Gifts, Gifts...and Microscopes!

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Okay, well that's a good start. But ads don't always show the big deal (at least not without that announcer voice and the BIG words (such as FREE which is supposed to be a great word to say in an ad). The big deal is OpticsPlanet. They place to buy so many cool items. For me the science aspect of OpticsPlanet piqued my interest. I thought wow, a microscope for under fifty dollars! And not just one of those cheap wanna be kits that have the plastic "I wish I were a real microscope" scopes in them. Then there are telescopes. And my heart beats faster and faster.

But stepping back we can say, "think Christmas, Think Christmas." Who's on your list? A dad? That would be one of many great flashlights. Or is he a hunter needing a good scope? Or do you have a classy lady who wants a great pair of sunglasses? Well, whatever your needs they can be found at OpticsPlanet. Why buy from OpticsPlanet? How about great prices, free shipping on purchases over 29.95, or better yet, theres a guarantee! Don't take my word for it, go there and check out there Gift Guide and find something for everyone on your list!

This has been a sponsored post. Thank you for tuning in! Have a great day!

81. Half Jar of Peanut Butter

My mom likes peanut butter. In fact it is one of her five food groups. Sweets at the bottom, Peanut butter and chicken next, then cheerios and hot pockets, then desserts. Anyway, it is frustrating to me. She only eats Jif. And I agree with her that Jif is the best peanut butter (the only one worth eating). However, it isn't cheap. And the other day I found out why we go through so much peanut butter (usually two jars a week!) Well, she has a bowl of cheerios and half a jar of peanut butter. Not a little jar either, but the big one. The one that is as big as it gets unless you buy a can! A few days before that I saw her mix almost half a jar of peanut butter with half a jar of jam for her toast! It isn't cheap!

Johnny

Johnny Depp has played a great deal of great roles in his career. There are a number of unforgettable characters, everything from Edward Scissorhands, to the unforgettable Captain Jack Sparrow. He has played in a great deal of amazing movies in between, including Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Secret Window, and so many more. Of course when it comes to my favorites it is hands down his role as Jack Sparrow. It was like he was born to play the role of pirate, complete with makeup, teeth, and even a braided beard. But it was truly the heart that he brought to Jack that made Jack such a great character and such a wonderful person to watch. It was the depth he became Jack. With three Pirates movies under his belt, there are Johnny Depp fans, myself included who will wait on edge, hoping for more.

Even with a spectacular job with Pirates of the Caribbean and his role as Captain Jack Sparrow, there are other Depp movies worth mentioning. He has played some fantastic roles. My second favorite is his role as Sir James Matthew Barrie in Finding Neverland. It was here that he played a solemn distant type man, who connected with children and opened up in his search for Neverland. Even now I think about all the other Depp movies I have enjoyed and the characters he has brought to life for us. Edward Scissorhands follows Finding Neverland very closely as one of my favorites.

Of course this Christmas we get to see Johnny Depp in another of Tim Burton's movies. Tim Burton brings creepy and wonderful into an interesting and fantastic blend. Add Depp (as was done with A Corpse Bride) and you have a movie that can't be forgotten. This time Depp will be playing Sweeney Todd-The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site for more information, movie trailers, and updates! Of course, it gets better then that, because you can visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace.

80. Walked in On

My mom is one who knocks and then comes in. Rarely does she wait for the, "Come in". Well, this time it wasn't a, "Come in", but rather a, "Not Right Now." Well, she didn't hear it and came in anyway. Needless to say we were busy and not looking to have company in our room. Additionally, she calls my brother up right away to tell him that she walked in on us. He of course thought it was hilarious. (Of course she walked in on him while he was by himself, so he would think it funny).

I have no idea how far this will get, but I do know that with my brothers, I will not be able to live it down. We put a hook and eye on the door so we could keep Marcus out when one parent was in the room sleeping in or working on the computer and the other was in the living room with him. I think it is time we use it for more then just keeping Marcus out!

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79. Turkey Carcass

So, thanksgiving day we all went over to my in-laws for dinner. All of us. Even my mom. Dinner was over and we were picking out our leftovers. That is when my mom asked for the turkey carcass. Yep, she didn't want turkey, or mashed potatoes, or any of the other zillion food options that she had. She wanted the dead and picked off bird. Well, my mother in law gave it to her. Which she then boiled up for homemade noodles. Which is fine. Now there is a bowl of broth left over in the fridge. One that my husband doesn't want to touch. One that I don't know what to do with...what now?

What to Do?

My husband told me that he believed my mom could get a job. I doubted it, thinking that she couldn't control when she had a good day and when she had a bad making it impossible to hold down a job. Then she worked hard for four days in a row and that made me wonder. Could she really get a job? Something like a Walmart greeter or some other job where working hard doesn't necessarily involve standing, walking, or other physical activity a lot.

The answer is yes. Probably. Then the questions become more complicated. I know it is bad to wonder this, but I wonder how many issues that my mom has are just in her head. The brain is so powerful that we can make ourselves sick with our thoughts and beliefs. Has my mom done this? Has she gotten so depressed, so sick of the world that she hurts?

Then my fear becomes, "what if the judge things she can work?" She doesn't believe it and isn't going to believe it. Which means that right now, no matter what she won't be getting a job. Which means that she would be stuck here if she doesn't get disability.

Sorry

Sorry you all. It has been a crazy holiday weekend. Marcus was sick, then me, then Peter (and mom), then there was Thanksgiving and still no one was feeling all that great.

Anyway. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving day! I also hope that your holidays will be bright and that the year will round out just as you hoped it would.

Thanks for coming back to read my stuff. Thanks for everything!

Panic

We are rounding out 2007. It feels amazing that Thanksgiving is on Thursday. All the while it is frightening that this is November. My mom has lived with us since March. The hardest part has been dealing with the implications that has on my marriage. Considering the fact that her living with us has made her realize she doesn't like my husband, and at the same time has made my husband realize that he doesn't like her. It has been stressful to me none-the-less.

My biggest fear at this point is that she will be with us for a long time. I know that she doesn't really want to leave. She says that she doesn't really have very many issues about living with us. I don't know if that is true, or if it just feels safer here, or if she just likes the idea of her money going farther (after all if she paid to live here it would be cheaper then living on her own). I just don't want there to be any issues. I wish it were all peaceful. I wish that it would work out that she could live with us, but that just means more of this and of that. I wish that I could handle it. If I could handle it then Peter would.

But inside me is this panic that knows I can't handle it. I have so many issues. I don't know if it sis something that I could change or not. Definitely not if we remained in a tiny two bedroom apartment. But I feel this panic inside that says, what if she doesn't get her disability and she is stuck here forever? What then?

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78. Grandma Knows Best?

Marcus was sick all last night and most of this morning. Mom found out about it at two. She of course has a load of advice on taking care of him. Maybe because he had been throwing up for twelve hours before she came along with her advice, or maybe because we have been through this once before (thank goodness he doesn't get sick often), but I didn't feel like I needed her advice. I didn't feel like I should sit there and make sure that I am doing everything according to her ideals and wishes. After all, I am working one step at a time, with what I have.

Well, he hasn't thrown up in four hours and he is acting ready for a nap, but much better then he was. I would say that I did a decent job. But then I guess that's just me.

Expanding Your Space

Your house is feeling crowded, you don't have the space you need for your getaway type of feeling. Why not escape to the garden? There you can have your office, gym, or other getaway type of room. How? (I am asking for you since that is the question I had). Now you can have it with a beautiful, high quality garden building in the size you need to fit your purposes.

These garden offices or gyms or whatever you can think of to make it into (hot tub anyone) are beautiful. They are high quality (you can even find their specs listed on the website. They are extremely functional, and make a wonderful way to go. They add space, give you a retreat that is better then the house can offer, and allow you a wide variety of options.

The Garden Escape's website is fairly easy to navigate. It is a little frustrating to have to use the down arrows when their should be a way to have a longer page. It is however very informative, providing a lot of information to potential buyers, and aesthetically pleasing.

No matter what your retreat or getaway needs are, The Garden Escape can meet them. You can work to get the perfect look, the perfect size, and include whatever you need (even plumbing for saunas, hot tubs, or great bathrooms!)

This has been a sponsored post, thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

77. Sippy Cups

Sippy Cups are a mom's best friend? Well I don't know if that is how it works, but here is what has happened. My mom moved in as Marcus was switching to a cup (he used some times) and a sippy cup (which he used some times). She threw a fit about that sippy cup saying I was hindering his abilities and he was smarter then that, and all kinds of stuff.

In other words she trapped me into having to make sure he had help for a cup all the time. After six months I have reintroduced a sippy cup. After all he can take it with us. He can use it on the floor. And it can be set in a place where he can help himself to a drink when he is thirsty. It isn't full of juice very often. It sometimes has milk, but is usually just water. He happily drinks the water.

She still throws a fit. After all, this means he doesn't drink out of a glass by himself. Or does it? Well, he gets a tad confused when he drinks from a straw by himself, sometimes trying to tip the cup (especially if he isn't getting anything). However, for the most part he can drink from a cup (without a sippy attachment), he can drink from a straw, and from the sippy cup. So, to me he doesn't seem overly hindered.

But what do I know? I am just his mom.

Completely Different Totally Awesome

Well, Christmas is coming and we need to be working on getting gifts for everyone on the list. With that thought in mind, here is your one stop shopping for all the completely different and totally awesome gifts you could need. Oh it is true, you could get the same old gift as always, or you can work with something new, innovative, and awesome. LightWedge Reading Light for example.

Or, you could decorate a cake with these awesome color flame candles that actually produce colored flames in red, orange, purple, blue,and more! You could also give these as part of a gift for decorating birthday cakes or other special occasion cakes.

I must say, even if you aren't interested in shopping for unique and completely different gifts this site is fun to look around. They have all kinds of neat things. Just check out this Fotofalls Desktop Photo and Note Tree. They even have some things that are more useful (and a tad bit less fun), such as this coffee scoop that scoops your coffee with one side and closes the bag with the clip on the other side, now you have an easy way to keep your gourmet coffee!

Well, I need to stop playing around and get to bed. This has been a sponsored post, brought to you by a great and fun website (at least I had fun!). Thanks for tuning in and have a great one!

76. Even When She Gets Exactly What She Wants...

Even when she gets exactly what she wants she is full of complaints. Yesterday she wanted to go to Hobby Lobby (which is just up the block). So, during my exercise time I took her to Hobby Lobby. I pushed her, in her wheel chair, with the baby on her lap to Hobby Lobby and back again. Then we went out to eat. She wanted to go to the new pizza buffet in town called Pizza Central. So, we went to Pizza Central for dinner.

The whole time she complained about their sauce and how she didn't like it. All the way home she complained about it, after all it had some ingredient that she didn't like. Well, gee wiz. What now? Even when she gets what she wants, she still complains.

Are You Thinking Christmas Yet?

Are you thinking Christmas yet? Have you gotten all of your family shopping done? Everything bought and ready for wrapping? I didn't think so. With that I was checking out christmascouponcodes.com where they have a couple of Top 10 Christmas Gifts lists of things you can get your family or your kids that are on sale there through their coupon site. There are some interesting ideas. First place for families are cookies, which are certainly good, I am just not sure that they count if they aren't made by you. I think giving cookies is supposed to be because you and the rest of your family took the time to slave over the batters and doughs.

I particularly like number six. Which is Amaryllis bulbs from a nursery. First of all growing these flowers can be so much fun. When they grow flowers they are beautiful, and this bulb being from a nursery makes it more likely to be old enough and healthy enough to have flowers without all the work of trying to nurture them into existence or waiting for a couple of years (which requires knowing how to take care of them between growing seasons).

Well, whatever it is that you like to give. You should check out the Top 10 Christmas Gifts if only for a laugh and some great brainstorming ideas.

This has been a sponsored post. Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

75. Potty Training

My son is 16 months. He is just starting to talk and to toddle around. Well, my mom thinks it is now time to start potty training with him. Get him a little potty so he can practice and follow me into the bathroom and work with him from there. But there is a huge (HUGE) problem with that idea. We don't have a full size bathroom. My mom has that one. We have the master which is more like a small closet with a toilet and a tub in it (the sink is in our bedroom). There is no place for a “potty” for Marcus. There is no place for a small trash can or anything like that. So, unless she wants the baby going in her bathroom, then I am not sure what she expects me to do!

74. The Heat

It has been chilly in here. I love living in Texas, where it is November 15th and today is the first day that the heat has been on at all. Of course that is because I have refused to turn it on when mom or my husband wants it on. Here is the big issue. When she is cold she wants the heat on. When she is hot she wants the air on. She wants us to flip back and forth with the weather conditions and with how warm it is in here. Albeit it hasn't been warmer then seventy three in here all month, or colder then sixty three. Although it has felt really chilly. Yesterday Peter wanted the heat on, but the window in my mom's room was open and letting cold air in. Today, Peter turned the heat on because he was really cold.

Where to find a balance? There is no such thing when there are two masters to a home. She won't give up that title even though she is now in our home. She doesn't respect me or Peter which means that she wants it her way, no matter what.

A Lifetime of Savings

Okay, so the term "A Lifetime of Savings" might just be a little exaggeration. However, with the holidays upon us (yep, this late date means they are upon us), it is a great thing to save. This is especially true when we can find savings on things we buy on a regular basis, or are planning to buy this holiday season. What better way to do that then with a Coupon site that provides coupons to places we already shop. There are the everyday ones such as Office Depot coupons, Old Navy Coupons, and even Eddie Bauer Coupons. Then there are the special occasion shopping. New baby coming, or baby's first Christmas this year then hit up BabyCenter Coupons, a great place to shop for all things baby, and now you can use the coupons to save money doing it. Plus there are other great stores such as Disney and PetsMart. Really great deals on all of your shopping. What could be better then that?

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73. The Shower

Cleanliness is a good thing, there is no doubt. However there can be too much showering. This is usually true when you ask the person who is paying to buy the water and to heat it up, and the showers are often. Well mom is showering tow and three times a day. She does it once at night (while we are sleeping), once in the morning, usually around 5:30-6 am, and then sometimes she takes a shower around ten ish.

It just feels expensive. Like we could have three people showering. We would have to stop showering to balance it all out. Three adults, three daily showers. If three were the max then my mom could take her three showers and my husband and I could skip them. On the day that she takes only two that's the day one of us can get clean. This of course would be a much smellier policy!

Bloggerwave

As many of you know, I am always looking for more and more opportunites to make money. I desire to be a problogger and think that anyone who wants to make money and stay home should give it a try. Well, here is another resource for just that! Bloggerwave is now available to people of all countries (though based out of Europe). They will give you opportunities and you can blog about the ones you want. With that said you can make money with these sponsored posts. I have not had a lot of experience with them (this being my first sponsored posts), but from what I can tell they are very personal able, set up fairly well, and have an easy to use system.

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72. We Never Take Her Places

My mom complains that we never take her places, that she never has the opportunity to meet people or do things. But it is probably better said that we never offer to take her places she wants to go. Just five seconds ago I asked if she wanted to go to church with us on Sunday morning. After all she would be able to get out, meet people, do something, and go! But, no. She doesn't mean that! Considering that is our only non-family related socialization I am not sure what she is expecting us to do, but apparently something.

71. Where Have You Been?

This is a good question to ask your sixteen year old daughter when she leaves before you get up. But it drives me crazy now that I am twenty-four and living under my own roof. It would be one thing if I was twenty-four and living under her roof, but this is my house. Worse then that, if we go somewhere without her and she finds out it was somewhere she would have liked to have gone she gets mad at us and complains. After all today we went to IHOP, but we left at eleven and she still wasn't awake. So, should I feel guilty that we didn't take her?

She would say yes. After all that means she didn't get to eat out and we did. She thinks that she should always get to when we do. I miss family being me and my husband and our son. I don't know if that is just me being selfish, it probably is, but sometimes it would be nice. Nice and easier.

So, where have you been?

70. The Kitchen

Yesterday the dishes weren't done. They were neatly piled in the sink, waiting to be rinsed and tossed in the dishwasher. My mom felt good, so she decided she would help by "doing the dishes". Her definition of doing the dishes is to rinse them all off and pile them on the two inches of apartment kitchen counter space that we have. So, when I went to make lunch, there was no where to put anything. Top it all of she was still in there so I could start putting them in the dish washer. I had to wait, until she was done. Which always takes awhile because she will stand and do it for a little while and then go sit down and then start the process over.

I think it is wonderful that she wants to help. But there are other things she could do which wouldn't make it feel like the mess is growing out of proportions and taking over the space I need to work in. It was completely frustrating.

But then sometimes it feels that that is how she forces me to do what she wants, since she had already asked when I was going to do the dishes (twice). This way they get done. They have to get done (they are piled up everywhere waiting o go in the dishwasher.

Anyway...just till (March?!?).

Michigan to Wisconsing 3am

I am one of those people who fall asleep at the wheel. I did it once on a short one and a half hour trip from Lansing, Michigan to Grand Rapids, Michigan. I totaled my mom's car that night hitting a semi truck. This makes me weary of driving at night. But sometimes it can't be avoided. We drove from Michigan to Wisconsin ( a nine hour drive) in the middle of the night this past March. I did really well, until that last forty five minutes of the trip. It was three am, my mom who was supposed to be keeping me awake had fallen asleep, and so was our baby. It was foggy, dark, and in the middle of no where. The fog was the type that seemed alive and was thick and dangerous. My eyes felt so heavy. I felt as if I had to fight my way through the fog (and the sleep) in order to make it home without snoozing. I did it. It was hard work.

Of course that fog was nothing compared to what the people in Stephen King's new movie have to face. The Mist by Stephen King is coming out. The characters in this movie really do have to survive the fog (or mist if you wish) and they have to fight through it in order to do that. The Mist is full of unworldly creatures that attack.

Being a Stephen King fan (and one who just enjoys horror movies) I was excited to see this new trailer. You should check out the trailer, and of course the movie! Enjoy a night out with someone who's hand you can hold!

69. Space

Space is an issue around here. Living in a two bedroom with three adults and a fifteen month old makes it for tight headquarters. Our room is like a mini apartment that is closing in on us. After all the baby sleeps in our walk in closet, so we had to buy a wardrobe. Mom's wheelchair, walker, and rat take up a large space in the living room, which means that the desk is in here. We have a tv in here because we were afraid that having one in the living room meant having one on all the time. Our tv doesn't get any channels and is used for movie watching and game playing alone. Our full size bed takes up the last remaining wall and there is a few feet in the middle. Next weekend we are moving a dresser in here to try and help with out storage needs and have a place to put things that keeps the baby out of them.

My mom has the bathroom (we have a little tiny bathroom here in the master bath), plus a walk in closet, and a bedroom (12 x 12). Then there is the linen closet, a few things in the outdoor storage, most of the cupboards in the kitchen, and of course the space in the living room. When she moves out our two bedroom, two bath, 1000 Square feet apartment will feel huge! Well, maybe not huge, but big none the less.

Becoming a New York Bestselling Author

Being a writer is hard work. There are an uncountable number of men and women who have felt the tug of words, but were unable to do much with it. The internet has plenty of proof, as so many different people try and get published, some self publishing, others in search of a publisher. But getting published isn't enough. Many published authors remain on the "never heard of them" list. They don't make a lot of money and still have to fight to publish that second book.

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This has been a sponsored post. Thank you for tuning in, have a great day, and don't forget to check out the website that will show you how to get on the Best Sellers list!

An Update

Lots has happened in my life in the last two years. Of course my mom has brought to light a few things that she would like see happen the next few months. She has decided that she doesn't really want to move back to Michigan. She would like to live around here, near us, near her only biological grandchild. Then yesterday my brother asked if he and one of his buddies could stay here while they got jobs, found a place to live, and then moved his girlfriend/fiance and her four kids down from Michigan.

This does a few things. First, if mom stays around here I can help make sure she is all right. If Joel comes down then him and Mari can help me do that and it would be a sharing of the responsibility, which sounds wonderful. No matter what issues I have with my mom, and particularly what issues I have with her living here, this isn't quite the same as having issues with her all together.

I really miss having her as my friend, which would be something that I could do more easily if I could go visit her or she could visit me. Maybe life will turn out all right after all?

toothpaste!

Being young (24) I can say this and still remember it. I had great teeth with no issues growing up, all through junior high and high school. Then it happened. When I was nineteen the dentist filled my first cavity. To this day that is the only cavity I have had, but it has caused me pain and a few other issues. The biggest issue is the fact that since it has been filled it (and seemingly the teeth around it) are very sensitive to hot and/or cold. It has been something that I have never fixed, after all the few sensitive toothpastes I have used have never worked. I have even tried this mouth wash that I found once, which tasted horrible and didn't seem to do anything.

It has been a week since I received Biotene Sensitive in the mail. In that weeks time I have discovered a lot of things. First of all (and something really near to my heart) this tooth product (it is rather liquidy) doesn't taste bad. Second of all (and truly more important) it works. If I would have had it five years ago then I wouldn't be here to tell you that my sensitivity has drastically gone down in just one week. Plus this product leaves your mouth feeling squeaky clean and overall great.

Biotene does't just mask the problems either, it really truly resolves them. Their one of a kind formula actually resolves sensitivity issues! Plus it fights cavities and includes ingredients that resolve dry mouth. This will change the way you look at sensitive toothpaste forever!

One last note, my mom has been trying it along with me and she likes it even more then I do. She has a dry mouth problem and really super sensitive teeth. Yesterday she had a milkshake without the pain! Plus, no more dry mouth!

68. The Weather

The weather has been a little flip floppy here in Midland, Texas. Though who can complain, my brother said it is supposed to snow today in Michigan. But Monday it was 89 during the day and around 65 at night, Tuesday it was 59 and cold last night (it says it is 41 right now), Today it is supposed to be 79. What this means is that temperature control in the house is crazy. Between the weather and the apartments around us using heat one day and air the next. Well, that is what my mom wants us to do.

I love the idea of having an entire month off from the electricity bill being over 100 dollars. But this means that when it gets up to 89 during the day it is warm in here and when it gets down in the 30's at night it gets a little cold in here. She would like to see us turn the air on when it is warm and the heat on when it is cold. How frustrating is that? After all, we come from Michigan and it being 68 in here (which I can point out isn't very far from it being 75 with the air on) is plenty warm enough!

The Time is Running Toward Us

Fall is always like this. It is as if time speeds up for October, November, and December. November has begun and before you can blink it will be rounding toward the end of it. It isn't something that one can stop or even slow down. It is just the way of life. Whether we wish time to slow down or to hurry up, Christmas will be here in no time. It may seem early to prepare for holiday rushes and gifts for all your loved ones, but it isn't and now is the perfect time.

Black Friday is a great time to prepare for all of the holiday rushes, and what better way to do it then to save money, and do your Black Friday shopping all at home in the comfort and convince of your pajamas. black-friday.net will let you do just that. You can start preparing for the sales right now. Figuring out what you need, who you are buying for, and how you can put the biggest sales day of the year to great use.

I know I am...After all with eight brother and sister-in-laws...plus my own family...we have a great need for savings!

This has been a sponsored post, brought to you by black-friday.net the place where you can save a bundle! Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you have a great day!

67. Insults 101

Today, my mom told me I don't spend enough time with my son. She did it in a way that was rather rude, and very insulting. My first response is, how do you know, you sleep all day. She has no idea what we do, when we do it, or even where. She just feels that she is or was a better mother then I will ever be. She talks to be about what a bitch I was when I was seven. It just hurts. After all knowing that your mother didn't like you doesn't make you feel good about who you were and who you have become.

I don't know why I can't get her voice out of my head. No matter what, I just feel trapped. Trapped in this hell. My husband is always upset because he doesn't feel like he is in control, my mom is always coming to me about things that she should be going to him about, and top it all of she thinks I am a bad mom.

It makes me wish....

Taking It Higher Then Ever Before

When it comes to education and learning it is best if a child loves to learn. Your child can love to learn as much as mine. It is simple. Get your child enrolled in a Score Education Center where they are spending one on one time with an Innovative Tutor. If you do it before your child has issues, you will give them a boost. One that will make learning fun, and keep it fun. There is a natural progression in schools today. Preschool, Kindergarten, and usually first grade are fun. From then on, things go down hill. Learning is supposed to be fun and rewarding, but along the way it becomes a trial and often a difficult process, one that makes us shy away from learning. Most college students today, don't learn anything, they just go through the motions. It doesn't have to be that way for our children. They can get help, before they forget how much fun learning can be. For if learning is fun, they will love to do it.

Thank you for stopping by, and for checking out out sponsored post. We will be bringing you more posts (both sponsored and true to the heart) soon, so stop by and check us out again. Thanks, and have a great day!

66. Charlie

The story begins one chilly fall day (in Michigan) about two years ago. There were a few flurries in the air and all of life was great. We were visiting the pet store, a place I loved to go. We needed food for "the girls", a bright, happy, and fun trio of female rats. While checking out the "feeder rats" (those there to feed to snakes) I found an adorable little tiny rat in the corner. He was the smallest rat in the bin and seemed to say, "protect me" since all of the other rats would climb on top of him when I started poking around. Charlie was unusual because he was a rex and a dumbo among a dozen and a half normal gray and whites. Being a rex he had very scruffy fur, and curly whiskers. Being a dumbo he had his ears on the side of his head, lower and larger then normal rats. Wish his white fur, tiny size, and interesting features he reminded me of a little sheep. A little sheep who I thought was a girl. So, through the chilly air we cuddled his little box, trying to help him stay warm (after all he had been on the bottom of a rat pile), and brought him home, but first not without stopping at my mom's (who lived in the neighboring apartment complex). She seemed to fall in love with "her" and started calling "her" Charlie. I kept the then nameless rat to itself for a couple of days, just in case. It didn't seem to have any health issues, and so I added a rat to its cage. Normally quarinteen of a new rat goes on thirty to sixty days, but it was so small that it couldn't stay warm. My girl Althea liked the baby well enough and cuddled with him to keep warm. It was about two, to three weeks later that his balls dropped. Even before they had done so, and calling him a girl was definitely out, we had started calling him Charlie, but now it became official.

Charlie then got a new cage, and was separated from the girls. I called around and found out that getting him "fixed" so he could move in with my girls was going to be about $125. I paid three dollars for the rat, and we didn't have enough to spend that much on him. My mom took him. Charlie became her rat.

So, why are we talking about him now? He is here, in our living room. He is one of the sweetest rats I have ever met. Loving and calm. He loves my fifteen month old son, is gentle and sweet with him (even when he pulls the treats away). I have tried to avoid becoming attached to him. After all he isn't my rat anymore. But she hasn't been taking care of him regularly. She has been allowing him to be passed over on days that she doesn't feel well. She has been skipping feeding, changing his bedding, and even spending time with him! I don't want to do it, him becoming attached to me and me to him only to have him move out, but what choice do I have?

Metal Cabinets In Your Kitchen?

Would you put metal cabinets in your kitchen?

The first thought that comes to mind is horror. Why would one do that to the kitchen? A place where warmth is something that you seek? A place where you will undoubtedly spend a good portion of your at home time (whether cooking, nuking in the microwave, or hunting through the refrigerator). Now I have been to www.carguygarage.com and they have some great storage options and great garage options, however I am still doubtful about putting the cabinets in the kitchen. It is true, they are strong, come in a wide variety of finishes, and even in colors. But to make them feel warm and homey isn't going to be easy. Plus matching them to a counter top, flooring, appliances, and curtains is going to be way harder then any kitchen remodel that I have ever seen.

On the other hand, there are some really nice options here. Check out these, they might look nice in a modern kitchen.

There would be only one other issue. If one chooses to go with nice metal cabinets in their kitchen (instead of in their garage), what does this do to the resale value of a home. Usually your kitchen is one of the better selling points (if you have a good one) or one of your bigger hurting points (if it is a terrible one). Making the choice to add metal cabinets might be a big downer on your homes value. I would definitely want to know that one before deciding on anything this untraditional.

This has been a sponsored post from www.carguygarage.com (a place where everyone is welcome including the ladies, a place where storage needs and garage needs can be easily solved). Thank you for visiting, and come back again some time soon. Have a great day!

65. Dealing

The hardest part of having my mom here isn't how it makes me feel. It isn't the fact that we clash (as people with similar personalities so often do). It isn't that her depression adds to my own (naturally problematic depression that I really don't want to take medication for). It isn't the fact that she wants things done her way all of the time, or that she has bad habits that she keeps trying to teach my son (chocolate milk and hot cocoa in one day? for a 15 month old?).

It is the fact that it bothers my husband so. It wouldn't be bad if he didn't care. But because she has no respect for him or that this is his household or that he works hard for his money (which she likes to spend so regularly). It makes him depressed and moody. He wishes he wouldn't have let her come here in the first place. She had a doctor, insurance of a sort (getting her more medical help then she has been), and an apartment. She had a housing grant that paid all but thirteen dollars of her rent. If only we had found a way for her to stay there. Of course her utilities were expensive and she had no money. But had she stayed there we wouldn't be having all the issues we are having now. Of course in Michigan she wouldn't have seen a judge yet, but at least she wouldn't be struggling to see a doctor, trying to get help, and living off of us in such a way that it puts pressure and strain on my young marriage.

Maybe it is the item that will strengthen us for all time. Both of us walked into this marriage believing that divorce wasn't a real option. No matter what it was a tooth and nail fight to the finish. Divorce is the easy out, and when we said our vows, we didn't think there ever would be an out. Two years later, one kid later, three states later, and seven months down with my mom as part of our household we still feel the same way. there is something to be said when the vows we took, hold through this. And of course, there is the fact that once you have gone through a few rough "snow storms" nothing can faze you.

Lap Band

At first I didn't think that I would take this sponsored post. Being a "morbidly obese" person and known several others who fell into this category I have found out a lot about gastric bypass. Gastric bypass surgery always seemed like taking too big of a risk and doing a lot of damage to your body to force yourself to change your bad habits (over eating, consuming large amounts of sugar). However, I have checked out Dr. Collier's web site and all the information that it has about lap band surgery. Lap band surgery places a band around the stomach. There is no cutting, rerouting, and a lot less danger (plus it is reversible). It gives you the help that you need to make the changes that can save your life, bring you into a healthier lifestyle. So if you have struggled to make a change and haven't then check out his site. If you are in the Houston, Texas are (as I am) then Dr. Collier would be a great doctor to check out for your houston lap band surgeon.

This has been a sponsored post, thank you for visiting, please come again and have a great day!

Fair

Fair is one of those words we used a lot as a kid, back when we still thought life should be fair and we whined with the hope that we could some how change the things in life that weren't fair. My mom was one of those who championed the phrase, "well, life just isn't fair, now is it." I hated that. I hated having it rubbed in my face that life sucked.

Today, I want to be that little kid again. I want to whine and cry about how life isn't fair. I know that's ridiculous, after all I do visit reality occasionally. But gee wiz couldn't we find a way to even things out for everyone? Like the automobile issue. American standard says a two parent family should have two cars. Why is it then that there are families with two drivers and three cars, or three drivers and four cars? But then, those who have worked hard to make something would feel that it was unfair to redistribute.

Ah, life. Why do we bother having the English word "fair"?

The Right Price

Finding presents at the lowest price isn't that easy to do. Lets face it there are loads of places we can shop out there and often they claim to have the lowest price. For this years holidays, I am planning on buying a lot of gifts, but I don't just want the lowest price, I need the lowest price. It is, with this thought in mind that websites that help me Save Buckets with great price comparison, are right up my alley. Yep, that's exactly what I need. Great products, easy to use format, and the lowest price. This website takes it a step farther. If you see a product you want, but you would like it at a lower price, they will let you mark it with your price and they will e-mail you if they find it at that price. What more could you ask for?


This has been a sponsored post, thank you for tuning in, and have a great day.

GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST HAUNTS INDEBTED BRITS

- New price saving site launches to save Brits up to 20% this Christmas -

As the nation approaches the final countdown to Christmas, new research rings alarm bells over the financial impact of Christmas in credit crunch Britain. The research from the new money saving website Savebuckets.com reveals that as Brits prepare for Christmas, many are still paying off last year’s festive spending.

With 41 per cent of Britons paying for Christmas on credit last year, almost one in five are still paying for last year’s festivities (17%), fewer than one in three having cleared their Christmas debts when their January credit card bill arrived (29%).

Following a year of consumer confidence in 2006, Christmas spending soared 52 per cent in two years (from an average £548 per adult in 2004* to £837 per adult in 2006), with over one in five Brits spending over £1,000 on Christmas last year (22%). This year, with spending power at its lowest level for 10 years**, consumers are feeling the financial hangover from a more confident Christmas enjoyed on the credit card and loans.

Alarmingly, it is cash strapped youngsters and low income earners who, having spent the most on last Christmas, are most likely to be feeling the repercussions of last year’s spending spree (see figures below).

The research into the financial impacts of last Christmas amongst a GB representative sample of 2,000 British adults was carried out by the new money savings website Savebuckets.com which launches this week to enable Brits to get more for their money this Christmas.

With these alarming figures in mind, Savebuckets.com will give shoppers the opportunity to save up to 20% on their Christmas shopping. Putting consumers back in control of their spending, the site searches over 700 retailers for the best price on around one million products. The site includes a unique price checker which allows consumers to set the price they want to pay for items, notifying them when the price of a product falls to within their budget.

64. I Feel Unappreciated

There are things I do for my mom out of the kindness of my heart and rather then feel appreciated, I feel rushed, harassed, and frustrated. Out of kindness I offered to add some of her stuff to my Etsy. This means that we are fronting the posting cost with the hopes that one or more of her items sells. It is out of kindness that I am working hard to get all of her finished and ready to ship items posted before we are part of the showcase on Saturday. It isn't easy, technology seems to be working against me. Rather then be thankful and know that I am doing my best and working hard for everyones benefit she has been asking each day, more then once if something sold and then if I have everything posted yet. I am trying, hold your horses. It isn't like I am just sitting around doing nothing all day. I am a busy person and trying my best to get everything done! Well, apparently I am not trying hard enough for her, because she is impatient and thinks I should be able to work miracles. Well, I can't.

Anyway...It really isn't that bad, it just bugs me. In fact if I wasn't having problems downloading pictures from the camera, I probably wouldn't have a problem with it. But couple it with downloading issues and it is all frustrating. "Have you got all my stuff up yet?" NO, and I don't have my stuff up either. Neither one of us is getting what they want! Of course, it is better not to yell at her, that doesn't get us anywhere.