Wednesday, August 31, 2011

If Insanity is Contagious Don't Go to California

Because their government is losing their minds.

"Under AB 889, household “employers” (aka “parents”) who hire a babysitter on a Friday night will be legally obligated to pay at least minimum wage to any sitter over the age of 18 (unless it is a family member), provide a substitute caregiver every two hours to cover rest and meal breaks, in addition to workers' compensation coverage, overtime pay, and a meticulously calculated timecard/paycheck."

Seriously!?! At what point do we as citizens rise up and tell government busy bodies to back the "F" off? So if my best friend came over and was going to baby sit my son for four hour while hubby and I went on a date...if I lived in California I'd be required to follow this insane law.

Lovely. First of all, our nanny who watches Marshal every single day doesn't even make minimum wage. We can't afford to pay her minimum wage and we've increased her pay twice in the nearly two years she's watched him. We started paying her what we were paying the previous licensed provider. And trust me, when you break it down to hourly she's getting slave wages.

Thankfully, and blessedly, she is an amazing woman who is like Marshal's grandma. She adores and loves him and gives me all the one to one attention he needs.

But if we were in California, the government would require me to track her time with a time card and pay worker's comp and overtime and...and...and. I wouldn't be able to do it. Nor would I. We ADULTS entered into an agreed upon arrangement. We didn't need the government to dictate how our system worked.

I agree with the premise of the linked article...the goal of this bill is clearly to force parents to utilize institutionalized daycare. I hated having Marshal in daycare. It was horrible for him and he hated it too. He LOVES his nanny and we're paying less than we would to the institutional daycare. He gets the attention he needs and isn't around all the other germ factories. She gets some extra cash to supplement her social security and the company of a darling little boy. It's a win/win.

Marshal at "Miss Anne's" 

Whatever happened to responsibility? Free markets? Why does the government need to dictate how much someone pays a college gal to baby sit? Or a little old lady (she's not that old) to watch my little boy?

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Get Your Hands OFF My Dog!

Busy body do-gooders drive me nuts. They think they know so much better - that I can't make up my own mind as to what is good for me and my family.


"...she wants the breed eliminated for good because there are no regulations regarding who can own the aggressive breed.
"This breed is falling into the wrong hands and the only way to stop it from falling into the wrong hands is to eliminate the breed," said Taft. "We do not control who gets pit bulls; anybody can get a pit bull. If Charles Manson were out of jail he could get a pit bull."

OH MY G A W D ... Doesn't this dog look ferocious?  (I know, I know...any dog can be dangerous. I'd never let my son sleep on our dogs.)


If I want to own a Pit Bull that is my right. A Pit Bull in and of itself as a breed is not inherently a more dangerous dog than my mutt who was abused and could have easily turned aggressive if left in his bad situation. Are some dogs born "bad" ... sometimes. But most of the time it is OWNER responsibility that a dog goes bad.

Should we just require government approval for ALL dog ownership? Because once you ban Pit Bulls where does it stop? Huskies can be destructive and kill small animals. So can Malamutes. And I know lots of people who are afraid of Rottweilers. But German Shepherds are VERY protective and can be vicious.

At what point does the government (or the actions of nanny do gooders) cross the line? And who are these people to decide that an entire BREED of dog gets eliminated? I think it's sick and disgusting and it infuriates me.

Would I ever own a pit bull? Perhaps not. But there are so many different types of pit bulls out there and there are so many other dogs who could be dangerous. I won't rescue a pit bull while Marshal is young. I might be willing to raise one from a pup. But even then, I'd be extremely careful. Because NO dog can be fully trusted, regardless of breed.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Adventures in Canning

My mom asked me to help her and grandpa can peaches this year. *gulp*

This is not a skill I inherited from my grandma or mom, both of whom could can a ham and make it taste good. The only green beans I'll eat are my grandpa's canned green beans (even over fresh ones). And Marshal will eat his canned peaches like they are going out of style. It's awesome to see him eat fruit.

While it's not necessarily a "cheap" way to get food for storage, it is healthier and better tasting than most any canned or jar food out there. I could start making my own tomato sauce even. Maybe if I get good at it I'll "invest" in my own equipment.

Plus, if I'm still alive for the Zombie Apocalypse we'll have enough food to eat while defending our home. :)

So this year I may attempt a canning session with grandpa and mom.

If this story is any indication, I'll have my work cut out for me.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate - Is there Really a Question?

There was a point in time where I would not have even thought twice about having my son vaccinated...but that was when I didn't even have a kid and there was no big hype about vaccines causing all sorts of harm. 

I've been vaccinated with all my shots since I was a kid...my mom is a nurse and even today insists I get the flu shot. This one I ignored until I had a baby. 

I admit, the hype about the dangers of vaccines did cause me to hesitate before having Marshal vaccinated. I spoke with my mom and my doctor and came to the decision that the risks of NOT being vaccinated far outweigh the risks of the shots themselves. 

Bacterial meningitis is a condition that causes membranes in the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. The disease can be deadly, or result in hearing loss, brain damage and learning disabilities. Pneumococcal meningitis is the most common and severe form of bacterial meningitis. It is estimated that about 25 to 30 percent of people die from the disease.

I am not comfortable risking my baby's life on the off chance he'll be one who has an allergic reaction or any sort of complication from a vaccine. My family has no history of vaccine reactions, nor is his immune system compromised. He's a strong, healthy little boy who has so far had all his shots without a single reaction, other than being tired from crying.

The myth of vaccines causing Autism has been debunked time and time again, and the man responsible for the false study was thoroughly discredited

I'm sure there are kids out there for who having a vaccine shot is more dangerous, and in those rare cases I can understand parents leaning towards not vaccinating. But for those of us who have children with healthy dispositions, getting vaccinated is simply logical. 

However, I don't think they should be mandatory. I still believe in individual rights and that includes the right of parents to make decisions I disagree with, or decisions that could possibly harm my family. That's just the way this country is built. The moment the government mandates a vaccine I'll be saying No Thanks.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Metal Prices Spur New Products

If you haven't noticed...metal prices have kind of ... um ... sky rocketed. I have been avoiding making a metal purchase because of the price. How can I make a design that I used to charge $40 for three years ago when I'd have to increase the price to more than $65 or even $80 to compensate for the silver price increase?

The good news is that we humans are very innovative, especially in tough times.

There's been Gold Filled wire and metals for years and now we get Sterling Silver Filled wire and metals.

The difference in cost is significant. A pair of sterling silver earring wires is going to cost about twice as much as a Sterling Silver Filled pair of earring wires. And apparently they wear well and are good for people with sensitive ears.

So I'll be ordering and seeing how they do and if people even care.


Friday, August 26, 2011

Killing Hitler

It's interesting to me that we look at history through many different lenses and points of view.

Coming across this story about Georg Elser, a man who came the closest to actually killing Hitler, it made me think about today's politically correct, morally relative way of thinking.


This man is now considered a hero who was convicted in his belief that Hitler was a danger for Germany. Of course, we know he was right. But back in those times there were plenty in America who denied Hitler as being evil. Time Magazine made him man of the year in 1938. (I realize their Man of the Year is also about who was most influential...I just hate how they give this "award" to evil people.)

At what point was it okay to attempt assassinating a head of state, like Hitler? Who got to determine, okay he's evil enough now that it is morally acceptable to kill him?

Now...please don't misunderstand...I WISH someone had been successful in their attempts to assassinate him. He was evil, pure and simple. No amount of moral relativism will convince me otherwise.

But let's look at politics today. There are people out there who would justify the murder of a politician based on their deeply held belief that the politician was bad, dangerous, evil.

What makes that person crazy but Georg Elser a hero?

It would be an absolute tragedy and horrific event should anyone successfully assassinate the current President. Just as it would have been a tragedy if someone had assassinated the previous president. But think about it...there are those on both sides who saw these men as the devil (we saw enough puppets of GWB as the Devil). In their mind, assassinating GWB would be the best thing for the country. And there are some nutters today who probably think the same thing about Bambi.

So how does assassinating Hitler make one a hero?

Okay, okay...I realize this is a dumb conversation. Hitler was systematically murdering his opponents, the handicapped, gays, gypsies, communists, and Jews and neither O or GWB has done anything nearly so evil. But can you see how schools could teach about Georg Elser being a terrorist? I can.

He may have had a little crazy in him, but history ultimately shows him as a brave hero who sought to save Germany from a madman.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Oh Now it's Minor-Attracted Person

Political correctness has sunk to a new low.

"Minor Attracted Person" is apparently the PC term for sicko Pedophiles.

I'm just sick to my stomach. DISGUSTING!

Anyone who is "attracted" to a child needs to be locked away. Simple as that. You come NEAR my son and claws, fangs, and guns come out.

I cannot believe this.

Oh, but I guess I'm just a cold hearted b***h who doesn't "understand" or have "compassion" for "minor attracted people".

O.M.G.

What ever happened to RIGHT and WRONG? What happened to the line where something is evil versus not? It keeps getting more and more blurred and it is pissing me off.

Government Promoting Children as Sexual Beings

Since when does the government agree with Pedophiles that "children are sexual beings"? I heard this on the radio the other day and felt sick to my stomach.

Part of the problem I see in society today is that we sexualize children too much already. I see little girls with short skirts and halter tops...which isn't the biggest issue I have...but when they are ACTING "sexy" in those clothes and they're 5, 6, 7 years old...there are issues.

And now the government is endorsing this idea that little kids, children, are somehow "sexual" beings. I agree in the literal sense that each child has a defined "sex" (i.e. male/female) but the idea that kids are "sexual" is insane and dangerous. Pre-teens and teens are obviously crossing over that line from child to pre-pubescent crazy person. But infants? Toddlers?  I don't think so.

Children are human beings and therefore sexual beings. It's hard for parents to acknowledge this, just as it's hard for kids to think of their parents as sexually active. But even infants have curiosity about their own bodies, which is healthy and normal.
Since when does the government hire pedophiles? This could have been written by a predator for a predator brochure (won't even mention the name of the one organization that promotes this filth).
I am admittedly a bit of a prude. People who know me will verify this. I will have no problem talking to my son about sex when he is old enough...but two is not the right time.

It's disturbing to me that the government is even promoting this information at all. Why are my taxes going to fund such a stupid website. Are there truly people out there looking to the government for help raising their children??? If so, HELP! We are in a lot of trouble. There are libraries, books, magazines, free websites, blogs...we need the government paying for someone to write, build a website, and maintain it?

I call BS. Our debt is high enough...let's cut this program now.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A New Recipe - Pepperoni Spaghetti Bake

Since we have a new kitchen it kind of seems stupid not to use it more often than the old one, right?

So I've been trying to cook. Trying being the key phrase. Hubby has been somewhat helpful but for the most part I'm flying blind, trying recipes kind of randomly. I've never been a good cook, nor have I ever enjoyed it. But circumstances being what they are, it really is a necessity for me to suck it up and learn to cook more foods.

I had GREAT luck with a White Chicken Enchilada Recipe. It was so amazing that the very next shopping trip I got the ingredients again because we will have it again this week.

There were a couple that I liked but he hated. One was out of a recipe book and I'm starting to notice that I actually have better luck NOT using a cook book but instead finding recipes online that other people have had experience with.

My latest experiment came from HouseParty.com where you can apply to host a party for various products. I had one for DiGiorno that was awesome and I've applied for the Chef Boyardee party so I decided to try one of the recipes.

Using Turkey Pepperoni, which was SO yummy, and two cans of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs poured over a biscuit type mix (okay, I'm not a professional chef...I do not know appropriate terms when it comes to cooking) it took 10 minutes (less really) to prepare and 20 to cook. Hubby didn't even believe me when I told him it was finished cooking.

Cooking - the Before Dinner Shot

After Dinner - left overs for my lunch.
Needless to say, hubby liked it, Marshal liked it, and I liked it. That means it is a keeper ... and as long as I keep Turkey Pepperoni on hand it's one that I can throw together fast any time.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Bridal Jewelry on a Budget - Part 2

Part 1 is here, talking about my little cousin's wedding and her bridal party of TEN.

Part 1 shows a photo, and provides a link to, her Maid of Honor's jewelry.

For the bridesmaids though I needed something even more simple and within budget, but still elegant with some sparkle.

This is what I came up with and I wish I could somehow capture the photos better. It is HARD to photograph delicate and simple pieces of jewelry.




Those are three separate necklaces. Swarovski crystal floats on sterling silver wire, finished with a silver tone magnetic

The only issue I have with this fancy sterling silver wire is that it kinks. You have to be super careful as you work with it to not bend it forcefully because you'll have to start all over again.

I made them each matching earrings as well - super simple. Didn't even photograph them yet - sterling French style hooks with one large crystal and one small crystal...that's it.


I hope my sweet girl likes all the jewelry. I still have to make hers but I think I'll be creating it soon. :) And hers is "on the house" as my gift to her. The bracelet is going to be BLING Swarovski. Woohoo! I love bling.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Bridal Jewelry on a Budget

My little cousin is getting married on 9-10-11. Isn't that a great date for an anniversary? I can never remember mine...neither can my hubby. His mom used to remind have to remind us...and his sister. :) It's pathetic but to me, an anniversary date is just another day. Our wedding was awesome but was just the start of a life together.

I was around 9 when she was born and I remember baby sitting her and her sister...I took them both to Disneyland for New Year's 1999. I adore them.

It's mind boggling to think that she and her sister will both be married. Thankfully their two younger sisters have a while still.

I am making her bridal jewelry as a gift to her. Once the earrings and bracelet are done I'll take some photos to post.

She has TEN women in her bridal party. TEN! I had TWO...her and her sister. :) I didn't have a maid of honor.

She's on a tight budget and with ten bridesmaids it isn't an easy task to get them all matching jewelry. But I managed to work within her budget.

I made seven simple Swarovski crystal necklaces - a "floating" design using sterling silver beading wire and magnetic clasps. The earrings are matching clear crystals hanging from sterling French hooks.

For the Maid and Matrons of Honor I used a super fine sterling beading chain with floating Padparashda (it's a salmon pink color) Swarovski crystals and matching earrings.


Above is the Maid of Honor's set. The Matron's set do not have the clear crystals.

Elegant and simple. The wedding will be at my aunt and uncle's home. Luckily they have a lot of property because they are expecting over 200 guests. I will be miserable. I hate crowds. I'm sure, just like at her sister's wedding, I'll start bawling as she walks down the aisle.

I'll be posting the bridemaid's sets soon...they are going to be $17.50 for a necklace and matching earrings. Do you think that is a reasonable price for a set? They are simple designs but just sparkly enough for a wedding.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Time to Buy

We don't have a lot of extra cash. Most people don't. But if we did I would buy some stocks.

Crazy, you say?

Nope. Stocks are on sale right now. Specifically, the Aflac stock is down to around $36. When I first started it was around $50 something. Aflac is a GREAT and fundamentally solid company, but the stock is being dragged down by the market. So for me, this is a great time to buy stock in Aflac. Especially when I can take a monthly amount from my monthly statement.

If I had started investing $50 a month a year ago I'd get around one share each month. Now I'll get almost 1.5 shares.

I guess I'm an optimist. I see stocks dropping and think SALE! Or maybe I'm just a shopaholic. :)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Trauma at the Gym Daycare

My poor little boy.

I had a weight training appointment Wednesday after work. Our gym has a great daycare and it only took a couple week of taking Marshal there and he now gets excited to go (instead of sobbing when I walk away).

When I dropped him off his diaper was dry and stink-free, and he was running to play with the other kids not even worried about mommy leaving.


My appointment was 30 minutes and then I did another 45 of cardio. When I went into the daycare to pick him up they told me that they'd "just" noticed five minutes ago that he had a poopy diaper.

Okay....

My son NEVER asks us to change his diaper. It sometimes is a fight, bribe, beg situation to get him to not cry or at least cooperate.

Not this time. He was pointing to his bottom, saying poo, and running toward the bathroom.

My heart dropped because I knew it had to be bad if he's running to get his diaper changed.

Sure enough...his poor little bottom was completely red and BLISTERED. Yes, blistered. His #2s sometimes do that to him, which is why we have been working on making sure he tells us when his diaper needs changing, but it usually happens when he's left in his dirty diaper too long.

BLISTERED.

Wet paper towels, wipes, and ear piercing screams ensued. I am a pretty tough mom and don't tend to flinch when my boy cries but this just tore at my heart.

I realize that there are a lot of kids in the daycare for short periods of time. The workers do not change diapers but they are supposed to come get parents when a diaper needs to be changed. If a child is wearing a diaper they should check to see if they need changing every half hour or so.

Thankfully the GM and I get along really well. After scooping my boy into my arms, and ordering him a special smoothie from the juice bar, I informed her about the situation. She actually thanked me for telling me the first time it happened and not waiting until it had happened a few times. :)

He was still in pain several hours later when I put him in the bath tub. :( He didn't even want to sit down in the water.

Poor kid.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Whirlpool Stove Review

We remodeled our kitchen over the last few months (felt like years!) and choosing the appliances to replace our old ones was a challenge.

Our layout before included a Cook Top in the center island and a wall stove and little to no counter space...especially with a microwave sitting on the counter.

Now we still have a wall unit but we also got a standard floor unit with an over top microwave. And LOTS of counter space.

I like, and dislike, the new set up.


I love having a microwave off of the counter and up above. But it does come with some challenges. The stove is a Whirlpool and it has a ceramic top...so it's all one smooth surface and looks really cool. Or as cool as a stove can look.

This review isn't so much about the brands and how they function, but rather just some things that we never thought of before.

First, when you have pots boiling on the back burners and you reach to the back controls you get steam burns...okay, not burns per say...but still ouch - steam is hot. 

Also, on all the burners, when something starts steaming the steam goes right to the microwave and creates condensation. So you turn the fan on. But the fan on the microwave is LOUD. Ridiculously loud. That I dislike a lot. And it pushes air out the top of the microwave...which we didn't realize. The first time we used it there was apparently still some leftover sawdust from installation and it blew all over everything.

My last "complaint" (not really a complaint - just a weird thing we'd never have thought of) is that all my pans "slide" around on the burners. With the traditional burners you set a pan down and it stays put. Now when I stir the pans move around. It's immensely annoying. I'm used to stirring with one hand and maybe grabbing something with the other but now...two handed stirring only.

Oh, and something that we were warned about, but didn't think would be a big deal - we got a ceramic cook top and were told that they are hard to clean. TRUE! Every single little speck of anything shows up - including dust. Our old stove you would only notice truly dirty spills but if even water gets on the top it shows up.

So...those are the things we didn't think about before getting this type of stove and microwave set up. Overall the new kitchen is AMAZING!!! And as soon as it's cleaned up and the finishing touches are done we'll have pictures taken.

Thank you to Kitchens by Trivonna for all the amazing assistance! (And no, I was not compensated in any way for mentioning them.)

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I Gave In

Hubby has been bugging me for YEARS to dye my hair. I've had grey hair since I was 20 and it's never really bothered me all that much. It's not grey...it's white. And it's gotten progressively whiter in the last couple of years (we'll just thank Marshal for that). Hubby has even tried cutting them out, against my will.

So yesterday I broke down. I got up early and mixed the gross smelling solution ... applied it to my hair and waited. For 30 minutes. My nerves were on edge because I haven't tried to dye my hair since I was 19...and the color I chose then wasn't ANY different from my regular hair color.

It was quite a process to get the foam mixed and applied...and then rinsed out.

But...SUCCESS!!! No more white hairs. And I still picked a shade that was so close to my hair color that you can't even tell that I dyed it - other than the white hairs no longer showing.

Hubby was quite happy and even thanked me. Which I find adorable.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Classic Theme Song

When hubby first started up this video on You Tube I started laughing. CLASSIC!!! I absolutely love it. hahahahahaha



Even better, he and Marshal danced and Marshal was giggling hilariously. I LOVE that sound. :)

Someone needs to make one for Washington State with this song.

Just Waiting

Sometimes I'll make a piece of jewelry and marvel at how beautiful it is...and it's not my skill that made it so beautiful. It's the amazing wonder of God's majestic world in the form of gemstones.

The Rutilated Amethyst stones that I found a few years ago spoke to me...and said "buy me" the moment I laid eyes on them. I did. I made a fun pair of earrings and a matching necklace. The earrings sold quickly but I've had the necklace for awhile. Price obviously had something to do with it, but since I made it a couple years ago, and the price of silver has gone up so much, it is actually a little under priced.

Finally though, this lovely necklace is on its way to a new home to someone who will wear and appreciate it.


Patience is a virtue.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Ruining It for Everyone Else

I love to coupon. It's not that we HAVE to coupon, although lately it's become more and more important to enjoy the nicer things we like, but I enjoy couponing. And yes, couponing has become a verb.

It's fun to put together the puzzle of what is on sale with what coupons I have to see what I can get for free or super cheap.

Today I wanted to get a couple free shampoos (I haven't paid for shampoo in over two years since I started couponing), some free nail polish to give as a gift, and a set of dry erase pens for free or "money maker" (the term used when your coupon value is higher than the actual price of the item).

Not a single item was on the shelves at this particular store. The cashier said that "professional shoppers" had been in when the store opened and wiped them out.

*sigh*

Really? REALLY??? Is that really necessary? Do you have to be so greedy? I'd have been very pleased to get one or two bottles of shampoo for free. And thrilled to get free dry erase markers for work. But no...someone had to spoil it for the rest of us.

I'm sure the folks who cleaned the shelves will be reselling the items at a garage sale. I've sold excess stuff at garage sales before. It's great selling something you got for free for lower than retail to someone who needs it. but I didn't clear shelves to do it.

It's just frustrating. I don't put a TON of work into my coupon ventures, but it does take a little time and effort to get things organized.

The good news is that I saved at ~least~ $50 at Walmart. I price matched from Safeway's add to get four 12 packs of soda for $7.96 (saving $7.96) and Horizon Organic milk for $2.99 (saving $0.99). I used Albertson's ad to price match Kettle Chips (saved a whopping $0.26 but I also had a $1 off coupon) and V8 Juice for hubby which I saved $.78 from the price match and another $1 off with coupons...so I got four V8s for $1 a piece.

I got four Johnson & Johnson travel emergency kits for $0.88. Saved $3 on Fat Foam hair color (I haven't colored my hair for over ten years so we'll see how this works out). Paid $0.33 for Welch's squeezable grape jelly. YUM!

Huggies Little Swimmers were somehow on sale for $5 (unmarked) which I LOVED because I used $1.50 off coupon AND then got free Juicy Juice for Marshal...saving me over $9! I Used coupons on bread, dental floss, wipes, soup, and some other things I can't recall off the top of my head.

Not too bad. The folks behind me were highly annoyed until they saw how much I saved and then they were impressed.

It's a great feeling...saving more than $50 on items that my family needs and will use. :)

Little Fockers

As a reward through Tropicana Rewards I got a free Red Box movie. We'd never rented a movie through Red Box before but I've been wanting to try it. The only issue I have is that I'm so used to everything 'on demand' and at our finger tips. It seems a step backwards to go pick up a movie. :)

The available options weren't all that great. Despicable Me was only available in Blue Ray and I was trying to find a movie that hubby and I would both like. So I picked Little Fockers. We both loved the first two Focker movies, but I hadn't heard great things about this one.

My favorite parts had to be the Early Human School scenes.

And that's about the only interesting part of the movie. *yawn* Hubby didn't even watch it with me...he fell asleep.

Thank goodness it was free. The experience of using Red Box wasn't so bad though. And for $1.00 I won't necessarily cringe to rent movies once in awhile. As long as I know for sure I can return them right away. It's a better deal than renting an On Demand movie ($4.99 plus tax).

As for the Little Fockers...skip it.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Hello. Welcome. How Ya Doin?

It's been a long time since I had the urge to blog...really blog. Not just 'have to' blog. But want to blog.

There is just so much going on out there in this great big world that it is impossible to keep up and keep my mind straight. Plus, my old blog keeps getting comments on this one particular post...TWO years after I wrote it. So I figured I should really expand on it and let folks vent here.

Because I'm starting over. I have two other blogs that I probably won't ever write on again.

Casto Creations Jewelry and Amid Clutter

This blog, Offended Reality, is a combination of the two and then some. If I offend you...well, that's reality (hence the title). Life is messy and offensive. Plus, I do believe that this society gets way too offended, way too easily...about everything.

So...this is my new start. In blogging that is. I'll be updating the layout and getting a feel for things and eventually would like to become part of the BlogHer network. If I love your blog I'll be adding it to my favorites but it's going to take me a bit to get there.

We'll see how well I can keep up between working as an Agent and Recruiting Manager for Aflac, being a mom and a wife, and trying to train a crazy dog. Oh and make my jewelry of course.

Has anyone seen my free time laying around anywhere???