A Mom, Money, and More

My Kids Aren't Right

2013-05-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

I forgot to tell you about the card that I got for Mother's day. Dearest DJ was left in charge of getting the card this year.

And if you look at the very bottom of the card, DJ wrote, "PS-Ass"
Where did I go wrong,
Sonya Ann

I'm Scattered

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't been as out going as I normally am. I'm sorry about that. My computer was lost to a thunder storm. I loved that computer. Even the buttons had just enough spring to them. It was Heaven.
Even though I'm cheap and I loved my old computer, I'm alright with letting it go. The battery didn't hold a charge, the cord zapped you pretty fierce, and it would over heat and burn you. Yes, literally burn your leg. Plus it was more than 5 years old. In computer years that is like 97 and senile.
My new computer is shiny and new and sucks. All I can tell you is whoever came up with Windows 8 should have a hot poker shoved up their ass.

And this isn't the hot poker that I'm talking about. Yes, there is a plant named hot poker. Poor thing.
Windows 8 is an abomination. It took me 15 minutes and a help forum to find the damned off button. THE OFF BUTTON! And Lord save you if you need to scroll down. Cuz that stupid side bar jumps out.
People are taking their brand new computers in to have them downgraded to Windows 7. Maybe this is all just one huge money making scheme.
I'm learning it slowly. So I will be making my rounds to visit everyone very SSSSSSLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYY!

This is a picture of Den teaching Anna to change her light bulb in her car. She wasn't happy with the lesson. Anna was out with her friends and the light bulb kept getting more and more dim and then it went out. And that was when the police officer saw her. I laughed my butt off at her. Mean but true.

He gave her a warning for the head light(which she went home and fixed! Way to go Den for being a great dad!) and a ticket for not having current insurance. Yes, you did read that right. She, of course, couldn't find her current insurance card. She did find it after he drove off. She went to the court house on her lunch break and took care of it. She then told me that it only took her a few "handys" and it was done. I mean really why does this child have such a foul way of stating things?
Who thinks like that?
Sonya Ann

Fabulous Friday

2013-05-17T08:20:00.000-05:00

So we can even upgrade the outside of the ugly old pool. I'll just add this to the wish list. Or should I add it to the never-going-to-happen list? Maybe I should just concentrate on getting the tarp off of our pool. Yes, I will start there.
Have a great and project free weekend,
Sonya Ann

Touch Me

2013-05-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

Now this might not look like much but it is a little bit of Heaven, I tell you. I found some old coffee grounds in the back of the cabinet. They were so old I don't even remember when we bought them. I didn't want to throw them out so I decided to make a coffee scrub. So I wouldn't make coffee with the grounds but I will rub them all over myself. So much safer. It made sense in my mind.
I looked all over and couldn't find a coffee scrub that I liked so I made one up.
1 cup coffee grounds
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
Mix it all together and scrub away. I think next time I will try brown sugar just to be wild.
I have to say that I love this. My skin is so soft and super shinny.
It is on the messy side so keep that in mind. Use it in the shower, get all wet, scrub away with the grounds, and then rinse ever so carefully. That should keep the mess to a minimum. See I'm even neat and tidy in your house. Just imagine what I could do in your closets!
Have a shinny Thursday,
Sonya Ann

Wicked Wednesday

2013-05-15T05:30:00.000-05:00

How did I miss this one?!? We should have known he was there from the beginning!
Have a wicked day,
Sonya Ann

Feed Me

2013-05-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

I think I should just rename this blog, "What Sonya has screwed up now!" It might make for a better read.
I have been tracking our grocery expenses for 7 weeks now. Its a record for me. See getting the Iphone was a good investment. Ok fine not really but I still love it even after getting the bill! But the phone did make it easier to track my expenses and if I could ever get the grocery bill down, I could use that as justification for buying the phone. I wouldn't buy it either but I'm still looking for a reason to justify the phone.
I averaged it out and we are spending an average of $131.03 a week. Hmmmm, not so good since I have $100 budgeted. But I do have an excuse-well sort of. Our next door neighbor's daughter died. And we made at least, $100 worth of food for them. And that is on the low side.
Just so I don't start balling again, I'll only skim over what happened next door. Their only son was hit by a truck and killed a few years ago, he was about 28 when it happened. Their only daughter had cancer and fought for 2 years before she passed away. Amanda has a 3 year old daughter. I was fine until Lilly(the three year old) came up to me and said, "my mommy is dead."
Since Den and I have known them for almost half of our lives(yes, we have lived her for that long), we had to do something. So we cooked for almost an entire day. I hope it helped but at this point I don't know anything that can help those poor people.
How in Hell can I go from a food budget to death? I make myself miserable and confused just trying to sort it. But anyways, if we hadn't hadn't cooked for them our total would have been around $116 a week. I'll try and do better.
Off to eat,
Sonya Ann

Um Santa That Isn't the North Pole

2013-05-13T06:30:00.000-05:00

Is there any other holiday that you would like me to ruin for you? I have finally found my God given talent-perversion. You are oh so welcome.
I got a massive check for $3 from Pinecone. And that's it!
And my totals are....................
$120.26 BP
$5         free check from magazines.com
$36       Pinecone research(surveys)
$75    Energy Plus(electricity rebate)
$80       Jewel(bonus for buying gift cards)
$5.74    Bank of America Add it up(Like Mr.Rebates/My Points)
$15       AutoZone rebate/visa card

$337 for Christmas 2013.
What a way to start the week!
Wonder what Santa was getting,
Sonya Ann

Fabulous Friday

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Could someone please make my backyard look like this? Pretty please? I'll be good. Ok, maybe not good but semi-acceptable.
Go over to Tootsie Time and just look in amazement. I can barely get the grass to grow. Poor me.
Our yard has so many problems, wait, our house has so many problems that sometimes I don't know where to start. I'm trying to break it into manageable chunks. We cleaned out our crappy fence line. Maybe if we get just one area looking acceptable, we will be inspired to do more or just too tired to care. Probably the latter.
Looking for yard-workers,
Sonya Ann

Not Fun Thursday

2013-05-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

This is what the back fence looked like last year. Yuck. It was terribly over-grown.

The boys went all kinds of crazy and chopped everything down. But it is so much better.

And this is what it looks like after I bagged up half of it. I'm off to chop and complain.
Going to be a long day,
Sonya Ann

Wicked Wednesday

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

Maybe the poor thing just needed some therapy!
Have an injury free Wednesday,
Sonya Ann

Santa Will Be Here-Not Really

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

I loved this movie. And it was made all the more enjoyable just watching Den laugh so hard. He had tears running down his face. He was cute, Santa not so much.
And the amazing news is I got more money, honey! I'm trying to get you all excited. Is it working or do we need more nudes of Mr. Claus like last week? Or was that the week before? If I cared I would look it up, guess what, I don't care a bit.
So on with the show! I got an entire $3 from PineCone Reasearch. Thrilling! $24.41 from BP and a $15 visa card from AutoZone. Hey guess what I'm getting for Christmas? If you said the $15 visa card, you would be right. They put my name on it so I guess they wanted me to have it. I mean I could give it to Den for Christmas but he would just have to give it back. Wait, I think I'm on to something.
Here we are......
$120.26 BP
$5         free check from magazines.com
$33       Pinecone research(surveys)
$75    Energy Plus(electricity rebate)
$80       Jewel(bonus for buying gift cards)
$5.74    Bank of America Add it up(Like Mr.Rebates/My Points)
$15       AutoZone rebate/visa card

$334 for Christmas 2013.
Almost one year ago, I had $235 saved for Christmas. Wow, I thrill even myself. I set the bar real high.
And that's about it,
Sonya Ann

The Joys of Teenage Sons

2013-05-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

I am here to help you. Sometimes we learn by watching others and sometimes we just need to experience it first hand. I am here to enlighten you. Trust me, you will thank me for this one day.
I would like for everyone to experience what it is like to live with a teenage boy. I love him but I'm not real fond of him a lot of the time.
If you do not have a teenage boy and are thinking about having a son, your son is grown and you need a refresher, or you have a son that hasn't hit the teenage years, you need to prepare/learn.
And this is where I come in. Pick a few things off of the list and do them. For the people that don't have teenage sons, you will think this is a joke. For the people that have raised/are raising a teenage son, we know the truth.
* Fill 17 cups with various drinks. Leave them in different places around the house. Spill 2. Walk away like you didn't see a thing.
*Fall up the stairs.
*Stare blankly at someone giving you directions. Go blah, blah, blah in your head as they speak. Now try and do what they told you. Get mad and roll your eyes when you screw it up.
*Fall down the stairs.
*Chew off your fingernails and spit them around the house randomly. If you spit them in the kitchen, you get bonus points.
*Pretend you are a ninja, grab your mother in a choke hold and act as if you are going to punch her repeatedly in the kidneys. Forget that your arm is 5 inches longer than it used to be and actually punch her in the kidney. Act shocked and surprised when your kidney damaged mother, elbows you the stomach and calls you an ass.
*Eat an entire box of Little Debbie snack cakes and stuff all of the wrappers in between the couch cushions because it is too much trouble to get up.
*Scratch your balls. If you do not have balls, borrow someone else's. A pubic hair under your nail is a bonus.
*Reach your nut hair hand into a bag of Doritos.
*Trip while standing still. Bonus points if you fall on someone.
*Get mad when you have to take the trash out. Kick the can as you rip the garbage bag out. Split the bag open and in one fluid motion, scatter garbage across the kitchen. Added points, if you can get coffee grounds on the wall. Mega bonus points, if you only clean up half of what spilled and leave the rest for someone else.
*Flush your damned cell phone! Have your kidney damaged mother shove her arm down the toilet trying to retrieve it. Be mad because life isn't fair and you don't have a phone. Don't think about the fact that someone has their flipping arm in the toilet after you have done god knows what in it.
*Straighten your ass up when your father gets home and has to tear out the damned toilet! Act as if you are going to help even though you aren't.
*Get mad because you have to unload the dishwasher. Dump everything in the wrong place and continue to do so until someone threatens to stab you with a fork.
*Eat White Castles and beans-fart in a glass jar, put the lid on. Heat the jar to 350 degrees for 5 hours. Take your hot fart jar to the smallest room in your house. Place it in the center of the room and take the lid off. Now close the door and don't open the door until company comes over.(I want you to know what it smells like to live with a teenage boy.)
*Don't brush your teeth.
*Rub yourself down with a bean burrito and then don't bathe for a week.(Again, your house and person should stink if you want to know what it is like.)
*Laugh at fart jokes and boobies.
I'm sure that I missed a few or that I am just blocking it out.
Needs to drink,
Sonya Ann
PS-My computer was killed by a lightening storm on Thursday night. Trust me this has been a mess. The good news is I have a new computer, the bad news is I can barely use it. Windows 8 sucks. I promise that I will be around to visit everyone. It is just going to take me a while to figure out how to get there! But the love I have for you is still there.

Fabulous Friday

2013-05-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

I found something else for us to add to the to do list that we never really will do, Lawn Yahtzee! It's just 4x4s! That would make for an awesome drinking game. I wonder how big the cup you shake them in would have to be.
Thinkin' of Drinkin',
Sonya Lush

Cleansed

2013-05-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

This house is clean! Ok, I stole that but it really is clean. I have a shit load of poltergeists but the walls have been washed. ;)
I finished all of my Spring Clean. I'm always glad when it has all been cleaned but I hate doing it. I changed it up this year because I am a rebel. I cleaned individual rooms completely instead of washing all of the walls one day, then all of the ceilings another day. I just concentrated on one room. And I only Spring cleaned one room a week. That made it so much easier than tearing up the entire house in a week or so.
Now that the kids are older, I don't have to dejunk the house as much. Anna got rid of the things that she didn't want before she left and DJ doesn't really want stuff other than video games and paintball equipment. So gone are the days of trying to dejunk their rooms before they came home from school. Trust me it makes life so much easier when little ones aren't bringing crap into the house by the armful. Well, it wasn't that bad but it felt like it a few times.
So are you done with your Spring Cleaning? How do you clean, by the room or the chore?
Maybe Holy water will get rid of poltergeists,
Sonya Ann

Wicked Wednesday

2013-05-01T08:53:00.000-05:00

I love how his arm is bent the wrong way at the end. That sounded cruel, I don't love for people to be bent the wrong way. Well there are a few people that I would like to twist around. Never mind, just watch the clip.
Not a bad cleaning lady,
Sonya Ann

Nude Saint Nick

2013-04-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

And Christmas is officially ruined. You are ever so welcome.
I got $46.45 from BP. It's been a while since I was able to collect from them. You have to have $20 in order to get a check.
$95.85 BP
$5         free check from magazines.com
$30       Pinecone research(surveys)
$75    Energy Plus(electricity rebate)
$80       Jewel(bonus for buying gift cards)
$5.74    Bank of America Add it up(Like Mr.Rebates/My Points)

$291.59 for Christmas 2013.
Could I be anymore exciting? Well, I could try and recreate the picture of Santa with Den. Nope, I like you too much.
Try and get that image out of your head,
Sonya Ann

1 Winner and 2 Losers

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Well the good news is random.org likes D.Lynn the best. Please send me your address and I'll send you some money, honey. Sorry to all of the losers, trust me I'm in that group too.
Our trip was fun and we didn't win anything. Boo! But I have kind of come to expect it. And accept it.
We had one massive downer, Payless car rental. They wouldn't accept our car insurance, they said that Progressive doesn't cover "something"(I can't remember what it was and when we dropped off the car I wanted to ask but the line was so long we were going to miss our flight. Trust me, I argued and got nowhere) in the state of Nevada that they cover in Illinois. After much fuss, it came down to pay it or don't get the car. We got the car plus paid an extra $150.
The problem with going to Vegas is.........it is a bit expensive to get around. You can pay a ton of money to stay on the strip and not need a car or cabs or you can pay for a car and stay a ways off of the strip. Normally, it is cheaper to rent the car and stay off the strip.
But I found a solution to this! We stayed at Silverton and they are the only hotel that I know of that offers free shuttle service to and from the Strip. They also offer all of their guests shuttle service to and from the airport. Our problem is solved and ~~the dirty son's-a-bitches at~~ Payless won't get another cent out of us. No more car rentals for us equals more money for the slots, baby!
We loved Silverton and this isn't a paid post either! They treat you like gold. If you want to know what it is like to be treated like a high roller even when you aren't, visit them. We earned free food, the staff was perfect, yes perfect, the drinks were free flowing, and we were compt our room just for gambling there in the past. And they used Bath and Body Works soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner for supplies in the bathroom. AWESOME! The bed was also the best bed I have ever slept in. Please don't take that the wrong way, I am not saying that I have "slept" in many beds. I'm just saying I know a bed or two.
I actually called housekeeping to find out the kind of mattress(perfect day Serta) they used and about all of the bedding. It was like sleeping on a cloud. I'm not lying. I think we are going to buy a new mattress, pillows, and comforter before getting a new table. Maybe.
So that was our trip. Den and I are drying out and get back into the swing of our normal and boring life. It was a blast and I hope that we get to go back real soon.
Sober and Miserable,
Sonya Ann

Giving Away Money!!!!

2013-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

I think your odds of winning are far better than mine!
I know how much everyone is going to miss me this week. Yeah, sure! Just so that you don't get into trouble while I'm gone, I'm giving you an assignment-send me winning vibes. And in exchange for the winning vibes, you get to enter my $25 giveaway. So exciting!!!!
Here are the rules-
You get one entry per day! Yay for easy. I'm easy, you're easy, we are all easy!
If I am on your blog roll, you get five entries. Just leave five separate entries. (I know I don't have a blog roll yet, I had planned on getting a website and then adding one. Excuses, excuses)
If you post about this giveaway on your blog, you get five entries. Just leave five separate entries.
And that's it. If you have any questions, well you are shit out of luck. I'll pick a winner when I get back!
Send me vibes and good luck!
Sonya Ann

Fabulous Friday

2013-04-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Someone you know may be going somewhere. I'm not going to tell you who or where just to let the suspense build. I'm mean. You all know this.

From Outfit Posts

I love being organized and to be completely honest, I'm totally jealous of MK over at Outfit Posts! She is an organizing genius. Plus, she has great clothes.
I think that I will take a page out of her playbook and try and be more organized with my luggage. Now I just need to be skinny, have better clothes and be more organized. Oh and not be so cheap and have my own piece of luggage. Den and I share one large suitcase so we don't have to spend more. Carry-ons aren't free on Spirit airlines. But how can I complain when it was so cheap to fly out there?
Off to jam clothes in a bag,
Sonya Ann
PS-Be sure to stop by on Monday! Guess what we are doing?

You Stink

2013-04-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

From the wellnessmama.com

I'm still on my never-ending quest to ~~experiment~~ live clean. We will be healthy or I will do some serious damage to one of us. It's the chance that you take while living here.
I really like the idea of homemade deodorant, I'm just not sure that I can get the boys on board. The deodorant bar is basically the lotion bar with baking soda. I can do this. I think I will just remelt one of the bars and throw in some baking soda. I'll try it first and let you know. I may end up all by myself if the stink is too bad. Wait, I'm a genius. I may have found a way to repel the men folk. I should start selling them as repellents. I'll be rich! Or stink bad.
Running for the hills or placing an order,
Sonya Ann

Wicked Wednesday

2013-04-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

We can all thank Sheila over at A Super Savvy Saver for this naughty little tidbit! Love it!
Have a wicked Wednesday,
Sonya Ann

Santa Isn't Welcome Anymore

2013-04-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

The pictures that I post are getting worse and worse. I just can't seem to stop.
I got another $3 from Pinecone. Pinecone seems to pay the most often but BP is still the winner in my book. I'm hoping to get another check from them any day now.
$49.40 BP
$5         free check from magazines.com
$30       Pinecone research(surveys)
$75    Energy Plus(electricity rebate)
$80       Jewel(bonus for buying gift cards)
$5.74    Bank of America Add it up(Like Mr.Rebates/My Points)

$245.14 for Christmas 2013.
There was one picture that I wasn't willing to post though. If you feel the need to see it, go here. But I'm not real sure if the link will work or for how long. Things change quite a bit on Photobucket. Just go there and type in naughty Santa.
Sorry about that,
Sonya Ann

Outside Itch

2013-04-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

From DIY and craft ideas

I'm dying to get outside and do SOMETHING! It is still a bit too early to plant anything here. So I am coming up with more ideas for the yard. I would love to have a little nook in the yard or odd/interesting things all over. But to be honest, it would probably just look like junk. I'm at least honest about my limitations.

from in the fun lane.com

We have had a few complaints about our yard being dark and hard to traverse. And that would be because we don't have any lights around the pool. I suggested to Den that we string up some Christmas lights. He vetoed that. He said it was too dangerous. I wasn't going to put the lights IN the pool just near it. He just doesn't have the vision that I do.

And I love the fact that I can get the jars/bottles for free for this project. I save glass jars. I don't know why but I feel guilty about recycling a bottle. So I wash them and save them all-under the sink. I'm a neat and tidy sort of gal but I will hoard the hell out of glass bottles and jars. It's ok because Den hoards old jeans and shirts to use as rags in the garage. He has at least, two loads out there. My mother in law hoards used aluminum pans. She washes them and saves them by the stack. At Thanksgiving, I usually act as if I'm going to throw one of them out just to watch her squirm. I've actually seen her set dirty trays outside when she thought no one was looking to "save" them. This family has issues.
I'm sure that when I do get around to making all of these, I'll post about it until you are bored.
Still dreaming,
Sonya Ann

Fabulous Friday

2013-04-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

From Back to my Roots

We have to try this! I was over at Back to my Roots and found out that we can regrow Romaine lettuce. I'm going to have an entire salad growing on my counter! I already have green onions!
Who needs it to get warm out? We can just plant in the kitchen! Now who is up for keeping a couple chickens in the kitchen?
Have a wonderful weekend,
Sonya Ann

Big Money!

2013-04-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

No Whammys! Yes, I am that old.
I got another $6 from Pinecone. I'm just rolling in the dough.
So we have.................
$49.40 BP
$5         free check from magazines.com
$27       Pinecone research(surveys)
$75    Energy Plus(electricity rebate)
$80       Jewel(bonus for buying gift cards)
$5.74    Bank of America Add it up(Like Mr.Rebates/My Points)

$242.14 for Christmas 2013.
Almost one year ago, I had $232. So I'm beating myself by an entire $10.14 for 2013. I set the bar real high people.
And that's all she wrote,
Sonya Ann