Today's agenda? Staining the toddler farmhouse bed for Ethan's sock monkey bedroom!

Updates:


This is just the first coat. Bombay Mahogany (polyshades miniwax) appears red with camera flash so I turned my flash off. Initially it is more of a brownish red color. After about 4 or so more coats with light sanding, we hope to achieve the almost blackish red it should be.

And even if it remains more red? That's okay It will go along perfectly with the sock monkey theme.

Parts of me wanted to keep it natural, but we could never sand the dresser down enough to match it, so they will both be bombay mahogany. And that's fine by me :)

When it rains, it pours (Financially Speaking). Nice Kohl's trip & Friendly People..

This month has been all kinds of insane as far as finances go. Without airing my dirty laundry too much, it's just been a rough 2 years. I try to remain optimistic, but often times I am a down right negative Nancy.

I coupon and buy toiletries and hygiene items super cheap when I can in bulk to save. I only shop sales for the kids and use coupons in junction with sales.

I even love consignment shops.

This month has been major hard on us financially. Like most people, we live paycheck to paycheck. We don't go out (unless it's free) our only real luxury is the internet and cable. Other than that our bills are strictly needed items.

When I get a side job I like to splurge and buy things to fix up the house on a budget. (This is why Ethan's room is still unfinished) - hate being broke;)

But we make do. Or at least I TRY.

So I won't even talk about what the man of the house has wracked up on credit debt (partly because I have never had access to his finances period). Well, my battery in my car died, then my O2 sensor went out, Doug ran up $400 going to doctor (we are with out insurance), then the man of the house got a speeding ticket after I drilled him about speeding just 2 days prior to his ticket (shakes head).

so that is another 350 in lawyer fees down the drain.
I'd rather him pay the 350 to a lawyer than the 202 and plead guilty and have our insurance sky rocket.
Sometimes I feel like all the savings and budgeting I do is in vain when stupid things like this happen.

But, I am going to be thankful it's not worse.

Things can ALWAYS be worse. And we have a roof over our heads, healthy children and we aren't in the streets. - Granted we scrimp by a lot, and neither of us adults have health insurance, things could ALWAYS be worse.

I like to think and believe God does not give us what we can not handle. Although I do feel sometimes I could go and cry for hours (and not just about finances, other things going on).

But, life is what you make of it, right?

So despite all these short comings this week, little things like this make me smile:
My parents randomly get Kohl's cards in the mail for $10 off. They generously give them to me. I usually use them toward the purchase of big ticket items, like winter coats or shoes the kids need.

Today I was in a depressed funk, and I figured I would go to Kohl's and see what I could get for $10.

I was excited to see the clearance racks had shorts and jeans capris marked down so low. MiMi desperately needed some for school, and I found these:
Capris for $6 marked down from $30 & shorts $5.20 marked down from $26

So I knew I had my $10 off card and I only had $3 to my name (yes, I really am that broke). I knew I couldn't go over $12 because that would be just enough to cover taxes (my $3) hehe.
So I got them both for $11.28 - my $10 off card = $1.28 for both!!

That's only 64 cents PER item. And this little thing has made my entire day because it's less stress for me now.

I should also mention, for the first time in a long time in this lovely city of mine, EVERY SINGLE person I encountered today was more than nice to me. The lady at the Cliffdale post office struck up a conversation and she was just so nice. I just have to say that sometimes you can be having the worst day, be totally down and out and a strangers smile and KIND attitude can totally make you feel better.

So to the random lady at the post office today around 10 am, THANK YOU. I don't know you, you don't know me, but the fact you weren't rude and the fact you weren't the typical sales person who doesn't even greet or smile, really helped me today. THANK YOU for caring enough to put a smile on my face and ask me how I was. It meant a lot. I hope your good karma catches up to you :)

Why photography can be so pricey. Example of my work.

I think in comparison to other photographers, I am very cheap. I charge $50-$75 depending on the season. (Generally it's almost always $50). My fees include my time with you and your family or other subjects (1-2 or more hours) photographing.

My time does not stop there. I go home and I edit each photo which takes HOURS of my time - generally an entire night to do a full cd.

You are paying that low fee for MY TIME to photograph, my time to edit and the cd with ALL your edited images, my equipment, etc.

Most people think what I charge is high and say they will go to JC's or Wally World, etc. These places charge a session fee, in addition to a small fee for a package of prints, but to even obtain the other photos (more than one) you will be shelling out some serious cash (up to 15 per image).

And let's face it, the girl or guy is more and likely a minimum wage worker, who is over worked and frazzled and wants you in and out after dealing with children all day. They are on a limited schedule per the studios demands and don't take the time like a freelance worker does.

Now, I know this is NOT always the case, I have had a person bend over backwards in a studio once for us, when my first was a baby. But still, the images you get from a budget studio are what you see is what you get. No editing, no blemish removal, it is what it is.

So here is a little example of the kind of editing I do to show you that I take the time with EACH and EVERY image to make YOU or your subjects look fantastic. I love you! After all, for a brief moment in time, you are my art and I consider you the most beautiful thing :)

Ta-Da:

(click image to enlarge in new window)

The kids are back with a little spoiling :)

The kids came back Sunday evening. It was so good to see them again.
It was also good to enjoy my home ENTIRELY clean for all of an hour before they ransacked it again ;)

What? haha

Mid week MiMi's Gymboree order came. I am pretty pleased with the book bag & lunch box :) As was she:

In addition to the book bag & lunchbox arriving, I used what little money I had saved up from doing a couple photo sessions while the kids were away to purchase some other school clothes.

I went to Ross' & found some adorable tops with necklace's attached to them. They were only $6.99 a pop! Too cute to pass up. We also found some of those glittery sketchers that run for 47 bucks at the shoe store for only 22 bucks. So we snagged those also.

It's always a good idea to get school stuff out of the way a little at a time while you have the money if you're on a tight budget like we are. It has been so hot here that you sweat just by walking outside, so I've kept the kids inside until the heat index dies down some.

I am probably one of the only girls I know who DESPISES summer.
Correction, NC summers. They are HUMID and STICKY and absolutely not something I am fond of.

I will be one happy girl when fall hits. I crave 70 degrees with a breeze. Actually I'd love the 60's to be perfectly honest. Just so long as we aren't robbed of a fall like last year.

Last year the summer stayed till near December. :( No fair! haha.

It could always be worse and for that I count my blessings <3

i LOVE Wally World right now!!

The other day I was on facebook browsing status updates & seen Wal Mart's, mentioning they had Hello Kitty shirts now. I thought this was great because I used to shop Target for it, and surely, Wally would be cheaper, right?

I needed a new mop anyway, since I left my metal mop in diluted bleach for two days and it corroded the bottom bar right off (oops).

I also needed my critter (mice) snap traps (see post below).

Why not check out the new Hello Kitty. I mean, while I was there anyway, right? ;)

So I get my mop, I get my critter traps.
I am looking crazy and anti social because I am not used to being out of the house with out my kids. I mean seriously, I never realized how shy I can be when no one I know is around me. It's almost sad.

Nevermind, I speed walk to the kids isle and find the Hello Kitty shirts. WAY cuter than Target's! I see they are 8-10 bucks a pop. I go ahead and grab two I like.

As I am fixing to leave I see a lone clearance isle with my daughter's boyfriend (haha), Justin Bieber. (Well, shirts anyway). ooooh, clearance! I do like!

I liked even more the price tags were only $3!!

THREEEEE DOLLLLLARS!!?

Gosh, just what a broke mama loves to see!
An affordable Justin Bieber merchandise rack!

I find the two cutest long sleeve shirts I can find and a hoodie.

Then I hurry to checkout so I can hurry up and get home, because God forbid anyone try to socialize with me I will be entirely awkward and embarass myself ;)

She rings me up and my total is only 26 bucks. I don't think anything of it because the cashier & I are busy talking about her boyfriend's er MALE friends love of Justin. And she has me in stitches and I am thinking, well, maybe I am not so socially awkward after all.

Minus the part, I am totally laughing like I am 12 with an 18 year old girl and I am 28. :) Bless her heart!

I get home and look over my receipt to notice the $3 shirts rang up for only $1.50 each! :) and the hello kitty shirts only rang up for $3 each!

My lucky day!! :)

So now my daughter has a couple things I can add to her school clothing pile and I can bargain hunt the rest before school starts in late August.

What do you do when you are kid free?

I would like to imagine, that most people who never get a kid free moment, like myself, would do a wide variety of interesting things.

Me?

Well, I have done the following in the last 7 days:

* CLEAN

* DECLUTTER

* DONATE TO GOOD WILL

* DECLUTTER SOME MORE

* CATCH CRITTERS
(a couple mice came in one night and I had to turn to youtube to learn how to set a snap trap. Apparantley I am too stupid to understand the instructions when reading).

SUCCESS! I did catch all 3, I set more traps just incase, but 2 days later I have no more catchs.  My dad, who thinks he is Billy the Exterminator, tells me "Oh, Jenny, they just come in because it's hot..you know, it's so damn hot".

Thanks Dad. Yes, YES it is hot. BUT, I can not live with critters. They have no bladder so they pee as they critter along, they poop and their poop carries bacteria and virus'. They are cute, but not cute enough to let me let them infest. They populate way too fast. And the worst thing? The critters often carry fleas. So be sure you mop A LOT if you happen to live in an area with fields and you get the occasional critter mouse, because BELIEVE ME, they WILL leave you with fleas if you are not on it! Everytime I have caught them they have left me with a flea problem. BUT, I started to use murphy's oil soap after I catch them and it seems to kill them off. I haven't seen any (knock on wood) in years. I hope it stay sthat way. I mop every other day and it keeps the bugs out. I loooove murphy's oil soap. BUT I love Pine Sol more.

So I will use Murphy's oil soap to kill off bugs and I will use Pine Sol later because it smells so good for a good 3 days :)

But back to critter mice, I do not want them..

FOR ONE, when they go crittering at night they are so loud I think that someone is either:
a.) breaking in
OR
b.) I have ghosts

Eventually I learned that my home mostly remains ghost free, and the dog wards off anyone who comes a few feet near the gate. Critters be damned! ;P

Today, I sanded and painted Ethan's baseboards bright white (for the sock monkey room). Now that I have painted all that, I will need new doors when we have spare change. And his room shall be set up within the next few days :) (still need to stain his dresser).



and I replaced all the old off white outlet covers with bright white.
Which reminds me, if you ever find yourself unable to find a flat head screwdriver (I must of found 10 Phillip's screwdrivers but not a flathead to be found)..just use a tweezer's flat edge.
(I know my hands are ugly, please do not remind me, I have old folk hands) :))

It's hot. It is so hot here. It could always be worse.

Now excuse me while I go finish my sons room and attempt to sing along to "ALONE", by HEART. It is my favorite.

Fotolia.com Review

As a blogger, I often look for new ways to make my blog stand out a little. I have to admit, I like the simple approach as a woman who will be 29 this year.

I was recently contacted by a representative at Fotolia.com who offered me a chance to use the website for free for a month. After checking the website out, I happily agreed to do so.

If you are unfamiliar with Fotolia.com, let me tell you about it!

Fotolia.com is a stock photography site. Unlike other stock photography sites, this site offers more than photographs. In addition to high resolution photographs, Fotolia.com offers, Illustrations, Vectors, and Video.

My favorite would have to be the illustrations & vectors. As I do my own photography, I am really LOVING the variety of illustrations and vectors, Fotolia.com has to offer its users! For instance, if you go to the site and type in the search bar, "cupcake" and click on "illustration and vectors", you will see THOUSANDS of beautiful high resolution images for download!

Do you like my new blog logo? (The girl)? I downloaded her as part of my free trial courtesy of Fotolia.com! :)

Fotolia offers images at rates ranging from .75 for a small image, up to $8 for an XXL (up to 15 MP image) for a single download.

I know, some people may think $8 is a lot of money, but let me remind you that, a photographer would charge WAY more for you to have a full resolution downloadable image royalty free. (I have seen photographers charge in excess of $150 for one single image).

If you are some one who needs access to multiple images, you would benefit from a subscription plan to Fotolia. You will pay a subscription fee, and pay as low as .14 cents per download. Amazing - right?

Who would a subscription plan benefit?

I can give you a really good example. When I worked in a realty office for many years, our office could have really used a site like Fotolia.com for our business. We would hire photographers all the time for use of their images on our marketing tools and campaigns. We also would order clip art that wasn't always a high resolution from online dealers for a lot more money than what Fotolia.com charges.

I sure wish this site was around when I was still working in real estate marketing - it would have saved me TIME by not having to find people for their photography services, TIME not having to scour the internet for the latest clip art Cd's, that were almost always disappointing and LOTS OF MONEY!

Fotolia.com would be an asset to ANY business (big or small) in marketing, for the use of images in flyers, websites, brochures, company letters, thank you cards, etc. The limitations are ENDLESS!

As per someone like me; the common blogger, and photographer, this website will benefit me when it comes time for doing holiday specific blogs, or fun creative blogging. The subscription services for me would not work, as I would not use as many images, but I would gladly pay $8 for a high resolution image when needed from this site!

Still not convinced on stock photography? Head on over to Fotolia.com and take a peak for yourself!

Need a little more push? HOW ABOUT A FREE 2 WEEK SUBSCRIPTION?!

YES, you heard me correctly, A FREE 2 WEEK SUBSCRIPTION TO FOTOLIA.COM!
Jenna over at Fotolia.com has GENEROUSLY provided me with THREE access codes for THREE of my lucky readers to check the site out for yourselves **FREE**!

Your free two week subscription includes up to THREE image downloads per day! Send me an email to girlxmom@yahoo.com with the subject titled "I want a free subscription". I will email the codes out to the first 3 readers who respond.

I PROMISE, you will be just as pleased with the site as I am.

Over all, I would have to say of the 2 other stock photo companies I have used in the past, Fotolia.com has a much wider selection to chose from, way better quality, pricing and a user friendly website. Check them out today, whether you are a fellow blogger, small or large business owner, or someone who would just love a nice image for your own personal use, it's WORTH the look!