I'm Happy Here

I was talking with someone about where I grew up, went to school, etc... and I realized something unusual.  I grew up in San Diego, went to elementary, junior and high school there.  I even attended a semester of college at UCSD.  The thing is... I don't live there now.  Oh sure... I loved living by the beach and the beautiful weather... but I have only lived in San Diego when I was living under my Mom and Dad's roof... on their dime.  It is crazy expensive to live there... but here's the unusual thing... most of my friends from school still do.  I don't get it?  How?

I think I would live there maybe 6 months before I would be in serious need of a California bankruptcy attorney.  Don't get me wrong.  I have an excellent job and I make a good living, but that's by Utah's standards.  I would never be able to own a home in California, or enjoy entertainment or travel expenses in my budget.  What do my friends do for a living?  And when did I miss the boat on these occupations that allow a person to live in such a high cost of living area?  But actually... it's all good.  I just thought it was an interesting observation.

I can get a gallon of milk from the store for under $3 and do it in less than five minutes.  I enjoy the seasons of fall leaves, holiday snow, spring flowers, and warm summers.  I enjoy the great outdoors and the quiet.  Pretty much.  I'm happy here.

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

Out The Window!

I work all day on a computer.  And I talk on the phone all day with other people working on their computers.  It is so weird to me when I think of when I was in school, the only computer you would ever see was maybe on a college campus.  We certainly didn't have any in elementary, junior, or high school.  Now they are everywhere and we can live without them.  We are at their mercy, and I must confess there have been moments where I wanted to do nothing more than thrown the entire thing out my front room window!  And in talking with so many others, it is funny to listen to them reach this point of exasperation.

I can not tell you how many times I have not been able to complete the task I called for because of computer problems.  Issues are a vast variety of internet problems, can't log in to their system, the computer being extremely slow, or locking up all together, and the list goes on and on.  Thankfully, it is a rare occasion that I have problems working in my system.  I can't sing enough praises about Dedicated Servers!  Pretty much it means that my company and all of our co workers are the only ones "using up space" shall we say?  I don't have to share with anybody else.  We get high performance and our system is secure because we have complete control of our server.  We have a tech guy who basically keeps us up and running, and most importantly, keeps me from chucking the whole thing out the window!

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

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.