Here We Go Again...

Ok, so here I go again...trying to keep up with this blogging thing. I'm really going to make an effort to be better about posting. I'm starting Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred starting Monday. I'll be starting the Couch to 5K starting the following Monday, and I'm going back on Weight Watchers as of Monday morning as well. I'm tired of being tired and fat and I know that once I get some weight off I'll feel MUCH better. I'll be keeping track of my weight loss on the sidebar and hopefully I'll be able to get 50 pounds off by January. I'd love that!



I've been working on our budget and have figured it out (as long as we can stick to it, even if that means me picking up extra shifts) because if I've figured it correctly- we can be (almost) out of debt, other than the car payment, by July 8th 2011.



There are so many things that I have to discuss but I'll try to do one thing at a time instead of putting it all here. Maybe that'll be how I can keep up. :)


I found a new (to me) coupon site, Money Saving Queen that has a lot of helpful advice on couponing, saving money and being thrifty. Check it out!

Long time no Blog...

I haven't blogged in a while and a lot has been going on... I've lost a total of 7 pounds so far since starting weight watchers and I am trying really hard to lose about 80 pounds. I am excited by the big start I've had so far.

By starting weight watchers I have learned that I'll have to pay attention to what I'm putting in my body and I am glad that I can start this and maybe I will get rid of a LOT of the medical problems that I've been having. I found out through my step-brother in-law (police officer) that the park I've been walking at has been the host of many drug busts and 2 rapes....GREAT...so NOW I've got to find a new place to walk at.

The Oklahoma Aquarium

Today, Bryan brought up his girls and Raven and Norrah and I met them and had lunch today and went to the Aquarium. It was very fun. Norrah loved the fish, which meant that if she wasn't done looking at a particular type of fish, she threw a fit if we tried to move on. It took us a while to get through it because she was NEVER done looking at the fish. I'll probably take her back another time and spend the whole day looking around. I've talked to dh about possibly getting us a small pool (not too deep) that we can sit in and enjoy the cool water in the hot weather. I don't know if he's going to be up for it but I do think it'd be nice for us.

WAH-opportunities?

So I've started looking into the idea of working at home. I love being at home with Norrah during the day and if I found something that I could do a few hours a day on my time I would love to do so. I really wish I could have a "full time" at home job that if I do fast enough can be done on part time hours. Something like medical transcription or something. I haven't discussed this with Mike yet but eventually I will talk to him about the possibility of doing some sort of training program and then working from home. I don't know if it will work out the way I want it to- but since I already work nights it could be something that I do while I'm sitting at work all night long- it could be a great way to earn money while I'm already earning money. It's just a thought. If something like that could work it would make my whole day! I could still work my regular shift at work and the "second" job could be my spending money-or money for a car payment or vacation or something.

MBA WITH HONORS

As I was writing the last post- I ALMOST forgot the best thing about the week- My brother is graduating tomorrow with his MBA in Business- and he is doing it WITH HONORS!!! I'm very very proud of my brother and can't believe that he's gonna be done with school. He's worked his butt off and he deserves every congratulations and honor that he receives. I'll be heading to see him walk across that stage tomorrow morning and I've got a WHOLE NEW (free!!!) outfit for the occasion.

Youdata.com= Paypal!, and other random stuff

So, I've become obsessed with finding ways to earn money on the web- and I have found one that I think is almost foolproof- not that you will get rich from it or anything, but that it actually works and that they do what they say they are going to do- and that's deposit paypal into your account weekly if you earn it. I've already had them deposit $2.42 and while to most that doesn't seem like a lot of money- it will add up over time. That was for only about 5 minutes of clicking within their site and it paid off. I hope to get some referrals under me and start using the site more to make more $.  Here's the link: http://www.youdata.com/join/laceejohnson 

Now on to the other random stuff. I've scheduled my payments online to get most of the 2 of my credit cards paid off- I failed to send the checks in but have been paying them online- and will have them paid off (a little behind schedule) soon.

As far as my paypal and amazon gift cards go- I've decided that I'm going to get a new camera, not only for myself but for dh to share- and that way I don't have to keep taking pictures from my phone- while it works ok, it's not the same as having a GOOD camera that will do what I want it to. I want to take art- not just photos, and since it is what it is, I'll have to use any paypal or amazon cards to get it. I'll be saving for a while- but it will be worth it.

Also, I've got some yucky stuff in my diapers- and we're using sposies till I can get them soaked and stripped and cleaned out. I washed them the other day on my regular hot wash-double rinse and detergent, and the dryer wasn't done yet so I ended up putting it through another wash/rinse/rinse cycle WITH NO DETERGENT- and happened to catch it in the first rinse cycle and when I opened it up I was amazed and disgusted all at the same time- there was a film of soap all over the top of the water

This is what I saw...yuck-o right... so now it's time to strip again- and I just ordered some samples of Rockin Green detergent so I am going to wait, should have it Tuesday or Wednesday, and rock a soak of all the inserts and then strip all of my pockets, fitteds, prefolds, flats, and anything else that needs to be stripped...

and I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO POST A PICTURE ON HERE...lol

Review of some Diapers

Here's my review (pics when I find my camera) of Kawaii Minky Diapers, and of Katydid Diapers.

Kawaii Minky OS Diaper-

These diapers are large! I have them set on the bottom rise snap and they come up still almost to her belly button. I've had them for at least 6 months- and have yet to have any leaks. I will be ordering some regular aplix ones for baby number 2 *when he/she is conceived* and they will probably be my go to diaper. I haven't used/don't want to try the snap version- but that's just because aplix is my preference. I do like one snap diaper- and that review is going to be coming up next.

Katydid diapers- shipped SUPER FAST- from an order (several) from Franklingoose- and they are nice diapers- similar to a bG in shape- with a FRONT POCKET instead of rear opening pocket. I love the inner as it's SUPER DUPER DUPER soft. I can say that these are getting more love from me than my bG 3.0s are. I wish she had an aplix version- but the snaps seem to be well placed and very easy to adjust to find the right fit. I have no complaints about them and they will get lots of love in this house.

Mother's Day

This Mother's day was awesome! Mike cooked breakfast for us- and it was delish! Then before lunch, he and Norrah brought out my gift (which I was NOT expecting!) and it was a card and new earrings from Jared!! They match my Christmas ring and I love them! Norrah even signed the card with a little help from her Auntie. She's gonna be a leftie. Mike cooked lasagna for lunch/dinner and we had a great night.

I did get my menu planned out for this week and it's as follows
Monday     Baked Chicken Mashed Potatoes Green Beans
Tuesday     BBQ Smokies Mac&Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday Roast with veggies Rolls
Thursday   Chicken and Rice Casserole
Friday       Sandwiches and Chips
Saturday   Cookout at my Parents (brother's graduation)
Sunday      Mike's Choice


Also, I've been working on my HomeBinder for a little while and I've made some changes to it this weekend, I'll have to take some pics. I've got a few new spots on it. and I'll be working on getting it even more functional and maybe I will use it for more than a month or two.

I hope everyone had a great Mom's day.

Facebook Giveaway

Green Diaper Demos is having a giveaway on their facebook. This is the whole post about their giveaway:

Ok, we are doing our very first giveaway!! This giveaway will be for 1 Rocky Mountain Diaper and insert in the Green Diaper Demos Exclusive Moovin' Strawberry print. The contest will close at 10PM Pacific Time on May 12th. I will use a random number generator to determine the winner.
How to enter: Each comment to this p...ost is an entry below is a list of qualified comments:
1 comment if you are a facebook fan (simply comment that you are a fan
1 comment if you place an order between Today April 28th and May 12th (put a comment with your order number)
1 comment if you link to us on your website (please post the website)
1 comment for registering at our store (will allow you to know about upcoming events)
 
 
 
HOW EASY IS THIS!! Go enter!

Doctor's Appointments and Graduation Day

Norrah and I both have doctors appointments this afternoon. Hers is her 12 month checkup and mine is my yearly exam. I can't wait to see how much Norrah weighs in at. I'll be putting her in her shorties over a prefold and a cute shirt. I've got her in a prefold and her fleece soaker right now, and they seem to be working just fine. I'm not looking forward to my appointment. I want this mirena out but I really don't want to get pregnant until January 2011. I am having a great time staying at home so far...lol it's only been a day.

I graduate on Friday night at 7pm. I've been working to this for a LONG time- a few semesters of part-time, a couple of nothing at all, and I've FINALLY DONE IT! I'm very proud of myself and I know that my family is proud of me too. I'll have my Associates in Psychology, and will be going back to get my BA soon. My brother is graduating 8 days after me. He's worked SUPER hard and has been working hard for many years, to get to where he's at. He'll have his MBA in Business and I'm SO PROUD OF HIM. His daughters are super excited because they are going to get to have some much needed time with him now. He'll be done with school (unless he decided to go to law school- but that's something totally different). His oldest daughter is 5 and she doesn't know her daddy without him being in school and working all the time. I know she's excited to have her daddy back.

Well, folks, you may have noticed the different Franklingoose items on the site today- that's because I'm now an affiliate with them and if you shop with them, I earn as well. Pretty awesome stuff. Go SHOP! lol

Fluff and Reviews

I got some fluff today from Franklingoose, and from FSOT (for sale or trade), and my free AIO from Green Diaper Store from their bG promo. I got 12 wipes and got a free Blossom AIO. I got my RearZ sampler from Franklingoose, and I got a pair of shorties from a mama on Diaperswappers. I'll be doing some reviews of the stuff I got in the morning. I'll have to do them IF I get dd to take a nap tomorrow- as she refused to do so today. It'll be my luck that she sleeps when we leave the doctor's office and will wake up when we get home.

Monday Morning

Well, it's Monday morning and I feel like I've accomplished something already. I got my home management binder out today. It had been put away for some time now- mainly because I didn't use it while I was working full time. Now that I get to stay at home again- it's going to be my best friend! I can't tell you how many times I've redone it already and I'll probably do it again once I get into a routine here at the house. I haven't got one yet but I'm sure I will soon. I made our menu plan and am going to work on the cleaning routine and see what I think will work best for us. Friday night we'll be eating out since that's the night of my graduation and we won't be in town until late.

The menu looks something like this

Breakfast
Cereal x5 (I work nights on the weekend so the can fend for themselves while I'm sleeping)

Lunch
Sandwich/chips x3
Leftovers x2 (cheesy chicken and spaghetti)

Dinner
Shake & Bake Pork Chops, Fried Potatoes, a veggie
Cheeeseburgers & Fries
Cheesy Chicken, brown rice, broccoli,
Spaghetti, Green Beans, Garlic Toast
Friday- out to eat