Beth & Cory's Mom

I Hope my Husband Doesn’t Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:23:00 +0000

I’m in love with another guy!

(Warning: Cuteness Overload!)

Can you blame me?

I'm Elmo and I Know It

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:33:00 +0000

I saw this on Good Morning America this morning and thought it was really fun. Who doesn't love Elmo?

Friday Fives

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:36:00 +0000

Elizabeth over at Table for Five has started a new weekly meme that's pretty simple. Just share a list - of anything! I keep meaning to join in, but just haven't done it until today. I think I've only missed a couple weeks - it's a new meme - but I'm thinking maybe I should post a list of all the reasons I haven't joined yet. Or not.

Actually, I was just reminded of a post from a couple years ago called Thoughts on Shoveling Snow, and after reading the list, I realized all those thoughts are still true - so why not share?

Thoughts on Shoveling Snow:

Image by bcmom via Flickr

I really don't mind shoveling snow - unless it's really wet, heavy, and deep, like at the bottom of the driveway where the plow goes through, and in front of the mailbox.
Sometimes I'd like to wait until it actually stops snowing so I can shovel the snow all off at once, but I don't like to drive through it or have anyone else drive through it. Tire tracks in the snow just make it harder to clean off the driveway.
Even if the snow isn't super deep and heavy, shoveling the entire driveway is still good exercise, especially when I have to do it multiple times a day.
I really wish the neighbors didn't have snow blowers - not because they get their driveways cleaned in less time with less effort, but because the gas fumes really bother me and sometimes give me a headache. So much for crisp, fresh air.
It doesn't seem to matter which gloves I wear, my fingers always seem to get cold. I did recently get some fingerless gloves with a mitten part that pulls over the end - what do you call those? Glittens? I'm hoping that will help. If not I may have to find me some mittens and see if that helps, keeping my fingers together so they can keep each other warm.

I also wondered why I seem to want to spell shoveling with two l's - it seems like it should have them! And I should update that those glittens do a better job of keeping my fingers warm, except when the mitten part comes off and exposes my fingers! They need velcro to keep them closed. Or I need to get a pair that fits me better - these came from the men's department.

If you'd like to join in with your own list and grab the button, be sure to visit Table for Five! You can also enter your post here and then go visit other participants.

Come on In, the Water's Fine!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:36:00 +0000

One of my facebook friends will be jumping into freezing water on February 11. Of course, he does live in Missouri, so it won't be as cold as it might be here in Wisconsin - and he is doing it for a good cause. He's raising money for Special Olympics athletes. If you'd like to help him out by jumping in with him, I mean donating to his fundraising campaign, let me know, and I'll get you the link. If only I lived closer, I might think about jumping in with him...

Yes, I can safely say that because I don't live close enough, but I really do like swimming in cold water. Maybe not that cold, but colder than most people seem to like. It all started when some of my friends made me get in the water when we went to the beach in February. I fought it, but then I loved it - it felt so good! Please note that this was in Southern California, so the water was cold enough to make my body tingle and eventually just feel numb, but it wasn't exactly freezing. Like that water in Missouri in February will probably be...

People used to say the water was freezing in our apartment pool. I don't know if the heater broke, or they were just trying to save money on power and pool chemicals, but it was pretty cold sometimes. That was when I liked it best! People would come by and ask, "How's the water?" and I'd answer, "Fine!" or "Perfect!" - and they'd know it was too cold for their liking. What this meant, of course, was that I had the pool to myself, because nobody else wanted to swim. Well, there were 1 or 2 other people who enjoyed it, but everyone else pretty much stayed away. It was so nice. And the water was just plain invigorating.

There is, of course, only one way to get into a cold pool - jump right into the deep end! I may not know much about pool filters, but I do know that. Trying to ease in slowly just does not work. I'm guessing my friend Mike will be jumping right in next month when he does his Polar Plunge - and then he'll probably jump right back out again!

Stop Calling Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:15:00 +0000

I keep getting these recorded phone calls. They're always regarding my current credit card account, and I should call them right away, and... Well, I don't really know what else because I always hang up on them after that. Really - does that work with anybody? It must, because they keep doing it. In fact, they usually call several times in one day - all from different phone numbers. I'm just gradually adding them to a contact on my phone called 'Spam!' - and all calls from that contact go straight to voicemail, so eventually I won't hear from them anymore. Or at least that's the plan.

I'm not really sure why they are allowed to call me in the first place. I always sign all of our phone numbers up for the Do Not Call List - every time they mention it on the news. Never mind the fact that I don't know why I should have to sign up again and again. I mean, why does my sign-up on that list only last 2 years at a time? I think it should last until I take my number off the list - like that would ever happen! But, anyway, I'm wondering if these 'I have information about your current credit card' phone calls aren't actually against the law. Could I get them in trouble? Or sue them? Yeah, I'm not sure what the law is on that; I guess I'll just stick to the send to voicemail thing.

I could understand their right to call me if they really were calling from one of my credit cards and maybe trying to work out a payment plan with me - not that there's any need for that! And I really don't recommend using the voicemail trick to stop collection harassment for good, because if you owe money, you owe money, and it's probably best just to face up to it and come up with a plan to take care of it. There are even lawyers who are working hard to stop collection harassment California and elsewhere - because, really, does harassing someone really do any good for anybody? It just has people avoiding the bill collectors and getting deeper and deeper into trouble.

Yep, makes about as much sense as these stupid recorded phone calls... Why don't they ask me about this stuff?

Cleaning Tips from the Pros

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Good Morning America did a story the other day on 13 Things Your Housecleaner Won't Tell You, which I thought was really interesting - not because I have a housecleaner, but because they also shared some cleaning tips that I think will come in really handy. I'm especially interested in trying the tip for cleaning mirrors, because no matter what I do, I always seem to have streaks on my mirrors. They may not show up until the next day, but they're there! And it bugs me!

Here are the cleaning tips you may not have heard before, but the pros say they work: (my comments in parentheses)

The best way to dust blinds: Close them, then wipe up and down with an old dryer sheet. It'll create an antistatic barrier that helps prevent dust from building up again.
(I really need to do this! Mini-blinds are such a pain to dust that I usually just don't do it.)
The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is your friend. It will cut your cleaning time in half for bathtubs, sinks, countertops, and dirty walls.
(I have one of these - got it free with a coupon - but I've never used it. I hope I can still find it.)
To clean glass and mirrors, use coffee filters, not paper towels. They leave no streaks or lint — and they're cheap.
(Coffee filters!)
Vinegar and water is a great deodorizer for a musty bathroom. Spray your shower down as you're getting out. It really absorbs the odors, and the smell of vinegar goes away in an hour.
(I do this occasionally, though more for hard water than for odors.)
A wet pumice stone will clean a dirty oven faster than any spray-on product.
(I wonder if it's safe for a self-cleaning oven?)
Vacuuming bathroom mats is a nightmare. Toss them in the wash every week or two instead.
(Bath mat or the fuzzy bath rug? I wash the bath mats, but shake the rug out the front door when I vacuum.)
To damp-mop wood floors, use plain water or a water-based floor cleaner like Bona. Don't use vinegar. The acid in it will pit your polyurethane finish, can void your warranty, and may reduce shine over time.
(Well, I don't have wood floors - yet - but I will keep this in mind.)
Seventh Generation dish liquid diluted with water is a great nontoxic all-purpose cleanser. Just put two squirts in a spray bottle and fill it with water.
(Is it better than Simple Green? Or is that non-toxic? Guess I should read the bottle. I've been mixing up and using this cleaner recently, and I really like it.)
Our biggest secret weapon? A powdered product called Bar Keepers Friend®. We use it on everything. Its active ingredient is rhubarb powder, which really cuts through grit and grime. It cleans glass-top stoves, counters, toilets, porcelain and more. Your sink will never be shinier.
(I have this! I guess I should use it for more than scrubbing the occasional dirty pots and pans.)
To clean your microwave oven, microwave a cup of water with some baking soda in it until it's boiling. That eliminates odors and makes it super easy to wipe away all that stuck-on stuff.
(OK, odors maybe, from the occasional bag of burnt popcorn, but what stuck-on stuff? What do you people do in your microwaves?)
Clean cobwebs with a yardstick covered by a tube sock. That also works for cleaning under stoves and refrigerators.
(Cobwebs? What cobwebs? You mean I'm supposed to look up, too? We actually have a Cobweb Duster for that exact job, and Jeffrey is the one who usually uses it - because I don't look up!)
Shine your bathroom tiles with lemon oil. It also helps prevent mold and mildew.
(I have no comment for this one - but had to put something here so you didn't think I just forgot.)
To eliminate that ring in your toilet, drop in a bubbling denture tablet, and leave it for at least 30 minutes or overnight. The stain will come off with just a few swishes of the brush.
(I guess I need to buy denture tablets... It seems like usually the ring/stain ends up right above the water line. Do you think this will help with that? How high does this stuff bubble?)

Anyway, there are a few tips on this list that I am definitely going to be trying soon. How about you? Which tips are you going to try? Do you have any more helpful cleaning tips to add to this list? Please do!

Done for Now

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:41:00 +0000

The snow stopped, and the sun started to come out, so I thought I better get the driveway shoveled. The snow was kinda heavy, and it took me a while to get it done, but the driveway is all cleaned off - for now.

The wind was still blowing, it was starting to snow again when I came in, and then the snowplow went by - so I'll at least have to go clean off the bottom of the driveway again, if not the whole thing.

A Walk in the Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:42:00 +0000

Image by bcmom via Flickr

Snow again today. Yes, it's finally looking like winter in Wisconsin. They said it was supposed to start with sleet or freezing drizzle early this morning and then change to snow, but it was already snowing by the time we got up this morning.

We are going to have to change our morning schedule! Since Jeffrey stopped walking with me, I haven't been getting up until he gets up to get ready for work. While he's getting dressed, I make his lunch, and then Weasley and I see him off, and I go for my walk after he's gone. That works just fine - unless it snows and the driveway needs shoveled - because there's no time to get it shoveled before he leaves for work. He did quickly clean off his side this morning while I finished up his lunch, but it just got covered again practically as soon as he cleared it off. So I'm waiting until later, when it stops snowing, before I go out and shovel. I don't have to go anywhere today...

I did go for my walk after Jeffrey left for work. Two miles in the falling snow! It was really nice. The new snow is a lot better to walk in than the slush and slippery patches left from an old snow. I keep thinking I should get some Alpinestars Tech 10 Boots or some kind winter walking shoes, but so far I've just made do with my regular walking shoes. I'm not sure the mesh in the tops of my current ones is the best idea for winter, though.

By the time I got back, I was having a hard time seeing because of all the snow on my glasses, and my hat, coat, and gloves were covered in snow - but it was all worth it. And definitely better than sleet or freezing drizzle. Those would have kept me inside.

Book List 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Books I read (and listened to) in 2011. I listed them all by the month I finished reading them. For the first time this year, I'm linking the titles to Amazon so you can check out any of the books that sound interesting.

January

Playing for Pizza - John Grisham (audio)
Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America - Mike Yankoski

February

Around the World in Eighty Days - Michael Palin
American Gods: A Novel - Neil Gaiman
Sabbath: The Ancient Practices - Dan Allender

March

Wicked Appetite (Between the Numbers #5) - Janet Evanovich (audio)
The Walk: A Novel - Richard Paul Evans
Old World Murder (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery) - Kathleen Ernst
This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All - Marilyn Johnson (audio)
Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life - Nick Vujicic
I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced - Delphine Minoui by Nujood Ali

April

Treachery in Death - J. D. Robb
Swimming in the Daylight: An American Student, a Soviet-Jewish Dissident, and the Gift of Hope - Lisa C. Paul
The Wake of the Lorelei Lee: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, On Her Way to Botany Bay (Bloody Jack Adventures) (A Bloody Jack Adventure) - Louis A. Meyer (audio)

May

Down to the Wire (The Specialists) - Shannon Greenland (audio)
The Holy Thief: A Novel - William Ryan
Orphans of the Sky - Robert A. Heinlein (audio)
Possession in Death (In Death Series) - J.D. Robb (audio)
Sh*t My Dad Says - Justin Halpern

June

Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel - Jeannette Walls
The Sister Wife: Brides of Gabriel Book One - Diane Noble
One Tuesday Morning (September 11 Series #1) - Karen Kingsbury
The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language - Melvyn Bragg (audio)
Beyond Tuesday Morning (September 11 Series #2) - Karen Kingsbury

July

Smokin' Seventeen (Stephanie Plum Novels) - Janet Evanovich
Full Dark, No Stars - Stephen King
Dust to Dust (The Prophecy) - Heather Graham (audio)
Her Royal Spyness (A Royal Spyness Mystery) - Rhys Bowen
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
The Rowan - Anne Mccaffrey (audio)

August

Damia (Rowan) - Anne McCaffrey (audio)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J. K. Rowling
The Nanny Diaries: A Novel - Emma Mclaughlin (audio)

September

Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter: A Novel - Tom Franklin (audio)
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God - Francis Chan
Evenings at Five - Gail Godwin
License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver - Rick Harrison

October

Go with Me: A Novel - Castle Freeman
Missing in Death (In Death Series) - J.D. Robb
Private - James Patterson, Maxine Paetro (audio)
Night - Elie Wiesel

November

Gods and Kings (Chronicles of the Kings #1) - Lynn N. Austin
Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) - Laurell K. Hamilton (audio)
Admission - Travis Thrasher
Await Your Reply: A Novel - Dan Chaon (audio)

December

Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth - James Cross Giblin
Black Like Me - John Howard Griffin (audio)
The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larsson
Dreams of the Dead (Nina Reilly) - Perri O'Shaughnessy

51 books! That's up a bit from the last two years - 45 in 2009 and 45 in 2010 - and up quite a bit from only 27 in 2008. I keep track of them on WeRead - both on facebook and on the WeRead website when the facebook app doesn't seem to be working - and don't actually total them up until the end, so it's always a surprise.

I'm not sure I'll include the links again, because that took a lot of time. However, if you happen to click any of my links and buy the books from Amazon, they say they'll pay me a small percentage, so maybe it's worth it. Also, I think links are quite handy for finding out more about any books that might sound interesting, and I very much like including the covers of a few of the books.

January is only half over, so my list isn't really late... How many books did you read in 2011?

Save Big Money with Daily Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:34:00 +0000

You know I love a good deal, and there are several online sites that offer very good deals. Sure there are the regular sites where you can usually get a better deal than you'd find in your local store, but for even better savings, you need to check out the daily deal sites. These sites have one-day-only sales at significant savings - sometimes 90 to 100% off!

The best way to take advantage of these great deals is to sign up for daily emails that will let you know what the deals are for that day. If it's a really good deal on a hot item, you'll want to take advantage of it right away, because those items often sell out quickly, and at any rate, you only have until the end of the day to buy that item at that price. You will also want to have an idea what things usually sell for - perhaps keep a list of the best prices you've seen on items you might be interested in - so that you'll know a good deal when you see one. The sites will usually quote full retail on an item, and therefore the percentage off is higher, but nobody actually pays full retail for anything - or they shouldn't! - so do your homework and know what things really sell for. When you see a deal you think is good, you can always check a price comparison site like PriceGrabber to know for sure.

I've signed up for several of these daily deal sites, and I've gotten some really good deals. One site I just recently found out about is nomorerack, so I'm going to have to sign up for that one too. I guess there have been some rumors going around about a nomorerack scam, but I haven't heard anything about that, have you? I've read a few nomorerack reviews, and it looks like a pretty good site. They have 8 deals a day, so there's plenty to choose from, and shipping is only $2 per item, which is really good. Today I saw jewelry, watches, a magazine subscription, purses, and more. Nothing I need today, but that's why it's important to subscribe to the emails or check back often (every day) because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

So, if you like good deals, be sure to check out nomorerack and sign up for the daily emails if it looks good to you. Just be sure to do your homework so you know when a good deal is really a good deal - and beware that good deals can be quite addictive! No matter how good the deals are and how much money you save on each, the costs can add up the more deals you take. You will have a lot more stuff for the same money, though.

From One Holiday to the Next

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:35:00 +0000

People were talking last week about how the candy for Valentine's Day and chocolate valentines day gifts for her are already on the shelves in the stores. It's like they can hardly wait for one holiday to be over so they can sell stuff for the next one. It has me wondering if none of the days in between are supposed to matter.

It is convenient if you want chocolate or candy, because all you have to do is wait until the day after the holiday - whatever holiday it might be - and everything goes on clearance, usually at least 50% off. It's the exact same candy it was just a day or two before, but suddenly it has the wrong design on the package - and therefore it's worth less! It really makes no sense when you think of it that way, but it's handy. I may not care much about candy, but there are people in my house who do - and we don't care what the design on the package looks like or what the shape of the candy is. It still tastes the same!

What about you? Do you buy seasonal holiday candy before the actual holiday or do you wait until after so you can snag it on clearance? I personally can't think of anything I want badly enough to pay full price when I know it will be much cheaper in just a few days. I can wait. Remember Tickle Me Elmo from a few years back? What were those people thinking?

Go Illini!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:24:00 +0000

Have I mentioned that Beth has Jason's future figured out? Well, at least through college.

She has decided that he's going to go to the University of Illinois - to play basketball. She doesn't care what he does after, whether he goes on to play for the pros or starts selling medical malpractice insurance illinois - but he must play basketball for the Illini. Because his mommy and his Papa are big Illini basketball fans.

That would be kind of cool, wouldn't it? I guess we'll have to wait and see - and teach this boy to play basketball as soon as he can walk.

I'm Not So Good with Ratings

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:02:00 +0000

I mentioned meetings in my last post (What? You didn't see that? That's because I forgot to mention it - and went back to add it - so it's there now)

I had a regular Library Board meeting on Monday night and then a committee meeting on Wednesday afternoon - immediately after Cory and I got back from seeing The Muppets. That meeting wasn't too terribly long. We just went over the ratings we gave all the architects who submitted proposals and decided which ones we didn't really like and which ones we want to interview. I must admit I'm not really good at the ratings thing. Somebody asks me to rate something on a scale of 1 to 10, I'll probably go with a 5. I just have a hard time with the whole thing. I did know enough to weigh library experience over experience with something like alcoholism treatment centers, but the rest was a bit iffy.

It turned out OK, though, because we all had the same firm at the bottom, and pretty much the same 3 at the top - so I guess I didn't do horribly bad. The end result (for now) is that we will hopefully be talking to 4 of the firms in the next few weeks and then choosing one to do a feasibility study for our library - to see what we can do to expand our current and/or build a new one. Of course there's no guarantee that we'll be able to do anything, but at least we'll have the information we need to make an informed decision. And hopefully have plenty of room for our library and all the awesome services and programs it offers to the people of our community!

Catching Up, or NOT

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:51:00 +0000

The problem with not being home - because of movies, meetings, dentist appointments, etc. - is that absolutely nothing gets done. Dishes don't get washed, the table doesn't get cleaned off, junk mail piles up... I'm thinking I'm going to have to get a skid steer in here to load up all the clutter and get it out of here!

And today, when I thought I might at least get started on a bit of catching up - Jason's back. Not that I'm complaining, because I love the little guy, but I certainly don't get anything done while he's here!

Unfortunately he's here because his mommy isn't feeling good, so hopefully the extra rest she can get today - because she doesn't have to take care of her little man - will help and she'll be better soon. I didn't stay long when I went to pick Jason up, because I don't want to get what she's got!

Walgreens and Express Scripts

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:01:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walgreens for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm sure, if you take any prescription medications, that you have a regular pharmacy that you always go to. It's convenient - close to home or work, open when you need it to be, and they take your insurance. For many people, that pharmacy is a Walgreens pharmacy. Walgreens has more 24-hour and drive-through pharmacies than any other pharmacy in the country - making them very convenient for busy people.

How would you feel if you suddenly had to choose a new pharmacy because you could no longer use your prescription drug benefits at your regular pharmacy? Many people who are covered by an Express Scripts pharmacy plan are finding themselves in just such a situation because Walgreens is no longer part of Express Scripts’ pharmacy provider network as of Jan. 1, 2012. This includes many of our military service men and women because their health and prescription drug program, Tricare is one of Express Scripts’ clients. If you think you might be affected, be sure to check the back of your prescription card to see if it says Express Scripts, or check with your local Walgreens pharmacist.

Negotiations between Walgreens and Express Script continued for a year. Walgreens did not seek an increase in rates, and Express Scripts itself admitted that clients will not see any significant savings from excluding Walgreens from the network - but an agreement could not be made. That has left many patients scrambling to find a new pharmacy and, I'm sure, frustrated that they no longer have the choice to use Walgreens if that's what they're used to or is most convenient for them.

In an effort to help the people who are affected by this situation, Walgreens is offering a special discount on annual membership for its Prescription Savings Club. Individuals can join during a special January promotion for only $5, or $10 for a family membership. (Regular annual membership is $20 for an individual and $35 for a family, so that's a huge savings!) The Walgreens Prescription Savings Club offers savings on more than 8,000 brand name and all generic medications. More than 400 generics are available with a three-month supply for less than $1 a week. Other benefits include discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies and bonuses for purchasing Walgreens brand products and photofinishing services.

You can stay updated on this situation and show your support of Walgreens by liking Walgreens on Facebook and following Walgreens on Twitter.

Do These Pants Make My Butt Look Fat? Errr, Flat?

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:03:00 +0000

I always thought the question was - "Do these pants make my butt look fat?" But now it seems women are worried about their butts looking flat. They can even buy Padded Butt Enhancer Panties to 'give your figure a sexy shape' and make that butt pop. Some of them are even called Booty Pop! And here I thought I was exercising to keep my butt small...

So, what do you think - do these pants make my butt look fat? Errr, flat?

And does it really matter? It's not like I'm signing up for free online dating at Zyngle.com or trying to impress anyone, right? I'd like to think my husband likes me the way I am.

Of course, before we got married, I made him promise me he'd love me even if I got fat. I didn't think to ask him about the booty pop thing...

How about you - what do you think about these padded enhancements? There must be people buying them. Are you one of them. Come on, you can tell me!

And We Have Snow...

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:51:00 +0000

I'm sure I'm not the only one, but when the weatherman on the news says that we're going to get snow - I'll believe it when I see it! Well, I believe it. The snow started shortly before 9 this morning. Of course, the jury is still out on how much snow we will get. I think they're saying 4-6" and lots of blowing, but so far we've just got a dusting. It's coming down quite steadily, but the flakes are really small so they don't pile up too fast.

I'm hoping it doesn't get too bad, at least not 'til a bit later. I prefer to stay home when it snows and don't get out unless I have to, but today I have to because I have an appointment with the dentist this afternoon. Well, I could have rescheduled, but I'd have to wait another two weeks and who knows what the weather will be like then. So, I'm going.

It's not that I can't drive in the snow - I just prefer not to. And it's surprising how many people have forgotten how to drive in the snow since last winter. The first real snow of the season always seems to catch them by surprise, which doesn't make much sense. After all, we live in Wisconsin! Now, a snowstorm in Texas where they're not used to snow could cause a real Houston migraine, and that would be entirely understandable - but we're used to snow here, or at least we should be.

Three Movie Tickets in My Pocket

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:15:00 +0000

This does not normally happen, but I've seen three movies in the last couple days. Three movies in the theater, that is - I'm not counting any movies we may have watched at home.

Tuesday night Cory and I attended a pre-screening of Man On a Ledge, which opens January 27. Yay for free passes! It's certainly a good way to fill up a theater on a weeknight. For reference - if you get free passes to a movie like this, show up early. The movie was at 7pm, and we got there about 5:20 and were behind about 8 people in line. It wasn't long until that line curled all around the theater's entryway and into the lobby, and they started taking the passes, exchanging them for tickets, and directing us to the theater where they were showing the movie shortly after 6pm. Too far back in the line could mean bad seats or no seats at all. We got good ones!

We really enjoyed the movie. It's about an escaped convict ex-cop who climbs out onto a hotel ledge declaring that he's prepared to die - yeah, probably not a good risk for guaranteed issue life insurance -but as the movie continues we find out he's not really planning to commit suicide, but what is he really up to? There are enough twists, turns, and laughs to keep you entertained until the end.

The second movie we saw was The Muppets. Cory and I went yesterday morning/afternoon, and we loved it! We laughed out loud throughout the whole movie. It was just so much fun. Also, I really really need to figure out how to Travel by Map!

Then last night Jeffrey, Cory, and I went and saw Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - again. We went and saw it on the Ultra Screen when it first came out and probably wouldn't have gone to see it again, but we had passes - from buying some $8 BluRays - so we had to use them.... We really enjoyed it both times! I think it's better than the first one. Of course, we might just have to watch that one again soon just to see... I'm also thinking that I really need to read some Sherlock Holmes!

How many movies did you see this week?

January?

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:20:00 +0000

It's been hard to believe that it's actually January the last couple days. It's been sunny and in the high 40's to low 50's. Seriously - sunshine and 50° in January. In Wisconsin.

Not that I'm complaining. I could get used to this.

They were saying on the radio yesterday morning that the golf course in the area are making thousands of extra dollars because people have been out golfing. In January. In Wisconsin.

Yesterday I thought I heard someone riding by on a motorcycle. In January. In Wisconsin. I bet people are even breaking out the saddles and horse riding helmets and going for trail rides.

We're all plenty happy to put winter on hold.

Until tomorrow when we're supposed to get several inches of snow, and we'll have to forget about golf, motorcycles, shirtsleeves, and sunshine - and pull out the snow shovels.

And learn to drive in the snow again.

When the Store is Closed...

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:56:00 +0000

...the books will play!

OK, maybe not, but I saw this video on facebook this morning, and I just had to share.

So, if you've ever wondered what happens when the bookshop employees shut down the Retail POS System, turn out the lights and lock the door, now you know!

Isn't that fun? Just imagine all the work that went into putting that video together... I'm in awe.

Moving Here

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Guest post written by my buddy Aldo Mays

Moving here meant a new life for my family but it’s been hard getting everyone on the same page, to tell you the truth. I’ve had a hard enough time convincing my wife to come here so I could pursue my dream career as a music producer but I think she’s finally warming up to it which is something I’m really thankful for. I wish I had better news in terms of what was happening with my business but it’s still a work in progress. I’ve got the office space and the Nashville business internet but not the clients just yet…but they’ll come. I’ve got to get my name out there and make sure the people I’m aiming to service know I even exist and that’s not too much to ask, really. I think it’s only a matter of time before I really catch on in this market and make the connection I need to push my little company over to the next level. At least I hope that’s what happens but we’ll have to see!

Baby on the Move!

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:43:00 +0000

We had an exciting weekend. A very special young man came to visit while his parents went off to have some fun with their friends. Jason stayed with us from Saturday afternoon when his parents left until Sunday evening when they returned - so he even got to spend the night.

Things have changed a bit since the last time he spent the night. He's no longer a little baby who stays put wherever you place him. No, now he's crawling all over the place, pulling himself up to things, and getting into everything. Cords and wires are especially enticing, and he pretends not to hear us when we tell him 'No' those aren't for him - or he turns around and smiles his best smile, just knowing we'll change our minds. He's wrong about that, but he sure is cute while he's trying!

We made some basic changes while he was here - putting up the baby gate at the top of the stairs so he didn't go tumbling down chasing after the cat, and removing all the Table top displays, I mean clutter, from the coffee table. If Jason is going to spend any more time here, I am going to have to do some serious baby-proofing around here - either that or spend all of my time on the floor playing with him. Yep, I know - it's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!

Excercise YouTube Style

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:21:00 +0000

I mentioned a while back that I've been doing the exercise programs I can get on demand with DirecTV. I've found some really good ones. The problem is that I can only keep them for so long before they expire and delete themselves from my DVR. In a way that's good because it makes me try new ones, and doing different exercises every day is a good way to keep working different muscles - or work the same ones in new ways - and it's more effective. The problem is that I am finding fewer and fewer exercise programs that are even available - so when the ones I like expire, I'm having trouble finding new ones.

I do have an exercise program for the Wii I could try. Or, start looking on YouTube. Did you realize there are tons of exercise videos available on YouTube? I hadn't really looked until today, and I'm amazed at how many there are. I'm supposed to be able to watch YouTube videos on the television now, so I'm going to have to figure that one out, because that will be easier than trying to exercise to a video on my computer.

Here's one I'm going to have to watch a time or two:

I did several of the on-demand workouts with Cindy Whitmarsh and really liked them. I wrote down all the parts to the 'Deadly 7' she mentions at the beginning of this video so I could do them even without the program, and I've used the list several times - including this morning! Now I'm going to have to try the 'Deadly 5' that she demonstrates here. It's nice having a video that shows the moves - instead of a sheet of paper with them just written down and I have to try to remember what I'm supposed to do for each one.

Have you checked out the exercise videos on YouTube? Which ones are your favorites? (Leave links in the comments - thanks!)

Matchbook: FREE College Textbooks

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MatchBook for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

As any college student knows - textbooks are expensive! Thankfully UW-Whitewater, where Cory attends school, has a textbook rental program, so the cost of books is included in his tuition. But for most students the cost of those books is an added expense, one they can't really afford. The costs can add up to over $1000 per year, depending on the subject and the books.

That's why MatchBooks is so great. Their textbooks are FREE. That's right - FREE! MatchBooks are published under a Creative Commons open license, which makes it possible for students to read online for free! NO catch and NO expiration date. Each MatchBook textbook is an entire textbook, written by an expert author, from a trusted publisher, aligned to content in an expensive textbook - FREE online. That means that, for whatever reason - whether a student can't afford the expensive textbook or just doesn't have it - all the information is available online.

While a MatchBook is not an exact copy of the original textbook, it has been matched closely to the original and contains the same chapter order, core concepts, and key terms. For instance, a student taking General/Intro Psychology this spring semester who has been assigned Psychology 9e by Myers can use the MatchBook and get:

Number of chapters > same
Chapter order > same
Topics in chapters > same

All the same knowledge for free. Compare that to around $100 to buy the original hardcover textbook (from Amazon - I'm not sure what it would cost in a campus bookstore) or around $60 to get a year's subscription to the ebook version - and you can see how the savings can add up. MatchBook for Myers Psych is the very first MatchBook, so Psych students get to be the first to check it out at matchurbook.com. Early reviews of this MatchBook by students and professors have been very positive. More MatchBooks are coming later this year.

Be sure to check out the MatchBooks site, and share it - because when they reach 1,000 shares, they’re making a $1,000 charitable donation! Besides, I'm sure you or someone you know can really benefit from free textbooks, right? Also, be sure to Like Flat World Knowledge on Facebook (Matchurbook.com is a project of Flat World Knowledge, the world’s largest publisher of free and open college textbooks.) for more information and to find other FREE textbooks for all your basic college courses.

So what do you think? Would you use a MatchBook or recommend MatchBooks to someone? Let me know in the comments.

Cheapskate's Guide to Grocery Savings - Get it Free

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Hagen) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:02:00 +0000

If you're looking for ways to stretch your grocery budget, The Cheapskate's Guide to Grocery Savings - How to Save a Bundle at Supermarkets promises to have some great tips. Now is a great time to grab it, because it's currently free for Kindle.

I have not read it, but you know I'm all about saving as much money as I can, so I'm hoping to learn a thing or two I can apply.

Beth & Cory's Mom

I Hope my Husband Doesn’t Mind

I'm Elmo and I Know It

Friday Fives

Related articles

Come on In, the Water's Fine!

Stop Calling Me!

Cleaning Tips from the Pros

Related articles

Done for Now

A Walk in the Snow

Related articles

Book List 2011

Save Big Money with Daily Deals

From One Holiday to the Next

Go Illini!

I'm Not So Good with Ratings

Catching Up, or NOT

Walgreens and Express Scripts

Do These Pants Make My Butt Look Fat? Errr, Flat?

And We Have Snow...

Related articles

Three Movie Tickets in My Pocket

January?

When the Store is Closed...

Moving Here

Baby on the Move!

Excercise YouTube Style

Matchbook: FREE College Textbooks

Cheapskate's Guide to Grocery Savings - Get it Free