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I went to bed last night at almost 9pm - which believe it or not, is a little later than usual. I have been waking up during the early hours of the morning, sometimes 1 or 2 and then trying to go back to sleep the rest of the night or sleeping on and off till morning. This morning I woke up at five! This is really good - right at five hours uninterrupted sleep. I could still sleep a little longer, if I could go back to sleep, but I am happy for the eight!
Today is our last day for Friday school for this month. We are studying birds today. I came up with a couple (what I think are lame) of activities and my teaching partner will also have some activities so between the two of us everything should go okay. So, I want be around much today - I guess you will get a break from all of my blog posts!
I don't own a credit card because I am not very good with managing it but I *have* seen those who do perfectly well with them. I think the key is to be responsible and know all the terms and details before you sign up for a card. There is a lot of competition amongst the cards so it is possible to get a good deal on credit cards.
The Cooperative Bank has a number of credit cards that might be appropriate for you. For example, the clear credit card has 11.9% APR* on purchaseds, balance transfers and cash withdrawals and you can get up to 59 days interest free credit if you pay the balance by the due date. The flat rate platinum card also has 11.9% APR with up to 46 days interest free credit (again, if you pay the balance in full by the due date). If you are interested in these cards or some of the other cards offered on their site, be sure to visit for more details.
*Details accurate at date of publishing. Sponsored by Co-operative Bank
13 Things I Just Don't Like
These sweaters from Alpaca Direct look awesome but there are only a few days out of the year that it is actually cold enough to wear them in Alabama! I know some of you could though. Alpaca is a luxury fabric - did you know that? It is soft like cashmere and it is warmer than wool. Alpaca Direct has a great selection of these sweaters. Oh and guess what crochet and knitters? They have Alpaca yarn for sale also!
Our cat has been missing for a few days. First the baby was gone and then the momma. We weren't too concerned when we didn't see the baby because a few weeks ago the momma took her under the house for a few days. But when the momma was missing, we were kind of concerned. The last time we saw her was Saturday. I walked over to talk to the neighbors today and they said they saw a cat had been killed near the mailbox (theirs? mine?). I asked them if the cat was gray and they said it was. Sigh. So, I think our cat is gone for good. The boys are still hoping she will come back. Should I tell them (no, no!) or let them keep hoping till maybe they decide she isn't coming back?
Lately I have been having all sorts of trouble sleeping at night. Not actually getting to sleep but the staying asleep! Since it is true that we spend a large portion of our lives sleeping, the bedding we use should be the very best that is available to us. Terry's Fabrics is an online store that can offer a large variety of bedding that is good quality and affordable. Lately I've been thinking instead of getting a new comforter I could get a duvet cover instead. My husband wasn't too sure of what that really meant but it is simple - a duvet cover is like a pillow case for your comforter. You could change it around as often as you liked!
In addition to duvet covers (both printed and embroidered), Terry's Fabrics also offers quilted bedspreads. You really need to take a look at their website to see the lovely bedspreads they have to offer. My favorite is a chocolate color but I also like their Rosa Bedspread in Gold. Bedding is not the only thing they have to offer - if you are in need of accessories such as cushions and throws or blinds or even ready made curtains - Terry's Fabrics is a must see!
One more post and I promise that is all for today - or for this morning anyway. You might even learn something - like where to go for Scottsdale real estate, right? Hee hee! I know, I know, I am crazy today but I had to get that one in!
What are your plans for today? Any plans out of the ordinary? Anything exciting?? It will be a very normal day here. We may get out later to return some DVD's to the library - woo hoo! My house is in pretty good order but I am going to have to do some thing to keep it at a maintenance level and with my back like it is - it is going to get done slowly! I'd rather do it that way thought than to have it pile up on me again! There are hundreds of housekeeping "systems" out there and you know what? They all work - they do! You just have to work one of them! Hee hee! Have a good Wednesday! This is all the blogging you are going to get out of me - I promise!
Have any of you been keeping up with the story of Madeleine McCann, the missing British girl? I've been reading the headlines and hoping against hope that she would be found. I just read for the first time that her parents were having dinner at a restaurant while their children slept at their hotel and discovered she was gone when they checked in on them. This means they left them there alone while they went out? Two doctors with, I'm assuming, the funds to pay for a babysitter? I'm not going to criticize them but that is just unbelievable to me. I wouldn't be able to relax at all if I had done that. I do hope they get their daughter back - there was a possible siting of her in late August - a digital frame picture but they are not sure if it is her. I can't imagine what they are going through.
I have been using Gmail for a couple of years now and I like it a lot. I especially like the space they offer and the fact that I am able to access my email from any computer - even if I am away, like out of town. I've heard that there is a new version coming out but it is so top secret that there aren't even any leaked screen shots available to see. The only thing I am not crazy about are the side ads that seem to know what I am talking about. For instance, if I am talking to someone about my diet, I might see an ad about the hoodia patch in my side bar. I shouldn't complain since the service is free! I'd still like to see a feature that would allow you to easily insert images in your signature line. Right now though, you can copy and paste in a picture.
Today I am moving around really slowly. Please remind me to never to pick up a television again! I feel awful! I am not sleeping well at all. Yesterday we took a day off from school but we are going to be back at it again today. School must go on!!
Last night we were driving home and Jonathan was mad because he couldn't stop at the gas station for some gum. He has been having a problem with his temper lately! He finally said, "I quit!" and William, who was trying to help him not be mad said, "Jonathan, you can't quit life!" Dick and I just look at each other amazed sometimes with the things that he says!
William and Jonathan learn a new verse every week and this is a video of the verse they learned last week. I thought it was hillarious that they wanted to have their video taken but they did not want to stand still! Someone ought to do some market research on the energy those two contain. We begin a new verse this week. I am going to try and capture that on video also. The boys played with the camera yesterday when I wasn't around and the videos that they took of themselves were too funny!
If you need to furnish a Furniture Home Office, be sure to check out this site. You'll also find all the bedroom furniture and Living Room Furniture that you need With Christmas coming soon, you might want to consider furniture for some of those on your gift list. I know I wouldn't turn down a credenza desk!
Yesterday my television got knocked off the table (yes, that is another story). After find out everyone was okay I felt quite relieved. I thought I had picked up that television before. I thought that it wasn't that heavy. I thought I could pick it up easily and that is what I attempted to do. I did get it back on the table but in doing so I did something to my back. I don't think it is anything very serious but my back is quite sore. Just another day in the Perry Household!!
Ever so often I feel like I should put a little disclaimer on this blog to explain the links and sometimes website reviews you see on my blog. I am not sure why I feel that way because it is my blog, right? I guess I just want to explain what you are seeing and why. I blog paid posts and links on a regular basis - meaning I get paid for certain blog posts and links that I publish. Most people, including me, do not like to visit blogs on a regular basis that have more ads than they have content. I try to fit my posts in creatively but sometimes that is difficult. Earning this money is not a hobby with me - it has been a blessing to our household on more than one occasion, that is why I continue to do it. I seem to do more with things are tighter and loosen up when I can. With Christmas coming and a new mortgage, I tend to be taking on a few more paid posts than usual. I do hope you guys will stick with me. I will do all I can to keep this blog personal - since this is where I blog everything about my life! If you have any questions about paid blogging, leave a comment and I will get back to you. My favorite paid blogging method is sharing links where I get paid $5 for sharing a link, like one for berndes cookware.
Question of the Day from That's My Answer!
To meet your blogging needs, who do you use? And why? As you can see, on this blog I use Typepad. I have been with them since 2003 (has it been that long?) and I like them very much. They are easy to use and I like the way the archives and categories are set up - although I often don't use categories and the thought of going back and putting one on all my posts makes me ill! Share an unlimited blogs account with friends and you'll get a good deal!
I also have a WordPress blog that I like very much! Let's face it, I like trying new things but I always come back to and stick with what I like the most! And as a side note, if you are looking for Van Halen tickets, check the link.
Here's a great ideal that just might be useful to you or someone you know. www.LocalDemand.com is a post and bid site but instead of merchandise, you can post and bid on local labor projects. If you need any type of work done - you can post the job on this website and then wait for bids on the work. With the same concept, if you are looking for work, you can search for jobs that are in your area.
Today I have to venture into the land of groceries, cleaning supplies and auto accessories. I am thankful that I can find the things I need but to be honest, I don't enjoy my weekly (sometimes more often) trip to Walmart. It seems that everyone has the same idea - gather there on Saturday!
Tomorrow William will be baptized. He is pretty excited about it and I have enjoyed his enthusiasm. He told all his friends yesterday at school that he is being baptized and asked them all to come - he wants everyone to see him baptized! He talks about following Jesus quite a bit and you can tell that he realizes the importance of the decision he has made. I am blessed.
I have a full day ahead of me - groceries to buy, clothes to wash and rooms to clean. I hope you all have a good weekend!
Yesterday was a hard day. It wasn't all bad but some bad things happened through out the day. The pyrex measuring cup burst at church while making blue jello, blue jello was spilled on the kitchen floor and more. The day ended, though, with a prayer of thankfulness. I am thankful for His mercy, His patience and for His protection - especially for my boys who sometimes get themselves in some precarious predicaments (and that's all I am going to say about that)! I am thankful for a new day - brand new - because His mercies are new every morning. Please let me slip in a link for the cordless phone battery. They don't have to be replaced often but when they do - good prices are important!
On June 7th, my friend Nattie died. On that day I posted that she had gone and I did what I knew I could do - I made some memorial graphics and put them on my blog. I didn't say much else except that I missed her. I've been quiet about it but believe me, my mind hasn't. I have all sorts of feelings about it bottled up inside of me. Some of them are just plain selfish. I find that I'm not that good with words.
Nattie experienced one of my biggest fears. She died leaving two young children behind. I just couldn't process that - they needed her. They needed her to be there for them as they grew up. They needed her to point them towards their Heavenly Father that she loved (and is now experiencing face to face) so much. Why? I really wanted to understand why.
I was talking with my husband a while back and I told him that in times like this we usually cling to scriptures such as the one that says "all things work together for good" but what good is there in this? It's hard to see but (this is my sort of revelation) when we get to heaven and we can truly see things as they are, we will probably say "Oh, now I understand how Natties dying worked together for good - it makes perfect sense!" But here on Earth, our vision is very limited. That's why we have to have faith now - and trust that the God we serve is a good God and He loves us so very much.
The last few days have been hard for me. I have been in some kind of funk. I hate calling it depression but that might just be what it is. It's hard to pull out of it just because you will yourself to do it. This morning I took the boys to the park by the fountain to eat breakfast and just enjoy being still. It was lovely and I remembered my limited vision - God sees my now and he knows my future. His plans for me are good, even when I cannot see them. I just needed to remember that.
Ever though about being a chef? I really have no desire to be one, even if I had someone else to do my dishes - but I bet it would be a fun job. I watched Hells Kitchen one time - I bet it can be a high pressure job, too. Anyway, this website: http://www.csca.edu/ is a school of Culinary Arts in California and gives you the information you need if you are interested in a career as chef. It looks pretty interesting too and they offer financial aid - which is always a good thing!
Just how personal do you want the blogs that you read to be? If a blogger is too personal, does it make you uncomfortable? If someone just lets it rip, so to speak, and just gets everything off their chest, does that bother you? Do you feel obligated to comment with niceties? Do you wish they would just stick to safe meme's and quizzes and what they did that day? (I am going to put this link on track lighting here since I forgot earlier. I hope you don't mind since this helps me out)
Just wondering.
It is a delicious fall morning around here - seriously, it is 58 degrees this morning and it feels wonderful! It makes me want to drink coffee and I'm not really a coffee drinker! I really like Monday's - new beginnings and all of that. I cleaned my schoolroom last night and it is fresh and ready for a new week. It is kind of hard to keep it like I want. The boys like to come in here and look at books and drag out other things. I wanted to replace the door knobs for some that locked, but we decided to keep the room open - open to learning so to speak. The boys are getting better at cleaning up after themselves so that is good!
We had a good weekend - Dick's mom came for a visit and stayed with us instead of at a hotel - that gave us more time to spend with her. The boys enjoyed having their Meme around! The weather was wonderful for the whole weekend too. After the heat wave, even 90 degrees feels cool but the temps didn't get much past the high 80's. I think our high today is 87...nice!! :)
Well, not our first day of homeschool but our first day of Friday School with our Church school. We'll do a unit study (mammals this month), PE and things like that. Sometimes we do science (hey, wouldn't it be cool to use rock tumblers?) and we like to celebrate the different holidays. I will take pictures to share later. My MIL also drives in today - I think it will be a rainy drive for her! The boys are pretty excited - it is going to be a full weekend for all!
It's been almost a week and I haven't blogged about Jonathan's birthday party - I am really slipping! That whole weekend was very exhausting for me but it was a good one. We had a special speaker at church so we had weekend meetings - almost like revival services except our meetings were morning and night, Saturday and Sunday. In between service on Sunday we slipped off to Tennessee to have cake and ice cream with my family - at Jennifer's house. (William spent part of the trip practicing his numbers by reading them off of mail boxes). All the cousins were there and we had lots of fun. Jonathan got a new (battery operated) four wheeler from us. The boys just wore out the previous one they had and it had been passed down from two other little boys who are now not so little! When they get too big for this one - we'll pass it down too, if it is in good shape!
I have pictures that I will be uploading to my Flickr soon - so be sure to stay tuned! I will share a shot of my sisters and I that my mom took that day. We all showed up with new hairstyles! Kinda funny - and all four were so different!
It's Thursday already and I haven't blogged much at all this week! It's been a busy week and a physically tiring week. I really just want to close the blinds, climb into bed and take a long nap in the middle of the day - but I don't see that happening anytime soon. Tomorrow is the first day of school (church school) and my MIL is also coming for a visit and will be staying with us. There's a lot of things I need to do but to be honest, I will probably let a lot of things go and just deal with it.
Libby Hawthorne makes exotic trip itineraries but never leaves Seattle. She’d like to attend church but winds up at a bookstore. She longs for love—but who has the time? Delayed happiness has been worth it, because she’s about to get her dream promotion...Or not.
So now what? When a corporate merger leaves her demoted and disillusioned, Libby realizes she needs to start living authentically...and soon. But just as she tries to uncover her purposed life, her cruel and unusual boss, Cecilia, demands that Libby hide Seattle’s most famous homegrown rock star in order to keep her new, bad job. For the first time in years, Libby doesn’t have a step by step plan to guide her. She must trust her faith and her heart. But what is she supposed to do with her growing admiration for Blaine Slater, a new VP from Chicago, or the surprising kindness of the rock star living incognito in her Seattle apartment? Through the humorous twist and turns, Libby uncovers a big life truth—the detours we are afraid of might just be the perfect path to happiness.
You can find this book at Amazon - just click on the image of the book above.
Do you keep up with celebrities? Do you think they live in the real world?
I actually do look at the headlines on People to see what's going on. I'm not sure why! As far as living in the real world - I'm not sure. They definitely don't live in MY kind of world but I don't think they necessarily have it as easy as people think - and that is mostly of their own choosing. I would definitely choose my life over theirs - even with the money! All the money gets (most of) them is a trip to drug rehabilitation or a lawsuit! Well, of course not ALL of them but the ones you read about anyway! Money truly isn't everything - I bet that Owens guy would tell you that! What's your take on it all?
I just finished our schooling for the day. I am enjoying it so much. I like working with the boys and seeing them learn. William is especially enjoying school and looks forward to school. When we first start, he says he doesn't want to do the hard stuff but when he gets into it he does really well. He is referring to our reading lesson - it isn't especially hard but it does require some concentration on his part - not as easy as drawing that he loves so well! He is working on addition right now and is picking up on the method. We are using a worksheet and manipulative's to work out the problem and he likes that a lot. The worksheet is basically a big empty circle and a plus sign and another big circle and the equal line and then another big empty circle. For 2+2 he puts two beans in one circle and two beans in the next and then scoots them down to the equal circle and counts them - does that make sense the way I described it?
I've got to be honest with you - I can't think of a way to creatively blog this link: New York personal injury lawyer, so I am going to just throw it in there for you. Maybe someone will find this link helpful!!
We're off to Walmart to order our birthday cake and pick up the plates and cups for the party. Enjoy your weekend! I'm enjoying the cooler temperature. Our high today is 92 and believe me, that feels cool after 102!!
My blogging has been very light this week - probably for several weeks now. I'm finding that homeschooling this year is taking more time and that my "extra curricular" activities are more limited. I am enjoying teaching so much - it is such a trip teaching a child to read!! William is picking it up really well!
Collins College is located in Tempe, AZ - you can read more about it here. Our Friday school starts back next Friday. The boys are very much looking forward to it - I am too, it's a nice way to end our week.
Jonathan will be five on Sunday! He is super-excited about it. Today we are going to go pick out his cake. He says he wants Chicken Little on his cake but in the past few weeks he has also wanted Spiderman and other characters so we shall see. I was awfully spoiled with awesome cakes decorated by mom growing up. It about kills me to order one from Walmart. Seriously!
I haven't blogged in a few days and when that happens at least my mom starts to miss me! :) Life is going along as usual around here except that it is just much busier than ever. I got my hair cut on Sunday - shoulder length was my request but it is a bit shorter than that. Flickr has the pics if you're interested. I do like it though - it feels great. Now I just need some skin care products that will make me feel younger (like how I fit that in??)
Yesterday I made a roast and took it to a friend who was recovering from surgery - after that we went to eat Mexican - my friend thought it was hillarious that I cooked her a meal and then went out myself! :)
This weekend Jonathan turns five!! Expect me to be talking about it later!
