Menu Plan Monday

Happy Monday, girls and boys! I've got a kid home with Pink Eye, and I'm still in a great mood. In hopes of keeping my momentum going this week, I'm going to start out right by posting a Menu Plan today.

MONDAY
Salmon Patties (Thanks, Jennifer! I can't wait to try this recipe!)
Pasta Salad (with hidden veggies!)

TUESDAY
Smoked Sausage Sandwiches
Carrots

WEDNESDAY
Big Salad

THURSDAY
Spicy Shrimp
Corn on the Cob

FRIDAY
Life Group this week, so we'll feed the kids a sandwich before and then graze on snacks at our friends' house. Next time, I should decide what I'm taking ahead of time so I can post it here, too!

Have a great week, y'all! Go on over to Laura's and take a look at all the hundreds of Menu Plans posted today.

And be sure to check back here later, cause I'm thinking of writing a post about The Queen's Rules of Driving and Traffic. What do you think?

This would be irony.

I have been so behind on my blog reading, y'all, and even further behind on commenting and responding to comments. Ironically, at the beginning of the month, SAHMmy nominated me for the Nice Matters Award!


Okay, I'm a little embarrassed, because here's what SAHMmy said about me:

Lori, Queen of Dirty Laundry because she always takes the time to respond to your comments on her blog with an email! This is one busy lady, but she finds time to let us all in on the fun!

AHEM. I love responding to comments, I really do! But I have a confession. I respond much more often to your comments if you have the box checked that allows me to reply directly to you. Read this post or this post if you need a little help.

And to my commenters who have checked the box but haven't heard from me in a while, I'm sorry. I have been trying so hard to get my house organized (and succeeding little by little!) that I haven't taken as much time as I'd like to "socialize." But I'm getting caught up, I promise.

Now, to whom should I pass this lovely title?

Katherine at Raising Five - She writes such honest and relevant posts about parenting and her walk with God. And her sweet, encouraging e-mails always come at just the right time!

Laura at I'm An Organizing Junkie - Again with the encouragement! Laura has found her niche, and I don't think she realizes how many people she inspires by sharing her enthusiasm for organizing with the rest of us. And her e-mails are like little cheerleaders in my Inbox!

Kristen at Diary of a Shoe Addict - Kristen writes such cute and entertaining posts, engaging her readers in fun questions and conversations. She cares about her readers, and it shows. She's living with a myriad of physical challenges, yet posts regular prayer requests for others.

Kristin - The Redneck Diva - Kristin has become such a close friend over the months! She's caring and sweet, she cheers for me when I deserve it and whoops my butt when I need it. That's nice in my book!

All right, y'all, that's about all the nice I can handle right now. Time for me to go yell at some kids. Wink.

Advice Forum Friday - Easy Meals?

UPDATE: I've actually installed the Mr. Linky. Sorry; I had a brain fart last night.

Happy Friday, y'all! This week has certainly been up and down, that's for sure! I've thought of at least five things that I wanted to throw out to you for advice. Now to just remember one of them...

Okay, I've got one. I'm having a drought in the kitchen department.

Here's how it usually works with me. I cook something, it's great, and so I cook 10 variations of the same meal for the next month. I love it, but my family...not so much.

For example, we went through a stage where I was making grilled sandwiches (let's just call 'em panini, okay?) at least three nights a week. Reubens, ham and cheese, roast beef and grilled onions...oh, and more cheese. Finally Big Daddy put his foot down and said enough with the sandwiches.

More recently, I made a great little appetizer with bread machine roll dough, and suddenly I can't stop making dough, wrapping it around stuff and baking it. Again with the putting down of the foot.

So what I'd like you to tell me is this: When it's 5:00, and you haven't thought about dinner yet, and you're lazy (which I know you're not, but I am, okay?), what do you cook? What's your go-to meal for easy and quick? Besides Mac and Cheese, cause I've got that one down, too.

Also, if you have something you need advice about, please go ahead and post about it at your blog, being sure to link back to this post and sign Mr. Linky down there. It doesn't have to be domestic; it can be financial, relationships, parenting, spiritual, anything. What's on your mind, Blog Land? Let us help!

Bargain Bonanza!

Folks, I have never been very fortunate in the bargain-getting department. A friend will tell me she found kids' t-shirts on sale for 1.38 at Wal-Mart, and when I get there, they're either all gone, or they're 3.84. Or, "Hey, they just marked down these great tops at [insert your favorite store here]!" When I get there, they're either nowhere to be found, or they're 25% off. Y'all, I scoff at 25% off. I need it to be at least 50% off, or it's not worth my trouble

I do have pretty good luck at CVS and Target, though. They're always putting health and beauty items on clearance, and I check for them every chance I get.

Last week, I saw a set of Calphalon at Target that was marked down from 179.99 to 129.99. What's that, 30% or something? I scoffed. Then yesterday, I saw the same set, marked down to...drum roll, please...44.88. That's right, boys and girls, I got that bright, shiny set of Calphalon for 75% off. You can't even get the cheap stuff for that price! Sure, it's the Target line of Calphalon, but still...SCORE! It's like this Kitchen Essentials® from Calphalon® 12-pc. Styleware Cookset - Black that I found at Amazon.

What's really great about this is that we've been looking for a griddle. At Target the least expensive ones are 19.99. Y'all, I got this whole set for a little over twice that price.

As my girls would say, "I'm so excitick!"

Works For Me Wednesday - Containers

Y'all, I'm involved in an unhealthy obsession. With Sterilite #1695. And I get them at Dollar Tree. For a dollar.

I'm in love.

Guys, I go to Dollar Tree about once a week, and I almost never leave without two or three of these bad boys. They are the perfect size for CDs, DVDs and XBox games. They stack. They have a flat bottom and will nicely hold an assortment of Children's Tylenol bottles. They have handles and all those nice little holes, so they are easy to grab and carry, even for uncoordinated female minor children.

I can see 8 of these little loves from where I sit right now.

They contain:

Kids' computer games
My computer CDs
Music CDs
Crayons and glue
Pooh's reading books
Tink's reading books
Flash cards
And the last little piggy went empty, but hopes to be filled soon.

So, am I a container geek? I believe so, and I blame Laura. And I thank her.

Be sure to go on over to Shannon's and check out the more mentally balanced tips and tricks.

Now I have some containers to fill. And don't forget to come back and see me for Advice Forum Friday, ya hear?

Shoe Review - Keds vs. Buster Browns

For years, my girls have worn Keds leather T-strap tennies. They go with almost everything, never wear out, and are oh, so easy to clean, either with a wipe or just by throwing them in the washer. Seriously, we hand them down to friends when they no longer fit, and they still have tons of wear left in them.

This past spring, when Tink and Scooter grew out of their Ked's T-Straps, we went on a search for new ones. In the past, we've found good prices on them at Famous Footwear and Kohl's. This time when we went to Famous Footwear, we found Buster Brown T-strap tennies that were identical in appearance to the Ked's we've always bought. And they came in a Wide, which works better for Scooter. So we bought them.

BIG MISTAKE.

Y'all, they hardly wore those shoes at all during the summer! Yet three weeks into the school year and they're falling apart.

So. Back to Keds for us. Or cheapos at Payless, Target or Wal-Mart. At least then I don't mind so much when they fall apart.

Dancing With The Stars

I'm dishing on Dancing With The Stars here. Won't you come tell me what you think?

Pride

Okay, so I'm not organizing the bathroom, cause I'm busy being neurotic over here. I need some perspective, so please feel free to comment. Just be sweet, okay?

So one morning last week, Tink begged to wear an old pair of Skechers that's still hanging around. I was pretty sure they were about a half size too small, and I questioned her nine ways till Sunday, but "No, they feel good!"

Well, apparently that same day, after the shoes had kicked her butt, she was limping. And the school counselor saw her and checked the fit of her shoes. And Tink told her they hurt. And today Tink comes home with a new pair of Skechers from the school counselor.

Y'all, I am so embarrassed. SO EMBARRASSED. Tink has a brand new pair of Keds in her bedroom right now, and they are a perfect, if loose, fit. But she insisted on wearing those dadgum worn out Skechers, and now I'm sure we're on the "Can't Clothe Their Kids Properly" list.

And no, I'm not gonna call the school and ask what the deal is, because then I'll be on the "WE AIN'T TAKIN' NO CHARITY!!!!" list.

And y'all, they're cute shoes, but OH MY GOODNESS, have I mentioned that I'm embarrassed?
Talk me down, friends. Talk me down.

Oh, and p.s., Scooter just ate a computer disk cover. Welcome to my world.

UPDATED TO ADD: My dad called and provided me with a voice of reason. He suggested I take the shoes back and sweetly, oh so sweetly let the counselor know that Tink has plenty of shoes, thank you, and was just stubborn that day, and we don't want to send her the wrong message by rewarding that with a new pair of shoes, now do we? But thanks. Really.

I'll probably wait until Parent/Teacher conference day, cause I'm a wuss like that.

Kickin' butt and takin' names

I haven't been around here much the past few days, but y'all, I have been getting so much done in my house! Usually, my spurts of ambition last for about 2 hours, but this time I've been going strong for around 3 days. I am oh, so proud of myself.

I organized Pooh's school area in my bedroom, so she doesn't have to sit on my bed or at the kitchen table to do her work. She's so excited, and keeps on arranging and rearranging her school supplies. At 3:30, it will also be Tink's homework station. I'm excited, too.

Also, my kitchen counters are clear and clean. This is huge, y'all. I have a tiny kitchen, and I often leave things out because it's just easier than cramming them back where they go. But I've been getting more and more organized in the kitchen, and it's getting easier and easier to keep things clear.

I have to tell y'all, reading Laura's blog, I'm An Organizing Junkie, has provided so much inspiration for me, both little spurts and over the long haul.

And now, I'm off to pick up Scooter at school so I can come home and organize my bathroom. I'm actually looking forward to it!

Blogging TV

I've posted about The Biggest Loser, Survivor-China and Beauty and The Geek on my Entertainment Blog.

Check it out!

It's Pink, and It Sucks Dirt!

Y'all, I need a Dyson. Or maybe I just want a Dyson. But either way, LOOK AT THIS! Those crazy gals at 5 Minutes For Mom are bringing us YET ANOTHER Dyson Giveaway. What's really cool is that part of the proceeds from all sales of this vacuum go to to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

And I want it. I want to be the lucky lady who gets this free Dyson Pink All Floors vacuum.

So, enter if you must. No, go ahead and enter. Really. I mean it. Cause my in-laws who are no longer speaking to me bought me a vacuum cleaner just last April. But it's not a Dyson. But that's okay. Really. Go ahead.

And good luck.

Emergency Response?

Y'all, I don't know why this bothers me, but it does. I'm not very in touch with "breaking news," but this morning I heard about a huge protest in Jena, Louisiana. Apparently there are thousands of people from around the country, demonstrating in support of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate.

That's not what bothers me. I am neither disagreeing nor agreeing with the protesters, their cause, or their right to protest.

What I have a problem with is this:

Red Cross officials manned first aid stations near the local courthouse and had water and snacks available. Portable toilets and flashing street signs to aid in traffic direction were in place.

Uhm...what? I don't really see where this is a National Disaster. The website of the American Red Cross says this about their mission:

Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs.

Hmmm...I just really don't get it.

The Day Has Come!

Well, actually it's come and gone. Cause I'm a day late. But still.



It's here! Monk & Neagle's lovely CD is now available to the public. So go buy it! Cause it's one of the best things I've heard in a long time.

I e-mailed all of my friends about this one, and everyone who's listened to the clips online LOVES it! I think you will, too.

You can get The Twenty-First Time CD here.

Big Brother - Final Two

For those of you who are Big Brother fans, here are my thoughts on the Final Two.

Advice Forum Friday

Happy Friday, y'all! It's time for another Advice Forum Friday. My goal this week is to have more than one person sign the Mr. Linky with an Advice Forum post. Who's got a question for us?

My dilemma this week is this: I hate tee-tee. It doesn't bother me so much in a toilet or in a diaper, but on clothes or sheets...it just makes me cringe. And I have a daughter or three who are not very sanitary. No matter what I do or say, the situation is not improving.

One of my girls has attachment and emotional issues stemming from things that happened before she was adopted, for which she's in counseling. And when she's upset or extremely stressed, she has an accident. I understand why this happens, and she usually wears pull-ups to bed, but when she does it during the daytime, it skeeves me out. I try to keep my reaction to HER and my reaction to the mess separate, but sometimes the lines blur. It seems to me that in the cleaning up of the mess, the soiled items of clothing and/or bedding TOUCH EVERYTHING IN MY HOUSE, causing widespread contamination.

I've just realized that this is bordering on a phobia for me...well, not so much a phobia, because I'm not scared of ur1ne, it just grosses me out. So what do you call that?

At least two of my three girls also have a problem with...uhm...leakage. They wait too long to go to the restroom, and their underthings suffer for it. Have I said ICK? And so far, nothing I've said or done has helped them. Is this just a girl/kid thing, and I have to live with it, or what?

So, my dear friends, to recap, what I'd like to know is...

Am I a big freak?
Is there hope for me?
Do your kids have these hygiene issues?
If so, how do you handle it?
Do YOU have these reactions?
If so, how do you handle it?

So there you have it - you now know that Lori is a big freaking freak. But I'm sweet, so don't run screaming, okay?

And now for a run-down of how to participate in Advice Forum Friday:

To GIVE ADVICE, comment here.

To GET ADVICE, write a post at your blog telling us what advice you need.
In YOUR post, link back to THIS POST.
Come here and sign the Mr. Linky.

If you've ever participated in Works For Me Wednesday or Menu Plan Monday or any of those, it's exactly the same procedure. If you have a problem, e-mail me and I'll try to help.

And finally, y'all have a great Friday!

Rockin' Rocketfish Giveaway

5 Minutes for Mom is at it again! The girls over there bring us the very best giveaways, don't they?

This time, we're talking about a Rocketfish Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard and Laser Mouse. I know you probably don't need one, but I do, so if you win, you can just send it to me, right? ;>)

Go check it out!

Works For Me Wednesday - Lazy Ironing

Y'all, I hate wrinkles. But I also hate ironing. Ordinarily, when I'm doing Big Daddy's and my laundry, I take everything straight out of the dryer and hang or fold it.

But sometimes my family helps. So last week, I dumped out a basket of what was supposed to be clean towels, and I was sad to see a badly wrinkled pair of pants and T-Shirt.

Some people might just throw the pants back into the hamper and re-wash them, but I also hate wearing out clothes unnecessarily. Yeah, I'm a mess.

But I did I mention I hate ironing? So guess what I did. I folded the pair of pants very neatly, and I put them on my desk chair and laid a towel on top of them. And I sat on them for a day. And all the wrinkles came out. Magic.

I draped the T-shirt over the back of my desk chair, and after a couple more days it was wrinkle-free, too.

So, sitting on my clothes instead of ironing them. Works For Me. Now hurry over to Shannon's and find some more rational tips. And be sure to come back here for Advice Forum Friday.

Oh, and check out this post, and do exactly as she says. Please. It would make me oh, so happy.

LYLAS!

Just in time for Christmas!

It seems the older I get, the faster time flies, and I'm determined to be ready for Christmas this year! One of the things I'm trying to do this year is start buying Christmas gifts a little at a time, beginning today.

Those of you who already have most of your Christmas shopping done, please come to my house and clean it. It's not like you have anything else to do, right?

Last year I did about half of my shopping for the girls online, and I scored some great deals at Amazon, Kohls, Wal-Mart and LeapFrog...all dot com.

This year, my first gifts of the season were purchased at SilverJewelryClub.com. They have some great stuff, some awful stuff, and some okay stuff. But the wonderful thing is, it all costs the same - Free+5.99 shipping. I bought lots of Christmas gifts from them last year, and was very pleased with the quality and customer service.

I have to warn you, though, that for me at least, the site is addictive. So you may want to have someone to pull you away from the computer in case you can't stop. I'm just sayin'.

Oh, and in the interest of disclosure, this is not a paid post. But I am an affiliate, so I get two bits or four bits or something if you make a purchase through one of my links. But YOU get pretty, shiny silver jewelry! So everyone wins, right?

Go check it out!

Giveaways of the Week

I'm going to update this post throughout the week as I come across fun giveaways. Scroll down to check for newer posts.

Go here to get a Free subscription to NewsMax Magazine. You can just say no to all the other offers. Now that I'm on this mailing list, I get offers for free magazines all the time. I currently receive at least 5 free magazines a month. This is the link I received by e-mail, so please let me know if it doesn't work.

Adventures in Babywearing is giving away a $50 gift certificate to Vincent Shoes. Here are some of my favorites. I'm in!

Baking Class, Dirty Laundry Style

Big Daddy and I went to a gathering tonight, and we needed to take some snacky stuff, so I decided to go economical and make something with food we already have in the house. Until I get to the grocery store (tomorrow?), that’s not much.

I got out the bread machine and went through my recipes. I am so bad about not following recipes exactly, so here’s what I did. I have a recipe for “Cinnamon Sugar Nuggets” that uses canned bread stick dough. So I found a dough recipe and made that in my bread machine first.

Remember on I Love Lucy when the bread knocks the door open on the oven? Yeah, mine popped the top up on the bread machine while it was rising. I grabbed it out of there to take to my “floured surface,” but I forgot to have floured hands. OOPS. Gummy dough hands. A little warm water took care of that.

Then we flattened out the dough and cut little nuggets to roll in the sugar and cinnamon. And the dough kept growing. So we rolled out little circles and wrapped them around some pepperoni and cheese. Yum. And we still had dough left over. So finally we cut some more nuggets from the remaining dough, and poured melted butter over them, and tossed them with Parmesan cheese and garlic. Those were my favorites.

Oh, and we heated up the kitchen so fierce that I skipped glistening and went straight to sweatin’, y’all. I haven’t used my oven in a month, for that exact reason, but today I made an exception. And had to take another shower because of it.

But dang, people, those nuggets and pepperoni roll-ups sure did taste good!

And since I never use a recipe exactly right, I’m just gonna tell ya how to do this in case you wanna.

Find your favorite roll recipe and make the dough, either in the bread machine, like I did, or the old-fashioned way if that’s how you roll. (Pun intended. Sort of.) After it’s risen, pat your dough out to about 1 inch thick. Use a knife or pizza cutter or whatever and cut long strips, then cut those into 1-inch squares.

Oh yeah, get a plastic container with a lid, and put some sugar and cinnamon in the bottom.

Throw the 1-inch squares into the plastic container, and then when you get tired of cutting, put the lid on there and shake it up until all the nuggets are covered with cinnamon and sugar.

Then cut some more 1-inch squares and put them in another plastic container. Drizzle melted butter over them, and then pour in a truck load of Parmesan cheese and garlic salt or whatever seasoning you think sounds good. Put the lid on, shake it up, blah, blah, blah.

Place the nuggets on a lightly greased cookie sheet and cook until you think they’re done. I think we did 375 for about 8 minutes.

Now, look at the remaining dough and think of other things to do to it. You could take ping pong ball-sized…uh…balls, roll them out flat and put all kinds of good stuff on there, then roll it up. Pepperoni and cheese, ham and cheese, brown sugar and pecans, little smokies, some fruit preserves, whatever sounds good. Lightly greased cookie sheet, 375 until it’s done.

There you have it, boys and girls. Baking class, Dirty Laundry Style.

Advice Forum Friday - uh...UPDATE!

Okay, y'all, I'm committed to presenting you with Advice Forum Friday until someone starts participating.

Anyone?

And I'm also committed to bringing you the bizarre truth that is me. 10 minutes ago, I had a brilliant topic for Advice Forum Friday. It has something to do with kids, and it's not complaining really, but here's the thing.

I can't remember what it was. Yeah, I forgot.

So I'm putting this up there for all two of you who read it, in hopes that someone has a question this week so my Mr. Linky won't sit there all empty.

And I'm gonna take the girls to school and hope that I remember what I was gonna post. Then I'll come home and update this sucker.

UPDATE: I never could remember what I was gonna ask this morning, but I came up with another while in the shower.

I'm looking for a facial moisturizer. Here are my criteria:

I DO NOT want this to feel oily or greasy on my skin. You know when you hear someone say, it doesn't feel oily, it just feels soft and silky? Yeah, that's what I'm looking for.
I have 40-something skin.
I need to fight wrinkles.
I need to buy it at Target, Wal-Mart, CVS or Walgreen's.

And now, bring us your burning questions! Kids driving you crazy? Can't figure out what to cook? Having a problem with the vacuum cleaner? Post the dilemma on your blog, being sure to mention and link back to this burning brilliance, and be sure to sign the Mr. Linky down below.

And pray that I figure out what I was gonna talk about today.

Do you ever...

Do you ever get a brilliant idea, like to have a big party and invite all the coolest kids, and then once you've committed yourself, you freak out?

Because what if they laugh at how little my house is, and my kids' rooms don't stay clean, no matter what, and that the only place for the kids' computer is in the living room, and my kitchen is the size of their master bathroom?

And what if my house smells like dogs and I don't realize it, and what if my fun party food is really stupid?

And what if the smell from the air conditioning leak doesn't go away in time? And what if all the stains don't come out of the carpet?

Yeah, me neither.

WFMW - Velveeta, Dr. Pepper, etc.

Hey, it's the Brand Loyal edition of Works For Me Wednesday. Today I'll be talking about those Brands From Which I Cannot Be Swayed. I think I'll do this list-style, if you don't mind.

Velveeta - Come one, now. Kroger brand Nice 'n Cheesy? You've gotta be kidding. I need me the real thing for Rotel dip, easy mac and cheese, and miscellaneous casseroles. And also for a killer, artery clogging grilled cheese every now and then.

Which brings us to Rotel Tomatoes. You can use Pace for the Rotel Dip, but then it wouldn't be Rotel Dip, would it?

Mayonnaise - Kraft or Hellman's. I tried Archer Farms once. Tasted like Miracle Whip. And by the way, get this - I used to love Miracle Whip, and now I can't stand it. I guess my taste buds are getting old or something. Big Daddy insists on Miracle Whip now, so it's a pain when we make sandwiches.

Pace Picante Sauce - This is Big Daddy's preference, not mine. But I live to please, so I buy him the Pace.

Cottonelle Ultra - Have you seen the new kind that's ribbed, instead of with little squares? It's heaven on a roll. BD and I used to go back and forth; he liked Cottonelle, I liked Quilted Northern Ultra. Until he came home with the ribbed kind of Cottonelle. I converted immediately. What's weird, though, is that sometimes it's still the quilted squares, and then I'm sad for a week.

Hebrew National Hot Dogs - You know that since they're kosher, there's nothing really gross in there. You can't say that for Bar S.

Mrs. Baird's Large Loaf White Bread - Best white bread in the world. I like a nice, crunchy wheat sometimes, and I'll use french, rye, or sourdough for a fancy sandwich. But for a good old PB or Bologna sandwich, it's gotta be Mrs. Baird's White.

Degree Deodorant for Men - Big Daddy refuses to use anything else. Not the clear stuff, though, just the white.

Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper - I go through way too many 2-liters every week. I drank Diet Dr. K for a while, but I got a bad batch once, and I refuse to compromise now. I can not function if there's none in the house.

That's all I've got for now, but I think I'll come back and update as I think of more. In the meantime, go on over to Shannon's and see what's non-negotiable for everyone else.

And don't forget to come back on Friday for Advice Forum.

Am I a Mean Mommy?

Do you think it's mean of me to insist that my 4-year-old stop calling me "Uh, Mom?" I don't care if she calls me Mommy, Momma, Mom, or Hey you. I just want her to stop putting "UH" in front of it.

Too much?

Laughter and Tears

In honor of Labor Day, and in a cheap rip-off of DeeDee's post, I present to you an assortment of insurance statements I encountered as a transcriptionist. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll say, "HUH?"

There was the old widower man who was trolling for women at the roach motels on the bad side of town. He had lots of "friends," and every now and then they spent the night at his house. He knew they were "crack hos," but he was "just trying to help them out."

And this particular CH kept stealing his car, but he kept on finding it. And he kept on letting her come back and stay at his house. And slept with his wallet and car keys under his pillow. But I guess he was a real deep sleeper, cause the last time she got his wallet and car keys and took his car, and he never saw it again.

The Claim Rep says, "Well, Mr. Widower, why did you bring her back to your house, after she'd stolen your car before?" And Mr. Widower says, "Well, I'll tell ya, I was just lonely. And I was trying to help her out."

That one made me very sad.

Sometimes I had to stop the tape to laugh, and sometimes I had to stop the tape to cry.

The saddest one to me was a guy who was driving along the service road at night. He was looping around under a bridge when an entire family, pushing a stroller, stepped out in front of his car. I don't know how many fatalities there were that night, but I can still hear that guy breaking down on the tape.

There were some fatalities that were tragic, but the insurance claims were misguided. A little boy drowned in a pond at his babysitter's property, while his mother was there and supposedly supervising him. The mother decided to file a claim against the babysitter.

A lady was walking alongside a float in a parade, which she had been warned against. She tripped and fell under a trailer and was killed. Her husband filed a claim against the owner of the trailer, and against the city that held the parade.

How about some strange thefts?

"Mr. Homeowner, why did you have $100 bottles of Cristal hidden in the attic of your $40,000 house? And how do you think the burglar knew to look up there for them?"

"Miss Homeowner, can you provide a receipt for the Rolex that was stolen? Or explain how you paid for it while working at McDonald's?"

And I've saved the best for last.

My all-time favorite was a guy who traveled to New Orleans to make money after Hurricane Katrina. He bought two utility trucks to take with him (you know, the kind with toolboxes on them, or some kind of towing equipment, or whatever), and rounded up a couple of friends/acquaintances, and they headed down to New Orleans to get rich. They camped in church parking lots, they stayed in abandoned houses; they slept wherever they could.

He met up with other guys there, and from the sounds of it, everything was very loosey-goosey. This guy was letting people he didn't even know take his $100,000 trucks for days at a time.

But here's the clincher. The insured guy's marriage was falling apart, so he came back home to Texas, AND NEVER WENT BACK. And a few months later, he reports those utility trucks stolen and tries to file an insurance claim.

The Claim Rep says, "Well, how do you know they were stolen?" And they insured guy goes, "Well, I'm sure they've been stolen by now. I left 'em parked in the Walgreen's parking lot, and the last time I talked to Joe, he told me they weren't there any more."

Y'all. The guy left his trucks in New Orleans and never went back to get them. And then tried to file a theft claim. Brilliant.

Lovin' this right now...

Free Shoes? Count me in!

Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry has the greatest giveaway going on at her place! She's giving away a pair of Ryka shoes, and I really want to win them.

Go check it out, because if I can't win them, of course I want you to win. Because I'm unselfish like that.

Advice Forum Friday - It's Back!

Guys, I totally spaced and forgot to post Advice Forum Friday last week. And I know that only two people have ever linked up, but I didn't want to give up this soon. And I'm not.

But I just have been crazy with Back To School and all that that implies, because I am the biggest procrastinator that you'll ever find. But I think we're over the hump now, and I want to keep going with this thing and see if it can gain any momentum.

My PLEA this week is for someone to please tell me how to download a Podcast. Specifically, the Big Boo Cast. I imagine every other person in this corner of the blogosphere has heard this brilliant communique, but this Queen of Dirty Laundry down here in Texas can't figger it out.

Please Help Me.

Also, if you have something you need help with, please go ahead and post about it at your blog, being sure to link back to this post and sign Mr. Linky down there.

Peace out.

Mrs. FSOT

Last year, sitting in the First Grade line every day to pick up Pooh, I wondered which First Grade teacher would be the best fit for Tinkerbell. There are 5 or 6 teachers in 1st, and out of those, I knew that there were 2 that we didn't want. The first was Pooh's teacher. She was great for Pooh, but I didn't think she would be a good match for Tink. The second teacher on my No List was an older lady who just seemed cranky. My girls already have a cranky Mommy; they don't need a cranky teacher, too.

So when we showed up for Meet The Teacher last week, guess whose class Tinker was assigned to. That's right, Mrs. Cranky Older Teacher. I was disappointed, but hoped I was wrong about her.

We Met The Teacher, and Mrs. COT was very friendly. I immediately volunteered to help out with anything she needed, because I've been told and firmly agree that sucking up gets you in good with the teachers.

As I mentioned, Tink didn't do so well on the first day of school. She was scared, and she cried when it was time for me to leave. Mrs. COT swooped right in and comforted my baby, taking her under her wing. I was encouraged.

The second day of school, at pick-up time, Mrs. COT came over to my car and said, "Yeah, she's a talker."

Tell me about it, sister.

Then she leaned in really close and whispered in my ear, "I don't really care. As long as they don't all get loud, she doesn't bother me at all." I told her that however she wanted to handle it in the classroom, we'd reinforce at home. Her exact words were, "Yeah, nothing's gonna work. Eventually, when she gets older, she'll figure out when to shut up."

I think I'm in love.

See, sometimes my Tink can rub people the wrong way. She can be clingy, she can be needy, or she can also be a diva sometimes. And did I mention SHE LIKES TO TALK? In Pre-K there was a teacher's aide who HATED her because of this. The woman once gave Tink a frowny face in her folder because Tink HAD THE AUDACITY TO ASK IF SHE WAS GONNA GET A SMILEY. Changed that smiley to a frown. And ya'll, that Aide bowed up on me because I asked her to clarify what it was that Tink did wrong. Yeah, I called the principal on that crap.

Oops, did I go off there for a minute? Sorry, where was I? Oh, so I was concerned that Mrs. COT would have a problem with Tink and her needy/diva/yappy self. And guess what? I don't think she does! I think she may be our next favorite teacher! Of course, it's the fourth day of school and things could turn around tomorrow, but I DON'T THINK SO! I THINK WE'VE GOT A WINNER! Can you tell I'm happy? Cause I am.

And in case you're not convinced, let me tell you what Tink said about Mrs. COT yesterday.

"Weeelllll, she does yell sometimes, but if we weren't being so noisy, she wouldn't have to yell. And sometime when we're being loud, she says that we're driving her crazy." Giggle, giggle. "And sometimes if we're not lining up right, or not listening, she says we're getting on her last nerve." Giggle, giggle.

She is now officially Mrs. Funny, Sarcastic Older Teacher. Mrs. FSOT for short.

HP Photosmart Printer Giveaway

Well, those girls at 5 Minutes For Mom have gone and done it again! They just bring us the BEST giveaways, don't they?

This time, it's the HP Photosmart A626 Compact Photo Printer. This little baby sounds like something I could definitely find room for. Just like lots of you, I have all of my photos organized wonderfully - on my computer! I just never take the time to have them professionally printed out, but if I had this little guy, I would surely print them myself. Right?

Go on over to 5 Minutes For Mom and take a look at what they have to say about this bad boy. And enter the contest...or don't, which will give me a better chance of winning. Whichever works for you. :>)

Works For Me Wednesday - Frugal Shopping

Today I'm talking about my new favorite store in the world - Dollar Tree. That's right, boys and girls, Dollar Tree.

I know that many of you have probably been shopping DT for years, but alas, I have not. Until six months ago, I'd probably been in Dollar Tree maybe two times, long ago. I don't recall it being that great back then, and in my mind, I'd lumped it in with all those 99 cent stores, which are crammed full of imported knick knacks and off-brand shampoo. I'll pass, thanks.

Recently, though, I decided to stop in at a Dollar Tree in our area, and HOLY SMOKES, is that a great store. It's not just knick-knacks any more, that's for sure. Oh, and in case you haven't shopped there, let me be clear - Everything There is $1.00. Here are some of the things I've bought or seen at DT in the past few months:

• Earbuds for Pooh's CD player
• Plug-in speakers for Pooh's CD player
• Jay Jay computer game
• Kid's clothes hangers
• Name-brand cereal
• Flip Flops
• Containers
• Containers
• Containers
• Kids' craft kits
• Toys
• Workbooks
• Scrapbook stuff
• Photo paper

I know you don't need me to list everything in the entire store, but I just wanted to give an idea of the variety of GREAT crap they have there.

It's a great place to buy kids' birthday gifts, too. For less than $10, you can get a gift bag and fill it with several junky toys, which we all know are what the kids love best.

There you have it, internets. Shopping at Dollar Tree, Works For Me. Now be sure to go on over to Shannon's and see what else works!

Second Day of School - Traffic Edition

Tink's already in trouble for talking. No big surprise there. Scooter's not listening. Wow. You don't say. Pooh keeps on waiting for the fun at Dirty Laundry Academy to start. OOPS.

All in all, though, I'm so pleased with the beginning of our new school year.

Except for the traffic. Did I mention there was traffic?

Y'all, it is beyond compare. You know how when you go to a concert or a baseball game, and 10,000 people are leaving the venue all at the same time? And you just sit there forever and ever in line? And the jerk in the jacked-up truck cuts you off, and the primer'd, rusty hoopty slides up right at your front right fender and plays chicken with you cause who cares about another dent? Oh, that's right, YOU DO, cause you're driving a decent car, so you let the hoopty cut you off, too.

Okay, so it's like that, except with a bunch of Moms, and the hoopty is a 20-year-old rusted out pickup, and it's broke down, blocking traffic. And everyone acts like they haven't ever picked up a kid at school before. EVER.

Y'all, I am a conformist in situations like this. Tell me how to do the pick-up, and I'm gonna do it that way every time, yes ma'am. And I can feel the anxiety rippling through my body when I see all the people just driving around and pulling through all willy nilly. Cause I'm where I'm supposed to be, dadgum it, and how come all the rule-breakers get to cut in front of me?

Uhm. Can you tell I feel strongly about this? Fortunately, I know from experience that it's only like this for about a week, and then everyone chills out. Including me.

*Is that how you spell hoopty?

First Day of School - Bullet Edition

I've been trying all day long to compose a coherent post about the First Day of School, and so far my brain hasn't settled down enough for that to happen. And since I want very strongly to post about the First Day of School before it's over, I present to you my thoughts, in no particular order.

• Our morning went well, and Big Daddy's work schedule allowed him to go to both schools to drop off the girls.
• Scooter trotted right into Pre-K like she hadn't a care in the world. Later, Mom. Get lost.
• Traffic at Tink's school was an absolute terror.
• Because of the traffic, Tinkerbell was late to class and Daddy had to wait in the van since there wasn't a parking place to be found.
• Tink cried when I left her, and it broke my heart. By the time I got to the van, I was crying too. BD wanted to get out and go in right then, but I thought it would make things worse.
• Pooh's first day at Dirty Laundry Homeschool Academy went well. Even though I'm not as organized as I wanted to be, we are off to a good start.
• Tinkerbell still talks too much in class. Her Mommy's daughter all the way.
• Did I mention that the traffic at Tink's school is murder? Cause I had to circle the school for 20 minutes this afternoon, since there was absolutely nowhere to park and wait for the bell. I can't wait till next week when people calm down.

My angels are in bed now and all is peaceful. All in all, the First Day of School was great.

Menu Plan Monday - Back to School Edition

It's the first week of school, and we really, REALLY need to get back into our school routine, QUICK. That means after I pick up Tinkerbell from school, it's home for homework, baths, dinner, and bed. It goes by so quickly that I have to be organized. So here's an easy menu to help us get back in the swing.

MONDAY
Pancakes
Sausage
Fruit

TUESDAY
Goulash
Salad

WEDNESDAY
Fantasy Football Draft - Pizza at the church
Bring fruit for the kids to snack on, cause it's gonna be a long evening!

THURSDAY
Beans and Rice
Cornbread

FRIDAY
Quesadillas with homemade tortillas

SATURDAY
Spaghetti
Garlic Toast
Salad

SUNDAY
Who knows. Seriously. Maybe Grammy and Grandaddy will take us out to dinner.

Now go check out some really serious Menu Planners at Organizing Junkie. And have a great week, y'all!

We love a giveaway!

There's a lovely giveaway up over at Musings of a Housewife. She's giving away an Eliza Grace totebag to promote her friend's new online store.

You can see all the details here. Isn't it a scrumptious bag?

“When I said,

"My foot is slipping,"

Your love, O LORD, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

Your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

(Psalm 94:18-19)

Personal Policies - Sick Kid Edition

I was tagged for this Personal Policies meme by Katherine @ Raising Five, like forever ago, and I have had the roughest time deciding how to proceed. Cause every time I think of a "personal policy," I think, "But is that a personal policy, or just another weird thing about me?"

She wants to know my personal policies - not moral rules, like "Do Not Kill," I'm talking about the silly policies we impose on ourselves, like "Never eat anything you can't identify," or "Don't step on sidewalk cracks."

But I've procrastinated for too long. And since I've got a feverish kid this week, I present you with My Personal Policies - The Sick Kid Edition.

1. Anything over 99.0 is a fever, I don't care what Big Daddy heard at the Quack in the Box. My digital thermometer says Above Normal, dang it. Above Normal is a Fever, in my book.
   
2. I do not give Tylenol for a low fever, unless someone's crying, or something hurts. I say, let the fever do its job. The body heats up to fight infection or other biological bad guys, so how can they do their job if you keep throwing Tylenol on 'em?
   
3. Once a fever hits 102.5, I give Tylenol. Even I have my limits.
   
4. If you've got a fever, you get to lay in my bed and drink Sprite and watch TV.
   
5. I don't call the doctor's office unless someone has either a) had a fever over 102 for more than 2 days, or b) had any fever for more than 3 days. They're just gonna tell me to give Tylenol and call back if the fever doesn't go away. Trust me, I know this from experience.
   
6. We try not to go anywhere when one of the darlings has a fever. I figure if the school won't let 'em in, they shouldn't be anywhere else, either.
   
7. I feel very strongly about not spreading our {unspecified, yet feverish} illnesses on an unsuspecting public.
   
8. When someone is scheduled to visit our house, I advise them of said fever and let them make their own decision. Then their blood is on their own hands, not mine.
   
9. We stay away from Grammy and Grandaddy when we have a fever. Cause the old folks, they be getting sick easier, you know.

Looking back over this, I guess I should have named it Personal Policies - Fever Edition.

Anyway.

I'd love to hear about your Personal Policies, sickness or otherwise. Let me know if you decide to write your own post, and please, oh please, give me whatever feedback you may have about my policies.

Obsession

I'm currently obsessed with this.

The best I can do is about 13.4 seconds. How about you?

A little linky love...

Random randomness - Tuesday edition

Y'all, my kids are watching Popeye right now. Gotta love Boomerang.

~~~

Tinkerbell has a fever of 102 and a headache and stomach ache.

Last time I took her to the doctor for her headaches and stomach aches, the pediatrician told me that it was either migraines, or she just wanted to lay in my bed. Yeah, we're probably gonna switch doctors.

I'm currently logging her symptoms. I wish I could be that OCD about housekeeping.

~~~

I found a piece of property not far from us that's over 5 acres with two houses on it. I would really love to live on property like that, with my parents in the other house. Not because we want them up our hoo-has, though. I just think it would be so convenient. Especially a few years from now when they start needing more help. You know?

However, the houses on this piece of property are REAL fixer-uppers, and although I think we could handle it, my parents do not. And I don't blame them. But I am going to force them to watch lots of house flipping shows so that maybe they'll get inspired.

~~~

School starts next Monday and I haven't enrolled Scooter in Pre-K yet, cause I can't find her shot records. I put them someplace really safe, and now I can't remember where. Sucks to be me.

Mornin', y'all.

Y'all. I want to take the chainsaw that my husband is sawing logs with and lightly smack him in the head with it. More than once. But lightly. Just enough to induce a light coma until the alarm goes off. I've heard that people in comas don't snore. Anyone know if that's accurate? Cause I would hate to induce a coma and still have to endure the snoring.

In Big Daddy's defense...I'm not sure there is a defense, actually. I DO LOVE MY BIG DADDY! But the snoring, y'all? Sometimes it just makes me insane.

Take tonight for example. I didn't fall asleep until after 2:00 a.m. Snoring occurring but not an issue at that point.

However. Some time after 2:00 a.m., very tall 7-year-old child comes into my room, scared that the freaking Monster House is coming to get her. My dang fault for letting the kids watch dadgum Monster House. Last Week. I knew it was a mistake and I did it anyway. Stupidest freaking movie marketed to kids ever. What the heck was I thinking?

How can this kid be describing this dream to me in the dead of night, can't she see my eyes don't want to stay open, "Just lay down at the foot of my bed, then." AND LET ME SLEEP.

And don't you know that I woke up again at 4:40 in the morning drenched in sweat, because I can't wait until my 50's to start this crap, oh no, that wouldn't work, would it? Let's give Lori hot flashes in her early 40's, shall we?

Get up, go potty, sit at the computer where the air conditioner blows straight on me and usually cools me down in a few minutes. Return to bed where...oh my goodness, there seems to be a 7-year-old in my spot. Shove over, sister, I'm comin' in.

Unfortunately, when I wake up during the night, I usually need the TV to go back to sleep, but turn on a TV, day or night, and my darling girls will watch it. And I'm not sure there's anything on the television at 5:00 a.m. that's suitable for a minor to watch. So I flip channels while she just flips. I finally turn on a music channel and attempt to sleep.

BUT DON'T FORGET THE SNORING.

No Go. I began composing this post in my head.

And at 5:30, I gave up, came to my computer, wrote this post and will now go take my shower.

Good morning, y'all. Thank goodness it's Sunday so I can go to church and get edified and sanctified and good moodified. And then come home and take a heck of a nap.

Interested in Big Brother 8?

Here's my opinion on last night's show.

Advice Forum Friday ~ Three-Column Template

Happy Friday, y'all! It's time again for Advice Forum Friday.

So how about it, do you need advice about something? It can be anything at all - just post about it at your site, and be sure to link to today's Advice Forum Friday in your post. And finally, don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky down below if you post a question at your blog.

Here's what I need help with today, my friends. I'm trying to find a blog template with three columns. I'm currently using Blogger's Minima template, with custom colors and header (Thanks, Revka!). I really like it, but I would love to have three columns instead of two. Well, if I'm completely honest, I'd love to have an entire redesign, but since I'm on a tight budget, a three-column version of Minima will do just fine, thank you very much!

I've seen free three-column templates out there, but I am fairly clueless about HTML and all that stuff, and I was not successful in installing one here. And I love Blogger Beta's widgets, and would still like to be able to use them.

I know that there has got to be someone out there who can tell me how to accomplish my goal, so please leave me a comment and give me some advice, okay?

Thanks, guys! Have a great Friday!

My new favorite Food Network show

Y'all, I just found Quick Fix Meals on Food Network. Read my quickie review here.

WFMW - Fajita Grill

What's working for me this week is that my mom just took me school supply shopping. What a blessing! With Big Daddy changing jobs this month, we're missing a paycheck or two, so things are a little tight until we get over the hump.

But that's not my official WFMW. Today, I'm talking about how I've figured out how to make do with what I have and save energy, all at the same time.

For Christmas last year, my in-laws gave me a giant, red El Paso Fajita Grill. Not something I would have bought for myself, that's for sure. We have a small kitchen - heck, the whole house is little - and although I love kitchen gadgets, I'm finally learning to use common sense when they call to me from the end caps at Target.

But. I got one for Christmas. And I love my in-laws, so I felt guilty about taking it back. So I kept it. And it got stuck in the built-in cabinet in the living room for six months. Then a couple months ago, we were cooking breakfast for friends, and we just did not have enough burners. So I got that Big Boy out and started cooking bacon on it. Perfect. Then I cooked an omelet in the tortilla warmer section, and I thought I was rockin'. Cause I was.

And because we're lazy butts, the Fajita Grillstayed on the counter for the next few days, and so I went ahead and used it again. And again. We cooked hot dogs on it, we grilled smoked sausage on it, and I even toasted buns for Sloppy Joes on it.

We have a George Foreman grill, but the coating is flaking off so we stopped using it. And I've wanted an electric skillet or electric griddle, but this Fajita Grill works just as well for many uses!

So, while I'm not necessarily advocating going out and buying a Fajita Grill, what I am saying is this: If you have one of these guys gathering dust somewhere in your house, USE IT! And if you see one at a garage sale, go ahead and snap it up for a few dollars, cause you will use that bad boy!

Using What I Have - in this case a Fajita Grill - Works For Me! Now go on over to Shannon's and check out all the great tips!

Oh, and no, I haven't made fajitas on it. I've never actually cooked fajitas myself. Funny, huh?

And finally, don't forget to come back and check out Advice Forum Friday. Got a question? Want some advice? Link it here and see what happens!

Ditzy

Y'all, I have been checking the Lotto Texas and Mega Millions website for two hours, trying to get the results of the drawing for Tuesday, August 14. I checked my tickets twice, checked my calendar twice, yep, it's Tuesday, August 14.

"Oh my goodness," I thought, "that's so strange. I bet we're gonna win something tonight! I wish they'd hurry up and post the numbers!"

I told Big Daddy that I couldn't find the winning numbers, and his answer? "Huh."

Finally, I got my calendar out again, looked and confirmed that it was, in fact, Tuesday, August 14. "Right, Honey?"

SILENCE

"No, it's the 13th."

"No, honey, it's the 14th. Look at this calendar. Tuesday, the 14th."

SILENCE

THEN SNICKERING

"Baby, today's Monday."

"Huh."

Menu Plan Monday - Give me structure!

We've got a pretty busy week coming up, so I knew I'd better get back on the Menu Plan wagon, so I've got control over at least ONE area of my household. The theme this week is quick and easy.

MONDAY

PB&J for the kids and Italian Subs for BD and I

TUESDAY

Bacon Grilled Cheese with carrot sticks and apples

WEDNESDAY

Hot Dogs and Pasta Salad

THURSDAY

Sticky Chicken with Rice Pilaf (This time I'll use leg quarters and use the crockpot.)

FRIDAY

Life Group - we'll graze on snacks there. The girls will probably eat a sandwich before we go.

That's it for us, folks. No nonsense, fill the bellies and get through the week meal planning. Have a great week!

8 Ways Big Daddy's new job rocks + 2 more

Big Daddy started his new job last week, and it rocks. Here are some ways that it is oh, so much better than his last job.

1. New company treats everyone the same, even if they don't suck up.
2. New company pays employees for every hour that they work!
3. Secretaries are not calling BD at home and all hours of the day, "just to talk." Therefore, BD does not get discriminated against when he asks them to stop.
4. No one screams at and demeans the employees.
5. Secretaries do not withhold final paychecks out of spite.
6. In fact, secretaries are actually secretaries, and don't think they're in charge of every dadgum thing.
7. Big Daddy gets off work at the same time every day, no matter who's mad at him.
8. BD does not have to take a shower the minute he walks in the door, because he is no longer STANK from sweating his guts out all day long. He can shower WHEN HE WANTS TO!
9. BD gets to come home to his girls for lunch any time he wants to!
10. In fact, he just came home for a quick lunch and made his girls oh, so happy. Especially me!

Can you tell we're oh, so happy over here? Yeah, we are.

Serene Sunday

Not much going on here today. AT ALL. We came home from church and I napped until 2:00. SWEET.

Thanks to all of you who participated in Advice Forum Friday this week. I got some great suggestions for music sources, many of which I plan to pursue, SOON.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a great article at Faith Lifts about Living in the Moment with our children, and more importantly, with our God.

Please, oh please, oh please take a look at this post at Kisses of Sunshine, especially if you have a Blogger account. Following these simple steps will help ME respond to YOU when you comment. Thanks! Really, Thanks!

Comma rules. I can always use a refresher!

Here's a list of the Top 50 Frugality Bloggers. Something else I can definitely use!

Y'all have a great Sunday evening! See ya back here tomorrow, right?

Advice Forum Friday - Help me find my music!

Do you know the song "Strength of my Life," by Leslie Phillips? It was probably released in the 80's, and features Russ Taff on harmonies. I dadgum love this song, and I can't find it anywhere but on Music Choice on my TV sometimes.

Y'all, I love the Christian music of the 80's, even 70's, and it is almost impossible for me to find, either on CD or as downloads.

I really miss the old, original Napster, because if someone else on Napster had the song, you could download it. The fact that it was free was bonus, of course, but I just loved that you could find almost anything you wanted there. Keith Green, Petra, Larry Norman, DeGarmo and Key, Steve Taylor...the gamut of "contemporary" Christian music from the past. I don't have that kind of luck with the current music download sites.

I hope someone has some advice for me on where to find a better selection of not-so-mainstream music. If so, please leave a comment and let me know! And if it's cheap, that's even better!

Now, do you need advice about something today? It can be anything at all - just write a post about it at your site, and be sure to mention Advice Forum Friday in your post. Link back to this post, and finally, don't forget to sign the Mr. Linky down below.

Now, help me find my music! Oh, and just for fun, even if you don't have a suggestion for me, just tell me what your favorite Christian song is from the far, far past.

Thanks, y'all! Have a great Friday!

Works For Me Wednesday - Shower Curtains

I am a bargain shopper, even a cheapskate. I hate paying full price for anything, especially home furnishings. But I love to have pretty things. So I shop at garage sales and clearance racks and thrift stores.

Here are some of my favorite tricks for shower curtains.

First of all, I have almost never bought a new shower curtain. I have about 5 in my closet, all hand-me-downs or garage sale finds, and they are all gorgeous and match my master bath towels and wall color. I just switch those babies out when the mood strikes, and it's like getting a new shower curtain every few months.

Second. My friend and I were shopping at Ross a few months ago, and I found the most gorgeous twin flat sheet, but had no use for it. She suggested using it for a shower curtain, and WOWZA! It is fabulous in our hall bath. We just snipped the seams at the ends of the large top hem, so the sheet would slide on a second tension rod. The plastic curtain liner is still inside, on a lower tension rod. Did I mention that it's Gorgeous?

And Finally. I was shopping at Dollar General a few weeks ago and saw a Disney Princess plastic shower curtain for $3. What a fun $3 to spend on my girls, right? But we only have two baths, and who wants a Disney Princess shower curtain in a main bathroom? So here's what I did - I used that bad boy as the inside liner in my master bath. So from the outside of the bath, you see pretty Ralph Lauren or cute seersucker, but from the inside of the bathtub, it's Disney Princess Land!

So there are my tips for this week - be imaginative and inventive with your shower curtains, and you won't be stuck with one expensive look for the next three years. Works For Me!

Don't forget to come back and check out Advice Forum Friday. Got a question? Want some advice? Link it here and see what happens!

Now go on over to Shannon's and check out all the great Wednesday tips!

Super Sunday - Injury Report

Injury report from Sunday's Life Games:

1. One six-year-old Cheerleader with at best an ankle strain, and possibly a fracture. Cause of injury? Big old men falling on top of her while she innocently watched the Tug Of War.

2. Full-grown man with 3-inch gash on his heel. Cause of injury? Playing kickball barefoot in the dark.

3. A bunch of sore folks who thought they were in better shape, and some who knew they weren't. Cause? We're obviously not active enough!

I wish I could show you the photo that J. sent me of her poor injured daughter in the ER. Just tragic.

Y'all, it was still tons of fun, though. Even though I didn't win the Ice Cream Making Contest. But really, I'm over it.

Ancient History

I was pregnant once. For 7 weeks and 4 days. But I didn't know the pregnancy had ended until 11 weeks. It was 2001.

I happened upon another blogger's pregnancy story this afternoon, and as she recounted showing her ultrasound to the grandparents, I felt a punch in my stomach. My miscarriage is a part of our history, but it doesn't usually hit me like this. Today, I vividly remembered every detail, and it hurt.

I may ramble a bit here, but I really want to share this today. Big Daddy and I were married in 1996, and I didn't want children. He respected my wishes. My wishes changed around 1999, but we had trouble getting pregnant. To borrow what I've heard others say before, I tried to NOT get pregnant for 10 years, and then when I wanted to get pregnant, I couldn't.

We discussed how far we were willing to go with infertility treatments, and decided that we would stop short of injectible medications or IVF. We drew that line mainly because of finances and my fear of needles. So, I became a regular at my OB/GYN's office in the early morning hours before work. Ultrasounds, blood work (so much for my fear of needles), etc. Our final attempt at that point was IUI, for which Big Daddy was present. I'm a big crybaby, and when BD saw how hard it was for me to go through a procedure that's easy for others, he said, "Enough, no matter the outcome." The outcome was negative.

I agreed with BD's decision, and thank God that I never felt the crushing loss or incompleteness that so many people feel at being unable to conceive. Big Daddy and I were disappointed, but happy with our life, and resigned to the fact that that's how it would stay.

Fast forward a few months, and I was scheduled to have weight loss surgery. My surgery date was Tuesday, March 27th, 2001. On the Sunday prior to my surgery, I realized that my period was about two weeks late, but attributed it to anxiety about the surgery. Nevertheless, I dug through the drawer and found a leftover pregnancy test, and HOLY CRAP, it came up positive.

I am being completely honest here when I tell you I was devastated. It had taken a while to come to terms with the fact that we wouldn't have children, but I got there. I was excited about getting healthy and moving on. P.S., I was at my all-time high weight, and I was miserable.

BD and I went to Tom Thumb and bought 3 more pregnancy tests, which all came back glaringly positive. I remember crying, telling him, "I can't live in this body for nine more months!"

I went first thing that Monday for a blood test, which obviously came back positive. I was still in shock, but no longer hysterical. I sure didn't understand God's timing, but I couldn't argue with it. In fact, we went straight from the OB's office to Babies R Us. Yeah, I shifted gears pretty quick. We called my parents, "Yeah, don't come see me in the hospital tomorrow, cause uhm...I'M PREGNANT!" It was really an exciting time.

Four weeks later, I had an ultrasound which showed that tiny little 6-week-old heartbeat just flashing and flashing and flashing. We were sure it was a girl! I don't remember much about the next few weeks, just that the weekend before my 11 week check-up, I felt a little strange, nothing more.

We went in for our 11-week check-up, and because I was high-risk (weight and age), I was scheduled for a glucose tolerance test and another ultrasound. I drank that gross crap for glucose tolerance and then went back for my ultrasound. I was looking at the screen as the tech was looking around in there (Argh) and I knew that I wasn't seeing what I should see. When the tech did the clicky measuring thing, 7w4d is what it said on the bottom of the screen. I knew that wasn't right. The tech then excused herself and went to get the doctor. I knew then. Big Daddy wouldn't accept it, but I knew.

My very sweet doctor came into the ultrasound room and looked at the screen, and said what we didn't want to hear, "I'm sorry..." He scheduled me for a D&C, and the rest is...well, it was awful. Because not only did I lose my baby, but anesthesia makes me sick, so BONUS! It sucked.

I never did have weight-loss surgery, because I was back in baby mode. We went through all of the minimally invasive measures again, with no results. And resigned ourselves again. It wasn't for a few more years that we seriously considered adoption.

About a year ago, I realized something ironic. My Tinkerbell was born the day after my D & C, in another part of the state, to a woman who wasn't willing to stop doing drugs in order to keep her children. And three+ years later, we found her and her sisters.

And I'll tell y'all more about that another time.