Monday Money Saving - Better Homes & Gardens

So if you are anything like me, you love a great offer. I received this Incredible Offer from a friend this morning and just wanted to share.

If the link does not work, just email me and I can forward the link to you. I believe it does not work for me because I already accepted the offer on my computer so it says the page is no longer available.

3 great years for BHG and 2 free cookbooks, for $20! You can't beat that! Of course, I only use cookbooks like 3 times per year, but hey, they are great to have. Magazines, however, I do love those. I study them and store things away for future use for when I run across those special treasures!

Enjoy and have a great Monday!

I LOVE FREE STUFF

What is better than an awesome yardsale or thrift store bargain? Why a FREE item of course! Yesterday on my way home from dropping Sofia at a friends house for a playdate, I saw this lovely item in a driveway with a "FREE" sign taped to it. I stopped, I like it, I loaded it up! I love having a big SUV at home just for those occasions. So I brought it home, cleaned it up, replaced the closure hardware and revitalized the stain and presto chango new tv cabinet in my master bedroom! Yes, incase you are wondering, I pulled it up the stairs myself. I know. It is actually not super heavy--probably Target furniture I believe, but I love to lock the TV away and before the tv just sat on top of my dresser. So this is much nicer.

Soccer Saturday snapshots

Sofia and her daddy before the game

It was so hot at the soccer game Saturday. It was upper 80's low 90's and Sofia did not play until 10am. So needless to say, not quiet the soccer star as last week. She gets up so early in the morning (5:30-6) that by 10am she is winding down. The other team was really good as well. They had clearly been practicing real skills of the game--blocking, passing, etc. where as our team just mostly focuses on kicking the ball. Anywho, it was a nice day still and Sofia really liked having daddy watch her game. She did have a couple of crying spells, she fell on her arm on the grass and bonked heads with another player. For Sofia tears over small things = TIRED.

Soccer Clinic Snapshots from Friday

Sofia's Uncle Ricky came to see her at soccer practice on Friday, so we had to get a picture of the two of them together. Sofia and her daddy went to get her nails done on Thursday so they matched her soccer shirt quiet well! Of course, they are all a mess now.

You should live in Michigan

You Should Live in Michigan

If you don't want to live in Michigan, you might also consider: Minnesota North Dakota Arizona Georgia Idaho

What State Should You Live In?

Well I fing this extremely hard to believe. Thank goodness GA is in there! I guess for some reason I am supposed to be where I am too--Arizona! Nah, just a crazy game!!!

In Memory Of

Paul Newman dies at 83

The legendary actor has passed away after a battle with cancer, his publicist says.

I love Paul Newman. My favorite movie he starred in is Cool Hand Luke. I remember watching this in 10th grade English Literature and falling in love with it and him.

I am addicted

Now over the past year I have lost nearly 50 pounds and then over the last 8 weeks I have gained 6 pounds. Part of that can be attributed to the following:

• I am burned out on the treadmill at the YMCA so I have not worked out
  
• It is so darn hot outside still--100+ so exercising outside is so not happening


• But mostly the gain can be attributed to the following:

I love Diet Coke--in a can or fountain drink, it does not matter--just must be really cold.

I love Taco Bell. I know what is wrong with me, but I do!! Crunch Taco, Bean Burrito and the triple layer nachos.

I sort of love these LoftHouse cookies. Though only 1-2. Usually just a phase that will pass fairly quickly.

I love Bravo TV Reality shows. So what sometimes happens is one or all of the other bad vices combines with the Bravo and that my friends = 6 pounds!!!!

Time for an intervention.

This is what happens before Soccer

In this video you can see what Sofia loves to do while we wait for soccer to begin.



thats right, she clearly states it: "I'm a horse mommy, I'm a horse". So just in case the whinnying and the pawing at the dirt did not give it away.

I've Been Tagged

Madras and Martinis has tagged me to share 7 random / weird facts about myself so here you go:

1. I can not bare to let my teeth touch wooden popscicle sticks. I love popscicles, but heavens do not let my teeth touch that stick.

2. I do not get in the ocean any more than knee deep. Nope, no thank you. Sharks, jelly fish, crabs, burning on newly shaved legs. I just can't do it.

3. I can not and will not EVER take a cruise. Sorry, Titanic Phobia. I know probably silly, but can't do it.

4. I drive my car down to the very last mile every time before I stop and get gas. I don't like to stop and get it--maybe because it is always so hot here, not sure but I am notorious for almost running out of gas.

5. I LOVE Halloween and Easter--more than Christmas or any other holiday. Love the decorations, love themed parties. Those are my favorites.

6. I can not bare to hear the word f-a-r-t. I am not sure who ever thought this would be an acceptable word but you will never hear me utter that word.

7. I will always be an overpacker. I mean 3 outfits per day plus shoes and always 1 extra outfit per day I am gone for both Sofia and I. That makes for a whole lot of luggage. Always over pack.

So now I am tagging the following:

The Horton Family

Jenkins Jaunts

Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S.

Kelly's Korner

Just a Girl

The Handmade Housewife

CLEMSONGIRL AND THE COACH

Make sure you check out all of those fabulous blogs!

Yuck, GO AWAY

This little item was in my house tonight (well this a picture from the computer but it was the same),as I was going up my stairs he was on the edge of the little landing/shelf that is over the stairwell (see below: where 2 pumpkins were placed):







Yes that is a scorpion. Only the 2nd I have had to deal with in the 8 years we have lived here. Not bad considering we do live on the edge of the mountains, in the desert. But YUCK! And Dangerous.

So I quicky smashed it with this:

Yes, I know, lovely Top-Siders should never be treated so poorly but I had no choice, they were in my hand going upstairs to the closet.

I am hoping and assuming this little creature made its way into my humble abode over the weekend when I went to the storage unit and got out all of my Halloween items and brought them inside and decorated for Halloween. Perhaps he had been in the storage unit. Again, YUCK!

So then I quickly went into the garage and got some of this:

and spread it around the front yard, sidewalk, front stoop and in the garage at the entrys. I swear, one week it is a mouse in the garage and now this, honestly I am a clean person!!

BTW--the mouse, I thought I had trapped it long ago--I saw it last week!! So I got some poison in those little packets and put three of them out in the garage. By the next day all 3 had been consumed. So I am thinking any day now---dead mouse (or mice). GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE!!!

Feeling better

Well, I don't have Mono, so that is great! I went to the Dr. and got a shot of a really strong antibiotic and steroid, and at about 2:30 this morning I woke up and all of the body aches were mostly gone. So not sure exactly what the problem is. My neck glands are still HUGE!

I'm sick

My throat hurts, glands are huge and swollen in my neck, body aches all over. Going to Dr. at 10am. I have Mono symptoms. Yuck.

Sofia Update

Throat is still sore, no fever this morning. She slept well the rest of the night. She says her throat just hurts though.

2 words

Strep Throat.

remember she said her throat hurt....


4:30 - throw up in car

went to urgent care, strep throat test positive, glands swolen, fever 103.5

6pm - go home, take antibiotic, ibuprofen,

6:30 - throw up

7:00 - in bed sound asleep

10:30 - throw up in bed

11:00 - throw up in bed, fever 102.5

it's gonna be a long night

Go Chivas

What is a Chiva? All I know is that I think it is a professional soccer team name and I guess all of the teams had to be given their official name by the YMCA so Sofia's team is the Chivas. Anywho, the 1st game was today and it is supposed to be 3 x 3 and the kids rotate out and take turns playing. Well, that was not the case. Sofia's team only had 5 players come to the game today so that meant less break time and then 2 of the 5 really did not want to play, so Sofia played the entire 45 minute game!! The other team, the Dynamo, bless their heart, they only had 3 people come to the game and one did not play at all, one had a bloody nose the 1st half and so that meant this one sweet little boy played the entire time basically by himself, with help from some our team members and the coach. Darn, hope it goes better next week.

Now for the most important question of the day.....Who scored the first (and most) goal for the Chivas? Go ahead, take a guess.....that's right...you know it.....SOFIA!!!!!!!

She scored three goals in under 2 minutes to be exact!!

The second most important question..Who scored the last goal of the game? Why Sofia of course!

She did really great and had a really good time! THe uniform is huge on her, but not the matching hair ribbon! She drank a ton of water and I had to keep pouring it on her head too. Because it was of course HOT! She played at 9am and it was low 90's! UGH, where is FALL???

So I think her team probably won, but they really don't keep up with that. Needless to say she had a great time and we gave out goody bags to everyone--even the other team! I had made 8 for her team but combined, both teams had 8 so we shared with everyone.

Hint: Sofia woke up this morning and said, "it hurts when I drink or swallow" while pointing at her throat.

Soccer Shot of the Day - Friday Clinic Addition

Well this soccer thing could get out of hand with pictures, so I will just pick the best one of each day (well maybe 2 or 3). Each Friday, the YMCA holds soccer clinics for the players to work on their skills. It is included with the fee and a great opportunity for Sofia to be around some kos that are not on her team and work on her skills and learn new ones too. It was really hot though--the clinic is from 4:45-5:45--still upper 90's here. HOT.

The Baby Shower

The baby shower was a great success yesterday and we really surprised the mommy to be! Great food and conversation was had by all. We actually had a really yucky day at work so it was a nice end to the day. Cute presents but the Target giftcards I ordered online did not come in the mail soon enough so we had to give her a "pretend" gift card.

Sofia and I are going to watch the football game tomorrow night so that should be fun. She has a soccer clinic first. Saturday is the first game and she is excited!

We stopped by GW yesterday and found some cute things, I'll take pictures this weekend and post and share.

I am so ready for fall, every day the mailman delivers clothes for Sofia that I bought off of eBay (from my sales of course) and she can't wear any of them!!!

Sofia's new favorite dress

Sofia loves the Backyardigans. I mean LOVES them. So I was on eBay and ran across this item and just knew that she had to have it! It came in the mail yesterday and she was so excited. Now those of you who know me, you know I don't really like character clothing, but I could not resist this. I have found hairbows to match and they are on the way!

For those of you who don't know, Backyardigans come on Nick Jr. and the one featured here is Tasha!

Happy Birthday to......

Me! yep, that's right, today is the big 32! Where does the time go? Sofia and I made cupcakes last night and I have had lots of well wishes today. My friends at work took me to lunch to a new place--it is called Chino Bandido--it is Mexican/Chinese. It sounds weird, but it was really good! I have spoken to the following folks today:

1. Rome called to say Happy Birthday

2. Sofia sang to me

3. Mom called me

4. Lu emailed me

5. Eliz text

6. Michelle Text

and lot's of coworker emails and well wishes. So it has been a good day. We are having cake in a little bit, YUMMY!

And don't laugh at my cupcakes--that is just how I like them--store bought mix yellow cake and chocolate frosting. Duncan Hines baby!!!

Sofia and I had cupcakes for breakfast!!!! You can see the chocolate on her face!

KICK IT!!!

OK I might just be really proud since she is my daughter, but....Sofia is reallly good at soccer! The coaches have called her their power forward and made several comments about her being really fast and really strong legs. She is the oldest on the team though, so that makes a bit of difference. The ages are 3-4. She really did good. Listened well to the coaches, stayed pretty active and only cried once when she collided into someone's head. The coach was very nice and gave her a hug. Lots of videos attached to make Daddy and the Grandparent's happy! They chose the team name of "Tigers" though Sofia wanted to be the dolphins. Anyway, the first game is Saturday morning and we are the snack familythis week. Have a great night!!