My Kids Are My World

Brandi Would Love Doing Movie Auditions - And Movies!

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Tue, 29 May 2012 23:36:00 +0000

My kid is a ham. It doesn't matter if she is in a room full of people or alone with a mirror, she will find a way to be entertaining. A few months ago, she auditioned for the school play. They were doing The Wizard Of Oz, which is her all time favorite movie, and she had her heart set on being Dorothy. Unfortunately, because her school has fourth, fifth, and sixth graders in it, they gave all the leads to the sixth graders. My poor little fourth grader was reduced to being a munchkin. She was heartbroken at first, but then she put her heart and soul into being the best little munchkin in the play. That picture up there was taken right after the performance. The woman with Brandi directed the play, and for the life of me I can not remember her name. She is an actress with a traveling show, and she took time out of her busy schedule to help these kids put on the best performance of The Wizard Of Oz I have ever seen.

If you ask Brandi what she wants to be when she grows up, she will tell you she wants to be an actress. In fact, if she had her way, we would be living in L.A. right now and she would be starring in her own show on Disney or Nick. Her ultimate dream is to work with Selena Gomez, who just so happens to be her idol. But, Movie Auditions are hard to come by I'm sure, especially for someone who has never worked in the business before. There is website called My Big Movie Break that can help unknowns break into the business. The site has online auditions, as well as tips, and gives aspiring actors the chance to be in a feature film.

For now, I am going to keep this site a secret from Brandi. If she were to find out about it, she would be auditioning for everything she could, and I would have to pack up and move across the country, because there is not a doubt in my mind that given the opportunity, she would be an awesome actress.

#EclosBeauty Review And Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

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

I was sent a sample kit of éclos Skin Care products to try out for a couple of weeks, and then share my opinion with all of you. Before I get to my review, let me explain what these products are, and what they can do for your skin.

These éclos Skin Care products contain stem cells from a rare Swiss apple, which have been found to stimulate your own skin stem cells, thereby giving your skin a younger appearance. They also contain PhytoPlex24, which is a combination of plant extracts, vitamins, and anti-pxidants, which work together to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Products similar to this used to only be found in department stores, and they usually had a hefty price tag attached. These products can be found at Rite Aid, Walgreens, and GNC, and they are very affordable.

The starter kit I received has several products in it.

The Facial Cleanser Skin Prep "removes makeup and cleans your skin, purifying your pores and leaving your skin refreshed".

The Cellular Activator Face Serum "nourishes skin cells, enhancing their ability to function like younger cells. It also promotes collagen production and stimulates the growth of connective tissue, giving skin a more youthful look and it helps visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and protects against environmental damage".

The Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream "revitalizes skin stem cells, helping to tighten sagging skin and postpone wrinkles. It also helps skin to repair itself, slowing the signs of aging and protects against aging free radicals, preventing further signs of aging".

The Restorative Eye Cream "visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and increases moisture content to delicate eye area".

The Instant Radiance Facial Scrub "exfoliates dry, dull dead skin cells and enhances cell turnover, restores radiance and evens out skin tone and texture".

The Skin Renewal Clay Mask "cleanses skin, absorbs impurities, and helps unclog pores. It also helps restore smooth, youthful texture to skin, and it tightens pores, minimizing their appearance".

I know this seems like a lot of products to use on a daily basis, but trust me when I say they are worth it. My skin has never felt (or looked!) better! Here is a shot of me before I started using the products:

I turned 40 in February, and while I am told often that I do not look my age, I know that someday I will. Taking precautions now to keep my skin looking as young as possible will pay off when that time comes. These éclos Skin Care products smell wonderful, and honestly, I could tell a difference in my skin within a few days of using them. My favorite, by far, was the Clay Mask.

It left my skin feeling cleaner than it has in months, and since it has gotten so hot outside these past few weeks, driving in my hot van all day has really taken a toll on my pores. This mask unclogged and tightened my pores, leaving my skin tight and smooth.I also love the headband that came in the kit. It kept my hair out of my face as I used the products, and if you know me at all, you know my hair is always in my face! You can see that in my after picture:

Doesn't my skin look amazing?

I was also sent a second starter kit (a $19.99 value) to give away to one of you, my loyal readers. To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment telling me which of the products I discussed above would you most like to try, and why. Easy peasy. Please note, this giveaway is only open to residents of the continental US. Sorry! I will pick a random winner from the comments on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. Good luck!

Will I See Tomatoes This Year?

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:50:00 +0000

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

A couple of weeks ago, my boss needed a rental car. Inside, he found a flat of tomato plants that someone had left behind. They were dried up and pitiful, and he asked me if I wanted to take them home and try and nurse them back to health. You can see the three that survived over there in that picture (ignore Lillie, which may be hard to do since she is so adorable!). They still look pitiful, but they look a whole lot better than they did. I don't have a yard since I live in an apartment, so those planters were the best I could do. I used a cheap bag of potting soil to plant them in, but I think I need something better for them if I want them to eventually produce tomatoes.

Whitney Farms® has a full line of 100% plant foods and soils that would surely help out my little plants. Their organic soil and organic plant food have no additives and nothing artificial. They are designed to help plants produce big, beautiful flowers and vegetables. You can click on the links to find a $3 off coupon, which will make trying their products even cheaper!

The best thing, in my opinion, is that there is no manure odor, which can be pretty gross, considering I have these plants in my apartment. I am really hoping that I get tomatoes this season, but my daughters friend, who is studying agriculture in school, says that is unlikely. If I can keep them alive until next year, she said I should get lots of tomatoes. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Financial Aide

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:09:00 +0000

College is expensive, there is no doubt about that. I have two kids in high school, and I worry every day how they are going to afford to go to college. Ryan will be a junior next year, and Kasi will be a sophomore. Like I did, they will have to pay for their own college tuition, which I hate, but can't really do anything about. They will both apply for financial aide, which can be confusing. The following graphic was designed to help take a little bit of the confusion out of the process. Check it out if you are like me, and have kids heading in that direction, or if you are going to back to school yourself.

Brought to You by SNHU.EDU Online College Programs

Goodbye Doctor

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 +0000

I found out some news a couple of weeks ago that is breaking my heart. The doctor that the kids and I have been seeing for ages is closing his office. I don't remember exactly when we started seeing him, but I know he was the one who told me I was pregnant with Brandi, so it's been at least eleven years. He diagnosed Ryan with ADHD, and always made sure his medications were working the way they should.

I do not have health insurance for my kids, because I can not afford it. They do have medicaid, which is such a blessing. I have no health insurance at all, which worries me sometimes. I mean, if I were to get really sick, I have no idea what I would do. I need to do some research to try and find some kind of affordable health insurance for myself, but honestly, right now, I don't have any extra money at the end of the month to pay for it. I thank God everyday that I am pretty healthy, and I hope I stay this way.

I don't know what I am going to do about finding another doctor for my kids. I have made a few phone calls, and most of the doctor's offices I have called are not accepting new patients, or they do not accept Medicaid. It's pretty frustrating. The only good thing is that now that Ryan is off all his ADHD meds (due to blood pressure issues) he doesn't need to see anyone on a regular basis anymore. The only time my kids do see the doctor is when they are sick, so I may end up using the night and weekend clinics for now. I know this is not a permanent solution, but I don't think I have any other option right now.

I Choose Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 19 May 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Brandi and I had a conversation the other day about happiness. She woke up in a bad mood, and was cranky and crying about going to school. Her friends were fighting, and she didn't want to deal with that stress. I sat her down and told her that every day she has a choice to make when she wakes up. She can choose to let other people take away her happiness, or she can choose to be happy, and let that happiness filter to the people around her.I told her that every day, I choose to be happy.

Now, I'm not saying it's easy. I have bad days just like everyone else, but for the most part, I choose to be happy. I go to work every day with a smile on my face, and make the best of each day. It probably helps that I love my job. I'm not sitting in an office, dealing with the politics that comes with being surrounded by coworkers. I get to be on the road, enjoying the sunshine (or rain, depending on the weather) and the constantly changing scenery. I can stop pretty much whenever I want to take a short break (aka use the potty). I could probably check out some Wilmington NC real estate if I was in that area.

My point is, I have learned how to create my own happiness. I have walked away from the people who tried to take it away from me, and I am not one bit sorry. I am hoping that by sharing my little secret with Brandi, and by setting a good example, I can show her how to find her own happiness.

A Mother

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Written By Brandi

A mother is someone who supports
whether she is tall or short
Someone who gives birth
to a monster or a little squirt

A mother is someone who cares
helps when things get tough or life dares
Every moment she cherishes
whether it's nice or embarrassing

A mother is someone who loves
like an angel from up above
When bullies make us cry
you'll straighten them up, you're not too shy

I love you mom! You are so awesome and nice.

Debt

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 12 May 2012 03:01:00 +0000

I don't believe in credit cards. Some days I wish I had one, but I know in the long run, it is better that I don't have any. It would be so easy to use one to buy lunch or cigarettes on a day that I am short on cash, but I know that doing so would cost me more money in the long run. So I live my life spending only the money I have in the bank.

These days, there are so many people struggling to pay their bills every month, and they depend on their credit cards just to get by. Falling behind on payments and getting in over their heads happens so quickly, and sometimes, there seems like there is no way out. High APR's and late fees end up costing them way more money than they originally charged, and some people seek out Debt Consolidation Advice. Consolidating their debt often leads to one monthly payment, and there is no credit check or upfront fees to start. This is a better option to moving high interest debt to lower interest cards.

I am thankful that I do not have to worry about credit card debt. I have enough other things to worry about.

Home Schooling Is Not For Me

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:55:00 +0000

Every now and then, Brandi asks me to home school her. She loves school, but she is at that age where all the girls in her class can not get along, and she is always asked to take sides when her friends fight. It drives her crazy, because she has such a tender heart and doesn't want to have anyone mad at her. She has one friend in particular who is especially mean to her, yet she forgives her time and time again. I hate that she is going through this, but I guess it's all part of growing up.

I would love to home school her, and I know there are many resources out there available for parents who do. From Kindergarten Printables to high school classes that are available online for free, she wouldn't be lacking in information. The only thing lacking is the time it would take for me to actually home school her, and the patience I would need. I love her, don;t get me wrong, but I'm not sure I could handle having to be responsible for her education.

So, I simply tell her to be sweet, and when her friends fight, she needs to stay out of it. I tell her to be careful about what she says, because words are hard to take back, and I make sure she knows to treat other people the way she would want to be treated. What else can I do?

My Tips For Saving Money

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:52:00 +0000

I am not a great coupon user. Honestly, whenever I try to clip coupons, I find myself spending more money than I normally would. I think it's because I feel like if I have a coupon for something, I must use it, even if it is on a product I wouldn't normally buy. For instance, I don't usually buy candy, but if I have a coupon, I will buy it simply because it is for a great price. Not only do I end up spending more money, it's money spent on something I not only don't normally buy, but something I don't need.

So, I am going to share with you some of the ways I save money, without using coupons.

Know The Prices Of The Things You Buy Most

This is a big one for me. I do a big grocery shopping trip once a month, and then stop in again for things like milk and bread when we run out. I do make a list ahead of time for the things we have run out of, like sugar and cereal, but when it comes to specifics like meal planning, I wait to see what is on sale. I have gotten really good at knowing the prices of the things I buy regularly, which makes it easy for me to determine if a sale at one store is cheaper then buying the same thing at a different store.

Buy What Is On Sale

I love BOGO's. I have been known to have twenty boxes of Mac & Cheese in my pantry at one time, simply because I found a great sale. Stocking up on things that don't go bad when they are on sale is a great idea, especially when you can find several different ways to use them. For instance, most people think of Mac & Cheese as a side dish, but if you get creative, you can use it in casseroles too, making it part of the main dish, too.

Only Buy Marked Down Meat

This one is a must for me, especially when it comes to chicken. We only eat boneless, skinless breasts, so when I find it on sale, I have been known to buy every package in the display case. Just last month, I bought 24 packs of chicken strips in one trip. I have many different recipes, which helps us not tire of eating chicken every night. I find that stores usually mark down their meat a day or two before the "sell by" date, and some stores will even let you know what time of day they do it so you can plan your shopping trip accordingly. Buying meat that is marked down is fine as long as you use it that day, or freeze it.

Look For Meal Deals

I have a store right around the corner from my house that offers different "meal deals" every week. Most times, you simply buy one main ingredient (which is usually a frozen entree of some sort, like pizza, pasta, or chicken) and get three or four side items for free. Most of the time, the free itmes total more than the main ingredient costs, so it is a great buy.

Avoid Impulse Buys (aka: SAY NO TO THE KIDS!)

This is a hard one for me, but I try really hard to stick to it. I try to never shop hungry, because when I do, the cart usually ends up full of things I wouldn't normally buy. And when the kids come shopping, I find myself saying "no" a lot, which is hard to do, but necessary. Otherwise, we would end up eating chips and ice cream for supper every night.

Try The Store Brands At Least Once

That one is pretty self explanatory. Most store brands are just as good as the name brands, so give them a try. They cost less, which can add up to big savings.

I don't have many tips for buying non-food items, because honestly, I am loyal to certain brands that I know work for me. For instance, hanes makes great products when it comes to underwear for the kids, and I have specific shampoo, conditioner, and tampons that I use, even though they are a bit more expensive than the store brands.

So those are just a few of my tips for saving money. Fell free to share yours with me in the comments!

Brandi's New Glasses

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:18:00 +0000

Recently, Brandi got glasses. She was having a hard time reading books, which is really odd for a child her age. The eye doctor said she is very far sighted, and gave us some exercises to do with her eyes to help her learn to focus on objects close to her face.

Boo looks adorable in her glasses. She is on Medicaid, so the selection of glasses we got to choose from was very limited. She wanted something colorful and funky, but they didn't offer anything like that. I told her we would check out the eyeglasses on zennioptical.com to find her a pair she likes. She had fun looking through all the choices, and finally decided on these:

They are cute, and I think she would look great wearing them. The best thing I like about them is the price. They are only $12.95! At that price, I told her she could pick out two pairs. I also like the idea of having several pair of glasses for her, just in case she loses or breaks one of them. I am not all hesitant about ordering from zenni, because I know several people who have gotten glasses from them, and they all have only good things to say. Plus, the glasses themselves are not cheaply made, which is what I was thinking since they are so reasonably priced.

Have you ordered from zenni? If so, let me know what you think.

I Can't Wait To Try Shout® Trigger

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 05 May 2012 08:44:00 +0000

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

I like to dressnice for work, even though it is not required. I mean, I drive a delivery van, and spend most of my day by myself. But ever since I've lost this weight, I feel better about myself on the inside, and I want that to show on the outside. The only problem is that I end up with the weirdest stains on my clothes. Sometimes it's food, because eating with one hand can get messy. Other times it grease from the products that I deliver. Whatever it is, I am determined to get the stains out of my clothes and keep them looking nice.

I have tried several different products for stain removal, and I'm excited to try Shout® Trigger. I only use cold water when I do laundry in an attempt to save money on my power bill, and some products don't work well in cold water. Shout® Trigger works in all water temperatures and is safe for all colorfast washables. It's triple-acting formula clings, penetrates, and lifts away stains, and it has a convenient trigger dispenser.

I really don't like doing laundry, so I usually save it all up during the week and do a marathon laundry session on Saturday. Any product that can help me quickly remove stains is awesome in my book, and I am really looking forward to seeing how well Shout® Trigger works. They carry this product at Walmart, and if you click the link above you can print out a coupon to use. I am going to print one out for myself. Make sure you come back here and let me know if you try it, and how well it worked for you.

Curves

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sat, 05 May 2012 00:16:00 +0000

I know I haven't been blogging on a regular basis, and if you are friends with me on Facebook you know why. For those of you who are not my friends, let me explain where I have been.

About five weeks ago, I joined my local Curves. A friend of mine called me one day and asked if I wanted to join with her, and I jumped at the opportunity. They were having a special where they waived the $99 joining fee if you brought in canned food, so that is what I did.

Let me tell you, I love it! It's a big circuit that you do, and it takes about 30 minutes to go around twice, which is what they recommend three times a week. Other than the days I see my therapist, I have been going just about every day, working out for at least 45 minutes. So far, I have lost 11 pounds and 22 1/2 inches. Those inches are a total from my arms, thighs, waist, bust, abdomen, and hips. I have the breakdown somewhere, but I can't find it right now, so I can't post it. I'll try to find it and post it soon.

I am not only working out. I decided to start eating better, not necessarily diet. I haven't taken any pills, or eaten any special foods like shakes or shapewise chews, but I am eating more fruits and veggies, and I have almost completely cut out fast food. I do treat myself once a week, which helps me not have bad cravings for something greasy.

I am going into this whole thing without high expectations. I mean, I have dieted before and lost weight, but I always get discouraged when I hit a plateau. I went two weeks without losing weight (though I did lose inches) and instead of getting discouraged this time, I am looking at it as a work in progress. I mean, even if I lose a pound or two a week, a year from now I will be where I want to be, weight wise. Plus, I feel better, and my clothes fit better, and I know I can do this.

Cheap Auto Insurance

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:16:00 +0000

I have been doing really well managing my money lately. When I got my tax refund in February, I made sure every bill was paid so that it were current. There were a couple that I was paying when the final notice came, so I made sure I brought those up to date. At the end of March, I sat down and made a list of every bill, and then I matched each bill up with a Friday I got paid. I have made sure that before I spend any money each week, the bills on that weeks list were paid.

This week I have to pay my car insurance. Last month I had to renew it, and I was told that my payments would be $38 per month, so that is what I figured into my list. Yesterday, I received the bill in the mail for this month, and it was for $44. I really need to call and see why it is higher than I was quoted. Or, I could shop around to find some cheap auto insurance. I don't think the $44 a month is unreasonable, but if I was quoted $38, then I think that is what I should be paying.

I only have liability on my car, and I have been thinking about getting full coverage on it. I don't have the money to buy a new car if mine were to be totaled in an accident, and after spending two days without my car last week, I don't think I could go months without one while I save up the money to buy a new one. I am thinking about buying something bigger next year when I get my taxes back, because while I do love my car, when the kids have friends over, fitting three teenagers in the back seat is a tight fit.

Ryan And Biology

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:57:00 +0000

My kids are getting their interim reports today, and Ryan has been waiting for this day for weeks. He failed biology on his last report card, and he has been on restriction from his laptop and driving since then. I got a text from him before, because he was really excited about his grades. He is doing great in everything, except biology. Right now, he has 61 in the class. Yes, that is still failing, but he has brought that up from a 42, which I think shows at least some effort. I will probably take him off restriction, but I need to find a way to help him bring up that grade even more. I was thinking about looking into online tutors. I know I don't know enough about the subject to help him myself, but there has got to be someone out there who does and can help him. Plus, doing the work online might be more fun for him that re-reading the same things over and over again in a textbook.

I'm Already Thinking About Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Last Christmas was hard on me. I barely had enough money to have gift for my own kids under the tree, and I didn't have any money to buy for my family and friends. I do not want that same thing to happen this year, so I am going to start my shopping early.

I want to try and do a lot of my shopping online, and have it shipped directly to my house. That way, everything will be in sealed boxes and my kids can't snoop. I found some cute stuff on Geek Gadgets 2012, and I also found some weird stuff. For instance, they have an ice tray that makes ice cubes that look like pot leaves. Who would want something like that?

My mom is always easy to shop for, but my dad is difficult. I know he likes to read, so I was thinking of using a few AbeBooks coupons and getting him a book or two. The only problem is that I have no idea what to get. I love reading fiction, but I think he is more into biographies and Christian books. Anyone have any recommendations?

If worse comes to worse, I can find some Amazon promotional codes and buy a bunch of generic gifts that will work for anyone. There have been times in the past when someone has given me a gift and I had nothing to give in return, so I would make a plate of cookies for them. I want to avoid that from now on, so having a secret stash of gifts would be wonderful.

Picmonkey

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:21:00 +0000

I am sure most of you know that picnik, my favorite photo editing website, will be closing down this week. They suggested trying picmonkey to edit photos, and I love it! Right now, everything is free, but I have a feeling they will soon implement a membership, just like picnik did. I was playing around on picmonkey, and they have a lot more options. I love the way the picture above came out!

Scotts ® Snap® Spreader System

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:05:00 +0000

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

I live in an apartment, and one of the things I miss most about living in a house is caring for my lawn. I used to love cutting the grass. There was nothing more relaxing to me than getting on the riding mower with my mp3 player and listening to music as I rode around in circles. Cutting the grass was easy. Getting the grass to grow and look beautiful before cutting it seemed to pose a problem for me.

If you have this problem, you should check out the Scotts® Snap® Spreader System. This no mess spreader system makes feeding your grass simple. All you have to do is snap the feeder pack in place and walk around your yard. The feeder pack, or Snap Pac, connects directly to the spreader, so there is no need to cut the pac open, which means there is no waste. The pac even self seals when you remove it. How cool is that? The system also auto sets the perfect flow, so your grass gets exactly what it needs. Check out what people are saying about it:

You can also win some amazing prizes with The Scotts® Snap PERKS Program, which begins March 7, 2012. Simply "like" Snap perks on Facebook for your chance to win!

National Mobility Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000

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

May is recognized as National Mobility Awareness Month. I, personally, do not know anyone with mobility issues, so I had no idea that people with disabilities constitute the second largest minority in the United States. In fact, over eighteen million people in the United States and Canada have mobility issues, with six million of them being veterans. Thankfully, with the help of associations like NMEDA , (The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) people with mobility issues are living full, active lives.

NMEDA, who has partnered with BraunAbility, Bruno Independent Living Aids, VMI/Vantage Mobility International, Toyota, Chrysler and SanTan Honda Superstore in Chandler, AZ to sponsor National Mobility Awareness Month, is asking local heroes to submit their stories to their website, where they will compete to win one of three Custom Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. A Local Hero can be defined as anyone in your community – whether a caregiver, veteran or person with disabilities, who is dealing with or overcoming mobility challenges. After submitting their stories, heroes should encourage everyone they know to go to www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com and vote for their story.

Mike Savicki is the National Spokesperson for National Mobility Awareness Month, and his story is inspiring in and of itself. You can check it out on his website, www,mikesavicki.com.

Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:19:00 +0000

I drive a delivery van, as most of you know. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a place I am delivering to doesn't have their name or street number on their building. I can not tell you how many times I have gone into the wrong place because of this. I wish it was required that every building have custom address plaques displayed where they are visible to their customers. It's a good thing that once I deliver somewhere, I am good at remembering where the business is should I have to go there again.

I know it is required by law that homes have their numbers clearly visible from the street so it's easy for emergency personnel to find them should an emergency arise. I have seen some beautiful residential address plaques while on the road. In fact, my mom just bought two different personalized address plaques for her house. One is hung beside her front door and the other is hanging from the bottom of her mailbox. She recently redid her mailbox, and it looks beautiful. She replaced her old metal mailbox on a pole with a wooden one, which she then surrounded with a flower bed. In fact, she put a lot of work into her entire yard, and I have to admit that it is the prettiest yard in her neighborhood. Well, I say she put a lot of work into it, but I'm pretty sure her boyfriend did most of the heavy labor.

Either way, I still think my life would be easier if everyone displayed their street numbers on their business or home.

Floors

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:08:00 +0000

If we ever move out of this apartment, I am going to make sure the next place we live does not have carpet. I used to love carpeting. I love the way it feels under my feet when I wake up in the morning. I like that the kids can lounge out on the floor and be comfortable. I don't like the stains that seem to materialize out of nowhere. The apartment complex had our carpets professionally cleaned before we moved in, but as time passes, old stains are beginning to reappear. It's actually kind of gross.

I wish we had hardwood flooring. Not only is it stain resistant, but it is easier to keep clean. I really like the idea of sweeping instead of vacuuming. For comfort, I can get some area rugs in colors that accent my furniture and curtains. There are also so many different shades of hardwood flooring. My sister has dark hardwood floors, and they are beautiful. She painted her hallway a light blue, and the contrast between the floor and the walls is awesome. Her den has dark maroon walls, and they compliment the dark floors as well.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I hate carpet and love hardwood floors.

Fighting Hunger Together!

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:00:00 +0000

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

Last week, I got a phone call from my ex asking if I could help a friend of his who did not know how she was going to feed herself and her daughter for the rest of the month. She had visited two different food banks that morning, and neither one had any food to give her. My kids and I have enough food to last for at least a month, so I did not hesitate one bit. That day, when I got home from work, I raided my freezer and pantry, filled a laundry basket with food and delivered it to this woman.

She is just one of more than 50 million Americans who do not know where their next meal will come from. I had no idea that Springtime brings with it a decrease in donations to food banks. Wallmart is helping to make a difference by working with Feeding America and four of the most recognizable food brands in America- ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg's - in a nationwide Fighting Hunger Together initiative from Monday, April 9 through April 30. Walmart will be hosting a Facebook campaign where fans can rally support for communities in need of hunger relief, and they will donate a total of $2 million to the 21 communities receiving the most support: $1 million to the winner and $50,000 each to the 20 runners-up. Winning communities will be announced May 1st.

I checked out the list of communities (there are 200!) and was kind of surprised to see where I live on there. In my state, the Myrtle Beach - North Myrtle Beach - Conway SC Metropolitan Statistical area has the highest unemployment rate, at 11.9%. However, I will be voting for the county that I live in, which is the Spartanburg SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has an unemployment rate of 11.4%.

Make sure you check out the list to see if your community is on there, and then let everyone you know about this Facebook campaign. We can all Vote to fight spring hunger with Walmart and make a difference in our own communities. And the next time you are in Walmart, you can purchase select products from ConAgra, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg's, and donate meals to Feeding America or Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit fighting childhood hunger. (be sure to check in-store for more details)

I don't ever want to know what it feels like to worry about feeding my family. Together we can help take that worry away from those who do.

My Babies

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Okay, so maybe they are no longer babies, but they will always be MY BABIES!

Glade® Expressions™

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:00:00 +0000

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

Everyone likes for their home to smell nice. I do too. I also like the van I drive everyday to smell nice. Now that the weather is getting warmer, it gets hot in the van, which means I get all sweaty, which can sometimes lead to the van smelling sweaty. I usually carry a can of air freshener in there and spray it a little when I have to, but I would love to have something, besides one of those hanging cardborad tress, that can keep the van smelling nice and fresh continually.

I really want to try the new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser. It has long-lasting fragrance that lasts 30 days and doesn't require electricity, is refillable with any Glade® Expressions™ scent, and they are pretty, so they compliment any decor, even the inside of my van. They even come with a money back guarantee. Simply fill out this form if you are unsatisfied in any way.

They have four new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist scents to choose from:

Pineapple & Mangosteen
Cotton & Italian Mandarin (only available in Fragrance Mist form)
Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice
Lavender & Juniper Berry

I really want to try the Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice one. You can even find a coupon for $1.50 off to use at Walmart by clicking the link above. Make sure you come back here and let me know if you try any of the scents, and I'll be sure to let you know what I think of the one I try.

Me And My Girls

noreply@blogger.com (jenn) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000