The small things add up

The husband and I have been making small changes in order to save money on our bills each month. Here is what we have done so far: 

Back in the fall we decided to look into our auto insurance and found that if we simply added the husband to my current account we could save a decent chunk of change......so we did! 

In December we had the gas company come out and install 'water saver' faucets on a few of our sinks, a shower head in my bathroom and a programmable thermostat. This was a free energy saver program through our gas company and was supposed to help us cut down on water usage and save on the amount of gas we were using to heat the water heater and use the furnace.  This was a total failure.  I haven't figured it out yet, but since installing these new features our water bill and gas bill has gone up a significant amount. Failure!

Today we decided to tackle our phone, internet, cable and see what cost savings we could come up with.  By eliminating our home phone (which we have used about 5 times in 2 years) we only needed to price out plans for cable and internet.  After much research we decided to cancel our comcast and go with direct tv.  We are going to save $100/month by this change...Success!

What other small changes could we make?  What have you done to put a few extra bucks in your pocketbook each month?

Debating what to do

I'm having problems with this little blog I call mine!  I started this blog when I was planning my wedding as a way to document the process, keep my wedding party informed, and keep my ideas in one place.  Now that my wedding has come and gone I'm having a hard time finding anything to write about.  Well, anything I consider "blog worthy".

And the posts that I so desperately 'need' to write about I can't, because I don't want to air my dirty laundry knowing that people who know me in real life could easily read it.

So instead,  I ignore this little place I used to call mine.  I don't know what to do....

And not that this is a popularity contest, but it is always nice to read the comments people leave, but as of now I think I only have 2 individuals who even stop by anymore.

So there you have it....It's not that I'm ignoring you oh, little blog of mine...it's just that I don't know what to write about anymore. 

What should I do?

Health Issues

Since December I've been having some health issues.  After a CT scan it was discovered that I had colitis and my colon walls were severely thickened and inflamed.  I was treated with some antibiotics and scheduled for a colonoscopy. 

Yesterday was my colonoscopy and the colitis is still showing up, which surprised the doctor because he was assuming it would be gone.  He took some biopsies and I will go back in February for another consultation.

As of now they are assuming it's either Crohns Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.  I am currently being treated with medication for ulcerative colitis and depending on the biopsy results this could be long term....like the rest of my life!

The good news is that there were no signs of cancer!  After having cervical cancer it's always a scary thought whenever something major happens in terms of my health.

So now I am playing the waiting game again.  And let me tell you....waiting sucks when it comes to your health!

M.I.A

My, oh my....it's been nearly a month since I've posted here!  Where has the time gone?

Well, for starters...I spent close to 10 days very ill.  I am currently working with a few specialists and have some more tests scheduled, but they are thinking I either have Crohns Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.  Not fun....

Christmas came and passed way too quickly for me.  It is by far my favorite holiday but I was so sick that I didn't get to enjoy myself as much as I would have liked.  Oh well, there is always next year (er...this year)

New Years Eve I was in bed before the ball dropped so no exciting news there.

But, what IS exciting is that I am in the process of getting new floors in our house.  The master bedroom, living room and dining room will hopefully be finished in the next week or so.  I'm so excited for the finished product but oh, what a job it has been!  I didn't anticipate this little DIY project to be so intense.  Pulling up the carpet in all 3 rooms, removing staples, removing tack strips, laying underlayment, laying the new wood floor, new base board, removing door trim, putting up new door trim.........ugh, makes me tired just thinking about all the work we have left to do.  But, we are more than 1/2 way there and it looks AMAZING! (and a HUGE thanks to my mom and dad for all of their hard work in making this happen)

BEFORE:

AFTER:


pic from iPhone...not sure how to rotate it to correct position...ugh!

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season and are just as excited for this new year as I am.

Remember 2010

I saw this on another blog and thought it was a neat idea!

Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes.  Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010

I want to remember my trip to Panama City Beach, Florida with one of my good friends.  We were chaperone's for her step-daughter and a friend for Spring Break.  It might have been the first time I was truly willing to admit that I "am getting older".  But the time I spent with my girlfriend was unforgettable.

I want to remember the excitement I felt when one of my lifelong best friends told me she and her husband were finally pregnant after 4 long years of infertility issues.

I want to remember how proud I was of my oldest nephew when he was chosen to participate in the Youth National Leadership Conference in Washington, DC. The joy of knowing he is going to grow up to "be somebody and make a difference" is unbearable.  My cheeks hurt from smiling just thinking about it.

I want to remember my bridal shower, bachelorette party and most of all my wedding day.  These events were truly magical.  The laughing hysterically and being surrounded by the people I love most in the world...oh, what a feeling.

I want to remember the hard work and dedication that my sister has put into her weight loss journey.  The smile on her face and excitement in her voice when she hits a new milestone is unforgettable.

I want to remember being alone and crying after enduring the worst thing that has ever happened to me.  And knowing that I can come back out on top.

I want to remember the phone call I received from my step-daughter asking if she could be a part of our lives again (she did not speak to her dad for over 3 years).  Watching my husbands face light up as I told him about this phone call was priceless.

I want to remember watching my hometown high school football team win the State Championship. 

I want to remember Thanksgiving spent at my sisters house and how a last minute change in plans ended up being a memory of a lifetime.

I want to remember time spent with my girlfriends and family dinners on the weekends.  I want to remember the love I have for my husband, family and friends.  I want to remember the joy, the sorrow, the laughter and the tears of 2010.

All I have is Bullets....

• Today I take both cats to the vet for their annual check up.  This will also be a 2 week check-up for Walker following his trip to the emergency vet for his bladder...I hope I get the news I am hoping for!

• Normally during the Christmas/New Year season I get about 14-16 days off from work.  This year I am only getting 7!  I'm hoping that in those 7 days I can find some time to relax and re-energize!  I'm just exhausted lately and my schedule doesn't allow me a day to veg out until after Christmas.

• I'm addicted to the Hallmark channel....I just love the Christmas movies.  Normally during this time of year I get hooked on Lifetime for the 25 days of Christmas but this year it's definitely the Hallmark channel.

• We are done Christmas shopping all but one person.  I also have almost everything all wrapped and under the tree.  Definitely ahead of schedule considering I'm normally wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve.

• I joined Weight Watchers again last week and they started a new Points Plus program the same day I joined.  It's going to take some getting used to.  I understand the overall concept of the changes, but still have some doubts that the system is actually going to work as well as the old one.  Only time will tell.  I've been tracking my points for 3 days straight and only hope I will continue.  I don't have as much to lose this time, but I should have never allowed myself to get to this point.

• We go a little crazy decorating outside for Christmas and our electrical bill doubled from last month.  We have since added more lights outdoors so I can only imagine what next month's bill will bring.  But, it's totally worth it :-)

• My self esteem has taken a toll lately.  Not only have I gained 14 lbs since my wedding in July, but I am so pasty white.  I can't afford to go to the tanner (and it's not healthy to begin with) and I live in Michigan so it's not like sunshine is available, so I'm feeling a little blah lately.  I even try to wear makeup every once in a while and I still don't feel "pretty".  Ugh...I hate when I get into these funks

• This will be our first Christmas as husband and wife.  I have found that every holiday we have celebrated since our wedding has been so much fun.  Who would have thought that picking out hallmark cards addressed to "husband" would be so exciting!

• I miss my family and friends.  It might be the time of year or it might be that the first half of the year was spent getting together so frequently with them for all my wedding related activities and now I feel like I haven't seen anyone in ages.  I don't live that far from my family or friends (1.5 hrs) but this time of the year is so hectic for everyone.  It's like pulling teeth trying to find a free weekend to get together. 

Fed Ex can suck it

On cyber Monday I was scoping out the online sales and came across a 60"x80" photo blanket that was priced rather decent.  (see image below for idea)

I thought it would be a great personalized gift for my husband by using some of our favorite wedding pictures.  While at work, I took the time to upload all of the pictures to the site and get them in the perfect "collage" setting.

Yesterday I get an email from the vendor stating that my order has been sent to the wrong person and they have issued a refund for the item.  At first I was a little confused so I called the 800 number to speak with a customer service representative to get the details.  As they stated...my item was shipped to the wrong person.  Fed Ex delivered my "personalized" item to the wrong address and to the wrong person!!  Someone (a stranger) is in possession of a blanket covered in pictures of me and my husband!  How could Fed Ex do this?  My NAME and ADDRESS were on the shipment...why would they accept signature from anyone different?  And why would someone sign for a package that had MY NAME on it.  They obviously don't know me so why would they sign for the package!  UGHHHHH.....

I don't know if I'm more frustrated at Fed Ex for their screw up or at the person who signed for the package knowing it wasn't theirs.  If they would have looked at the name/address on the package they could have told Fed Ex they were at the wrong location and then maybe I would have my gift for my husband.  But instead...I have no idea where the item is and there is no way I'm taking the time to make another blanket and upload all those pictures again!

I will refuse to use Fed Ex ever again!!!  It is for this exact reason that my place of employment stopped using them years ago!

First Snowfall of the Season

It's snowing and blowing here today which does not put me in the best mood.  It's our first "real" snowfall of the season.  I always have mixed feelings about the first snowfall.  On one hand it is so pretty but on the other hand, I live in Michigan and people tend to forget how to function in the snow.  My normal 35 minute drive to work turned into a 1 hour 10 min drive to work because idiots forget how to drive in this weather.  It's Michigan people...you should have learned the basics of winter driving.  And if you haven't...GET OFF THE ROAD!! 

On a happier note, my hometown won the high school football State Championship!!  Congrats Tigers!

Bullets

I've been neglecting to blog lately because I feel like there is either nothing worthwhile to talk about or so much to talk about that I can't begin to put it into words.  So today I've decided to update life using bullet points.

• This upcoming Saturday I'm having Thanksgiving with my in-laws
• Thanksgiving day will be spent with my sister and her family this year as the rest of our family has other priorities
• That same sister turns the big "4-0" on Black Friday..Happy Early Birthday Rachel!
• My hometown highschool football team is playing in the semi-finals this upcoming weekend and if they win they will be competing in the state finals at Ford Field in Detroit the weekend of Thanksgiving.  I am planning on going so I'm praying they win this Saturday
• This past weekend I attended a baby shower of one of my best friends.  I have mixed feelings about the day.  I've come to realize that my "best" friends are failing me...I don't know if we are growing apart, if we lack things in common or I've been naive in who I thought they were.  Either way, it hurts to know life is not the same as it used to be.
• I've gained 13 lbs since my wedding in July and I'm having a terrible time getting motivated to lose it.  I hate the way I look, how my clothes fit, etc, but I can't seem to want to do anything about it.  And worse, the holidays are fast approaching which means lots of BIG meals and baked goods.
• My step-son will be living with us full-time starting in December.  If you remember, he was supposed to move in with us before the new school year started, but my husbands ex-wife changed her mind at the last minute.  As of yesterday she has once again changed her mind...
• I am so burned out on life...especially work.  I have never been so looking forward to some time off.  I will have a long weekend next week for Thanksgiving and hopefully 7-8 days off for Christmas. 
• The time change sucks.  I hate that it is dark out before I even get home from work.
• I'm so ready to decorate for Christmas.  I think we are going to begin bringing out the Christmas decor this weekend.
• As I've stated before...I LOVE Christmas music!  A local radio station began playing it on Monday so I even listen while at work.

There you have it...my life in bullets! 

The Soothing Sound of Jingle Bell Rock

I know we are only a few days past Halloween, but I am so ready to start decorating for Christmas!  It is by far my most favorite holiday.  I even started listening to Christmas music at work yesterday.  There is nothing else that can make me feel so warm inside.  I truly believe if Christmas music was played all year long I wouldn't be so stressed.  Case in point...this morning was a hell of a morning when my phone started ringing just after 6:30am with work "issues".  As soon as I arrived to the office I logged onto iTunes and jammed to a little Jingle Bell Rock and all the stress of the morning was gone.  I even found myself smiling a little!

What are some of your favorite Christmas tunes?

Happy Halloween

This week at work has been HELL.  Thank goodness I've got a great weekend to look forward to.

Happy Halloween!

Being a Homeowner is not always Rainbows & Unicorns

I used to love fall!  The change in temperature, the beautiful colors.  That was until I spent 7 hours raking and bagging leaves yesterday.  And this was just my back yard.  I ran out of steam before I could finish the front yard.

There are 40+ of these lining my curb at the moment...I hate Fall

Needless to say...today I can barely move!  My lower back hurts, my legs hurt and my forearms hurt!  It is a task I hope to not ever do again...or at least not until next year!  I will be paying a neighborhood boy to finish the front lawn because I just can't do it.

It is times like yesterday that remind me that being a homeowner is not always rainbows and unicorns!  It is hard work...

Halloween

I was going to post pics of our house all decorated for Halloween, but due to the fact that Blogger is doing maintenance and image uploading is disabled, I am unable to do so.

Instead, I would like to know what your favorite/best costume is.  Husband and I are going to a costume party this year and it's been forever since I've worn a costume.

TGIF

I'm so excited to be inching my way towards the weekend.  TGIF!!

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the football God's and how they saved my marriage

I am from a small town where football brought us great fame by holding the national record for "most consecutive wins" in the early 1970's.  Our 72 straight wins was beat by Concord (California) De La Salle Spartans football team when they piled up 151 consecutive victories between 1992 and 2004.

When you grow up in a town where all you know is "football" and the only place you want to be is near the football field and the only day of the week that ever really mattered were Friday game days....You tend to take the sport a little serious.  And by "serious" I mean "IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN FOOTBALL SEASON!!!"  The crisp fall air, the cheerleaders, the coaches, the announcers, the fans, the hot dogs and hot cocoa....I'm giving myself chills just writing this.

And being that I am from Michigan we grew up not only loving our beloved Tigers from our hometown, but LOVING the Michigan Wolverines.  For as long as I can remember my Saturday's have been dedicated to college football.  And thankfully, my husband is also a Wolverine fan or else we just might not have been deemed compatible in my eyes :)

We got engaged on 10/9/08 and when we started wedding planning we thought it would be a great idea for our wedding day to be exactly 2 years later which would have been this Saturday 10/9/10.  Thankfully, a year into our engagement we decided to change the date, due to Michigan weather and how unpredictable it can be this time of year.  Our July wedding was perfect and given that it's been freezing in these parts for a couple weeks now I'm so happy that we chose against it.

But, truth be told, there is no way on God's green earth I would have been able to get married tomorrow!  Tomorrow, Oct 9 is the big rivalry game between Michigan and Michigan State.  The Paul Bunyan Trophy is at stake here people....and tomorrow is the Wolverines chance to regain possession of the trophy!  This is HUGE....maybe not as "huge" as say, a wedding would have been, but you get the idea!

Just another incident where I believe "everything happens for a reason".  I think the Football God's had a hand in changing our minds about our wedding date!

GO BLUE!!    HAIL TO THE VICTORS!!

My Life...In Quotes





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D-Day

The next 24 hrs may go down in history as the hardest day of my life.  Please pray for my strength to get through.

The Bagette

Every year my hometown has a women's golf tournament called "The Bagette".  My mom has been golfing in this tournament since the first one (about 18 years).  About 4 years ago she needed someone to fill in for the 4th spot on her team so I did it.  And no, I did not do it because I like to golf, or am remotely good at golfing.  (I've only golfed 4 times in my life with this year being the 5th)  I did it because it sounded like so much fun to spend the day with a bunch of fabulous woman having the time of our lives.  And that is exactly what we do....have the time of our lives!

Here is a look back at our Bagette days....(for some reason I don't have any pictures from 2009)

The Bagette is tomorrow and I can't wait!!!

In my opinion, it's disturbing

For the record....this is MY opinion.  I do not expect everyone/anyone to feel the same way as me!


I was reading a story today about a family of a newborn baby who are asking for donations of breastmilk after his mother died unexpectedly one week after giving birth.  Although my heart is broken for this new dad and sweet baby who will never know his mother, I just can't get past the fact that this father will be giving his baby breastmilk that came from complete strangers.

There are no laws or guidelines against doing this which seems utterly ridiculous to me.  How do you have any idea what your baby will be ingesting?  Who know's what kind of diseases or substances could be unknowingly/unintentionally passed on to this baby.

If a stranger on the street walked up to you and offered you their breastmilk for your baby, would you take it and give it to them?  Without knowing anything about them, their habits, their health, etc.

I think it is very kind of so many mothers to want to help, but I have to say, that for myself, I would never consider giving unscreened breastmilk to my baby.  Not that I have a baby...or have ever had a baby, but just sayin!

And as I stated above...This is MY opinion!!  And maybe if I were a mother I would feel differently?  I don't know.

blah

That's exactly how I feel lately....blahhh!!  I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to get out of this funk lately.

I am not happy with life right now and so I just try to get through each day the best I can.  I know it won't always be like this, but I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I feel like I don't have that "get away" place I so desperately need right now.  I am miserable at home, miserable at work and even miserable on my commute between home and work.

Calgon take me away!!!