in all it’s glory). She would plan the trips to the tee. Each day a new observation and no down time. Though we drove everywhere (I wasn't introduced to an airplane until I was in middle school) my mom made sure our family events were cool, calm and collected (as much as she could with 3 young girls). It’s not too late to plan your family event. Whether it be vacation or just site seeing in your city, family time is extra important to help develop children’s minds and self-esteem. Besides all that, it’s just FUN! Below, I have included a widget you can use to find what’s going on in different states. Look something up and then go for it! Take off work. Peel yourself off your couch. Do something different for a change. Believe me, your children will remember and cherish it always.

Kids' Events
Kids' Activities


Daycare
Summer Camps

Critique This!

As many of you know, I am not great at taking any type of criticism, constructive or not so much. I am trying to do better. A few deep breaths here and there. Lots and lots of prayer. But what always starts running through my head is "who died and made you an expert? And who are you to be critiquing me?" Ugh. I know. I need to do better, but goodness. I don't judge you (not on purpose anyway) and I know people mean well but sometimes it's just nerve racking; especially when you can tell they are doing it, not so much to help you, but to make you look stupid. You know, when people tell you something and then give you that "you are a dumb as*" look. When I hear them talking, all I can think is "I want to slap the sh*t out of you"...yowzer that sends my emotions through the roof. Breathe O...Breathe

*Now that I think about it, maybe I'm that way because I got teased a lot when I was little so now I feel like people are always critiquing me and trying to take a whack at me somehow...the only difference is when I was little I cared and got really sad...now, not so much... I just get angry...really angry

WorkOut. Why?

After completing a totally dreaded workout yesterday, I showered and thought to myself "why do people call it 'workout'?" (yes, these are the weird and unexciting things I think of in the shower). What exactly are you working out? Is it the restructuring of fat that has easily groped around your body enveloping you in an simple and loving envelope of pleasantly plump lard? Or is it the work required to actually work yourself up to exercising and get through a complete routine without saying "F this, I'm going to watch TV with my BFFs Ben & Jerry"? Work. Out. Sounds more like a conscious decision to be unemployed to me...heh.

For the record, here are some good reasons to workout. blah blah. I personally get more excited about the Ben & Jerry reunion than busting a sweat doing arm curls and jumping jacks (but alas I do them all the same because Ben & Jerry aren't always so good to me these days; they always seems to linger around the midsection...eh)

Free Is Great!

So I just wanted to take the time out and give props to my free business card supplier, VistaPrint. These folks will give you a gang of cards for free! Just pay shipping. With tons of cute decorations and card ideas, it's a great place to get your business (or even school) needs started. They also have rubber stamps (which at one time I totally thought was something else) and address labels. It's really a one stop shop of awesomeness!

Check em out here. 250 Free Business Cards Offer CPC

Book Report

Not that I think the title fits the book all too well, it was an okay read. It's About Your Husband by Lauren Lipton is about a woman newly separated and new to New York who puts her detective skills (or lack thereof) to work for extra cash. In the end, she finds out something she never bargained for.

At some points in the book I was kinda like "get to the point" but otherwise it was an okay summer read though it was a little longer than the other books I have been reading. Good news though, the library just contacted me to let me know one of the Jen Lancaster books I had on hold is ready for pick up...YAY!

Moola Ops!

Face it, we all need a little extra moola...check it out to see if you can bring in some extra bucks!

What The Hell Was I Thinking?

I admit it. I was bored so I decided to move my blog to another site. What the hell was I thinking? I got there and got all types of confused and frustrated so I brought my happy go lucky as* right back over here where I belong...such a scary place...

Jacked Up

I know I know my background is jacked up. I have been searching for the right background all day but now my head just hurts and I am too sleepy to continue the search so until tomorrow world...

Top-Less

I am done. It's over. I throw in the towel. No more I say! Stop the madness! What is it I am going on and on about? These little sons of b*tches:
I either can find a top but no bottom or find a bottom but no top! I can NEVER find both. The top I find is always too little or isn't made with all the right curves. I have special tops for Ziploc, Glad and generic brands. Some have wide sides while others stay narrow. AARGH! Shoot me now! I give up! What is the use if I am going to end up covering it with foil anyway? And how the hell do I take a lunch to work covered in foil? That's just an accident waiting to happen. Every time I wash dishes it seems I lose one plastic bowl into the dishwasher abyss never to be recovered. I started with a brand new set of 10 (tops and bottoms), now i have 1 bottom and 2 tops....UGH! I'm so over it. And, yes, I do understand they have the kind where the top clips on the bottom of the bowl. I don't even have to tell you how long that will last after it's first washing...

And apparently they think this sh*t is a game...

A Tad Ungrateful Are We?

Over the last few weeks I have encountered a few people whom I would easily classify, in a non-judgmental manner, as ungrateful (defined as: showing no gratitude : making a poor return). For example, I have an intern who feels I should be basking in his presence; he feels we should be bowing at his feet, washing his toes and kissing his a**. I give him things to do and he tells me how trivial they are...since when are interns allowed to say "no"? Seriously? The little f-er tells me things like "I am slipping" "I am off my game" "he doesn't do administrative tasks" etc etc etc. I look at him and try to refrain from going all "who-the-hell-do-you-think-you-are" on his ass. For real dude? You are going to tell ME I am slipping? I am already what you want to be. I have been in this game for years. You wouldn't recognize a slip up if I pointed it out to you. A little cocky aren't we? Ugh. Here's a note to all future interns out there. Be grateful for the chance to learn and focus on the matter at hand. Don't be at your internship shooting the sh*t trying to look classy and talking about things no one cares about. You are here to do one thing and one thing only--learn. If you have come to play and draw a check please go work at Gymboree...UGH!

A New Dawn A New Day

Ah yes, it is a new day. Birds chirping, people smiling. Cars wizzing by...let us take this day and promise ourselves we won't do the following:

1. Curse anyone out
2. Wish we were rich (and/or famous)
3. Pick our nose
4. Work...I mean, not work at work
5. Mumble obscenities under our breath
6. Space out for a good 30 minutes
7. Wish we were at home
8. Roll our eyes
9. Ask ourselves how someone can be so "dumb"
10. Reap what we sow

Yes, the list is daunting and to tell you the truth, I have already messed up but maybe there is hope for you (fingers crossed).

Book Report

I just finished another great summer read! Rouse's 2nd book after America's Boy (see review in my earlier blog), this book is a very easy, witty and interesting read. Reading more like a novel than a memoir, it takes you through a rough but funny journey of "mommy pleasing." Rouse is required to decide whether to give up himself for the comfort of others or take a stand. Loved it!