Stella's Blawg

See Canada! And Stay Awhile!

2012-02-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

On my list of things to do is of course first win the lottery, then next is to travel the world. I’d like to travel to many places and continents, starting of course with the great North America. Once I’ve visited each individual state within the United States, I would like to explore Canada. I have given this much thought and I have decided the best route would be to look for Calgary apartments and really flesh out a budget. That way I could stay in Canada a while and see the surrounding area and take in the sights.

One of my dreams is to visit a place and stay for at least a month. Since I’ve always wanted to go to Canada and be able to stay for a bit it makes perfect sense to rent an apartment in Calgary, Alberta and then take my time really soaking up the culture and area. Now if that lotto would just hit my numbers…

What to choose...

2012-02-06T23:45:00.001-07:00

I have had my eyes on an ebook reader ever since the holidays. I’m really debating because on one hand, I know I will use it all the time. On the other hand, I like the feel of turning pages in a book; I like the way books smell. I like the sense of accomplishment I get from looking at my several book shelves and knowing that I read Every. Single. Book. on those shelves.
Then again, the thought of being able to read anywhere, anytime, by simply pulling out a small electronic device from my purse is quite appealing. Seriously. The ease of tossing a virtual library into my purse before a trip versus choosing which book I might be in the mood to read on the plane; in the car; at the pool. It’s hard to decide. I think I’ll keep my hard copy books. And buy an ebook reader.
Keeping my options open. That’s smart!

Dance Moms

2012-02-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

I appreciate the guest post, Ignacio Phillips

I danced from about the time I was two years old to fourteen years old. I did tap, ballet, jazz, and point. I quit when I was in high school because I wanted to run cross country and track instead. Every now and then I kind of miss dance. I miss the hard work and dedication, the training, the competition, and the fun performances. I have Corpus Christie direct tv and there is a new show that comes on Lifetime called “Dance Moms.” I am slightly addicted to it because it reminds me so much of when I was a dancer. They have to train every day and are always entering a competition. Although I see many similarities between the studio on the show and the studio I danced for, there are definitely some differences. The biggest difference is how crazy the moms are. I cannot believe how competitive the moms on the show make their daughters be with each other. They act so crazy if their own daughters do not get the solo for the week. Although I think they are all crazy, I love watching the show because I love to watch some good drama.

Choosing a Fridge is Hard!

2012-01-31T20:54:00.001-07:00

Two years ago we bought a new refrigerator. We had an old Kenmore but when we bought new appliances that were black, we needed a new fridge too. I looked at several but it was the whirlpool refrigerators that kept catching my eye. Then it was a matter of narrowing down the kind I wanted. Did you know there are refrigerators out there that you can program for things and that have digital screens on them and some have LED lights inside? Oh, the choices! It almost took me out to choose one I thought I could live with for years absent buyer’s remorse.

The weather outside is frightening so keep your spa covered!

2012-01-31T20:49:00.003-07:00

Living in Arizona I don’t have a hot tub anymore. But when we lived in Utah we had one. And it stayed under lock and key for nine months a year. And, even when the weather was good enough we could use the spa, we had to keep spa covers on it when we were not using it to keep out blowing leaves, twigs, rocks, debris, etc. Having a pool here in the scorching desert is far less maintenance than we ever had in Utah with the spa and we don’t have to cover it most of the year and more importantly we can actually use the pool more months than not. I really cannot complain about living here anymore!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

It's snow gear season!

2012-01-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

So my family has been seriously considering either buying a vacation home in Utah or maybe even moving up to Flagstaff once the kids graduate from high school (another 5 years). One thing we are missing is the four seasons. Here in the scorching desert we have one season: hot. We miss the changing colors of trees and the crisp feel of the air as Christmas approaches and we even miss the snow. A little. Mostly, we miss winter sports. We’ve been looking at a snowboard rack for the roof of my car. Maybe getting back into winter sports would keep us here in the valley. Of course, it would be cheaper than moving!

Bridesmaid gifts are important!

2012-01-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

Way, way back in the day, I got married. I had a maid of honor and two bridesmaids. I don’t know what the etiquette was back then, but I understand that now days, brides are expected to put some serious thought into the gifts for bridesmaids and make sure that the gifts are personal. I gave my bridesmaids a framed photo of us together and of course we threw one heck of a party! I’m glad I’m not getting married these days, because I don’t think our “outrageous” $700 budget would get us very far these days.

Need a Paralegal? Hire Me!

2012-01-17T21:38:00.003-07:00

In other news, I'm looking for a new job in the Phoenix, AZ area. I've been a paralegal for 16+ years. I've worked in the following areas of law: Criminal Law; personal Bankruptcy; Family Law; Toxic Tort; Personal Injury; Insurance Defense; and general civil litigation.

Here is the rub:

I need a job with flex hours. Because I'm in law school for another two years.

I'm worth it! I promise!

I am a hard worker with an excellent work ethic. I will work nights and weekends if needs be.

Please email me at stellasblog at gmail dot com.

THANKS!

(legitimate offers only please. Don't tell me I won the foreign lottery and don't ask if I will handle the wire transfer of your eightysevengozillion dollars for a 20% fee.)

Coupons and more Coupons!

2012-01-17T21:34:00.001-07:00

In this day and age we all need to do everything we possibly can to save a little money while still allowing ourselves the ability to indulge once in a while. Take for instance, books. I love them. I am a voracious reader. Even when I’m in school, I still try to read at least one book per semester for pleasure. That doesn’t even count all the magazines I subscribe to. Those are excellent bath reading! Anyway, my point would be that if it were not for Barnes & Noble coupons I could not feed my reading habit with any kind of regularity. And I need to read!

Automobile law and stuff like that

2012-01-14T19:51:00.002-07:00

I have worked in the legal industry for nearly 20 years. First as a receptionist, then an office manager, then a paralegal, and now I’m in law school. I still don’t feel like I know enough about anything that I could confidently give information or advice to anyone. That is why there are experts out there such as the folks giving information to stop collection harassment California. I will never forget my cousin had a car that was a real lemon and my step-dad who thought he knew everything told her to stop paying for it because that would force the car lot pay to make the repairs to her car if they wanted paid. Back then, if you bought a car from a small car lot, they would repair it for you and payments were made directly to the lot. Well, it did not work for my cousin because instead of getting her car fixed, she got nothing but phone call after phone call asking for payment. I remember one guy even made a threat to her of some kind.

Now days it doesn’t work like that with car lots, but the good thing is that there are experts out there who can help you to stop collection harassment for good. Because people shouldn’t be afraid to answer their phones like my cousin was back then.

Beautiful!

2012-01-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

Mom said it

2012-01-08T15:21:00.001-07:00

Author: Isiah Williams

When my mom said she wanted satellite tv for Christmas I just about fell out of my chair. What in the world was she going to do with all those channels when she barely even WATCHED TV? As it turns out she really wanted BRAVO because all her friends had been talking about the Housewives shows and those other crazy reality programs and she felt left out – she just wanted to get in on the action. I love my mother to death but sometimes she’s a total enigma – she’s got more friends than I do and they talk about the most naughty things…one time I went to lunch with she and a coworker and I had to remind her that she was talking about my DAD for goodness sakes. So anyway, mom gets what mom wants so of course we got her the satellite for the holidays. She works really hard and she’s the glue that holds the family together so she should have whatever makes her happy at the end of the day, you know?

I wanna be a lawyer!

2012-01-04T21:26:00.001-07:00

There are two specific types of law that I really want to practice when I graduate: criminal law and appellate law. I would love to win the lottery and spend my time writing appeals for indigent defendants. Since I don’t see that as panning out anytime soon, I have to consider something that might make me some serious money and allowing me to pay down my mega-student loan debt, like becoming a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer. I’m sure I could get the clients and by doing an excellent job, which I will, I would get referral work also. Then I could represent the stars! Not really, there are lines even I’m not so eager to cross!

The only real downside to my chosen profession is that often times, people confuse the terms. For instance, California criminal lawyer translates to some that attorneys are criminal. I have heard all the jokes because I’ve been a paralegal for nearly 20 years, only now that I’m in a law school, I have to remind myself not to take them so personally. Now I just need to get really good at what I do, take the California bar (or motion in if that is even possible) and then start raking in the bucks. I hear my bank account growing already!

Vacation on the brain

2011-12-29T21:48:00.001-07:00

I’m currently debating on whether I want to take my family to Orlando for a family vacation next summer, or to another state with a beach and warm water, perhaps a state completely surrounded by water. Just a thought. I’ve been checking on hotels in Orlando and I am being persuaded because as of right now, the prices are right and I’m in the mood to travel from one coast to the other. Now so long as my wallet holds up I think we will be in good shape!

Tis the Season

2011-12-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hello and Happy Holidays!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a wonderful, safe, fulfilling and prosperous new year!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-21T13:28:00.001-07:00

Pretty Shiny Rings

2011-12-20T12:29:00.001-07:00

Years ago my mother in law bought me a beautiful piece of jewelry. Then, a few months ago, she tried to give me her old wedding ring, from wedding number three. I’m a little superstitious so I did not take the ring. Even though she said I could have the diamonds made into another ring. I still said no. It just didn’t feel right. Ya know. Now, I’m looking at sapphire rings, because I like them and I can wear them whenever I want to while still be able to hand them down to my children when they’re older, without the weirdness.

I need a hobby.

Christmas Time

2011-12-20T12:19:00.003-07:00

It is Christmas time at the Stella's Blawg house. We are hot and heavy, locked and loaded in baking mode. We have sugar cookies; banana bread; and gingerbread men. We've made fudge, peppermint bark, rocky road and butter toffee. Now it's on to the popcorn balls and hot cocoa while we watch a marathon of Christmas movies.

Yes, it's Christmas time at my house. How about yours?

The Smell of a Cigar. I like it

2011-12-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

I will admit it: I’m one of those weird people. I like the smell of Backwoods cigars and pipe tobacco. I do not know why. I don’t have a fond memory or an old relative who smoked or anything like that. I just like the smell. There is something about an older gentleman smoking a cigar that, in my mind at least, makes me think of a wise old professor sitting in a den full of philosophy books. My husband said that cigar smokers remind him of creepy mobster types with a huge pinky ring. Sometimes I wonder why we’re married.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-14T11:59:00.000-07:00

I feel much safer now!

2011-12-08T09:44:00.001-07:00

Guest post from: Bruno Smith

So I live in a neighborhood that is in transition as the real estate industry would call it. It is in a downtown urban area near two colleges and also near lots of pretty old houses. The house that I live in was built in 1929 so it has tons of character including the original hardwoods, doors and hardware that came with the house when it was built. I absolutely love and adore this house and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else at this point in my life. The only problem is there is sort of a lot of crime in the area. Like I said it is transitioning so there are a large variety of people that live in the area. Some are college students. Some are young professionals, and some are retired. Because of this transitioning time there are some things that have been happening in the area where I live that are unsettling. I wish that people didn’t feel it is okay to take advantage of other people but they do and that is why I have decided to get a home security systems. I don’t know if it will make a difference but I know that I sure will feel better once I know that my home is covered.

Cozy Warm Hands

2011-12-07T22:02:00.001-07:00

I live in Phoenix, where it is supposed to be warm and sunny. Lately however, it has been anywhere between 30 and 50 degrees. My fingers are quite literally freezing in the mornings. When I moved from Utah, I threw away all my mittens and gloves and hand warming devices. Because I was moving to the scorching desert after all I would never need them again. Wrong. Thankfully, I found CozyWinters.com battery heated gloves and let me tell you, I’ve got a pair on order. Because I’ll be toasty warm and my fingers will stay attached to my hands.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T21:45:00.000-07:00

Online guitar tuner

2011-11-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

Now that Christmas is coming, it is time to start looking at gifts and such for friends and family. My daughter recently expressed an interest in guitar lessons. I spoke with my nephew, who taught himself to play guitar by ear, and he hooked me up with the basics for my daughter. Then I started looking around and I found a few other things she will need like music books and guitar picks. Then I found a site with an online guitar tuner so I can’t imagine she won’t be set up perfectly for beautiful music.