North Carolina is calling my name

Have I mentioned before that I really, really, really want to visit North Carolina? Specifically, there is a house, the Outer Banks, and I want it. Outer Banks rentals has stolen my vacation heart and until I get there, no other vacation will do. Don’t get me wrong, I would be perfectly happy to wake up and make breakfast with this view during any vacation.

But let me tell you, when I win the lottery, Carolina Designs will be getting a phone call from a very sweet girl with a big fat wallet. And I am not being swayed just by the private pool and hot tub either. Did you look at that view?

What about the view from the porch? I can see myself now, me on the top floor, watching the kids play in the pool below. Sipping a cup of coffee and enjoying the crisp morning ocean air. Yes, I see the Outer Banks in my future.

World Habitat Day - October 4, 2010

Monday, October 4, 2010

Let's raise our voices and advocate for change to help those around the world who do not have a decent place to live.

Humanity World Habitat Day events

Around the world, many Habitat for Humanity local offices have organized World Habitat Day events. Habitat for Humanity’s 27th annual Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project is a World Habitat Day event this year. It will be held Oct. 4 – 8 in six cities in the United States. Held in a different location each year, Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing. This year, the Carters will work alongside volunteers in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. to build, rehabilitate and improve 86 homes.


•To see a list of other Habitat World Habitat Day events, click here.
•To view online resources available for download, click here.
•To join Habitat's World Habitat Day Photo Wall, click here.
•To dontate, click here.

Twitter Love

Sharing the Twitter love:

@temptingmama

@pink

@Whyrustalkingme

@funnyordie

OH and this guy:

@DRUNKHULK

Cheap Diet Pills?

Speaking of diet pills and body cleansing, have you seen the price of diet supplements these days? Holy Moly! I remember way back in the day my mom bought an over te counter diet aid for a couple bucks a week. I’m not sure there are any cheap diet pills that you can buy over the counter anymore. Everything I have seen is in the double digits. I suppose I should try a vitamin or supplement store and see what they charge.

body cleansing

Have you ever tried those colon cleanser products that they advertise on late night television and at local drug stores? I see ads for them in the retirement neighborhood drugstore by my house. I have always wondered if they really work or if it is just a liquid diet that cleanses out your system. I am afraid to try it. Like, can you do it and then go to work? Do you need to be near a restroom? Would a good case of dysentery do the same thing? There are just so many unknowns!

Seriously

When (and if) you eat Skittles, do you have to separate the colors before you can start eating them?

Do you eat one color at a time?

Am I the only one who does this?

ha ha ha!

I don’t know who wrote this, but I love it.

“Some people are like Slinkies. They’re really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.”

Author Unknown

The Magic of Fast Weight Loss Diets

In keeping with my theme right now, because weight loss is on my mind, I have been reading about fast weight loss diets and the secrets or miracle ingredients. My sister in law recently lost nearly 200 pounds on a diet where she severely cut back on her caloric intake and took some type of injection. From what I understand, my husband’s ex wife was on the same diet. Both women look great. Not as good as me, but they look good. (insert deviant smile)

Losing Weight and Weight Loss Supplements

Since I have lost nearly 50 pounds people are always asking me if I used weight loss supplements or lost the weight the old fashioned way. My answer is always the same, if by the old fashioned way you mean cutting back on portions and drinking more water and switching to diet soda and yelling at my kids more often and ignoring my husband because he looked at me funny, then yes, I did it the old fashioned way. *wink*

Me

What I’m not…

1. energetic
2. skinny
3. fat
4. content
5. blond
6. super mom
7. selfish
8. the best wife ever
9. hungry
10. average

What I am…

1. tired

Just a suggestion

Recently I wrote about my sister in law losing over 125 pounds on a special diet. That prompted my mother in law to ask me which diet pills really work in my opinion. I told her I did not really know the answer to that, but that I do believe there is more to losing weight than simply popping a diet pill every day or night. In fact, I mentioned to her that she might want to stop using a quarter pound of butter in every meal she cooks. Just sayin.

Yearly Evaluations

Once a year I go through all of my various policies and the various programs that we are enrolled in. I assess where we stand with regard to coverage and what we pay and the like. I almost always end up getting a new insurance quote on something. And truth be told I have been able to save the family quite a bit of money that way. Last year I was checking into our homeowners’ insurance and I realized we were under-covered by a substantial amount. If I had not done my yearly assessment and there had been some tragedy like a fire, my family could have easily been living on the streets. So do what I do, check your policies yearly and do not be afraid to get other quotes. You might be surprised what you find.

Conversing with the husband

Me: Did you know the average duration of marriage in the United States is just over nine years?

Him: So we are done next year then?

Me: No. We've passed the nine year mark already. I officially own you.

Him: Yea. Well, we don't want to over do it.

Me: Too late. We've already over done it. We can't go backwards.

Him: Hmm.

Me: Plus, the divorce rate has gone down.

Him: Because the murder rate has gone up.

I love me some Rustic!

Speaking of making your house pretty, I am currently on a mission to find a corner hutch for my kitchen. The problem I am running into is finding one that fits what I have in my head as rustic. I am a huge fan of rustic furniture and Mr. Stellasblog is finally seeing my vision.

We had been looking at log furniture for our bedroom but decided on some wrought iron instead. It’s beautiful and just what I wanted once I realized exactly what it was I really wanted.

Now if I could just find something like this hutch, but for a corner, I’d be set! I saw one a few years ago at a consignment shop but I was not able to buy it. Hindsight.

Wall Sconces - because the outside should be pretty too

When we bought our house, one of the first thing I wanted to do was buy some outdoor wall sconces for the garage face. We had the electricity there already; it was just a matter of finding something I liked.

I chose two of these:

And they look beautiful! My kitchen hardware actually matches them (in the oil rubbed bronze). I really think it is my favorite look. I am now searching for something just slightly different for my front porch light. That has taken me longer than I anticipate to be quite honest.

So Guess What?

Six weeks.

That's all I've got left. Six weeks and I will have most of my life back. I will graduate. With a Masters degree.

Holy Cannoli!

Remember

Outer Banks North Carolina is calling my name

I don’t know if I have told you this. I want to travel some when I am done with school. I am not sure how much time I will have between graduating IN SEVEN WEEKS! and starting law school in the Fall, 2011 (assuming of course I get accepted into law school that is) but I do want to get in at least two small vacations during that time. One thing my kids and I want to do is take the train cross country (from Arizona where I live to one of the Carolinas) and while researching destination spots, I came across an Outer Banks vacation rental that completely summed up what I want in beach vacation. I want to vacation at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Specifically, I want to stay at the Seahawk house. Beautiful, yes?

The house is less than 700 yards from the beach, and that is important because oddly enough, when I vacation, I don’t want to drive around. I want things within walking distance. Carolina Designs Reality offers some pretty reasonable packages as far as I can tell. The house is fully equipped so all I need are my kids and some food and we’re set. I could actually make this happen people.

Squee!

The countdown is on

Seven weeks people. Seven weeks until I GRADUATE!!!

OH EM GEE!

I can hardly believe it. I have already decided how I will spend all my free time a thousand different ways. I will rest. I will read for pleasure. I will watch TV without guilt that I should be doing homework. I will sit on my patio and enjoy Fall in the scorching desert.

Yes. I will do many things. Many many things.

Then it will be the holidays. And I will be very busy with cooking and baking and entertaining.

Then it will be January. And I will begin studying.

Because I have decided. I will take the February LSAT (law school admissions test).

Yes. I will. And. Yes. I can.

coins are shiny

My husband’s uncle is a coin collector. Every year my kids get the newest set of minted coins for that year. They have also received sets of coins minted the year they were born. If push came to shove, they could probably pay for college by cashing in on their coin collection. I have been hearing a lot of banter about the need to buy gold coins so I will bring it up the next time I see the uncle. I know that some of the sets of coins my kids have are gold and the others are silver. Like I said, they could cash out quite well I think.

It's the weekend (almost) ya ya ya

Hello weekend! Beautiful, three day weekend. Oh how I love thee!

I pledge here and now the following:

I will not get out of my pajamas all day sunday.

I will not put on a bra.

I will not brush my hair.

I will not answer my door.

I will not answer my phone.

I will hole up in the house and enjoy the peace and quiet.

I will read a book.

I will relax and enjoy some down time.

I love you three day weekend. And in the famous words of all kindergarteners, yes, I would marry you.