What I'm doing differently next year.

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The last two years have been hard.  My world was turned upside down when my mother passed away and then I felt like my life was kicked to the side when I realized how many lies had been told about me in the last several months my mother was alive.  Some of those lies were told to my mother about me.  I hope now that she can see the big picture now that she is gone, she knows what was truth and what really happened.  It's been a tough couple years and I've decided I've had enough of certain things.

Here's what I am doing differently last next year:

Late December Adoption Update

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Christmas is over, and was definitely a difficult one for me.  This was the second Christmas without my mother, and the second Christmas that family won't have anything to do with me.  Last Christmas I was bracing myself for yet *another* funeral.  That was for a friend from high school and just two days after Christmas.  This year there was no funeral to brace for (thankfully) and it was just getting through Christmas.

"Back" from Staycation.

We are "back" from staycation.  As much as you can be back without going anywhere.  My husband had five days off and we planned on visiting family.  We had made plans a month ago to stay with a family member, but we were the *last* to know that family member's plans changed, and there was still no resolution less than 48 hours before we were to leave, so we declared a Staycation.

I sat down and made a list of everything we might want to do.  The things we didn't get to do were in Pittsburgh as well as watching the new Star Wars movie.  (Not that I cared about that but my husband does!)

The Five Favorite Christmas Gifts I ever Gave

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I have always loved giving.  My husband has been all amused with me this advent season because I am so excited about the things I have picked out for him, I talk him into opening a gift -- or two -- or three early.  (Last night he opened a set of 48 Prismacolor Pencils.  He took a number of art classes in high school and wants to get back into being creative.  Prismacolor pencils were the only brand that his art teacher allowed the students to use.)  I wanted to give him something to encourage his art, and that's what I decided on.

Weight Loss Resolutions and Wireless Weight Loss

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U.S. Cellular offers a FREE PRINTABLE Parent Child agreement to help you discuss safety of the Internet, cell phone usage, limits, and courtesy with your teen or tween.  You don't even need to be a U.S. Cellular customer to access this, although I have been for 10 years and highly recommend them. 


Long time readers of my blog will remember in May 2013 I attended a fitness camp for people to help them integrate faith into their fitness routine.  All of us were overweight, and it was physically the most demanding five days of my life.  But I'm glad I went.  I made friends, gained two pounds (it was likely muscle as we were doing weight training!  The next week I lost seven pounds) and learned so much.

The Facebook Follow Hack EVERYONE Should Know.

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The other day I received a number of e-mails that said "following".  There were also several that said, "." -- now I don't know about you, but for me, this is just annoying.  I only make a thoughtful comment on a post and my e-mail gets slammed with posts of a punctuation mark?  Personally, I have better things to do than read e-mails that contain as they call it in England, a "full stop".   Usually when I get these, I am excited because it's something I would like to know more about, and I added my two cents and am waiting on others to share their knowledge of the subject.

7 Quick Takes: Planning, Claw Machines, and a Master Illusionist #7QT

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So it's time for the Friday wrap up of my week.   Here's what has happened.

1.  I was at the fruit market last night and got my guinea pig some not so good celery.  The very center inside leaves were still good, and that is his favorite part.  There were three of them for less than the price of one good stalk of celery.  I gave him one last night and he devoured it.  I haven't seen him so happy in a long time.  He was especially bonded with my mother who passed away in February 2014, so it was nice to see him so happy.  I think for the moment he forgot about her and enjoyed his treat.

5 Favorite Rain Memories

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I'm once again linking up at The Big White Farmhouse to participate in Five Faves.

It's been raining almost non-stop the last few days and I thought I would share my 5 favorite rain memories.  (In no particular order)

1.   Camping circa 1987.  My youth group went camping.  Thankfully there was a pop up trailer we used.  It down poured.  As I recall, everyone (boys and girls) ended up sleeping in the pop up trailer.  We listened to a Tiffany cassette so much that I can't hear I Think We're Alone Now without thinking of my high school youth group leader belting it out at the top of her lungs.

Great Gift Ideas: Toys fromYour Childhood Updated for Today

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I have been looking around at gift ideas, and darn it, but I wish I had kids (we are trying to adopt), and one of the many reasons is I want an excuse to play with some of these great toys from the past.  I didn't even realize some of these were still made.

Celebrate Small Business Saturday by Shopping Online

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I love the whole idea of Small Business Saturday.   My parents owned two small businesses when I was growing up, and I love the more recent push to "Shop Small".  I own three home businesses myself.   My blog, I sell on eBay, and I sell $5 Paparazzi jewelry.  What happens when you buy from a small business?  Your money goes to someone who is going to use the profit to go directly towards new winter tires, adoption, the heat bill, groceries, etc.  (I've used my profits in the last few months for all of the above.)

Tips for Holiday Shipping #Zitriom

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I sell online.  Full time.   It's important I always have good, reliable packing tape on hand at all times. There have been times I have sent my husband to the store at nearly 11 at night because I realized that I was out of packing tape.

It's important, too. that I have quality packing tape.  I need to be sure the tape sticks to the package and it won't come off until the recipient takes it off.

Late November Adoption Update

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Our last PRIDE (Foster / adoption) class was this week.  I'm going to enjoy having my Wednesday evenings back again, but will certainly miss the friends I made in the class.  We offered to give a ride to a friend and as we were backing out of her driveway, my husband backed right into a black 2015 Jeep Cherokee.  *sigh*   It was raining, it was dark, and the vehicle was extremely camouflaged.

It's been one expense after another later. The furnace, both of our cars, someone else's car, and we need a number of windows replaced, and the one that is most in need of replacement (because it's just boarded up) is a special order.

The boy we wanted to adopt is no longer available. (Long story, and we were anticipating having him here hopefully by Christmas.)  A second boy we were considering is being adopted by another couple.  So right now, we're working towards adoption but with no specific child in mind.

Our PRIDE training is good for three years, so we might take a little more time now and approach the process a little more slowly.  It will give us more time to get the house ready.  Find things we need.  (Maybe I'll come across a great sale on a bed before we need it!)

Bottom line is we're still moving forward but just slower than we had originally planned.

I'm hoping we can get the windows replaced before winter hits.  I don't want to think about how much that will cost.  Then hopefully we can get started on a couple rooms in the house that need updated.  (When I inherited this house, it was totally filled with paneling.)  The house renovations are not cheap by any means.  They are sorely needed though.  So I'll be listing on eBay, selling Paparazzi $5 jewelry, blogging, and entering sweepstakes.  My husband is working extra hours and we're doing all we can to save money.

Are there 7 ways to say I'm Tired?

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It's time for 7 Quick Takes Friday.  You can visit http://thisaintthelyceum.org/ to read more from other bloggers.


Are there seven ways to say I'm tired?  Maybe I'll just recount my week and then you can come up with the best way to describe it.

Want to help our own first? Here are some ideas!

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Want to help those in the USA before you help others?  Well, remember if you say that you SHOULD be helping.  If you need some ideas, here are a few:

1.  Call a soup kitchen and ask what they need.  Buy it, then stay to help serve a meal.

2.  Take an elderly neighbor who is struggling to make ends grocery shopping.  Give them a gift certificate to the store you are taking them to so they can purchase what they need.

3.  Leave a Thanksgiving basket on a family's doorstep who might not be able to afford a turkey otherwise.

Five Podcasts You Should Give a Try

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I decided to join Ashley over at The Big White Farmhouse and do a Five Fave link up.


Without further ado . . . my Five Fave podcasts.   (Note, these are in Alphabetical order because it's hard to choose which is my favorite.)

Growing up in a Family of Holiday Workers

My husband and I aren't going to get to visit family for Thanksgiving.  To be honest, it's not that big of a deal to me.  Thanksgiving never really was much of a holiday for us.  When I was eight years old, that was the last time my family celebrated.  My mother invited her mom, step-dad, and my dad's mother and step-dad for Thanksgiving.  Dad was the 1970s equivalent of a 911 dispatcher, and he worked nights, but by day he was a volunteer EMT.