Life in the Thirty Zone

Financial Freedom for the New Year

2011-12-30T09:12:00.000-08:00

Start the new year with financial freedom! These are the tools that David and I used to become debt free with a 5 year plan to pay off our 30 year mortgage!

We may have drove a really ugly truck for a while, however that sacrifice and others have changed our mindset forever, and soon we will be mortgage free to. This is by far the best decision we have made for our family. One that has freed us from being a slave to the lender.

Most of the information is free, he has books as well and his radio show on KMJNOW from 11a-2p or you can live stream it at the Dave Ramsey web page.

What an amazing freeing feeling we have to be cash only, save to buy new car with cash, investing, build a retirement, debt free college for our kiddo, and build a legacy for our daughter that she may never know debt. These were concepts that were always foreign to us, however now this is our reality. Our income didn't change but our ideals changed.

Today begin your journey. This can be done at ANY income level... BE FREE!

http://www.daveramsey.com/category/tools/

Appleworks conversions....

2011-12-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

I made discovery, now I realize that I am late to this party. However, when our old Mac finally died we discovered that the Mac mini was pretty cheap, and since we had all the perifials already, we just got that instead, and decided to fix our old Mac in a few months for our kiddo.

When we did this it was an easy decision, because we have had many computers over the years and love them, but a several years ago we bought a Mac, and WOW is pretty much all I have to say. Computing life has been way easier since then. Now after we got our mini home and hooked it up, I went to open a few files, only to learn that the new system no longer supported Appleworks or couldn't open them. PANIC WHAT shock! How could this happen. My first thought always goes to a I should have thought.... before my video failed!

I hit the internet and only found weird answers like.... "if you are using .cwk then you are a dinosaur" and many more. I mean who cares if I am a dinosaur. I was an Appleworks addict, it did everything and a lot more than my Microsoft Office Professional did, and it was free (and prior to our Mac I lOVED the MS Office products)! Now calling me a dinosaur, or old, or even archaic does not fix my problem. I believe in share and share alike... Which is why I am not a fan of tech forums, it seems that the only people who generally respond include weird little snippets like the one abouve. I mean really people lets get creative here, is it possible to answer a question without all that.

So I made some copies of a .cwk file and began experimenting, and only 5 minutes later I found a solution to most of those files. First off, you can get the new programs Pages, Numbers, and Keynote at the App store for about $20 each. I bought them separately because I don't need a presentation program, so I only purchased pages and numbers. The first item I converted was a spreadsheet, I right clicked the item and then selected "get info" scrolled down to "Open with" and changed it to Numbers, then closed the "get info" box. Then double clicked the file, and it opened in Numbers with no problems. I was shocked at how easy it was. I did the same thing with letters or other word processing (archaic phrase... yes I know) but used Pages instead of Numbers.

For the files that were created using the Drawing feature of Appleworks use EazyDraw or Intalgio I have not tested these yet, as I have not had an immediate need for it. But there are a quite a few recommendations for it.

So there you have it, a fairly easy change over from Appleworks. So I think we can relax and breathe now!

Thanksgiving Memories

2011-11-25T07:38:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was one of my favorite Thanksgivings, we got to hang out at the hubbys house and visit with family. We played board games for hours! I felt like any moment the ghost of Norman Rockwell was going to appear painting us! This was seriously a top 5 Thanksgiving moment.

Another one was the year we were making dinner and the pan I used was not deep enough to hold the turkey We tried to pull out the Turkey and some of the Juice fell out in the oven and instantly flames shot up everywhere. My mother-in-law grabbed a fire extinguisher but we yelled "NO SAVE THE TURKEY" which, in hindsight sacrificing the house and not the turkey was not the smartest thing to do. Well during this commotion my husband calmly walked over and threw flour on the fire... there was puddles of gravy everywhere. It was awesome and we still laugh about it every year!

So there you have it folks... my recipe for oven gravy! thats a freebie. I hope everyone enjoyed there thanksgiving too!

2011-11-23T14:14:00.001-08:00

Being an entrepreneur is fantastic. For me it is the ultimate in creativity, multi-tasking, and control (or lack there of). In my experience the road has been great/terrible/diverse. I would recommend it to anybody. One of my hobbies though is creating and deciphering business/marketing plans I don't know why and I am not sure I can explain it. The artist in me cringes at that idea, however when I see an idea or a spreadsheet I get all warm inside with anticipation... its weird I know.

Which sort of leads me to what I have dying to blog about all day. Today I saw 2 great examples of entrepreneurship, one was a couple of kids who were in front of there house selling koolaid for .25. There were in there cutest little "I'm an awesome kid" clothes. Now my favorite was when I pulled over to buy some, not because I was thirsty or even like super sweet koolaid but because if these kids were outside not playing video games or on a cell phone, I am going to support it. I bought 2 for me and my kiddo and as I was paying for them they looked at me grinning and said "do you have anybody else you would like to buy for, we're saving up for christmas" now regardless if I believe that it was true or not, that was just good marketing. I could learn from this...

See a need or tug a heartstring, know your customer and fill the need. They saw me, a mom, who pulled over on a busy road to buy a 2.oz sized cup of koolaid for a quarter. Of course I will, anything else do you have a tip jar. LOL

Now my other favorite thing is business names. Yes they should be creative, or funny but they should at least be pertinent... Now what I mean is if you name your business Jane Doe LTD. Thats great but what do you do are you a cleaner, seller, artist, what do you do. Your business name doesn't tell me that. Now if your name is "Buzzkill Pest Control" I am going to literally LOL When I saw this I thought seriously at the notion of switching purely because of the name, because how awesome is that. Here this person used a word typically used in a completely different setting and transformed it to a business name that is both creative and pertinent. Now anytime I hear/read the word "buzzkill" I will only think of this pest guy and the great story of today... Thanks Buzzkill guy your awesome!

tap tap tap.... is the blogger still here?

2011-11-11T06:58:00.000-08:00

Well yes... and no. I have been on hiatus so to speak, concentrating on my illness and treatments, and wondering why my hands are starting to make new shapes and fingers going in new directions! Learning how to write with my left hand since holding a pen and typing takes forever and hurts!

I gotta tell you learning, how to write is incredibly difficult, I have a whole new appreciation for children. Which is basically what I am doing. It is difficult to start over with anything I feel even less competent sometimes. I think the key is not giving up and try not to project my own insecurities on other people. And to not let other people's judgements define me.

Anyhoo... my apologies for dropping off the map, both on the blog and in life in general. Which brings me to today.

Christmas, Ass, and books... wait what?!

2011-06-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

Is it too early to talk Christmas... well its hot so any vision of coolness makes okay right?! So today I was reading my daily group of blogs, and one by Jon Acuff had cracked me up a little specifically a reader comment by the name of Jennifer:

Jennifer June 21, 2011 at 11:57 am #
I’m so glad someone finally made fun of this.
“I felt like there were two possible reasons to call your wife your bride. The first is that it’s biblical. Isn’t the church called “the bride of Christ?” It’s not called the “wife of Christ.” So using “bride” could be a throwback to the Bible. So maybe saying “bride” is like answering the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” He’d say bride. OK, I get that.”
The Bible also calls donkeys “asses,” but when I tell someone about the cute donkeys I pass every morning on the way to work (Yes, in Brentwood, TN) I don’t say, “Hey, make sure the next time you’re driving down Cloverland you check out the asses.”
It’s just not right.

I couldn't help but to think of Christmas time, when they put up the lyrics on the Church wall and you see a line like this: “Where ox and ass are feeding” I still giggle thinking about it. Luckily I am not alone, there are many children who giggle with me as well. Any who, I wanted to share one of my favorite blogs, and a particularly funny response to it.

John Acuff is a writer, his most recent book is Quitter. I really enjoyed this book. While I waited what seemed like forever (I pre-ordered it) for the release date. Somehow I had it in my head that it was going to be a step by step mechanized book on how to start your dream and quit your job. You know Chapter 1, Day 1 open book, close your eyes, realize dream....

But really it was a realistic view at not only finding your dream but also how to get there without sabotaging your life, which consequently not only ruins your dream, but also your day job. So I recommend that you read this book, it helps shine a light on your path... kind of like a flashlight, hey maybe it should be titled the flashlight book!

Documentary: Forgiving Dr. Mengele

2011-06-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Forgiving Dr. Mengele is a documentary that is an interesting show about the holocaust survivors who were twins that were experimented on. It is a mixed feeling between the groups, most don't believe they can forgive on behalf of those who have died. They don't want to forgive, because they believe in order to forgive you have to forget. Eva who is the main subject of this doesn't believe that you must forget what happened. She says that to forgive them means not allowing the pain of the situation rule your life. She opened a museum, she does tours, she also travels and does speaking engagements about the holocaust, and her personal experiences.

For me and my personal issues with forgiveness, I feel I am on this track as well. I will not/can not forget, but I can however decide to not let it be a part of my everyday life. It was a little by little process for me, to realize you can't change the past, you can't change people they must change themselves, and you can't forget things. However I can take my anger and pain, turn it around.

Community News

2011-06-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

I found a nifty little community project to get involved in. I like projects that I can work on a little at a time, that are not really time sensitive. I have learned over the passed couple of years to work around this disability and do what I can. This is specific for Visalia.... but if you are in another area, check your local newspaper.

Project Linus is in need of volunteer blanketeers that would like to make blankets for children in the local area. Blankets are given to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Handmade blankets can be quilted, made of fleece or knitted/crocheted. If you would like more information or would like to get involved, please call 661-589-1854 or email quilts4kidz@sbcglobal.net. Blankets can be delivered to Synchrony of Visalia, 4031 N. Demaree, Visalia.

So if it takes a day or a year to make one, this would be a great place to take it.

apologies

2011-05-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

My apologies for being gone... we had death in the family, that took us all by surprise. He was the kind of guy who you just expected to be around forever. A great man! We love you and miss you Ray.

Pepsi Refresh Grant voting!

2011-05-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Its voting time again! I am in the running for a $5000 grant for art supplies and training from the Pepsi Refresh Project. You can find me at http://www.refresheverything.com/art-for-survivors-of-domestic-violence#, and see some information about it.

Ways to vote!

While you are visiting me at the site, you can vote by signing up for a pepsi refresh account.

You can also vote with your mobile phone: Text* 105676 to Pepsi (73774) to vote from your mobile. *Standard text messaging rates apply.

Drink pepsi, save your bottle caps! some of them are worth 100 power votes!

You can find updates via facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Visalia-CA/Auwbrey-Huff/117733214912297

or on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/visaliaartnews

Thanks everyone, I AM SO EXCITED. Please feel free to share with everyone on your mailing list, to get as many votes as possible

http://www.refresheverything.com/art-for-survivors-of-domestic-violence#

www.shelleyhuff.com

My Blog:

http://thirtyzone.blogspot.com/

Happy Fishing season! <º))))><

P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to

A new Class

2011-02-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

I picked up a new class, it is another free one. I will be doing expressive art classes at one of the local teen foster homes. I am very excited about this, and am looking forward to having some fun art time with the girls.

and now a word from spam...

2011-02-09T08:33:00.000-08:00

So this morning I get the following email:

A Valentine's Day Offer for:
SHELLEY HUFF.
A special Valentine's Day starts with HomeTown Buffet.
For any guests who've been married more than 50 years,
we're offering this sweet deal.
Purchase two adult meals at lunch or dinner on February 14th and you'll receive TWO FREE "BE OUR GUEST" MEAL PASSES,
valid any time through March 16th.
Just be sure to bring your marriage certificate and photo IDs!

So if you have been married for more than 50 years, you have to buy two meals in order to get two free meals! I mean really... in this day and age, you should give it to them! A congratulations for sticking it out that long, for beating the odds, for not holding a grudge at each other's imperfections... I can't imagine there are a whole lot of people who make it that long with death and divorce around. How about a real present.

That is a

A space for me

2011-02-08T08:31:00.000-08:00

For the last several months I have been getting more requests for classes, and expressive art classes... which is really exciting, however I am without a space! I guess I should get on that. Ideally it would be nice if I could find someone who will trade something like janitorial services for a space, wish me luck people, and pray... lots of prayers would be cool!

losing weight and losing the gym

2011-02-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well in my quest to get back on the saddle of health things are going well. At first we went out and got a gym membership hoping that by going to the one that is closer to us that somehow it will make a change. And for a day or two it did, I noticed that when we did we would always hop on the treadmill. Well we decided to loose the gym membership (thank the Lord for 30 day trials) since we quickly went back to old habits.

We did however buy a treadmill, it is a cheapy we got it at Sears for $400, figuring that if we wear it out from using it so much, then we can get a better one. So far so good, we have worked out much more than we did when we had a gym membership. My dad says walking outside is free, but with my health condition the way it is, I have gotten stuck about half way out and have had to sit and wait out the pain till I can manage it back home. At least with a treadmill, when I start hurting my couch is only a few feet away!

So it looks like we have found our weight loss solution, what works for one, may not work for others. Like weight watchers, I have watched a friend nail that thing and still keep it off GO GIRL! I will update with a monthly see if my new pants fit yet.

God... is that you?!

2011-02-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

I was picking up my daughter from school, and it is busy, as always. I parked the car and walked halfway up the school yard before she seen me and ran to me. On the way back to the car, I swore I heard someone call my name. As I looked around to see who it was, my daughter looked at me and said "Mom, what are you looking at" When I told her I thought someone called my name she said to me... "Maybe God wants to talk to you"

LOL

plateau

2011-01-27T17:07:00.000-08:00

I feel myself in this weird place where I just can't seem to get up and create. I have all these ideas of sketches swimming around, however I lack the motivation to get up and do, I am obsessed with watching movies about artists... that seems odd.

I am lost

Number Silliness

2011-01-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

a friend posted this earlier today, it worked for some of us.. I am curious if it will happen to anyone else too. Math makes my head hurt LOL:

This year we will experience 4 unusual dates ... 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 ... NOW go figure this out ... take the last 2 digits of the year you were born plus the age you will be THIS year and it WILL EQUAL 111. Try it! its freaky! I did and it came out to be 111.

Mertzwiller

2011-01-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

Someone sent me this game on facebook... it was really fun and creative!

1 - Go to wikipedia.com and hit random. The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to quotationspage.com and hit random. The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr.com and click on “explore the last seven days”. Third picture no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar (picnik.com is a free online photo editor) to put it all together.

5 - Post it with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in and me so i can see what you've created.

Here is what I did.

Name of Band: Mertzwiller

Album Name: Show up to get it

Before:

After:

Goldfish Antics

2011-01-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

We just watched the commercial for 'goldfish crackers' where all the flavors of goldfish crackers are trying to save pretzel flavored goldfish from breaking to pieces when he jumps down from a shelf. So they each take a corner or this cloth to create a safety net...

When suddenly I heard "EWWWWWWWWWWWW mom look... nobody wants to eat a pretzel cracker when it falls onto underwear!"

What! it's actually underwear.... what were the writers thinking! My kid is very aware... LOL

New habit... better world

2011-01-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Okay... so why am I showing you a picture of the trash that lurks under my sink?

Well its really a matter of a little bit of pride in finally figuring out a new system. Before I thought I was very clever, I used an old small waste can so I can use grocery store bags. That way the trash is stowed away neatly and I never have to buy trash bags. We take the trash out daily, but that works too because then there is no smell at all. The white bucket on the right is my newest addition, that I am especially proud of... in a weird sort-of way.

All because of this this flier I received from the city. We can now compost in our yard waste can... Now according to the list almost any kitchen waste can go in the yard waste can (except proteins, rice, pasta, metal like the staples in teabags, etc. check your list for details or call your local public works and ask about composting in your yard waste) Rather than these things going down the garbage disposal or into the landfill, it will be made into soil! How cool is that. Well at first I didn't have the compost can, and I would haphazardly pick a few things off the top, but after my garage organizing fiasco I found a short bucket to use. And since I am not so consistent with keeping up with my own compost pile, I can at least contribute a little. Plus I do believe a few times a year you can get a free load of it.

Now the best part is, we hardly use our trash can anymore and can sometimes go a week without taking it to the curb. However my little yard waste can is getting regular excercise. Which means we are finally giving back to mother back, which I believe make me about even with my gas guzzling classic car.

Quickie French toast Casserole

2011-01-05T07:35:00.000-08:00

Moments ago I suddenly wanted french toast, but I only had half a loaf of italian bread (it looks like a small loaf of french bread) With a sleepover in progress I didn't want to go to the store. I remembered french toast casserole but it normally cooks for about an hour. However, I recently found one of those silicone baking pans, and I had been making delicious cakes in the microwave, so why not breakfast casserole.

So I threw together the ingredients. bread first, then apples, sprinkle with a little cinnamon and sugar, then milk/egg mixture. Cook for 8-10 minutes in the microwave. Like a cake, I used a knife to make sure it was done.

If you like your apples soft then they will need to be cooked in a covered dish before hand, but I like my apples crunchy (its a texture issue for me)

3/4 loaf of leftover french or italion bread, cubed about 1" or so
1 apple cubed
6 eggs
1 c. milk
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

The Bucklette!

2010-12-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie... I am so in love with the bucklette! I just found it, and it is so "Jane" Bond-ish, I mean I love purses and am a borderline addict, however this little guy is so cute. The bucklette is to the fanny pack like Jeggings are to spandex... a much cooler version to its predecessors. Those predecessors really need to remain locked up in fashion vaults never to be revived. But for those who think they were on to something with that but didn't quite make it the first time around. I really think they got something here. Not so crazy about the name, I really think it needs a bit more pizzaz, but really who cares right!

This is something that I could really use, and not look like a complete fashion victim. Especially when I am working, I like to have my id, debit card, and a few little items without bulging pockets, because my butt does enough bulging all by itself.

http://bucklette.com/

one of those days,...

2010-12-20T07:13:00.000-08:00

So... yes I know, I have a ton of stuff to do today. But since my (early to rise) kiddo spent the night at my sisters, I figured that I would have a little sleep in time. Not so much.... first the alarm went off at its normal going to school time... ugh! After laying there for a bit and nearly giving up on ever falling asleep. I did. However 20 minutes later I get a call... oi! Universe please, I want to sleep in!

So I gave in, and made the coffee, nothing like those commercials for folgers I tell you. By the way where are those commercials anyway, me stumbling around the kitchen, wondering if the pile of dishes will disappear if I scowl hard enough. Furrowed brow, my husbands sweatpants on, my ugly green shirt, hair all screwed up. Sitting at my Mac cursing about the slowness of the coffee maker. Then only motivated by my favorite coffee mug that is buried somewhere in that fearless pile of dishes. Now that's a coffee commercial I can relate too.

Well now to stop avoiding the inevitable, and get to work!

I love being a 'DaveRamsian'

2010-12-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

Enjoying Christmas so much more than usual... being debt free really does take the pressure off, and makes shopping so much easier. Gifts are much more personalized too! Maybe nothing has changed other than the lack of stress, and how much easier its getting to shed bad habits and remain on a budget. Granted we still fall of the wagon so to speak. But not in such a way that is so financially devastating, as well as, not as often as we used too.

I think that the best part of it all is a renewed Christmas spirit and understanding what Christmas is really all about, loving each other.

Thanks Dave! I love being a "DaveRamsian"

Wrapping paper deals!

2010-12-16T06:55:00.000-08:00

I popped into the local thrift store to take a peak at their vessels (I am making my first bonsai tree). So while there I noticed they had a huge christmas section. So while perusing I saw they had brand new rolls of wrapping paper for a dollar! Now these are pretty darn good, some were small but others were pretty huge like 60 sqft.

My store was Rescued Treasures, which has pretty good prices and great looking stuff, perfect for budget-minded, artist looking for sculpture materials, or people who like to wonder treasure hunt. And they are a store for a cause, The Rescue Mission.

Found another fibro!

2010-12-15T16:07:00.000-08:00

Being sick with an "invisible" illness really is frustrating, because generally people don't know. There is no wheelchair or cast or heck even a patch. Now I am not saying that those who use those aids are lucky by far. I just feel lonely for the most part. I looked around for a support group, but haven't found one in this area.

However, I did meet someone today, who also has this condition. We both were a little too excited to meet each other, not quite ROFL... more of a LOL kind of moment. But she voiced the same thing as I, that lack of understanding for some people. It will be nice to get together and have coffee!

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-08T04:02:00.000-08:00

and I ask.... what's not to love? Everything is glittery and sparkly, there are lights everywhere, people buy presents for each other, almost everyone says Merry Christmas or at least Happy Holidays (depending on company protocol). Now whether you love Jesus or love Santa or like me Love Both, is a debate for another day. For me, I told my daughter that Santa is a nice guy who loves kids, and in honor of the day we celebrate Jesus' Birthday gives out presents to everybody... its my compromise.

So, I found this great tutorial on making a picture, that any Santa Paparazzi would agree is fant-abulous! Here is the link: http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2010/12/thrill-your-kids-capture-photo-of-santa.html

Now I use an online photo editor called Sumo Paint. Its pretty good and free! I think everyone should check it out, and give it a try!

a recipe from a client...

2010-12-01T18:27:00.000-08:00

Today, one of my clients shared with me a recipe she made this thanksgiving... twice baked MASHED potatoes! It sounded so good, I had to make it tonight.

5 lbs of red potatoes
1 container of sour cream
1 stick of butter
1 bottle of Hormel real bacon bits
1 (2 cup) bag of shredded cheese I used sharp
1 bunch green onions minced

Mash some red potatoes, then add: sour cream, butter, bacon bits, green onions, and half of cheese. Mix together, put in a casserole dish, top with remaining cheese and bake at 350 degrees till cheese is melty.

Pepsi Refresh Grant

2010-11-01T07:47:00.001-07:00

I applied for and am now in the running for a pepsi refresh grant. I will use this grant to expand the current free art classes in domestic violence and recovery shelters, and the mobile art studio bringing art to outlying cities, and provide free art classes.

It is now relying in the hands of the voters. Take a moment a vote. There are many ways to vote... The easiest is to vote by texting Text this number 103712 to Pepsi (73774) or here is my pepsi refresh link: http://www.refresheverything.com/mobileandfreeartclasses.

Vote everyday.. share with everyone. I get the grant if people vote! Soon I will be putting together the text number to vote too!

WE MUST VOTE ONE TIME EVERYDAY I will post reminders and texts

SHARE WITH EVERYONE!

THANK YOU!

Art Class

2010-10-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's art class was fun! It was our second Art Fundamentals class, and the lesson was one that focused on how every artist is different and how they view the same subject-matter. The project was trees. We viewed Tulips and Trees by Wolford, Mulberry Tree by Vincen Van Gogh, Tree of Life by John David Dillard, the tree series by Piet Mondrian, Cave Paintings, and tree drawings by Tim Knowles where he attached drawing to branches of trees and put canvas near it, and let the tree 'draw' on it when the wind blew.
Although all of these artists painted a tree, each painting is completely different. Every artist is unique in their styles, medium, and how they interpret subject matter; and that we all see the world differently. Even though each piece is different, that does not make the end result wrong.

Homemade Costume Ideas... with a unique twist!

2010-10-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is a list of websites that have the cutest ideas for really cool homemade costumes. I am really into the illusion costumes this year. There are links all through this post of where I found the costumes, so be sure to check them out. These costumes are a different take on what I remember as 'homemade costumes' and they are fabulous ideas. When I was little homemade costumes consisted of fake giant boobs made from random material and wildly hairsprayed and glittered hair which I am convinced is responsible for the styles of the 80's...

http://www.coolest-homemade-costumes.com

Now, this first one is pretty cool it is a stroller costume, of a cabbage patch kid,which pretty much consists of a box painted and some online printed logos modge podged to the box. It is cheap, cute, fast to make, and fun with no actual costume for the baby to wear and can be found at this link.
This fire truck is also easy and very cute, and looks like it sits just nicely on a stroller. This is one last stroller costume I found at the same website as the cabbage patch kid (which really deserves some quality time searching through) is R2D2 a little more time consuming to make but very cool follow this link for pictures.

Another favorite category is the illusion costumes. Some of these are very elaborate but some are not and still very cool. The first one is one that looks fairly easy to make, and very well might end up being my costume this year, there is a lot at this link. I am not a fan of the bloody ones, but that's just me. This next website has a lot of them with instructions but my favorite is near the bottom called 'witch with frog in cauldron'. Here is another creative one that is extra, super cool; the link for this video also has the instructions and the there another video of the same costume as well that shows more of it here. These girls made a version that seems to be easier to walk around in, as long as you secure the foot better, this is also a video link. When searching for illusion costumes I find it best to select the images option and also the video option, to get a better idea of what you are looking at.

This website has a few great ideas, check out the lego costume at this link. If you change the red sweat suit to blue you'll have Mike from Monsters Inc at this link. Familycrafts.about.com has alot of cute ideas including more stuff to do with cardboard boxes. There is a really cute aquarium at Costume Idea Zone which also has a skill crane costume as well. Family Fun is pretty great site I like their "last minute costumes" with their clever renditions of a quarter back and smartie pants, but don't forget to check out all of their categories I especially love their jellyfish costume.

Budget101.com has tons of ideas for costumes, parties, decorations, makeup/special effects and more. I would plan on spending some time here. And last but not least, dog costumes; there's no reason why fido can't join the fun. Check out family.go.com or animal.discovery.com for some cute ideas.

So go out, exercise your creative muscle and make a costume.

You can also comment at: http://thirtyzone.blogspot.com/

The new Supermarket in town!

2010-10-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

Wow! I was in the center shopping and decided I needed to check this out. It has been open since late September, but I don't like crowds and thought I would wait for a few weeks. I had received a few ads in the mail, and though they are in spanish they had english "subtitles" so to speak. I wasn't expecting much I had guessed that it was another larger supermarket... was I in for a surprise!

When I walked in, I had to stop for a moment. It's super decorated with palm trees and bright colors, with festive music going on, this is not your regular store! I loved it. The bakery was filled with great looking pastries, and they have this deli counter with all my favorite mexican foods, and a few I haven't had yet... fantastic. Which means I don't have to struggle to make these things, which I am not so great at by the way.

I rounded my way around to the SALSA COUNTER!!! yup a salsa counter filled to the brim with many varieties also guacamole, and a few other things. My senses were on overdrive, next was the meat counter which was also fabulous, in addition to the standard meats you see they also have marinated favorites that were far to many for me to remember! Oh and did I mention a tortilla machine, popping out fresh tortillas mmmm!

Now as with any grocery store, not all of the prices were that great, but I am still excited to make some real changes to our "mexican food night" from tacos and burritos to some really great stuff! I think this is a welcome change to my shopping choices, and also that I might enjoy grocery shopping more if I felt that I was at this party!

This blog post title is a link to their website, check it out!

The whole store is like this... piled high with food!

Recycled planter

2010-10-03T19:34:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite finds recently is a giant asparagus fern at target on clearance for $3.. it was root bound really bad and I needed a giant pot. And as it turns out, giant pots are expensive. I started poking around the garage and the side yard, and found a perfect solution.

Last year we took out the diving board because it was cracked, and since we didn't really care about having one or not my husband took it out, that is where my other free find, my "bistro set" is now living.

which is good place because it also covers the small bolt holes and prevents the kids from running full circles around the pool.

We hadn't gotten around to throwing it out yet so when I saw the base sitting there I knew it was perfect. The holes were already in the bottom, so drainage wouldn't be a problem.

I just filled it with potting soil and inserted plant. So the total cost is $3 plant, $5 potting soil, and $0 for the planter box... it is dark so I will finish up in tomorrow sometime. I was just so excited that I had to share now.

My Nut Job Cat!

2010-09-22T23:05:00.000-07:00

okay so I think someone is giving my cat drugs... I was sitting on the couch and behind me I hear the cat making crazy noises. I thought she was having a seizure or something. When I turned around to look at her, she just looks up at me. Now this goes on a couple of times, but finally I catch her and she is chasing her tail and then biting it and her leg so hard she hisses and meows, Then looks up at me like... what!

Now I have friends who say how cats are superior and smart... but really I'm not seeing it!

Giant Zuchini recipe

2010-09-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

Okay so I found this gi-normous zucchini in under some leaves in the garden. Since there were only three of us I thought about just making a few portions and freezing it, until I was invited to my nephews birthday.

Then I thought, I will just stuff the damn thing at take it over there... gotta love family potlucks! I had never really stuffed a zucchini before and so I looked on the internet, and there are a lot of great recipes, but I really wanted something quick. So I went to Winco and brainstormed with a lady who was scanning things and went this way: ground turkey, chicken rice-a-roni, various seasonings from home.

I cut it in half long ways and steamed it in the oven. While that was going I cooked the turkey with some minced garlic, oregano, and rosemary. Then I cooked the rice-a-roni and mixed them in a bowl. Took out the zucchini when it was just a little harder than a regular squash. I scraped the seeds, and scooped out the pulp and added the pulp to the bowl.

Then I mixed everything up and added some shredded parmesan cheese, and began filling up the zucchini, kind of packing it a little. Then I put it back in the roasting pan to finish the shell and top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Now if you don't like turkey, you can of course, use any ground meat you would like and adjust the rice mix to whatever. There are just so many to choose from.... like spanish rice, teriyaki, chicken and broccoli, beef. This is a very versatile recipe, and it took me less than an hour!

Homemade Costume Ideas

2010-09-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

My new favorite kids halloween costume is in Womans Day magazine... its sushi made with white pillow, black garbage bag, packing peanuts, and orange balloons. It is fun and easy looking, go get a copy today!

My sister and I made halloween costumes a few years back. One of those moments when I wished we took pictures. Her oldest daughter we made in to a bunch of grapes by using purple balloons and safety pining them to I think green sweats. Her son was a box of popcorn; I punched holes in the side of a box,

painted it white with thin red lines and the words "popcorn", then popped a bag of microwave popcorn and glued it to the top. My daughter and her, then youngest daughter, was jelly bellys; we bought water balloons and filled them with air, got small office garbage bags, cut leg holes in them and tied the large opening over their shoulders, but first filled the bag with balloons and a piece of paper in the front that said Jelly belly's on them.

All of these items we got at the dollar store. It was alot of fun. With the internet, homemade costumes are a snap really. Find out what they want to be and search it on the net. This year my daughter wants to be Princess Tiana from the Princess and the frog. So I think I will get the dress from a thrift store, and tint parts of it green, and buy a little frog for it. At least under $10 for sure, I will update later.

Facebook Hiatus

2010-09-13T10:28:00.000-07:00

So, I am one of those annoying facebook people ʘ‿ʘ ! I post all sorts of things. But I just can't help it, I really enjoy being able to communicate with friends all over the place. I did however notice that it became the first thing I checked when I got on the computer to work or play. So I decided to take a bit of a break , this past weekend I did not check facebook (and posted my decision of course). And I have spent a few random moments actually panicking a little bit... though they were very minor episodes... still I did, and that was sad.

It was kindof hard but when we went to my sisters house this weekend, my brother-in-law asked about my endeavor and said if I made it he will be rooting for the Buffalo Bills this season. So sadly for that Cowboys fan... he merely sweetened the pot, and I made it!

I will be ordering him a Bills sticker or a shirt or something just for kicks!

I CLEANED THE GARAGE!

2010-08-31T04:12:00.000-07:00

I feel so accomplished, I managed clean out the garage. Now typically my style of cleaning the garage is creatively moving junk from one side of the garage to the other while stepping on and scooting piles in between. Now this happened over the course of 2 moves. The one before this one we threw so much away it was sad to think we had been paying rent on stuff we never ever used, and we managed to get one car in the garage, with piles all around it!

Since we bought this house the garage was packed with stuff, and "crap" boxes. Almost 30 of them! So we re-arranged shelves and created more, and went through everything. I saved tools, china, holiday decorations, pictured that need to be hung, car stuff, and art stuff. Everything else went. My motto for the cleansing was "if I can't hang it, display it, or use immediately (including family heirlooms) then it went away. Especially if it was broken, because I had tons of stuff from the last time that I said "I was going to refinish, or glue, find that long lost piece on ebay and fix it". Those were really gone.

I figure what good is it if I can't use it. Sitting in a box buried on shelves, never to be seen again is not doing anyone any good. I have functional piles: stuff going to auction, stuff/heirlooms going to people who want it within this week, and trash that went to the dump.

I was sad while doing it, I'll admit that. But now I just keep walking out to the garage marveling at it. In fact I set up a small area for my art, and the bicycle now fit right in the center for easy access. I have one area where I have to organize tools and household items like screw, hangars and such. But I am saving that for my next energy spurt.

I have learned that good days are far and few between, so when I have those good days I take advantage. And now when I have a night where I can't sleep I just go out and paint or make a sculpture!

On Vacation

2010-08-24T05:11:00.000-07:00

I have been on vacation/hiatus for a bit... but wanted to start off with: I didn't get nearly as much done as I wanted and feel like I have wasted my opportunity! *sigh* I feel better now! Well my point was to strip down some of my stuff to clear up more time for some sculptures but didn't, I did manage to make a painting that I am mostly happy with.

But the semi-good new is I am finally getting settled into this new medication, which was another reason for the strip down. I had been recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia... I know right what the heck is that? Well I looked it up at good ole' webmd, and it seems that it is a nervous system thing (I won't bore you with details). Anyway it makes way better sense than arthritis all over my body. The medication is working and I do feel more functional, still super tired, but functional, still forgetful if I don't write everything down... but some things never change.

I feel like I am on the beginning of a new path, I am a little scared though because it fits into what I have been trying to do for many years. But we will see how this goes, I will be sure to fill you in on these details as I begin this new journey!

Some Translations of lol from Wiktionary that are hilarious

mdr: French version, from the initials of "mort de rire" which roughly translated means "dying of laughter", although many French people now use LOLinstead as it is the most widely used on the internet.
חחח/ההה: Hebrew version of LOL. The letter ח is pronounced 'kh' and ה is pronounced 'h'. Putting them together (usually three or more in a row) makes the word khakhakha or hahaha (since vowels in Hebrew are generally not written), which is in many languages regarded as the sound of laughter. The word LOL is sometimes transliterated (לול), but its usage is not very common.
555: The Thai variation of LOL. "5" in Thai is pronounced "ha", three of them being "hahaha".
asg: Swedish abbreviation of the term Asgarv, meaning intense laughter.
g: Danish abbreviation of the word griner, which means "laughing" in Danish.
rs: in Brazil "rs" (being an abbreviation of "risos", the plural of "laugh") is often used in text based communications in situations where in English lol would be used, repeating it ("rsrsrsrsrs") is often done to express longer laughter or laughing harder. Also popular is "kkk" (which can also be repeated indefinitely), due to the pronunciation of the letter k in Portuguese sounding similar to the ca in card, and therefore representing the laugh "cacacacaca" (also similar to the Hebrew version above).
mkm: in Afghanistan "mkm" (being an abbreviation of the phrase "ma khanda mikonom"). This is a Dari phrase that means "I am laughing".
In Chinese, although 大笑 (da xiao; "big laugh") is used, a more widespread usage is "哈哈哈" (ha ha ha) on internet forums.
هاها: The Arabic هـــا makes the sound "ha," and is strung together to create the sound "haha".
In some languages with a non-Latin script, the abbreviation "LOL" itself is also often transliterated. See for example Arabic لــول and Russian лол.
In Japanese, traditionally the kanji for laugh in parenthesis was used in the same way as lol; （笑）. It can be read as wara and so just w has taken over as the abbreviation.

The dog ate the wedding cake!

2010-07-05T06:34:00.000-07:00

and lived to tell about it!!!

I made a wedding cake for my niece. Her colors were red, black, and white. So I decided to do just a white cake with black decorations on it. I walked away from it long enough for the dog to find it, I think I fell asleep maybe, but still... just long enough. I thought it was safe pushed way back on the counter, but though her legs are short and stout her body is long giving her just the height she needs on her back legs to reach it.

She ate enough of it to annoy me so much, that with encouragement from my supportive husband, I went on a hunt for a plain cake. I started out at save mart and nearly bought 3 round white cakes (one larger than the others), which I would have had to get these 3 random sized black scrolled boxes to display them on, and transfer the decorations to the cake. However those 3 cakes would not have been enough for everyone, and they are a bit pricey. I was surprised that they didn't have any plain white ones, she would make me one plain but it would have been to close to the wire, and almost $35 for plain sheet cake!

So I went to Winco, they had one and it was frozen, which was exactly what I was looking for, since it was very hot that day, and only $20 for it. I went back home gathered all my decoration from the other cake, and *poof* instant emergency wedding cake.

Perfect for all shot gun style fast weddings!

Book Update

2010-06-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

Well I have gotten as far as 3 chapters on this book I am writing. But I needed to take a break, because I kind of opened a can and found worms, big ugly ones, buried deep in my brain... So I stopped for a while. But now I am back on track and last week began writing again. Since then I have gotten 2 more in, and discovered a writing group that meets twice a month.

You bring in several copies of a few pages, and everyone reads each others work. I didn't make it last week because my hubby had to work very early the next morning, and we are just not comfortable with kiddos being awake while he is sleeping... Yes maybe i am paranoid, but that is who I am, and my therapist is A-OK with it!

So I am excited to get started again, and hope to work through those worms. I think I will toss them in the garden and grow something beautiful!

Thanks for listening!

Re-0rganizing life

2010-06-07T06:23:00.000-07:00

I have, for too long, overworked, over-volunteered, and over-scheduled my life. The reasons that I am not entirely too sure of. Was I hiding from something, I'm not sure. However, since I have been dealing with some pain issues I have been thinking about all the things I could have done better, things I may have missed.

I understand these things are unchangeable at this point, but I have decided that I will be doing things better now. If I discovered anything it is this; if I can't learn from my past or mistakes I have made, then somehow I think they are worse.

Thanks for listening!

We Finally Own Our Stuff!

2010-05-27T06:32:00.000-07:00

Many people has asked me about Dave Ramsey since our big announcement of being Debt Free!!!! Well this is how we did it.

He is on KMJ 105.9 (go to his web to find your local channel) every day he takes callers questions, and his website, has tons of free information. Eventually we signed up for FPU online (Financial Peace University online) which is his seminar and workbooks but online. FPU was very helpful, and helped us get organized a little.

When we first started out, we used all the info on his website which is all free. Starting with the 7 baby steps, used the free online forms, etc. At first I thought this was for people with money and stuff, but IT WORKS. Some of the callers have amazing stories, and problems. And I kept thinking some of the steps are crazy, like the cash only system. But we did it step by step and it really works.

We haven't used a credit card for over a year now, and never will again, and look forward to a zero credit score from none use. Its funny now because when a house/car repair or some other mini crisis occurs, we don't panic about which card has enough room on it. We just use our emergency fund, or other savings and pay cash for it.... we have never done this before.

Instead of living credit-to-credit or check-to-check, we actually have cash leftover at the end of the month. It is very surreal to live this way, and I love it! We are never going back to the other way!

Crabby Patties!

2010-05-19T15:49:00.000-07:00

Well getting my daughter to eat fish is not easy, she'll do it but not 2x a week like they suggest! However I was at the 99¢ store, and found canned Chicken of the Sea crab. Now I know its not fresh but for this purpose and things like won tons and such, I think it was perfect.

So I kind of threw some stuff together and fried them up and they were delicious! Here is the recipe:

the amounts are approximate, I don't really use measurements

2 (6-oz.) drained cans Chicken of the Sea® Crabmeat Pink
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
a couple shakes salt
a couple shakes of pepper
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

I mixed them all together in order one at a time. Draining the crabmeat is apparently very important! Packed them into my hand them formed a tight patty. I fried them in oil, very hot and not a lot of oil either.

That's it... nothing major! Took a total of 15 minutes, and she loved them. I dabbed one of them with some Thai Red Curry mmmmm! Thank goodness for spongebob and mr crabs!

Standing Applause for the Standing chicken!

2010-05-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

I once made beer can chicken, and it was good. But though I sprayed it, it was difficult to remove the can. Plus it got me strange looks for my husband, and he put another check-mark on my crazy lady checklist.

I had a stoneware dish that did the same, but it has disappeared. I hadn't made a roasted chicken in a very long time, probably years. I don't like the way it gets mushy on one side so I improvised. I have this angel food cake pan that has a removable center.

I popped the center out put it in a big baking dish, and the chicken fit perfectly. Seasoned it with garlic salt, paprika, and rosemary. cooked it for the first 30 minutes on 500 and then finished it off at 350 for another 35 minutes.

It is easy to make, and it is really good. very crispy but the inside is juicy. Now the downside is no stuffing but still it is pretty good. I made garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, and green beans to go with it.

Mmmmm doesn't it look yummy, and she sits pretty like a good girl!

University Preparatory High School student art to be featured at Visalia Convention Center April 16 – June 1, 2010 • Artists’ reception May 21, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Visalia Convention Center

2010-05-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

University Preparatory High School student art to be featured at Visalia Convention Center April 16 – June 1, 2010 • Artists’ reception May 21, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Visalia Convention Center

Visalia – Select artworks from University Preparatory High School's Art Exploratory class will be featured at the Visalia Convention Center April 16 through June 1, 2010. The class, taught by arts instructor Michelle Bussey, will feature student works inspired by artists such as Paul Cezanne, Georgia O'Keefe, Alberto Giacometti, Judy Chicago, Vincent Van Gogh and Frida Kahlo.

An artists’ reception will be held Friday, May 21 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Visalia Convention Center to honor the University Preparatory High School (UPHS) students featured in the exhibition. Students in the UPHS guitar and folkloric dance program will also attend to provide entertainment. The Visalia Convention Center has generously donated the refreshments. The public is welcome to attend.

This year, the Art Exploratory class received a $500 grant from the California Table Grape Commission. The grant has been used to purchase supplies for studies on woodblock printing later this semester. Ms. Bussey hopes to organize a fall exhibition of the woodblock prints created by the students. Students have also had the opportunity to study ceramics with College of the Sequoias

(COS) professor Richard Flores. The ceramic studies with Mr. Flores and the artists’ reception on May 21 have been sponsored by the Arts Council of Tulare County. Studies in the Art Exploration class are aligned with the California state standards for visual arts. Students explore basic elements of art, principals of design, imagination, historical connections to the arts and research in art history.

UPHS was created by the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) – in partnership with the College of the Sequoias – as a high-performance, free, public high school. UPHS welcomes all highly-motivated students looking for an accelerated and rigorous academic program, including students who may be the first in their family to attend college.

UPHS students experience their high school years on the COS campus, participate in college classes and earn college credits. This approach, known as an “early college high school,” is a time-tested method proven to increase academic success and college readiness. In addition to college courses, students may also select from a growing number of fine arts classes, including beginning guitar,

folkloric dance and art exploration. For more information on University Preparatory High School, contact Principal John Kelly at (559)

730-2529.

And now a word from our "weird files"

2010-05-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

Ok so, I like Barbie. Always have, Always will. I thought it was a travesty when they gave her a reduction, and changed her face. But no worries I will be fine. Now whenever you go to any toy store or department store, you see tons of options of Barbie and Barbie tribute dolls, Hannah, High School Musical, I Love Lucy (one of my favs), holiday Barbie, beach Barbie, wheel chair Barbie, Veterinarian Barbie, and many many more.

Recently on a trip to Walmart I found the funniest one to date, probably ever... Barbie Birds, you know from Alfred Hitchcock movie, where everyone was mauled by birds! It was a movie anniversary tribute doll. I went into laughing histerics right there in the store. There was Barbie stuck in a box with a bunch of crows pecking at her. You have to wonder a little bit what were they thinking! I bet it is slightly concerning for kids, I mean if birds can attack Barbie, who has everything, and can do anything, then what chance does the rest of us have.

My other thought is how exactly is she keep that calm face, and carry that great purse; and why isn't she running, and why is her hair still in-tack! Not only does she have a great stylist but, she almost looks as if she is strolling to her corvette, on her way to Barbie Macy's to go shopping, and flicking at them as if they were harmless flies.

The only thought that comes to mind is... Barbie is one tough broad! I mean think about it, she is being held captive in a box, being attacked by killer birds, and she doesn't look fazed one bit. Another reason why I want to be Barbie!

David Corstange Smith Art Show at Cort Gallery for Three Rivers 1st Saturday Art Tour

2010-04-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

This Saturday May 1st is art tour time! Check out local artists, musicians, great food, and Three Rivers a beautiful atmosphere. Check out their website for updates and specials. www.1stsaturdaytr.com/

One of the Artist, is David Corstange Smith, has painted for 50 years, and sculpted for 20. He has studied art restoration, illustration and fine art in London, but is mostly self-taught. He paints under the name Corstange Smith, proudly carrying the name of his father and grandfather before him.

A STORYTELLER by heart, David's work consists of prospectors, mermaids, Native Americans, women, patriotic scenes, and love stories.
"I AM a hopeless romantic," says David. "When I share my paintings, I share my love, my life."

Showing at the Cort Gallery for 1st Saturday.

His work has shown in Carson City, Fallen, Las Vegas, Kalamazoo, Santa Monica, Venice, Visalia, and internationally in London England. He has also restored the John Barrymore collection in the mid 60's. He has studied art restoration, illustration, and fine art in London privately, but is mostly self taught. Upon he has shown at COS, Main Street Gallery, and most recently at Easelheads.

Fix the Roof Bake Sale!

2010-04-28T11:58:00.000-07:00

I love this... what ingenuity. Have a problem? Use your talents to solve it!

I think its great that she is doing it, more importantly she did it in style with a giant banner! It is on the corner of Chinowth and Whitendale this Saturday, and I encourage everyone to go. Go and support a member of our community who is taking control of her problem. I am excited to buy a a sugary treat and meet her. As it turns out one of my friends know her, and says she is a neat lady.

So this Saturday go check it out!

First Time Home buyers credit... JOKE! and Nightmare!

2010-04-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

RANT TIME!!! sorry guys I have to or go crazy-er!

We filed a 1040x for the home buyers credit in October of last year. So you would think that surely by now we would have it. But no, not yet. With no apparent sign of it coming in the future. Always I am told, its right around the corner, 6 weeks from this date, then 6 weeks from this new date. It almost seems like everytime they send a letter it adds 6 weeks.

Well I say... STOP SENDING ME LETTERS! By following directions giving everything plus extra of what they want, enough to have my identity stolen 12 times, I still have to wait. The problem is to many scammers in the system, which doesn't surprise me cause one of the mortgage companies we looked at didn't want to do a VA loan, and suggested that many of her clients find a house, make an offer, apply for the credit, and then use it for the down payment so they can buy it.

I am just tired of the hoopla... let me tell you this. If I could go back in time, I would seriously reconsider this credit. At the very least I think the IRS should be honest about this whole thing and tell us it will take nearly a year so don't call us, because it is not going to happen before then.

*sigh*

Food: Tongue Scraping Bad!

2010-04-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever ate something so bad that you wanted to scrape your tongue and scour your mouth with bleach. Well, I did. Now I love to try new places, so when I had to go to Fresno for lab work, and didn't eat all morning I was starving. Now my standards are lower when I haven't eaten for a while, so I am afraid.

We were driving down blackstone when dad and I saw this very old looking restaurant called BJ's Country Kitchen, their sign highlighted biscuits and gravy so we pulled in to try it. The parking lot was empty, and though that should have been a warning sign, I ignored it. My new phone has internet, so I looked it up, and all the reviews gave great ratings, 30 people and more gave it 4-5 stars out of 5. So I figured it was a diamond in the rough.

When I walked in I was immediately met with this weird smell, kinda like dead skin meets must.... (no fluff here folks this was the real smell) Now you would have thought that I would have run away, but no, I was sucked into this vortex, because hunger takes over and depletes my brain cells. The place matched the outside very old and weirdly decorated, with ugly green vinyl seats. Oddly there were people there, but I soon realized they were employees and family members hanging out... not eating! (I should have been really scared) *note the falling down tile, another sign from God, that I ignored.

The waitress, who was super nice, seated us. We got coffee, which was good! Fast forward too food. After all the forces of good trying to prevent me from certain death, I decided to... no, not leave, but order something "safe" like an ortega burger, surely thank can't screw up meat and cheese! Instead of fries I thought I would try their potato salad, the waitress told me it was homemade (are we sensing the pattern of my inadvertent suicide)

When I got my food, which was not slow, but I expected that since their were no customers but us. It looked all right, so I dug in. I opened the burger and notice there was no mayo or mustard like the menu said, when I asked she walked off presumedly to get me a little bowl of mayo, instead she brought back packets..... PACKETS, because they only use packets! The potato salad had an odd flavor and smell to it, I told myself they used too much vinegar and that it was not spoiled from sitting out too long, after all it was already in my body.

I started eating the hamburger and well you guessed it, yuck! It is meat and cheese and they managed to ruin it.... I mean I eat liver for pete's sake and I still thought this was gross! I also discovered a little gift with my burger, which for me was particularly awesome...

Now through this all the waitress, was very nice, so for that reason I did leave a tip, not a great one though, I think she should have warned me or something. At this point I wanted to get out, which meant if I had to pay for this that was okay, I did not want to take any extra time. The back of the check there was a comment section and so I filled it out, cause obviously they had no idea.

I wasn't going to say anything but the cashier did ask me, so I quickly let her know about my experience there... ironically she only seemed upset about the bread bag tie that came with my burger, and not anything else.

So this was my experience at BJ's, my only thought is that there must be another one in Fresno that everyone is talking about because I did not share their views on the place.

So good luck and good eating!

Easter Cakes I made!

2010-04-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

Okay so I wanted to make something clever for easter... We were going over to my sisters house for easter... kindof easter hoping yesterday. I decided to make a cake, but I jumped on the internet to find a clever easter cake to make. I found a betty crocker recipe that was, I think, was better looking than the other flat bunny cakes out there.

I did make a couple of tiny design changes but for the most part used there design for my first time around with this recipe. When I made the cakes I did not level them. After they cooled and I cut them in half I made sure that I cut it in such a way that the back end was wider when I put the two pieces together. This made it look more dimensional. I did use icing to stick it all together, I almost used strawberry filling... but when I talked with my husband I realized that visually I didn't want to have a bunny massacre for easter

I cut the nose jelly bean in half length wise and shaped into a triangle... the jelly bean I had were too big for the eyes, and I am told my bunnies looked evil. I wasn't sure if everyone liked coconut so instead I used the flat side of a table knife and patted the bunny after it was frosted, pulling the knife straight up. This made great looking fur. Also I thought the tail was too gi-normous so I ate one layer and centered the other.

This was a fun recipe, very easy to make. I would recommend it for everyone.

Domains and other such nonsense...

2010-03-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

Well tonite I was renewing my domains, and working on another web project for a friend. When I realized that I never really learned alot about the stuff I get with my domain purchase, and for that matter I haven't taken advantage of them. I mean they come with it, maybe I can use it to bring more traffic or something like that, who knows.

So I decided that I really need to read fine print, because it can not only keep you from agreeing to something you don't want, but you might be missing something really great. So that will be my tomorrow project, right after appointments, mopping the floor, and finally cleaning this office... YUK!

This is my short and sweet don't miss out on the good stuff, and maximize your purchases!

g'nite all!

MMMM good Salsa Chicken

2010-03-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have this small crock-pot its about 2 quarts or so, I usually use it for sides that I take to potlucks. But it is also good for testing recipes without committing to a lot of leftover... really bad recipes or mistakes.

Now for this one use chicken or cut up pieces of pork. drop 1-2 inch chunks in the crock and cover with Chachies Mango & Peach salsa, and some water not a lot maybe a cup at first! That's it, the sweetness of this salsa is perfect. Now do not cook this in a hurry because the sweetness of the fruit will blacken the edges, remember low and slow for this one. You may have to add water if it starts to dry up, don't be afraid to add water!

*update*
Calorie count
Chicken, standard serving size (deck of cards) 202 calories
Chachies Mango & Peach salsa 22 calories per serving size, which is 2 tbls. I used 1 cup which makes it a total of 88 calories per serving
The total calories is somewhere around 290 per serving assuming the information I received is correct. Of course this does not count the pasta or rice that you may serve with it

Easy, fast preparation & delicious!

http://thirtyzone.blogspot.com/

5 Alarm Chicken Salad ?!?

2010-03-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Okay so last night my sister and her family came over, and I threw some chicken leg quarters on the grill. When suddenly I remembered that I had to get the at the groomers, and they are closing in 15 minutes! So I asked someone to keep an eye out, I figured it was okay since it was on low... famous last words. On our way back I get the call that the chicken is charcoal and something about flames and having to move the bbq! I wasn't to sure if it was a joke at first, but then I realized that it wasn't. Hence the picture, to the right, funny how this chicken is not as bad as the rest.

I wasn't mad, in hindsight I usually am when things like this happen but this time not so much. I stopped at the store and got a big pack of chicken thighs. When I came home I discovered my sweet husband had popped them in the oven, which I was glad, cause I wasn't sure what I was going to do but I couldn't have 10 pounds of chicken go to waste.

Fast forward to today. So this afternoon when I remembered that we had a potluck birthday party to go to, I was oddly inspired by my chicken. I immediately chopped up some veggies in my fridge, tomatoes, olives, onions, cucumber and dill relish. De-boned and sorted threw the chicken. Tossed with mayo and made a salad. Which to my surprise was super delicious!

Here is the end result, I call it five alarm because the chicken was rescued from the flames!

Optimism

2010-03-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

I was cutting potatoes for my potato salad, well actually its my Aunt Cyndy's recipe. But the funniest thing happened, I was peeling them and I saw a face in my potato. You know those little cracks and such, well this one had one like a smile and then I noticed to little spots my little peeler didn't get...

Its one of those once in a life time things, and all I had was a camera phone so its a little fuzzy, but I couldn't resist making a poster of it. so here it is...

Now if you love it and copy it you must link it to my web page www.shelleyhuff.com and the blog http://thirtyzone.blogspot.com/ you can't sell it, or claim it as yours, or anything like that,

Random

2010-03-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

I know I have been on a random, themeless track with this blog, but I figure I am not a theme kind of person. This is who I am, blame it on meds 8), blame it on my crazy upbringing, or chalk it up to personality it doesn't matter. I am who I am, now of course I am aware that my randomness can be problematic for some, and so I try to really focus being better for really important things, or being an example for my daughter. Which that last sentence is causing me to switch gears mid-blog...

My daughter has definitely caused me to be a better person. In my quest to be a good example for her, I have improved on a lot in the last decade or so.

I cross the street at crosswalks, even when she is not around
I eat cooked carrots, even though it makes me want to gag
I have a bowl of fruit and a drawer of veggies to snack on, and they don't go bad near as often
I say thank you and please a lot
I don't yell as much, and I am not as demanding even if I do want it RIGHT NOW
I am firm but not abusive to people might possibly deserve it... you know who you are
I don't curse nearly as much as I used to, though I still drop the F bomb on occasion "What the FRENCH.... TOAST! (well maybe I should thank orbit gum for that one)

I'd like to think there are more, but for now this is all you get! I don't want to seem like I am bragging, which in its self should get listed too. But we all no parenting is hard, mostly because you have to be an example. If you toss out all these rules, you can't be a hypocrite, I know that was my big argument growing up.

Funeral of the "I can'ts"

2010-03-03T05:56:00.000-08:00

Recently I did a class called "the Funeral of the I can'ts" The purpose of the project is to help each woman realize how much strength it took to leave her abuser and come into the shelter. To affirm that she took the power with her when she left. To say “goodbye” to her “I Cant’s” — the fears she faces as she thinks about building a new life (I can’t drive, I can’t get a job, I can’t find a place to live, etc.) We start in a circle, all holding hands, and ask the question... "What have you accomplished or done in your life, that at the time you didn't think you could do" Opening Circle: As we went around the room, there was stories of women who "stopped doing drugs", "quit drinking", "I left the person who beat me up", ... there was tears and there was laughter. Art Time: We all sat down, we talked about the fears of leaving the shelter, and "anything you felt you could not accomplish before entering the shelter" We journalized this question "Is there anything you felt afraid of or felt that you couldn’t do?", "Can anyone think of any “I Cant’s” you felt when you arrived here?" We talked about how to use our experiences of the past for the future. It was a quiet moment as everyone began writing down on a piece of paper her list of the “I Cant’s.”) Each woman had an opportunity to read her list if she wanted to everyone, some took part others didn't. Each woman began to shred her “I Cant’s” in the shredder, and saves the shredded paper. Then took that paper and creates an art piece from it. What I loved about the projects was how they used those pieces of paper. Some used them as roots on a tree saying "those things made them stronger" or "my can'ts are the leaves falling off of me, so I can continue to be strong" There was a boat that was made of the I can't shreds in a tumultuous sea scene that one woman said "I will use these things to arrive to my new place, where I am confident and successful"

Conversation with the Fireplace guy

2010-02-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

Conversion with the guy at Buck Stove....
me: I am looking for a blower motor for my fireplace insert... how much do they run.

guy: It depends (long pause)

me: okay... so if I tell you about the motor will that help.

guy: I need the make and model is there a gas line

me: Its a Dove, I don't see the model # and there is no gas line

guy: is it wood?

me: I guess, there is no gas line

guy: I need the model #

me: I don't see it...How do I find it, where are they usually at

guy: it depends (long pause)

me: click!

Arts Council presents: Art in the Alley

2010-02-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

I am forwarding this from our Executive Director!

Hello Artist, and Art Lovers

Discover Art in the Alley, an outdoor arts market, the 3rd Thursday in April, May, and June from 5-8pm in Downtown Visalia’s Garden Street Plaza and alleyway connected to the Visalia Farmers Market.

This community event features local artists from throughout the Valley, live music, and children’s activities. Come out to enjoy Visalia’s beautiful springtime evenings and support the arts. Then stop by the Farmers Market, open every Thursday, to pick up the freshest best tasting produce, gourmet products, and handmade crafts available.

This is a free event, open to the public. Hosted by Art Council of Tulare County. Interested artists contact David Castro 625-1520 david@acoftc.org.

Attached are the Artists Entry form, if you or someone you know is interested in displaying work please read and mail in.

Also Attached is the Sponsor Packet, if you are interested in supporting Art in the Alley and the Arts Council of Tulare County, a non-profit organization. Please let us know.

**contact David for entry forms and packets david@acoftc.org **

Thanks
David Castro
625 1520

Jesus served me today?

2010-02-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

Okay so I was going through my receipts, and packing up my 2009 tax folder for storage, when I came across a receipt that made me fall on the floor laughing. It is from Walgreens, it is a feel good customer service phrase that also tells you who the cashier was. Mine reads...

I'm JESUS. Thank you for allowing me to serve you today

Exactly like that too, with JESUS all in caps. I still haven't recovered from it, and giggle as I type. Now you have to think what a fun name to have, and this guy probably hears alot about this. Which is probably why the good Lord allowed me to miss that little gem. After all I am my fathers daughter, bad jokes and all.

At first I was thinking... that must be a real switch for Jesus (not walgreen's jesus) to serve us. And I thought well maybe not. I mean sure we are here to serve him, but how often has he served us, I can't tell you how many times that my butt was saved and the first thought was "thank you god, or wooo Lord that was a close one, thanks for that" Or blessings that I have credited to God. Is that a way of Jesus serving us in a sense...

And here's another thought, this one is for pastors cardiologist 8) cause I remembered something and could actually find it in the bible, he tells us this story in the bible:

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" ⁷ Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." ⁸ "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." ⁹ "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" ¹⁰ Jesus answered, "Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." ¹¹ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. ¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ¹³ "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

If Jesus serves us, then how can we not consider serving each other, or blessing each other. So how can I do that, I think that it is more than just writing a check, not to discount that, because if I don't write a check then things don't get done at church and shelters, that I am not capable of doing, like jackets to kids in thailand, or food at the local shelter, or even paying those fabulous people at church who listen to me when all hell breaks lose... again!

But how else can I serve/bless/support someone. Maybe just by listening to someone in need, drop off a bag of groceries for someone and run off before they see you, volunteering at an organization religious or otherwise, just offering a helping hand and being there to fill a need. Kind of the ultimate pay it forward from God right...

i'm just sayin'

A taco without cheese!!!!!

2010-02-02T08:37:00.001-08:00

So yesterday, I was at Taco Bell, and they have all these signs up with this incredibly scrawny chick, describing her 50 pound weight loss with her "drive thru diet" I was thinking to myself, how incredibly fat I felt at the moment. Of course they made a life size version of her next to the line. Now as you may have remembered I had been on a challenge and had lost some weight, the bad news is, when the challenge stopped, I also stopped challenging myself. I let myself go back to the old excuses using my pain issues, time, family, etc. The good news is I still remembered the things I learned, and have not gained, my pants size is still the same too. I'll take that.

However, As I was standing there I realized I need to push myself. So I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco, it has something like 140 calories and minimal fat I think about 9 grams. Now this taco has only chicken, lettuce, salsa... thats it nothing else, no cheese, sour cream, yummy red sauce, nothing!!! You see, when I order say a bean burrito, I get extra cheese, extra sauce, and easy on the beans, so everything fits.... that means I raised the calories from 370 to 410 and the fat from 9 to 12! Thats just the burrito, interestingly the fiesta bean burrito is 340/8 so not much off from the regular item.

So does this new fresco menu release us from checking labels and making thought out decisions... no, while researching this article, I learned that, Christine aka... scrawny chick (I can't wait till one day I am scrawny chick) has a favorite, or so says all the marketing for this newish menu, and that is what I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco. According to the theTaco Bell Nutrition Calculator which is awesome, the Fiesta version is 170 calories to 4 grams of fat while the regular version is 270/14. I think that is pretty significant a difference.

Now this thing was pretty good, surprisingly! Once I mentally got over the cheese hang up, I enjoyed the flavor of it. So it is something I will order again, and again. And the nutrition calendar was pretty easy to use, and you can customize it to include all the special things you do to it. So check that out for sure, just not on your iphone while you are at the counter ordering, cause that would stink for everyone else... just sayin'

Back in the Day

2010-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a video that an old buddy of mine from my days in the United States Marine Corp (wow... that makes me sound like a REALLY OLD MAN, which I am not... a man that is!). The video is pretty fantabulous!

This video represents what he is doing now.

Your Cleaning Lady product review

2010-01-13T15:05:00.000-08:00

On a recent shopping trip I was looking for steel wool pads. I was just about to grab my usual box, when I saw a new one by Scotch Brite Never Rust Soap Pads they look just like steel wool but they are made of plastic. My first reaction was... so what, plastic scrubbies never work for the real cleaning jobs. But I thought I should try it, to know for sure.

When I got home I opened it up, they look the same except for they are blue. I set out on my quest and grabbed my cast iron skillet from last nights dinner, I had burnt some taco meat into it, and was just too tired/lazy to look at it. I brought it over to the sink added water and started scrubbing. And WHOA! It was coming right out fairly easily too! Amazed I ran place to place, scrubbing, it is pretty good stuff, it even worked on old soap scum.

I am still nervous about using it on things like metal sinks, or scratch sensitive areas, but otherwise A+ for sure. My favorite part of this is it is made from recycled material... specifically, the pad fiber is 100% recycled (100% post-consumer material) and the box is 100% recycled (35% post-consumer material). So it is also good for the environment.

I found mine at the 99 cents store, however they are in new packaging in many stores, hardware stores, and online

this blog is in no way associated with Scotch Brite its company and its affiliates.... its just a review ya'll

The power of cash... another day at Financial Peace

2010-01-05T07:12:00.000-08:00

Why do you think cash carries so much power when you’re looking for a bargain?

Though I don't have a particular moment that sticks out in my head from my personal experience where I was the purchaser; I do however remember my cash customers.

When we had the glass shop store front, we decided not to carry credit card, which some tell us they would have been able to purchase alot more glass. But it was a personal decision long before Dave Ramsey, that was stimulated because of our discontent with credit card fees etc. Even then, when a customer came in with cash rather check, there was a feeling of security. Because cash is solid. Cash doesn't bounce or come back as fraudulent, well as long as you have one of those nifty pens, and it doesn't get a hold put on it.

It also helps purchases move faster to, no waiting periods or wondering if it will go through. Cash is trustful, because credit may be good but temporary, at any time decisions can be made and payments put on hold, and lets face it when we can't make a payment, it doesn't really matter how many fees are added on... it still stinks.

The other nice thing about cash is that it is a way to stay within the perimeters of spending. If you can really tell yourself and believe that $20 is all I have for this purchase, because your looking at a $20 bill and dust in the wallet, then 1 of 2 things will happen; if you really want it you will negotiate or find it for that price, or 2 you will just have to wait.

... and waiting doesn't kill you and neither does negotiating!

A taco without cheese!!!!!

2010-01-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

So does this new fresco menu release us from checking labels and making thought out decisions... no, while researching this article, I learned that, Christine aka... scrawny chick (I can't wait till one day I am scrawny chick) has a favorite, or so says all the marketing for this newish menu, and that is what I ordered the Chicken Ranchero soft taco. According to the the Taco Bell Nutrition Calculator which is awesome, the Fiesta version is 170 calories to 4 grams of fat while the regular version is 270/14. I think that is pretty significant a difference.

Insurance

2009-12-29T07:29:00.000-08:00

This whole insurance thing scares so me... how do you know what to get. And life insurance is just really insane, because of my disabilities, and other factors, it is high. Right now it is too high while we are paying off bills so I am trying to find alternatives.

I was looking at Mortgage insurance but it is kindof a rip off, because the monthly fee never goes down but the value of the policy goes down. But maybe it would be okay for the short term. I hate to waste money, but I am afraid to go on any further and be not covered. So today I am going to call in to the Dave Ramsey radio show and get his opinion on this. I will update this this afternoon....

End of the year Donations

2009-12-28T05:54:00.000-08:00

Science department faces budget cuts...
Due to budget restraints, Math classes are being slashed by over 50%...
Football, water polo, and tennis to be cut from 2010/2011 school budget...

Just imagine if these were the headlines you were reading instead! What would you do?

The fact remains that most of us think of art as recreation, or hobbies, but we don’t think of it as necessity. I always believed that the those in the educational departments felt that way as well. With art being the first to go when budget cuts come down. So I was surprised when I came across a letter from the U.S. Secretary of Education to the School and Education Community leaders at the beginning of the school year:

"At this time when you are making critical and far-reaching budget and program decisions for the upcoming school year, I write to bring to your attention the importance of the arts as a core academic subject and part of a complete education for all students. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) defines the arts as a core subject, and the arts play a significant role in children's development and learning process... “The arts can help students become tenacious, team-oriented problem solvers who are confident and able to think creatively," he stated. "These qualities can be especially important in improving learning among students from economically disadvantaged circumstances. "

I was shocked to learn that based on studies produced by the national Arts Education Partnership, the President's Committee on the Arts and theHumanities, the GE Fund, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation:

82.6% of 8th graders earned mostly As and Bs who were involved heavily in fine arts

30.07% of the respondents who participate in fine arts performs community service where only 6.28% of the respondents who do not participate in fine arts perform community service.

Students who are not heavily involved in fine arts have more than double the chance of dropping out of school by the 10th grade.

Sadly these cuts have come to pass, and are still to come, so how do get our children access to art? What can we do to give our children every opportunity to grow and experience a well rounded education that utilizes all subjects including art. Arts Council of Tulare County, they offer community events and art programs that raise awareness of the importance of arts, organize art based venues, offer support to local artists, and bring art into our classrooms.

The Art in Education program sends local artists into the schools; educating students in art through demonstrations, performances, and hands on art creation. A program that reaches an average 14 school districts, 26 schools, impacting 4670 students a year.

First Friday Art Tour and Art in the Alley are brand new venues to the valley reaching hundreds of people each night during their seasons. While still maintaining the Tulare County Fair, and the Art Hang in the Visalia Convention Center.

You can help in many ways, you may choose to sponsor an event, or simply pledge $20 and support art education. Either way the Arts Council is appreciative of your support of any size.

To give a year-end donation, contact the Executive Director David Castro, at 559-625-1520 or David@acoftc.org. If you are not in my area, then consider locating your local Arts Council and lending your support!

Thank you!

Christmas... Dave Ramsey style!

2009-12-24T05:53:00.000-08:00

Its a Dave Ramsey Christmas... but this year we did decide to squeeze out a few gifts for the kids and for parents who lived in the area, no shipping this year. Our budget is a shocking $5 per person. I knew that this was crazy, cut somehow it was doable. Now I know what you are thinking... $5 why bother. The hardest part is getting past the idea that you are only spending $5 on a person, I mean mentally that is really, really hard, but doable. I think that even if they did find out that your budget is the size of a pea, that they don't really care, and if they found out you are trying to pay off your bills and be debt free they still wouldn't care. They would probably even be excited and or proud of your endeavors.

I decided that if I was going to work with this budget, I was going to have to really flex the creative muscle. First I put everyone's money in envelopes so I wouldn't go over at all. The hardest part was putting things back when I new even with taxes I wouldn't have it. Seperate envelopes would have been much easier because I was more tempted to over spend, using a seperate envelope would have helped me mentally, you know "self.... there is really on $5 in there so you have to choose between bath salts or candle to go with the bubbles and lotion"

Another key to this was to not just blanket shop. I knew that I didn't want to just pull out my printing block and make 30 prints of a christmas scene, or crochet a bunch of doilies. I wanted to let each person know that we were thinking of them individually, personalize it.

So my daughter and I headed out to shop. Now for the girls it was easy. For my mother-in-law who just moved into a new apartment I made a basket of bubbles, candles, pretty soap very easy, and at the good ole' dollar store, very cheap, but shockingly nice. I found a beautiful necklace at target on clearance, for my niece who is a teenager now and rolls her eyes alot... in fact I am sure that just now as I write this she just rolled her eyes and doesn't even know why. Michaels had 80 piece art kits on super sale $2 each and at this point the younger kids just know that their aunty loves art and that is just what they are going to get. I got a larger art kit for my nephew, it has some pastels in it. I decided that I was going to print some online lessons to include with it, and go to walmart and get a couple of packs of their cheapy copy paper, I use it for alot of practice drawing or trying out new techniques or supplies 500 sheets for $2 is great to add into their kits for practically nothing each.

I was lamenting over what to get for my father-in-law for christmas, the budget was only $8... normal budget was only $5 but I was under budget on some others (if you can believe that) and was able to increase here. Still it was hard. So it hit me on the way out the door when I was checking the time... he likes tools. A tool clock. So I went to micheals with my 50% coupon and paid only $3.50 for battery operated clock mechanics that comes with the arms and everything. Then I stopped at Harbor Freight and found the cheapest circular saw blade I could find right about $3. Then I picked up a little pack of washers, I was lucky to find a small container with mulitple sizes.. including very large, like a half dollar. I went home and started assembly. Fumbling through, ad-libing, and using washers to make hole smaller and a couple of smaller ones to fit inside the hole so it won't wiggle, (my husbands idea). And a sharpie to write in the numbers, they have number kits you can buy but I thought that a sharpie was just as good. And as it turns out there are a ton of instructions online for these... so google it!

Also another gift I made that is was perfect was for my other mother-in-law. Her kitchen decor is apples, so at Michael's my daughters mission was to find an apple stamp, and not only did she do that but she said look mom this one is only $1 so we can get this cute house too, its also $1! Love that kiddo... so we got that some ink, some felt, and went next door to Lowes and bought 4 tiles. We stamped them, glued little felt squares on the four corners, and I am going to use hairspray cause I forgot to buy spray fixative. Great gift, a project I found online also.

So this is how christmas went this year, I didn't list everything but I think you get the picture. Though I have not seen the results yet, I do believe it will go well.

Merry Christmas!

Impulse buying!

2009-12-23T04:16:00.000-08:00

Impulse buying is obviously a big problem for me, its my nature I am like this with everything. We are getting better about it over the last year and though it sucks, we are beginning to see the fruits of that labor with 3 paid of credit cards so far. I just like saying that over and over.

Waiting overnight is difficult but it does give you a chance to stew it over. I think that looking at the budget while thinking about it also can be helpful. You know remind ourselves why we are doing this. The 90 days same as cash still gets me cause I still, even now, will try and tell myself that I can pay it off before the 90 day.

Our last biggest purchase, was that stupid car, and boy I am still dizzy when I think about how I managed to convince myself that we needed it. I like talking to my husband about things, especially when we are on the same track. When I am weak, he is strong and mindful of our mission to freedom!

Significant purchases

2009-12-22T06:28:00.000-08:00

When I think about a significant purchase, I think $50. We would have to talk about it or least know that we have the money or in the past, know that we had a place on the credit card for it. So even though it is a low number, it was still kinda high for us.

My biggest problem is "treating myself" We like to go to the movies or out to eat oh and art stuff. I am really good at treating myself to those items and I can justify it real easy. It is still a real problem for me. I start calculating in my head, okay I have ___ in the account and its so many days till payday or my next big job. Which is hilarious, cause when I see a math book I get all paranoid and sieze up... "I can't do math" "I am just not a math person". But if I want to buy something, I sure can whip up some figures in a flash.

Since our new expedition in the financial responsibility world, about the only success I can really claim is that I have come across an excellent deal on a kiln, and though I REALLY WANT ONE! and I can make ware to sell and make up for the cost of it and make the money back fairly quickly, and the money is in the EMERGENCY fund... I have not given in. Instead I am selling the boat in hopes of raising the money to buy one for cash.

Grown up 1 screaming stomping kid in me 0

My first card

2009-12-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

I still remember my first credit card... it was a citibank card and I was at COS and they had there little card table set up, and I was snared. It wasn't even hard for them. I was only 19-20 I had an apartment with a friend, that I couldn't afford so my husband-to-be (as it turned out) was paying for it.

So of course I could get a card, and did you know they gave me a $2000 dollar limit. I mean me, I was bringing home maybe $200 a month! I was excited and of course, I put it away for emergencies, like shoes, and pizza. But no worries cause every time I got to my max limit, you know those nice people raised my credit limit, so I wouldn't have to worry. But that doesn't really end there because after I got married, I still found myself enamored by credit cards. I felt grown up, like I was officially an adult. I would be at the mall and see those credit card tables with free items, and I would plow people over just to get in and fill it out.

Soon, the debt was very high. We were losing control, and several years later as we stood in bankruptcy court worried that someone was going to show up, that credit card card had grown to over $20,000... yes there are 5 digits there... I really did hate to see that go, but maybe it is more about failure than it is loyalty. Maybe if I can hold on a little more then I could fix this mess I made.

But that was a long time ago, and unfortunately not the last of my financial mistakes, and now we are on track for greener pastures.

1st day of Vacation

2009-12-21T13:37:00.000-08:00

1st lunch at home since school is out goes something like this:

A new idea of Debt

2009-12-17T21:53:00.000-08:00

Its funny that until I had taken this course, I had not realized that credit cards are fairly new concept, Visa is only about 30 years old before that it was another company that was around for only 20 or so years, but doesn't it seem like it has always been around. Archeaologists are digging around and finding Mastercards carved into bone as we speak. In fact, when I think back I don't remember my grandparents having debt. I mean I always thought we were "poor" and we were, you know we struggled, we became really good at creative cooking with welfare cheese. But the only bills were rent, utilities, etc.

Like a fish, I and many others have grabbed a bite of that bait and that was it. At this point I am toying with the idea of counting up how much we spent on finance charges, but I am afraid that would be so much that I might get too depressed. Its important to look to the future.

Do you know what you can do when you don't have any debt or payments.... anything you want

Abraham Lincoln's debt letter to his brother

2009-12-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

This is an interesting link I have found, and wanted to share. I have wondered to myself as I read it, would I have the courage to do this... hmmm.

Dave Ramsey: Abraham Lincoln's debt letter to his brother

Cash Flow Planning... isn't that a business form

2009-12-16T09:12:00.000-08:00

Cash flow spending, that is an odd thing to consider when we are talking about personal spending. But really smart when you think about it, its not like all of the money comes in at the beginning of the month right. The nerd in me is like YES! But the free spirit in me wonders, can we pull it off, let alone keep going with it. I think yes. If we stay on path.

The funny thing is whenever I would work on the "budget", which was more like a bill list, I would never include thinks like food, clothing, gas. It was just easier that way, kind-of fly by the seat of our pants, if we ran out we ran out. Which I recognize even during that time, that it was out of control. We are working on this budget, and its nice to know that the first few times it is going to be morphing alot... too much for this, oops need more pad here! But that is okay, it is okay to make adjustments, nothing is written on stone tablet.

The envelope system may not work out. My hubby is not comfortable with it, and when I have cash, I tend to spend it faster, weird huh! so I am going to create a more customized check register system that will suit our needs better. To be completely honest, I already kind-of have it in my head, just a matter or testing it out.

Too bad Togni Branch isn't around anymore, they probably had exactly what I was looking for!

Living on a budget!

2009-12-15T04:54:00.000-08:00

Budgets, when I think of the word budget I think, no more shopping! Gone are the days of sitting at the Corner Cafe eating a delicious omelet, hot coffee, and looking into the eyes of my hubby as we talk about our week. Living on a budget has always had a negative connotation to it, something like, well we need new tires gonna have to live on a budget...

Luckily over the past year or so I have gotten very insane about balancing the checkbook, and after very early on in our marriage, when I accidentally bounced a check at the local super market I also have gotten in the habit of using a calculator. Still even with those habits in place the word budget strikes fear. I freak out a little when I hear it because the habits were still there, spend every dime leaving only a few dollars till payday.

well hears to the future!

Money & kids

2009-12-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

This new vision is something I want to ensure that our kiddo not only knows but that it is a way of life. No student loans, credit cars, saving up for a car and not buying into credit card debt, and maybe just maybe even paying for a house with cash. Doesn't that sound a little ridiculous, I thought so too, however, I hear about it quite often now... now that I have opened my ears to it. We have been told for so long that we must save for a down payment, buy a car with no money down, get a credit card and make regular payments, preserve your credit score, that we know no different. But we are determined to change that for her, to ensure that her life is different, and better, save your money for a car, save your money for that new furniture, be patient and your reward is that your life will never be chained down to another person, and the economy will survive. Because the economy is not dependent upon your credit card, it is dependent upon your ability to spend responsible.

When I think about what I learned from my parents growing up, there is not much to write about. We were very poor, lived off welfare, "government cheese", and other such things. So saving wasn't at the top of the list, if there was a list. Not to say they didn't try, I was raised by my grandparents, and the were disabled and retired, and struggled. But they tried, God love em' Not a cycle I wish to repeat.

Marriage and money? oi!

2009-12-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

So we are working on Marriage and money. This topic is quite touchy some say it is the number one reason for divorce, which is very scary considering a future with the person you love is hinged on a checkbook. I don't think so... instead I wonder if it is the lack of communication or a plan concerning finances, and a secure future. How far can we go in a boat without a navigation system, or at least a compass.

One of the topics covered in this lesson was separate checking accounts. I hear about many couples who keep separate accounts, bills, even divvy up household expenses. That concept is something I couldn't see working in our household. I feel like that would also drive separation within the marriage, once you begin to tear a sheet of paper, it is weakened, and soon will begin to further split, maybe into 2 pieces. Now that we budget for entertainment and pocket money, I feel like I get to spend a little more freely, a little more equally (I'm a shopper).

Recently, I also posted our additional paid off debt. I have learned that it is now exciting to not only pay off debt but to close those accounts, checking the mail daily waiting for the letter of closure. I am however resisting the urge to frame them, my child does have friends, and I would like for them to not think that I am completely nuts (or at least know the truth). When I think about our communication style for money, I am happy that they have generally not been screaming matches, and we have been on the same page, however it was the wrong page! We never had financial goals other than, how to spend spend spend, and also finagle being able to run out and buy something that we wanted. With our budget in place I see our path and future, and it does feel secure, even clear.

FPU Quick Update!

2009-12-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

We have paid off another credit card! Its so exciting we are on track and going, even in the face of Murphy standing on our doorstep a time or two!

Saving for Wealth.... ok now this is just overachieving!

2009-12-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

It really kicks me in the butt to think that if we had put away $100 per month that we would retire with more than a million dollars... I mean seriously people! Why were my ears closed to this very valuable information. Did I miss it. Of course, in my defense, the thought of becoming a millionaire was foreign. I think for most people that is true. Coming up with $100 a month even as a dumb kid fresh out of my families house even when I was completely broke. I think I could have pulled this one out.

The eye opener for this session is the budget, now I already had a little budget, but it was more of a guide to know how I can spend after the bills were paid... ugh wasted time wasted money! Well woulda, coulda, shoulda, lets not dwell and lets not certainly forget. There were lots of things I forgot like little things, however if we are diligent and follow it, I discovered a good amount of money in the fund to pay off credit card debt even faster. This discovery is even after paying the minimums. Now had we been behind on bills there are steps to take that you can still do this, and make it and that is good news.

We just got to keep our eye on the prize, and keep taking these baby steps. Savings, college funds, and making sure that from now the family tree does not have a bank attached. When I think of debt, I imagine a large iron ball attached to my neck dragging me down with a chain that is incredibly long, and wrapped somewhere around a credit card! Someone get those bolt cutters quick!

New concept.... saving for emergencies and purchases! What is up with all this crazy talk!

2009-12-09T06:36:00.000-08:00

Saving for emergencies AND purchases! I don't know, that seems foreign somehow. Who plans for emergencies anyhow, isn't that what insurance is for.... oh wait we're not talking about ambulances? You mean put money away so the next time you look at your tires, and determine that they must have made a mistake at the tire shop 8 years ago, and accidently put on racing skids!

I think our idea, and probably most peoples idea of an emergency fund is... pray like mad until something gives, or a loan shark... eh hem I mean loan company comes along and "helps". So here we are at class, and some questions are put forth. What was the last major unexpected financial crisis you face? How would that have gone differently is there was... gasp... money in a savings account?

Well I think the last major one was when I lost my job, our shop, and the car in the same quarter. Well that was quite the zinger, not to say that there was no other crisis, but when I think major that is what appears. So had we discovered Dave Ramsey earlier, and we had a fully funded emergency fund, it wouldn't have been so devastating. You know like being punched in the stomach and just for kicks rip out the carpet from your feet so it was easier to kick you in the ribs cause your flat on your back... oh sorry rambling a little.

Maybe things would have been different altogether, you know saved up cash for the car instead of financing, or at the very least, rather than panic about those events, taken a deep breathe, and thought about the next step, rather than run around like a crazy person.

Now my favorite questions are "dream big ones" you know what would you do if you won the lottery! Well I am a little small town so I am okay with this one: What if you were debt free (except your home) and had $10,000 sitting in the bank just for emergencies? How would your life be different? How would you be different?

Dreams would come true... I would be sitting in my studio downtown, throwing and firing all day beautiful pottery and sculptures, painting on occasion. Selling my art and maybe others too, but at a bargain so that everyone can see it. Then go home wait for my family to come home, cook dinner, and enjoy seeing them, and hanging out. Thinking about this for a moment makes me smile. I get excited, cause in a short time and with these little goals my husband and I have acheived already, I think that this is reality, this can actually happen. This is motivation! This I can do. I would never get a loan again, and in fact when I think about this little dream I start rolling around numbers in my head thinking... how much do I need to put away to make this happen, what can I do to acheive this goal and how long will it work.

This new thought process is funny because when I would think of this before I would think to myself, how can I crunch the numbers for the bank, how can I convince them to loan me the money. This concept of paying cash and saving for things is not extreme thinking anymore, just different thinking. I hear the testimonies on the radio everyday. This is real cause right now it's happening to us, little by little we are progressing from the depths of financial despair to financial freedom.

This is awesome!

Big dose of Financial reality or Financial Peace University lesson 1

2009-12-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

Today is lesson one of financial peace university. It was relatively easy to go through, the layout was very nice, easy to use. I had video issues, but learned it was because I had left a ton of stuff on my desktop running in the background.

So far we are off to a good start, the emergency fund is in place. Though we had to dip into it, it is nice knowing that it was there, no panic! We will have to budget tonite and be ready to stay on path.

I had an ah-ha moment today when I was looking at quickbooks... it seems we really eat out alot, now I consider ubakes and as well or anything like that, not fully prepared by me as dining out. it is my weakness.. my solution is to time manage better and to cook better meals, or some that kind of similiar to what we get when we go out. Maybe I will even squeeze in some healthier stuff!

So though tonite will be boring and busy, I look forward to moving through these steps to financial freedom!

Quickie: Acorn Squash!

2009-12-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

okay so I heard this tip on one of those cooking shows... I think it was called Lets Cook or something like that on create tv . Anyhow, focus... he was cooking a butternut squash in the microwave. Now I have always cut it in half put it in a bowl of water, cover it and cook, just like the directions, however this guy left it whole, stabbed it a few times with a knife and put it in the microwave.

So tonite I tried it... but I only had an acorn squash, and to my surprise it worked. I cooked it about 10 minutes but probably could have gone another 5 minutes, as I had some hard spots. I pulled it out and cut it in half and scooped the seeds, and scraped it into a bowl, it was pretty fast and seeds practically fell out.

This worked perfect if all you wanted was some mashed squash in a hurry. However if you were going to do something else with this or make some yummy stuffed squash rings then I would not. I do not think it will save time in those instances, plus you don't get that toasty roasted flavor that you can get in the oven or on a grill.

All in all, it was good!

Financial Peace... the experience

2009-12-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Dave Ramsey has been a blessed discovery in our lives, and during veterans day, they gave a way to all veterans a free 16 week course to the Financial peace online class! My husband and I are both veterans of the United States Marine Corp and I am excited to start this session.

I decided that I will be posting my experience of taking this class on this blog, now I won't be posting the class, however I will be posting the experience as I process this new direction in our lives. I am excited that we will be able to teach this to our daughter so that by the time she becomes an adult, she will have a strong foundation to begin her life.

Turkey Day Peace

2009-11-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

Well for Thanksgiving day, we went to my sisters, it was so much fun and really stress free. We laughed, talked, watched football. My sister and I snuck out for a little T-day window shopping. It was really one of the best in a really long time. I look forward to tucking this one a way in my treasure box of great memories.

More than be thankful, this time of year really reminds me of the happiness that is around. All to often it fades to the background as crisis' and bad times are so prevalent. I forget to take time to really focus on the true greatness that is also here. We mustn't forget that, because I realize that if we allow the good things no matter how great or small, they make us smile, laugh, and warm up our soul if even for a moment.

That is worth treasuring, one moment of letting the stress in our lives take the back burner for a change, is enough to eliviate pressure and live a little.

Enjoy and be thankful, even if only for a moment!

The Turkey Report

2009-11-19T15:23:00.000-08:00

I am on the lookout for turkeys at the best price available. While I am searching I will post the information I have found here, so we all can get the good price. This information is limited to the Visalia area unless otherwise noted.

Smart & Final Nov 18th thru Dec 1st

Really seeing some good prices here in the ad

First Street frozen turkey $0.35 per pound with $25 purchase

*pies are 2 for $5 ~ potatoes 10 pounds for $0.99

Save Mart Nov 18th thru Dec 1st

Free Master cut up to 14 pounds turkey with purchase over $99

*ham is priced cheaper however it is a whole ham

Walmart

ad claimed $0.40 per pound limit 2 but when I called they told me it was not in Visalia but Dinuba... I don't think it is worth the gas to drive that far, however if you go there already it might be worth it.

-the Visalia store mentioned that sometime next week they might get some for $10 but nobody new what size.

That is what I have so far, I will have more updates later!

Intelligent Unpacking and the first of our Debt Snowball payoff

2009-11-11T06:21:00.000-08:00

Still unpacking. While I am unpacking I am making sure that EVERYTHING goes to a place and stays there. I hereby rebuke the junk drawer and will not start one. And while I am at it, all this furniture that I don't really like, but keep around so I can have a place to cram my crap into... gone! So this new revelation is causing the unpacking brigade to be a little slow, but thats okay I have 30+ years to unpack.

Today I am also paying off 2 credit cards in our debt snowball... if you don't know what that is go to the Dave Ramsey website at www.daveramsey.com good stuff, life changing.

Pie on a stick

2009-11-10T20:44:00.000-08:00

Okay so I love food... but more importantly I love fun food. Octo-dogs, cakes that look like giant hamburgers, and... pie on a stick. Well I say toss out those pesky forks, and bring on the stick. Now the best part, I think, is because how small they are, why you ask... well if I go back for 3rds on a pie slice it causes all sorts of guilt. However, if I eat pie on a stick well, I have to get up alot to get another one.

Now these cute little guys, would be great for a party and if easy if you buy pre-made pie crust and cut them out with glasses to make little round ones, fill and bake. I have seen them with lollipop sticks instead of popsicle sticks, I think they both look cute. Punch some holes in a decorated box and serve.

here is a link to this fun little discovery http://justjennrecipes.com/little-pies-on-a-stick/2009/08/02/

good luck and happy eating.

Decorating ideas

2009-11-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

I love fishing! So much so that I am trying to figure out how to implement that into my dining room area. I am not a fan of "country decor" or "sea/ocean decor" I love contemporary style or even dutch modern! Now I am not so good at creating this kind of stuff but I am good at looking at a picture and using it as a guide for my own. So my problem remains, since I can't find anything like this already I now have to flex my creative muscle and decide what to do.

Oh yeah did I mention this couch is awesome!

wish me luck!

Finished!

2009-11-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

Tired, but couldn't resist a quick announcement WE ARE FINISHED... now the unpacking begins.

I am the Management Company

2009-11-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

When I called the management company to tell them about the problem I was having, I was surprised to hear my own voice. Oh yeah that's right. We are home owners... we are the management company. And Lowe's is our best friend. they must be cause they have had us over every night last week.

Its funny what you don't look for when picking your house. Like for example, we knew that we would need to buy a shower curtain rod, but we somehow didn't notice that there was no toilet paper roll holders hmmm... or the fact that my husband was zapped when he reached up to change the light bulb (turns out the guy used a 3 inch wood screw to hold it in place, and while the elec was off he screwed it right through a live wire)

Or how do you work a pool sweep thingy anyhow. You know all those little things. It is quite the adventure, we also discovered that there is a whole house water filter installed.

I can't wait to see what's lurking overhead!

Moving Moving Moving

2009-10-26T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well I thought by now we would be done by now... the keys are due to the management company on the first which is Sunday... gonna drop them in the box.

Have a feeling I will be doing this for a while, it was a nice fantasy to think I could move the house, the art stuff, and the garage of doom that is packed with tools and Nova parts...

I am amazed at the amount of stuff, cause when we moved last time, I threw away so much I was sure I was clear of the junk. Can it be that I really need this stuff, maybe I can take pictures of these things and hang them instead, of carting them around. Even as I move them out I keep tossing things! Well here is hoping that things fit at the new place, or at least that the trash can is big.

New home, new habits, new begginnings

WE HAVE KEYS! she yells with her keyboard

2009-10-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Wow! we actually have keys... they are in my hands. This journey has been a loooong disheartening, stressful, exciting, exhilarating, roller coaster ride. I am so glad we did it.

This is all thanks to Kim at Buy it Real Estate, she is the most re-assuring, kind, professional, who is all about getting the job done and getting the house you want. She is truly a real estate Genius! I think she needs a cape.

Jeremy & Kayla at Kings mortgage handled our loan and they are equally super-fab, putting up with our crazy docs, and my countless phone calls and questions.

All in all we are finished and I am walking around this home and thinking wow... not only is it beautiful, it is ours. I think I know now why some people paint their walls hot pink or poop orange... cause they can! I think it is ironic that it happened on the heels of the van breaking down. But the hubby fixed it cause he is awesome!

Bad Day for Vans

2009-10-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

Its a bad day for vans! at the gas station I went to start it and it got stuck... not the accelerator but the starter, couldn't shift or turn it off, in fact even with the keys out of the ignition it was still in a constant state of starting....

After a call to my husband, I popped the hood and went to get my tool box... except when I made room for my art class supplies, I took it out so I was stuck. Amazingly no one offered to help or even look, some were even frustrated that I was blocking the pump. I asked around, no tools at all.

By this time I saw smoke, and even after I yelled out "hey there's smoke" no one budged or even paid attention. So I ran back over and looked under the hood (cause I do dumb things) to see where it was coming from. Basically everything was hot including the battery, and the cables, I grabbed the cable and pulled on it betting on the fact that things were melting, and to my surprise I was right. And she stopped. I actually got it pushed out of the way, thanks to a very nice man who helped out.

Finally after many phone calls, I got a tow company that was priced in my budget.... ie cheap. I had used Queen Bee Towing in the past whom I love, but I just couldn't find them listed even 411, of course I only had access to one kind of phone book (don't even get me started on that one). So I called Affordable Towing, cause I thought well they must be... and they were. The guy who came out was super nice and he even parked the van better than I do using cable off a flat bed ( which really isn't saying much if you look at my tires side-wall)

My poor dad whom I was giving a ride to, no thinks I am nuts, which is sad because I had him snowed of the fact for so long. The very best part of this whole thing is that the house finally closed and we get keys tomorrow!

So to sum it up, van broke down, moving tomorrow, yeah for me!

Biscuits & Gravy

2009-10-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, a friend got me thinking about biscuits and gravy, I will not tell you her name but her initials are Lori...

This is a quick recipe that has been used by my family for many many generations... straight from the hills of Kentucky. This is not the healthy, it is not good for your diet, and well too much too often will get your cardiologists a new kitchen, or ferrari; but mmm mmm good. Its fast so make it after the biscuits and have all ingredients next to the skillet.

fry up some bacon (you can also use ham or sausage, my fav is bacon)

milk

water

flour

salt

whisk

I use a cast iron skillet, I suggest you don't use a non-stick pan though, you can use a stainless or even a pot if you wish, I am not here to judge so carry on with the utensil of choice. Set up large glass of water, milk jug, and flour next to you.

I use a few tablespoons of the grease, while the pan is on and the grease is hot, add a few tablespoons of flour (a little less than the grease) to the grease and whisk a few times. Now let it sit for a little, you will smell it brown, then stir again for a few strokes. keep doing this till it is darker brown, don't be afraid of burning it, you will immediately know.

Once the color is dark, add some milk I am guessing maybe a cup or cup and a half, now this will steam up and make all kinds of noise and havoc, and will thicken up like crazy... stir this in it should be super thick. This is when I add in the water slowly whisking as I go, till you get to the consistency you like. Add salt to taste this will really bring out the flavor then add in your bacon.

mmmmmm!

Okay so now I will make some and post the video!

the trial

2009-10-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

I originally wanted to write about stevia and all these different reports about it, but I was reading the newspaper about a local girl who has abandoned her babies, one had died all happening over the past couple of years, what a terrible situation.

As I was reading about her recount of abuse that occured by her father, and then by her boyfriend, all right in front of everyone, I couldn't help to think about how powerful abuse can be, so much so, that that they couldn't find courage to call the police. How when someone is overpowering you so much either physically, emotionally or both that you literally feel trapped like there is invisible bars all around you, tightening in until you feel you can no longer breath.

So powerful that she like many others in her place hid her pregnancy from all the people in her house and in an desperate last ditch effort made the worst possible decision. I am guessing because the other 2 were found, she had no reason to believe that this one would be too, still though. It is sad, that instead of advocating the benefits of adoption people are using this as an argument for abortion, something that still doesn't solve anything and would leave her in the same emotional place, but this time 2 other children that would never experience life, and 2 other families to never experience those children.

When I think about this situation, I think about the times in my past when I didn't do something or say something, when I witnessed it or even knew about it, what was else was going on that I didn't know about. What was lurking there under the cover.

What have I missed.

Getting back... housing woes

2009-10-06T05:29:00.000-07:00

fwwwwwwwwwwwhhhh.... let me dust this thing off~ sorry everyone. I have been in a whirl wind lately, in escrow... again... on yet another house. Really its not even exciting anymore. I mean I love this house but some sellers are very crazy right now, at the last minute asking for more money, and I'm thinking that wasn't in the contract, but I would rather walk away than deal with that. However it also helps that the perfect house is around the corner, and so far this looks like it but I refuse to get excited anymore until we sign paperwork and get keys.

Also, more good news is we are on track to paying off our bills completely, thanks to a radio show called Dave Ramsey, officially in the very beginning of 2010 we will be debt free except for the house (maybe even sooner). We will be putting all the money we normally pay to our debt to the principal on the house, and maybe even more. There are those who live on the bare essentials, you know rice and bean people for a few short years and manage to pay off their mortgage in a handful of years. I would like to have that motivation, and who knows maybe I will after we are debt free in a couple of months.

Thanks for your support and encouraging emails!

Artists social network

2009-08-27T08:02:00.001-07:00

Come by and check it out. Get the latest in art news

Visit Art in Visalia

Last Night... Dinner fiasco

2009-08-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well last night was hilarious. I say hilarious because I decided that I was not going to stress about it, my first little hurdle in my mission of not letting everything stress me out, especially little things... cause really there are much better things to stress about.

So, summer is coming to an end and I decided to call my sister and her family over to barbecue and hang out. I decided to slowly roast some pork, teriyaki chicken thighs, corn, baked beans, orzo and fresh tomato salad, and a cake. Thankfully I decided on slow roast, because I went out to the grill to turn it on, and no flame... shoot!

I convinced my sweet hubby to fill the tank, did some prep, when he returned, I hooked it up and still nothing. Oh boy, so I start fooling around with it, finally asked my hubby to come out, and he does the same, nothing! I start to panic a little thinking if this doesn't start soon, my roast is out the door and I will have to go get more chicken.

My husband points out the 800 number on the grill, and as a last digit effort I decide to call. The woman who answered seemed very nice, but her accent was so thick I had no idea what she was saying. I was grateful when she transferred me. The man who was also very nice walked me through a ton of troubleshooting, and in the end determined that it was the regulator.

So there is no time to do anything at all, so barbecue chicken turned to fried chicken, and slow roasted pork happened in the microwave with plastic wrap, now that might sound bad... but it was not at all, everyone loved it. So all in all the day ended well.