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Showing posts from August, 2011

Shocking: Even kindergarten isn't safe from threatening our children's innocence

If you know me, you know that I was and am 100% open to the idea of homeschool.  I think it is great.  I am in awe of the women who undertake this amazing task.  I am not ready.  It may be in my future one day but right now I do not feel called to it. I love my eldest daughter.  She is awesome.  She is creative.  She is unique.  She is STRONG-WILLED and I am exhausted.  We moved to place her in what we considered a better district than Waco ISD and she began her first week this last Monday (August 22, 2011). Things went very well.  She got stars every day on her discipline chart except for the very first day--the teacher said she was having trouble following directions.  Stereotypical Reese.  She didn't cry when we left her the first day.  She liked it.  She had fun.  And then we heard about it... Sitting at the dinner table Friday evening, enjoying our meal as a family Reese dropped a bombshell.  She informed her dad and I that at nap time that day a little boy in her class ask

Weight Watchers Weekly accomplishment

YAY!  We finally did it--we have been having a very hard time following through with the plan for an entire week.  It always seems that something comes up or we have an unbearable craving--but this week we did it. I lost 3.2 lbs and Jason lost 1.6.  We are so excite to be back on track. I attribute my loss to a very busy week of back to school and preschool teaching.  I moved ALOT this week.  And thanks to my cortizone shot in m y neck a few weeks back, I was able to go pain free!  We are ready to tackle another week of Weight Watchers and we are encouraged and hopeful for even better losses!

God's Plan--even covers car accidents

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I had been complaining all day!  I had to pick Reese up from school today at 3:15. The line at the elementary gets insanely crazy long if you wait til pick-up time.  So I usually get there at about 2:50 each day.  I had been complaining all day, because I had Jason's big ole '92 maroon chevy silverado with no AC.  He took the explorer into town for work because out of the two vehicles it gets the better gas mileage.  I sooooo did not want to wait 25 minutes in that loooooong line with no AC and no breeze---but I had to do what I had to do. Little did I realize that God had a plan for me today--and His plan involved that oven of a truck. We moved Reese's booster seat to the front of the truck for drop off and pick-up from school.  The truck is a 2-door and it just seemed too much of a hassle to try to get her into and out of the back each day. Today at pick up I hastily buckled her in and we headed on our way home.  I was excited--I had made them a super-cute after school

Couponing Chaos Trifecta--HEB 8/23/2011

OH. MY. GOODNESS.  Ok, so this trip was made under some unusual conditions that I hope to never-again repeat.   Reese's 2nd day of school was today.  Raeleigh and I had out first day of Parent's Day Out at Journey and we were ALL e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d!! So that is strike one in the coupoing chaos trifecta. We made the trip together as a family--not our usual Jason-only trip.  Strike two in the trifecta... And three?  What is three you ask?  We went to HEB to coupon and deal shop on the last day of the ad cycle.  Meaning, all the deals listed in the current ad end are changing at closing tonight.  Never, ever, ever, never, ever do this!  At least not if you plan to budget and coupon shop.  I will tell you why: HEB was completely out of many of their combo locos and meal deals.  When I say out--I mean OUT.  In some instances there were no yellow in-store coupons remaining, if you could locate the items, and in other cases the items were completely sold out.  Empty shelves--no

8-18-2011 First Epidural steroid shot

So it is done.  At 930 this morning I received my first epidural steroid shot.  It wasn't all that painful at the time, but I must say that it is aching now and hurts to press my chin to my chest or to look down. I was called back to the procedure room and asked to lay face down on an xray table with my chin tucked to my chest and my palms under my hips as close to my toes as I could get them.  This position pulled the shoulders down and arched the back of my neck to increase the cartilage space between vertebrae--to get the needle in easier.  I was prepped with cleaners, draped and injected with a topical pain killer.  As the doctor progressed the epidural needle more pain killer was added as needed.  I could feel pressure and occasionally I could feel and hear the needle pass through the different layers of tissue. The doctor chose to us 80mg instead of 40 on me.  He didn't really explain why but I will happily accept more meds if it means relief. Before I knew it he said

Spinal column cortizone shot

So the time has come.  I just had my second MRI in 5 years and the issue in my neck is only worsening.  My C3-C5 vertebrae are twisted, the 'discs' are bulging and pressing on my spinal column and there is a constant dull ache. I am sure that the psoriatic arthritis isn't making things any better. I lovingly call it "my hump". My Hump... My Hump... My lovely lady hump... yeah, it isn't so lovely.  I look like a buffalo when I wear my hair up. I get tingling sensations in my hands and feet and sometimes even 'dead' spots down the side of my leg. This Thursday, August 18th, I will be having my first cortisone injection in my neck. I am a bit nervous--I have heard good and bad things from people about the shot.  I am s very tired f the pain and ready for some relief that I am just about willing to try anything.  So here goes.... I will let everyone know how it goes.

Zazzle.com: A great way to make some mad money

Visit their site, design some products and watch the royalties roll in.  You will earn higher sales with a large variety of products.  Check out mine (and ABSOLUTELY feel free to purchase).  Sellers make a set % royalty per purchase! create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Weight Watchers 2 week hiatus

Embarrassingly enough Jason and I have failed to make progress for these last 2 weeks.  I have attempted to keep up with my points but I have been very 'organic' in my approach.  I managed to maintain, so that is good, but no loss for me.  Jason on the other hand was really defeated and unmotivated these last 2 weeks and has gained. We are back on the weight watchers bandwagon.  We actually eve ran tonight--granted it was a very short run and the last leg the girls (5 and 3 yrs old mind you) managed to run circles around us.  But hey, exercise is exercise. I love to run.  I have done it in the past and it feels great--especially that endorphin runners high, but MAN!!--I have NEVER run with this much weight on me.  It was hard work.  I felt like I was running in quick sand!!! Baby steps towards active lifestyle.  I am tired of being tired. Keep the encouragements coming!  Jason and I are ready to be new!!!!

Family Dollar coupon trip 8/9/2011

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So after my Dollar general excursion I made one more quick stop for the day.  I think Jason may just strangle me.  He appreciates the coupon savings but has to remind me occasionally that no matter how good the deal, we only have X amount of money to spend.  I sometimes get so excited about a deal that I forget the importance of the budget. The deals I found there were as follows: Pringles on sale for $1.50 a can.  I had coupons for $1 off 4 and $1 off 2.  After my coupons and the sale i got 9 cans of pringles for $8.  That is less than a dollar a can.  Now, I definitely do not need 9 cans of Pringles chips so I chose a few to donate to our Church's meal ministry. (The Church at Tree Lake hosts a Wednesday night meal for our deaf children's program and the community) I found an in-store Family Dollar coupon for 50 cents off Always maxi plus I had a Manufacturer coupon.  The item was $3.15 before savings and I aid $2.50 total. Colgate was on for $1 and I had 2 50 cent off c

Dollar General coupon trip 8/9/2011

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I was going stir-crazy at home today.  I knew there were some good deals at Dollar General and Family dollar and I just wanted a change of scenery.  I loaded up my girls and we headed out. My first stop today was Dollar General.  I had seen their ad and knew there were a few things that I would like to get.  Well, as I walked into the store I noticed something that I had not paid attention to before--a HUGE clearance table at the front door.  I pulled my buggy aside and began digging in.  I found some AMAZING deals: 2 sharpies for $1.75 vegetable seeds for 10 cents HUGE bottle of herbal essence shampoo on clearance for $2.15 with $1 off coupon (final price $1.15) Cover Girl shadow on clearance for $2.25 with $1 off coupon (final price $1.25) Cover Girl powder on clearance for $3 ($6 regularly) with $1 off coupon (final price $2) Cover Girl foundation on clearance for $1 with $1 off coupon (final price FREE) and finally Glade plug in on clearance for $3 with $1 off coupon (final price

How we got where we are: The 2010 Real Estate Experience in detail

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This has been a long time coming. Ever since our real estate FIASCO I have said that I would write about it so that everyone could understand the drama and chaos we endured. I can honestly say that just now, 8 months after the dust has settled, I finally feel ready to mentally revisit the wounds. Just a friendly warning---take a seat, settle in…this is a bit of a long read. I am going to recount events to the best of my ability. Some of it is still very much a blur. The human mind has a great self-preservation technique—it blocks out trauma. And this was very much traumatic. I will not use names other than those of which I speak fondly of. I do not wish to slander anyone or hurt anyone’s business reputation. I will, however, say, that if you read this and would like to know who NOT to use or associate with in real estate dealings I will inform you of that privately. Just not here. It all began the weekend before Mothers Day 2010. My good friend Lara Jane Coffey just moved from Waco

Child Abuse Awareness INterview Series from Examiner

I have been working for a while on a series of interviews about child abuse awareness. Here are links to those interviews.  If you would like to participate in an interview please leave a comment on this blog with your contact information. Judy Powers Sierra Sullivan Star Velvet Martin Elizabeth Brawley Julie Federico Anita Wladichuk

HEB coupon trip 8/6/2011--New Savings Record $110

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  So I beat my record save of $107!  My new personal best is $110 total.  I purchased items such as tooth whitening kit, razors, axe body wash, clearasil, qtips, advil PM, tylenol precise cream, flintstone vitamins, contact solution, $30 gas card (HEB is doing 11 cents off per gallon with in store card purchase), chicken breast halves, 16 yoplait yogurts, gogurt, goldfish, fiber one bars, school glue, pencils, crayons, fresh fruit, cereal, juice, weight watchers yogurt, smart ones, corn dogs, chips, dip soda, toaster streudels, bagelfuls, dole fruit crisps, totinos pizzas, pizza bites, herbal essence conditioner, magic erasers, carpet fresh and many, many more.  stocked up!  My total number of items purchased was 146. Some of my favorite deals were:  Free herbal essence product from mail in request Free in store samples of Garnie (sp??) with $1 coupon included Clearasil 255 off in addition to $1 off coupon Whitening tooth strips for $10 after stacking $10 off and $5 of