Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween to All !
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Help!!! Help!!! What Should my Girl Scouts Sell at Rummage Sale?!?!
Anyways, now that that disclaimer is out of the way, I have a problem/question for you all to help me solve. Yes, I trust you all that much. I know you will come up with a solution to my dilemma.
So here goes:
As some of you know I am a Leader for a Girl Scout Troop at my daughters' old school. Yes, I did stay. I didn't quit on the girls, I luv them all too much! Anyways, we will be doing a craft fair as a troop, meaning that we'll be renting a space and then (hopefully) sell some stuff to make some $$$$$$$$$$$$ for our troop. So there's my problem..... WHAT SHOULD WE SELL?!?! The craft fair/Rummage sale will be 3 1/2 weeks from now, on the 22nd of November... so we only have 3 meetings to work on making items to sell.
So far we've thought of making those flower pens, which are pretty cheap to make and look really cute!!! And who doesn't need a pen, right??? Anyways, I'm looking for cheap, ummm that sounds bad, ok, I'm looking for inexpensive things that I can have my girls make to sell. I wouldn't like to waste too much money on supplies because there's no guarantee that we'll actually sell what we make. Although, whatever we don't sell, we've talked about donating to a homeless shelter, nursing home, their teachers or a hospital. Depending on what we have that didn't sell.
This will be a great business experience for the girls and I know they'll have a lot of fun working on this little project, but I wouldn't like the troop's bank account to go bankrupt if there's no assurance that we'll make the money back. So here's where you all step in.... Donate the money to buy the supplies , hahahaha. I'm just kidding again! Unless you're filthy rich, then I'm NOT kidding. No, even if you are filthy rich, I'm still kidding. All I want from you guys is your ideas as to what the girls can make so that we can sell. I have 3rd graders to 5th graders, although some of those 5th graders are pretty up there in age, if you know what I mean. Not very good studiers I assume. But we know what happens when we A$$ume, so I will assume no more, lol.
Anyways, we cannot sell food items. That is a no no! So bake sale is out of the question.... And although I would like to articulate some more on this here topic, this stupid computer just advised me that I have less than 5 minutes left. So I really got to end it here. Damn It! I really must go befriend that librarian...
Friday, October 24, 2008
Isn't It Funny How Fast This Year Has Flown on By?!?!?
Fast forward 9 months an dhere we are in October a.k.a the beginning og the End of The Year Celebrations. 2008 is almost over. Gone. Finito. And we are no longer in our tiny, cramped 2 bedroom apartment but in our very own house! There's no doubt that this year has been full of wonderful, wonderful blessings for me and my family. First and foremost, we are all alive & healthy. Sounds simple, huh? But I truly believe that that's something that too many of us take for granted on a daily basis. Just being able to wake up every morning next to the man I love. Being able to get up off of my bed and standing on my very own 2 feet. And then seeing my daughters be able to do the same, day in and day out, running around the house... singing, dancing, laughing, crying, fighting, basically driving me crazy!!! That is all the proof that I need that they are healthy, happy little girls and that is what I am most grateful for. All the rest is just icing on the cake. and thanks to God, this year, as gloomy as it may have seemed at one point, has provided us with soooooooo much frieking icing on the cake that WOW, I can be nothing but grateful. We have been able to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning our very own home. Not an apartment. Not a rented house. Not a leased house. But our very own house!!!!! OUR house!!! Never would I have imagined being so happy to actually pay a bill. Yes, I said it. I am ecstatic when I actually write a check toward the end of the month and put it in the mail because it's the payment toward the mortgage of our very own house! That is the best spent money ever!!! Just ask my girls and they will confirm that. My girls, my poor, poor girls. They're so good! They not only know, but understand, that since we now have a house payment, which also includes taxes, insurance, much larger bills, maintenance, etc. we have less cash to go around to do the fun little extras in life... And they're so good about accepting that. I kind of feel guilty. But whatever, with their very own room with brightly painted walls in their very own chosen colors, new furniture and bedding in there, that should be good consolation enough! Right?!?!?
Back to my point, here we are looking Halloween dead in the eye. We're less than 2 weeks away from it! Costumes, candy, trick or treating... I can't wait! Then of course comes Thanksgiving. Mmmmmmmmmmm, turkey.... Again, I can't wait (except for the part of me havin gto cook and all, but the end result is so worth it!) And then immediately following Thanksgiving comes one of my favorite holidays= BLACK FRIDAY!!!! Can I hear a WooHoo?!?!? What?!?!?! It's NOT a holiday???? Well it should be, lol... 'cause there's a party in my wallet that day!!! And then, the culmination of all holidays, the best of the best..... CHRISTMAS. The best day of the year, for many, many reasons I cannot even begin to cover here. And after that, we bid this wonderful year of 2008 farewell and again welcome in a new year, hoping and wishing for bigger and better things in 2009.
I'm stressing already! just thinking ahead about all these festivies that are so fast approaching. I feel like a deer caught in the headlights, just standing there staring straight ahead, knowing its coming my way, but yet I can do nothing but just stand here in awe...
My sister and friends already started buying Christamas gifts... Sh!t I haven't even gotten my girl's a Halloween costume!!! WT??? And you already jumped ahead 3 events?!?!?
Either I am the greated procrastinator in the world (after all I did buy my baby's costume last year 1 day before Halloween) or I like to live in the moment. Yeah, let's go with that one. It sounds more positive, don'tcha think??? LOL. Either way, this year is soon coming to an end. I just realized that and I am flabbergasted (ha!!! I bet you didn't realize that I knew such big words! Yeah, I can pop those out every once in a while, lol) So off I go to get started with the 1st End of Year Celebration a.k.a Halloween. Hopefully they still have costumes available for my girl's in their sizes, 'cause we don't want to reproduce last year's fiasco of me actually trying to make one myself. That was a joke!!! And no, I didn't keep my promise of learning to sew and be so good that they'd be begging me to make them their costume. Let's just say life gets in the way. Yup, either that, or I am in fact the world's best procrastinator. Judge for yourself!!!
lates!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Why Hello There !
I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack! And better than ever!!!!!!!
Just kidding, I'm not back, back! Just for a bit, here at the library, ugh! But better than ever, heck yeah! I thank you all for letting me know you miss me! I appreciate that more than you will ever know! Seriously, I am not just saying that. I really, really mean it. Thank You and I miss you guys and your blogs too! Like I said, my coffee has lost its wonderful flavor without you all by my side to read in the mornings.
Sooooooo many things have been happening people, in YOUR lives and MINE ! ! !
How the heck can that happen?!?!?
You mean the world keeps revolving & life goes on as normal even when I'm without internet?!?!? WT, who'd a thunk????
My sweet mommy was here visiting for 2 whole weeks!!! I just put her on the plane yesterday and I miss her already. And yes, I cried. I'm such a frieking crybaby. I can't believe I'm 28 and I still cry when my mommy leaves. How absolutely pathetic can I be?!?! While driving back home after dropping mom off, I turned to my lovely offspring and I was just consumed with this enormous love and sadness.... My mommy left! But I was so happy that she was able to come out and visit us. I got to hug her and sit on her lap! (yes, I'm 28 and I still sit on my mommy's lap. Just like I tell my girls, in the near future they will be 30 years old, but to me they'll still be mommy's little girls and that's how my mommy sees it too. I'm her baby!) I'm very thankful with God that she was finally able to see her baby daughter in her very 1st home with a wonderful husband and 2 wonderful girls. The complete package. And momma was proud! I know it and she told me so.
Thank you God for letting my mommy witness that. What more could a parent ask for than to see that her children are happy and doing ok for themselves??? and thank you for letting my girls spend some quality time with their grandma. Everything from attending Cheer Competitions, to practices, to having grandma help them put up a lemonade stand and going to school to eat lunch with them.
THANK YOU GOD for all the wonderful blessings you have given us!!! They are NOT taken for granted...
So mommy's now gone home and although I still don't have internet, I will now have more time to sneak over to the library every now and then to read up on you guys and write a post or two. So I'm half back, lol.....
But I AM better than ever!!!
just like wine baby......... just like wine!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Peek-A-Boo... I See You! For 1 hr at least, lol
I also want to let you all know that I love you all for the sympathetic comments. Please keep me and my internet in your prayers. Hopefully I can be up and running again soon, and I will no longer be dying a slow and painful death without internet...
In the meantime, I want to super duper thank a wonderful blogger, the one and only Mamarazzi from Dandelion Wishes. She has HONORED me with 2 super cute awards... The first one is the "I Big Red Puffy Heart Your Blog Award" and the second one is "Super Commenter Award" She absolutely rocks. I found her not too long ago, and I have been a stalker to her blog ever since day #1. If you've never been to her blog, you should seriously do so right now. You'll definitely be entertained! She's awesome!!!
And I would love to SHOW you the 2 awards she gave me, but when I tried to copy them to post on here, this is what I encountered, A little grey box pops up with the following statement:
"Umm, yeah... Hi! This is mamarazzi and you are like trying to copy off MY blog. Try asking PERMISSION and uh, shame on YOU! Seriously, NOT cool!"
Ha!ha!hahahahaha!!!! See, I told you she was funny! She seriously has a sense of humor you guys... So I will be asking her permission and passing on these cute awards, but that will have to be later my friends. This stupid library computer is about to kick me off sometime soon.... That, and there are people hovering around just waiting for their turn. Can't they see I have some important things to do on here?!?!? Like read blogs!!!!!!! lol
So until then, happy blogging!
And remember, I'm not dead, just MIA...........
=0D
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Suffering from Withdrawls
I am seriously going through withdrawls. I miss reading all my favorite blogs while drinking my most delicious cup of coffee every.single.morning. My coffe just doesn't taste the same without all of you there anymore.
I miss you all so much I just HAD to come down to the public library and type up a post to explain my absence. I love you all! I miss you all! I'm going crazy without my daily reads. But I have learned to always look at the positive sides of things, so I guess the positive of this is that my house is definitely a lot cleaner these days. It's a miracle what you can pull off when you're not busy reading or writing blogs =0D
Oh, and my lovely mother is flying in today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WoooooooHooooooooo!!! She'll be staying with us for 2 weeks! We are all ecstatic, and I'm sure she'll take much of my time away from you guys as well... But she's on a different time zone, so hopefully she'll sleep in and I can do my blogging in the early morning (when my internet is up that is) and only God knows when that will be!!!
Well my lovely Blogland Friends. you are all very much greatly missed. My mornings suck without you all to read, but I'm surviving. It's not pretty, but I am surviving. Hopefully we can get this internet thingy up and working soon. Until then, I'll be popping in every once in a while........
Friday, October 3, 2008
Dear Monkey, WHY?!?!?
Why, oh why, dear Monkey of mine are you so adamant about talking back to me? Is it the new craze with kids your age? Are you a rebel without a cause? Are you trying to test your limits with me? Are you pre-pmsing? WHAT???? I need to know. Seriouly, 'cause it's driving me crazy!!! You say you're not talking back, but you are. And again, it's driving me crazy!!! That is not like you! Not like you at all!!! Where is my sweet, "yes mommy" answering little girl??? I want her back...
And in case you are doubting ever talking back to me, let me just remind you of what happened yesterday. As you're walking upstairs to your room the following conversation between you and me takes place...
me: Monkey, take your backpack with you. You left it on the living room floor.
Monkey: I want to leave it there. I always do.
me: But it doesn't belong there. Come pick it up and take it to your room.
Monkey: But I told you. I always leave it there. I'll put it in the hall closet when I come back down.
me: (practically fuming at this point. Trying to be patient, but you're working on my last nerves right now!!!! After all, I've told you twice to do something, and you have talked back to me twice already... Here comes the 3rd one!) I didn't ask you if you always leave it here or not. I am TELLING you to come pick it up and take it with you! I clean all day long for you to just come home and leave a mess all over the house.... blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
Monkey: But I never take it upstairs. I always leave it in the hall closet.
me: Well then put it in the damn hall closet but don't leave it in the middle of the living room floor!!!
Then you cry 'cause I'm screaming at you . . . I'm sorry! I really, really am. I wish that I wouldn't lose my temper so easily and I wish that I didn't scream at you. I just don't know what to do... I'm seriously at a loss. I can't physically make you stand up and do what I just told you to do so maybe I think that raising my voice will make you understand that I mean what I'm saying. I don't know. But you'd think after FOUR times of telling you to do something, you'd listen. But you don't!
And this my dear Monkey is what is happening in our house lately on a daily basis. I have told you in person and I am telling you again in this letter. I do not like it!!!! I do not like you talking back to me, and I do not like that I lose my temper and then scream at you.... It seriously ruins my day. It makes me feel like a bad mother. And I don't like that feeling. I don't want to let you down.
I know I raised a good girl in you. You're absolutely awesome in each and every way possible. Shoot, you're most definitely awesome!!! You help me out around the house a lot, without me even asking you to !!! You always put all the groceries away when we go grocery shopping. Thank you!! I hate doing that, and you know it, that's why you do it! You come and help me when I'm cooking. You help your sister get ready in the morning and help her pick out her outfits. You get good grades at school. You always think of others before thinking of yourself. In fact, you're the one that made us start recycling. You're super nice, outgoing, super duper funny... the list could go on and on... You totally rock!!! And I've told you that many, many times. I love you so much!!! So much more than words can ever explain. I love you like only a mother's heart can love.
But right now, that sweet little baby girl of mine has 1 really great, big, fat flaw. Talking back to her mother. I wish I could understand why you are doing this. But I don't. I wish I could make it stop, but I can't. Only you can. So please Monkey, go back to being the good, respectful little girl that you've always been. We'll all be much happier this way. I promise you I will do my best to control my temper... I will try very, very hard not to scream at you. I just might make my tongue bleed from having to bite it to prevent myself from yelling, but that might just be something I'll have to do for you. Whatever it takes babe, I promise I will do my part. Please do yours. Let's make this a happy house again for both of us. No more screaming. No more talking back. No more attitude. I hope you seriously consider what I just said. After all, you will have more than enough time think about it, you know, since you've been grounded and all. Hopefully, the weekend you'll be spending in your room will be enough time to help you realize all that's going on. I sure hope so, 'cause I surely wouldn't want this to continue much longer. Plus, being grounded forever sounds like no fun either.
See babe, don't mess with mommy! At the end of the day, she has all the power to ground you, take the phone away, take the tv away, and make you stay inside all weekend long!!! And I'm not doing it to be mean. I'm doing this because I love you. You've seen for yourself how bad kids can get to be. You've been witness to it at school, so much so that you've come back home thanking me for being your mom. I told you you rocked girl! You've even thanked me for being your mother. What kid does that? Thinking back at that makes me realize that I've been doing something right. And I definitely want to keep it that way. You're my baby and I only want what's best for you. So think about it Monkey. Will you keep talking back?
Love always and forever,
Mommy
Thursday, October 2, 2008
My Loot from This Week at CVS
Lately it's been really hard on hubby. He's such a great worker, puts in lots and lots of overtime to make ends meet, but we are nonetheless pretty much living paycheck to paycheck right now. We're making ends meet, but very, very tightly. So much that I seriously considered NOT going to Target anymore for the necessary/ yet un-necessary items like Shampoo, Conditioner, deodorant, toilet paper, dishwashing detergent, toothpaste, razors, etc. They're necessary, yes I agree . . . I don't think hubby will appreciate if I completely stopped buying that and then I'd be stuck with stinky pits or stinky breath. The problem was that every single one of those type of trips meant at least $100.00 out the door. Easily! Why??? Well because Hubby has his own shampoo/conditioner & bodywash brand. I had my own shampoo/conditioner & bodywash brand. The girls have their own shampoo/conditioner & bodywash brand. Just in that alone it could easily be over $40.00, so anyways, I was considering it not a necessity at this moment to purchase name brand, but that we could survive off of the Dollar Store items. ( geeez, I know. I know. But I just had to find a way to make our money stretch) They have all those items for only $1.00 so that $40.00 bill could turn into $9.00 easy.
Yet, right before I actually went ahead and did that, I stumbled upon a little unknown secret that I've blogged about before. You can read it here. It's the miracle of coupon clipping combined with CVS specials and extrabucks back. I am soooooooooo loving CVS right now, because thanks to them I don't have to do the $1.00 items. I can continue to use name brand, and in many cases pay the same prices that the dollar store has... Yup, $1.00. Other cases, things are FREE!!! And other times, they're a bit more (but still at a great deal) so then it's up to me to decide wethere or not I want to get the item.
So I am sharing with you my 2nd shopping trip to CVS... I did a lot better than last week when I got a free deodorant. See, I told you! Even cheaper than the dollar store! Anyways, this is what I got...
The original total was $45.43. That is what you pay WITHOUT coupons. But me being the lady you hate to be behind in the cash register, I handed the cashier all my lovely coupons. After she scanned those, the total came down to $24.28. WOW ! ! ! That's a pretty good deal! I saved over $21.00 just by clipping coupons!!!! But wait, that's not all... CVS also gives you money back for buying certain things. I got a total of $14.79 extracare bucks back ! ! ! Those extracare bucks are just as good as money for all future purchases, and believe me I'll be using them next week when the new sales come out. So, all in all, taking into consideration the coupons and the money back, the total I paid for the above items was $9.49.
I am sooooooo not kidding you! Only $9.49 for 11 items. That's even cheaper than the dollar store!!!
So let me break it down for ya! ( and for most of you this might be boring, and think nah! this is too much trouble. And that's ok. Not all of us NEED to look for bargains. But I do, and I know I'm not the only one. So if I can help at least 1 person who might be going through what I'm going through, then it will be worth it!)
Fusion Razor w/batteries $1.00 (This alone costs more at regular price than what I spent for ALL these things combined!!!)
Sunsilk Shampoo $1.00
Sunsilk Mousse $1.00
Dawn Dishwashing Detergent .75 cents
Vaseline Men Cream $1.50
Vaseline Cream $1.50
Colgate Total $1.15
Colgate Total $1.15
Tide $3.99
Covergirl Foundation = FREE
Covergirl Eye Smoother = FREE
plus taxes of course... came out to about $13 bucks or so, then had $4.00 coupon for CVS so it came down to the $9.49..... Believe me, I will be at CVS every week ! I am loving the thrill of getting things at such great prices!!! I do need to find a way to get more coupons though!!! I'm thinking of buying an extra Sunday paper just to get some more.
Well, I hope I can help somebody with this information. It really is not that hard. This is only my 2nd trip to CVS and look at how great I did!!!
Happy Shopping!
*****For those of you without CVS, I'm sorry! There are great deals to be found there ... Walgreens does have something similar, I'm thinking about trying them also. I'm thinking about going today for some shampoo thing they have going on, I'll be sure to let you guys know if I do. I'm just a bit hesitant to doing Walgreens because they have a combo of MoneyBack offers (which are good!) but they also have MailIn Rebates (which are bad!) at least for me. I am #1 procrastinator. Most likely, that rebate will expire before I put it in the mail!!! So we'll see how that works.
And from my research (ha!ha! that sounds funny) I've found that different states have their own different type of stores, and many, many offer these type of promotions or something similar. I've read of some great deals and get all worked up and excited only to find out we don't have that store anywhere close to me, sooooooooooooo no good for me. But once I get the names of those stores, I will post them. Who knows, maybe those of you that don't have CVS might have one of those other great stores around.
And as for how to get started... Subscribe to your Sunday Newspaper, or just go out and buy it! EVERY Sunday!!! There should be at least 2, sometimes 3 packets of coupon inserts. Cut them out, ALL of them... Even if it's something you don't use or think you don't need. Why? Let me explain a real life situation.... haha, mine.
That sunsilk shampoo that I bought for $1.00. I don't use that brand, so I shouldn't clip the coupon. Right???? WRONG!!! I clipped it anyways. It was save $1.50 off any shampoo/conditioner. Then there was another $1.50 off any Sunsilk hair product. So wouldn't you know that CVS had them on sale for 2 sunsilk products/$7.00, PLUS you get $2.00 back for buying. So $7.00 was sale price, then apply the 2 coupons (1.50 + 1.50 = 3.00) it comes down to $4.00 for both, but then you get $2.00 back, so you pay $2.00 for 2 products, hence $1.00 each ! ! ! Let me tell you, my Monkey used that mousse on her beautiful hair this morning and mmmmmmmmmm, it smells good!!! And it was only $1.00!!!
Ok, so you have your coupons. Good. Now inside that same newspaper there should also be a CVS flyer with the weekly sales. Look it over and compare the sales to your coupons... It might take some time, but it is well worth it. A bit of advice, look very closely at all the ones that give money back. Those are usually the best deals, and if you have a coupon for that same product, even better. Once you know what you're getting, go on over to CVS and sign up for your ExtraCare Card. They'll give it to you on the spot. Then just do what you went for!!!!! You can start off small, like I did last week with 1 deodorant just to test the waters... fyi, they usually have 1 free item every week!!!
Please, if you go. let me know your deals! k?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
WW~ Makeover on Abandoned Building
And here's the AFTER pictures. Once my lovely Girl Scouts were done giving this old, abandoned building a makeover ! ! !
You like me! You really, really like me!!! PART 2
Yes, it's me... SuperMom...Not. You're in the right place.
Only now I'm looking even more beautiful and hotter than ever, don'tcha think?
Well, yesterday I had a makeover and then this morning I wake up to an award!!!!!!!
Coincidence??? Hmmmmmmmmmm...
Do you think my award was given to me because now, all of a sudden I'm hot?!?! I'm no longer a plain and boring looking blog with a generic template but now I'm looking gooooooood?!?!? Damn good!!! (pardon my french people) Well, let's ask, shall we?
Hey Diane,
Did you give me my award because I'm purdy now?!?!?
tehe! =0D
I'm just kidding!
Diane, you know I'm kidding!!!
My blogging buddy Diane from Diane's Addled Ramblings has so generously passed on to me this "One Sweet Blog Award" (and not because I'm purdy now, but just because I'm sweet! )Awwwwwwwwwwww people !!! She thinks I'm sweet ! ! ! !
Thank You Diane! I think you're sweet too! Not to mention very funny!
So I present to you my 2nd blog award ! ! !
Thank You!
Thank You!
Thank You!
I'm feeling the love! You like me! You really, really like me! Again, Thank You!
Now to pass on the love! I didn't see any rules on Diane's post, and she passed it on to 4 bloggers, so I guess I'll do the same! First off, to my super sweet blogging buddy Rachel over at Livin and Lovin. Can you tell I really, really like her? She got my 1st award too! ~ I'd also like to pass it along to Joy from wyattabbymom. She's so sweet! She's the one that honored me with my 1st award! See people, what goes around really does come around! ~ And then, I'd like to pass it along to Weeksie50 from Smile, It's Becky. Talk about sweet! She most definitely is, especially with her stories from her little kindergardeners! ~ And the last award goes to ( and let me tell you this is really hard! I love many, many, many different blogs out there, but I can only pass it on to 4) so the last one goes to Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. Talk about sweet! That barely even begins to describe her!
So those are 4 of the really sweet blogs that I love to read! Thank You again Diane for passing this sweet award on to me!
This SWEET blogger is signing off........... for now!
=0D