Don't Mess With Texas!!

My aunt just returned from a trip to Texas. I've been to Texas twice in my life, well, I've been to the Houston airport and we spent the night in Dallas after we took a bump flying home. I've always wanted to see Texas. I've heard great things about San Antonio. I would love to see Austin. Texas is too big to see all in one trip--but see it I plan to do! I wouldn't mind looking into Corpus Christi real estate. A home away from home--but only after the first home is paid off!

My Birthday Wish

My husband has been asking lately what I would like to get for my birthday. Normally I'm pretty easy. I want pillows. Not just any pillows though, mine cost about $75.00 and are made of down. This makes them plushy and snuggly! This year however, I think I'm leaning toward a down comforter to go with all of my plushy pillows. Truly, I've never slept better than with these pillows. There are nights when my husband beats me to bed, and I will come in and he's stolen my fluffy pillows. I don't have the heart to steal them back, but it really isn't a very good nights sleep. Of course, it doesn't help that I'm cursing him under my breath!

Zits & Freckles

Do you remember being a teenager with the face of a teenager? I had some acne problems as well as freckles. Both, I was told, would go away as I grew older. Well, I'm nearing 40 and still use an acne treatment every week or so. I'm sorry, but just how old do I have to get? To much older and I'll just be able to hide the zits in the wrinkles of my skin so that my grandkids won't be able to see them!

Getting Old

My parents just got into town this evening! It's always fun to see them even though it is starting to take a toll on my mom. My dad is 14 years older than she is and really seems to have the health and longevity of his dad, who passed away at 96 years old, and even then his body was young but due to Alzheimer's his mind was gone. So we are hoping to have many wonderful years with my dad!

I've Nailed It Down

A post or two back I wrote about finding a huge discount on home theater stuff, well today, I found home theater chairs at a whale of a bargain as well! All I can say is, I think this is going to be a sweet anniversary present for the two of us. The kids will enjoy it as well, and I can already see all of the sleep overs that will take place down there. But right now, I'm just excited to save a lot of money and still get something that everyone will love!

Almost Finished

It's nearly the end of the school year. I'm always amazed at how fast it goes once Easter has hit. We are currently on Spring Break which really means we are done. Just two months left and there will be no need for bic pens or wide ruled notebook paper. My kids will be a year older, and closer to middle school, and that's just wrong! Next school year my little girl starts Kindergarten. She's thrilled for this milestone, I'm dreading it!

Happy Anniversary

Our 11th wedding anniversary is coming up soon! I'm really happy to have made it to this milestone. The first 10 years were cake, so I'm hoping the next 10 will be great also! I've been looking into some 'hi-tech' gifts to give the "man" but am having a hard time nailing it down. I would love to get him a computer. I don't care if it's a laptop or a desktop, we desperately need one. Then I found discount home theater seating and now my mind is working in a whole new direction. I feel bad because whatever we get him, the whole family will use. So it isn't just a fun gift for him. But I guess that's what it means to be a dad!

Promotions

This week is my husbands 15 year anniversary at work. I can't believe it's been that long. Actually, it hasn't. He worked for many years for this company before we got married, then switched fields for a bit, and is now back. So he got all of his time in service, which makes for a nice little prize! His work has been giving out some really nice little promotional products this past week, and he's been bringing some home. Did you know that the days of coffee mugs and crystal trophies as gifts has been added to with high tech gifts like flash drives and digital frames? I had no idea! It's been kind of fun to get to see what the new products are, and I'm still amazed at just how far the whole thing has come!

We Are Back

We've had a bit of a "technical" update recently! It took forever to get completed, mostly because we called my brother in law instead of a professional. Mind you, he is sort of a professional. He goes to others homes and works all of their installs--he's less expensive because he has all of the parts needed and bulk cable. The slowness falls into the fact that we have to wait for his time schedule to actually fit us in. So a job that would normally take a few hours, took over a week! But at least we are back up and running--and that is all that matters!

Patio Furniture

My sister and her husband bought a new home last fall. They were too late to find outdoor furniture in the end of the season sales, but were to late. They have their eyes on some beautiful pieces and I can't wait to head over and use their huge backyard while the kids play to their hearts content! Plus, they will be messing up her yard instead of mine. Not really, I hope to have them all over at my house as well. It's just not as big or nearly as fun!

A Weekend Out

We had the opportunity last weekend to get a room at the Hotel Intercontinental in downtown Chicago last weekend for a birthday party. I have to say, we were quite spoiled! Not only did we have an opportunity to enjoy their wonderful restaurants, and their Junior Olympic indoor swimming pool but they had the coolest rooms. Did you know you can actually put your TV in a cabinet--push a button on your remote and silently your TV will rise up on a plasma lift? I've never heard of such a thing--but I have to say, it was the coolest thing I've ever seen. Now, it's definitely on my list of wants for the coming year!

Spring Is Springing

I walked around the yard today and was so excited to see some little green stems starting to poke their heads up. Spring is coming. I do love Spring, but with it we get that much closer to the overwhelming heat of summer. I LOVE the three other seasons. I love sweatshirt weather! I love having the chance to snuggle into some Emu Australia boots! I love the smell of chimneys blowing smoke from freshly lit fires while the dry leaves crackle beneath your feet! These are all the comforts of Fall--and I guess the closer we get to Summer--we are that much closer to Fall as well!

Budgeting Software Needed

I hate tax time! Every year we get a couple of thousand back from the federal return, but we also end up paying several hundred for the state return. This on top of the already "CHOKING" property tax is going to send us to the poor house! I know there is the whole 'Welfare' package coming in May and I'm really going to have to look into a budget software in order to make it last as long as we can as well as cover every need that we have as well! It really isn't so hard living within our means. We don't have any credit card debt. Both of our cars are paid for. We have a mortgage and that is it! Yet with taxes alone, we are in the poor house! How do other Americans do it when they are drowning in debt on top of the taxes?

Hopefully The End

I just got off the phone with my mother in law. Good news finally! My nephew has been in and out of jail and drug rehabilitation for several years now. He keeps getting back into the drug scene and his father keeps reporting him. I don't blame him, I really do want the best for this boy. But at the same time, he is on his final shot. One more relapse, and he's in prison to finish out his 2 year sentence. I'm not sure I could turn him in with that staring at me. Anyway, enough about me! This boy is out of rehab, and back into a halfway house. He seems to be doing really well and is currently working two jobs. In the last halfway house he was in school and doing really well. This current one doesn't offer schooling, but hopefully when he is out in a month or two, he can get himself back into school. I'm so hopeful for him again, but at the same time, we've been here before. Send him "happy thoughts" if you could!

Heading To Branson!!

I have often heard of Branson, Missouri. My in laws own property there and used to visit quite often. That was before we moved to Chicago, and since the move 6 years ago, we have never even seen the Branson property! It's really not that far of a drive, and with so much fun and entertainment to be had, I'm really starting to wonder if I shouldn't just plan a trip--and then have everyone coordinate their schedules to come along. If they can't, I'm thinking it would be perfect for our little family. Of course, I would want to take part in the nightlife, so I may need to bring a babysitter along as well. But really, other than living right next door--you can't get much more convenient than Chicago!

Loving The "Tech" World

In the high tech world, there are so many things that I would love to own. Honestly, I'd take my own computer for starters. But since I've been traveling so much recently I would love to own a laptop with a mobile router rather than having to constantly rent one. I believe if you add up all of my rental fees, I would have paid for one by now. Sad thought! I should probably start with baby steps and find a nice cell phone to begin with. Yes, I know, I'm the last living person in the world without one!

Hitting Vegas!!

I find it funny. In my life I have lived 6 hours outside of Vegas to the North---or 4 hours outside of Vegas to the South. During each of these stints of existence, I didn't make it to Vegas very often. Now that I'm living 1500 miles away--I seem to be making plans involving conventions, gambling, rodeo's and hotels Las Vegas! It costs far more for me to get out there now than it used to, and yet I never took advantage of it! This past week I was able to be there for a huge food convention, and like every other time--it was AWESOME!!

Kid In A Candy Store

I had a good laugh at my husband over the weekend. I've been starting some "Spring Cleaning" projects and asked him while he was out to pick me up some razor blades. I've been working on the windows and there is some goop squinched into the corners that I'd like to scrape out. He makes it home a few hours later (never can get a 'quick trip' out of him when he goes to the Home Depot)and instead of getting me plain old, run of the mill, scrape goop off of glass razor blades...he brought me box cutter! Now hey, I will admit, I can get pretty crafty with the tools I have on hand, but for this moment...it just wouldn't do! So I sent him back--which is what I think he had planned all along!

A Winter Calamity

As we were driving out of the cul de sac this past weekend we noticed that our neighbors trampoline had bit the dust. They leave it up and together all year long, and this year with all of the snow, the frame finally buckled. It's a death that is just killing my kids! There is nothing in this world they want more than a real life, BIG trampoline--not the mini trampoline we have in the basement. Although, I have to say--they adored that thing for the longest time. But as with all things--they've grown up to bigger ideas of fun! I'm not sure I would ever get a full sized trampoline--both my husband and I were hurt when we were younger jumping on them...it's a wonder we are both still around!

"Wild Man" Off The Market

There is a man at my husbands hotel that is finally getting married. We aren't really sure where he met this woman, but she must be amazing if Doug is willing to settle down. He is a wild man! He's always been so much fun because he's so crazy! He's the type of guy that would have a beer pong table in his living room. We've been invited to the wedding, and my husband even a garnered an invitation to the Bachelor Party (so not sure he's allowed to go!!), but I'm just stumped as to what to get them. Do you go traditional? Do you go wild and crazy? Do you go the easy out with cash?? Honestly, I'm just praying that they register because I'm clueless!

Sick Kids

We have had a house full of S.I.C.K.!! It seems never ending at times, but honestly yesterday was the worst! The flooring in the kids room, the hallway, the kitchen and the entire bathroom have been plastered! I'm about ready to burn the joint down, and start from scratch! But even that is too much work for this overworked body!! Maybe I'll just invent some self cleaning bathroom fixtures and call it good!

The hubby and I have been lucky thus far, but I have to tell you, I just talked to him and he isn't feeling so hot! Here we go again!