Dress Drama

So ... DD needs a dress for her graduation that's coming up.  We hit the Memorial Day sales yesterday in an attempt to find the perfect dress without having to spend an arm and a leg (I'd like to keep all my limbs, thankyouverymuch).

We spent about four hours shopping and, while we DID buy a dress, she's not entirely happy with it, so there may be more shopping in my near future (oh. joy.).

This is the dress SHE loved best (and it was my least favorite):

This was my favorite (she hated the teeny little shoulder pads -- she would have never lived through the 80s):

This was my next fave:

This is what we ended up with:

But now, she's thinking she'd rather have a short dress again, so the tags are staying on the pink dress and we'll hit some of the mall stores over the next week or so to see what we can find.

Life was so much easier when she was two.

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Self-Esteem and Storms

Self-respect cannot be hunted. It cannot be purchased. It is never for sale. It cannot be fabricated out of public relations. It comes to us when we are alone, in quiet moments, in quiet places, when e suddenly realize that, knowing the good, we have done it; knowing the beautiful, we have served it; knowing the truth we have spoken it. ~Whitney Griswold

So ... yesterday was my craziest yet, and I am going to STAY HOME today, dang it. Sorry, Sarita, though flowers ARE blooming in my garden, I haven't had any time to just go and enjoy them all week long. I have high hopes for the weekend... though I expect I'll be spending much of it taking pictures of jewelry. Angelina, if you like danglies, you're going to LOVE most of the earrings DD's made.

So yesterday ... first a little backstory that I'm too tired to weave skillfully into the current story (*G*): DD has been having serious self-esteem issues lately. She thinks she's ugly, fat, stupid, useless... she's VERY emotional and quite a drama queen, even on the best days, but the past week or so I've found her puddled on the floor more than once, crying so hard she can't breathe. Yeah ... it's been fun. ::rolls eyes::: I've done my best damage control, but I'm MOM and when MOM says you're pretty, it doesn't count as much. Moms HAVE to say you're pretty. Oy. We've discussed how brutally honest I am. "When I don't like what you're wearing or how your hair looks, do I tell you?" ... "Yes." ... "If I thought you were ugly, I might not say THAT to your face, but I wouldn't lie and tell you that you were beautiful, would I?" ... "No." ... "Okay, then listen to me: you're beautiful." And she really is... inside and out (which is another thing I try to emphasize).

*sigh*

Yesterday, we had to go out by our mall anyway because she had to do something at her new school, so I made a day of it (well, half a day anyway), and we did some power shopping, because nothing makes you feel as good as new clothes (and since she's pretty well outgrown what she has, it needed doing anyway). We got her a new tankini (that was HARD ... they're mostly either too low ... because my 12 y.o. needs a neckline that plunges to her navel, right?) or the cups are too big (she wears womens sizes, but doesn't have a woman's figure yet). I'm a sucker ... we bought black bottoms (a cute skirt one) at L.L. Bean, but couldn't find a matching top in her size, so bought tops at Sears. Yes... topS... as in two. Because I couldn't say no.

Then off the Macys -- I love their sale racks: good clothes at low prices. :-) We bought a pile of new shirts (she had SO much fun at home later trying everything on ... a little fashion show).

It helped some, I think. Last night she came over en route to bed and said: "Mom, I've decided I am pretty. Thanks for telling me that."

Hope it sticks.

In weather news, we got PUMMELLED yesterday. As we were leaving the school, the skies got black as night. It was a little scary, and all I wanted was to get home. Then some thunder rumbled ... and about ten mins from home all hell broke loose. The wind was insane! Trees were bending over 'til they were nearly horizontal and there are a LOT of trees here. I kept saying, "Please don't let a tree fall on me." because I was pretty sure it would happen. I've NEVER seen the trees bend that much. Then the rain!! THE RAIN!! It dumped so hard, heavy and fast when I was about five minutes from home that I could NOT see. I probably should have pulled over, but Dakota was home alone, and I'd left windows open. I crept down our street, praying nothing would run out in front of me ... I could see car lights, but if a dog, or a deer or (God forbid) a kid had crossed the road, it might have been dicey.

We made it home, mopped up the mess from the open windows and waited for it to pass. It was, without a doubt, one of the worst storms we've had in years.

I am grateful for the water though. We were desert dry. And... even better? It cooled it off. We're only supposed to be in the high 70s today. YAY!!

Any excitement in your lives you want to share?

Have a great weekend!

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You Are a Black Eyed Pea

You are a naturally energetic person, and you've always done things in your own, wacky way. You know that you'll never fit in perfectly, and you never really even tried. Most people consider you to be extremely lucky. You may find friends hanging around you hoping that your luck will rub off a little. You've done well for yourself in life. You know how to thrive, and you're good at keeping pests away.

What Type of Bean Are You?

Um... okay? Maybe? ::shrugs::

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Monday Mumbles

The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. ~Erma Bombeck

It's Monday and we'll be mostly back to normal today... of course it's Thanksgiving week, so DH will have a half day on Weds and then is off Th/F/S/S but after this week, I do believe routine will return (except for Christmas/New Year's week).

I miss routine.

Of course, we have dentist appointments today, so that's going to mess with us a bit, and I want to get DD's hair cut (she's donating to Pantene Beautiful Lengths -- they're like "Locks of Love" but they take shorter hair, 8" instead of 10"), too ... maybe there is no such thing as routine?

So, I went to a different grocery store yesterday -- the same chain I usually go to, but a different place -- and discovered that their prices are lower. It's only about eight miles away from the other store, and their prices are lower. Why is that? It made me a little cranky, because it's just not that convenient for me to go there, despite the fact it's not *that* far away, but I'm going to feel obligated because their prices are lower.

It's amazing how much prices differ from store to store.

For instance, a half-gallon of soy milk (something I buy regularly) is VASTLY different.

At the natural foods market: $4.99
At Shaws: $4.29
At Hannaford: $3.29

Or, this great new local organic baby spinach that's suddenly entered the markets here:

At the natural foods market: $7.99
At BJs: $5.99
At Hannaford: $5.99
At Shaw's: $6.99

Guess where I do most of my shopping?

It frustrates me because I really prefer to support the independent "little guy" stores and wish I could do the majority of my shopping at the natural food store, but when the prices are that different I just can't justify it.

Do you find the prices varying greatly between the stores you shop at? Do you make trips to different stores when you do your shopping in order to get better deals?

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Hey all, just a heads-up because I know Melissa McClone is very quiet about promoting herself. She's hanging out with us this week at The Long and the Short of It in our author spotlight. You should swing by, read her daily posts and keep her company.

My particular favorite of her posts (yes, I peeked) is the one for Friday. Cracked me up! *G*

Hope to see you there.

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You Are Cinderella

You believe it's important to do the right thing, even if you aren't rewarded for it. Not everyone treats you with respect, but good people see your goodness. You've had a lot of bad luck, but these days it feels like you luck is about to change. Even though times are tough, hang in there. You'll eventually get the life you justly deserve.

What Fairy Tale Are You?

Interestingly enough, I DID clean the fireplace this morning... ;-)

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This, That and The Other

A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need. ~ Sidney Carroll

For those of you on Google Reader -- this WAS posted yesterday, but I remembered Elaine was coming by, so I pulled it. Bonus: you get yesterday's post AND add-ons for today :-)

Moving on ...

I had my cranky-pants on Tuesday and had to make a concerted effort to be pleasant. It must have worked, because at one point DD said, "Did you wake up in a good mood?" -- understand, I'm not exactly an effervescent person, even on a good day, lol. So, I guess my acting skills are still working!

The dog was full of it too, so we swung by the dog park on the off chance someone was there with their dog. There were two guys there with a pointer and a German Shepherd mix -- both really active, good-natured dogs. And the three of them ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. Finally, Dakota flopped down on the ground and refused to move. I figured that was our cue to leave! LOL...

We went to the dog park again VERY briefly yesterday as well. We were a little early for a nearby appointment, so killed fifteen minutes there. This time there was a Wheaten Terrier and a little mutt terrier, both of which were utterly disinterested in playing. Dakota gave it her best try, but was ignored while they simply wandered around and sniffed. :-(

The weather has been so pleasant lately. Still warm, but less so and less humid as well. It's been nice to be able to get outside with feeling as though my innards were cooking. Today, they're calling for rain off and on all day. We already had one little cloudburst, which was very nice. We desperately need it, so bring it on!!

I'm still working on my writing. I haven't been saying much about it because it seems as though every time I mention a project by name, or in any detail, I hit a wall! Not that I'm superstitious or anything (nope, not me).

FlyLady is going okay, too, except I have to admit that I don't get up and get dressed first thing in the morning (which is one of her basic rules). I can't. I get up before the crack of dawn and DH sleeps for another few hours. Other that that, I've been keeping the sink clean, doing other cleaning in 15 minute bursts (I love my timer!!) and mostly staying on top of stuff.

The timer thing really works when I apply it.

DD has been writing reviews for the Aurora site. The first couple, I interviewed her about the books and wrote up the review based on what she said. This last one, I opened up her other reviews, reminded her of our basic "rules" (opening hook, positive closing, very little synopsis -- tell us what you did or didn't like, not what the book is about ... we post the blurb, so don't need that) and let her go. It took her three days of working a couple hours each day, but she presented me with a review yesterday that was really, really quite well done. Except for a couple grammar/punctuation issues, it's turnkey! I'm so proud.

I can't believe we'll be starting back to school in a month. I also can't believe she's in junior high. Where does the time go? We're going to hit Staples for some back-to-school office supply shopping (I have an office supply fetish, I really, really do. Just walking into the store makes me all tingly). One good thing about homeschooling -- I buy her clothes when she needs them, not at the whim of the calendar.

I remember when I was little, I used to have a budget of $100 for my back to school clothes shopping. That included undies, shoes and socks! I usually ended up with something like one pair of pants, a few shirts and a dress (plus "necessaries"). Can you imagine spending only $100 today? I went to Kohl's a couple days ago (after we purged DD's clothes, and I realized she had ONE pair of pants/capris that fit her!) to get DD some capris. Oy. Vey. She's in women's sizes now, and the prices kill me.

Ah well. Them's the breaks.

Do you like shopping for anything in particular? Anyone else have an office supply fetish? What do you remember about school shopping from when you were young?

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You Are SPF 15

You enjoy the sun as much as most people. You aren't outdoorsy, but you enjoy the outdoors from time to time. You tend to limit your sun exposure. A little goes a long way for you, and you don't like to overdo things. You are strongly prefer indoor activities, away from bugs and the elements. And if you're going to be outdoors for too long, you always seek out the shade.

What's Your SPF?

That's pretty much right.

What Makes It a Keeper?

Thinking is the activity I love best and writing to me is simply thinking through my fingers. ~ Isaac Asimov

I'm excited: "Savor the Moment" by Nora Roberts comes out today. YAY. I've read mixed reviews about this series of hers, but for me? It scores 100 -- every one of the books has made me get weepy at the end, a sure sign I'm attached to the characters. So, yeah, I'll be at the store getting my copy today.

I've been re-reading some warm and fuzzy keepers lately and thinking about writing in concert with that. I've tried to figure out what makes that book a keeper when this book is a wall-banger (aside from poor writing, grammar and editing which makes me CRAZY).

I think it's two-fold for me.

I have to connect to the characters, and pretty quickly. I'm not one who will give a nasty, snarky heroine who will grow and change and develop a heart of gold (and manners) very much time. Snark is fine (Oh, how I loved Cranky Agnes in "Agnes and the Hitman"), but sheer nastiness loses me every time.

I've also discovered that I love a good sub-plot. As time goes by, I find that a simple romance, where ONLY the romance is happening, bores me. It's probably why I've found myself gravitating toward the paranormal or suspense romances, because there is always something else going on. I find this last part amusing because I usually just write ONLY romance. But it's given me pause for thought... and I'm considering whether I want to add some significant sub-plots to my work.

What about you? What draws YOU to a book? Makes it a keeper for you?

=================

So yesterday was *mostly* a success. We went to the mall, where I spent my Macys gift card from Christmas. I'd forgotten there was a Macys in there (it used to be something else... like eight years ago -- yeah, I don't get out much), so DD and I ended up with five shirts (three for me, two for her). I splurged and bought some smelly lotion at Bath & Body Works (I prefer Body Shop, but the sales help is VERY heavy-handed there and it makes me uncomfortable -- if I have a question, I'm not too shy to ask, but otherwise...GO AWAY). Then it was off to Toys R Us and her pogo stick only.. they were sold out. But, they did have refill foam arrows for her bow, so I got her a big pack of those.

But, no pogo stick.

:-(

Then to the library, where we got so wrapped up in getting books that we forgot to get a movie. I realized halfway to the restaurant.

DD said, "Great. The whole day is ruined."

I said, "Yeah, cuz new clothes, new lotion, refill arrows and a yummy seafood lunch pales in comparison to watching a movie YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN."

Ah, the drama of the tween years.

But, movie aside, we had a good day. She even came up to me at bed time and said she'd had a great day and gave me a big hug.

So, yay.

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Your Name is Gray

Your name tells people that you are calm and level headed. Your name makes you seem honest and fair. You are able to look at things clearly and without emotion. You tend to remain neutral in most disputes. People see you as reliable and trustworthy. You treat everyone equally, and you don't tend to have any prejudices. You are naturally calculating and even a bit cunning. You don't like to show your cards too early in the game.

What Color Is Your Name?

That's mostly right on...

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Rainy Days and Shopping

Buying something on sale is a very special feeling. In fact, the less I pay for something, the more it is worth to me. I have a dress that I paid so little for that I am afraid to wear it. I could spill something on it, and then how would I replace it for that amount of money? ~Rita Rudner

L-O-O-O-O-N-G day yesterday, made longer by the rainy, cold weather. It's incredible how quickly we get used to temps in the 80s, and yesterday it plunged down into the 40s and 50s and -- BRRRRRRRRRRR.

Aside from massive amounts of housecleaning, I went shopping.

I've been trying to find DD a swimsuit. This shouldn't have been such an ordeal, but she wanted a tankini (WAY easier for potty purposes), she wears women's sizes now (but only just barely ... she's in a 4/6, and there aren't many places that carry that size), but she's not "developed" really, and most of the women's suits come with preformed cups. Additionally, I'd like her to be at least a little modest, and nowadays that is a tough thing in and of itself.

We'd already tried the cheap places, to no avail. So I was headed out to Macys yesterday, when I realized I hadn't tried the L.L. Bean outlet yet and we were going to pass it en route.

Good move on my part.

Not only did we find a really cute tankini (in aqua with a little skirt and a sporty top that doesn't plunge to her navel, with cups appropriate for someone who is a size 4), but their skirts were half off, so DD picked up another cute denim one (she loves to wear skirts) and I found some croc-like clogs for only $8.99! I've been wearing my Target gardening clogs for three years -- they are SO comfy I can take long walks in them, but they're finally beginning to wear out and Target isn't carrying them this year (I was distraught).

Being me, I didn't want to shell out $40+ for Crocs, but I also was determined to get something that I could wear for hours at a time, and during my walks and if that meant Crocs, then so be it.

These L.L. Bean clogs are regularly priced $24.95, but they were so much cheaper at the outlet. DH thinks it's because of the color (HOT PINK!). I'm hardly a walking fashion statement, so I didn't care. And after I take a nice long walk in them and see if they'll work for that, I'm going back and buying every pair they have in my size.

:-)

I love a bargain.

Today is supposed to be sunnier, though not much warmer. Aside from the work I have to do on the LASR/WC site, I plan on getting outside and clearing more of the woods. DH is home today, so maybe he'll help with the heavy lifting this time. We'd like to move our two apricot trees (hopefully this won't kill them, but the apple trees behind them are getting so big, that the apricots aren't doing well anyway) and plant the peach tree. We're going to buy one more apple tree, and our orchard will be complete. I really REALLY wanted a cherry tree, but that is a favorite snack of Japanese beetles, and I decided I wasn't up for the battle.

What are you doing this weekend? Anything fun or interesting?

====================

You Are Imaginative and Idealistic

You are popular and well liked. You know how to please a crowd and work a room. You rely on yourself and yourself alone to figure out what's best. In your experience, the "experts" are almost always wrong. You have an optimistic take on life. Things are always a lot better than they seem at first. Spending time alone makes you more optimistic and ready to take on the world. You like to recharge.

The Movie Theater Test

That's fairly close, especially the last part.

==============

Thursday Things

A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist. ~Franklin P. Jones

Yesterday was better, as far as runaway negative emotions go (thank HEAVENS), but unfortunately, it seems as if I'm getting sick. :-(

I have a really, really sore throat. No congestion yet, but I'm hoping I only have a cold because this throat thing? Pretty bad. *sigh* I'm usually the LAST one in the family to get sick, not the first.

Ah well...

I went to WalMart yesterday to buy sunglasses (I have to wear the old lady "fits over" sunglasses because I can't wear contacts and don't want to shell out the money for a pair of prescription sunglasses and WalMart is the only carrier of the fit over kind here). I sat on mine -- which really makes me angry at myself because when I tossed them on the car seat I thought, "I'm going to sit on those if I'm not careful." and sure enough, as I RAN through the bitter ("real feel" -3) wind and cold from the library to the car, I jumped in without looking and CRACK.

In any case, I walked in for sunglasses and walked out with a cartload of stuff. Amazing how that happens. The good thing was I found a pair of hiking boots for DD (she's almost wearing the same size shoe as me!). Her snowboots broke and she had nothing else to wear except sneakers, which in several inches of snow, just won't work. I couldn't find snowboots (the stores already have out their summer clothes, go figure), so she'll have to wear my older pair when she's playing outside, but at least now she's not shoeless. It's painful to buy stuff for her now because she's wearing adult sizes and the PRICES. I wouldn't mind if she wasn't going to grow out of them in five minutes, but ...

We're expecting a heat wave soon -- temps possibly into the 40s! I can NOT wait. The weather guys had better not be wrong (I know, they're NEVER wrong *snort*).

And that is my day, such as it is.

Anything exciting in your neck of the woods?

=======================

You Are More Like Audrey Hepburn

You are classy, stylish, and charming. You are the true definition of grace. Some people may think you're a pushover, but they have no idea how tough you can be. You tend to draw people in with your mind. You are an intelligent and witty flirt. You are effortlessly gorgeous and naturally appealing. No one would accuse you of trying too hard.

Are You More Marilyn or Audrey?

YAY, because -- AUDREY HEPBURN... wowza, yanno? Who cares if they're right...

====================

O Grocery Store

The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. ~Erma Bombeck

I went to the grocery store for some stuff yesterday, and then used the self-checkout. DD loves to run the items through the scanner and bag them up, and I don't see the harm. Except yesterday, every single employee must have come by and told us that the self-checkout is really for people with only a few items (we had enough for four bags). I very nearly smacked the last guy who said it. If you only want folks with 10 items, them put that on the checkout. Otherwise, LEAVE ME ALONE. It's not as though people were waiting in line -- there were two other open self-checkouts. Sheesh.

In fact, it annoyed me enough that I'm probably going to start shopping at a different store. It's a little farther away from me, but the prices are comparable, and they don't nag me if I have a cart full of groceries and opt to use the self checkout.

Our Christmas tree is dead. I'm really, really tired of our tree dying before Christmas and told DH I'm getting a fake tree -- will go out the day after Christmas and find a nice one for 50% off. Because I'm tired of ornaments slipping off because the branches droop and I'm tired of cleaning up needles. Most of the bottom branches are stripped bare of needles from the dog wagging her tail and knocking them off. It's hard to yell at your dog for being happy...

We're burning in our wood stove again. DH took the pipe off and looked up (instead of looking at the top) and said it looks pretty dang clean from this side. I don't know what's up -- I'm clueless when it comes to this stuff. So, I just nod and do what he says, lol. I have to admit to really enjoying the amount of heat we get from the stove as opposed to oil heat. It keeps the house very toasty.

Today, I'll make sugar cookie dough and let it refrigerate overnight. DH actually wants to help decorate them, so we had to wait until he had a day off (which would be Christmas Eve). He's never expressed interest in decorating them before, so I'm puzzled, but happy. It'll be good for him to do something like that with DD.

Otherwise, we're good to go for Christmas!

==========================

You Are Red

You are a passionate, outgoing, and intense person. You are naturally joyful. However, you tend to be quite intense, and your temper is easy to spark. You are confident and a real go-getter. You don’t fear or expect failure. You are a very lucky person. You are destined to be prosperous – if you aren’t already.

Are You Red or Green?

The First Rule of Blogthings Is: You Don't Talk About Blogthings

Except for the "naturally joyful" part, this is pretty close.

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Monday Morning Meme and More!

I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn't itch. ~Gilda Radner



1. Does blogging make you fat? Do you find yourself sitting around and eating more since you started your blog? Or do you get so caught up in the whole blogging routine that you forget to eat?

Let me just make one thing very clear: I never forget to eat. I wish I did now and then, but food and I? We are tight. BFFs.

Now, it's not BLOGGING that makes me sit around on my rapidly increasing rear -- it's the LASR/WC website. Yeppers... that sucker is very labor intensive, and it's all computer based. So, yikes. One of the ladies who is participating in JaNoWriMo can write and walk on her treadmill. I need to figure out how to do something like that!!

2. The one topic I will not touch on my blog is __________. Why? What sorts of topics do you receive the most comments on? What sorts of topics do you receive the least number of comments on?

I don't talk about politics or religion -- too easy to get a flame war going on either of those things. I have very, very strong views on both subjects, but don't feel the need to share them here. And, typically I get most comments on topics of a personal nature (like my post, below, about Dakota passing her Good Citizen class, for instance). Least number? My guest bloggers. I guess it's because my readers don't KNOW the person, so unless something specific really resonates, they don't feel the need to comment.

3. Spring is coming. How is your wardrobe? What sorts of clothes do you usually wear in the spring? Where do you normally shop for your clothes? How successful are you in finding clothes for yourself?

I just bought four new long-sleeved T-shirts at the LL Bean Outlet's President's Day sale -- everything in the store was 30% off (be still my heart). Spring and winter clothing isn't all that different for me... temps here still stay cold until May, when I switch to summer clothes. The only real difference is the jacket I wear when I go outside (no more heavy winter coat, now I'll wear my lined windbreaker or fleece jacket).

I typically try to shop for my clothes at higher end stores, but from the sales rack. The fact is, you really do get what you pay for, and a T-shirt from WalMart is utterly different than a T-shirt from LL Bean. OTOH, the frugal side of me refuses to pay $29 for a T-shirt -- so, I wait, and I watch and I scoop them when they are $8 each (oh, yes I did!). I shop at Macys and Kohls and Lands End, but only from the sales rack. I truthfully don't even LOOK at the full-priced clothing.

Yes, I am cheap frugal and wise.

And, finding clothing for myself is very, very difficult because I really dislike the styles (and have for the last 5-6 years). I don't like tight clothes (and, dear heavens, do normal people look good in those skin tight shirts? The answer, folks, is NO.), and I have long legs and arms and no waist to speak of. So shirts? Finding them not tight with sleeves that actually go down to my wrists? HA. And pants? If they fit in the waist, they're baggy in the butt. If they fit my butt, they're so tight in the waist I can't breathe. And, I'm not even going to talk about the fact that most of them are practically Capri's on me.

Oh. Woe.

4. We should treat every day as a special gift - we’re alive, right? What made this past week special for you? (And if you’ve already talked about that special something on your blog, then think of something else - something little perhaps, but had a big impact on you or your loved ones).

These questions are so hard for me. I'm a naturally negative and depressed person, so it's not instinctive to look at the bright spots. Um... Hey, Dakota passed her Good Citizen test!! And, we didn't lose power last night, despite the fact the lights flickered and we lost our satellite signal. Those are good, right?

============================

We did get whomped with snow... several inches of the heavy, wet, white stuff. And, yes, our lights flickered a bunch. I was a wreck. I don't know if I'll ever get over losing power for so long during the ice storm in December!

I woke up this a.m. around four and couldn't hear the hum of the fridge. I leaped up and checked the lights. On. Phew.

I don't take electricity for granted ANY MORE.

============================

Isn't it Ironic?

“Humor brings insight and tolerance. Irony brings a deeper and less friendly understanding.” - Agnes Repplier

So... last night, Dakota actually slept through the entire night. Normally she wakes up at least once, sometimes twice, to go potty (and she always goes -- both, uh.. types), so I've been hoping she'd let me sleep for a change.

She did.

My DH did not.

DH seems to have caught a cold once again, only this one is all about coughing. And coughing. He tried to be thoughtful and sleep on the couch... but I'm a light sleeper and still heard him.

So... Me? Up all night. Dd? Slept like a baby.

*sigh*

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Yesterday, my SIL took DD for a bit and DH and I went shopping very, very early. It was good... we got pretty much everything we needed. Yay. I have only a few things left, that I'm going to get at the Agway New Hampshire store... then off to the post office this week and DONE.

Well... except for my cards.

=========================

So... I'm going to try to share a "tightwad" tidbit once a week, since you guys seemed to enjoy it. Maybe on Tuesdays since it sounds so good together *G*.

=========================

You Get Enough Sleep

Although sometimes it make not feel like it on Monday morning... You are getting enough sleep. Want to sleep better? Try wearing socks to bed and turning your clock to where you can't see it.

Do You Get Enough Sleep?

Wait... wearing socks to bed? HUH?

Actually, I can't STAND having socks on when I sleep...drives me nutty. And I know I don't get enough sleep, sorry quiz.

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Shopping and Saving Money...

Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money. ~Author Unknown

So.... yesterday, DH was working from home so I took the opportunity to go running around without the dog (or worrying about her cooped up in her crate for too long). DD wanted to go to the mall. I thought -- heck, it's NOT the weekend, and it's early in the morning, it shouldn't be too bad.

WAS I EVER WRONG!

You know what? They may SAY people are spending less, but I'm here to tell you that they are NOT shopping less. Every single place I wanted to go was packed. No parking at WalMart (seriously... NO PARKING) so we didn't go in. We had to park out in the boonies at the L.L. Bean Outlet. People were circling the parking lot at Barnes and Noble waiting for a space to open up. They had so many construction barriers up to "guide" traffic at the mall that I couldn't get to where I wanted to go. We finally just gave up.

Amazing. Now I remember why I like to finish my Christmas shopping early. I'm paying for it this year. I wonder what great gifts they have at the grocery store?

======================

On Thursday, Maria Zannini mentioned a bit on her blog about how to be frugal in this time of high prices and low (or no) income. I made a few comments there, but she suggested I make a couple more here.

You see, my DH and I try to balance living for today with planning for tomorrow -- and that's not always an easy thing to do. I don't believe that pinching pennies so hard you're miserable and never enjoy anything is a good way to live.. because, after all, this life could be over in a flash! So enjoy it ... but enjoy it wisely.

My DH's coworkers think he's loaded with money. After all, we own a home, have nice vehicles, a boat, a snowmobile and I am able to stay home with our daughter. We must be rolling in the dough. Right?

Wrong.

But we live by this bit of advice: Don't buy it if you can't afford it.

Sounds simple enough... but it isn't. Aside from our home, which has a mortgage, we own everything. No loans. No credit card debt. We lived on hand-me-down furniture and thrift store clothes (actually... we still do! LOL), but we waited to buy what we have until we could pay for it outright. We scrimped and saved and cut corners.

Now I sound like I'm preaching. That's not my intent! But folks look at my pretty, shiny, clean 4Runner and think it's brand new. It's NOT -- it's actually a 1992 with 250,000 miles on it. We bought it outright eight years ago and take really good care of it (I'm fortunate that my DH was a Toyota mechanic before going high-tech).

We seldom eat out -- that's a HUGE chunk of change, isn't it? And, the food we eat prepared at home is usually food I've gotten on sale. Except in cases of great need, I don't buy it if it's not cheap. I'm blessed with a basement (half of which is for food storage) and a big, box freezer. The freezer costs $15 a month to run, so I took time to decide if I was going to save that much money on meat, bread, veggies, etc. I do.

I buy the loss leaders, and little else. Rinaldi spaghetti sauce on sale for $1 a jar (I never pay more than that)? I buy 40 jars. Canned corn on sale 3/$1? Woot! Give me a case. Best time to buy meat (here at least) is on Tues and Thurs -- because on Tues, they're trying to get rid of what didn't sell over the weekend, and on Thurs, they're trying to clear out to stock up for the weekend. Chicken breasts on sale for $1.50/lb? I'll take six packages -- DH can eat off those for months. So, instead of paying $50 for a meal out, I can translate that $50 into a week's worth of meals or more.

Clothes for DD? I buy next years at the end of the season this year. A winter coat? No problem... got it for $10. Snow boots? $5/pair, so I buy three sizes. She's good to go for awhile now.

So, now when DH wants to go snowmobiling up north, I don't worry so much about the cost of gas. DD wants art lessons? Okay. Obedience class for the dog? No problem. I want to buy a couple of books? Toss 'em in the cart.

We have money for the extras, because we don't LIVE on "extras".

Comments? Thoughts? What do you do to make ends meet?

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Have you entered to win an autographed copy of "One Love for Liv" yet? Why not?

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You Are Chicken Noodle Soup

You are a traditional and conservative person. You value the past, and change frightens you. You are very loyal, especially to your family. You prefer a low-key life, with lots of time spent at home. You like soup because it's easy, quick, and cheap. You tend to have a favorite soup you stick to. Why change a good thing?

What Kind of Soup Are You?

That's mostly right -- except I make all kinds of soups! I love soup... mmmm....

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Black Friday

The only reason a great many American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments. ~Mad Magazine

It's Black Friday... and I'm staying home. We actually buy very little for Christmas (my in-laws are weird about getting gifts -- in fact, one of the little ones who is five y.o. told my DD yesterday that it was rude to talk about what you wanted for Christmas), and there are seldom any sales big enough on something I actually really want that can incent me to join in the madness.

You?

We had a quiet Thanksgiving. DH, DD and I stayed home for dinner and then DH and DD went to his folks for a couple of hours to hang out with the rest of the family. Dd isn't feeling well again (still?) and has been vomiting again (still? And, mostly she does it in the middle of the night, **SIGH**) so I stayed home with her and watched several of the 23 episodes of NCIS (repeats... USA is having an NCIS marathon) and worked on self-promotion for a change. I'll have several guest spots in December and January -- some interviews, a guest blog and more. I really don't love self-promo, but you gotta to do what you gotta do!

Speaking of self-promo, am I the only person in the world who can't figure out how to upload and utilize my own images in Vista Print?

I have most of my office put together, and should be able to take pictures of it in the next couple of days. Amazingly, I think I might be okay without the missing bookcase, at least until I buy any more books... not sure yet, as I still have some stuff to put away, but *maybe*.

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You Are a Reluctant Shopper

You really don't enjoy shopping. For you, it's just another chore. You approach shopping systematically. You research what you're going to buy and come prepared with a list. Of all the types, you are the most likely to not buy things you don't need. You try to de-emphasize stuff in your life. You find shopping and buying things to be a rather empty experience.

What Kind of Shopper Are You?

And that is why you won't find me at the Black Friday sales...

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The Weekend Adventures of Marianne

If God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport. ~George Winters

Wanted to do a meme. Couldn't find one that interested me this morning. How sad is that in this blog-world of endless memes?

It's just that I'm terrifically tired...again. I should start doing my blog posts at night instead of in the morning. I did that during NaNoWriMo, and it worked pretty well (Note to self: Write blog at night).

The shopping trip between DD and DH was a stupendous failure. DH simply doesn't understand how to shop. He said, "I walked up and down all the aisles and asked her if she wanted to get you something." **sigh** What he should have done was say things like, "WOW! Look at this! Wouldn't Mommy love THIS?" and DD would have said, "Do you really think so?" And would have held it up and examined it, and thought about it, and then made her decision. In a "world" as big as WalMart, it would have been overwhelming to try to decide on something.

And, so, DD still doesn't have a gift for me for Mother's Day. She's going to be devastated. Maybe I'll make up a little list of things and give it to him, and send him out the door with her again on Saturday. Sheesh.

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I did a bit more editing on "Playing House" yesterday. I'm at the point where it's going to need major overhauls and just plain WRITING instead of REwriting. Originally, I had my hero propose to his girlfriend (not the heroine) over New Years, and the heroine found out and was destroyed by that and lots of stuff happened as a direct result. Now, I have him engaged as the story begins, so all of the fallout from the engagement won't work. Thankfully, I did think of a new and different (and hopefully exciting!) conflict to put in its place, but it will be a matter of writing it out, and then hoping I can get it to mesh with the rest of the story that follows.

I really, really, really hate editing. And this story needs more than most since it was the first I'd written (as an adult) and is well behind my learning curve.

That's okay. I think (I hope) it will be worth it.

==========================

Yay! The weather is supposed to be decent today!! Maybe, just maybe, I'll actually get some work done outside. Yesterday it POURED down rain until about five o'clock.

We had to take the in-laws truck back to the airport last night. They're flying in today. So, we dropped it off in the same parking lot and then headed to the exit. There was a line of cars. I went up and asked the guy what was going on. Seems his computer was broken and he was waiting for someone.

I said, "I've been her for two minutes, can't you just let me drive out over there?" and I pointed to the other little gate house that was closed.

"Nope."

"But I don't owe you anything. Look at my ticket."

"Nope."

So we sat. And we waited. We were endlessly amused by Dakota, though. Where we sat was right on the edge of the runway, so planes were taking off and landing constantly. And the dog was fascinated. And excited. She'd start to quiver with excitement the moment she heard a plane engine and would look out her window until it went in front, at which time she'd look out the front window and then run to the other side and stick her head out that one until the plane was out of sight. Then she'd hurry back to her window and do it all over again.

Do you suppose she thought they were big birds? LOL...

In any case, after a REALLY long time, they finally got the problem fixed. When it was my turn to go, he ran my ticket in and said, "Two dollars."

Uh. No.

Now, I realize it's just a lousy two dollars, but I didn't owe them anything. I reminded him that the only reason the computer said I owed was because I'd had to sit in line for EVER.

He didn't know what to do. Thankfully, the guy who had come to help him fix the problem DID, once we got his attention. While he was waiting, he grumbled, "I should be on break."

I looked at him and said, "And I should be HOME."

Grrr....

The airport. Always an adventure, even when you're not flying.

We're taking Dakota back for a field trip next week.

*G*

==============================

Your Slogan Should Be

Marianne. Champagne for the Brain.

The Slogan Generator

Long Arms and Lo Mein

Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well-informed just to be undecided about them." — Laurence J. Peter

I've been looking all season for a new sweater or sweatshirt that fits. This shouldn't be this much of an ordeal. I'm an average sized woman ... or so I thought. The sweaters are all, without exception, body-hugging, show-every-roll, snug. Why do people wear those things? Even slim people look fat in them. And the sweatshirts? Is it possible that I have abnormally long arms? Every woman's sweatshirt I have tried on hits me mid-radius.

Is it too much to ask to find something that fits, that I don't have to buy at a boutique? Yes, boutique clothes do fit me properly, as they should, but a $200 sweatshirt isn't in my budget.

I can (and do) wear men's sweatshirts, because they fit me... but somedays I just really want to look like a girl.

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I made teriyaki veggie noodles for dinner last night. I made a TON, because they're labor intensive (lots of chopping and separate cooking of things), but they're so GOOD. My DD did a little dance of joy when I told her that was what dinner would be.

Do you ever think you'll die if you don't eat a particular thing? I HAD to have teriyaki noodles last night. Had. To. Nothing else would have worked. Once the thought popped into my head, you could have paraded a hundred different dishes in front of me, and I would have refused every one.

Those kind of cravings don't hit me often, but when they do? Look out...

And, no. I'm not pregnant.

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I got my final proof for "One Love For Liv". Nothing like taking it down to the wire. I need to hump it, and get it checked through... but, to be honest, I'm really kind of sick of looking at the story. I've read through it about ten times since I signed the contract. And, while I believe it's a good book, after awhile even good books get a little old. Especially when you're reading for grammar and typos and not for fun.

I also got final edits on "A Change of Heart". I'm ready to put that story to bed, too.

I really need to get humping on something new. Erhm... I mean, I need to finish my mystery. (Really, Jen, that's what I meant!!).

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For those inquiring minds... yes, I will post all of my virtual tour stops. The complete list will be on my website, but I'll post a link to that list here in a sticky note AND I'll let you know, day-by-day where I'm going to be so you can come visit. I don't want to be alone! :-)

I still have some dates available, if you're interested in hosting me. Hint. Hint.

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The Daily Dakota... keeping up with the big kids!



You can't see it, but she has her leash in her mouth. Baily used to do that, too. I wonder why? It's only when they run... odd...

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What Your Dreams Mean...

Your dreams seem to show that you're a bit disturbed... but nothing serious. You may have a problem you're trying to work out in your sleep. Your dreams tend to reflect your insecurities. You have a very vivid imagination and a rich creative mind.

What Do Your Dreams Mean?

Muh-ha-ha... I am DISTURBED. Actually, I think I'm just a little nuts. Aren't all writers?

Saturday Sunshine

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together! ~Author Unknown

If only the sun was hot enough to melt the snow. I took pictures yesterday, because it really was quite pretty -- and I managed to get the photos done prior to my DH driving the snowmobile all over the lawn, so it looks relatively pristine (not so anymore). It'll be sunny again today, and they're expecting rain (RAIN! Woot!) tomorrow since we're having a heat wave (a high of 44 degrees -- so warm, my DH suggested we let the wood stove go out, LOL).

Today, I have to work on some deep cleaning. Scrubbing of the floors and the bathrooms. Shampooing the carpet. DD will get the job of wiping down the doors, door knobs, lightswitch covers, windowsills and heater vents.

Fun times at my house. Wanna come over?

Tommorow, since it will be gloomy and wet, we'll do the baking--snickerdoodles, thumb-print cookies and cake mix cookies are all planned. I might make some sweet bread as well (pumpkin or squash). We'll see. I'm also considering some homemade dog treats for Dakota.

DD and I realized that she has NOTHING under the tree for her daddy, so we're heading to WalMart (UGH... on the last Saturday before Christmas, yikes!) this morning. I'll pick up some Fluff and sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips while I'm there and make fudge. Yeah, baby. That sounds like a GREAT idea.

How are holiday preparations coming at your home?

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Today's random quiz:

Your Mood is a 4

You're feeling a little down, but not totally bummed out. Your mood is on the low side of average.

How Does Your Mood Rate?

That's pretty much right on the mark. You?

Last Minute Christmas Shopping

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give thee, the more I have, For both are infinite.” – Juliet in Romeo and Juliet

I'm on the hunt for hot, hunka-hunka burning love quotes from Shakespeare. Got any (besides the one, above) to share?

A couple of days ago, I'd asked for help with a last name for my newest heroine.

And the winner is GROOVY for her suggestion I make my heroine's last name start with a "D". Sunny-D. Yeah, bay-bee.

Thanks, Groovy. I hope you don't mind that you won nothing but my eternal gratitude. I owe you one.

Actually, I think Groovy did more than share her ideas... she shared her snowblower woes. Yesterday, in the midst of one DOOZY of a snowstorm, our snowblower decided it would no longer throw snow.

This is not good. I mean, it's not like we have a huge driveway, but it's a pain to shovel. I'm tired. I'm sore. I have to scoop the deck and walkway as it is, not to mention a place for the pup to do her business, since the snow is over her head.

I'm just not up to helping with the driveway, too. Hopefully, my very handy DH will figure out what the problem is, since we're expecting MORE snow this weekend. Dear heavens.

At least Judy is giving me a great vacation for Christmas.

And... in the same spirit, I'm going to play her game. I'll use the folks who comment most regularly...

A new fun way to shop for friends (and I stuck to the letter of the law and only used PAGE ONE... tough stuff. I don't understand how Judy got great vacations for all of us...Anyway...)!

1. Go to Google images and type in the screen name of somebody who leaves comments on your blog.

2. From the first page of images pick a Christmas gift for that person.

3. Do it for seven or more people

For Dru --
a hot love affair:


Or a hot wood stove... your choice.



***********

For Melissa --

Shoes!!



***********

For Tori --

Google thought you needed a critter in your life... you choose!




For Allie --

A trip to St. Thomas!! Woot!



For Diane --

A lovely set of horses...



For Groovy --

The coolest car EVAH...



For Ceri --

A tough call. Should I give her a great dog?



Or handcuffs?



*************
Another random quiz:

You Should Be With a Water Sign!

Your best match is a Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces Why? You crave intimacy and connection in your relationship And while most guys can't open up enough for you, a Water Sign can Not that you're whole relationship will be soul gazing A Water Sign matches your goofy sense of humor - and desire to help others.

What Sign Guy Should You Date?

Don't tell my Sagittarius husband...OK?

Booking it With Preservatives

A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. It is one of the few havens remaining where a man's mind can get both provocation and privacy. ~Edward P. Morgan

BOOKING IT THROUGH THURSDAY:
PRESERVATIVES

Today’s question comes from Conspiracy-Girl:I’m still relatively new to this meme so I’m not sure if this has been asked yet, but I’m curious how many of us write notes in our books. Are you a Footprint Leaver or a Preservationist?

ACK!!! If it's not a school textbook I never, Never, NEVER write inside. I'm one of those freaky people who even try to keep from breaking the binding on my paperbacks. I don't dog-ear the pages (dear heavens, I feel faint at the thought of it). I have a definite book buying budget, and since I'd prefer to not have to rebuy books that I love, I treat them with deep respect.

You?

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First off, thanks to everyone for your kind words about my latest release! If you did purchase "The Christmas Curse", feel free to return to the Wild Rose Press site and leave a review...

And, did you enter the contest to win "The Christmas Curse" or any of my backlist? It was easy-peasy to do! Simply join the LASR "Let's Talk About Romance" Yahoo group and post a message--any message--between now and Friday, midnight eastern time. I'll draw a name from the posters to win, Win, WIN!!! If you already own all of my stories (and, hey--why wouldn't you??), I'll buy your choice of any other short story (miniature rose or rosette) from TWRP.

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So... yesterday I took DD to the mall. She's in need of new pants (this is quite an ordeal that I won't get into, but suffice it to say we didn't find any to purchase). By the time I left however, I was about to smack someone -- forget road rage, I'm talking mall rage.

What is UP with those blasted vendors who rent carts in the middle of the concourse in the mall? Why, WHY do they feel the need to grab at me as I go past and slather various lotions or whatever on my hands. Why, WHY won't they take "no, thanks" or "I'm all set" or "I'm not interested" as an answer? Why do they keep talking and follow me halfway to the next corner???

If anyone from those little carts is reading this, I have one thing to say: Leave me alone. If I am interested in your product, I'll come look. I even bought something from one of you yesterday -- this person simply sat at her register, answered my question when I had one, and LEFT ME ALONE. Most of you, though? You're worse than telemarketers. You're worse that those little buzzy no-seeums that pester me all summer long. Worse than the tick I pulled of my dog last night. I wouldn't buy your product if I was dying a long, painful death and your product would give me immortal life.

It makes me want to never, ever go to the mall again. In fact, if the store had an outside entrance, I would never walk down the Concourse of Annoyance again. Truthfully, I will give it much thought before I return. I can't express to you how truly awful my entire experience was. I took to ducking inside stores and lurking a the window until I saw those people busy attacking someone else, and then running out as quickly as possible.

Geez.

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Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What Color Is Your Brain?

No Booking Today

"Death and taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them" - Margaret Mitchell

Well... I actually remembered it was Thursday, and was going to Book It, but at the time of this blog post, there wasn't one up for today. That's sad. Worse, now what do I write??

I splurged yesterday and did something I don't do very often: I bought myself some new clothes. Shocking, I know.

Fact is, I have no problem buying clothes for my daughter or my husband... but I always feel like buying stuff for me is an extravagance. I don't really need it. We should save the money for something more important. I'm sure Freud would have a field day with that.

But, I actually DO need clothes for the winter. I went through my stuff, and I don't have all that much -- not even enough for a different (warm) outfit each day. So, yesterday I went to the LL Bean outlet (and, I will admit, I actually went to see if they had something for my DH's upcoming birthday) and found a turtleneck, a long-sleeved shirt and a sweater. All very nice, solidly made and pretty (Mom, I got a sweater in that neat coral color I love!). Better -- I scored a deal! So, I only feel a little bit guilty...

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Writing went well yesterday, as I'm sure you can see from my post below. I admit to horrifying Michele, though. I mentioned that the really bad guys killed off an entire family, including a *gasp* BABY! She said I couldn't kill off babies in my story. I told her that it happened off screen (off page?) and you never get to know the baby, if that made her feel any better.

True, it was very unlike me--I'm all about protecting kids and critters. But, this had to be done.

Today, my heroine faces the man who lead the charge against the family who was killed: a family that belonged to her.

That man? Guess what? He's my hero.

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Okay, off to write! Have a great day (and check out the blog (you'll have to page down to older reviews), the site had two contests here and here, and many other author contests. And, if you see an author with a contest, send 'em my way--I want to list them on the site!

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Your Inner Pop Princess Is Hilary Duff

"I'm shedding Shedding every color Trying to find a pigment of truth Beneath my skin" You're sweet and cute, but a little more complex than that.

Who's Your Inner Pop Princess?

Who knew??

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Edited to add: I took off word verifcation from the comments, because I find that I HATE TO DO THEM, so I don't figure I should make others do it. We'll see if the spam increases. If it does, I suppose I'll have to put it back on.

Fingers crossed.