My Kids Are My World

CURLING UP AT BEDTIME

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 18:26:00 +0000

Guest post of the week by Moises Henderson

We upgraded our television package at www.directstartv.com last month and have really enjoyed it. I have always wanted to add movie channels to our package, but really never looked into it because I never thought that we could afford it. I always thought that they were wildly expensive. I guess I should have just asked my sister a long time ago. I love going to her house to watch movies. She has all the good channels. I think that she was starting to catch on that I was going over there to watch movies when my husband was at work. She told me to go to the website and look into it. I was surprised when she told me that she didn’t pay that much for them. I added them to my package and it really wasn’t expensive. It definitely is worth all of the entertainment that I get out of them at night ( my husband works nights). I love to put on my pajamas, pour a nice big glass of red wine, curl up in the bed with my dog, and watch a movie before I fall asleep!

Another Lillie Picture

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:25:00 +0000

I figured it was time to post a new picture of Lillie. She is getting fat, which is awesome because she was a skinny little thing when we got her a couple of weeks ago. She still likes to bite, but she also loves to cuddle. I had to fix her eyes because the picture gave her red eyes, but in reality, her eyes are the prettiest light blue. The best thing is, I was able to get rid of every single flea on her before my house became infested.

Bracelets And Rings And Necklaces

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:15:00 +0000

Recently, I have started wearing jewelry again. Back in the day, I used to love wearing bracelets, rings, and necklaces. I'm not sure when I stopped wearing all my jewelry, but I'm pretty sure it was when I decided to become a stay at home mom and hardly ever left the house. Now that I have a full time job again, I like looking nice, and jewelry always makes me feel prettier. If you are a girl, you know what I'm talking about.

I have been buying a lot of jewelry online the last few weeks, since I finally have a little money to spend on myself. I found some beautiful titanium bracelets, but the one in the picture over there is my favorite. I'm not really into gold right now, I prefer silver colored jewelry. In fact, all of the rings I wear these days, including the new ring my sister gave me for my birthday, are sterling or white gold. I would love to add some black titanium rings to my collection eventually, but right now I have a ring for every finger, so there's no need for me to buy any more.

I ordered a really cool necklace online last week that has all my kids names on it, and their birthstones. I can not wait to get it and wear it.

Chicken

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000

We eat a lot of chicken around here. In fact, I can't remember the last time I cooked beef. I have several different chicken recipes, but my kids like my barbecue chicken with pineapple the best. Tonight, I am cooking something we have never tried before. It's a boxed dinner kit from Velveeta called zesty barbecue chicken or something like that. I'm hoping the kids like it, because it would be nice to add more variety to our chicken dinners.

I could save myself a lot of money if I raised my own chickens to eat. I don't know much about operating a chicken hatchery, and I can only assume that it would require a lot of time and effort. I was reading an article recently about running a farm, and one of the things they were talking about was raising chickens. I was laughing like crazy when the author started talking about how messy chickens are, and how they poop constantly.

I am sure hatcheries are not the cleanest places on earth, and to be honest, I'm not sure I could eat a chicken that I had raised from a baby. I would hate to invest so much time incubating an egg, witnessing it hatch, watch it grow, and then have to chop of it's head to have dinner. I prefer buying my chicken skinless and boneless, and faceless.

The same holds true for bacon and sausage. I don't need to meet the pig before I eat it.

Awesome Sale At ZenniOptical

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:46:00 +0000

Ryan told me the other day that he wants me to get him new glasses. The pair he has now are several years old, and he has grown quite a bit since we bought them. He says the prescription is still okay, but they just don't fit his face properly anymore. He doesn't need to wear them all the time, only when he needs to see the board at school.

I have been on a mission to find the
cheapest prescription eyeglasses I can for him, and I have heard great things about Zenni Optical. I personally know several people who have ordered from them, and they all have wonderful things to say. My timing couldn't be better either, because right now, they are having a huge sale, where when you buy two pairs of glasses, you can get a third pair (or equal or lesser value) free. And seeing as how some of their glasses cost less than ten dollars each, I can really save some money.

This is a limited time promotion, so don't hesitate to take advantage of this amazing deal. Simply add the eyeglasses you need to your shopping cart, and the least expensive will be automatically deducted. It really can't get any easier.

Let's All Support Local Businesses

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:27:00 +0000

I work for a man who owns a small business. You all know that I drive a delivery van, but I don't think I've ever talked much about what I actually do. In the mornings, I deliver mail to several local businesses. These are small businesses, and unfortunately, a few that I used to deliver to have gone out of business over the last year. In the afternoon, I revisit each business and pick up mail that I then drop off at the post office before going home. In between my mail routes, I deliver between businesses. I really do love my job, mostly because for most of the day, it is just me and my radio. I love cranking up my favorite songs and singing along at the top of my lungs. People I pass must think I'm insane as they see me dancing in my seat, but I don't care. It makes the day go by faster.

I wish more people would Support Local Business owners and not shop so much in the big chain stores. I am guilty of spending most of my paycheck at Walmart every week, but when it comes to finding one of a kind gifts, or jewelry, I try and buy handmade things. I love etsy, and try to search out artists who are from my area. I did a lot of my Christmas shopping the past two years online, buying handmade things. I would rather spend a little more on something that I know was made with love. In fact, I bought my mom the cutest potholders last year, and they were about ten times more expensive than what I would have paid in a chain store, but I considered it money well spent because I was helping to support a local mom who was trying to help support her family.

I guess my point is, we all need to be more supportive of local small businesses.

Eating

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:57:00 +0000

I have been really bad about cooking dinner for the kids these days. We have been eating out quite a bit, and there have been several days where they have just had to fend for themselves, eating whatever they could find in the house. I blame work for my lack of energy in the evenings. Even though I spend most of my day driving, it gets pretty stressful always having to be paying attention to the road and other drivers. By the time I get home, the only thing I want to do is sit down and relax.

We haven't been eating anywhere fancy, like the strand house. Mostly it has been subs, pizza, or Chinese food. I love Chinese food. I could probably eat it every day and never tire of it. My favorite is chicken and broccoli, followed closely by sesame chicken. Throw in egg rolls and cheese wontons, and I'm in heaven.

The kids would probably live on McDonald's if I let them.

I am going to make an effort to start cooking more, simply because I am trying to eat healthier. I've started packing myself a lunch in the mornings to keep in the van, that way I can avoid the fast food trap when I get hungry on the road. I have also stopped drinking so much diet pepsi. I have one can in the morning for the caffeine (I'm not a coffee drinker), and for the rest of the day I drink water or juice.

I'm hoping these little changes will help me lose the rest of this weight. I know I have to try and find the time and energy to exercise, too. Maybe I can find a way to add a few more hours to my day.

Closets And Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:21:00 +0000

Last weekend, the guy I am seeing rented a hotel room for us. We usually spend the weekend at my house, but I had the kids (my ex was being slightly hardheaded last week and didn't take the kids) so I went out for a few hours Friday night for some fun. It had been a long time since I'd been in a hotel, and honestly, I wasn't impressed. I don't know how people who travel for a living do it.

I assume there are things you can bring with you to make your stay more comfortable. One of the things I would bring with me for an extended stay would be some bamboo charcoal deodorizer. It naturally prevents your clothes from absorbing all the funky odors that can linger in hotel room closets. I am thinking about getting some for Ryan's closet at home, because believe me when I say that a teenage boy's room stinks.

I am also going to make sure I bring my own pillows next time. There is nothing worse than flay, uncomfortable pillows when you are trying to get a good nights sleep.

What things do you insist on bringing with you when you travel?

Flea Control

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Lillie, our deaf little kitty cat, has become the perfect addition to our family. She drives me a little crazy at night, but I just think it's because she is lonely and wants to play. She refuses to lay in bed with me or the kids. Instead, she hangs out in the living room, meowing as loud as she can, all night long. Last night, she started around 2, and every fifteen minutes I would get up and spray her with water to make her quiet down. Obviously it didn't work very well, and I didn't get a very good night's sleep.

When we got Lillie, she had a few fleas. I was determined to get rid of them before they became a huge problem, so I went to the store and bought several different flea treatments, and thankfully, we got rid of the fleas fairly quickly. Now, I am looking for a way to keep them away. I know there is K9 Advantix
for dogs, and I've heard good things about it. It repels fleas and ticks for up to one month, but I can not find a cat version. I like that it is a single application placed between the dogs shoulder blades, and not something that needs to be applied daily. It's also waterproof.

I am on a mission to find something similar for Lillie. I don't want to end up with fleas in my carpets. I found some interesting information about fleas and their life cycle. This is a battle I do not want to lose. I'm not sure if guinea pigs can get fleas, but now that we have Callie, I want to protect her, too.

Do you use this type of flea treatment on your pets? If so, do you find them effective, and would you recommend them to other pet owners? Also, what do you use to help keep your cats flea free? I really do need some advice about this.

Apartment Living

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:45:00 +0000

I love apartment living. This is the first time I have ever lived in a complex, and to be honest, I was a little hesitant before we moved in. Living in a house, what other people so doesn't really effect you. Living in an apartment building, others actions do impact your life. For instance, I always worry about what would happen if my neighbor's apartment caught on fire.

The good outweighs my worries, though. I love that the kids have somewhere to play outside, and that their friends are just one door away. Brandi's after school babysitter lives in our building, so it's easy for Kasi to walk and get her when she gets home. I like that I have made friends with my neighbors as well.

I would recommend apartment living to anyone. Did you know that overseas, they call apartments flats? I'm not sure why, but there are beautiful Flats to rent in Glasgow as well as Flats to rent in Edinburgh. I would love to be able to spend some time overseas, and it would make sense to find Flats to rent in Aberdeen instead of spending a fortune on a hotel stay. I mean, if I were to ever go, it would be for a long time. Maybe a few months. I think it would be interesting to experience life in a country other than my own.

Unfortunately, I doubt I'll ever get there. For me, a vacation is probably going to be a weekend stay at a local hotel.

Lillie

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:46:00 +0000

Here's our new little kitty, Lillie. I'm not exactly sure how old she is, maybe a few months. A friend of mine found her, which leads me to believe someone tossed her out of their car or something. I can only assume it is because she is deaf, because she is the sweetest little thing. She loves to cuddle, and every time I sit on the couch, it doesn't take her long to find me and snuggle up between me and my laptop. My girls love her, too. I am sure she is going to have a very happy life here with us.

One Of My Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:31:00 +0000

On the 20th of this month it will be an entire year since my husband left. Some days it feels like he has only been gone a few days, and then there are days I can not even remember what my life was like back then. Weird, I know. I'm not that person anymore, and I am excited to see what my future holds.

I do a lot of dreaming about that. My biggest dream is to have a place of my own for me and the kids. I know that will not happen anytime soon, but someday, I want to be able to buy my own home. I have ideas about how I will decorate it, too. Some days, I browse the internet, looking for inspiration. This morning, I found this light fixture, and I fell in love with it. What do you think?

I know it's very modern lighting, but it also has an almost castle-like feel to it. I think it's the look of the candles. I can see it hanging in my foyer, right inside my front door. Of course, my foyer will have a very high ceiling, with a window above the front door so this fixture can be seen from outside the house as well. I'll also have to find modern outdoor lighting to compliment it, but that shouldn't be too hard.

Getting Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:09:00 +0000

I have decided that I am finally ready to get the rest of this weight off. I was hoping that when I turned 40, I would be where I want to be, weight wise. Well, my 40th birthday was last Saturday, and I still have about fifty pounds to lose. I know why I haven't been able to lose it. Most days, I don't have time to come home for lunch, and I stop and grab something from a drive through. Not the healthiest thing to do, I know. Yesterday, I went grocery shopping and bought all kinds of healthy snacks, and I plan on making a lunch every morning to take with me, so I can avoid all the fast food.

I am not one to take anything to aid in my weight loss, but I am willing to take things that will help me get healthier. There is something called Nopalea that you can drink to help your body get rid of toxins. Drinking it every day can also help reduce inflammation and promote optimal health. I am willing to give it a try, and I can do so for free (and so can you!) by calling 1-800-203-7063. There is a $9.95 fee for shipping, but I'm willing to pay that to see if Nopalea really works.

I'm hoping that by the time Spring rolls around I will have lost at least some of this weight. I want to look better in all the cute shorts and tops I have for the warmer weather. I mean, I am going to be single again for the first time in a long time, and it will be nice to have guys notice me again.

Money

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:48:00 +0000

I filed my taxes last week, and my refund check was supposed to be in last Wednesday.

I am still waiting for it. I don't know why they IRS is holding it, but the place I filed with said this sometimes happens, and that I should have it this Wednesday. I wish I was confident enough to do them myself online. I think next year, once I am officially divorced, I am going to try.

My friend used to work in a tax office, and she really liked it. I could probably take an income tax course and learn everything I need to know. I might even find it interesting. Who knows, I could even become a tax preparer and get a job doing other people's taxes. I am sure there is good money to be made doing that, especially this time of year.

Right now, though, I am patiently waiting for my check to come in. I plan on banking a good bit of it, just so I have a cushion should anything happen this year that requires money, like car repairs. I have spent too much of my adult life living paycheck to paycheck. Now that I am a single mom, I don't want to do that anymore. I want to sleep at night knowing that if God forbid something were to happen to me and I couldn't work for a while, the kids and I will be okay.

Free Phones!

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:01:00 +0000

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

Last night, my neighbor bought a new phone. Being the awesome person he his, he offered me his old phone, a blackberry. Now, if you read my blog regularly, you know I am in the market for a new phone and I have narrowed my choices down to either a blackberry or an android. So many people have recommended I go with the android, but I was not about to pass up a free phone. Unfortunately, my SIM card would not work in the blackberry. My neighbors new phone is an android-ish phone, and I love it! It's so pretty! I will probably end up getting one of those.

Right now, Sprint is having a huge online sale on phones. You can get this phone:

the Nexus S™ 4G for FREE when you open a new line of service or add to your account. ($50 MIR converts to instant + $99.99 web only savings)

Or you can get this phone:

the HTC EVO™ 3D for only $49.99 when you open a new line of service or add to your account. ($50 MIR converts to instant + $50 web only savings)

I am pretty happy with the network I am on now, but I might just be persuaded to switch for one of these free phones! This sale ends February 8th, so I need to make up my mind quickly.

Medications Are Expensive!

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:00 +0000

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

I am one of probably millions of people in this country who does not have any type of medical insurance. This means that unless I am extremely sick, I do not go to the doctor. When I do have to go to the doctor, I spend five hours in the emergency room. I miss when I used to be able to go see our family doctor, who I love.

Don't even get me started on how expensive prescriptions can be when you don't have insurance. Thankfully, we do have a local pharmacy that will fill antibiotic prescriptions for free, but sometimes there are medicines I need that are ridiculously expensive. Right now, Walgreens is helping people like me afford their medications with their Walgreens Prescription Savings Club. For $35 a year, I can get a family membership that covers not only myself, but my kids ( because they are under 22) and even any pets I have. I can cover only myself for only $20 a year. Membership includes savings on more than 8,000 brand-name medications and all generic medications, discounts on flu shots, pet prescriptions, nebulizers and diabetic supplies, and you even get bonuses when you purchase Walgreens brand products. I know my ex could use some help paying for his diabetic supplies.

As with just about everything and everyone these days, you can find Walgreens on Twitter and Walgreens on Facebook.

Decorating My Girl's Room

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:50:00 +0000

I filed my taxes the other day, and thankfully, I am getting a pretty big refund. I know I have said this before, but this is the only time of year that I get to buy things I want, not just things I need. This year, I want to get some things for the girl's room. I am trying to get Brandi out of my bed and into her own. I mean, she's only 10. She should have been in her own bed a long, long time ago. My thinking is, maybe I can bribe her with new bedding and wall hangings. If she loves the way her room looks, she might just want to sleep in it.

I know what I would like to do to their room, but I guess I have to let them have a say in it, too. We searched online for house designs and found some pretty ideas. There was this one picture of a girl's bedroom, and honestly, if I hadn't just turned 40 I would make my bedroom look exactly like this picture. It had light purple walls, with white accents. There were butterfly and flower stickers on the walls, and all the bedding and curtains were different shades of purple. Not something my girls would like, but I would.

My girls will probably want me to paint their walls black with white skulls and peace signs. I remember going through a black phase myself, so I can kind of understand. The trick with them is going to be finding something we can both live with. Plus, I'm not allowed to paint the walls here, so we are going to have to find some big wall stickers to give their room personality.

Once we do, I am going to insist that Brandi at least attempt to sleep in there.

Funny Irish TShirts Review

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:54:00 +0000

I'm Irish, and what better way to let the world know than to advertise this fact on a tshirt? I was given the opportunity to pick from an abundance of FUNNY IRISH T-SHIRTS, and while a bunch of them were awesome, when I saw the one below, I immediately thought of Kasi.

The shirt is made from 100% cotton, and Kasi loves it! It's soft and comfortable to wear, and she has a thing for skulls. She was thrilled when I told her she could have it.

If you want to show off your Irishness (look at me making up words!) this St. Patrick's Day, get a shirt from Funny Irish Shirts.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Android Or Blackberry?

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I think I have finally decided on which type of phone I am going to get. I have asked several different people, and it seems like everyone has a different opinion on which is the best phone to have. If I could afford it and it was available on my plan, I would get an iPhone. But I can't and it's not, so I was debating between an android and a blackberry.

While I love the android, I am not sure a phone that is completely touch screen would work for me. I drop my phone a lot, and I'm afraid the screen would shatter within a week. The blackberry seems like a better choice, because it has a full keyboard, which will make the texting I do a red lights a whole lot easier. The blackberry is also a little bit cheaper, and since I am paying for this phone myself, cost is a variable in my decision. NO matter which phone I decide to get, I am going to also invest in a portable usb charger battery. I am on the road for ten hours a day sometimes, and I call my boss constantly. Having my phone battery die would be terrible, and would probably also get me fired.

So let me ask you, my loyal readers, which phone you would recommend; and android or a blackberry?

Mission Tuition

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:47:00 +0000

I get so many requests on Facebook for games, sweepstakes, and shopping sites. Most of the time I just ignore them, because I don't do sweepstakes, I only play one game, and I do not do too much shopping online, unless it's on etsy. I love etsy!

Today I found out about a shopping site called Mission Tuition . Let me explain how it works. Simply put, you can shop online through their site and earn cash rewards that are put into a saving account that you can use to send your kids to college. Signing up is free, and you will also get access to coupons you can print out and use to buy groceries or eat at thousands of restaurants nationwide. You really should check out their list of participating merchants. When you are ready to access your rewards, you can have a check sent to you, or you can have the money transferred to your bank account or college fund. How cool is that?

I plan on doing a lot of shopping in the next few weeks, thanks to the tax refund I am looking forward to getting. I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't shop through this site for the things we need.

Starting off the year with some home renovations

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:14:00 +0000

Guest post written by Mary Hilson

One thing that I was determined to tackle this year was all of these renovations around our household that we've been putting off for so long. We've been saving up for these too and it just now works out that after the holidays we have time to finally put time into some of these things.

But I didn't actually have time to research all of this during the holidays, so I've been finding builders and stuff like that at the last minute. A few weeks ago I was looking online for some people to do our work and I came across some Home renovations info and I think that we're going to go with that company.

We have several things that we need to do around our household, most importantly, redoing our kitchen. I really use the kitchen a lot, but that's kind of what happens with so many kids and a love of cooking. I've wanted an island to prepare food on for years now and now I'm finally going to get one. I can't wait to see the final result!

Tophatter

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

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

Are you looking for unique things for your kids? I know when it comes to my daughter, she likes to be one of a kind. I find it hard to shop for her sometimes, because she likes to stand out in a crowd, and that is hard to do when she is wearing the same clothes and accessories as almost every other kid in her class. I was excited when I heard about Tophatter live auctions for many reasons, but mostly because can bid on unique things for my daughter. Brandi loves jewelry, and right now there are several beautiful bracelets that I know she would love up for auction.

From what I understand about this site, at 9am pacific time, they start the auctions. Not only can you bid on the items, you can chat with other people who are bidding. Let's face it, moms these days love the social aspect of online sites. I will admit to being one of those moms.

You really should take a moment and check out this new site. Right now, you can save 10% off your first purchase by sharing on Facebook. I know that on my next day off, I will be online at 9am waiting to see what I can snatch up for my little fashion diva.

I'm Loving These!

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:01:00 +0000

Check out the picture below and try to guess what it is before looking underneath it. Okay?

So, what did you think it was? Some type of tree stump? I did too at first, but then I realized that it is a vessel sink. I love it! I wish I could redo my bathroom and put this in. Better yet, I wish I owned a cabin in the woods, because this sink would fir perfect in a rustic bathroom. Of course, with a sink like this you would have to have an awesome vessel faucet to go with it. What do you think of this one?

Okay, so it might be a little modern, but I love the fact that the water pours off of it instead of out of it. It kind of reminds me of a waterfall, which fits perfectly with the outdoorsy feel of the sink. Don't you agree?

I found a bunch of other vessel sinks that are just as beautiful as the one above. Check this one out:

It looks like a bunch of pebbles, but it is actually made of glass. I would love to have something like this in my bathroom, but with the rate with which my kids break mirrors, there is no way I would have a glass sink. It is beautiful though.

Who Would Want To Be Me?

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:43:00 +0000

Recently, both my Twitter and Facebook accounts were hacked. A friend alerted me to the Twitter issue, which was great because I never go on there, so I had no idea. Apparently I was sending spammy messages to my followers and had no clue. When I logged in to check, there was a very nasty message from one of my followers, thanking me in some not so nice terms for my message to her. You would think that if this person knew me at all they would know I would never do something like that. Facebook sent me an email alerting me to the fact that someone in another country had signed into my account, so I was able to change my password quickly there.

This experience opened my eyes to how easy it is for someone to get your information. I bank online, and I always worry that someone will try to access that information as well. There are sites like IdentityHawk that help you protect yourself online, and I might just sign up for it. I'm convinced, though, that anyone who tries to steal my identity will be shocked when they can't get credit in my name, and really, who would want access to the $3 I have in the bank? But, having identity theft protection is still a really good idea.

I Need New Everything

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:38:00 +0000

I can not tell you how excited I am that it is tax time. Some people dread this time of year, but not me. In years past, my ex and I have done well when it comes to our refund, and I expect to do just as well this year. I don;t make a lot of money, and it's hard enough for me to pay my bills every month, let alone splurge on things for the kids. It is usually February when I buy them new clothes and shoes and all the other things I can't afford during the year.

Just because I have money to spend doesn't mean I spend it freely. I still refuse to pay full price for anything, and I scour the stores for sales. This year I am going to spend some money on new clothes for myself. I don't wear a uniform to work (though I do have some company sweatshirts) and I like to look nice. I no longer need pants with elastic waistbands, so jean shopping should be fun. I also need new shoes. My sneakers have holes in the bottoms, so when it rains I walk around all day with wet feet.

This is also the time of year we all get new socks and underwear. This may be too much information, but I haven't bought new underwear since I have lost all this weight, and the ones I wear are way too big. I am looking forward to buying some that will fit properly. Of course, I will try and find a hanes coupon or two to help save me some money. I also need new bras. I haven't bought a "real" bra since my surgery. I have only worn sports bras. I am looking forward to buying something lacy and sexy. The only bras that used to fit me didn't come in any color other than white, so I'm hoping to find something black that fits. Or maybe even something purple. Or flowery. Who knows. It will be fun to have choices.

I promised the kids that I will give them each one hundred dollars when I get my refund to make up for the very small Christmas we had, so they have been planning how they will spend their money. Of course, there choices change everyday, so who knows what they will end up buying. I just hope whatever it is, it doesn't eat or poop.