UGH....

This middle school thing is killing me. Surprisingly it isn't even the attitude...much...a little bit, but not much. It is the shift in work load. Merci gets an hour study hall at the end of the day, so the amount of homework she brings home is super minimal, but I feel like the amount of knowledge and responsibility is what has changed. Merci is a lot of things, bright, beautiful, loving, dramatic, but responsible is not of the the things she IS. We really are trying to work with her on this. We talk through it with her, giver her examples, explain to her that she needs to work toward her freedom as a teenager NOW. She just IS NOT getting it...I want to like, SCREAM through a microphone and then, maybe THEN she will hear us and understand??? Maybe???

Funny (a little exasperating, but funny) story. Tonight we sat down to study her Social Studies from her study guide that she should have filled out straight from her book...there were some very sketchy answers...but my favorite was: dam-is a bad word....lol...oh boy, we have a long road ahead of us with this one.

::getting paid::

There are so many programs out there for bloggers to make money!
There are sponsored positions where a company sponsors your blog and you do some promotions for them, there are jobs where you link to certain pages and get paid a set amount per post, there are opportunities for you the review products usually getting that product for free and then getting paid on top of that and there are sales opportunities where you showcase a product and if someone clicks the link on your page and orders you get commission, like weight loss affiliate program.
I have taken part in most of the above mentions opps. Some companies pay lots, some pay little, some require lots, some require little, some make you wait long periods of time for your money some pay quickly...do dome research and I'm sure you can find the right opp for you!

Per Ethan

As we stepped out of the car this morning at school Ethan enthusiastically commented "This is the perfect day." Meaning the weather! We are still seeing a bit of Indian Summer, it is windy but a comfortable 65 degrees, or so.

As soon as I finish up work in the office I will be heading out to enjoy the "Perfect Day" I think I'll take my pup for a walk! I love her.

Last week we weren't so lucky...It was COLD...we even saw some overnight frosts, and I was out one night in sleet...ick, way to close to snow for my liking.

Josh and I were walking into a coffee shop that happened to be right next to a tanning salon. Boy did it make me want to get my tanning bed lotion out and escape into fake sunshine for 15 minutes or so. I think I may go back to tanning this winter...just for some vitamin D. Ya know?? or maybe a financial miracle will happen and we can REALLY go on that honeymoon we have been waiting for for the past 10 years (Nov 11...we have our passports and are just waiting to find the perfect priced vacation, hopefully in Nov, but we might have to wait a bit longer).

I won't tell you...

that Christmas is less than ?? days away!

Told ya I wouldn't, because I don't think you would believe me anyway...the number of days is down to double digits, that is how close it is...YIKES.

We are still deciding what we are going to do this year. I mentioned to Ethan that we were only going to get 1 present and give the rest to those in need...he freaked a little, and then I told him to think of one thing he would REALLY want...that calmed him down.
So I think we might just do it.

Then there is the husband whom I love an appreciate so very much and I can never surprise the guy...seriously. I figure out something and then he happens to go buy it for himself before Christmas...UGH. So this year I need to figure something out that HE won't. Any ideas on any new electronics items coming out?? Maybe I need to dig down deeper and find something sentimental or something that you can't just go pick up at the store....hmm any idea on that either??

Cold=Warm and Cozy

It has been getting pretty cold here in Ohio overnight...like in the 30's.
Daytime has been in the 50's.
And I have been sleeping like a baby, well actually baby's don't sleep really well, so Im not sure I like that comparison. In any case let me assure you I have been sleeping VERY WELL.
And actually I usually sleep pretty well, I am not one that has to take sleep aids ever.
I guess I am lucky, because I know a lot of people with insomnia issues.

Anyway...today we are off to so some errands, Josh had to work today for awhile to catch up on some projects. Me and the kids will do some shopping, and finally pick out some pumpkins...usually I get them too early and now I feel like I have waited too long. Merci has a party at 12:30, and then I will do some hanging out with my boy!
AND
tomorrow we are going to the CIRCUS...we always have so much fun!!

The circus is in Cleveland

The circus is here, and has been for a few days...but don't worry you have today through Monday to use this coupon code:

MOM2

to get these great deals...

4 for $44 on all weekday performances: Mon, Oct 25 at 7:30pm

$4 off on all weekend performances: All Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances

RESTRICTIONS: Not valid on Circus Celebrity, Front Row, or VIP seats; no double discounts; limit 6 per order

You can order here: http://www.theqarena.com/events/circus_101020/

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® is roaring into town with Barnum’s FUNundrum!^SM, a new jumbo-sized, un-miss-able event celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the birth of legendary P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth!

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Hope to see you there!!

Spread the word, this coupon code is good for all your family and friends.

::heart:: blogging

I am not a fan of winter...love Fall and the pretty colors, smells, Indian Summer etc...but then winter is right around the corner. It is getting cold here in Ohio. Time to turn the furnace up and get out all the warm fuzzy clothes, socks and blankets.

The other night I took my laptop to the basement with me (I'm usually too lazy to get the laptop up...the desk top is always on on right there) and I remembered that I love snuggling on the couch with my hubby, blankets and the laptop-because it keeps me WARM=) So I just sat there the other night with the laptop open and running on my lap as I watched TV...how silly! But warm!

I guess I'm excited to get this blog back to speed and start adding pictures and milestones etc. I know if I don't I will miss looking back and seeing our family grow and change. I also like finidng new blogs like...glucomannan and other mom blogs, couponing blogs etc. But right now my focus is on health and nutrition, so I like to read what I can about that and implement little things here and there...

Any good blog suggestions for my reader for this winter??

Wisdom Teeth

Because facebook is so easy to use, I tend to forget about you dear old blog.

Last Wednesday I got my 2 bottom wisdom teeth removed. They were impacted. I was asleep. Today was day 4 post surgery and I am mostly fine. Tiny bit of stiffness and soreness, but nothing ibuprofen couldn't help! I never even had to take the Vicodin, which I am glad cuz I took it with my kidney stone and it made me feel super sick.

I am super blessed to have recovered well without any complications...yet anyway, but I am sure I will be fine. Ready for a new week, back to almost normal. Looking forward to hearing from manager at Starbucks as well!

Talk soon dear blog.

Detox??

I recently heard about a rapid detox center. I am not quite sure how I feel about this...I do know people who are drug addicts and with all my heart would love to see them get away from that. But for the amount of money it costs, will it really solve their problems? I am pretty sure addiction to drugs, is hard to beat on many levels and not just the addiction one, I'm pretty sure people who rely on drugs have issues with their life and with themselves. Just getting away from the addiction doesn't stop the habit. But then again, if getting rid of the addiction to the chemicals will help that individual make better choices, and feel better about themselves, then I guess detox could help solve issues on different levels. A beginning I guess. A beginning of a long journey of many new choices and paths to fully get the individual back on path.

Have you known anyone to go through a detox for drugs? Did it help? Did it fail?

Being a mommy has taught me much

I was 19 when I became a mom. I was 19 when I married the love of my life. Which means in 5 weeks we will have been married for 10 years. I'm sure ill be talking about that more, but right now I want to talk about what I've learned in being a mom...which obviously I cannot list everything...but I'll list some.

I've learned that things don't always go as planned, I list that first because it WAS probably really one of the first things I learned. I expected I'd have a boy...only 2 girls out of the 11 kids b/w our 2 families...I had a girl...the midwives and I expected she'd come before her due date, she came 4 days late! And from then on nothing went the way I expected...all us moms learn that pretty quickly.

I learned that my love of shoes (converse, wingtips, dress shoes, pf flyers shoes-you name it I had it) and shopping, needed to take a backseat to shopping for my sweet little girl who had no clothes and shoes and had a real need fro them, unlike me. I learned quickly to be unselfish, since our money situation was tight only necessities would do.

I've learned that the little moments count, more that the big!

I've learned that a sense of humor goes a long way.

I've learned that being a mother is a HUGER than huge responsibility, I'm realizing daily what a HUGE job this is and realizing daily more and more things I am responsible for.

I've learned that a mothers job is NEVER done.

I've learned that there are many things I need to grow in.

That's all for now, but not nearly all that I've learned

Hand in Hand

Working out and eating well go hand in hand, you really aren't going to see result in weight loss if you aren't doing some of both.

Ive been working out since last May, not consistently and not daily or even sometimes not weekly. Trying to get a bit more consistent. We will see how that goes. But eating good along with that is just as hard.

I had the opportunity to try new Healthy Choice Steaming Entres
I figured it be nice to have decent lunch/dinner to turn to if I just couldn't cook a healthy meal.
I am not generally a fan of frozen dinners, so having the opportunity to try this new variety, I was trying to be optimistic.

I got to try 2 meals...one had shrimp in it which I do not eat, so my husband got to enjoy that one!
Fora man who will not eat asparagus when I make it...tried the asparagus in this meal and ate it and semi liked it! He said it wasn't soggy and even complimented the texture of the shrimp. No limp shrimp here! But there was no way he was budging in trying the squash!
The Garlic Herb Shrimp gets a thumbs up from my husband!

I got to try the Portabella Parmesan Risotto.
Great flavor!
Definitely a lunch, as it didn't satisfy me for dinner...which they are supposed to be lunches anyway!

Overall Id say give em a try! Nice to keep in the freezer for those lazy non cooking days!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Healthy Choice and received samples of their new steaming entrées to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”