Monday, June 29, 2009

**NEWS BREAK**

In a strange turn of events today, I found the highly elusive floor to my laundry room! What an amazing feat! The laundry room floor has been missing for some time now. There have been search crews out by day and night, but the piles of dirty laundry have just been too much for these crews.
Today, however, was the turning point. It seems as if there really IS a light at the end of the tunnel.

Now to tackle the rest of the house. :-P

Friday, June 26, 2009

REAL GIVEAWAY FOR OLD NAVY WEEKLY POOL

Okie-dokie... Gonna try the Old Navy Weekly site update pool/giveaway again.

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd people to CORRECTLY guess the time and date of the ON weekly will win two (2) free pairs of toddler leggies from Jacquelynnies.

To enter, leave your guess as a comment on the blog titled "REAL GIVEAWAY FOR ON POOL." (This blog posting.)

You must guess the correct time and date of the next update. (Remember to put your time guess with your time zone! I wouldn't want someone in CA to guess 12 PM, and not win because the site updated at 3 PM (EST).

Feel free to share this giveaway with others.

Don't forget to watch ON weekly for your chance to grab an AWESOME coupon! (And if you find one of the BIG coupons, feel free to share it with me! ;-) JK!... Kinda... ;-) )

Please, no more then three entry guesses per person. Thanks!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Some more money savers for you, and our play date ;-)

Cool Dude and Little Miss have their first Monday play-date of the summer. Now we've got four kiddos in the house. It's good. It's fun. They all play well together -for the most part! ;-) Can't really expect to have four kids together all day without someone getting upset for some reason. We wouldn't live in real life now, would we?
Right now, all four kids are happily playing with Play Doh. Wonder how long the peace/calm will last? Hopefully long enough for me to get out this little bloggie thingy today! :-)
Not much to share, but I got these two in my inbox yesterday. They're too good to NOT share.

(By the way, if they're in green, they're clickable links!)

Best Deals Magazines

If normally get any kinds of magazines you NEED to check this site out! They have AWESOME prices on magazine subscriptions normally, but each day they have a different magazine marked down to a super duper value.

Today (Monday 6/22) they have FAMILY FUN Magazine (one of my favorites) on sale for $4.89 for one year (10 issues). It's normally six dollars and some change (I think) through BDM. They also send out coupon codes for 18% off of their already low prices.

Use coupon code FATHER17 at check out, and receive another 17% off your entire purchase today! (I'll post another coupon code if I get one tomorrow.)

Tuesday 6/23 is ACCENT ON HOME & GARDEN Magazine for $4.29 for a year's subscription.

Wednesday 6/24 is EVERYDAY WITH RACHAEL RAY for $7.89

Thursday 6/25 is LIFE EXTENSION for $4.29

Friday 6/26 is BUDGET TRAVEL for $5.49

Saturday 6/27 is DOG WORLD for $9.49, and

Sunday 6/28 is MARTHA STEWART LIVING for $14.49

Coupon code FATHER17 (good for another 17% off your entire purchase) expires 11:59 EST Monday, June 22.

Magazine subscriptions vary from weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, ect. Check out the subscription details before ordering. (I know Family Fun is only 10 issues a year.)

NEXT...

RESTAURANT.COM

I know that I've had up a lot of posts about this lately, but I REALLY like the idea of this place! DH doesn't like it because they have minimum food purchase requirements, but hey, I got a few for a nice place a few towns over. We've wanted to try it for a while, and the minimum food requirement is only $35 dollars. I KNOW that we'll meet that without a problem. Even if it is "just a coupon" it's still a savings, and don't well all love saving money anyway?

Anyway, in case you missed the $25 dollar gift certificates for two dollars, don't fret! It's back again, but only for four days!

Choose as many $25 gift certificates as you'd like. Enter coupon code DISH, and hit "apply." (Make sure you hit "apply" or you may not get your savings!)

Coupon code DISH expires 11:59 PST on THURSDAY, JUNE 25!

(These made really great end of year teacher's gifts too!)

E.L.F.

E.L.F. stands for Eyes, Lips, Face. This site has all kinds of make-up needs from brushes, to eyeliner, to nail polish to bath gel. They're really expanding. They even have their own version of Minerals. I don't use much make-up, so I don't know how the Minerals compare, but I like their tools, eye shadows (kits), lip glosses and eye liners.

Most of their tools and a lot of their make-ups are a dollar. (This Wet N Wild, but better.) Use coupon code 5FOR5FREE at checkout, and get five DOLLAR ITEMS free (with a ten dollar purchase.) If you only put 10 dollar items in your cart, then this is a 50% off coupon.

Check out E.L.F. today, and see if you can't find something (some things) worth five dollars! ;-)

Think that's it for now. If I find/think of any more, I'll be sure to post them.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, the Play Doh only last for about 30 minutes. They started dwindling off one-by-one after that. Cool Dude and Little Miss were the last ones to leave the Play-Doh table. They don't usually get to play with it, and they ask me for it all the time. They weren't going to be so fast to pass up the opportunity to play with it!

And I'm not sure how parents with more then two kiddos do it. I just got lunch together for four kiddos, and it must have taken me 15-20 minutes. And I only made PB&J sandwiches (for three of them). Perhaps it was the taking of the orders, finding out what kind of jelly, toasting the bread, then just the making of them. Then came the who wants what to drink, ect. I'm not sure why it was so difficult... Well, it wasn't THAT difficult, but it sure seemed to take longer then I'm used to lunch taking to make. :-) Maybe it's just because I'm finally seeing some BLUE SKY (which we haven't seen for DAYS), and I'm just jonesing to get back outside.

On that note, check out the links and the deals, then get yourselves outside too! (Weather permitting!)

:-D

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Old Navy site update/leggies giveaway UPDATE

Okay, so yesterday's failed attempt at a pool/giveaway was unplanned, unorganized, unadvertised (?), UNSUCCESSFUL and late. :-P

The idea came to me while visiting Deal Seeking Mom, and chatting with other ladies there about the Old Navy weekly page to update. ON weekly is a "coupon hunting" page on OldNavy.com. You have to search around the page, and click on certain things, and if you click the right items, or do the right things with those items, you're rewarded with a savings certificate. Certificates range from $75 off of a $100, $50 off of a $100 purchase, 15% off your entire purchase, 30% off your purchase, ect. There are some really great coupons (obviously), but they go REALLY fast. To be the first one on the site when it updates is a big deal, as then you have a better chance of finding the $75 off $100 coupon (and there are only a limited number of coupons).
Sooooooo.... The owner of Deal Seeking Mom has a giveaway on her site yesterday that she was able to give away 10 $50 of $100 purchase coupons. (Courtesy of ON.) To enter the drawing, you had to comment on her blog. You could enter as many times as you wanted. This became a chat forum as people waited for the ON site to update.
A few people suggested (I'm sure mainly as a joke) that someone should start a pool as to when ON would update their ON weekly site. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. The more I wanted to be the one to start it. Problem is, I didn't have anything to offer the winner of the pool. Certainly couldn't offer them an ON coupon or gift certificate. What do I have to offer??? LEGGIES!
I know that leggies aren't at all an ON gift certificate or coupon code, but they're something. And I know that they're a very specific size, but most people know SOMEONE who has someone of that size... Or they know someone who knows someone. Worse case scenario, sell them on eBay............
SOooooo......... If I can get myself together enough next time the ON site updates, I'll be offering this again. This is how it will work:

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd people to CORRECTLY guess the time and date of the ON weekly will win two (2) free pairs of leggies.

To enter, leave your guess as a comment on the blog titled "REAL GIVEAWAY FOR ON POOL." I'll link it up shortly. (Link now works.)

You must guess the correct time and date of the next update. (Remember to put your time guess with your time zone! I wouldn't want someone in CA to guess 12 PM, and not win because the site updated at 3 PM (EST).

Feel free to share this giveaway with others.

Don't forget to watch ON weekly for your chance to grab an AWESOME coupon! (And if you find one of the BIG coupons, feel free to share it with me! ;-) JK!... Kinda... ;-) )

Please, no more then three entry guesses per person. Thanks!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Old Navy Site update pool... Prize 2 pairs of Jacquelynnies leggies!

If there is any way to find out the time and date of the ON (Old Navy) update, I'll offer the 1st, 2nd and 3rd CORRECT guessers 2 free pairs of leggies from http://www.jacquelynnies.weebly.com/.

Please someone let me know if there is a way to find out the time and date!

Send me a comment if there is.

If I find out how to do it, to enter, you would just send me your guess as a comment here.

Thanks!

Bloggie

Thursday, June 18, 2009

More coupon codes for Restuarant.com

If you missed the two dollars for a $25 gift certificate at Restuarant.com have no fear. Use the coupon code "DAD" at checkout, and get your $25 certificates for only four dollars. Not as good as the two dollar deal, but still pretty good! ;-D

Cleaning with OCD and ADD

So I've decided that I have OCD and ADD. If you know me personally, I know that you're laughing right now. I know that the ADD is simple to see, but you might not agree with the OCD diagnosis. It's real and true though, my friend. All of the warning signs are there. Just watch me next time you see me. You'll be amazed.
I'm a real riot to be around sometimes. I can get so into and nit picky about something that's totally unrelated to the conversation at hand... But I'm paying total and complete attention to you... Somewhere. But really I am. ;-)
The FlyLady suggests that when you're cleaning to set a timer for 15 minutes. When the timer sounds, stop cleaning the room you're cleaning and go to the next room. This works so that you don't get bored with the current task at hand, and I guess it helps for the OCD person b/c then they try to hurry up and clean the next 15 minute task so that they can get back to the first one that they didn't finish.
This 15 minutes here and 15 minutes there doesn't work for me though. I get too frustrated with leaving too many projects undone. Once the time goes off I say to myself, "Okay, I can work on this for just another five minutes. Surely, five minutes won't hurt..."
The FlyLady does not work for me...
ALTHOUGH, she does say that when you have company coming over that you should be most concerned with cleaning (the mounds of laundry that are sitting on your furniture) that which is in the main line of vision of the front door: the foyer, under your couches that face the door, tables you see from the door, ect. It's true that first impressions last, and when your guest walks in, and sees how "clean" your house is they're less likely to notice the dirty sock that you missed under the chair.
So, I know HOW to clean (quickly AND thoroughly). I have my inspiration to clean.
My friend is my inspiration. She has two kids, a full time job, a husband with a full time (plus) job, she's active in her communities, and always has a clean house.
I walked in the other day, and she said something or another about the house being messy. I was there for 30-45 minutes, and I never did find the mess of which she spoke!
Anyway, we were there one night, and before we left I walked into the kitchen to get the kids coats. I saw that she had laid out on her table the breakfast bowls, cups and spoons for the next day. This really inspired me (that she was so "domestic"), and I would love to get my over crowded, over cluttered, super messy house clean.
So again, I know the know how. I have the inspiration... Now, if I could only find the motivation.... *sigh*

Monday, June 15, 2009

Restaurant.com gift certificates

The coupon code PRESENT (for 80% off or $2 for a $25 dollar gift certificate) expires TONIGHT! (6/15/09)
I hope that you got yours in time!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Father's Day is coming!

And I'm cheap, er, uh, frugal, remember??
Let's face it, leggies are hard to sell in the summer. Found this coupon code for an even BIGGER discount on restaurant.com on couponmom.com. Thought I'd share. Please share it with all of your friends!


80% off Restaurant.com Gift Certificates! Pay only $2 for a $25 certificate when you use code PRESENT Perfect for Father's Day Gifts!

Happy Almost Father's Day!
~Bloggie

Short, but moving prayer...

A friend forwarded this to me. At first I was like, "Ugh. I've seen these a MILLION AND ONE times..." But I read it anyway, and it really moved me inside.
Just thought I'd share. :-)

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are
a forgiving God and
an understanding God.
You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought
that was not pleasing to you.I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe
from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind
that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper
over things I have no control over.And give me the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits.I know that when I can't pray,
You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be
a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak...
Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those that are lost
and can't find their way.
I pray for those that are misjudged
and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.

I pray for those that will delete this
without sharing it with others
I pray for those that don't believe.
But I thank You that I believe
that God changes people and
God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.

For each and every family member
in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes; that they are out of debt
and all their needs are met.
I pray that every eye that reads this
knows there is no problem, circumstance,
or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received
into the hearts of every eye that sees it
in Jesus' name. Amen!

Friday, June 12, 2009

It's that time again.... again.

(This is all over the place, and maybe a little hard to follow. It was written at 2 AM, and it's hard to cram two weeks of events (four years ago) into one blog posting. Not to mention that I was emotional while typing...)

Okay, so if you've ever read any of my other blogs, you know that around July I start to talk about my dad a lot. He passed away in July of 2005. Yes, we're working on our 4th anniversary.
Wow! I didn't even realize that it's been that long. I actually had to count out on my fingers to make sure that it was right. I mean, I know that 9 minus five is four, but it just didn't seem right. Wow!
So, four years, and I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I've never dealt with my dad's passing. (For those of you who don't know, it happened rather suddenly. Well, if you want to call two weeks suddenly... suddenly enough.) I'm not sure when, if ever, I'll be able to deal with it. It's just something that's so big, so painful and so consuming I just don't know where to even start to deal with it. Sometimes, little bits and pieces will start to float to the surface of my brain, and then I'll have this HUGE, MESSY melt down, and it's pushed back to the furthest corners again. I'm just not ready -obviously.
In the two weeks before my dad passed, he was in the hospital. He had a "brain bleed." He had a ventilator, feeding tube, and a shunt in his (fore) head to relieve pressure that was building. I still hate the doctors. When they put the shunt in his head, they said that he was in a coma, and didn't know what was happening. I asked if they were going to give him some kind of anesthesia, and they said due to the coma, he didn't need it. I didn't believe that he was in a coma, as he would try to respond when I talked to him. He just wouldn't do stupid human tricks for the doctors. He never was one for stupid human tricks. ;-)
Anyway, they drilled a hole in his forehead, and put what looked like the tube part of a needle in it. And don't you know, that while they were drilling into his head, while he had NO SEDATION because he was in his "coma" his heart went all wonky. Heart attack? Yeah, probably. Of course, they wouldn't say that to us. Especially not after I was pushing for at least a local anesthesia for the process. I HATED his doctors.
Then, come to find out that the shunt could only stay in place for a few days (it was an external one) due to the risk of infection. What?! Most things were a blur in those few days, but I didn't and still don't remember them saying that. Turns out that they wound up taking that one out, and putting another on in his head on the other side. More shaving of the hair, more drilling, more bandages and tubes....
The day before he passed away, I prayed and prayed and prayed with a so strong faith that I didn't even know that I had. I prayed, and I actually felt a little better.
That night as we were going back home from the hospital, I saw a rainbow that was the most beautiful, vibrant rainbow that I've ever seen. It looked as if I could reach out the car window and actually touch it. It was like it was an actual tangible object, and not just light that's been split.
This rainbow felt to me as if it were the answer to my prayers. I was comforted by it. I still, however, talked to my BFF and asked her what a rainbow signifies in the Bible. She told me that it stands for God's promise. I knew this was an answer to my prayers, and I knew when I went back to the hospital the next day, even though when we left the night before he was starting to run a high fever, everything would be okay. I knew it in my brain, and I knew it in my heart.

The next day came, but we were greeted with bad news: The infection was getting worse, and they couldn't get it under control. After some time, the decision was made to take him off of all life sustaining machines. He had a living will that said that he didn't want to be on them anyway. We were already violating it by having him hooked up to so many things, but ya know, when it comes down to it, that's just such a hard decision to make -living will or not.
I will never forget his nurse that day. It was a man, and he had the most wonderful bedside manner of anyone I've ever met. I think that if you working in a ward such as ICU (or children's) then you had better have the BEST bedside manner ever. If not, you need not apply.
This nurse was so sweet. He was so understanding. He had so much compassion. He even let us bring Cool Dude (who was 20 months old) in to see him after all of the tubes and most of the wires were gone. I wish that I could thank him for those few hours he spent with us. I believe that he was an angel to help us along the beginning of our hard journey that day.
I wasn't in the room when my dad passed. I have a hard time forgiving myself for that. He wasn't alone. My fairy step mom was with him. She tells me that people usually wait for certain people to leave the room before they pass. It doesn't help relieve my guilt though. Nor does it help relieve any of the guilt that I feel because I feel that I'm the one who caused him to get sick.
You see, whenever anyone would come or go in the ICU, they would have to scrub up with antibacterial soap. There are germs everywhere, but staph, which is the infection that killed my dad, is apparently one of the most common. And it's quite common on your hands and under your nails.
My dad could only have the shunt in his head for so long due to risk of infection. When he still had it in, I would dab his sweaty brow with a tissue. I figured he had to be in enough pain and discomfort already, he surely wouldn't want sweat running down his face, or back on his head into is wound from his shunt. I'm afraid that I transferred staph from my hands to his head. I'm afraid that in trying too keep him comfortable I made him sick. In trying to keep him comfortable..... I killed him......

(See why I have a hard time dealing with it???)

I was so angry for such a long time. Yeah, I know that's a common reaction. I was angry though because God sent me a sign that everything was going to be okay. He sent me a rainbow. He sent me the SIGN of His promise.... And then he reniged on his deal.
It's taken me a loong time to be able to look at rainbows again. It just hurt too much. I HATED rainbows.
Then one day a friend put it to me like this, maybe it was God's promise that my dad would be taken care of AFTER he died. After all, The Lord knows everything. He knows what we do not know, and what we do not understand. He knew that my dad was going to pass, and this was his sign to me that he would be taken care of eternally.
After some time, this helped me. I still couldn't look at rainbows though. They still hurt too much.
Then I had another friend put a different spin on rainbows for me, and I wish that I could remember just exactly what she said. It was something along the lines of how a rainbow is not actually there. It's the raindrops acting as a prism, and splitting up the white light. Well, what if while that white light is being split up, it's opening a window to heaven, and allowing my dad to look down on us, and check in on us.
She said it much better, and it made much more sense. It was much more beautiful when she said it.
It's one of the few things said to me after he's died that have actually made me feel better. (With the first rainbow explanation being another that made me feel better.)
Rainbows still hurt to look at, and I still cry when I see them. Now though, I'm crying because I feel that for those few moments, I have visual proof that my dad is looking down on me. And I cry because I know that all too soon, the rainbows, like my dad, will be gone.

Graduation

Cool Dude graduated pre-school today. *sniff, sniff*
And maybe an even bigger event was the fact that I did NOT cry! I was sooo close to it, and figured that if I did, I'd look a fool, and my make up would run down my face. I wasn't about have that... Or maybe it was the INCREDIBLY RUDE woman who, regardless of what side of the cafeteria I was on, came and stood RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME while I was watching, or WHILE I WAS TAKING PICTURES!
Really? Are you serious? I try to be so courteous at things like this. I try to make sure I'm not walking in people's pictures. I try to make sure that I'm not in their line of vision -sometimes that's impossible to help though, but this lady??? Nope. She didn't care AT ALL. Look, I know that I can be selfish, but not like this lady was. She seemed to think that she was the only person in the room. I secretly wished that DH was up with me because I KNOW that he wouldn't have just been seething inside. He would have said something. I almost did, but I really didn't want to cause drama (and this is the kind of lady who would have turned it into a drama) at Cool Dude's graduation.
Rude lady aside, the graduation was one of the cutest things I've seen in a while. Cool Dude is soo well with all of his songs and poems. I really think that he was the best singer there. And really, I'm not just saying that because (he's the main one I was watching) I'm his mom. He was VERY loud -not something he gets from me. He knew all of the words. He knew all of the actions. He had me SOOO proud.
And I can't believe that he was just so little, and so completely dependent on me such a short while ago. He's gotten so big so fast. It's really amazing just how fast the time slips by without us ever noticing.
I also can't believe that Little Miss will be starting pre-school next year. *giggle, giggle, giggle* Gracious! Her teachers are in for QUITE a surprise with her! She's not the laid back, easy going sport that Cool Dude is. She's into EVERYTHING, and she DOES NOT take the word "No" lightly. Gracious! Are they in for a world of trouble. *giggle, giggle, giggle* -But I guess I really shouldn't laugh, should I? They can still choose to send her back home to me every day! ACK!
Of course, I'm finally realizing that she's hyperactive just as I am. Growing up, I wasn't allowed to have sugar, artificial flavorings or colors, chocolate or caffeine. Sounds like it would have made for a suckey time, but looking back now, I don't remember missing any of it too much. (I'm sure that I did then though.) I have a wonderful appreciation for fruits and veggies, and I LOVE things like dried fruit. You would think that I'd have better teeth now though... Maybe it's because once I got old enough, I more then made up for lost time.
So anyway, I'm noticing that with limiting Little Miss's diet, I don't bang my head against the wall with her as much. I'm hoping to cut out A LOT of stuff from her diet, but I'm going to need a lot of help from friends and family with that. I'm going to need them to understand that, no, she MAY NOT have that. No, not even one little piece. I don't care how bad she wants it. I don't care if you think it's okay if you spoil her. No. I don't care. I'm the one who's Mommy. I have final ruling on it. UGH! Why do some people feel the need to blatantly disrespect parental wishes??????!!!!
That's a whole other post for a whole other day. I've already been all over the board today. Welcome to the randomness that is my mind, and the chaos that is my life! ;-)
Congratulations on your graduation, Cool Dude!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Frugal or cheap?

So, am I cheap?



I love the dollar store. I mean, I L-O-V-E the dollar store. Tonight I told one of my friends (who also loves the dollar store, though maybe not as much as me) that if it came down to my husband or the dollar store, it would be pretty close. Just kidding of course! ;-) But really, I do A LOT of shopping there.



Have you been to one lately? I mean, a good one.

Dollar Tree is my all time favorite. They have everything there. I mean EVVEERRYthing. They have your run of the mill candles, flat wear, brushes and whatnot's, but they also have frozen food -I mean some name brand stuff that I get in the Acme, they have flip flops, they have ARTS AND CRAFTS (cool stuff too!), fun toys. Heck, they even have lingerie, ovulation predictor tests, and pregnancy tests! I had to laugh the first time I saw the pregnancy tests. I wished (for a brief moment) that I was pregnant so that I could see if it actually was reliable. I joked about this with the girl who worked there, and she said that they actually came from the same place Walmart gets theirs. Who knew? (We do now.)

So anyway, I do A LOT of shopping there. Yes, I've bought their food. It's actually decent, and it's not old, leftover, frozen, unfrozen, refrozen, icky stuff like I was afraid it would be. Yes, I've bought their lingerie. I have a cute little cami/tap pant outfit that I have yet to wear. It's really cute though. Common... two bucks for a cute little number?? Even if it's disposable, I've spent more money on more ridiculous stuff before.
Yes, I've bought the party supplies. Who hasn't? I've bought the cheap toys. Lots of them are REALLY cute though. (And some even have a good mark up price on them!) I buy the arts and crafts items religiously. Really helps pass the time with two kids! And the coloring books, oh my word, the coloring books! I can't tell you how many we have from there. Shipping supplies -bubble mailers, address labels and return labels, packing tape, legal and letter envelopes, stationary. They have it all.

I LOVE the dollar store.

I also love thrift stores. I love to get a bargain there, plus, it's like treasure hunting for me. I love to find a NWT (new with tag for you not so eBay savvy readers) pair of Gap jeans for six bucks or less. I love to leave with bags of kids clothing (which will all be washed on hot water for the first time) for 70 bucks -most still new with tags. I love to get books for 50 cents. I love to find cross stitch packets -brand new again for a dollar, and then turn around and sell them for A LOT more then that on eBay. I love getting fabric remnants from there, and making dresses for Little Miss. I love tearing apart clothing from there, and up-cycling them into something new. I LOVE IT!

Another thing I love, and this is where DH called me super cheap tonight are the kids cups from restaurants. They're thick plastic ones, and they have these great lids. I take them home and use them until Little Miss chews them until the lids no longer fit on them.

We went out to dinner with friends tonight, and Cool Dude, his BFF, and Little Miss each got a kid's drink. Little Miss got two. On the way out, I asked my friend if she wanted the cup. This was as I was grabbing Little Miss' cup. She said no, and noticed I was taking the empty, and told me to take hers if I wanted it. I explained that they're really great b/c of the lids, and Little Miss chews all of the cups, so I have to throw them away. She kinda chuckled, and said that it was a good idea, but I wonder how cheap she really thinks I am????? I mean, they're not the cheap, hard plastic ones that when you bend them they crack. They're the softer ones; the more "high quality" of plastic restaurant cups, if you will.

DH called me cheap when he saw that I had four cups when we were leaving. (Little miss had two drinks.) He told me I was so cheap.

Whatever. Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just frugal.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

New view on blog reading...

Okay, so I'm uber sensitive to lots of things. I cry when watching REMOTELY sad or happy movies. I want to donate all of my money (not that I have any) to different charities. I have to fight back the tears when I see other kids crying. (This was a hard task when two kids on the playground -one of whom is on of Cool Guy's BFF's got hurt the other day.) I cry when I watch Johnson & Johnson's commercials... And don't even get me started on the Chicken Soup books!



So can someone PLEASE tell me why I've found myself stuck reading tons and tons and tons of blogs of families of sick babies and kiddos. I'm so emotional all the time, and I'm reading these roller coaster rides of these AMAZING families. Really, I don't know how they do it. Reading these blogs make all of my problems sooo trivial. They remind me of just how lucky, and just how blessed we really are to not have to deal with the trials of some of the families... Families that have the amazing ability to push on, and families that have the most AMAZING FAITH ever.

I once read something or another about why the Lord allows suffering of His children. It was something along the lines of how it brings out the good in people, and how it draws us closer together, and closer to Him. These blogs are the workings of His miracles, as, through their pain and suffering, they are opening up the hearts of countless people. They're touching places in peoples hearts, and opening them up to the Lord without even knowing it. They're causing multitudes of people to pray -to speak to Him.

And, okay, sometimes when I think about it, I get angry that He should work that way -calling us to Him through someone else's suffering, that is. But I know that we do not understand His ways. I know that we CANNOT understand His ways. I know though, that it truly IS a MIRACLE how people DO connect, DO draw together, and DO call out to Him through these sufferings.

And the one who is at the heart of the suffering, the one who is suffering, well, it's just amazing to think that they are responsible for this miracle of, well, love from sooo many people. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MIRACLE. So this "burden" of being sick that they bear, well, I'm sure that their parents would give it up for them in an instant, but really, they're at the center of a miracle. And to me, that's awe inspiring.

And maybe that's why I've been reading these blogs. Not because I like to cry my heart out for someone elses sufferings, but because I just want to be able to be that much closer to a miracle.

When the Muse decends

Do you know where I find that I have the most inspiration? In the bathroom. Nice, eh? No, it's not while I'm using the "facilities." That would just be TOO GROSS to blog about, and quite frankly, I'm not THAT comfortable blogging to you guys about stuff like that.

It could be while I"m in the shower, brushing my teeth, or even in the ten seconds between when I close the door and Little Miss starts screaming as if I've just excommunicated her for life. (Yes, she IS quite the drama queen. I can't imagine WHERE she gets it!)

Yup. I'm inspired by my bathroom. Great. And by the time I get downstairs to the computer... Yup. You guessed it... My train of thought is derailed, and all of my wonderful blogging stories just washed down the drain with the toothpaste.

Inspired by the bathroom. Great...