When did getting your hair done necessitate taking out a second mortgage? For me personally, if I want my hair cut, colored and styled it will cost me $150 at the salon in my town that hasn't made me look like the end of a Q-Tip or had me sporting a pond-scum color. I enjoy getting my hair done, but honestly, I can think of at least 150 other things I could do with $150. So, I usually end up needing or doing something else instead. I haven't had my hair done since July. Yes, I said July. I tried coloring it myself. It was supposed to be Soft Brown. At least that is what the box said. And the model on the cover had beautiful soft brown hair. I'm guessing now it was either her natural color or a good use of PhotoShop (probably the later). My hair, on the other hand, was a light reddish brown. More emphasis on red than brown here. Oh well, I had to embrace my red self because I had 150 other things I needed to spend $150 on.
Today, I took my daughter to get her hair done. She has not had it professionally done in two years. Yes, I said two years. Needless to say, my daughter's hair was in desperate need of some professional help. It was beyond dry, broken off and had more split ends than a freshly plowed wheat field. I've tried to do my daughter's hair. Really, I have. But her hair is of a different texture and requires different care than anyone in my family. I was in way over my head and needed to call in the professional. "Bruce" was wonderful. He didn't berate me too badly over the condition of her hair. He guided me through exactly what he was doing and what it was going to take to get my daughter's hair back to a shiny and healthy state. Several treatments of this, several trims here, this shampoo, that conditioner, this moisturizer, that creme, this spritzer..... (I will state here, for the record, that he was not trying to sell me any products. And I did not purchase any either. He was simply informing me of what needed to be done.) Dollar signs were flashing through my mind like an out of control cash register. To be realistic, I KNOW I've spent as much, if not more, in all the wrong products for her hair in a feeble attempt to repair it myself. I finally passed out when he told me that what she really needed in a few months, once he was able to get the hair all healthy again, was a special treatment. A $300 treatment! I knew she needed this treatment. I had been told by others many times before (none hair professionals, but with similar hair). They had just avoided telling me how much this treatment would cost. I guess they know me all too well and figured I would find 300 OTHER things to do.
After her first appointment, her hair is beautiful. It is soft and silky. Not coarse and frizzy, like it would always be when I did it. Lesson learned.
PS: I've decided to start accepting Hair Treatment Donations.
Bren
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
My name is Bren, and I coupon.
I've said before that I am a couponer. Yes, I am one of those people who holds up lines, questions the cashier when something doesn't ring up correctly, and there is usually a manager involved at some point. Now, I am a couponer, but I am NOT an extreme couponer. I have never been able to go into the grocery store and spend $4.39 on a $16 million order. I am happy when I can save more than I spend.
People have asked me how long I've been couponing. Well, that depends on how you look at things. I started clipping coupons when I first got married (22 years ago). I got more aggressive about it when our kids came along. But, and this is a BIG but, I always forgot to take them with me to the store! I would have boxes, envelopes, bags and organizers full of coupons.... all sitting in the cabinet. I would occasionally remember to take some with me, but then would realize on the way home that I forgot to give them to the cashier. Oh yes, I was one extreme couponer! Now flash forward 22 years. I was watching that show on TLC. You know the one. And thought, "Hey, I want groceries that will feed my family of five for a month for $.74." I mean, who wouldn't? Right?? So, I got organized. I found a binder, had some old baseball card sleeves and got up at 6:00 am on Sunday morning to buy 8 papers. I clipped and clipped and clipped and clipped and clipped. I sorted and sorted and sorted and sorted and sorted. Then I decided that 8 papers was really too much. Since then, I've scaled down to two papers (much more manageable), unless I find out that there is going to be a REALLY good coupon in the paper.
This new organized me started in May. Since then I can honestly say that I have saved over $2,000. I buy things only when they are on sale or I have a coupon. The best savings is when you can combine sales and coupons. I do not have a basement piled high with enough food and toiletries to supply Somalia for a year. But, I do have enough for my family for at least a little while.
So, I wanted to share my Harris Teeter trip with you. This week the great grocery chain was having Super Doubles. Meaning, they would double the value of any coupon with a printed value of up to $1.98 (usually stores only double coupons that are up to .99). This means that all of my $1 off coupons have instantly become $2 off, and my $1.50 coupons are now $3 off. You get the idea. So anyway, I went last night and the store had been cleared. There was nothing left of the things on my list. * I will note here that I am NOT a shelf clearer.* This morning, I heard through the couponing grapevine that Harris Teeter had restocked their shelves. The angels were singing and I heard their calls!
Here's what I was able to get today:
4 packages of Sargentos shredded cheese
2 boxes of Trix cereal
2 boxes of Honey Nut Chex cereal
1 Sara Lee pound cake
8 Totinos pizzas
2 packages of Pepperidge Farms Goldfish
2 boxes (24 ct) Eggo waffles
2 packages of Pillsbury brownie delights
2 bottles of Tropicana orange juice
1 carton of Minute Maid orange juice
1 gallon of milk
3 containers of Activia yogurt
2 packages of English muffins
4 packages of Oscar Meyer turkey hot dogs
2 large bags of Snyder's tortilla chips
1 3-packs Orbit gum
2 squeeze bottles of Parkay butter
1 package of Old El Paso Tortilla stuffers
1 box Cocoa Pebbles cereal
1 box of Honey Comb cereal
I paid $60.36, and according to my receipt, I saved (drum roll, please) $108.88.
Also, notice that everything I bought is BRAND NAME (except the milk & English muffins, which were HT brand). My family had been living off generic for so long, they forgot what the "real" stuff looked & tasted like! Before, a typical trip to the grocery store would run between $250-$300, EVERY week! I am proud to say that I have dropped that amount significantly.
So how much are you saving?
Bren
People have asked me how long I've been couponing. Well, that depends on how you look at things. I started clipping coupons when I first got married (22 years ago). I got more aggressive about it when our kids came along. But, and this is a BIG but, I always forgot to take them with me to the store! I would have boxes, envelopes, bags and organizers full of coupons.... all sitting in the cabinet. I would occasionally remember to take some with me, but then would realize on the way home that I forgot to give them to the cashier. Oh yes, I was one extreme couponer! Now flash forward 22 years. I was watching that show on TLC. You know the one. And thought, "Hey, I want groceries that will feed my family of five for a month for $.74." I mean, who wouldn't? Right?? So, I got organized. I found a binder, had some old baseball card sleeves and got up at 6:00 am on Sunday morning to buy 8 papers. I clipped and clipped and clipped and clipped and clipped. I sorted and sorted and sorted and sorted and sorted. Then I decided that 8 papers was really too much. Since then, I've scaled down to two papers (much more manageable), unless I find out that there is going to be a REALLY good coupon in the paper.
This new organized me started in May. Since then I can honestly say that I have saved over $2,000. I buy things only when they are on sale or I have a coupon. The best savings is when you can combine sales and coupons. I do not have a basement piled high with enough food and toiletries to supply Somalia for a year. But, I do have enough for my family for at least a little while.
So, I wanted to share my Harris Teeter trip with you. This week the great grocery chain was having Super Doubles. Meaning, they would double the value of any coupon with a printed value of up to $1.98 (usually stores only double coupons that are up to .99). This means that all of my $1 off coupons have instantly become $2 off, and my $1.50 coupons are now $3 off. You get the idea. So anyway, I went last night and the store had been cleared. There was nothing left of the things on my list. * I will note here that I am NOT a shelf clearer.* This morning, I heard through the couponing grapevine that Harris Teeter had restocked their shelves. The angels were singing and I heard their calls!
Here's what I was able to get today:
4 packages of Sargentos shredded cheese
2 boxes of Trix cereal
2 boxes of Honey Nut Chex cereal
1 Sara Lee pound cake
8 Totinos pizzas
2 packages of Pepperidge Farms Goldfish
2 boxes (24 ct) Eggo waffles
2 packages of Pillsbury brownie delights
2 bottles of Tropicana orange juice
1 carton of Minute Maid orange juice
1 gallon of milk
3 containers of Activia yogurt
2 packages of English muffins
4 packages of Oscar Meyer turkey hot dogs
2 large bags of Snyder's tortilla chips
1 3-packs Orbit gum
2 squeeze bottles of Parkay butter
1 package of Old El Paso Tortilla stuffers
1 box Cocoa Pebbles cereal
1 box of Honey Comb cereal
I paid $60.36, and according to my receipt, I saved (drum roll, please) $108.88.
Also, notice that everything I bought is BRAND NAME (except the milk & English muffins, which were HT brand). My family had been living off generic for so long, they forgot what the "real" stuff looked & tasted like! Before, a typical trip to the grocery store would run between $250-$300, EVERY week! I am proud to say that I have dropped that amount significantly.
So how much are you saving?
Bren
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Thankful Thursday
It is Thursday, so that means it is Thankful Thursday today.
So, what am I thankful for today?
1. Toilet paper
(Remember, it will always be at the top of my list. And, there are some days where I am a little more thankful than others that I have plenty of it.)
2. Coupons
Yes, I am a couponer. I'll talk about this another time. But today I'm thankful that I had coupons and was able to get three free shirts!
3. My comfy bed
Where I do most of my blogging.
4. Red Box
DVDs for $1, and if you've got coupons they're usually FREE!
5. Facebook
Depending on whose status I'm reading, I can feel either very old or pretend that I am still young and hip.
6. Tomorrow is payday!
No explanation necessary on this one.
7. I won free pizza today!
Yum!
8. There was one last Diet Dr. Pepper in the fridge.
DH and I decided to give up all soda buying, so I am savoring my last one!
9. Fairly normal hair
Tried to get a picture of a lady I saw last night at a restaurant whose hair extended at least 12" ABOVE her visor.
10. That my teen-aged sons know how to do their own laundry.
Teen-age boy clothes STINK!!
What are you thankful for today?
Bren
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Fun Facts Friday
Yes, I know it's Saturday, but if I did everything in a timely manner I would not be an Incurable Mess, now would I??
Today I am dedicating this blog to all of our government officials.
1. In Indiana, it is illegal to take a bath between the months of October and March.
Note to self: do NOT go to Indiana for Christmas.
2. In Baldwin Park, California it is illegal to ride a bike in a swimming pool.
Well dang...
3. It is against the law in Hawaii to put a coin in your ear.
But it didn't say anything about putting it up your nose.
4. In New York, it is illegal for a woman on the street to wear "body hugging clothing". However, it IS legal for a woman to go topless in public, as long as it is not being used as a business.
No comment...
5. It is illegal to eat ice cream on Sundays in Oregon.
That is why today is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day. An excuse to eat the whole container today.
6. In West Virginia, it is perfectly legal to take home roadkill for supper.
Strangely, I'm not surprised.
7. A recently passed law in Texas requires criminals to give at least a 24 hour notice to their victims, either verbally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
Hey buddy, I'm going to break into your house tomorrow night at precisely 10:45 pm. Please make sure to turn your alarm off and put your dog up. Thanks.
8. An elephant may not be used to plow cotton fields in North Carolina.
Well, now what I am going to do with Jumbo?
9. Women in Vermont must obtain written permission from their husbands in order to legally wear false teeth.
I wonder if those who are unmarried or widowed must only eat pudding and oatmeal?
10. It is illegal in the state of Florida to fart in a public place after 6 pm.
I know so many people who would be arrested for this one!
Bren
Today I am dedicating this blog to all of our government officials.
1. In Indiana, it is illegal to take a bath between the months of October and March.
Note to self: do NOT go to Indiana for Christmas.
2. In Baldwin Park, California it is illegal to ride a bike in a swimming pool.
Well dang...
3. It is against the law in Hawaii to put a coin in your ear.
But it didn't say anything about putting it up your nose.
4. In New York, it is illegal for a woman on the street to wear "body hugging clothing". However, it IS legal for a woman to go topless in public, as long as it is not being used as a business.
No comment...
5. It is illegal to eat ice cream on Sundays in Oregon.
That is why today is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day. An excuse to eat the whole container today.
6. In West Virginia, it is perfectly legal to take home roadkill for supper.
Strangely, I'm not surprised.
7. A recently passed law in Texas requires criminals to give at least a 24 hour notice to their victims, either verbally or in writing, and to explain the nature of the crime to be committed.
Hey buddy, I'm going to break into your house tomorrow night at precisely 10:45 pm. Please make sure to turn your alarm off and put your dog up. Thanks.
8. An elephant may not be used to plow cotton fields in North Carolina.
Well, now what I am going to do with Jumbo?
9. Women in Vermont must obtain written permission from their husbands in order to legally wear false teeth.
I wonder if those who are unmarried or widowed must only eat pudding and oatmeal?
10. It is illegal in the state of Florida to fart in a public place after 6 pm.
I know so many people who would be arrested for this one!
Bren
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Well, it is Thursday again, so I guess that means it is time for Thankful Thursday...
I have discovered a new show on Lifetime that is strangely addictive. Dance Moms follows a handful of mothers whose preteen daughters are competitive dancers at a studio in PA owned and operated by a-piece-of-work coach named Abby. As a "Cheer Mom" of a preteen competitive cheerleader, I find that I have a lot in common with these mothers. Like them, I put hundreds of miles on my car each month taxiing my daughter to and from practice. Like them, I spend hours upon hours each week volunteering my time to do whatever is needed, spending more time at the gym than I do at home. Like them, I want my daughter to succeed at what she loves. So, what exactly am I thankful for? I am thankful for all the many ways that I and the other cheer moms are NOT like them.
1. To my knowledge, the police have never been called to escort one of our parents off the premises.
2. We are a boring bunch. Which is why, I'm sure, Lifetime has not come knocking on our door.
3. With mere minutes before our kids hit the stage, we are in the front row ready to cheer them on, not at the bar getting hammered.
4. We know that our coaches truly love each and every one of our kids, just as if they were their own. As a result, our kids love their coaches.
5. We get along. Really. For the most part, we do. And I am thankful for the many dear friends that I have made at the gym.
6. Our coaches would NEVER ever let our kids dress or dance like prosti-tots.
7. We are not paying $16,000 a year! Although, I haven't actually added it up....
I could go on and on. But the bottom line is, I am thankful that I am not on national television, because with the right editing, I guess anyone can look like a psycho.
What are you thankful for?
Bren
I have discovered a new show on Lifetime that is strangely addictive. Dance Moms follows a handful of mothers whose preteen daughters are competitive dancers at a studio in PA owned and operated by a-piece-of-work coach named Abby. As a "Cheer Mom" of a preteen competitive cheerleader, I find that I have a lot in common with these mothers. Like them, I put hundreds of miles on my car each month taxiing my daughter to and from practice. Like them, I spend hours upon hours each week volunteering my time to do whatever is needed, spending more time at the gym than I do at home. Like them, I want my daughter to succeed at what she loves. So, what exactly am I thankful for? I am thankful for all the many ways that I and the other cheer moms are NOT like them.
1. To my knowledge, the police have never been called to escort one of our parents off the premises.
2. We are a boring bunch. Which is why, I'm sure, Lifetime has not come knocking on our door.
3. With mere minutes before our kids hit the stage, we are in the front row ready to cheer them on, not at the bar getting hammered.
4. We know that our coaches truly love each and every one of our kids, just as if they were their own. As a result, our kids love their coaches.
5. We get along. Really. For the most part, we do. And I am thankful for the many dear friends that I have made at the gym.
6. Our coaches would NEVER ever let our kids dress or dance like prosti-tots.
7. We are not paying $16,000 a year! Although, I haven't actually added it up....
I could go on and on. But the bottom line is, I am thankful that I am not on national television, because with the right editing, I guess anyone can look like a psycho.
What are you thankful for?
Bren
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Random Ramblings
I always seem to have random thoughts in my head, and usually there is a conversation or two. I am rarely at a loss for words, and this week I will share some with you.
1. I really really want to "accidentally" step on the back of someone's pants who are wearing them so low they are hanging off their butt and are having to use one hand to constantly pull them up. I'm sure it probably wouldn't faze them, but it would give me great satisfaction.
2. Shooting milk out of your nose actually burns a little, but not as much as soda.
3. As I get older, I have found that I have more things in common with Whoopie Goldberg. Only, I'm not willing to make a commercial about them.
4. A wet dog stinks really bad. However, a wet dog who was playing with a dead animal and is now asleep and passing gas is even worse.
5. I must rely on other people's memories of my childhood, because I can't remember a thing.
6. If you take the time to clip and plan with coupons, you can save a lot of money. And tick off all the people in line behind you at the same time.
7. Americanized Mexican food is better than Mexicanized American food.
8. If you really want to embarrass your teenagers, mow the grass in a tube top and curlers.
Note: I have never done this, since I have broken all child labor laws by having my offspring mow the grass themselves. However, the thought has crossed my mind....
9. No matter how hard you try, there are some children that you just cannot "trick" into eating generic.
10. The advantage of having maxed out credit cards, an empty bank account and bad credit is that nobody wants to steal your identity.
Bren
1. I really really want to "accidentally" step on the back of someone's pants who are wearing them so low they are hanging off their butt and are having to use one hand to constantly pull them up. I'm sure it probably wouldn't faze them, but it would give me great satisfaction.
2. Shooting milk out of your nose actually burns a little, but not as much as soda.
3. As I get older, I have found that I have more things in common with Whoopie Goldberg. Only, I'm not willing to make a commercial about them.
4. A wet dog stinks really bad. However, a wet dog who was playing with a dead animal and is now asleep and passing gas is even worse.
5. I must rely on other people's memories of my childhood, because I can't remember a thing.
6. If you take the time to clip and plan with coupons, you can save a lot of money. And tick off all the people in line behind you at the same time.
7. Americanized Mexican food is better than Mexicanized American food.
8. If you really want to embarrass your teenagers, mow the grass in a tube top and curlers.
Note: I have never done this, since I have broken all child labor laws by having my offspring mow the grass themselves. However, the thought has crossed my mind....
9. No matter how hard you try, there are some children that you just cannot "trick" into eating generic.
10. The advantage of having maxed out credit cards, an empty bank account and bad credit is that nobody wants to steal your identity.
Bren
Friday, July 15, 2011
Fun Facts Friday
It's officially Friday, so time for Fun Facts Friday!
1. Watching an hour-long soap opera burns more calories than watching a three-hour baseball game.
2. Pearls melt in vinegar.
Do not try this one at home, especially if the pearls are not yours.
3. Every citizen of Kentucky is required by law to take a bath at least once a year.
I'm not sure I would want to be the person that has to enforce this one!
4. However, if you lived in Boston in 1845, you had to have a doctor's prescription to bath.
5. There is enough energy in one bolt of lightning to power a home for two weeks.
Just think how much we could save on our electric bills!
6. The ears of a cricket are located on the front legs, just below the knee.
7. In New York, it is illegal to shoot a rabbit from a moving trolley car.
But I guess it's okay if the trolley has stopped.
8. In Alabama, it is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter to church.
However, bad toupees are perfectly legal, no matter how much they make someone laugh.
9. The only nation whose name begins with an "A", but doesn't end in an "A" is Afghanistan.
10. In Michigan it is illegal to place a skunk inside your bosses desk.
To the other 49 states.... please send me a video if you do this!
Note: All facts listed here were found on a new app I downloaded onto my phone. A really cool app that gives me hours of fun when in a meeting, however I cannot take responsibility if they are not true.
Bren
1. Watching an hour-long soap opera burns more calories than watching a three-hour baseball game.
2. Pearls melt in vinegar.
Do not try this one at home, especially if the pearls are not yours.
3. Every citizen of Kentucky is required by law to take a bath at least once a year.
I'm not sure I would want to be the person that has to enforce this one!
4. However, if you lived in Boston in 1845, you had to have a doctor's prescription to bath.
5. There is enough energy in one bolt of lightning to power a home for two weeks.
Just think how much we could save on our electric bills!
6. The ears of a cricket are located on the front legs, just below the knee.
7. In New York, it is illegal to shoot a rabbit from a moving trolley car.
But I guess it's okay if the trolley has stopped.
8. In Alabama, it is illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter to church.
However, bad toupees are perfectly legal, no matter how much they make someone laugh.
9. The only nation whose name begins with an "A", but doesn't end in an "A" is Afghanistan.
10. In Michigan it is illegal to place a skunk inside your bosses desk.
To the other 49 states.... please send me a video if you do this!
Note: All facts listed here were found on a new app I downloaded onto my phone. A really cool app that gives me hours of fun when in a meeting, however I cannot take responsibility if they are not true.
Bren
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thankful Thursday
It's Thursday, so I guess that means that it is Thankful Thursday today. Today I'm am thankful for the little people.
1. Joseph Gayetty
The inventor of modern day toilet paper, which is always at the top of my list!
2. H. B. Reese
A dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey and the man behind the Reese's Cup.
3. Charles Alderton
The creator of Dr. Pepper. My brand of energy.
4. Thomas Crapper
We should all be thankful for Thomas Crapper who made the 4:00 am trips to the...umm... crapper.. much more comfortable by moving them inside!
5. Percy Spencer
The inventor of the microwave oven. Without him, my family would never eat.
6. Alexandre F. Godefoy
The inventor of the hair dryer. I owe my non-curly days to him.
7. Unknown
I couldn't find who actually came up with the idea for the TV remote control, but couch potatoes across the world rejoice.
8. Verron Rudolph
The man behind Krispy Kreme. I just love seeing that Hot Now sign light up!
9. John Cowie
The creator of the modern day Flip Flop. Now if he could have just invented a way to wear them in the rain without flipping water & mud up the back of your legs....
10. Joseph C. Shivers
In one word... SPANDEX! A huge huge Thank You, Mr. Shivers!
What are you thankful for today?
Bren
1. Joseph Gayetty
The inventor of modern day toilet paper, which is always at the top of my list!
2. H. B. Reese
A dairy farmer and shipping foreman for Milton S. Hershey and the man behind the Reese's Cup.
3. Charles Alderton
The creator of Dr. Pepper. My brand of energy.
4. Thomas Crapper
We should all be thankful for Thomas Crapper who made the 4:00 am trips to the...umm... crapper.. much more comfortable by moving them inside!
5. Percy Spencer
The inventor of the microwave oven. Without him, my family would never eat.
6. Alexandre F. Godefoy
The inventor of the hair dryer. I owe my non-curly days to him.
7. Unknown
I couldn't find who actually came up with the idea for the TV remote control, but couch potatoes across the world rejoice.
8. Verron Rudolph
The man behind Krispy Kreme. I just love seeing that Hot Now sign light up!
9. John Cowie
The creator of the modern day Flip Flop. Now if he could have just invented a way to wear them in the rain without flipping water & mud up the back of your legs....
10. Joseph C. Shivers
In one word... SPANDEX! A huge huge Thank You, Mr. Shivers!
What are you thankful for today?
Bren
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Being a Cheer Mom
You would think that being the mother of a cheerleader is easy. It seemed so simple at first...
As I have mentioned previously, I have a drama queen 9-year old that is also a cheer diva. She began her cheer career at the ripe old age of 7 with a once-a-week tumble class. We were looking for something fun and active that she could do, that she would enjoy and that would also allow her to expend some energy (a nice way of saying, she was wild and I needed a break and prayed that she would conk out early each night). I didn't mind the drive to the gym in another county, and I looked forward to that one hour each week when I would get to talk with actual adults (not just pretend to have conversations with the ones I would occasionally see on TV since our TV was usually tuned in to the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon). Within a couple of months my daughter had decided that she wanted to be on one of the cheerleading teams at the gym "more than anything else in the world". Since these teams were competitive teams that traveled around doing competitions, my husband and I decided it would be best to take her to a competition first, so that she could see what all was involved. We knew that once she saw the raised stage, the bright lights, the very loud music, stern looking judges and the thousand people watching - she would run for the hills. Yea, right.
But in my mind, cheerleading can't be that time consuming for me, right?
Two years, a gazillion dollars and just as many miles on my car later, I have been appointed a Team Mom, A Gym Mom, Booster Club President, coordinator of whatever, snack bar supply getter, the mom who always has whatever you need in her bag, the copy maker, the garbage collector, the idea bouncer, the money collector, phone answerer, fundraiser organizer.... you get the idea.
The once-a-week trip to the gym is a distant memory. A typical day now usually begins with a wake-up call from a coach, followed by a quick shower, the inhalation of a banana or granola bar (ok, usually it's a Reese's Cup) whilespeeding safely driving down the highway to get to my diva to practice on time. By the time we return home, the sun has long set and I want nothing more than to go to bed or a shot of something strong.
So here I am. At the gym. Writing my blog. I've been here since 8:45 this morning and will be here until 9:00 tonight. I haven't seen the other members of my family in three days. I think they still live with me, but I'm not sure at this point. The only evidence of them has been a sink full of dirty dishes and massive amounts of empty food wrappers/boxes and soda cans in the trash/recycle bin.
Yes, I am a cheer mom (I even have a t-shirt that says so). I am my daughter's biggest supporter. And despite the empty checkbook, endless volunteer hours, countless drive-thru meals and the real temptation to put a blowup mattress in the gym office, in the end - it is all worth it!
As I have mentioned previously, I have a drama queen 9-year old that is also a cheer diva. She began her cheer career at the ripe old age of 7 with a once-a-week tumble class. We were looking for something fun and active that she could do, that she would enjoy and that would also allow her to expend some energy (a nice way of saying, she was wild and I needed a break and prayed that she would conk out early each night). I didn't mind the drive to the gym in another county, and I looked forward to that one hour each week when I would get to talk with actual adults (not just pretend to have conversations with the ones I would occasionally see on TV since our TV was usually tuned in to the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon). Within a couple of months my daughter had decided that she wanted to be on one of the cheerleading teams at the gym "more than anything else in the world". Since these teams were competitive teams that traveled around doing competitions, my husband and I decided it would be best to take her to a competition first, so that she could see what all was involved. We knew that once she saw the raised stage, the bright lights, the very loud music, stern looking judges and the thousand people watching - she would run for the hills. Yea, right.
But in my mind, cheerleading can't be that time consuming for me, right?
Two years, a gazillion dollars and just as many miles on my car later, I have been appointed a Team Mom, A Gym Mom, Booster Club President, coordinator of whatever, snack bar supply getter, the mom who always has whatever you need in her bag, the copy maker, the garbage collector, the idea bouncer, the money collector, phone answerer, fundraiser organizer.... you get the idea.
The once-a-week trip to the gym is a distant memory. A typical day now usually begins with a wake-up call from a coach, followed by a quick shower, the inhalation of a banana or granola bar (ok, usually it's a Reese's Cup) while
So here I am. At the gym. Writing my blog. I've been here since 8:45 this morning and will be here until 9:00 tonight. I haven't seen the other members of my family in three days. I think they still live with me, but I'm not sure at this point. The only evidence of them has been a sink full of dirty dishes and massive amounts of empty food wrappers/boxes and soda cans in the trash/recycle bin.
Yes, I am a cheer mom (I even have a t-shirt that says so). I am my daughter's biggest supporter. And despite the empty checkbook, endless volunteer hours, countless drive-thru meals and the real temptation to put a blowup mattress in the gym office, in the end - it is all worth it!
National Champion!
Bren
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Fun Facts Friday
First of all, yes, I do know that today is Saturday. However, I just came up with the title and Fun Facts Saturday just didn't work for me. So, starting next week, I will try to post on Friday. But, I'm not making any promises.
1) Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails.
2) People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.
3) In Lehigh, Nebraska it's against the law to sell donut holes.
4) Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew cannabis on their plantations. For those of you not familiar with the more scientific name: cannabis is pot.
5) 1 million dollars in pennies weighs 246 tons.
6) Most people blink about 17,000 times a day.
7) It is illegal to stick chewing gum on the end of your nose in Somalia.
8) When you blush, your stomach lining also reddens.
9) Snoring is prohibited in Massachusetts, unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
10) It is also illegal in Massachusetts to go to bed without first having taken a bath/shower.
Well, it's a good thing my family doesn't live in Massachusetts! What are your fun facts?
Bren
Fun Facts Friday
1) Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails.
2) People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain.
3) In Lehigh, Nebraska it's against the law to sell donut holes.
4) Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew cannabis on their plantations. For those of you not familiar with the more scientific name: cannabis is pot.
5) 1 million dollars in pennies weighs 246 tons.
6) Most people blink about 17,000 times a day.
7) It is illegal to stick chewing gum on the end of your nose in Somalia.
8) When you blush, your stomach lining also reddens.
9) Snoring is prohibited in Massachusetts, unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
10) It is also illegal in Massachusetts to go to bed without first having taken a bath/shower.
Well, it's a good thing my family doesn't live in Massachusetts! What are your fun facts?
Bren
Friday, July 8, 2011
The Great Hamster Chase
I am a sucker. I will be the first to admit that.
Recently my daughter wanted a hamster. She talked about nothing else for weeks. So I finally gave in and took her to the pet store to pick out a little furry rodent. And cage. And rodent igloo. And running ball. And bedding. And food. And....and.....and.... It was a cute little thing, and once again - I'm a sucker. My daughter named it Cookie Dough and we brought her home, put her cage together and helped her to settle into her new surroundings. She seemed content, but little did we know that Cookie Dough is a master escape artist.
A little less than 48 hours later, I discovered that Cookie Dough had made a break for it when one of her crawling tubes was not properly secured. How the little sucker was able to push the tube completely loose and off of the cage is still a mystery. We weren't even sure how long the fuzz ball had been missing. For hours we scoured my daughter's bedroom. We tore apart her bed, her nightstand, the dresser, the boxes of toys. Dumped out her basket of shoes and another basket of stuffed animals. We searched her closet, then did it all again. And again. Then we moved on to our son's room, then the bathroom and finally my room. We searched every nook and cranny, then took our search downstairs. Could a rodent the size of a chicken nugget really make its way down a flight of stairs? We weren't sure, but with a child in hysterics, we were going to keep searching. That is when we noticed that one of our dogs was looking rather satisfied. Guilty even. This is the canine that likes to bring us "presents" and leave them at the door. We have been blessed with gifts of mice, birds, frogs, moles (lots of moles) and the occasional groundhog (I kid you not!). This is also the same dog that had not taken her eyes off of Cookie Dough since we brought her home. Taps began playing in my head. And as the realization of what had occurred began to sink in with my daughter, her wailing increased ten-fold. Cookie Dough had come to our family as a pet and ended up as a midday snack.
My husband and I felt so bad, that we (yes, we both are suckers) went out and bought another fuzzy chicken nugget. Cookie Dough 2. We brought her home and got her settled into her predecessor's cage, making sure that everything was securely connected (we wanted to keep our dog on a strict dog-food-only diet!).
That night, our still distraught daughter decided to sleep in our bed. She had not quite warmed up to Cookie Dough 2 yet. So we all settled in: my husband, my daughter, me, and two of our dogs who sleep under our bed. At 3:00 am we hear scratching under our bed and one dog (the gracious present giver) jumps up bumping her head on the bed rails. My husband and I sit bolt upright. Could it be? No, it was impossible. But we were going to check to be sure. As my husband escorts (ok, throws) the dog out of the room (to be on the safe side) I peer under the bed. Actually, I was laid out flat on my belly with a flashlight. There under the bed I see a dust ball with feet fly past our Chi-weenie (who is completely oblivious and just wants to go back to sleep). For the next hour we chase, corner, search, listen, and build baracades. We look like we are reenacting an episode of the Three Stooges. Our daughter is sitting on the bed shouting instructions "She went that way! Over there!). Cookie Dough certainly is a sneaky one, not to mention lightening fast! We trap her under the bed and she bolts for the nightstand. We block her exits and she slips past anyway leaving a blazing tail towards the chest-of-drawers. She bolts out from the back and runs behind a bookcase. I finally have her cornered when she decides to try to make another break for it and runs up inside a roll of wrapping paper. There is no escaping now! Once I finally have her and our daughter is rejoicing, we have to figure out what to do with her. Cookie Dough 2 has taken up residence in her cage, and we quickly learned that hamsters that were not raised together cannot bunk together. Lucky for me, we had a spare found-at-a-yard sale cage that my daughter had initially refused to use because of the color. By 4:00 am we were the proud owners of two Cookie Doughs in two cages. And life just got more complicated!
Cookie Dough 1 has since gone on to escape two more times. The first of which, she was found and captured behind the couch in the living room. The second time, however, she actually did not escape so much as was helped out of her "holding pen" (a big box with some shavings where we put her when we are cleaning her cage). Yes, she was helped out. By our dog. Who had her in her mouth. I did mention she hadn't taken her eyes off of the fur ball. My son was able to get the dog to drop her, then with another Stooges reenactment, we caught her once more.
Anyone want a little furry chicken nugget?
Bren
Recently my daughter wanted a hamster. She talked about nothing else for weeks. So I finally gave in and took her to the pet store to pick out a little furry rodent. And cage. And rodent igloo. And running ball. And bedding. And food. And....and.....and.... It was a cute little thing, and once again - I'm a sucker. My daughter named it Cookie Dough and we brought her home, put her cage together and helped her to settle into her new surroundings. She seemed content, but little did we know that Cookie Dough is a master escape artist.
A little less than 48 hours later, I discovered that Cookie Dough had made a break for it when one of her crawling tubes was not properly secured. How the little sucker was able to push the tube completely loose and off of the cage is still a mystery. We weren't even sure how long the fuzz ball had been missing. For hours we scoured my daughter's bedroom. We tore apart her bed, her nightstand, the dresser, the boxes of toys. Dumped out her basket of shoes and another basket of stuffed animals. We searched her closet, then did it all again. And again. Then we moved on to our son's room, then the bathroom and finally my room. We searched every nook and cranny, then took our search downstairs. Could a rodent the size of a chicken nugget really make its way down a flight of stairs? We weren't sure, but with a child in hysterics, we were going to keep searching. That is when we noticed that one of our dogs was looking rather satisfied. Guilty even. This is the canine that likes to bring us "presents" and leave them at the door. We have been blessed with gifts of mice, birds, frogs, moles (lots of moles) and the occasional groundhog (I kid you not!). This is also the same dog that had not taken her eyes off of Cookie Dough since we brought her home. Taps began playing in my head. And as the realization of what had occurred began to sink in with my daughter, her wailing increased ten-fold. Cookie Dough had come to our family as a pet and ended up as a midday snack.
My husband and I felt so bad, that we (yes, we both are suckers) went out and bought another fuzzy chicken nugget. Cookie Dough 2. We brought her home and got her settled into her predecessor's cage, making sure that everything was securely connected (we wanted to keep our dog on a strict dog-food-only diet!).
That night, our still distraught daughter decided to sleep in our bed. She had not quite warmed up to Cookie Dough 2 yet. So we all settled in: my husband, my daughter, me, and two of our dogs who sleep under our bed. At 3:00 am we hear scratching under our bed and one dog (the gracious present giver) jumps up bumping her head on the bed rails. My husband and I sit bolt upright. Could it be? No, it was impossible. But we were going to check to be sure. As my husband escorts (ok, throws) the dog out of the room (to be on the safe side) I peer under the bed. Actually, I was laid out flat on my belly with a flashlight. There under the bed I see a dust ball with feet fly past our Chi-weenie (who is completely oblivious and just wants to go back to sleep). For the next hour we chase, corner, search, listen, and build baracades. We look like we are reenacting an episode of the Three Stooges. Our daughter is sitting on the bed shouting instructions "She went that way! Over there!). Cookie Dough certainly is a sneaky one, not to mention lightening fast! We trap her under the bed and she bolts for the nightstand. We block her exits and she slips past anyway leaving a blazing tail towards the chest-of-drawers. She bolts out from the back and runs behind a bookcase. I finally have her cornered when she decides to try to make another break for it and runs up inside a roll of wrapping paper. There is no escaping now! Once I finally have her and our daughter is rejoicing, we have to figure out what to do with her. Cookie Dough 2 has taken up residence in her cage, and we quickly learned that hamsters that were not raised together cannot bunk together. Lucky for me, we had a spare found-at-a-yard sale cage that my daughter had initially refused to use because of the color. By 4:00 am we were the proud owners of two Cookie Doughs in two cages. And life just got more complicated!
Cookie Dough 1 has since gone on to escape two more times. The first of which, she was found and captured behind the couch in the living room. The second time, however, she actually did not escape so much as was helped out of her "holding pen" (a big box with some shavings where we put her when we are cleaning her cage). Yes, she was helped out. By our dog. Who had her in her mouth. I did mention she hadn't taken her eyes off of the fur ball. My son was able to get the dog to drop her, then with another Stooges reenactment, we caught her once more.
Cookie Dough 1
Chloe (the gift giver) just waiting for opportunity to strike - again
Anyone want a little furry chicken nugget?
Bren
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Thankful Thursday
Once again I am going to take a cue from my sister-in-law who writes a Thankful Thursday each week. (Although, sometimes it shows up on Wednesday).
This Thursday I am thankful for:
1) Toilet paper! This really should at the top of everyone's list. Just imagine what we would do if the world's supply of toilet paper suddenly disappeared? Now I am all for historical reenactments, but that is one reenactment that I really do not want to have to participate in! But you know what they say - that history repeats itself, which is why I now have a stockpile of approximately 100+ rolls, which should last my family about... a week. Better find some more coupons.
2) Deodorant. Once again, another reenactment in which I do not want to participate. Yes, I also have a stockpile of deodorant as well. Twenty-eight of them to be exact. But I may have to carry a few in my purse to pass out to others I may encounter in a crowded elevator who possibly ran out that day.
3) The internet, but especially Al Gore who created it. Thanks, Al!
4) Little Debbie's snack cakes. Need I say more?
5) My newspaper delivery lady. I will get into this more at a later date, but I am very thankful to her this week.
And last, but certainly not least...
6) Tennis rackets. It is my weapon of choice this week as I make my way to the mailbox each day and am attacked by the million June bugs that obviously didn't realize that it is July!
What are you thankful for today?
Bren
This Thursday I am thankful for:
1) Toilet paper! This really should at the top of everyone's list. Just imagine what we would do if the world's supply of toilet paper suddenly disappeared? Now I am all for historical reenactments, but that is one reenactment that I really do not want to have to participate in! But you know what they say - that history repeats itself, which is why I now have a stockpile of approximately 100+ rolls, which should last my family about... a week. Better find some more coupons.
2) Deodorant. Once again, another reenactment in which I do not want to participate. Yes, I also have a stockpile of deodorant as well. Twenty-eight of them to be exact. But I may have to carry a few in my purse to pass out to others I may encounter in a crowded elevator who possibly ran out that day.
3) The internet, but especially Al Gore who created it. Thanks, Al!
4) Little Debbie's snack cakes. Need I say more?
5) My newspaper delivery lady. I will get into this more at a later date, but I am very thankful to her this week.
And last, but certainly not least...
6) Tennis rackets. It is my weapon of choice this week as I make my way to the mailbox each day and am attacked by the million June bugs that obviously didn't realize that it is July!
What are you thankful for today?
Bren
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The tears of youth
I was planning on writing about something else today, but changed my mind with events unfolding at my homestead.
My 9-year old cheerleading diva just burst into tears. Not "look at me because I need attention" tears, but real sobbing, shirt soaking, alligator tears. She did the same thing a few days ago. Now, to understand my (and my dh's) frustration with this is know that typically when our daughter is upset, she refuses to talk. At all. Not a word. Nada. Just sobbing and wailing. And usually we have no idea what is wrong. Such is the case as of late...
When our daughter sunk into her wailing isolation a few days ago, it took us HOURS to finally get her to speak. The cause of her the-world-is-over-for-me tears? Club Penguin. For those of you not familiar with Club Penguin, it is an internet game by Disney, where members create an animated penguin, decorate an animated igloo and play silly games. Yes, an internet game has brought my child to producing rivers of tears. And not just once. The incident a few days, the one that took hours to figure out, was over the fact that she could not log into this virtual penguin land. Turns out, Disney forgot to renew it's web domain. Disney. The company that was built on making children happy had now done something that produced an ocean of tears for children all over the world! In my mind, it wasn't such a big deal. An inconvenience, yes, especially since we are paying a nominal monthly fee for our daughter to have access. But apparently for the countless kids out there, this event was of catastrophic proportions.
Today's ordeal was almost as life-ending. The cheer diva's special code did not open the right virtual catalog! Oh, the horrors! To be young again...
Of course, I may be reduced to tears as well if I had ordered Cosmo and got Fisherman's Digest instead.
My 9-year old cheerleading diva just burst into tears. Not "look at me because I need attention" tears, but real sobbing, shirt soaking, alligator tears. She did the same thing a few days ago. Now, to understand my (and my dh's) frustration with this is know that typically when our daughter is upset, she refuses to talk. At all. Not a word. Nada. Just sobbing and wailing. And usually we have no idea what is wrong. Such is the case as of late...
When our daughter sunk into her wailing isolation a few days ago, it took us HOURS to finally get her to speak. The cause of her the-world-is-over-for-me tears? Club Penguin. For those of you not familiar with Club Penguin, it is an internet game by Disney, where members create an animated penguin, decorate an animated igloo and play silly games. Yes, an internet game has brought my child to producing rivers of tears. And not just once. The incident a few days, the one that took hours to figure out, was over the fact that she could not log into this virtual penguin land. Turns out, Disney forgot to renew it's web domain. Disney. The company that was built on making children happy had now done something that produced an ocean of tears for children all over the world! In my mind, it wasn't such a big deal. An inconvenience, yes, especially since we are paying a nominal monthly fee for our daughter to have access. But apparently for the countless kids out there, this event was of catastrophic proportions.
Today's ordeal was almost as life-ending. The cheer diva's special code did not open the right virtual catalog! Oh, the horrors! To be young again...
Of course, I may be reduced to tears as well if I had ordered Cosmo and got Fisherman's Digest instead.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Random Ramblings
My dear sis-in-law writes a blog every Monday called Monday Miscellany. I have decided to follow her lead and will try to do something similar each week. However, me being me, I will not put any day of the week in the title. I will be doing good just to write one blog each week, much less on the same day! So therefore, I am calling it Random Ramblings and I will be free to post it whenever I get around to it. For some of you, many of my random thoughts or ramblings will be taken directly from my status updates on Facebook, so you are free to ignore them, if you want.
* Today is July 4th. The day when we celebrate the birth of our country and independence from England. The day we give thanks for our freedoms and those who fight for those freedoms. The day we watch spectacular fireworks displays with oohs and aahs. The day we celebrate with friends and family over hamburgers and hotdogs fired on the grill. For me, this is a day when I celebrate no bills in the mail!
* Capital One keeps sending me emails and snail mail asking me to transfer my balances from other credit cards to theirs. Hmm, I'm pretty sure that in my last bill from them it said that I had reached my limit (which wasn't all that big to begin with).
* Last week someone destroyed our mailbox and our neighbor's. I heard the impact, but in the time it took me to look out of the window (all of 3 seconds), the vehicle was gone, but had left a trail of flying mail and scattered mailbox pieces in its wake. My dh (Dr. J) was able to piece ours back together again, but our neighbor's had endured the brunt of the trauma and was too far gone to be revived. The only bright spot to this tragedy is that the vehicle left behind a shattered headlight, and one can only hope it also sustained a big dent, lots of scratches and possibly a broken windshield. Heh!
* While working on some paperwork the other day, I found myself watching a Bonanza marathon. I will admit that I was too lazy to find the remote that was buried under the mounds of papers to change it. Besides, young Michael Landon was hot! Anyway, I noticed that all the commercials were for AARP, Depends, Medicaid, Life Insurance for Seniors, the Scooter Store, medical supplies by mail..... Are we seeing a pattern here? Does this mean that because I actually enjoyed watching a few Bonanza reruns, that makes me old? Which brings me to my next ramble....
* While watching Bonanza, I witnessed a State Marshall shoot a man just for standing in his way, a bar room brawl because someone looked at a lady wrong, and countless other things that had me thinking "If that happened today, there would be a lawsuit." Oh, the sue-happy world we live in. Makes me want to go back in time and just punch some people solely for being buttheads and not have to worry about being sued.
* This week (and forever) I will be working on getting my house organized. For those of you who know me and have been to my house, you can stop laughing now! The problem that I am running into is that my house is like a Catch 22. For instance, I have a stack of books in my room that need to go on the bookshelf. However, in order to put them on the bookshelf, I will need to clean off the bookshelf to make room. Cleaning off the bookshelf will result in my having other things that need other homes.... you get the idea.
* Two weeks ago I started Weight Watchers. The first week I lost 4 pounds. Yeah. However, last week, after watching what I ate and practically starving myself, I had gained back a pound. Hmf. So, in retaliation last night I ate 3/4 of a pizza! Take that Weight Watchers!
Bren
* Today is July 4th. The day when we celebrate the birth of our country and independence from England. The day we give thanks for our freedoms and those who fight for those freedoms. The day we watch spectacular fireworks displays with oohs and aahs. The day we celebrate with friends and family over hamburgers and hotdogs fired on the grill. For me, this is a day when I celebrate no bills in the mail!
* Capital One keeps sending me emails and snail mail asking me to transfer my balances from other credit cards to theirs. Hmm, I'm pretty sure that in my last bill from them it said that I had reached my limit (which wasn't all that big to begin with).
* Last week someone destroyed our mailbox and our neighbor's. I heard the impact, but in the time it took me to look out of the window (all of 3 seconds), the vehicle was gone, but had left a trail of flying mail and scattered mailbox pieces in its wake. My dh (Dr. J) was able to piece ours back together again, but our neighbor's had endured the brunt of the trauma and was too far gone to be revived. The only bright spot to this tragedy is that the vehicle left behind a shattered headlight, and one can only hope it also sustained a big dent, lots of scratches and possibly a broken windshield. Heh!
* While working on some paperwork the other day, I found myself watching a Bonanza marathon. I will admit that I was too lazy to find the remote that was buried under the mounds of papers to change it. Besides, young Michael Landon was hot! Anyway, I noticed that all the commercials were for AARP, Depends, Medicaid, Life Insurance for Seniors, the Scooter Store, medical supplies by mail..... Are we seeing a pattern here? Does this mean that because I actually enjoyed watching a few Bonanza reruns, that makes me old? Which brings me to my next ramble....
* While watching Bonanza, I witnessed a State Marshall shoot a man just for standing in his way, a bar room brawl because someone looked at a lady wrong, and countless other things that had me thinking "If that happened today, there would be a lawsuit." Oh, the sue-happy world we live in. Makes me want to go back in time and just punch some people solely for being buttheads and not have to worry about being sued.
* This week (and forever) I will be working on getting my house organized. For those of you who know me and have been to my house, you can stop laughing now! The problem that I am running into is that my house is like a Catch 22. For instance, I have a stack of books in my room that need to go on the bookshelf. However, in order to put them on the bookshelf, I will need to clean off the bookshelf to make room. Cleaning off the bookshelf will result in my having other things that need other homes.... you get the idea.
* Two weeks ago I started Weight Watchers. The first week I lost 4 pounds. Yeah. However, last week, after watching what I ate and practically starving myself, I had gained back a pound. Hmf. So, in retaliation last night I ate 3/4 of a pizza! Take that Weight Watchers!
Bren
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