DagoChick’s Blogspot……Welcome!!!

I have a new obsession!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 17:24:00 +0000

I know its been so so long since I've posted anything.....issues issues issues....most of which have been resolved and now i can get back to doing things that I love....like blogging!!! Now to my new obsession....Filofax!!!! I know its been around forever....in fact I first learned about Filofax back in 1991....the price ran me straight to Day Runner! :)

Last year my obsession for planning and organizing led me Erin Condren life planners. It was first time in all my years of using planners that I used one faithfully and nearly everyday. She was so much fun! She made me smile everytime I looked at her. It was the first time I had a totally customized planner just for me and I couldn't help but smile everytime I needed to jot something down. I swore that I was a life time life planner user. I am, but this year I want something a little different. Oh I'll probably get another Erin Condren next year....maybe.....but I didn't have as much money to spend this year on a planner as I did last year. So I decided to look around and see what my options were with my limited budget. I even though about creating my own planner, but the cost of making one the way I wanted was more than just buying one already made. I looked at all the big brands....read countless blogs....and watched a ton of YouTube videos and discovered an entire Filofax community! I loved how the people were all excited about their Filo's and I loved how they were able to find cool ways to customize them. I loved how they were able to rearrange the internals to suit their needs and how much the binders are able to hold. I've also been looking at other ways of staying organized and together so I decided I wanted a planner that I could use as a wallet too. Filofax looked to fit that need too. I started back to school recently and I wanted to have a way to stay on top of my assignments and keep up with everything else in my life. About 6 years ago I bought a little Franklin Covey dayone 360 planner. It was nice but within a month of buying it I stopped using it. It just didn't fit me and I wasn't thinking that I could change it. So I recently found that old binder and some of the inserts, made some changes, added and subtracted a few things and now I'm using it....until....my Filofax comes!!! I went to the Filofax website and they are having a 60% off sale!!! I told my husband and he said "Get one! You don't wanna miss out on that sale!" So guess what.....I ordered a personal sized Dakota with an extra set of todo sheets and a set of financial sheets....with shipping....for guess how much....come on....guess....:).....OK....UNDER $40!!!! Only $38.50 to be exact! Their warehouse is closed for inventory now and orders won't ship until the 7th so I'm trying to wait patiently while I use my wanna be filo!! :) Once it comes I may do an unboxing video or at least post photos here. I loved my Erin Condren planner, for sure, and I got tons of compliments on it....even from Erin herself! But I wanted to feel a little more professional this year with splashes of color and fun mixed in....and the Filofax community has shown me the way!

Saw ya! <3 :)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 03:04:00 +0000

3.29.12

It’s always darkest before the dawn

That’s what I’ve heard on TV or read in a book when a main character is facing some life altering situation. It’s always darkest before the dawn and then something miraculous happens and everything is all gravy. Well, I’ve certainly had enough of the dark times. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any darker, it did. It’s been almost a year since my mom died. April 9^th will be 365 days that heaven admitted my mom as God’s newest Angel and I’ve always thought since her death, that she’s been my Angel.

Yesterday I was in such a dark place in my heart and in my head. I was missing my mom something awful and it was just becoming unbearable and yesterday morning I hit a “wall”. I felt like she had just died all over again and everything still felt so raw. There’s so much more I could talk about regarding everything that’s happened since Momma died, but to dredge it all up now is to relive it and right now, I’m just too happy to put myself thru that. One day I’ll share it, and believe me, you will see why it’s been such a painful journey. So, my wonderful husband, heartbroken because there’s nothing he can do to fix my pain, suggested that I call my Godmother. She and my mother were friends for 44 years before she passed and I really needed a mother figure to talk to. So I called her and we talked for about 2 hours. She told me funny stories about when she and my mom were in high school together. She reminded me of many things that my mom would say to cheer me up and she told me some hard things that I needed hear to begin the closure process of my grieving. I’ve come to accept what I need to do, I’m just not ready to do it. But the very acceptance of that fact lifted sooooo much weight off my shoulders and that heavy cloud that was suffocating my heart was beginning to lift. I started breathing easier and I actually felt like getting out of bed, washing my hair, and getting pretty! I did something I hadn’t done in almost 2 years…I gave myself a French pedicure! It turned out so pretty! Today, I even did my hair all pretty and I did my makeup! My husband was like “where’s my wife?” Even my 12 year-old son was like “Wow mom you look awesome!” I don’t know what tomorrow is gonna be like, but the way these last couple of days have gone, all I can do is look forward to it!

Sunrise sure is pretty isn’t it?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:11:00 +0000

3.19.12

Sharing the love….

I’ve been loving my Erin Condren life planner so much that I went on the hunt for another giveaway and……

I found one!

Go to http://www.inthiswonderfullife.com/2012/03/erin-condren-giveaway.html to have a chance to win a $25 gift card. Even though I just got my 2012 planner, if I win I’m putting it towards a 2013 planner. I'm hooked!

Good luck!

Moving Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:56:00 +0000

The Author of this post is Freddy Savage

When my husband told me we were moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, I was excited. We knew that his new position with his company would send us to one of several cities and we visited them all. Both Carolinas are absolutely beautiful states! Charlotte is the largest city and capitol of North Carolina, and has much to offer its residents. Moving from one large city to another is pretty easy because all of our needs – social, educational, spiritual – are more easily met. We are meeting with a realtor there next week and have already selected three or four areas in which we would like to look at homes. Our children are small and very resilient to change. We approach them with the move as an adventure. They have great attitudes about the change. In an effort to help them feel connected with looked at directtv options in the area to be sure they would be able to continue watching their favorite weekly programs. When they saw them listed, all was good with the move and the world!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:18:00 +0000

Obsessions can be life changing…..

It’s been about a week and half since my new bestie arrived. Of course, I mean my Erin Condren life planner. I’ve used her every day and it’s been such a pleasure! I even feel much more productive now and efficient with my time and I get so much more done now! I went grocery shopping for the 1^st time with a menu plan and I can’t express how nice it felt to shop with a purpose and not wonder down the aisles hoping for inspiration. My husband and I used to have the same "fight" everyday….”what’s for dinner? I don’t know….what do ya feel like?” every day. Not this week! And every Saturday morning we'll sit as a family and come up with a dinner menu for the week. It’s another nice way for us to get together and clown around. Also since she’s arrived, I use her to jot down blog ideas and I’ve even gained my 1^st follower! Thanx Jonnique!

I use my planner to keep track of everything, from our dinners to when it’s trash day. My hubby even teases me “do you need to check with your girl?” Still silly, gotta love him! I’ve even added a few things to her if you could believe it. Directly on the back of the on*the*go page (it’s a nice and thick page) I put 4 different color sticky tabs to mark my notes and my current week, some lined sticky paper for my quick lists, and a symbol key for my tasks so I remember what I’m “talking” about when I annotate my many lists. I got the personalized notepads, but I’m not wasting those for a Walmart list…..nope! J On the folder I put 2 big paper clips to hold the papers in the folder. I use the circle clips Erin included to hold my labels and cards together. I don’t like the way they bend my planner pages. I also used a pretty green binder clip to hold my notepad in place. I opened up my planner one time and the notepad went flying across the room….no more of that! I also put a couple of bright sticky pads in the plastic pouch for quick notes to leave for my kids or my hubby. They love the new me!

TAB FIX!

I also borrowed a tab fix from another blogger and used Avery 1.5” self-adhesive tabs. Tear them all the way open and they fit perfectly over the month tabs. Just peel off the adhesive strips and stick it to the page. They fit like a charm and you can hardly tell they are there. The adhesive part does cover about half a calendar day, but that’s an easy sacrifice when I’m saving my tabs. That was one of the reasons why I got the planner in the first place! I thought about using packing tape, but I wanted a more permanent solution and the Avery tabs do the trick. A little birdy told me that the 2013 life planners will come with laminated tabs…..yay! I can’t wait to see what other features will be included and I’ll be one of the first in line when she releases them in June.

Here's what it looks like......

my green, blue, yellow, and red tabs, lined sticky pad & symbol key

I color code all my entries…..

See how nice the tab fix is? Can hardly tell its there!

One of my paperclips holding in my weekly grocery list in the folder…

Pretty green binder clip holding in my pretty notepad…..

I use the circle pins for the cards and labels and those are the sticky notes I leave for my kids or my hubby….

So that’s how I’ve used my Erin Condren Life Planner. It’s been an investment that is becoming a staple in my life, for my life. Has your new planner helped you make positive changes in your life too? I’d love to hear about it!

Newest Obsession Realized!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Newest obsession is now a reality!

She’s here! My Erin Condren Life Planner finally arrived this afternoon! I didn’t even hear the fedex guy either. My and the kids where walking out the door for me to drop them off at the movies and there she was sitting on the porch waiting for me to claim her! I grabbed the box and ran my errands after I dropped the kids off. I couldn’t wait to get home! At every stop light and stop sign on the way I would look over at the box and think “I bet it’s as pretty as I hope it’ll be”. When I got home I was singing “look what came for me today!” I opened up the box and there was this gorgeous orange wrapping paper….well, here’s some pics so you can see for yourself.

I decided on the pool & mocha candy lace with my favorite pic of my hubby and babies. He took them to Sea World (in 2005) when we lived in San Diego and they took this and another pic I love. It was a half day for the kids and I had to work so Daddy worked it out!

I’m only showing 1 notepad here but I got 2 of them. I went to my local Walmart to get the Avery tabs for the tab-fix but they only had the color ones. Boo! I guess I’ll order them from amazon because I refuse to pay $20 bucks for tabs. Nope! Not gonna do it! Maybe the color ones won’t be so bad. The pack does include 5 clear ones as well. Anyway…..

As I was opening the box, all my gasps kept my husband looking at me all strange and finally he said “ok, lemme see this thing” and when I handed it to him, he smiled so big! Then he took out the labels and said “wowww!” and when I showed him the notepads, he dropped his voice a few octaves and said “from the desk of Monnique Arnold”. He’s so silly.

I’ve spent the last several hours putting in my important dates and phone numbers, upcoming appointments and commitments….my daughter talked me into doing a fashion show with her. Me? A fashion show? What are you talking about? Fashion show? What? Are you crazy? Fashion show?

Yeah, fashion show!

So I put that in my planner as well. It just makes me happy to look at it and now I’m so motivated to get completely organized, I’m organizing a mission to get organized! I stumbled upon an awesome blog a bowl full of lemons, and let me tell you, this woman is an organizing genius! Check her out. Part of my commitment to myself to be less stressed is to get more organized and i think she can help. Her name is Toni and her blog is amazing!

So that’s my schpeel on my new planner. New I get to use all my pretty new pens! Newest obsession realized!

Happy planning!

Yay!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:59:00 +0000

Yay!!! She finally shipped!!!

My Life Planner is on her way home!!! I’ve been ~~stalking~~ checking Erin’s website ~~all day~~ periodically (ahem) and I raised my arms like my Chargers scored a touchdown and hollered “yes!” when I saw my order status changed from ‘printed’ to ‘shipped’ with a fedex tracking number! (hehehe)

Now….

The next hardest part…..waiting patiently for the next 3 days to see that fedex truck pull up in front of my house. I hope I don’t tackle the poor guy! I hope the drivers make it all the way here (TN) from CA safely with all this crazy weather. Be careful!! You have my new bestie in there….precious cargo! J

Luv peace & hair grease!

Patience....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:51:00 +0000

Patience IS a virtue!

Ugh!! It’s been exactly one week since I ordered my Erin Condren Life Planner. I’ve stalked the website every day since then and I’ve watched my order go from ‘pending’ to ‘invoice to print’ to ‘printed’ (omg!) But my order seems to be stuck on ‘printed’!

Ugh!!

I’m so anxious for my planner that I dreamt I was sitting at my dining room table drinking a steaming cup of French vanilla coffee and writing in my planner! Silly huh? I’ve always been the voice of reason in my house “Patience! Patience!” and now when it’s my turn all that ‘patience’ goes right out the window! :-D

Ding! Dong!

Oh that’s my email alert…..wonder if it’s about my order….be right back…….

Nope! Dang! Patience right?????????

Fuel for my obsession…

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:31:00 +0000

I know I mentioned that I bit the bullet and ordered my Erin Condren Life Planner, but did I mention I’ve become the newest stalker of her website? I’m dying to see my order change from ‘pending’ to ‘printed’ to ‘shipped’!!!!

Omg!

I got my hubby on board with my mission to own one and he just rolls his eyes (happy wife, happy life right?) and says “whatever you want baby”. Lucky me! Well, Erin has a new customer for life!

Like most other ECLP purchasers, I have truly tried to do be a digital planner. It worked for some aspects of my daily planning, but for others it just wasn’t feasible and I’ve tried several different methods, apps, and hardware. I have 2 laptops, an Android tablet and phone and most situations, when I need to jot something down really quick, paper is faster. When you have to go thru all the security measures and waiting for apps to open and such, you could have written down that something several times. Digital is great for me for labeled alarms but long term planning and (call me crazy) color coding is best on paper. I just like writing!

Take care & have a fab weekend!

Oh I did it I did it!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:46:00 +0000

I ordered my Erin Condren Life Planner!!! I took advantage of her great sale that has going on right now. She’s offering 40% off (while supplies last) when you get a planner and stationery or a planner and gift labels, but you have to buy a combination. I even got my hubby on board with my mission to have one! Even though I am entered in a number of contests to win gift cards and discount codes, I just couldn’t wait any longer. I have to wait until March to find out if I won! Besides, I told hubby if I do win one of the contests, I’ll use it to buy the 2013 planner she’s releasing in June with (wait for it)…… IMPROVED TABS!!! (And then he rolls his eyes…..) When I get my planner, I’m going to have those Avery clear tabs to put over my tabs to make them last. I plan on using the hell outta it!

I chose the Candy Lace design in pool & mocha with a pic of hubby and our 2 babies on the front (when they were little). Then there will be my name, the year, and one of my catch phrases …. “too blessed to be stressed!” Now I’m gonna be like all the other bloggers waiting for their planners to arrive….stalking the EC website, then stalking the Fedex man. I get happy just thinking about it!!

I will post once it gets here. I haven’t seen any unboxing videos for EC (geeky right?) so if nobody steals my idea, I’ll do an unboxing video and then later I’ll post my post-use impressions. I am in no way being compensated for what I’ve said or will say. I just love the product and I’m happy to tell anyone who will listen!

As Erin would say…..enjoy!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Happy Belated Birthday Mommy!

On April 9, 2011, my mother died from congestive heart failure and upper lip cancer. On February 16, 2012, she would have been 68 years old. This blog entry is dedicated to her.

My mother used to tell me how she hated her name. She thought it was boring. Her full maiden name was Dorothy Lee Ray and I always told her it sounded like an actress’ name. She would laugh and tell me she didn’t start to like it until she discovered Dorothy Dandridge. My mom was just as beautiful as Dorothy Dandridge. My mom had such a youthful appearance that up until she got sick, people always thought we were sisters. Depending on the day, people sometimes thought I was the older sister!

My mom told the best stories too. And the way she told stories, she was so dramatic and everything she said she had a way of bringing to life. She had this infectious laugh that if you heard from another room you couldn’t help but laugh too. She would always say stuff like “you know I just like to make people laugh” and then do this crazy sneeze that sounds like she was screaming “I hate you!” Even though that wasn’t what she was saying, it was funny and she knew it.

My mom touched everyone that had the pleasure of knowing her. She was one of a kind and the world is much sadder place without her here. I miss her more than I ever thought I could miss someone. I always thought my mom would live forever because she never changed. She never seemed to age. When she got sick, I went into denial and just assumed she would get better. When she was put into hospice care, I was still in denial. They predicted she would live for 6 more months. I was lucky enough to have her for 8 months. When she died I was relieved for her. She wasn’t in anymore pain and I knew that she was in heaven, doing her crazy jumping jacks and playing with my sister. But I still wish she were here, with me, my husband, and our kids. We all miss her and love her very much.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Graduating on Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Guest post of the week by Moises Henderson

Who would have thought I would actually graduate on time? If you had known me in high school you would be surprised I even got into a four-year university and here I am on the Dean's list about to graduate with dual degrees. I really buckle down after that first year in college when I was on academic probation, and I'm really proud to say that come the student I've always wanted to be. I got high speed internet service at home to help me keep up with my studies and I've spent a minimum of 10 hours a week in the library outside of classes just making sure I was studying enough. I've never been that great at tests which is why I struggled for so long that now that I actually learned material instead of trying to stumble my way through I'm a much better student than before. Honestly, I just can't wait to get out in the real world and start making a difference with this education I've acquired over the last few years.

I found another giveaway!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:22:00 +0000

There isn’t much time left so if you want a chance to win 25 dollar gift certificate to ErinCondren.com and buy your someone special somethin’ special, visit Life According to Crystal and enter. Be sure and follow the rules or your entries don’t count. I’m entering myself so good luck to y’all!!

My continuing obsession....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:14:00 +0000

Did I mention how much I love pens??

OMG!!!

I guess I got it from my Mom because she ALWAYS had a multitude of pens at her disposal. Now I’m the same way! Tonight I took my daughter over to Wally World (Walmart) to get some Twizzlers for a project they have to do in class tomorrow. Since I’m plotting to soon have an Erin Condren Life Planner, I decided I would buy some special pens just for my future planner! Silly? Nah, just being hopeful. Besides, if I don’t win, I have some really cool new pens and pencils. I guess I’ve become quite the PaperMate fan with all the recent purchases J .

1- flair markers, ink joy pens, mechanical pencils & a pencil pouch

I also got a cute pencil pouch so they won’t be all over the place. Then I heard a VistaPrint commercial on the Wally world overhead system. They mentioned all the cool holiday gifts they have in addition to making business cards. Who woulda thought? That got me to thinking about Valentine’s Day and then I bought a box of cards for Cali’s class, and two for my hubby. I hope he likes ‘em!

My Latest Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:15:00 +0000

Erin Condren Life Planners!!!

Candy Lace in Multi design

Since I was a little girl I've loved loved loved loved organizing. I always made lists and took notes and I loved anything to do with an office. I was that kid you could take to any appointment. Adults thought I was well behaved, but I was really just enthralled with all the lingo and the paper manipulation. Back in those days the closest things to computers were calculators and typewriters (typewriters....what are those :-D). Now that I'm all grown up and smack in this digital era, I am still obsessed with organizing. I love planners and I own many of them from basic to really expensive, and I have both paper and electronic planners. As much as I try to go digital I still find myself going back to paper. I can't get the gratification of physically checking a box or crossing an item off a list on something electronic. It just doesn't work. So I've been on the hunt for a new planner and stumbled across these Erin Condren Life Planners. I've watched lots of videos and read countless reviews and have decided......(drum roll) I MUST HAVE ONE!!! I've spent I don't know how long on her website and created my perfect planner. I haven't ordered because right now, I just can't swing $50 bucks on a planner when it could go towards something bigger. So.....I stumbled upon this blog called Live in my Heart and she's giving a away a 50 dollar voucher!!! Check it out here at Live in my Heart..

I figure if I'm gonna get one I'll probably have to win it so I entered. Good luck!!

It's February now....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:16:00 +0000

Just two more days til my baby girl's 11th birthday......and 13 days to what would have been my mom's 68th birthday. I miss her so much. It hasn't been a year since she passed and I still want to call her and just shoot the shit and hear her goofy laugh. I can still remember what she sounds like. I have some pictures and a few things of hers. I think about her everyday. When I wake up she is the first thing I think about and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. Its more like pass out. I haven't slept well since she died and its taking a toll on me. I'm forgetful and sometimes hard to live with. I never used to be like that. I want to visit momma's grave again. The last time I was there was my birthday and her vulture brothers and sisters didn't even put a marker on her grave after they pilfered her estate and stole everything. I hope there's something there when I go back.

I'm taking Cali shopping for her birthday if the weather isn't bad tomorrow. Otherwise we'll go on Superbowl Sunday which falls on her day this year. She's so excited. I hope I can pull myself outta this funk before then or I won't be much fun for her. I really need something to look forward to.

20 days in......

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Well its 20 days into the new year. I am so glad 2011 it's said and done. It went down as the most topsy turvy year of my life. My Mother died in April. I was blacksheeped by my family afterward. They even tried to kill me and my husband at the funeral home during the planning meeting. An uncle stabbed my husband while an aunt sliced my arm open. Six of my seven uncles jumped my husband but my baby ain't no punk. Every last one of them knew they'd been in a brawl with my man. They came with canes and left with lumps and limps. Even at the funeral the bastards tried to act like nothing happened. I told them to get the fuck away from us.....right in the church! They locked me out of my mother's house and stole the car she left me. They took everything in the house too. My wedding dress was there and I was saving it for my daughter. Pictures that I'll never get to see again. Toys I can't give to my kids and their kids cause they were stolen from me. I still struggle with all that I went thru last year. I still grieve for my mom. I've only been to her grave once since we buried her. Never ever have I spent a birthday without being with my mom. When my 40th rolled around last year I went to her grave. I spent about an hour looking for her because those assholes never marked her grave! It broke my heart. After all they did to keep me away from what my mother intended her only child to have, they didn't even mark her grave. They'll all burn in hell for what they've done. Now that I think about it, they started paying after they assaulted us. As a matter of fact, that very day the rains and winds came. Memphis got hit with floods and tornados like it hadn't seen in 100 years. Every neighborhood that got hit hard by tornado or flood or both were places that a relative lived. Some places were untouched. Not very many, but I come from a huge family and they are spread out over Memphis. Everywhere they live there was destruction. The rain lasted for days and days. The Mississippi River flooded and they were calling it the 100 year flood. Unbelievable? Look it up. If I didn't live it I wouldn't believe it either. Check my facts. I live about 150 away from Memphis so I watched it all on the news. It hardly rained where I live.

Thanx Mommy.

The rest of 2011 came and went, thank God, and now I wearily tread the days of 2012. I try to stay strong. Some days are harder than others but I manage with my wonderful husband and awesome kids. I know I'm luckier than most and get on my knees and thank my Lord for that.....no doubt. I know he never gives us more than we handle but damn! Sometimes its just too much and we need a little break ya know? The break I'm allowing myself is to just take it one day at a time and I'll be fine. Gotta keep my sanity right? Right?

Enjoying a show my kids can't

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Guest post written by Mary Henderson

I'm very active in monitoring what my kids are watching on TV. I remember that growing up I would watch some things that weren't age appropriate. But then again, I doubt that any of that stuff was nearly as bad as some things on TV now. That doesn't mean that I can't enjoy them though. One of my favorite shows I won't let my kids watch but I enjoy is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
It seems like the time between last season and the current season was so long, so I've been using my Sacramento wireless internet to look up all kinds of hints and spoilers as to what I could expect from it this season.
This Sunny new season looks pretty promising. Mac has quite the story line with his weight gain. You also have to love Frank and Charlie. I started watching because of Danny Devito, so I love keeping up with his character. I loved in the first episode that they took Charlie out on a blind date and he pretended to be some millionaire from Texas.

Guest post

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 May 2011 22:35:00 +0000

m a salon owner, but a lot of my business comes from doing hair in locations that I've never been to before. For example, when a bride gets married, she will often hire me and my staff to come to her hotel room and do everyone's hair. This is a lot of fun for us, but we have to take all of our tools with us, including our global Internet connection (click here for details). I like to be able to look up different hairstyles to show the girls at a moments notice, it is nice to be able to check my e-mail for other client’s communication while I'm on a break at work. I hate being out of touch and I consider it very unprofessional to not be available to my clients, so I definitely think mobile Internet is a worthwhile expense for my business. I strive to be the best stylist in this city and I think my professionalism goes a long way towards earning me that title among my clients and peers.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

The New Year is here......

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:23:00 +0000

I'm almost afraid to ask what's next. After the disaster that was 2010, I'm just glad it's over and i pray for a better year. I also realize a lot of that is in my hands too.

I've decided to forego the traditional resolution setting and go for goal setting instead. I know that's it's basically the same thing, but my approach will be different. I have the specific goal of creating an income for my family. This economy isn't getting any better like our retarded government would like for us to believe. Nobody is hiring anyone that hasn't worked in over 2 years. I haven't worked in over 3 and Congress doesn't give a shit about me or the other 99ers so that leaves me no choice but to create my own income.

What am i gonna do?

That remains to be seen. Right now my focus is doing well in school and taking care of my family.

Well, this is one thing i can check off my todo list. With some willpower I'll keep up my blogging and see where that takes me.

Merry New Year!!!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Don't sit on your hands.....act now!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:57:00 +0000

That's what I'd like to tell Congress when it comes to a new bill that was introduced August 4th of this year. It's been more than a month and there's been no significant movement on it.

CONGRESS!! DON'T SIT ON YOUR HANDS ANYMORE!!!

There are millions of long-term unemployed people out there (myself included) that have run completely out of benefits, but still unable to secure employment. Can you imagine how depressing it is to be by from a 22-year old McDonald's manager that they won't hire you because you're too experienced, or they'll say they know you'll leave the minute you find something better? Very! It angers me to no end when I read about some conservative Republican that more unemployment would be like welfare or it would stop the receivers from looking for jobs. That's so untrue!! I, for one, have continued to look for employment. I miss working! I can't stand feeling like I'm not contributing to my family's way of life. Unemployment insurance is NOT welfare.....it's insurance! I've worked since I was 16 years old. I've paid into my state's unemployment fund for more than 30 years and I deserve access to those funds to help take care of my family and other financial obligations while I look for a job. Nobody is "handing" me the money, it's MY money! We've had to trade down from our dream car to a shadow of what it was. We've moved from a huge, modern and gorgeous townhouse to duplex 1/3 the size. We've had to turn to charitable organizations for Christmas for our kids. I'm now on anti-depressant medication because I've been so low that I couldn't get out of bed. When I was receiving unemployment it made things a lot easier, but it was still hard. My unemployment is only half what my salary was. It's been so long since my unemployment ended, getting it back now would almost feel like winning the lottery!

All I'm hoping for is that Congress doesn't make us, the millions of long-term unemployed, wait like you did last year around this time. It was torture watching and listening to you all argue and speculate and even lie to stall and punish us. Please don't put us through that again. Unemployment compensation is still a necessity for us. It's a desperately needed lifeline. The holiday's are looming again. Remember, we're the ones that put you in the positions you're in now. We still have the power to keep you there. If you truly care about us, Americans, pass S.3706 Americans want to work act now!!

To protect and serve, yeah right

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:02:00 +0000

I find that credo laughable now.

I'm sure there are police officers that just that. But more often than not, as of late, all they seem to do is disrespect and intimidate. Just today my 65 year old mother went to Walgreen's. She's disabled so she has a handicapped placard that she uses. She pulled into the parking lot and noticed two sheriff officers on motorcycles near the front. She found a handicapped spot and parked. She also noticed one of the officers noticing her parking there. So she turns her car off and starts gathering her things before she got out of her car. She put her placard up and got out. My mom is very pretty and she drives a distinctive car. She gets noticed almost everywhere she goes. When she got out of her car, one of the officers was right there. She started to walk past him and he says "how come you don't drive with that up?" with a really nasty attitude. She answered "why should I?" and he says before he walks away "make me walk over here for nothing." My mother, being who she is, says "exercise is good for ya" and walked in the store.

I have to give a little history so this makes sense.

Last night I had the worst migraine I'd had in 16 years. It was so bad it made me vomit. My husband was worried and scared and my mom called. He told her what was going on with me and she wanted him to keep her posted. So after I woke up this morning, I decided to call her and let her know I was okay. That's when she told me she was in Walgreen's and what had happened prior to her going inside the store.

So back to the story……

My mom's in the store and she's telling me what happened. I was floored! I got mad and told her she needed to get his name and badge number so she could file a complaint against him. What he did was so wrong! He stalked her the minute she pulled into the lot and as soon as he saw her pull into the handicapped spot, he started walking toward her with the intention of giving her a $300 ticket. He got pissed off when he realized he walked over there for nothing. He didn't need to say that. He could've simply said he was checking to see if she had a placard. Doing his job. Not to complain to her because she wasn't making it easier for him to do his job. So when she got outside, she did just what I suggested and asked for his name and badge number. By this time I put her on speaker so Michael (my hubby) could hear what was going on. We hear my mom ask for his name and badge number, and he starts yelling at her telling her she was harassing him by telling him exercise was good for him. What a little bitch! So my mom commenced to letting him know how rude he was and how he needs an attitude adjustment and to learn how to approach people. He eventually shouted his name (which was Smith, yeah right) and his badge number. Then I heard his partner say "okay you got it now you need to move on". I lost it! I started screaming and telling my mom to take hang up with me and take their pictures. She did and she called me right back. I was still screaming! My hubby kept trying to get me to calm down because I was ready to hop in the car and fly 135 miles to let that punk cop know nobody talks to my mother like that and gets away with it. NOBODY!!!! Well I didn't. My mom talked me down after I stopped screaming. When I get that mad I tear up. Whenever I cry I get a headache. Sucks huh? Well after she got the info on the cop she went home and called the Sheriff's office. They told her that she would have to go downtown to the main police station (201 Poplar, Ugh!) and file it there. She called me after she learned that to tell what she had to do next. She wanted me to get off the phone with her before she changed her mind. She's gone down there to file that complaint.

What's wrong with people!?!?!?!?!

That cop knew he was wrong. He was probably embarrassed for having walked over there thinking he was about to write a ticket. When he saw my mom, he just decided her car was too good for her. We're from California and we live in Tennessee now. My mom has a vanity California plate on the front of her car (which is legal here). That cop saw that and figured my mom wasn't from here. He needs to get reprimanded for his actions and I'll see that he does. You just can't treat people like that! He wasn't protecting and serving. If he was he was serving his ego then he tried to protect it by yelling at my mom. Bullshit! He was disrespectful and he tried to intimidate my mom. Asshole, he'll think twice before he crosses anyone else.

Confessions of a gadget junkie

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:29:00 +0000

I never really explained just how much of gadget junkie I am. From the time I was about 6 years old I've always been into technology. At 6 I got my first tape recorder which I promptly took apart just to see how it worked. My mom was pretty pissed until she saw me put it back together. Then she was impressed and only helped to foster my obsession with technology. From then on I had every transistor radio, walk-man radio, boom box you can think of. Even the cool watches I had. Then personal computers hit the scene and it was over from there. It started with a Commodore 64....remember those? I'm dating myself.....I know.....but I make 38 look damn good! I had that for several years until it pooped out. No really, it did. I didn't take that apart. It was a long time before I got another computer, but it didn't stop me from playing every chance I got. I'd go to the apple store to play and I started taking computer science in school. Once I got into college I got another computer. By today's standards, it was just a big typewriter. Dot matrix printer, no internet access (there was no Internet back then), a monochrome monitor and it took 8 discs to load WordPerfect! I used the hell out of that thing too. Eventually as technology grew, my obsession grew. Every cool new gadget I had to have it. If I had to save for a year or wait for a month for it to be available in the US, I'll have it. When palm pilots came out, I had one. When they started coming out in color, I got one of those too. When cell phones started getting more advanced I got into those too. Eventually I have amassed two desktops, a 17" HP, 15.4" compaq, and now my latest acquisition, my Samsung N140 netbook. It is soooo cool and I have a feeling that I'll be using this for quite some time. It's got a huge hard drive (250 gigs), and fast processor (N280), a fat graphics card, 3 USB ports with 2 of them being chargeable even when the computer is off, 10.1 inch screen, draft n wireless, multi-touch touch pad, 6-cell battery, and it only weights 2.8 pounds. It's got a gorgeous deep burgundy lid and an anti-glare screen. I love it and I'm looking forward to the many hours I'll be spending with it.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:38:00 +0000

it's a little after 930a and i feel like i didn't get any sleep at all. i feel like i'm gonna have such a hard time getting started today. i need coffee, but i'm out of filters and sugar and i don't have any money! bitch! sometimes i just can't make it without my coffee and i'm feeling like today might be one of those days! oh boy, hubby, watch out! i wish i could just lay back down and go back to sleep for about 4 hours and dream about winning the social security case we've been fighting for the last 2 1/2 years. it'll be so nice to be normal again and have a little money in our pockets. just a little. it'll be good to live instead of simply exist. just existing and watching life go by around me is like being a ghost. i can see all this happening around me but i can't touch it or be a part of it. i can only watch. sad huh? if hr3548 passes this week, i just might be able to make my car payment this month. i can't see losing 2 cars in a space of a month. that would absolutely depress me. i'm still getting over my platinum being taken away. this economy is a trip. those republicans that delayed the bill for a month are heartless, greedy bastards that act like they have to pay for the extension out of their own pockets. they have no idea what it's like to have no toilet paper, no soap, no laundry soap, very little food, rent's due, there's no gas in the car and there's no money in sight. they have no idea what it is to have a doctor appointment 2 states away and no gas to get there. they don't know what it feel like to see people coming and they act like they don't see you because they don't want you to ask them for any money. they have no idea what it's like to be told a stupid lie right to your face. that's what they've been doing to us. wondering where the money for an unemployment extension is going to come from yet they'll give billions to banks and shit that ran this country into the ground anyway. greedy bastards. this is not welfare i'm asking for. it's money that i worked and deposited into an insurance account for this purpose. i haven't worked in over 2 years and i've collected unemployment intermittently at best. it's just not right. wall street can simply put their hands out and say "i want" and they get. i do that and it's like "oh wait, we don't have that kind of money!" BULLSHIT!!! i just feel like complaining this morning and this seems like the perfect platform. no one to talk back and throw off my train of thought.
well, i guess i got it all off my chest. i better start getting dressed and getting ready to go to another doctor appointment 40 miles away.

L8R!!

It's the great pumpkin Charlie Brown!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:13:00 +0000

so i'm still broke as hell and now halloween is upon us. my kids had a halloween family night at their school and i won a dvd player for a door prize, but when i went to get it, some kid claimed the last one! i was pissed! i coulda sold that for some cash! i have 4 dvd players, not including my playstation and computers, so i didn't need another one. oh well. there went that opportunity. the kids were so cute though. cali was a go-go baby and devon was a skull ninja. he's been a ninja of some sort since he could say halloween. cali finally went a different route and wasn't a princess this year. she really wanted to be corinne, the barbie 2 musketeer, but i couldn't find it anywhere. living in this po-dunk town called martin, i'm surprised i found what i found. i did my hair so i wouldn't embarrass my babies at their school. it looks good too according my husband, he says it's beautiful. now if i can only stay outta the rain....
i've been following the unemployment extension bill online for about a month now and it's so depressing! but i can't stop looking at it because it directly effects me and my pockets. god i hope that this goes thru quickly. it's rough trying to survive in this economy with NO income whatsoever. i couldn't tell you how we've done it this long.
this year for halloween we may do something a little different. the university here is having something for the whole town to enjoy and we're thinking about doing that and skipping the trick-or-treating. i think it might be nice and the kids seem to be looking forward to it. it'll be nice the have the 4 of us together at a fun function. there's a pumpkin patch out in medina and we might go and get one to carve. we did that in san diego. we would get 2 big ones and 2 little ones and let the kids draw the face they wanted to carve. then they got to gut them and that's what they liked the most, i'm sure. it was a cute sight. i'll be sure and take pics this year if that's what we do.