The Money I'm Saving

Of my seven children, I only have one left at home.  Four are married, so financially they are completely independent.  My two sons are in college, and do really very well financially on their own.  I occasionally need to send them money from time to time, help with food, rent, food, books, and food.  You would think with only one child at home I would be saving so much money... right?

Well, first, the last one at home is a daughter.  This right there insures that there will be no "extra" money lying around to save.  When it was time for back to school, my boys always asked "Do we have to get new clothes for school?" and "Do we have to go shopping?".  Where my boys I had to force to wear a pair of pants without holes and shoes with the sole attached to the bottom of the shoe, my girls were busy selecting complete ensembles.  They needed brand new underwear, especially if they would be taking gym and had to change in front of other girls who apparently had the most incredible bras and underwear imaginable.  And then there was the clothing, or rather "outfits".  We didn't shop for pants and shirts, it was "Oh I love this shirt... and with a cute cardigan, the right earrings, a necklace, and slim fit jeans, with some boots."  Yeah... that shirt cost me over $200.

Now... and I don't know how she swung it... but she's good... I found myself shopping with her for toiletries.  Just so you know... I have been providing toiletries for my children for their entire lives.  Apparently, when becoming a senior in high school there are new toiletries required... and these toiletries are specific brands.  There is a body spray, a natural deodorant, facial scrub, body scrub, heaven forbid we use the body scrub on our face!  And the lips!  When I was in high school I may have had a chapstick in my pocket... maybe... sometimes.  Now their is a scrub to exfoliate your lips, a masc that you actually apply to your lips and then peel off, moisturizer... which is completely different from chap stick or lip "color".  Yes... I have learned... lip "color".  Hey... why are we spending so much time on our lips anyway?

This is a sponsored post for the Art of Shaving, however, all the points and views are my own.

My Aunt is Catholic

People always ask me, "Did you have seven children because you are Mormon?" and they always laugh when I give them my reply, "No.  I had seven children because my Aunt is Catholic."

I have one sibling, my brother, whom I absolutely adore.  Honestly, I don't need another sibling, because he is everything I would ever need all rolled up into this incredible brother who I know would move heaven and earth for me.

In the summer, I would spend time at my cousins in St. Louis.  I only have one set of cousins, and all eight of them are in one family.  My Aunt is a true and faith inspiring Catholic who received every child sent to her as a much loved blessing.  Summers at their house were quite different than time at my own home.  Don't misunderstand, I have nothing but wonderful and happy memories of my childhood, but their house of eight kids was wild!  And so different!  And entertaining!  There was never a boring moment.  This is where I decided I wanted a large family some day.

These cousins are so beloved of mine that when it came time to try and decide where I would retire or settle down, I looked at St. Louis and even kansas city real estate.  To attend family events with them.  To hang out and celebrate holidays.  It would be wonderful.  But then again, I have that large family I always wanted right here.  And I am forever grateful that my Aunt is Catholic.

This is a sponsored post for Remax, however, all the points and views are my own.

Baba's House

I'm sure you all have realized just how excited I am to move into my walk out basement with my daughter, son in law, granddaughter, and new little one!  Summer 2013 seems so far away but I know it will creep up on me and be here before I know it.  I spend my time day dreaming on how I am going to finish "Baba's House".  Yes... the entire theme will be a place for my grandchildren.

There's always that awkward space under the stairs, but I have big plans for this area.  It will be a play house complete with tiny little door, and a window with a flower box.  And then there's the island I am putting in my kitchen.  Sure... lots of people have an island in their kitchen... but this is Baba's House.  It will have a small step all around it for little ones to step up and bake with Baba!  The top will be smooth wood for rolling out pies and cookies.  I'll have little storage areas for the rolling pins, both in my size and kid size, cookie cutters, sprinkles and every baking necessity.  This island will be where we will bake and bake and bake... and then bake some more!

And the stairs down to Baba's House?  Well at the top is my mail box where I hope to receive home made cards, letters, and colored pictures and drawings.  And on one side of the stairs will be a slide..... a fun way to arrive at Baba's House.  And on the other side of the stairs will be a stairlift.  One day I won't be able to carry my grandchildren up the stairs with me... so I will sit down on my stair lift... put a grand baby on my lap... and up we go!  That is the reason for a stair lift at Baba's House.

This is a sponsored post for Handilift Residential, however, all the points and views are my own.

With My Family

I wish I were at the age of retirement.  When I was younger, 50 years old sounded ancient.  I mean you would have to retire at 50... right?  What could you possibly still do at the age of 50?

Well here I am at 51 and feeling like I'm still in high school.  Sure... when I walk by the mirror I think "Oh my gosh... Mom!  What are you doing here?"  But other than that, I feel great, but I'd like to spend my time doing other things than working.

I look at retirement communities that seem so relaxed and pleasant.  One of my favorites is Naples, Florida.  The pictures make it look so cute, it's like a tiny little town from Disney's Epcot Center.  It is a wealthy community with luxury hotels and high end shopping.  I probably wouldn't fit in.

North Carolina has a couple of retirement communities where I don't think I would end up requiring nc bankruptcy attorneys to get me into my sixties.  Ha!  Asheville has a reputation of being one of the top places to retire.  Although it is reasonably priced to live there, and the climate is great year round, they do have a higher than average crime rate.  Not for me.

I actually have the best retirement plan out there.  The climate is what I am used to and love.  It is a home that couldn't be more reasonably priced.  And it is cute and charming with the most incredibly friendly and lovable people.  With my family.

This is a sponsored post for John T Orcutt, however, all the points and views are my own.

When One Door Closes

I have a beautiful daughter who managed to break a bone in her back when swimming for her high school swim team.  I had never heard of such a thing.  I had played softball and when you broke something it usually meant that you were hit with a hard object, or fell hard to the ground.  How could my daughter break bone while swimming in soft, cool water?

It turns out it was the kind of break that slowly happens over time.  Similar to a stress fracture.  She had been swimming two meets per week and then we had two meets back to back.  She also swam the butterfly at both meets.  This is combination with the many, many flip turns she did during her other events, finally brought the tiny little bone in her back to it's breaking point... literally.

But again... it was no big event.  She simply said that she was experiencing Back Pain which we just assumed meant she needs some Icy Hot rubbed in and a good nights rest.  We knew we were way off in the morning when she had difficulty walking.

The doctor prescribed a series of exercises to strengthen the muscles around her spine which in turn, would help this tiny little bone heal.  Interesting... that by strengthening her core, she would strengthen her back.  What is it they say... "When one door closes, another one opens."  She can no longer swim competitively, but wow is she a great actress!  The swim teams loss is her high school's production groups gain!

This is a sponsored post for Healthy Back, however, all the points and views are my own.

Plumbing Problems

Lately when we use our shower, there have been sounds from within the walls of the house the likes of which I have never heard.  I mean we used to have the high pitched sound like a whistle that slowly fades out when we first turned the shower on, but now, it has run a muck.

The sound is high pitched but certainly does not fade out.  It gets higher, then lower, then higher again.  It sounds like it is fighting for all its breath to push the water through the shower head.  And the pressure is crazy too.  The water will come out with the force of a fire hydrant and then suddenly be a trickle that you can barely rinse your hair out with.  It doesn't sound like too much of a problem except that if you have the trickle and move your head so close to the shower head it is practically touching, and then the pressure changes to that of gale force winds, you can get knocked down!

A friend of mine is in construction and he said it sounds like a plumbing problem on the side of the city.  There is something about the pressure regulator perhaps being out of whack.  This would be great because then it would mean that the city would be responsible.

Oh I hope I could be that lucky.

This is a sponsored post for Rotorooter, however, all the points and views are my own.

Timing

Advancement in health care continue, but there remains a constant bit of advice that has never changed.  We all need to drink plenty of water.  This is probably the only health tidbit that I can remember from even when I was a little girl.

When playing sports... drink plenty of water.  For your complexion... drink plenty of water.  For energy and to curb your appetite... drink plenty of water.  With my digestive issues from having my colon removed, you can only imagine what sound advice my gastroenterologist gave me... drink plenty of water.  I'm OK with this because it is true.  It really does work.  My problem is the inevitable frequent need for a bathroom.  I am now 51 and have learned that the drinking of all my required water is handled with one simple word:  timing.

If I drink my first 16 ounces first thing in the morning, I usually can use the bathroom before I leave for work.  I then drink another 16 ounces at lunch, because again, I will be going back to work.  But after lunch is where it get's tricky.

I keep my Nicolet Natural Artesian Water in my car, but if I drink it right away, I won't make it home before I need the restroom.  So, I run my errand and when I am on the last one or two, I start drinking my next 16 ounces.  By the time it has, "run it's course", I'm getting home.  And then I drink the last 16 ounces at dinner time, so I am sure to use the bathroom before I go to bed.

So you see... it's all timing.

This is a sponsored post for Nicolet Natural Artesian Water, however, all the points and views are my own.

Low Maintenance

I'm a pretty low maintenance woman.  I do not wear make-up.  In fact, I don't own any and never have owned any.  I don't wear a lot of jewelry.  My jewelry consist of two rings, (one was my grandmothers wedding ring, the other a ring that says Trust in the Lord) and tiny hoop earrings that stay in my ears 24/7 just to keep my pierce hole open.  I know, why keep the hole open?  Well, occasionally, and I mean rarely, I change them.  Weddings.  A formal cancer event.  My hair, however, is where I splurge.

I don't color my hair.  I never have colored it.  I know that sounds really strange when in today's world everyone colors their hair.  I can honestly say that I didn't have a single girlfriend in high school who colored their hair.  Today, when my daughter brings home friends I find it difficult to remember who is who.  I ask her to introduce me to her new friends and she just stares at me like "duh Mom... you already know..." so and so.  It completely throws me off when they are brunette, then blond, and then red head.

I am high maintenance when it comes to my hair.  In all fairness I have difficult hair.  It's nice, thick and healthy, but it is neither straight nor curly.  If I blow dry it and use a straightener or curling iron, it's beautiful, but again, I am low maintenance.  I don't like to spend this kind of time.  So I am in a constant search for the perfect hair cut that will allow me to let my hair dry naturally.  I am always using hair products and treatments that will provide with that sleek, silky look that only my Chi can bring.  I love over night conditioners to pamper my hair.  I love my hair to feel soft.  Hair Oil is fabulous.  This is the only way I can handle fly away frizzy hair.  And there are some good enough to do the job even in humid weather.

Hair products have greatly improve and become more innovative through out the years, so I am hopeful that very soon I won't have to do a thing.

This is a sponsored post for Couture Colour, however, all the points and views are my own.

Real Estate

One of my favorite lines in the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas is when Lucy is unloading to Charlie Brown about Christmas and how she never gets what she really wants.  Charlie Brown then asks her "What is it you really want?"  Lucy replies, "Real Estate".

Even Lucy understood the value of real estate and although the line I'm sure was put in for adults to enjoy, the message has been imprinted in children's minds for decades.

When we all bought our homes, it was understood that it would increase in value over the years.  In the past few years, this has not been the case, however, a change is in the air.  Happily, it looks as though the housing market is on the rise.  From pacific palisades real estate to east coast properties, real estate is making a come back.  Not only have the number of new homes being built increased, but home resales have jumped.

This is none too soon for me.  I am looking to sell my home in less than a year and there will be a direct relationship to the selling cost of my home and how nicely I can finish my walk out basement at my daughters new home.  And I'd really like to do it up nice so it is an asset for them and adds value to their real estate.

This is a sponsored post for the Partners Trust, however, all the points and views are my own.

The Debate

There is this undeniable consumer loyalty when it comes to Ford and Chevy.  I don't claim to favor either, but one of my favorite bumper stickers sums up the Ford and Chevy competition.  It reads:  I'd rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy.

As long as both stay in business, I think the they will continue to be stiff competitors with each other.  And the car dealerships, ALL car dealerships, go out of their way to indicate to all consumers which make of automobile they are selling.  Beshore & Koller Ford.  Larry H. Miller Chevrolet.  Although this really has no frame of reference for most women (I can't tell one make of car from another.) it must work because they all do it.  It does clearly keep the Ford lover from the embarrassment of walking onto a Ford lot and vice versa.

It is great fun to mention to a Ford lover (And truck owners are the best.) that you have a Chevy.  The debate that will ensue is amazing.  They should use this topic in rural high schools where most of the kids own trucks.

Ford has more variety.  And Ford has better gas mileage with a better towing capacity.  And Ford seems to have better pricing.  And I know how to get that price even lower.  Use the debate between Ford and Chevy against them.  Mention that Chevy has a similar vehicle at a lower price.  I can guarantee you Ford will want to beat it.

This is a sponsored post for Beshore and Koller Ford, however, all the points and views are my own.

It Works Everytime

There's something about the gift of flowers.  I have never seen a woman receive flowers where it doesn't bring a smile to her face.  Even if they are sent in loving thought for someone who has passed a way, a soft and sweet smile will come to the mourner at the sight of the flowers.

If men only understood this perfect gift.  There is no simpler purchase for a man.  No size is required.  Choosing too small makes a woman feel fat, but choosing too large makes a woman think that you think she's fat.  You don't have to worry about color, or style.  An assortment of beautiful flowers can bring a smile to even the most particular of tastes.  There's really no advance preparation or planning required.  You don't have to back order them.  You don't have to worry about them being "in stock".  And regardless of where you are at any given time there will be a florist near you.  There are florists in indianapolis, Hawaii, NYC, El Paso, virtually a n y w h e r e.  And if you can't find one, all you have to is get on the computer or pick up the phone and there are florists who will deliver fresh flowers any where your heart desires.

There are a few men who understand the value of flowers.  I used to see them when I worked at our local grocery store.  About 11:00 at night on Valentine's Day we would get the poor fool who had completely forgotten this special day and the need to have done something... anything for their significant other.  And fellas, this is even if they said you didn't have to.  You do.  You could see the look on their faces as they would come running through the door in hopes of finding the perfect gift between the produce and meat department!  I would just direct them to the dozen roses we always ordered and had handy.  Yes.  A dozen will get you out of the dog house.

It worked everytime.

This is a sponsored post for Andrew’s Florist, however, all the points and views are my own.

A Safe Home

I was watching one of those home improvement type shows on the plane from NYC back home and it was positively awful.  It was a show about home inspectors and what they find in their home right under the owners noses.

A young couple had purchased a home and after several months of living there developed breathing problems.  The "inspector" came in and found mold.  A crazy unbelievable amount of mold!  It started in their basement and was in the flooring, ceiling, and walls.  I thought that was terrible and then they checked the upstairs and it was in the flooring (spread from the ceiling in the basement), up the walls, and continued all the way to the attic.  Their home practically had to be gutted.

This was close to home for me because I will be finishing my new home in less than a year, and that home is a walk out basement in my daughter's family's newly built home.  I had investigated the best ways to finish a basement but now my search is intense.  I certainly do not want to do anything that would lead to the disaster like I saw on the "inspector" show.

The #1 enemy of a finished basement is moisture.  And concrete is porous and it ages.  With my flooring, I am going to use a top-quality silicate-based penetrating concrete sealer.  They come in a wonderful array of colors and looks.  Most important it will give me peace of mind that when I'm long gone, my family, my grand babies, will be safe from the harmful affects of mold and mildew.

This is a sponsored post for VSeal, however, all the points and views are my own.

Favorite Jewelry

My favorite jewelry is the jewelry from my past.  To be honest, I don't wear a lot of jewelry, so when I do wear something, you know it is something loved.

I wear my Grandma's wedding band. It is the simplest of simple, but on the inside it is engraved.  I can't read it because it is so small, (I used to know, but chemo has removed the memory of what it says.) but I know it is a message of love from my Grandpa to my Grandma.

There is a ten commandments bracelet, also a gift from my Grandma.  It is a gold chain with ten small, paper like charms hanging from it.  Each charm, you can imagine, has one of the ten commandments on it.  It is not the most attractive piece of jewelry, but definitely unique, and loved.

I gave my best friend a ring once, that was truly unique.  In fact, I had to have it made special.  It had a setting similar to a figure eight with one white pearl and one black pearl.  It was gorgeous.  My friend is Polynesian and my skin is glow in the dark white.  It was nearly as beautiful as our friendship.

Unique jewelry is always treasured.  Pieces of jewelry that you buy in the mall can be a dime a dozen, but truly loved jewelry has a look all its own.  And you can start your own collection of sentimental, and loved jewelry by collecting pieces of your own for your future generations.

I suggest http://www.salangonline.com for affordable designer, unique jewelry.  You can find old treasures at thrift stores and flea markets.  Where your jewelry for your children, pass it on, and then they will pass it on to their children and you will begin your generations of favorite jewelry.

This is a sponsored post for Salang, however, all the points and views are my own.

When Boys Become Men

I love the moment when your son comes to you and asks "Do you think I need to start shaving?"  It's funny how they always say "need"... as if the five single hairs that a scattered around the bottom of his chin command that he "needs" to shave.  But as a good mother, I withdraw from saying that 60 seconds with a tweezer and I could take care of your "need" to shave for another five to ten years.

You've heard the old saying that once you start shaving, the hair will come back thicker and more prickly.  When I told this to my son, it only excited him to begin shaving today!  Apparently, in junior high it is a sign of man hood when you "need" to shave.  And this old wives tail doesn't ring true in this instance, because my son shaved several times a day and still he was only working on keeping those five hairs under wraps.

The funny thing is that he lost interest.  And when he was in his late teens, early twenties, he still had not interest.  And he really "needed" to shave!  So I bought a shaving kit for men... or "dopp kit" is what my Dad always called them.  Although grateful, it still didn't give him the excitement I knew it would have when he was a boy.  I should have given it to him then.

But my boy is a young man now.  I know this because when he gives me a kiss, I can feel the stubble.

This is a sponsored post for The Art of Shaving, however, all the points and views are my own.

If We Could Only Find Him

I handle collections for the company I work for and it may sound strange, but I enjoy my job.  I frequently am told that I am the nicest, most polite collector.  I have to be.  The people I am collecting from are out customers and we want them to continue doing business with us.  And for the most part, this works.  For the most part.

There is always that occasional person who takes advantage.  I don't start inquiring on payment until the bill is at 21 days.  This gives the calculating and dishonest person, three weeks of purchasing before we cut him off.  Then collecting is a problem because usually they didn't have the money to pay anyway.  We end up having to take them to court, but this requires that we serve them papers.  And this is sometimes the hardest part of collecting... finding them.

We still have one person who actually operates out of a truck!  Of course, we didn't know that at the time.  They had a business address, or so we thought, business license, etc... where everything looked legit.  But the fact that he works from his truck definitely makes his location... abstract?

With advancements in technology, serving papers to someone has become a little easier.  ABC Legal analyzes GPS coordinates, process server routes and travel time, and uses other technology to not only find the defendant, but provides time/date stamped photos.

Now when we are ready to serve papers... we know longer have to wonder... if we could only find him... because now we can.

This is a sponsored post for ABC Legal, however, all the points and views are my own.

Impressive

An apology can be difficult.  Admitting your wrong can be even more difficult.  And finding a business that will do both is not as common as you would hope.

I came across an article about Chargify Subscription Billing and was impressed.  The title was included the words "How I Infuriated Customers".  Talk about owning up.

Apparently, when Chargify was starting up, they decided to offer a free plan.  It was a generous thought... providing free service to allow businesses to grow and then upgrade to a paying plan.  The problem was that most of the businesses taking advantage of the free option were not businesses were going to become paying customers.  It also turned out that these free customers were requiring the most support.

Long story short...Chargify sent an email saying that free was no longer available and they had actually increased pricing on some of their plans.  You can imagine, they received quite a bit of negative feedback.  But this is where they stood out.  They came back and fully admitted that they should have communicated more to their customers so they would be aware of the coming changes.  They admitted that they should have given a discount to those customers who had supported Chargify from the beginning.

In the end, Chargify owned up to all of it.  They went back and did give better pricing.  They communicate frequently with their customers and most important... they listen to the feedback.

A company that admits when their wrong.  Impressive.

This is a sponsored post for Chargify, however, all the points and  views are my own.

Attend Those Events

I like food.  I like to eat.  And I eat carbs.  I also eat sugar.  I pretty much am open to trying just about anything.  My favorite food is unusual, eclectic, fun food.  I think my favorite is catered events.  There is just something so fabulous about h'ordeuvres!  And cute little dessert bars with mini tarts, eclairs, petite fours

I have been blessed with lots of opportunity to enjoy catered food.  Cancer fund raisers are wonderfully full of h'ordeuvres and other delicious treats.  I have had coconut shrimp with pineapple salsa (scrumptious) and tiny bites of filet mignon with a bacon wrap and smear of blue cheese (incredible), and a tiny spoon made of chocolate with a dolop of chocolate raspberry mouse in it (melt in your mouth fabulous).

I even attend one event where they had set up many, many different stations.  There was a mashed potato bar, a fajita station, Kobe beef, seafood, and countless others.  Their dessert bar actually had a pyramid made of chocolate with a cake and mouse mixture inside.  Unbelievable.

Weddings are also a great place to try specialty catered food.  I grew up in San Diego, and have attended a couple of weddings of dear friends out there and the food was fantastic!  Both events used Buckboard Catering & Events and again, the food was incredible.  Roast beef (so tender), meatballs (full of flavor), and a delightful and very unique salad.

So anytime there is an event with food, you can bet, I will be there.

This is a sponsored post for Buckboard Catering and Events, however, all the points and views are my own.

Eat Out!

I don't really eat out often, but maybe that's because I live in Utah.  I'm not knocking Utah.  It has many fine qualities, but food is not one of them.  We tend to have very bland home style cooking which can be wonderful for a lot of people, but if you yourself cook, it can be very boring.

Whenever I travel I eat through my destinations.  In New York, I love the bakeries.  They are real authentic delicious bakeries.  In Utah, we tend to make a dough and add chocolate chips for a chocolate chip cookie, or add blueberries for blueberry muffins.  You get what I mean.  It is very bland.  But New York has canolis, cheesecake like no other, breads that smell magnificent, buttery cookies.  I stop at everyone I pass.

Also on the east coast you have the Boston Back Bay Restaurants.  If you like seafood, let me just say that this town knows seafood.  You won't find a better clam chowder, or crab cake than right here.  Half the fun is that people expect and want clam chowder in Boston, so with each restaurant attempting to out do the other, the variety is astounding and positively delicious.

So matter where you go... who you may be visiting... truly feel the ambiance of where you're out and... EAT OUT!

This is a sponsored post for Vlora, however, all the points and views are my own.