Drumroll please...

...2.5 pounds lost in week one!

(10 lbs to go)

New web site

Last night, I saw a commercial on TV for a new women's clothing site: http://www.chickdowntown.com/. The online store offers items from many designers including Betsy Johnson, Juicy Couture, BCBGMAXAZRIA, and more. And they are offering free two day shipping. (Unfortunately, since having kids and being on a tigher budget, I rarely get to shop these designers anymore, but maybe you can have some fun for me!!)

Ugh, the bug moves on...

Well, our household has passed the stomach bug along to our two babysitters, so basically I am screwed from going to work today. Not good for me to miss so much work considering I only work twice a week. I tell you, this is one darn contagious bug! OVER IT!

Oh, yes, I did!

Okay, funny story. So I have been watching what I eat, walking on treadmill, etc. for a full week now (oh and let's not forget the stomach bug!)...and I am hoping I have lost 2 pounds, but don't have a scale.

So I am in Target over my lunch break buying more Benadryl for little Tom-Tom...and sure enough I pull a brand new scale out of the package (ripped the box open and praying security cameras were not watching). Damn thing needed batteries, (duh Jen!)

So, I see the old-fashion kind, and pull it out of the box being ever so careful not to rip the box this time, and the damn numbers were so tiny I couldn't see a thing. FRICK! Guess I need to stop at Publix on the way home to use that scale--or the dang eye doctor!? Back to work...

Best Joke I Have Read This Week

After 45 years of marriage, a couple was lying in bed one evening, when the wife felt her husband fondling her in ways he hadn't in some time. It almost tickled as his fingers started at her neck ,then caressed her shoulders and began moving down past the small of her back. Slowly he worked his hand over her breasts, stopping just over her lower stomach.

He then proceeded to place his hand on her left inner arm, caressed past the side of her breast again, working down her side, passing gently over her buttock and down her leg to her calf. Proceeding up her inner thigh, he stopped at the uppermost portion of her leg.

He continued in the same manner on her right side, then suddenly stopped, rolled over and became silent.

Aroused by this caressing, she asked in a loving voice, 'Honey, that was wonderful. Why did you stop?'

'I found the remote.'

Puke Fest update

Hubby's turn--yup, all four of us have gotten the virus since Tuesday--I so lost an entire weekend, dang it!

AND...Tommy woke up from his nap covered in welps! I rushed him to the pediatrician and its an allergy! (On Thursday the dr told me to switch from cow's milk to soy milk due to the stomach virus. Well, we now know Tommy is allergic to soy...which is why he was still having diarrhea, poor fellow!)

Video fun!

So, it's Sunday afternoon, kids are napping, and I am browsing online to relax. I just came across this funny site, Viddiction.com, that actually gives you cash for videos. It's kind of like you tube, but with a twist.

You see, users can earn some money just for uploading videos. (And, the more people viewing your video the more cash you accumulate!) Video uploaders could even win the monthly prizes ranging from $50 to $500. Check it out yourself: http://www.viddiction.com/contests.php)

P.S. Check out "In the Jungle": http://www.viddiction.com/video_details.php?vid=dpmVgHzmnSmDBXkqXIU3. My little girl loves it; too funny!

I would love a shrimp po-boy right now!

Monika at http://monikadubska.blogspot.com, is asking people about their favorite foods...

So, it's been about three weeks since I returned from Louisiana, and can I tell you how bad I am craving a shrimp po-boy!? For those of you who don't know, a po' boy (also po-boy, po boy, or poor boy) is a traditional submarine sandwich from Louisiana. It consists of meat or seafood, usually fried, served on baguette-like Louisiana French bread.

And you know, I like mine "Dressed" (lettuce, tomato, pickle, mayo). It seems so easy to make, so I don't understand why I can't find one outside of south Louisiana?

But no fear, LSU football starts in four weeks...and since I can't be at Tiger Stadium, I will be at home, making my own shrimp po-boys and tailgaiting in the comfort of my air conditioned living room :) GEAUX TIGERS!

Join me for the 2008 Memory Walk!

Did you know that I worked in the non-profit industry for over five years? I was a fundraiser and marketing guru for a local faith based organization. We fed over 500 noon time meals each week to homeless individuals (adults and children). Although I am no longer employed in the nonprofit arena, I still try to volunteer with various groups in my community as well as participate in various fundraising events each year.

I read about one today that looks of interest: Alzheimer's Memory Walk

The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research – and it calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's. There are walks in more than 600 communities.

The closest walk to me is in Orlando on October 11th. If you want to join my team, let me know! All I have to do is invite three people, and hopefully, they'll invite three people - and before you know it, we can have a team. And if you leave outside of Orlando, please consider putting together a team for your own local Memory Walk.

Remember, "it takes a village!"

Puke Fest

It started with Tom-Tom on Tuesday, Princess Mimi earlier today...and now, it is my turn! Ugh, there is nothing worse than a tummy bug (especially so close to the weekend!).

I guess it is part of being a mom. I mean, before kids, I puked maybe once in ten years. Now, gosh, atleast every 3 or 4 months it seems some kid brings home a tummy virus.

I'll check back with you in a couple of days...

Stupid Milk Shake

Ugh, I am so mad at myself. I was out running a quick errand so decided I would get a McDonald's small vanilla milkshake. Now I remember them being lower in fat and not so bad for you at ONE TIME.

Well, when I got home, I looked up the nutrtional info on the McDonald's web site. I am so mad. That one small milk shake has 420 calories and 10 grams of fat!!! WOW. (I guess they now call them Triple Thick Milkshakes so maybe they added more fat changed the ingredients.)

As a comparison, the McD's small french fry has 230 calories (that's 200 less than the shake!) and 11 grams of fat! (And we KNOW the fries would have tasted much better than a milkshake--hehe!) Oh well, no supper for me.

Vitamins

So I am doing the Slim-Fast thing, been on the treadmill for the past two days, and drinking Green Tea, so it only makes sense to regularly take a multi-vitamin.

I have tried many brands of the years. Some were expensive, some would give me a tummy ache, and some didn't have enough of the right vitamins. Recently, I picked up a bottle of Centrum and they seem to work great for me!

What's for Dinner?

My friend Amy emailed this recipe to me yesterday. I plan to try it on Friday night:

Brushetta Chicken Bake

1 can (14.5oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cloves garlic, minced
1pkg (6oz) stove top stuffing mix for chicken
1.5lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1 cup kraft shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place tomatoes with liquid in medium bowl. Add garlic and stuffing mix and 1/2 cup water; stir just until stuffing mix is moistened. Set aside.Place chicken in 13 x 19 baking dish; sprinkle with basil and cheese. Top with stuffing mixture. Bake 30 mintues or until chicken is cooked through.

Weight Loss - Adding Green Tea

After doing some research last night on weight loss by the use of green tea, I'm adding the drink to the Slim-Fast plan today. Now, I don't ever drink tea, but I don't mind the Lipton Green Tea (which is odd because many people consider it bitter). So I am drinking two cups of hot green tea a day with a squeeze of lemon juice.

More Wine Talk

On a special occaison I love the Silver Oak Cabarnet. It is truly a great wine--and it will cost you! (I visited the Napa Cellar on my one and only trip to San Fran in 1998.) You can learn more about this exceptional wine online: http://www.silveroak.com/wines/release_details/72.html

Fellow Coke Drinkers

Now, those who know me well, know that I must have my Diet Coke each morning so I wasn't please to read this news today --although not surprised. (Sasha, I know you like your Coke too!)

Drinkers of Coca-Cola can expect to pay more starting this fall after the company's biggest bottler said Thursday that it would raise prices.

Speaking of Wines

While on the subject, here is another one of my favorite wines, Ecco Domani. (Thank you Allyson for introducing it to me!) I have only tried the Pinot Grigio. (I have been on a white wine kick the past few weeks). You can learn more at:

http://www.eccodomani.com/about/varietals.html

Barefoot Wines

I admit it. I am a wine-o. I love a glass of wine (or cold beer) each night.

About a year, maybe two, ago I saw "Barefoot" wine at the grocery store. The price was a little less than my normal bottle of wine, so I decided to try it.

I fell in love (especially considering the reasonable price!)

I love the Chardonnay and the Merlot. And, I am about to open a bottle of the Pinot Grigo (my hubby's favorite).

So if you are looking for something new to try, check it out: http://barefootwines.com/wines.html

$725 later...

Yup, already packed up the kids and ran to Sears. I don't waste time!

I found the perfect GE dryer on sale (final clearance price/discontinued item price) for $314. I had a $40 coupon from this morning's service tech, so that was only $274. And I could get next (business) day delivery! Mission accomplished. Well, almost....

Came home, and called hubby. He decided I should go back and get the washer, too. So trip #2 to Sears. The coordinating GE washer was also on clearance! (I finally will have a matching set!)

And I got free delivery and zero percent interest for one year.

Dryer update/The Gunk

Remember the picture on Monday of the gross stuff coming from my dryer!? Well, Sears is scheduled to come out this morning to look at it.

I'm not too hopeful.

The service guy just called. He says, "I am on my way to your home next. What's wrong with your dryer?" I tell him, "It's leaking an odd liquid." He replies, "Mam, are you aware that dryers don't use fluids."

DUH! That's why I am having you come look at it!!

He then goes on, "Are you aware there is a $65 service fee for me coming by?"

Yea, the person on the initial phone phone call to set up the appointment told me that. And the email confirmation told me. So yea, this is the third time I hear it.

Update: I guess a bottle of bleach (above the dryer on a shelf) must have spilled all over the dryer. The back panel is eroding and the "gunk" is on the internal wires...so I can have a short circuit and fire soon! LOVELY. I need to replace the entire dryer ASAP...and get a new power cord too. Oh what fun. Guess what I will be doing tomorrow!? Yup, buying a new dryer.

What's for Dinner?

Just found this recipe--yummy! :) It's Crock Pot Peanut Chicken. (I usually do it on the grill as skewers, but since the weather is yucky today, I thought I'd try the crockpot version. I hope it comes out just as nice. I'll serve it up with some white rice. Check it out here:
http://busycooks.about.com/od/chickenandturkeyentrees/r/chickenpeanut.htm

I'm Loving Toon Disney!

Did you know that just about every weekday at 5pm Toon Disney plays a Disney movie!? Last night, we watched "The Incredibles" and tonight is the Toon Disney premier of "The Wild". (I love the 5pm spot because I can try to get the kids into the movie while I start fixing dinner!) Check out the schedule here: http://affiliate.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?aid=toon

I'm a Winner!

So when travelling on the highway, I love nothing more than Cracker Barrel! I mean the breakfasts are so yummy...and no one can beat the Homemade Chicken n' Dumplins.

Last Thursday, we stopped at a location for lunch (while heading back to Florida). At checkout, they gave me a "Road Trip" game piece. I rarely play those games because I hate to save pieces, plus I never win. I had forgotten all about it.

Yesterday, while sitting at a red light, I looked down and saw the game piece in the car so decided to open it up. It read "Winner", and I got a $7.50 gift card!

Wahoo, guess where I will be eating breakfast with hubby and kids on Sunday morning!?

Holy Crap!

Not only can we barely afford gas and groceries today, but I just read this in today's paper:

State Farm, Florida's largest private property insurer, today asked the state for an average rate increase of 47.1 percent on homeowner policies.

Are you flipping kidding me!?! (And yup, State Farm is my current insurer, lovely!)

Free Gas Card

Publix and Kraft are offering $10 gas cards--thanks Jenna for the info! Check it out here:
http://www.kraftgosummer.com/kraft_gascard_offer.pdf

Yikes...

Okay, can anyone tell me why my Whirlpool dryer keeps leaking this stuff!? And what is it!? Every few days we get this liquid coming out--machine oil?? Of course, my two year warranty just ended last month, so now I have to pay $65 for a tech to look at it.

Dang Mosquito!

Tonight, I was on the back patio grilling chicken and beef kabobs. I could tell some bugs were around but didn't think twice.

So fast forward a few minutes...the family sits down to eat, and hubby and mom look at me like they had seen a ghost. They both scream out, "Wow, what happened to your head!?"

Come to find out I had a HUGE knot on my head. Mom immediately said, "Oh take a Benadryl, you must be allergic!". (Now my mom blames everything on allergies--she is a hypochondric when it comes to allergies!)

I replied, "You know, Tommy did hit me on the head earlier today with a toy so maybe it's just a bump from that but to be safe I will take a Bendaryl."

Then I sat down at my PC, and plugged in "Allergic Mosquito Bite" and found this photo: http://www.andreaharner.com/archives/NantucketLaborDay3.jpg

My hubby and I just laughed. I mean, OMG, it's exactly the same location and size of my bite! I could not take a better picture of my own forehead. Ha--Who knew!?!

And the sad part--last week I had purchased some of the new OFF SMOOTH & DRY bug spray for my hubby (for when he does the yard work) and it's just sitting in the garage.

Raising Cane's

Last Week Melanie talked about the chicken fingers from Raising Cane's, and let me tell you, it is trully the best around. There are none in Florida (that's probably a good thing for me-ha!), but I am sure to hit one everytime in Louisiana. It's considered fast food, and probably not the healthiest, but damn, is it yummy!! (Why am I thinking about this now!? Well, there was a "Chicken Now" restaurant at the outlet mall today, which served chicken fingers and special dipping sauce, but it was not half as good as Canes!)

Prime Outlets

So I finally took a ride over to the new Prime Outlets in Orlando today! Being a mom, I got nothing for me, and only things for the kids. I am most proud of the items from The Children's Place. I bought Tom-Tom this cute sweater vest and striped polo for $1.99 each!!

And Princess Mimi these cute sandals for $10.00. Next time I will go shopping without the kids so I can hit the Banana Republic and Gap outlet stores (Both had some great deals, but I couldn't try on since I had both kids in tow.) My mom did find tee-shirts for 99-cents at the Disney outlet. Now that is my kind of bargin!

We're Home...

1672.1 miles (or 89 gallons of gas!) ...
and we are home safely!

Orlando - Travel Channel

Want to do more in Orlando than just Disney World?

Check out Samantha Brown's Passports to Great Weekends tonight at 10pm where she focuses on Orlando and Winter Park:
http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Samantha_Brown/ci.Orlando_Weekend.show?vgnextfmt=show

Samantha Brown: Passport to Great Weekends Orlando , CC - This weekend Sam's exploring Orlando's neighborhoods, meeting locals and discovering things to do including the great shopping and dining district of Winter Park, the downtown art-scene and a fantastic soul food eatery called Johnson's.

Oh, and here is my hair today, 2008:

Beats the 1990 picture, uh!?

(I got this cut and color a few days ago by mom's hair stylist in Louisiana.)

Tortilla Chips

My parents swear these are the best tortilla chips around so I wanted to share with you. Mom says she can get the Green Mountain Gringo Tortilla Strips at Whole Foods and sometimes her regular grocery store. Enjoy!

My 1990 Hair

Remember last month I did a post on 1990? (If you missed it:

http://anotheronlinemom.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-90th-post-1990-high-school.html)

Well, I found one of my high school pictures...ready to laugh!?! Not only the big hair, but tons of purple eye shadow!

Only in Louisiana!

We're still in Louisiana...and are enjoying...

SNO-CONES AND OTHER TREATS...

Growing up too fast!

Next Disney Movie

Okay, Disney Fans....this past week, we brought Mimi to the movie theater for the first time. We saw Wall-E. And, there was a preview for the next Disney animation film, Bolt. Here's the official trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDWPsoKQoOs

Happy 4th!

God Bless the USA!

God Bless America, Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Thru the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home.

Enough of the Headaches: Ebay and Craigslist

Last month, I decided it was time to re-decorate the kids bedrooms.

Knowing the first question from my hubby's mouth would be, "And how do you plan to pay for this?", I decided to sell some items. So this is 2008. I try to be the “modern mom” and plan to use eBay and Craigslist this time. I mean, who has time for a garage sale when we have the Internet to help us, right? Um, wrong!

Let's start with Craigslist. I listed a cofee table and 2 matching side tables. (These pieces were my hubby's furniture before we got married). The first email was from a woman who was "so interested" in the coffee & side tables, and "had" to come see them first thing in the morning.

I woke up early and polished the tables. They looked better than I remembered. I left the woman a voicemail on her cell phone and also sent an email. I then ran to Lowe’s to get paint samples to start choosing new colors for the kids’ rooms. But guess what? She never called me back or replied to my email. Guess she wasn't so interested after all?

So, I re-listed the ad. This time I got an email from a young man just starting out on his own and needing coffee tables.

He asked if I would take a check. Um, no! (I've been a victim of identity theft in the past, so don't trust checks at all today!) He proceeded to say "Well it's a Capitol One check!"...okay, duh, so cash it at the bank and then come get the tables.

Didn't hear from him for a few days. Then another email, "I think I can come get the tables today." You think?

"Great do you have the cash?" and I get a reply of "Maybe".Lesson learned, next time I am selling furniture, I will have a regular old garage sale!! People show up with cash at a set time, pick up the item, and leave. It's done in a few hours and I can move on with life.

Lesson 2: EBay. Last month, my mom cleaned out her attic, and as usual all her crap ended up at my house. (Why do parents think we want their old stuff!? As the youngest child, I have had my fair share of hand-me-downs. Over it!) Going through the boxes, I found several of the old McDonald's and Burger King glasses. (Remember before the invention of the happy meal, the fast food chains sold promo glasses?)

I listed tons of these glasses on eBay: Smurfs, Ronald McDonald and gang, Care Bears, Charlie Brown/Camp Snoopy. I also listed the children's crib beddings and some great children's clothing. Over half of my items sold, and I was thrilled.Thrilled until I did the math! I knew eBay charged a listing fee, but as a first time seller, I never realized they charged a "Final Value Fee" (another 8 or 9% of my profits to eBay).

And, let's not forget all the shipping charges. I did charge enough to recoup my postage fees, but not enough for packaging fees. I mean, who knew how much it would cost for bubble wrap and foam peanuts to wrap up the glass? Whew.

In the end, I made around $50 off eBay. When considering all the hassles involved--taking the photos, listing the item, replying to inquiries, several trips to the post office (with 2 kids in tow!), etc etc--I am done with being a SELLER on eBay.

So back to my point...(and to my friend Dena, you were right)...next time I want to make a few quick bucks, I will hold a regular, ol' garage sale! It would have saved me LOTS of time and headaches.

Originally posted April 23, 2008 at:
http://anotheronlinemom.blogspot.com/2008/04/enough-of-headaches-no-more-selling-on.html

Vacation Update

(Enough said!)