Happy New Year!

In just a few hours 2008 will be gone, and we'll be ringing in the new year. I don't know about you, but I am very much looking forward to 2009. 2008 didn't start well and it certainly didn't end well, thanks to some personal issues and family issues that have been ongoing. I'd say that 2008 was best between the months of May and June, and the rest just went up you-know-what creek without a paddle.

For 2009, I am resolving to do more for myself. I want to shop more, spend more time doing things I enjoy (like shopping and blogging about it, lol), and I want to sleep more!

What are your resolutions for 2009?

Shopping for Christmas is exhausting

My husband complains about being tired because he works about 45 hours per week, and commutes a half an hour each way to work. Pfft, tired? I wish I only had to do that, come home, pitch in here and there around the house and take out the trash. I work full time -- from home, which makes it harder to concentrate and focus and get work done. I have two children, a lively girl who is four, and an autistic, in-the-throes-of-the-terrible-two's two year old. And then there is the everyday housework to keep up with.

Christmas has just been crazy this year! It has been the best in terms of having the money we need to buy presents for family members and friends, but it has been very tiring because we have a lot of people to shop for.

Are you doing most of your shopping online or offline?

Doctors Should Have Bed Side Manners!

When I was growing up I always wanted to be a nurse. I would play with my Dr. kit and, practice on all my stuffed animals. I would even throw on a make shift coat imitating a Dr. I don't know where that dream went but, I am always amazed at the Dr.'s today. I love my Doc and wouldn't trade her for the world. Every time I see her wearing one of her womens lab coats or scrubs, it reminds me of when I use to play dress up. You can tell who really loves their job by the way they treat their patients. Some Doctors out there shouldn't even have a license. The ones that just sit there and nod, and, pretend they are listening to you. No bedside manner, if you know what I mean. Shouldn't there be a license for manners if you are a Doctor or trial run before you actually become one? I think some of them out there just care about the money not the patients!

Titanium Rings Makes a Great Holiday Gift!

What's more fun than shopping for that special someone in your life? The hardest part is choosing something that means a lot. I found that titanium jewelry can fill that I really care about you feeling without you going broke. Let's face it these are hard times but, you still deserve to give and receive the very best in life right! That's why I love titanium jewelry. Very affordable over all other metals, and, are of great quality! So, this is whey I choose to buy titanium rings for the holidays for that special someone on my list!

Cool Trumpette Baby Socks!

My favorite pick for kid's today would have to be the Trumpette Baby Sock collection in "Jungle Critter!" These are super cute and make a great choice for gift giving! These cool looking socks come in six different prints, already to give in a cool looking box and are under $25 bucks! You can even add a few cool baby clothes to the gift at this price! Check out Sandboxcouture.com for some fun baby gifts for all the little ones on your list this year! I'm sure you will find something that you will love!

Baby Furntiure that is up to Standards!

When it came to buy baby furniture for my little ones I always wanted to be sure that they were safe, constructed well and, of course cool looking! That's why my favorite pick of the day are the ducduc cribs that are made of natural woods, meet all standards of safety, durable and made in the good ole' USA! Find your next crib for your little one at Babybox.com!
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Shopping for baby clothes

So here's one thing I've learned about baby clothes: even in the same brand, sizes can vary. The exception is Circo, which is a brand of baby clothing and toddler clothing that Target carries. Most of what my four year old and two year old wear is Circo, and whether it's pants, shirts, undershirts or socks, the sizes are always consistent.

Generally speaking, better brands of baby clothes will run true to size. More importantly, they are made of high quality materials, so they will last.

Where do you shop for baby clothes?

What Girl Doesn't Love Pink?

Do you love pink as much as I do? Whatever shade is your favorite whether it be from the palest to the hottest shade of pink you have to see the choices of wedding favors in pink! My girlfriend is planning her wedding all in pink and I was thrilled to find all these pink wedding favors and, reception decor for the wedding!!!!
This is totally her! Check out these super chic little mannequin shaped guests soaps that will go great for the reception. I cant wait to show her all the cool stuff I found for her!om the atelier.

Baby Shower Favors!!!

So while I was looking around for some baby favors for my my next baby shower, I thought I might really want to go with something unique this season, something most people don't think about but yet relates well to the baby theme. Well I ran across these great personalized tea bags that are just the best! Not only are the appropriate for baby showers, but nothing beats tea on a cool autumn morning or evening. I cant think of a better gift that both reflects the baby shower and yet is useful too!

Holidays are Here With Biscotti Dresses for Girls!

Adorable Little girls Biscotti Dresses for the holidays are available at Sandboxcouture.com! New Designer Biscotti Dresses include the new Biscotti Red Bubble Dress, Biscotti Navy Indigo Moon Dress, and, more! Biscotti dresses for Infants and Little Girls. Dresses by Biscotti for little girls are pure elegance. Find that one of a kind, perfect dress for weddings, parties and that special occasions!

Stylish and Affordable Mens Wedding Rings

Get an awesome deal on laser engraved mens wedding bands! If you are planning a wedding this and, are on a budget these mens wedding rings are a perfect choice! You don't have to sacrifice style and, quality for a superb looking mens ring! Many of my friends and, I have purchased both of our wedding bands from Titanium-jewelry.com. Both for the great choices, uniqueness and, quality of these types of rings! This place will do you justice by guaranteeing their jewelry for a lifetime, plus offering a lifetime sizing program! You can't go wrong with them!

My Favorite Thing to Do!

It's never to early to start that Holiday shopping right? I have always been the type to get a jump start on things, especially for my rather large family. I'm always looking out for cute baby clothes, and accessories that I can over stuff stockings with! We have over a dozen little ones in the family and, I figure Christmas is all about the kids, and, that's why I spoil them! I love stuffing those stockings with little toys, candy and, little warm socks! My husband thinks I go a little overboard, but, I get so much more back when I see the kids go through their stockings and presents. The looks on their little faces are priceless. That;s why I'm called their "favorite Auntie!"

Yamaha for Men?

Typically when you think dirt bikes, motorcycles or Yamaha Rhinos, you think men right? Well when I went riding for the first time on a Yamaha Rhino, I was astounded by the percentage of women out there. No, I'm not sexist or think riding is only for women, look at Sarah Whitmore for example... I was actually quite happy to see all the women out there with some tricked out Rhinos too! They really must have gone out with their Yamaha Rhino accessories to customize their quads. Hopefully we'll see more out there!

A New Baby?

I have been pondering the thought of having another child. I am not sure yet but, I'm getting the itch to have another one. I always come across all those cute baby clothes, and toys and, that feeling comes up. The feeling of the little baby in my arms again. My daughter is on her way to the "big girl" status and no longer sleeps in a crib. It makes me sad to see the empty crib and, bassinets sitting in the garage. I think it may be time to talk to my better half about my thoughts of increasing the family size! I think two is a good number for kids, and, one of each sex would be ideal. I would just be happy with a bright, healthy happy baby! We will see what the hubby says tonight!

Change of season means more baby clothes

So, fall is officially here. Yay! I love fall. The autumn season has always been a favorite of mine. It used to be that fall was something I associated with starting a new year of school, going back, something new, something fresh. But since 2000, I have happily associated fall with the beginning of my relationship with my husband, Daniel. We went on our first date on August 16th, 2000, but because he was leaving the area for his first year of college, I didn't see him after August 22nd, not again until mid-September. The following year I took tour buses and trains out to Pittsburgh to visit him, and the year after that I moved with him to Pittsburgh. Oh, and two years after that our daughter was born. And lastly, the year after THAT we conceived our son. For those still playing along, that's 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. ;)

Alyssa is all ready for the fall. She really hasn't grown too much since last year (just upwards!), so all of her pants from last year fit her just fine. She inherited my short legs, so at least this year most of her jeans won't be dragging the ground. I seriously have to roll up the cuffs on 90% of her pants. It's ridiculous!

Ryan, on the other hand, not so ready.... he has new shirts, about ten of them. But he needs pants. I wasn't sure what size pants he had leftover from last year, so I decided to wait on buying new ones until I checked out his drawers. Well, I went through them yesterday, and he's down to one pair of jeans and two pairs of cargo pants. Ridiculous! That kid grows too much. He was wearing 24mo/2T in the summer of 2007, here we are in the fall of 2008 and 5T fits him now. In comparison, Alyssa is wearing 5T loosely, and she's almost two years older than him. Well, that's my chunky baby.

So guess who has to go shopping for more baby clothes. Or should I say toddler clothes, since there's nothing really BABY about a whopping 5 in toddler sizes!

Psst... anyone else who has a horse-sized toddler like mine, check out eBay for onesies. I found a bunch (new! in packaging!) by Gerber that are 4T! I'm stoked!

Baby shopping is time consuming and expensive!

I think one of the most exciting things to shop for is a new pet or a new baby. I recently got a pug (four months old, female, beautiful, very well behaved and well mannered), and shopping for her was a lot of fun. But there's only so much to shop for for a dog. A baby, on the other hand, requires a lot of preparation! Baby furniture is just the tip of the iceberg, and even that is a lot. Cribs, playpens, strollers, car seats, high chairs... then there are the optional things like slings, baby swings, cradles, bassinets. But the fun stuff, the REALLY fun stuff, are the baby clothes, diapers, bibs, towels, and accessories like pacifiers, diaper bags and diapering essentials, breastfeeding supplies, toys and musical CDs.

When you think about it, it's amazing that there are literally thousands of items to buy for a new baby. I know we spent a decent chunk of change and time on new baby things for Alyssa. With our second child, we didn't have to get the big things, but we needed a lot of new baby clothes and childrens clothing, since we were having a boy, and obviously he wouldn't look too good in pink or purple. ;)

What was your favorite baby purchase?

An Angel in White

I attended an official baptism of one of girlfriend's baby girl. I had no idea what went into this ceremony. From the baby dressed immaculately in a white christening baby gown in white with lace, she looked like an angel. I felt so overwhelmed with emotion to see something so beautiful and, pure. All I heard was the little whimpers of this tiny little baby when they sprinkled the holy water on her head. I think the husband's family was so into this ceremony. I had really no idea what was going on. Even though I think I was baptised, I wasn't familiar with the whole process. I just know that everyone was so solemn standing up there dressed in their best, as the priest read his prayer. I was relieved when we hit the reception. Not so serious, and, the baby slept through the whole thing in my arms, so precious!

Fall in Love With These Baby Clothes!

I'm always on the look out for good deals. Especially when it comes to dressing my kids. I want them to look good, and, get the clothes that are more high quality. I have found that designer baby clothes deliver much better fabric, and craftsmanship. I tend to do look for these qualities over the less expensive brands. Not that the kid's don't have enough to wear, but, these type of clothes will still look good when they grow out of them and, someone else can wear them in the family! I found yet another favorite store that I will no doubt be visiting again! Estella-nyc.com has classic pieces that will surely go with everything else in my kid's closets! They have some original finds from all over the world that I truly appreciate! Check out their children's clothes selection and, I'm sure you'll fall in love like I did!

Go Steelers!

Go Steelers! My husband and I lived in Pittsburgh for a little under two years. Actually, he lived there for three and a half years -- he moved there for college in August of 2000, and I joined him in August of 2002. We moved back home a year and a half later, just a few days before Christmas (yes, driving a uhaul from one end of the state to the other during the mad last minute holiday rush was INSANE. I promise we'll never repeat it!).

I loved Pittsburgh. It's going on five years since we left that city, and I still miss it. City life is a pain and expensive, but it's convenient and it's definitely quaint. Of course, I think I reflect more upon my memories of my husband and I together more than I do about the city, but it's still very special to me, and I would like to go back to visit.

One thing that really got me about Pittsburgh was the borderline RABIDNESS people had in terms of enthusiasm for football and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pittsburgh Pirates got some attention, but NOTHING like what the Steelers got. You would think it was an official holiday, the way people would dress up in nfl jerseys. The freakin' stores would even decorate, and employees (I worked at a K-Mart and a Target) would be strongly encouraged to wear the team colors (black and yellow).

Football never has been my thing, nor will it ever be. My husband enjoys it somewhat, so I'm thinking of getting him some kind of official jersey. I might even get a youth NFL jersey for our son, so they can dress up and be all GO TEAM! together.

I want those clothes for my son!

When I was pregnant with my son, before I knew that he would be a boy, I really wanted a girl. I convinced myself that things would be so much easier with a girl, particularly with clothing. I have two school-aged brothers, and I see the hassle my mom goes through year after year, trying to find suitable boys clothing that isn't so dark, dreary and/or sports or camouflage oriented.

Well, I know that I'm going to be shopping for European kids clothes for my son! Unlike regular boys clothing, which is either bright, dark, sports oriented, camouflage covered, or just plain tacky with huge cartoons and such, European designer clothing is more traditional. Plaids, pastels, stripes, checks... the kinds of things I want to dress my sweet baby boy in!

Beds for our kids

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I decided that I wanted to have a bassinet for her. I thought cribs were too big, bulky and overwhelming for such a tiny baby. Furthermore, a crib couldn't exactly be squeezed into a small bedroom, or put alongside a bed. I thought bassinets were the perfect choice, because they're small and often portable, thanks to most of them being equipped with wheels.

Well, we were both working low paying jobs at the time, had the expenses of moving and buying the more necessary baby furniture (car seat, stroller, high chair), and so we didn't have room in our budget for a bassinet, let alone the small and often expensive baby bedding that we would need to outfit it.

Imagine my surprise when my husband's grandmother invited us to her house when I was nine months pregnant with our daughter. She gifted us with a bassinet that was filled to the brim with baby clothes, small baby toys and baby books.

I wound up giving away the bassinet to a pregnant co-worker a year later, which coincidentally was just a few weeks shy of me getting pregnant with our son, but it worked out for the best because we were able to borrow a cradle for the first few months of his life.

Now all of the baby things are gone, including cribs, bassinets, cradles and baby bedding. My daughter is turning four in October, and my son just turned two in July. Needless to say, they're both in regular beds - twin beds!

Baby clothing shopping: boys vs. girls

The best part of having a daughter is being able to dress her up in all of the great little girls clothing! I have a son as well, and I must admit that the selection of boys outfits is never as nice as what I can find for girls! Don't get me wrong, I can find nice childrens clothes for both of my kids, but the good boy stuff is few and far between. My biggest complaint with boys clothing is that everything is dark and dreary, camouflage or sports themed, or plastered with tacky illustrations and television and movie characters. Is it so wrong to want to dress your little boy is nice, sweet little boy apparel?

Now girls clothes on the other hand... a walk in the park! Last week alone I was able to find my daughter a pair of metallic silver jeans, dark blue denim jeans with silver sparkles all over them, and some great tights in the baby clothes section at Babies 'r Us.

Where do you shop for clothing for your children? I know that Gymboree and The Children's Place are often recommended, but there have to be some other nice stores as well! I love Carters clothing, but sadly their sizes don't go beyond babies!

Crystal Studded Diaper Covers!

What an adorable diaper cover for baby! These personalized baby clothes make the perfect baby gift for newborns! Complete with the baby's birth month designed in crystals in the birthstone color of the month! Available in a cake or crown design for birthdays or showers! These cute diaper covers can be found at, Smarteepantsclothing.com!

coolstuffcheap.com!

coolstuffcheap.com has some really, REALLY neat stuff. I can think of many scenarios where their fog machines and lava lamps would be perfect: dorm rooms, a teenager's room, even my three year old daughter's room (well, the lava lamp). A fog machine is a great thing to have at parties, particularly themed and Halloween parties.

The company also carries neon clocks. These are things you don't see except in bars, retro restaurants and in music videos. If you like these clocks, definitely check out coolstuffcheap.com!

Save money when shopping for baby clothes

So, here is my secret for shopping for baby clothes for two toddlers without breaking the bank: shop between seasons. It sounds like a strange thing to do, to wait until the end of summer before buying summer clothes, but I promise you you'll save a lot of money, and here's why: stores push the season merchandise before the season begins. This means that by the time summer is nearing an end, the retailers need to get the fall and winter clothes out on the floor. So they clearance all of the summer merchandise to get it out of the way.

Shopping between seasons for baby clothes and childrens clothes works with retail stores, specialty boutiques, and online stores like sandboxcouture.com. They key is waiting for the right time. For spring and summer clothes, check out stores in July and August. For winter clothing, check out stores in March and April.

By shopping between seasons, you'll save as much as 75% on clothes! Here's an example of what I picked up last week: four pairs of toddler girls' shorts, four tank tops, and two pairs of toddler boys' shorts. Guess how much I spent? Ready for it? $30. That's right. $30! Thanks to the items being on clearance, I spent an average of $3 per item. These clothes are normally priced anywhere from $3.99 to $12.99 each. :)

He's almost two!

My son turns two on Saturday. I would be lying if I said that these past two years haven't gone by fast. I know a lot of moms often lament that the baby and toddler days seem to drag and drag, but for me they really flew. Of course, having a busy life and another child assisted with that. My son has a sister who is going to be four in October. I also work from home. And since my son's birth, we have moved twice, dealt with a lot of family drama and changes, and have kept busy doing family things. For instance, in the last seven weeks we have gone swimming at least a dozen times, gone mini-golfing four times, have seen three movies (Hancock, Wall-E and Dark Knight), celebrated three birthdays, went to an amusement park, and went on vacation to the NJ shore.

So, two. What do two year old little boys want for their birthday? That's the question I have been getting from family and friends, and I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the answer. I mentioned clothes and/or gift certificates to a few people, simply because my son is going to need fall and winter clothing. His age really hit me then: two. Two means no more baby clothes. Two means shopping in the little boys section, graduating from 4T and 5T to x-small and 4/5.

Moms, let me tell you: the baby and toddler years go by very quickly. Make sure to stop and enjoy the little moments of them!

One of these days

In April of 2004, I realized that my engagement ring was cracked. Specifically, the band at the very bottom, at its thinnest part, had cracked through entirely. I made plans that week to call up a jeweler to find out how much it would cost to have the ring repaired, but I never got around to it.

Oh hi. Four and a half years later, and the ring is still damaged. It isn’t an issue, except the one or two times I have managed to somehow yank the engagement ring, and the two separate pieces close around and pinch my finger. Do you have ANY idea how painful that is?! Let me tell you, painful. The one incident happened in June of 2005, and I still remember the pain quite vividly, heh.

So yeah, I need to get my butt in groove and call up a jeweler. There’s a local one that advertises free repairs for mens wedding bands and womens wedding bands, so maybe he/she does engagement rings too?

Speclal Baby Tees!

When it comes to getting those really special gifts for baby, don't forget to think about what could be cherished! Babys First Birthday is an important one, and, the right baby gifts need to be special! I love the little t-shirts that can personalized with the child's name. This is something little one's can wear on any occasion, and, is something that they will love! When you need a little help in the baby gift giving department check out Mamabebe.com!

Where to Find the Best Grow Lights!

Make growing plants and flowers a breeze by using simple to use grow lights. These can be utilized indoor or, in a greenhouse to produce some of the healthiest plants around. Not only will can you save on these systems but, you can get the best selection at Accessdiscount.us! They carry residential lighting and, grow light systems for commercial use as well!

mamabebe.com

Whenever I know of someone who is pregnant, my first thought is of what type of baby gift to get them. I love giving personalized baby gifts, because personalized ones are unique and stand out from the rest. Diaper bags, high chairs, boxes of diapers and onesies are always nice, but what about personalized piggy banks and other keepsakes? Those are definitely unique gifts that won't be soon forgotten.

mamabebe.com is a baby apparel and baby gift website that has all sorts of baby things. You should definitely check them out!

Check out Smartee Pants Clothing!

Smartee Pants Clothing has some really adorable things. It's horrible when I have extra money sitting in my PayPal account, because then I start checking out sites like these and thinking about all of the cute things I could order for Alyssa or Ryan. Ryan in particular should definitely get a little something, since his birthday is just a week away. :)

So... money in my account, nothing to do but shop... what am I looking at? Well, I know that Alyssa would love their rhinestone tees, particularly the one featuring a crown and her name, or even Princess or the heart or cupcake. Their personalized children’s clothes are adorable, and I'm getting some ideas for Alyssa's birthday... I'm thinking a birthday girl t-shirt? I bet she would love that!

Moving on from Alyssa, there are some really nice baby gifts then I can picture as being perfect for a friend of mine who is due to deliver any day now (speaking of her, I'm going to call in the morning to see how she is doing!). If she wasn't so far along, I'd consider buying her some designer maternity tees to show off her baby bump with.

You know, I'm really glad I didn't know about sites like these when I was pregnant with Alyssa and Ryan! Otherwise I don't know how we'd have the money left over for baby gear and diapers and clothes. ;)

Shop wisely

I am an avid bargain hunter. When it comes to clothing, I try to shop in between seasons. This means shopping for winter clothes in February, March and April, and shopping for summer clothes in October, November and December. At places like Fashion Bug and Lane Bryant, this can mean saving as much as 75% -- or more! I can't tell you how many times I would walk out with five bags worth of clothing for less than $300.

For electronics, I can't stress enough the importance of price checking. Compare prices between eBay, Amazon and Buy.com. Also use a site like PriceGrabber to compare prices on just about anything.

Finally, don't forget the stores you actually walk into! Target, Staples and Office Max often have great deals on items and clearance racks that you won't find online!

The Baby Borrowers

I just finished watching The Baby Borrowers. The show has a really neat concept: set up a teenage couple in a house and hand them a baby to watch for a period of three days. The house was completely furnished with regular furniture, baby furniture and food, and once the teens got their clothes and such unpacked, their child was brought in. Obviously there were safeguards in place: a nanny available 24/7 to shadow if need be, and the parents themselves could watch what was happening in the house at all times, from another house right across the street. But generally, the teen couples were on their own with their charges.

So this week's episode featured toddlers. I can definitely sympathize with the frustration level some of the teens experienced. Toddlers ARE frustrating. And yeah, they sleep 10 - 14 hours straight, rather than the horrible little cat naps that tiny babies do, but they are SO much more active during the day.

Heh, I think this is my new favorite show. Have you seen it?

Some ramblings for you

I have to pee. I'm thirsty. I'm desperately craving chocolate. But I don't feel like getting up, my glass isn't within reach, and there's no chocolate in the house, and my mom has my car so I can't even go out to buy chocolate. Le sigh.

Alyssa is up. She slept late today and didn't come stumbling out until almost noon. I need to hurry up and get her into bed though, because tomorrow morning we all have to be up and ready to go out the door when Dan needs to leave for work, and that's at 11am. We need to leave a few minutes earlier, so that Dan has the time to grab his check and take it to the bank. Since we've all been sleeping in, getting up at 9:30am (me) and 10:15am (kids) is going to suck. But, sigh, we'll deal, somehow!

So, what does everyone have planned for the weekend? I plan on taking a part of my paycheck and shopping for mens rings, and paying bills. For the rings, I'm looking at titanium, but I also like tungsten rings. I know, I'm so exciting. ;)

I don't want to look at commercial lights!

If you want to excite me, take me to Target. I love that I can get almost everything we need from there. The only exception is plus-size clothing for me (I'll take Fashion Bug any time!) and food beyond the basic gallon of milk, loaf of bread or frozen pizza. I'd say that 99% of Alyssa's clothing and 100% of Ryan's clothing came from Target. I buy socks for myself at Target, and all of my husband's clothes from Target.

Now, if you want to bore me to tears, drag me to a hardware store like Home Depot. Nothing will put me to sleep faster than lumber, paint, plumbing, commercial lighting and carpet swatches. Though I try to make the most of the time there and keep myself lively by checking out some of the neat gadgets they'll often have near the cash registers.

What is your favorite store?

Baby bedding and baby urges

So I had been yapping about a neighborhood yard sale that was held on June 28th. I had every intention of participating, but I was so wiped out from our vacation, driving home and getting settled back in at home (we came home on Thursday evening; the 28th was a Saturday morning) that I skipped it. In hindsight, I should have put a bunch of stuff (baby bedding, baby toys, a few infant outfits) outside with a donation box and let the neighborhood have at it. But I didn't. And now the stuff is still in my house. And I'm sure that half the neighborhood is pissed with me for not doing my part and turning out with crap to sell. Oh well. The downside is that every time I look at the baby stuff I want more babies!

To be honest, we have lived here for a little over a year, and aside from the people on either side of our house, I have no desire to really meet and mingle with anyone else. Not the guy across the road who we had an issue with over a basketball hoop, not the woman next door to him who bellows like an enraged yak for her teenage boys, and not the family on the other side, the husband who is very nice (he helped my brothers and I push my mom's stalled mini-van down the road) but the wife who stares daggers at me every time she sees me (apparently me leaving a plate of cookies on their porch as a way of saying "Thanks for helping me push a mini-van!" is synonymous with, "Hi, can I steal your husband?" ), or the other parents of cretins whom they never take responsibility for.

I'll just keep on being that snobbish, uppity neighbor that I'm sure everyone thinks I am. :P

Tungsten rings

Since titanium-jewelry.com has a coupon good for $25 worth of savings floating around (use coupon code CS25 to get yours!), I'm checking out some tungsten rings for my husband. He has expressed some interest in black titanium and tungsten. I think I like the tungsten personally.

In addition to black titanium and tungsten rings, titanium-jewelry.com also has a huge amount of jewelry available in regular titanium. They carry rings for men and women, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories.

Stop smashing his flood lights!

When I was a kid, I never had to think twice about not touching property that wasn't my own. From the time I was very young, it was drilled into my head that it was absolutely unacceptable to venture on someone else's property or touch property belonging to someone else, unless I had their direct permission.
I'm obviously grown now, but those teachings have stuck with me, influenced me, and are now being handed down to my children. My daughter knows that she is not allowed to touch another child's toy or go onto the property of any of our neighbors unless she was specifically invited to.

But so many kids are missing this crucial lesson. A prime example is the neighborhood where my grandfather's home is at. Twice this year his flood lights have been shattered, and I know that it's irritating, misbehaving kids or even teens that are responsible for it. My mom and I make attempts to drive by and check on the home at least twice a week, but unfortunately we've never caught the jerk(s) in the act.

Sometimes I really worry about how the children of today and tomorrow are being raised. So many parents don't want to crack down on their kids for the basic things -- such as staying off the property of others, not vandalizing or trespassing, etc. If these little but common sense things are being overlooked, what does that say for the big things?

Save money at titanium-jewelry.com!

Every now and again I post about titanium-jewelry.com. Well now I'm back and blogging about them again! As you may know, Titanium Jewelry is a leading company in the titanium and tungsten jewelry market. They also have jewelry available in black titanium and even palladium. They carry a large, high quality selection of mens wedding bands and womens wedding bands, but they have plenty of other jewelry as well, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings and accessories for men (cuff links and the like).

Anyway, I came across the following coupon today, and thought I'd share it with you all!

Use the coupon code CS25 to save an instant $25 off of any purchase of $69 or more at titanium-jewelry.com!

Summer is whizzing by

I want to do something special for my husband. While we both work and probably log equal amount of hours most weeks (yes, I am that busy working from home!), his job is much more physically demanding than mine, and definitely more stressful. Plus there's the driving time to and from work, and I know how much he hates to drive.

I have one idea in mind, but it would take a lot of planning, and a significant amount of money. It's something I hope to pull off by the end of the summer. I'm so tempted to just jump and do it this weekend, but unfortunately those pesky little things known as "bills" always want to be paid first.

Today has been a really quiet day. I did some blogging, started a new book (check out my Good Reads to see what's on my reading list!), read some of the confessions at True Mom Confessions, and did a bit of research on titanium rings for a writing project I wrapped up just a little bit ago.

I need to get geared up for July and then August! Ack! Summer is just whizzing by. My son's second birthday is in two weeks, and then we have a swim party to plan for on August 5th. Whew!

titanium-jewelry.com has mens wedding bands

When my husband and I planned on marrying, one of the last things we did was go shopping for wedding bands. It was easy enough to find a wedding band for myself, as the selection of womens wedding bands was impressive. But finding a wedding band for my husband turned out to be a bit more challenging. We did finally find one, but not without a lot of hassle and running around.

I wish that we had known about titanium-jewelry.com. Their selection of mens wedding bands is incredible. Better yet, not only are these rings very stylish and well made, but they're also affordable! Many of the mens wedding bands available cost less than our monthly car payment!

While titanium-jewelry.com's specialty is titanium, there are also mens wedding bands, rings and other types of jewelry available in tungsten, black titanium and palladium. Styles range from classic to contemporary, with solo rings, sets, and even tension sets.

The Moses basket

A moses basket is a unique, comfortable and very safe haven for your infant to be. The moses basket looks exactly like you would expect it to look: a long wicker basket that is padded and lined with soft white or other pastel linens, wide and deep enough for your baby to be comfortably nestled in, with sides high enough to keep him or her protected. All moses baskets feature sturdy, strong handles which you can use to transport the basket with.

A moses basket is a great choice for keeping your baby with you, while still keeping him or her safe, comfortable and content. Take the moses basket around the house with you, or on the go! A moses basket makes a perfect accommodation for your baby at the park, on the beach, or at home in your own back yard.
Moses baskets are very popular choices for many mothers, and it's easy to see why!

Trendy Baby Furniture

Nurseryworks baby furniture is well known for its modern and, hip designs. I love the clean and mod lines of this furniture because it not only functional but cool looking! This line is also sought after a lot of the A list celebrities as well! Now we have the chance to decorate like the stars do! This is why I love this decor!

Enhance Your Golf Game!

In the golfing world, there is quite the buzz around the mens drivers these days are really doing the job on the green! The Tour Edge Exotics XCG fairway is been known to do some amazing things in the high end club market. Looking for an edge to your golf swing, try one of these mens drivers out!

Put Together an Easy Shower Favor!

I have quite a lot of ideas when it comes to putting together special cards, invitations, and announcements. I have always loved arts and crafts but, it seems with my busy schedule, it can be hard to find the time! I need to put together some cute baby shower favors! I actually went to the local craft store, but, soon saw that I would have to buy more than I really needed! I didn't know that I could go online and, find the perfect amount of supplies, that are all ready to put together! I found this cute little cookie cutter theme, that comes complete with the ribbon, and a sweet little recipe! What a great idea! Hey, the mom to be isn't the only one that gets a gift!

A Surprise for Baby!

These bassinets are just beautiful! I have been browsing everywhere online for a simple yet, elegant bassinet for my best friend. I really wanted to give her something for her new baby that she could use and, adore! These Lulla Smith bassinets are anything but, boring. They come in soft color choices of spring green, white, pink and pale blue. I love the blue, it will go perfectly in her beige and, yellow nursery! I'm so excited to see the look on her face when this arrives on her doorstep!

Who's Your #1 Fan?

Cool looking NBA gear like this Reebok Onfield fitted camp hat are available through this nba shop, Sidelineapparel.com. Looking for some great gift ideas for dad? This is the place to hit. The selection of NBA apparel, official nfl jerseys and more are a great way to let him know your his #1 fan!

My Choices in Titanium Wedding Bands!

Wedding bands these days come in all shapes, sizes and, metals. I have owned quite a few of them. I would have to say that this titanium split band with the diamond set is one of my favorites! You can even choose the size diamond you prefer too! I really like the look of the wider band too. It would even go nice with a thinner band as well! Its fun to look isn't it? Titanium-jewelry has some really nice new ones they just released too! I will have to check those out as well!

An Ulitmate Pick in a Mens Ring!

This would have to be one of my favorite picks in mens wedding bands!

Tungsten rings have to be the ultimate in mens rings! Due to the unique shape and, high polish design, these are ultra durable! Inlaid with platinum and make for comfort, this ring will stand out in a crowd! I would love to surprise my hubby with one of these rings for our anniversary! I think he will love it!

It's about that time

The morning weather here in Arizona is absolutely perfect for golf. It felt like I was drowning in cotton shirts until I picked up some nice golf shirts, most of which are designed to help keep your body cool while you're out on the green. I like a variety of golf shirts to mix and match, and I find that wearing darker colors in the morning keeps me just warm enough to get going, though once the sun hits high noon I switch up to something closer to white. Hey, gotta try and find an edge somehow right?

New Shoes!!!

I found these fabulous Gucci shoes online at www.intrends.com and totally fell in love with them. They are classy and comfy and can take any outfit from blah to beautiful. The selection of designer shoes is amazing. All my favorite designers are available. Gucci and Prada are among my top picks and they have a great selection of both. Check out the sale and get them at discounted prices, but you better hurry before they're gone!!!

New Dress From Ooh La La

Well, I found a dress that is just absolutely adorable. Any little girl would look so cute in this new dress by Ooh La La. I love the style they put in their childrens clothes. this little tutu style dress with tank top is perfect for those hot summer days that will be rapidly approaching. So visit www.sandboxcouture.com and check out the new selection of childrens clothes!

For The Men

I found a great place for the guys to shop. As we all know men love tools and working and stuff like that. Well I found a site that has all the lighting they need for any and every project. www.accessdiscounts.us specializes in commercial lighting, residential lighting, and grow lights. I also found the perfect flood light. It's not home depot, but when it comes to lighting no one can beat www.accessdiscounts.us.

Baby Gifts!!!

We all know I love to shop for baby clothes, but I bet what you didn't know is that my favorite online baby boutique www.sandboxcouture.com also has a great selection of baby gifts. From these beautiful burp cloths to the cutest little teddy bears. If you are looking for clothes and gifts you have it all in one place which makes everyones life more convenient. So check it out and find what you never knew you were looking for.

Heat Wave!

The time has come!!! Bathing suit season is rapidly approaching. Now we all know as moms we hate shopping for swimsuits, but we love shopping for baby clothes and swimsuits. How could you not??? Look how adorable this swimsuit from Kate Mack is. Absolutely adorable!!! And I found a bunch of other adorable ones and some great summer baby clothes at www.sandboxcouture.com. Check out the selection but make sure you don't go overboard, beacausethat is quite easy!

Super Cute Baby Clothes

If you are looking for the cutest baby clothes around check out www.sandboxcouture.com. I love this baby onesie by Ooh La La. Designer baby clothes have made an impact on the world of onesies. Gone are the days of a plain white onesie, today there is style and class to every onesie. Check out the selection of fabulous designer onesies only at www.sandboxcouture.com.

Roxy Clothes!

Are your little girls ready for the heat? These Roxy sandals are absolutely adorable. They go with all the cute Roxy outfits I found at www.sandboxcouture.com. They carry Quicksilver clothes for the boys and Roxy clothing for the girls. Get the little ones ready for summer with the great selection of childrens clothes for summer from www.sanboxcouture.com!!!

My Garden

I always love a beautiful garden. I am always intrigued by the normal everyday gardens at people's homes. I like to see who takes care of their gardens and who doesn't. Another type of garden, that people may have that you don't always see is in a greenhouse. Having a garden in a greenhouse can be tricky at times. You must have the proper grow lights, the proper temperatures and so forth. I think they are amazing, but lots of work. The lighting can definitely make or break the whole greenhouse. That's why I trust www.accessdiscounts.us to provide me with the best selection of grow lights around!

New Modern Baby Bedding

The baby world is expanding!!! I love the new and innovative style that is going into the baby world these days. We have come from traditional to modern and it's popping up everywhere. Like this baby bedding from DucDuc. Hip and modern for those moms who are keeping up with times. Don't get me wrong, the traditional style is beautiful and classic, but modern brings a whole new look to the nursery.

Impecable Taste

Have you ever seen a ring this fantastic before? The beautiful blend of black titanium and regular grey titanium mixed with sterling silver makes it unique. This mens ring speaks volumes in terms of style. www.titanium-jewelry.com has a magnificent selection of titanium rings, mens wedding bands, and womens engagement rings.

Voltra Replica

Check out these blank guns from www.airgunwarehouseinc.com. These guns are all made to the exact specs of the real thing. Like this Voltran Jackal blank gun... The original of this gun was the world's first fully automatic machine gun pistol. This 9mm has 3 modes, safety, semi-auto, and fully-auto. You will not find another one on the market like this!

Easter is coming!

Here it is! The perfect Easter dress for the little girls. I saw this dress and just had to have it for my daughter. www.sandboxcouture.com has beautiful dresses for the little girls. Their grand selection of designer childrens clothes is sure to catch your attention. I'm sure you can find the perfect Easter outfit for your little boy or girl, the problem will be choosing which outfit to get!

Hobby For The Men

This is for all the men out there who love an outdoors experience. With on of these pellet rifles, you could be hunting with a world class gun. www.airgunwarehouseinc.com has the widest selection of pellet guns, air guns and blank guns. This competition pellet rifle from Feinwerkbau is up to par with other olympic level guns. I am confident you will find exactly what you're looking for.

Shopping Online

With the internet having every product imaginable to man, it makes it easy for us to either love shopping online or hate it. People who love to shop online love the convenience and the ease it makes in their shopping lives. Others don't like it because they get caught up finding things they were never looking for in the first place!

So I'll be pointing out some things you may haven't seen, or things that I just love or find interesting that I think everyone will like. Hope you enjoy.

Learning new things!

So I always love to learn new things, and I have a friend who loves to go shooting. I am terrified of using a real gun though. But I really want to learn. So we came up with a solution which would work perfectly I'll be learning with one of those air soft guns. Not sure exactly what they are, but they sound good to me. So next week I will be learning how to shoot an air soft gun! Hopefully I don't mess anything up :)

Fashion for all!!!

So we all know that I love fashion. I've noticed fashion going from adult to children a lot, and then I came across unbelievable fashion for pooches. That's right, designer dog clothes! Have you seen them, the designer dog fashion that has emerged with celebrities like Nicole Richie. Dogs are becoming more and more fashionable everyday. I found the cutest tweed coat for a little pooch and absolutely fell in love with it, I wanted one like it for myself :)

I love sports

With my love for sports being so great, it's only right that I have all the sports apparel that a true fan should have. So my collection includes NFL jerseys, NBA jerseys, MLB jerseys and even college jerseys. I got all my stuff at www.sidelineapparel.com. It's the best site I've found to get all the sports apparel I want and need. I love it!!!

I love putting together baby gift baskets and making them look all pretty and perfect. However, I do occasionally run into a problem with making them look so perfect because I'm not very artistic, but I try! So anyways, I was super busy last week and didn't have time to put together my infamous baby gift basket. I went online and found some amazing baby gift baskets that I could have never put together, so I ordered one. Needless to say my sister in law loved it anyways!!!

Beautiful baby bassinet

Ok, so I didn't have a bassinet when my baby was born, but I'm about to have a niece in about two weeks and I was helping my sister look for a bassinet. So immediately I look online because I like to be able to see what there is out there before I go everywhere and end up with nothing. That's not the point of this however. The point is that I went online and I saw the most beautiful bassinets! I never knew they made such elegant beds (basically that's what they are right?) for babies! Some of the bassinets I saw were jaw dropping beautiful. Absolutely amazing is all I have to say.

Designer jeans

So this website that I get a lot of designer shoes from is now making a surge for the designer jeans avenue. I absolutely love that they have brought in all these designers. From 7 jeans to True Religion jeans to Dolce & Gabbana jeans. The list goes on and on. I can't wait to see what else this website has to offer in the future!

Answer!

So since I've been doing some wedding planning people have been asking me where to get this and where to get that. Before I had mentioned www.bridesvillage.com as a place to get all the perfect wedding accessories. But they have so much more than just the basics. Beyond the centerpieces and flower girl basket and ring bearer pillows they also carry groomsmen gifts and bridesmaids gifts, pretty much anything you need. So I stick with my previous claim about this website being the best to visit to get the things you need to plan your big day. Hope this helps!

New and upcoming designers

Since having a baby I have become obsessed with the latest trends in designer baby clothing. I love finding new designers that I think will be great in the world of baby clothes. They may not be new to the world, but they are new to me and I love finding them. I recently came across a designer baby clothing line called Flowers By Zoe and absolutely love it! Their clothes are so adorable and they make children's clothes also! I love fashion!