Couponing Reality Check

What do I hear almost ALL of the time when talking to someone about coupons???  The same excuse people give for just about anything else:  I don't have time.


Excuse me??  You don't have time to save money??  That's nonsense!!!


When I stop to think about it...it's not that people don't have time.  They think it takes more time than it does.  Now being someone, who myself, is trying to get back on track with my couponing...I will tell you first-hand...yes it takes time.  But you can manage that based on the couponing that you're doing.


I decided to write this post (like over a month ago, it's not just my couponing I'm behind in!) after having a conversation with some friends from work.  There are other people who coupon, but  a lot of people know that I do.  Basically, I was explaining to them, that saving money is saving money.  Period.  When you're starting out, it's not about finding every deal out there.  It's not about getting everything for free.  It's not about buying it just because you have a coupon for it.  So I decided, to do a post to overcome some of the excuses we were discussing.


Excuse 1: It's just me and my husband, or it's just me, I don't need to coupon like that.  My response to that is ~ saving money is saving money.  You're trying to buy a house, a car, save up for vacation?  Or just have more to pay down that credit card debt or student loans?  Or do you want more money to play with?  More shoes, more dinners out?  Couponing is a super-easy way to help add money to your household. 


 Here's the example I used, and it's completely true for me:  We all have items that we buy on a regular basis--paper towels, feminine products, diapers, laundry detergent, etc.  Well why pay full price when you run out of something?  Why not save a few dollars and get it for really cheap and that way you can have a few more on hand for when you need it again?  I don't know about you, but for me, this was the case all the time when it comes to being a female.  It seemed as if I was never prepared and I would go out and pay more because of course, when you need something, it's hardly ever on sale.


Excuse 2:  When I use coupons, I end up buying things I don't need and spending more money.  That's because you need to learn to coupon.  There are tons and tons of resources online, classes in your cities, books to buy all devoted to the art and science of couponing.  For the most part, it's very easy.  You just have to learn and understand the basics.  Click at the top of the page on the Coupon Time link, to get the ins and outs.  Once you  get the ins and outs, you won't use this as an excuse anymore.


Excuse 3:  I don't need to save money on groceries like that, I don't really cook like that.  That's the joy of coupons!  There's coupons for everything you need!  You shop right?  As in you shop for your clothes and household goods right?  There are coupons you can print and take with you to department stores, Target has coupons, there are coupons for shopping online, restaurant coupons...the list goes on and on.  I post sources here on my blog and on my facebook page for these coupons.


My motto is why pay retail?  Let's face it.  Times are hard, for many of us, they're only getting harder.  Any way I can save money, I'm for it.  I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to coupon.  Those coupons are just another source of currency to me.  With gas as high as it is, it's a no-brainer to me.  But hey, I'm not trying to convince you of anything! It's your money to save or to waste.  I'm just here to give you the info to help you if needed.  And I'm not the expert!  I'm learning new things all of the time and I like to pay it forward by sharing with my readers.  Happy Saving!

A Marble or Two

There they go.  One marble.  Two marbles...  I'm losing them.


I may have mentioned in a previous post that I've been having anxiety issues surrounding my decision to move to Charlotte.  Well that anxiety has escalated to starting to have panic attacks.


I've had at least three panic attacks this week.  Just thinking about them now makes my heart race a little faster.  Over the past few weeks I've tried to do more workouts to help with stress and relax a bit more.  Apparently it's not working.  So I'm not going to go into all of the details into each one of them, but after the third one, I decided it was time to call a doctor.


See, I am a minister's-kid.  So I'm used to the answer I would get if I asked my mom for advice for example.  So when you're having these kind of occurrences, telling me to go to God isn't really helpful.  As if that wasn't at the top of the list.  Idk, I guess, for me it was a no-brainer.  Like I've tried what I know to do to stop feeling this way.  But it's unexplainable.  I can explain what I think is the main cause, but I've never had this level of anxiety before, to the point of having uncontrollable, unpredictable episodes that I can't escape.  I mean, this is my mind I'm talking about.  Now in my morning prayer, I've added that I have a sound mind.  I've never really paid attention to that until now.  I think the worst thing is to not be able to control your mind.  My brain, that controls the rest of my body has a part of it that's out of control.  And that shit scares me.  To be frank about it.


Today is Friday.  If you follow me on twitter and facebook, then you know I posted something along the lines of me feeling extra bitchy last weekend and I couldn't explain why.  Monday I had one.  Tuesday I had one.  Wednesday I had one.  That day I was given a Xanax.  I needed it and it helped.  Thursday I called and scheduled an appointment.  I've felt a little better since making the appointment.  So I've been taking it step by step so to speak.  Tomorrow I'm going to the beach with my mom and the kids.  Sunday is Mother's Day and I'm not doing a damn thing.  I told them {them being hubby and kids} that this is the first year that I really don't have to be the one to do things.  He can get up with them in the morning and let me be.  I'm not being forced to go to church {for some reason my mom felt that need}.  I don't have a graduation to attend.  I'm not being forced to take another mother out to dinner {which always involved me doing more work bc I had to take care of my babies, don't even get me started...}  I'm hoping that after this weekend I can be a little more relaxed and less on edge and can feel normal while I await this doctor appointment.


Although I have a calm about the decision to move to Charlotte...it seems that everything leading up to and surrounding it is becoming a difficult  pill to swallow.  But that's my general view of it...I'm sure it goes much more deeper than that for it to cause these symptoms.  I mean, when I stop and look around, everything right now is in a state of disarray.  Not even including work, with all the stress that has been ongoing since March, but my couponing has become unorganized and a source of stress that not only is bad for that reason but also impacting my savings.  I'm behind on household chores, being organized, it's all just a mess right now.  I just want to breathe and snap my fingers and have it all be done.  I've asked for help {not even going to go there} and I don't get it.  I feel overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid, underappreciated, and to top it all off--my arm has been bothering me due to my workouts and trying to do it all :-|


I'm just typing, I'm not even sure if I'm making sense anymore.  So it's probably a good idea to stop.  For someone going to the beach tomorrow, I should be doing something other than blogging.  You may be thinking...isn't that more stress?  Only a little.  Reason being is because I'm not driving.  I'm  driving to my mom's but she's doing the main driving so that right there takes away a ton of stress.  And the kids act better when Gamma is on the scene! lol So that's an added bonus!  And I love love love the beach!  I'm gonna take me a good book and just exhale.

I Love the Target Card!

Last weekend while I was at Target, I signed up for the Target debit card.  Last year I did a post that referred to it,  when I first found out about it and some other great things at Target.  As much as I have shopped at Target between now and that post, I'm just now signing up for it.  That's mainly because I am often with the kids at Target and don't want to deal with the hassle.  That and you have to have an actual check on hand with you to sign up and I don't use my checks so it took me a while to find mine. O_o  And I actually did try once to sign up but the cashier kept entering the info wrong and having to delete things and it made the system say it would send me the application.  Well I never got the application and I was thinking I had been declined.  But I never got the required decline letter.  So I decided that the next time I was at Target alone and had the time to submit the app, that I would.  And I did!


Today I got the card in the mail.  I was given a temporary slip to use until it arrived.  The purpose for this post is to share with you that the card has even more benefits than I once thought and posted.  Upon reading the literature and registering online, I am really glad that I finally got it!  


Aside from the 5% savings on every purchase made using the card, it gets better than that.  Before it was only for in-store purchases and only Target credit card users could use it online, but now debit card users can get the same savings online!  And this is what really made me smile:  FREE SHIPPING!!!  No minimum purchase, anytime I use it, I get free shipping!!! That's the best thing ever!!!  I already love Target but oh wow!!


Can't wait till we move and I have access to a Super Target!!! aaaahhh {angels singing}


I also went ahead and registered my daughter's school for their Education program.  They haven't received a donation since August 2011, so I'm about to change that!


This was just a quick post to share with you another way to save.  And this way is pretty effortless really.  I mean, for me, I don't shop with cash usually, so it's no biggie for me to use this card over my debit card.  5% off each and every purchase is more money in my pocket.    You may say it's only 5% but savings is savings.  Especially as much as I love me some Target!  Free shipping online and supporting your child's school are icing on the cake. Happy saving!! :-)

Brianna's Hair Series ~ Curly Q's

This weeks style was not what I had planned on doing, but lil missy wanted input in her hairstyle, so I chose this.  It's supposed to be ponytails that fall over to the side with box braids.  I like the back, not so much the front.  I'm not the best when it comes to curving cornrows.  It's part me and part her.  She and her hair were not the most cooperative this time around.  I really need to find something that will help seal in moisture when I band her hair.  This style was overall easy.  I want to get curlformers eventually, but for this time I used hard rollers with clips.  I don't have the foam kind of rollers.  I only had her sleep in the rollers the first night, since then her ends still have some curl.

The Dream Has Changed...Again

It has come to my realization that my dream...again...is being put on hold.  And it has changed some too.  This has been in my mind for awhile, so let's start from the beginning shall we?  So you have read my previous posts, where I've decided to tackle my dream of homeownership.  And that's still a dream that I want to achieve.  But it looks like it's farther off than I thought.


With my son being sick with pneumonia and an ear infection the other month, that really put a damper on my finances.  I was out of work with him for two weeks, and I took one of those weeks unpaid under FMLA.  That has really hurt my pocket.  Not to mention, that it impacted my bonus from the previous month.  So bottom line, is that my house fund has gotten a bit smaller.  But that's not what has made my plans change.  Not entirely anyway.


During my time out with him, I watched a lot of tv.  And I'm not sure if it was in that time or more recently, but I was watching HGTV and I don't recall what show it was, maybe it was My First Place.  But the first-time homebuyer was sharing their story about how they purchased the house, passed inspection and the next month they had to replace something.  That got me to thinking.  Not only do I not feel like I have the credit, or the down payment, available to buy a house.  I don't have the savings for it either.  When you're a homeowner, sure you can paint your own walls and make your own choices.  But you also are the one who pays when something needs attending.  The toilet leaks...that's my money going to the plumber.  Bottom line--I'm not ready. 


To add to the decision, is the fact that, I really, truly, deep down, do not want to live in this city anymore.  That's why I didn't want to buy a home here to begin with.  But the more I think about buying here, the more I realize I would hate it.  I am and have always been a city girl at heart.  This city was supposed to be the skip, in the hop-skip-jump scenario.  I have always known that I was going to live in a metropolitan city.  I thought of moving back to Philly...I hate the cold.  And as I got older, I realized that I really love North Carolina.  It's my home and I don't want to leave the state.  

source

A few years ago, shortly after our daughter was born, we took a little trip to Charlotte for the weekend.  We both fell in love with the city.  It had always been the plan to go to Charlotte upon graduating from college.  But life, as it tends to, had different plans.  Aside from the fact that it is the largest city in North Carolina, it's also the #2 financial city in the country.  So that's why I've always wanted to live in Charlotte is because that's where the money is at for my degree field.  It is my New York City.


To add chips to the fire, my opportunities for growth and advancement in my current area of my company, are just not there for me.  I'm unhappy in so many ways and one thing that I'm not going to let just continue to happen, is me not maximize my potential.  I will be 30 this year, it's time to focus on my career and make it happen.  So that means I have to leave.  I have to move outside of this division, and on to where the money is. I have always seen myself as a corporate woman when I pictured myself after graduation.  I've been looking at jobs, and salary ranges, and I'm absolutely short-changing myself by staying here.  I want both a higher salary and job satisfaction.  Currently, I have neither.  But I'm in the door.  And that's what I wrote down when I asked for this job to come to me.  I wanted my foot in the door to get a job in my field.  Well my foot is in the door, now I need to go through this door to the next one.


It's all of these things and more that are helping me to come to this decision.  It's that and the fact that a couple of co-workers have recently made these big kind of moves.  And I don't know, maybe it's seeing them make these career changes, and taking the steps outside of the comfort zone, that are showing me that I can do it too.  I don't have to be stuck in Greenville anymore. I know I'm afraid to take risks, and that has bitten me in the but before when I was working at my first job out of college.  So I talked it over with DH and we decided that this summer, I will start applying for a position in Charlotte.  We have our beach vacation in late July, so I don't want to really be in the predicament of trying to move during that time.  I honestly wouldn't be able to afford it.  Thanks to my housing fund being used as mentioned earlier.  It would be amazing if we could move before Bri starts the next school year, but as long as it happens I'm happy.  I have a feeling it will be before the end of the year, because if you recall in a prior post...I don't see us in this current home this Christmas :-)


I've had my share of anxiety about the decision.  It's a big change and it makes me a bit scared.  But if I don't do it, I will hate myself for never trying.  I have to make my life the way I want it to be.  I've already told my parents and they're encouraging and supportive. His mom, will come around eventually.  But frankly, many families live far away from their parents.  So yeah, I'll miss the child-free weekends...and the comfort of the kids being able to see their grandparents somewhat frequently.  But there's skype and holidays and summer weeks spent with them.  And I have to keep telling myself...it's not like we're moving overseas, just 3-4 hours away!  For the things that I will miss, I remind myself I will gain so much.  For example, we love the ECU Pirates and although I don't currently go to games frequently, I had planned to start this season.  But I also love the Carolina Panthers, so I'm definitely trading up! lol Sure it'll be scary at first, I only know a couple of people in Charlotte, but I'm up for the adventure.  We can create the life we want for our family.  It will be amazing.


Since coming to the decision, my mind has never been so clear it's kinda crazy.  It's hard to put into words, but when it comes to this subject of career and moving, etc...I'm at a complete calm.  It feels like it's right.  Like it's meant to be and because I'm flowing with it, there's no ebb and flow I guess would be how I would say it.  The water is still.  I guess it's how I felt when I was applying for colleges.  Everyone says to apply to a few schools just in case you don't get in your first choice.  Yeah, I thought about that, but you know what...I applied to one school...the school I wanted...the school I knew without a doubt that I was attending...ECU.  I am ready to start this next amazing chapter of my life.  I know it's my time to be happy and living the life that I have wanted and dreamed of. ♥

Brianna's Hair Series ~ Easter 2012

Although Easter was last week, I still wanted to share a look for Brianna's Hair Series.  This look was inspired by this post at Beads, Braids and Beyond.  {Take a look at the left side of your screen and you can see some of the blogs I frequent for Bri's styles.}  Brianna loves this style.  It's quick and cute and it mixes things up a bit.  It helps us transition away from beads in being able to style with cute hair bows.  My baby girl is growing up.  Literally, her birthday is next week! :-)  This style actually held up rather well, and I think I have my Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter to thank for that.  I only had to re-brush the ponytails once or twice I think and it was only today that I redid the front twists.  Well actually, I took them out and let her fly free!  She's at choir rehearsal, and when we get ready to go to the movies later, I'll re-twist them if they're too wild.  I'll re-twist all of the twists tonight for church and do another style tomorrow.

Neglect

Sighs.  I have neglected my blog.  Not intentionally, but it just occurred.  I've been going through so much lately, personally, with work, just life in general.  I'm completely overwhelmed by it all.  Things have just been exhausting and the majority of that has to do with my job and just the sheer volume of it all makes for one tired mama.  So when I've had  a little time to spare, I've spent it watching tv or sleeping.  I haven't been reading.  I haven't been working out.  I haven't been on top of my couponing.  The laundry has started to talk to me.  It's just a lot.


Today I had my third straight day of craptasticness at work and I was feeling on the verge of a meltdown.  I'm having a lot of anxiety lately, and I know why, which some of it I will share in a future  post, but it's not a good feeling for me.  I feel like I'm in a fishbowl at work.  After asking friends on facebook to share with me some ways they reduce anxiety, I decided to force myself to workout after dinner tonight.  I'm so happy I did.  It really helped.  I realized that when I used to workout daily, that handled a lot of stress and anxiety for me.  It didn't matter if it was cardio, strength or pilates, it worked.  So did blogging.  Even if I wasn't blogging about something personal, the process of blogging is cathartic for me.  So I'm focusing on getting back to things that benefit me.  So my blog won't be neglected any longer!

Thank you for reading :-)

Brianna's Hair Series ~ Twists to the Side

Yes, I agree.  It's only been forever since I've done a Brianna's Hair Series post.  Well I'm back at it.  When I first started this series, it was because I was highly dissapointed in the lack of resources online for great  natural hairstyles for our daughters.  Thankfully, times, they are a changing!  Now there are many more blogs that are dedicated to promoting natural haircare and styles for our girls.  Not only have they introduced me to some different designs, tips and tricks, but products too!


Some of the great blogs I've now joined are:  Beads, Braids and Beyond  Tweeny Hair and Braid with Me.


I've found a great product line called Bee Mine.  As of now I only have two products from them, but by my next post, I'll have more!  Currently I have Juicy Moisturizing Daily Spritz and Bee Hold Curly Butter.  I am in love with the curly butter.  Next I will be ordering their daily moisturizing conditioner.  That curly butter is about the business!  I can totally tell a difference in how well it braids.  I'm hoping it keeps the frizzies tame and that I can use it for braid outs and twist outs.


Let's get on to the style!  I was inspired by this style from Braid with Me.  I aspire to be as detailed and intricate with Bri's styles as she is with her daughter's.  Especially with Bri getting older, I want to get a little fancy with her styles.  This is my first attempt at this style of cornrows.  I don't know what they're called.  And overall it wasn't super complicated.  I'm proud of myself!  My only critique of myself is that the middle set of braids, the section is too large.  Her hair is really thick and it seems as if it's double the thickness at the crown of her head.  I think that would have allowed that center braid to not be as bulky.


I decided to do twists on the extra hair to change things up.  Her hair is too dry to just be out at this time.  I'm hoping the moisturizer I'm going to order will help with that.

 





Overall, this didn't take any longer than any other style for me.  I think I started last night at maybe 5.  Finished up with majority except  the top set of braids by 7:45.  There were also breaks and a dinner break.  It took me less than an hour to complete the rest this morning.  Definitely less than 3 hours.  And I expect it to last 2 weeks.


Products used are the Bee Mine Juicy Daily Moisturizer and Bee Mine Bee Hold Curly Butter.


I'm going to beef up her hair bow collection to go along with more of her styles like this that are beadless.  I've found quite a few styles that I want to try out and will be sharing them here as well.

Harris Teeter Triples Trip 3/24/12

Today I ventured out for Harris Teeter Triples.  It' been awhile since I've done a blogpost on a coupon event, so I figured why not today?  Now Super Triples aren't as good to me as Super Doubles, but it's a great time to maximize your low-value coupons.  I am admittedly in a current state of disarray when it comes to my coupons.  I've been struggling for weeks to get back on track.  With that being said, it pays to keep organized with your coupons, that way when a coupon event occurs, your're not scrambling trying to remember where is that specific coupon.  I'm beyond exhausted from work, and if I were more organized right now with my coupons, I would make several trips and be able to really maximize the Triples event.


I was up late last night, trying to come up with 20 coupons that would triple.  I just wanted to share a few of the things I got.  As usual, when it's a coupon event, you won't see a ton of things on sale.  Here's how I do it:  I first go thru my emails and see if there's anything I want on sale out of my emails.  Then I go thru the weekly ad online.  Then I go thru my binder and  look thru my available coupons and start to price items.  Many of the items I got, weren't on sale or weren't on an advertised sale, but they were something either I needed or wanted and savings is savings.  


I spent $29.78 before tax.  I saved $29.24 for a savings of 50% or 49.5% to be exact!  I got more than pictured, but these are just some of the things I wanted to share.

Normally I don't use a fresh coupon, but this coupon for the sugar was for 40¢ which means it was worth $1.20.  Sugar was on sale for $3.49.  I paid $2.29.

We were out of aluminum foil, so this worked out well. Not on sale but the coupon for the foil was for 75¢ off making it worth $2.25.  The coupon for the parchment paper was for 50¢ making it worth $1.50.  I paid $2.14 for the foil and $2.65 for the parchment paper.

The febreeze was on sale, but it wasn't a great one.  I got this because we needed it and there was an evic coupon as well.  It was on sale for $3.49.  My coupon was for 50¢ plus an evic coupon for 50¢ so I paid $1.49.

No yolks noodles $2.79 with coupon for 40¢ I paid $1.59.

I've been wanting to try these and this worked well for me.  It was on sale for $2.99 and my coupon was 75¢ so I only paid 74¢!!!  One of the best things about coupons, is trying new things!

I don't usually buy Ivory soap, but I do clip the coupons because you never know when a triple event will occur. The coupons are only 35¢ but the soap was only $1.55.  That worked out to 50¢ for each package.  Not bad at all.

This spicy brown mustard only cost me 35¢!!!

This box of bisquick was $2.65 coupon was 50¢ so I paid $1.15.

Last but not least, was my personal score of the day!  I've been holding on to these cutie coupons for awhile, and just hadn't been willing to pay the price.  These aren't listed on the online shopping for Harris Teeter, so I took the coupon in hopes of getting them.  It was the first thing I saw when I walked in the store!  They were $1 off at $4.99.  My coupon was for 55¢ {it says do not double, some stores will double a coupon that says do not double and some will not, mine does.  if it has a 9 on the barcode it won't but if it has a 5 it will.}  So I was willing to take the chance...I paid $3.34 for the cuties, and that's more than worth it for the smiles I got when the kids saw them!


How well did you do at Harris Teeter this week?

One Sentence...

Today I have enjoyed the rare opportunity of truly sleeping in.  I didn't wake up until a little after 9am.  It's a child-free weekend and after this highly exhausting past two weeks at work...I deserve it.


I would love to think that this could be an enjoyable weekend, but in reality, it's more thought-provoking than anything.


Words are so powerful.  One sentence can change everything.  And that it has.  You see, I understand that a simple conversation can escalate to an argument.  I get that.  And I get that in an altercation, one can say things that maybe they didn't mean to say.  Some of us have a filter and some of us do not.  I am one of those people who have a filter.  I think before I speak.  Even in an enraged argument, I try to be careful what I say and not let anything detrimental slip out.  Everybody isn't like me.


So now things are different.  You may not know it yet, but I do.  See, in my mind I've already started to calculate how the chips may fall.  Is this what every person feels like when they've realized that the road that they're on, perhaps, is the wrong road???  It's a feeling I can't quite explain, or pinpoint.  I'm scared and afraid.  I'm nervous and anxious.  I feel like I'm failing.  I feel like I'm Alice and I'm falling down the rabbit hole.  I feel vengeful.  I feel hateful.  


Am I supposed to just go thru the motions?  It's like I want to talk to a friend, but then again I don't.  I don't want them all in my business and I don't want people jumping to conclusions.  I mean, can't a woman question things?  Is there no room for doubt?  How does the hamster get off the hamster wheel?  I don't know either.  


What I do know is that I deserve the best life has to offer me.  I deserve not to be held back by negativity.  I deserve to be truly happy.  Not just happy for the moment.  For the weekend.  Until another turn or bump in the road.  I think what it is, is that I'm coming upon, or I'm already here, at a crossroads in my life.  Is it because the big 30 is coming faster than expected?  Is it because the 20s for us women is the time to find out who you are?  Is it because Wendy Williams said every person gets married twice?  Is it because my clock is ticking again and I'm not sure if I want to silence it or listen to it?  Is it because I'm almost 30 and I'm working a job and not in a career?


I think it's all of the above honestly. {Heavy Sighs}  And although I don't know what to do, I know it's time to find out what I want.  So I'm going to do some soul searching.  Do some reading.  Get to me.  Perhaps, then I can figure out what to do next.

The 15:30 Rule

I enjoy listening to talk radio in the car.  I made a quick run this evening to CVS and Mazatlan to get a couple of things and dinner because I'm too lazy this weekend to cook.  In doing so, I got a chance to  listen to a radio show I don't usually hear because it comes on Sunday evenings.  Anyway, one of the topics hit home.  It was a question to the fellas...about how do they feel when their girl gains weight in the relationship.  One of the guys on the show called  it the 15 : 30 Rule.  If a girl gains 15lbs in the first 30 days he's out.  lol Idk about 30 days, but  I totally understand.  Lord knows I do...


Story of my life.


So in all of the arguments that we do have, one argument that I absolutely cannot stand to hear is the weight argument.  Losing weight is hard as anybody who has had to lose weight knows.  What do you do when your partner is basically telling you that  they're no longer attracted to you anymore because you've gained weight?  What do you do when your partner doesn't say that in words but  says it in actions?  Would you rather them tell you or not say anything at all?


Many of us women go thru this sometime in our lives.  And it absolutely sucks!!!


But I understand.  Yeah it's selfish for them to be that way, but look at it from the guy's point of view.  Let's say you were a size 6 when you met and maybe after a year you're a size 12.  Size 12 isn't awful.  But it's double a size 6.  He's supposed to be okay with that?  He's supposed to enjoy the extra softness on your body?  Having a baby is one thing.  Celebrating your baby's 3rd birthday and still looking the same as you did when the  baby was 6 weeks old is another thing.  We all know men are very visual creatures {porn anyone?} so why not at least put in a little effort for the poor guy?


I'm speaking to myself here.


My husband has made his voice be heard.  I know exactly how he feels unfortunately.  But can I blame the guy?  Yes I'm not as overweight as I was last year or the year before.  But I'm not happy with my body and neither is he.  When he looks at me, I can see the disappointment.  Why should he have to settle?  Jordan will be 4 this year and here I am still overweight.  What really sucks, is when I'm watching someone on youtube or on tv they will show celebs who have lost weight after having baby, and he says "why can't you do that?"  Or when the Jennifer Hudson Weight Watchers commercial comes on and you ask me why don't I try that?  Ouch.  I get it.  He's trying to get me back to where I used to be and there's no easy way to talk about it.  It always turns into an argument.  He leaves feeling like he can't talk to me.  And I leave feeling fatter than I am and I go and stick my head back in the sand.


This has been my story for like a year.  The criticism/encouragement does the opposite of what he wants it to.  It makes me angry and makes me decide to do nothing.  It makes me go to the fridge and chug another soda.  It makes me devour a bag of Lay's Barbecue Chips in one day.  Those damn tasty things.  I had already decided no more.  I had already decided that I'm getting the body I want come hell or  high water.  But listening to that conversation on the radio today kinda sealed the deal for me.  I know what I gotta do.


Stay tuned for my next Motivated Monday post.  I've done some retail shopping for myself lately {shocking I know} and it's perfect for my Motivated Monday.  If you're in the same boat as me, then know you're not alone.  I don't wanna say I'm doing it for him, because I'm not.  I'm doing it for me.  I'm doing it for clothes, shoes, the beach...so many reasons. He's just on the list  somewhere too.  It's the same thing as if you met your honey and he had some muscle definition, he was in shape and now he's more  like a teddy bear.  It's the exact same thing.

A Long One

One would think that with having two weeks off work, I would be cranking out the blogs like a mad woman!  One would think.  However, that hasn't been the case.  I decided to get back into the swing of things with a random post of rants and whatnot.


For starters, my lil man is back to being his normal happy and healthy self!  He had pneumonia and an ear infection and after being given a very strong shot last week for the pneumonia, the following day they gave him a 10-day dosing of strong  meds to fight the pneumonia and the ear infection.  Today is  his last dosing of the meds, and the doctor said allow an additional day before returning to daycare.  It turns out that his day of rest is a Friday, so he goes back to daycare Monday and I go back to the grind.


He's been sick a total of three weeks.  The first week we're treating it as a virus.  The second week we know what it is and that was the hardest week for me.  This third week is just about finishing the meds.  He's had one or two low-grade fevers this week, but I will take that anyday over the high temps his body wouldn't let go of!  Last week, because he was so sick and his body was fighting so hard, he was sleeping like he was an infant again.  I'm talking about two naps and still sleeping the whole night.  I got a little too used to that, because I would take a nap too.  That would mean I was going to bed later.  That would mean that I got used to taking these naps and now here I am trying to turn my sleep pattern back around!  I'm sleeping like I'm back in college!  Too bad that's not a good thing for me...I have to return to work on the day of a huge transition for my job.  So in the past two weeks, whereas I would have been at work, being prepared...I now will be walking into the war zone kinda unarmed.  So that's a doozy on it's own.  March will not be the easiest month, but hopefully, due to being super busy means it will go by super fast.


Alright, so let's go back a week...The Oscars.  First of all, congratulations to Octavia Spencer for winning Best Supporting Actress!!!  I just knew that history would be made that night with having two African-American women winning, and one of them being the 2nd ever Best Actress award winner.  I was wrong.  Meryl Streep one the award.  And there's nothing wrong with that, because Queen Meryl, I mean there are no words for her talent.  She is a true movie star and well deserved.  But I so wanted it to be Viola Davis.  Not this time, but maybe the next time it will be her.  I feel she was also robbed of another very deserved award...Best Dressed!

source

First of all, this gorgeous green is perfect against her skin tone.  Truly is an amazing dress!  Really, it's hard to go wrong with Vera Wang.  But this dress accentuated her curves, her hard work, her girls are sitting up and looking fab, and I just love the wonderfulness that is this dress.  Add to that her stunning makeup and I could care less about going natural, but her hair was perfect as well.  I don't think wearing a wig would make this look any better than it already does.  She wins Best Dressed Award for the 2012 Academy Awards according to Aria! 

Moving right along...

With my being home during this time, I have been watching a lot of daytime tv.  I like daytime tv and record The View and Wendy Williams everyday.  But being home, I get to watch things that I don't record.  I've learned the hard way, that I can only realistically record two talk shows, anything more and it gets bogged up in the dvr.  So on a typical weekday off {non-holiday related} my tv schedule goes as follows: GMA {I watch ABC news not NBC news, if I watched NBC news I would watch The Today Show, but I grew up on ABC news, so there} Live with Kelly {or I'm dozed off from GMA} then at 10 I turn to Kathy Lee and Hoda from the fourth hour of The Today Show and switch between that and Ellen and lastly at 11 is The View.  Well, now that soaps are on the outs there are more talk shows in the afternoon now.  One that I never thought to look at before or record was The Talk.  Now that I've been home several days to give it a fair chance, let me just say...that  show is crap.

Yeah I said the show is crap.  Now I don't know about all the hoopla that went down when  Holly Robinson-Peete and Leah Remini were on the show, {forgive my spelling if it's wrong} but the show has no energy.  It has no flow.  It has no character.  Yes, I've watched The View since the very first day.  I was in highschool when it started and I've watched it every since.  With every change to the panel, some seasons I liked more than others, but  the  show is a good show.  Cannot say the same for The Talk.  I don't like the moderator, is her name Julie Chin?  Yeah I don't like her.  She's not personable, too journalistic.  And I know that's her background, but I also know she's married to the head guy at CBS, hence her being the moderator of the show.  I mean, Barbara Walters has the strongest journalism background, but even she can let loose on The  View.  Plus, I hate obvious botox.  Yeah I said it!  Look the next time you watch! lol And although I appreciate the attempt of having a mulit-cultural panel, ermmm Cheryl Underwood doesn't belong on that panel.  I'm sorry.  I listen to her on the Steve Harvey Morning Show and she's funny, but she's not a good fit for that show.  I'd rather see a Latina in her place or something.  I mean I get it, you got the Asian, you have the lesbian, the older lady, the married woman in their 30s...but something about the loud-mouth comedian that just doesn't mesh well.  It's just my opinion, but the show is trying too hard and it's painfully obvious.

Dang I wasn't trying to write a book today! But I guess I had a lot to say!  I'll wrap it up with this:  the DWTS new season cast has been announced!!!  I really like watching Dancing With The Stars.  It is my American Idol.  It is my Biggest Loser.  I say that because, before watching DWTS I used to watch those other shows.  But every show can't take up all of my beginning of the week programming! lol So the others had to fall by the wayside.  I'm excited about this season because one of my favorite people will be on the show and I will be voting each week!  I will be rooting and voting for two stars:  Jaleel White {Urkel} and Sherri Shepherd from The View.  I'm also interested in seeing Ms Aretha Franklin doing her thang thang too!  Other than them, the cast isn't all that hot.  The only other one I really know is Maria Menounos but she won't be getting my vote! lol 

So I'm looking forward to March 14th for the new season to begin!  Another great date in March is the 25th because that is when the 5th Season of Mad Men begins!!! I can't wait!!!

**images are from yahoo**

So that was my very random and very long post for the day! lol Thank you for reading :-)

Motivated Monday ~ I ♥ Shoes!

I recently joined Sole Society.  I'm really excited for my showroom to show so that I can prepare to place my first order!  I'm ready for Spring!  I've heard about Sole Society for awhile now, but as with many things, I'm skeptical at first.  I don't jump on at the beginning.  So the other day while I was browsing on facebook, a page, perhaps HauteLook had posted about Sole Society changing their program.


I am already a member of Shoedazzle.  I've purchased a pair of boots from them.  What caught my eye about Sole Society is that they were making it to where you didn't have to pay a membership fee, no need to skip, no obligation to buy.  I figured, well if I don't have to pay attention to it to the point that I have to go in each month and skip it, then I'll try it out.  Well so far, I like what I see and don't mind that it's $10 more per pair than Shoedazzle.  


The idea of having a closet full of shoes has me inspired and motivated!  Shoe clubs like Shoedazzle and Sole Society {there are more, they're not all created equal, so do your research before you buy!} are perfect for me because, frankly, I don't put a lot of effort into my shoes.  I used to.  But it's like after babies, it became an afterthought.  I'm not willing to pay for designer shoes, so to get designer-style, without designer price is great.  Also, instead of me going into a shoe store searching for my size, I get several shoes presented to me and I choose what I like.


I have started back working out {yayy me!!!} and I'm motivated to get some serious lbs off for Spring.  I'm excited about  all of the color that will be coming and one way for me to show that Pop Of Color is with my shoes!  Now one thing I realized, is that although I need to lose weight, I'm not like super fat.  I have a lot of soft areas, but I'm not misshapen.  So cardio cardio cardio and my strength training is the plan to get some fat off.  Especially for the higher heels, a good solid 10lbs would make a huge difference for me.  I'm working on it.  I'm also working on getting some good full-body pics up here for progress.  I'm working on getting my daughter steady with my Iphone to take good pics.  Because eventually, I would like to do a few outfit of the day posts...you know, I  am trying to keep it cute.  Something to keep me out of the rut I'm so used to being in.


Enough talking, let me show you some of my inspiration, that  I've  pinned to my Pinterest:

Source: solesociety.com via Aria on Pinterest

Source: solesociety.com via Aria on Pinterest

Source: solesociety.com via Aria on Pinterest

All of these are from Sole Society.  I plan to get each of them!  I have a lot of clothes that I want, but I recently got some new clothes and I have plenty of clothes in my closet, I just need to lose a few...but shoes, shoes I don't have a ton of.  So I'm super motivated to  be able to reward myself with a couple of pairs in the near future :-)


If you wanna check out Sole Society:  http://www.solesociety.com/invite/AAria241

If you wanna check out Shoedazzle:  http://www.shoedazzle.com/invite/1fvz84lo29

A Forward Worth Sharing

I cannot stand to get an email forward.  You know, the ones that say if you don't forward this to 10 people that you don't love God.  Or you'll lose a lot of money.  Or you'll have 7 years of bad luck or bad sex.  Yeah well, those forwards usually die in my inbox.  They don't get forwarded.  Especially at work, because I just don't want to be involved.  However, last week I got poignant forward that, not only did I pass on to others and received thank you's for, but I decided to share it on my blog as well.  It's that good.

Wonder how many times something you saw as bad was actually God looking out for you.

             

             

             

            Subject: I had to share this!

           

            Me (in a tizzy) : God, can I ask you something?

           

            GOD: Sure.

           

            Me: Promise you won't get mad?

           

            GOD: I promise.

           

            Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

           

            GOD: What do you mean?

           

            Me: Well I woke up late,

           

            GOD: Yes

           

            Me: My car took forever to start,

           

            GOD: Okay....

           

            Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait

           

            GOD: Hmmmm..

           

            Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call

           

            GOD: All right

           

            Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

           

            GOD: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

           

            Me (humbled): Oh...

           

            GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road

           

            Me (ashamed): ............

           

            GOD: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work

           

            Me (embarrassed): Oh.....

           

            GOD: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered

           

            Me (softly): I see God

           

            GOD: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

           

            Me: I'm sorry God.

           

            GOD: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad

           

            Me: I WILL trust you God

           

            GOD: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan

           

            Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

           

            GOD: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I love looking after my children.

Scriptural References: II Samuel 22:31, Proverbs 3:5, Hebrews 2:13

This was so powerful to me and I hope it means something for you!