Band & Music for Kids

My youngest, the only one left not old enough for band in school, is trying to decide what she wants to plan in band already. Love it! She is trying to decide between flute, drums and sax. We have flutes (my other two girls play), we have snare drums for class (my son is the percussionist) and a whole drum set at home, but we don't have sax stuff - saxophone, case, music, excellent saxophone strap.

She still has a year left to decide so no rush from us. I'm kind of hoping she picks something we already own but we'll just go with whatever she decides. If she won't enjoy it, it'll be a waste of time anyway.

We think music is important and ask that each kid takes one year in fifth grade. If they don't like it, they don't have to continue but all three have continued.

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When do you take your tree down?

Anybody else ready to take the tree down? I am ALWAYS ready to take it down as soon as Christmas is over to get it out of my living room and make space (we're cramped here with six of us). The family wants it left up until after New Year's. Bah humbug! LOL

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Band Geek Stuff

We had a kid in my daughter's grade this year decide he wanted to play trombone. He'd not played it before. All of a sudden, there's a trombone player in the high school marching band. It looks hard to play. How did he do that? Now if he'd stood up in the stands with a colored pbone trombone,that would have been even better!  Get one in the school colors.

My freshman son was the only other snare in marching band this year, other than a high school senior. The other kids in the grades in between couldn't keep up with my kid so he got the other snare spot. How cool is that?

I love watching my two kids perform in the marching band, but I sure am glad not to have to sit out in the cold or rain until next year!

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Earn Money Online Shopping

I was NOT successful with my Cyber Monday shopping. I spent several hours going to different sites to compare prices. I went to my Shop at Home account to see what percentage of money I'd earn back on each purchase (last year, I received a check after Christmas for more than $100 after all the online shopping I did).

I finally placed two orders with Wal-Mart for a lot of stuff (with 7.5% earnings back through Shop at Home of my purchases) and went about the rest of my day, only to see in my email later that Wal-Mart canceled both of my orders. Why? No clue. I went back to try to reorder and found several items that I had wanted sold out but I tried to place another order with what was left in stock with a bank card (first time was with paypal).  Same thing. It wouldn't process the payment.

I'm guessing Walmart had a problem with processing payments on Cyber Monday. My entire morning yesterday was wasted.  My 7.5% cash back through Shop at Home gone. I'm sure they're still offering percentage back today but it probably won't be as high as 7.5%. That's a great cash back bonus to shopping that I'd be doing anyway.

If you are interested in signing up with Shop at Home, this is what you do:

1. Sign up here.
2. Once you get signed up, you enter the store you want to purchase from in their search engine. 
3. They will come back with the percentage back offered and any promo codes/sales that are going on now. 
4. You click the shop or activate tab and then go shop!  

What this does now is give a trackback so any purchase you make, Shop at Home will know and put that percentage of your purchase in your account. Once you reach $20, they send it to you.

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New Business Opportunity For Me

I might have a new work-at-home job.  A teacher in the area has a second business through a college. She offered a job to me with her company. Maybe I'll actually start my own home business, take them on as a client, make some business cards, have cheap brochure printing to start, and get going.

It's an idea. I'm thinking about it. I need to contact her to get more information, find out if I'll need any equipment (I think it's just my computer and Microsoft Word which I have), and figure out how much time I will need to commit to this new opportunity. With four kids, timing is everything.

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Thanksgiving Menu

What's on your thanksgiving menu today?

We are having turkey, sweet potatoes with apples, stuffing (of course), cranberries, corn, rolls, sweet and sour meatballs, and company potatoes (the BEST THING EVER).  For dessert, we are having cherry crumb pie, chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, and a pumpkin cheesecake.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Christmas Decorating - Ready, Set, Go!

We bought our Christmas tree decorations! Every year, we change the color scheme on our tree. Last year, it was purple.  The year before, it was blue and silver. We are using browns, golds, and leopard this year. My girls are getting a kick out of the leopard decorations for Christmas. I am going to do some online shopping at dept 56 north pole online and find more decorations. I am getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I think our tree will go up this weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I smell my mother-in-law checking the turkey right now.  Smells great!

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Great Birthday!!

New car! New car! New car!  That was one of my presents from the hubby for my birthday (the others were a camera and riding lessons).

The car was really unexpected, but it is the one I have wanted for a few years now - right color, brand new, under warranty, with a rear entertainment system for the kids and built-in computer system that I can talk to in order to change the station, bring up the navigation system, etc.  It will even make phone calls hands-free and read texts that come into my phone when I'm in the car. I definitely got REALLY spoiled this year.

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Finally - Fall!

It finally feels like Fall! Autumn is one of my favorite seasons (the other is Spring).  I am not an intense heat or intense cold type of person but I love all the new growth in the spring and how everything turns golden and red in the Fall with the cool mornings and evenings.

Football games in the cool evenings! The crackle of the leaves as you step on them! I could do without my dog barking at every leaf as it falls off the tree at the start of Fall, until she gets used to it, but otherwise - I love it!

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Politics

With all the political upheaval going on right now about the national debt, the government shutdown, immigration, and the Affordable Care Act, I keep it limited to the my political blog (which isn't this one) or my personal Facebook and twitter accounts. I tend to be VERY opinionated, politically speaking, so I don't discuss it on my regular blogs.

If people want to talk about immigration attorney los angeles or the state of debt of our nation or anything else that tends to rile people up in one way or the other, I don't discuss it with neutral parties.

Do you include politics on your personal blog?

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Computer Viruses

My kids messed up my computer last night.  I had windows opening up everywhere.  I thought they'd given my computer a virus but nothing has come up in the scan.  I don't know what they did!  I might have to get a second virus software and see if my current software just isn't good enough.

I use virus software on all our computers. It's a necessity. There is free virus software, software you can buy, software that comes with your internet service.  Make sure you always have virus software running on your computer.  If you don't know a lot about computers, have somebody help you install it. It's SO important.

If you want to research, google virus software, click here for nod32, or ask a family member or friend (post for advice on your Facebook...you will get plenty of advice).

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Violin Cases vs The Cat (Cat Won)

I pulled my daughter's violin case out of her closet to find the stray cat we found (which had babies...which is a whole other story) wet all over it. What? Ew.

She doesn't play that violin anymore but I still have to keep it protected. I've been looking at violin cases at musicians friend to see what I can get to store this pretty, little violin in. I will find another one and put this up for our youngest daughter to play (or maybe a future grandchild).  I don't want to sell it even though it isn't played anymore.

So that stray cat won that round.  The little bugger.  We did end up getting her fixed and finding her a new home where she can't make babies anymore but the damage left behind...ugh.

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"Tramp Stamp" Tattoo

Why is a tattoo on the lower back called a tramp stamp?  I can't stand that label.  

I got a tattoo on my hip when I was 23 or 24 after getting out of a bad relationship and into a better one. It meant something to me. I thought I might get another after getting my weight back to where I want it and my thyroid disease managed correctly (those go together). The only spot I would want another, I think, is on my lower back.  I think it can be pretty, sexy, but still hidden when I want it to be. 

Why call it a tramp stamp?

I am 41 years old, been married almost 18 years, monogamous, and the number of men I have slept with can be counted on one hand.  I'm not a tramp. Yet, if I get the tattoo where I want it, it will be called a tramp stamp.  My stepdaughter is BIG on calling it that.  I looked it up online and found a site where mean actually talked about how if they see a tattoo there on a woman, they think she is easier.  Really? What does the location of a tattoo have to do with anything?  

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Girly Hair Clips

I am going to start making those flower hair clips for my kids. Rather than spend $2.50 or more on each completed hair clip somebody else made, I am going to try to do it myself.  Who knows...if I do well, maybe I can get a little side business going selling them myself.

My oldest daughter makes hair bows out of fabric, hair clips, and a hot glue gun. They're cute and my younger girls love them. Well, except for when one side of the clip isn't glued down right and it goes cockeyed. I add a super glue and clamp it with my finger until dry (should use a small steel clamp...I glued my fingers the other day).

I am also considering opening up a dog kennel if our next house has enough property.  I think it would make a decent little home business. The hair clips would be more of a hobby I think, but a dog kennel would be something I could do year round.

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Life

Less than a month until school starts.  I hate having to set that alarm every morning.  Hate it, hate it.

We had wanted to have the house up for sale by now but...it's not. I guess I am just going to have to go buy the interior paint myself so it is sitting there...waiting for somebody to open the can...and start painting.

Now that our oldest has a boyfriend...again...she doesn't want to move.  *sigh*  When she doesn't have a boyfriend, she is OK with moving.

I WILL get out of this house.  This house was temporary until child support was done.  Now that my husband's child support obligations are over, we can finally move to a house that fits our family.  We have outgrown this "temporary" house.

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Marital Pet Peeves

My husband has been scouring music stores in the search of "the" guitar.  He bought one yesterday.  Of course, it's the third one he has bought since June so I won't believe this is "the" guitar until he's owned it more than six months.  Usually he buys, then sells it.  Then buys another, then sells it.

I guess everybody has one thing that their spouses will do that drives them nuts.  This is my thing.

He's a great husband though so I try to just ignore it all - mostly ignore it all. Sometimes, it just gets too irritating...but I try.  Really.  Mostly. This is my marital pet peeve.

What's your marriage pet peeve?

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Free shipping today only on make-up, perfume and more

There are some great deals at Avon this week here.

First there is FREE SHIPPING direct to you today only.  Use COUPON CODE: TODAY SALE

Some good sales that I am taking advantage of that end today:

• True Color Eye Color Quads are $1.99 each!  I am ordering mine in Caribbean colors.  So pretty. 
• Perfumed Skin softeners are $1.66 each (Fragrance Bath & Body is 3 for $5 under their special offers).  I thought this was a good way to try out all the different fragrances they are offering on sale so I can see what I like. 
• The Fergie gift set is on sale for $9.99.  I've wanted to try to Fergie perfumes for a long time now. I'm going to grab them now while the set is on sale to try the different Fergie fragrances (Viva by Fergie, Outspoken by Fergie and Outspoken Intense by Fergie).

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Enchantments: Jewelry (and coupon code!)

I just opened up a Kitsy Lane boutique (jewelry and more)! It's called Enchantments and includes oodles of jewelry and pretty scarves.

Since I love great coupons, I created one for anybody wanting to shop for some bling.  Right now, you can get $20 off a $45 purchase using coupon code TXHJL7GBKR.

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Insanity Exercise

Look what I started today:

I started with the Fit Test today (and found out I am NOT very fit) and tomorrow I work on plyometric cardio.  It is 60 days of Insanity with Shaun T and I can't wait to see what I can do with my body over the next 60 days.

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RevLocal Small Business Marketing

What is the best way to perform Internet marketing for your business? Do you have the understanding to bring in local business using local search engine optimization? If you are a small business, do you hire a marketing expert to work solely for you or do you save yourself money and contract the job out to a company very experienced in small business marketing?  When people Google your company (or use Bing or Yelp), where do you come up on the search engine page?  Is your business on page one or page ten? Will people looking on these search engines see you on page one and click on your link or not find you on ten and give their business to somebody else? How do you elevate local listings for your business? 

RevLocal has been in business since 1994 and can provide you with a dedicated marketing agent to grow your business on the constantly evolving Internet with a focus on local SEO (local search marketing). There are many RevLocal locations across the United States. They provide many different things with the intent of helping you grow your business:  paid search marketing with search engine optimization and social media management, website development, content creation, and graphic design.

I have been a blogger for several years and have seen firsthand the benefits of using Internet marketing to grow your presence on the World Wide Web.  It can make a difference between success or failure and in today's economical climate, it pays to market yourself online as efficiently as possible.

If you would like to read more RevLocal news (such as how local search marketing increases sales and how Facebook and Google play a role), check out their web site for more information. Your business's bottom line will be glad you did.

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Ex's!

I can not wait until this summer. The legal ties to my husband's ex will be cut forever when my SS turns 18. We will still have to put up with her occasionally at mutual events but we won't have to deal with her where the kids are concerned.

For my stepson's graduation this year, the ex won't even give dad one of the eight tickets the family is given so he can attend his own son's graduation.  Such a nice person!

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PeachSuite Hotel Supply Online

I have a friend in hotel management in Atlanta. I could not imagine the task of managing all the needs of a hotel like she does.  It's hard enough for me to manage my family of six, let alone staff along with rooms and rooms of customers and their varied needs. She says it helps if a lot of your needs can be met at one place at a Hotel Supply Online. She found PeachSuite looking locally for Atlanta hotel supply but PeachSuite ships anywhere within the United States and Canada.

PeachSuite offers most everything you need, such as supplies for: banquet room, catering, dining, equipment, furniture, janitorial, office, signs, kitchen, appliances, linens, disposable items, hotel bar supplies and more. The selection of knives was outstanding - - and kept me busy for awhile checking them out. They also free shipping on orders over $500. What a great deal in savings for shipping!

If you need supplies and equipment for your hotel, resort, or restaurant, take advantage of their free shipping on orders over $500 and stock up for the upcoming tourist season.  Vacations are being scheduled by families now. Get ready for the warm months coming our way!

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My Life Today

It's been a whole year since I posted here. That is so bad of me.

Life has been busy. Let's see what we've been up to the past year...

We had our first family vacation in several years with our four kids.  We went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and had a good time with the kids.

We didn't see our stepkids.  Apparently, they're too busy though  my stepson does keep in regular email contact with his dad so that's good. My stepdaughter doesn't have much contact with dad unless she is mad about something or asking for something.  Four months and the legal relationship with the ex ends (yes, I have a countdown).

We have had some major issues with a boyfriend of my daughter's and had to involve the police. Hopefully, that issue is done with (please, be done).

We have been to countless football and basketball games supporting the kids in band and cheer (and really enjoying the high school sports surprisingly since I am so NOT a sports person).

We are gearing up for our youngest now to start softball for the first time.  My middle daughter is going out for middle school cheer.  My son will be entering high school after this school year is over so will experience high school soccer and band camp for the first time as a teenager.  My oldest tried out for flags instead of playing her flute so she'll do that for football season and has cheer tryouts this week for next year's basketball season already.

That's about it.  I play chauffeur, cook and maid more than anything.  They're growing up so fast!!

I started exercising to Hip Hop Abs by Beachbody last week. It is a really great program if you enjoy the hip hop type moves like I do.  It's easy enough for beginners and fun.  After I get my groove back, I start Beachbody's Insanity program.  Fun times ahead!

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