only backgroundI'm a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm opinionated. I contradict myself frequently. Most of all, I love my kids. I believe in them. I fight for them. They're weird and wonderful. If you want to know more, here's a bunch of other stuff from my old site.
Jason “Moe” Sadler (left)
October 6, 1981 - April 28, 2009
- Posted in:
It’s been almost 3 decades since I first shopped for maternity clothes and over a decade since the last time. Well, until recently, that is. No, I wasn’t shopping for myself. I was shopping with my daughter-in-law and I was just as frustrated as the Nana-to-be as I was when I was pregnant.
Back then, I had a lot of trouble finding maternity clothes that didn’t have teddy bears and lollipops dancing across them. I kept thinking, “I’m not a baby; I’m having a baby. There’s a difference!”
Things got a little easier over the years or maybe I just learned a few tricks, like shopping in the men’s department or the large women’s shop. Since I didn’t work outside the home, I didn’t need many “dress” clothes so I somehow got by. I just expected to have an easier time finding jeans and stylish tops as well as more professional work clothes for my daughter-in-law recently. Many pregnant women work throughout their pregnancies. I mean, designers have kept up with the trends, right? Well, uh… maybe not.
After doing our research about what pieces to buy and making a list, we soon found that several major department stores no longer carry maternity clothes in their stores. A few of the big box stores had virtually nothing to offer. After five hours of digging through racks and racks of clothes, we gave up and headed home to search the internet. Smart move, it turned out.
If you’re looking for Trendy Maternity Clothes, Belly Dance Maternity is the only site you need to visit. They offer everything from basic jeans and activewear to gorgeous dresses and nursing clothes. No matter your style, Belly Dance has something to appeal to you.
Having been through pregnancy a number of times, I’ve learned a few things along the way. For instance, pregnancy doesn’t last all that long and in the end you’ll be better off with a few really nice mix and match pieces than an entire new wardrobe that you’ll just have to put into storage in a few months. That’s why I really love the Ingrid and Isabel Essentials Collection. The Everywhere pant is exactly that, pants that go everywhere, from work to play to wherever! And the cami and ruched tank are perfect toppers for every occasions. But what really caught my eye (and made me wish I’d had it when I was pregnant) was the bella band. It’s a stretch band that can be worn over your unbuttoned pre-pregnancy pants to extend your normal wardrobe. And if you’re like me, it’ll come in handy after the baby comes, too.
My daughter-in-law preferred the selection from the Juicy Maternity line. She liked the cut of the Liverpool Cali jean because it could be dressed up or down, and thought the black velvet jean would be a nice alternative to a dress for Christmas with the family this year. Her favorite was the stretch corduroy pant, though, just for the comfort factor.
The great thing about all these clothes is that they’re the same style as the clothes you wear before you get pregnant, just sized for your expanding tummy. That’s how maternity fashion is supposed to be. Feeling beautiful and looking pulled together during these very special months goes a long way toward making pregnancy enjoyable. It would be great if all store carried a full line of maternity clothes but most don’t. Luckily, Belly Dance Maternity is just a mouse click away.
- Posted in:
I really don’t like to complain. I know, I have kids and a husband who would beg to differ on that point, but it’s true. Complaining is not my thing. It’s just that some things really get under my skin, you know?
For instance, I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like winter. I don’t like when it gets dark so early. I love sunshine! So during the winter, I like to leave my window blinds open enough to let in as much light as possible, for as long as possible. It helps my mood.
The problem is that someone is always following behind me, closing the blinds that I’d just opened. GRRRR! I’ve asked the family why they do it but I usually get a series of denials.
That’s right, no one shuts the blinds. They close on their own. Isn’t that just amazing? I mean, these aren’t hi-tech contraptions. They’re not even premium bamboo shades. They’re mini-blinds from Dollar General! Who knew they had a mind of their own and the ability to close at will?
Okay, I think I’m done complaining. For this week.
- Posted in:
-
- Comments Off
I’m really trying to stick to my diet this time. I’ve messed up only a time or two so far and that’s because we’ve had extra food in the house for the upcoming holidays. I’m going to need some extra resolve and will power if I’m going to get through December.
I’m not relying on any gimmicks or special products this time. I’ve tried so many things with varying success. I did really well on the protein drinks but not eating solid food really began to get to me emotionally. I tried the alli weight loss pill for about a week but I’m not very good at remembering to take pills. Of course, I had great success with Atkins the first time but since then, I’ve had trouble making it work again.
So now I’m winging it. I’m watching my carbs, because my body just doesn’t handle carbs well. I’m trying to consume enough calories because I have a tendancy to eat too little, causing my metabolism to slow to a crawl. And I’m getting up from my computer to move around several times each day. Perhaps moving is the best part of my plan. Yeah, I think it is.
- Posted in:
-
- Comments Off
Last year at this time I was looking for the best travel deals so I could see my son for Christmas. This year, he’s home. What could be better?
This will be the first Christmas in three years that Jesse is home for the holiday. I can’t wait to celebrate with my whole family here. I can’t wait to take pictures of the entire family this year.
I think that in celebration of our family being together, I’m going to make meatballs and Italian sausage this year. I haven’t done that for a while but this year is special. In fact, I’m going to start baking early so that we have enough for lots of family and friends to stop by. That’s how it used to be when the kids were little. I wonder if I can recreate that magic this year?
- Posted in:
-
- Comments Off
Finally! The new Japanese Restaraunt and Sushi Bar have opened near my mom’s house. I’ve been waiting for the grand opening announcement and they finally made it this past week. WHOOHOO!
I haven’t had good Sushi since my last visit to Hawaii. I think Jesse and I are the only ones who really like it although Boomer and Levi like most Japanese dishes. I think the boys and I will have to make plans to visit very soon.
Most of this area is suffering economically so I’m not sure how long this new place will last. Hopefully, it will do well enough to stay here a while. When I finally get there, I’ll be sure to take my Canon camera so I can record my meal properly, just like my friends Alli and Cass do.
- Posted in:
I’ve stopped watching the financial reports on TV. Every time we hear that there’s a rise in the stock market, it’s followed by another dip. Consumer confidence is down, investors aren’t investing and everyone is waiting and watching. In the meantime, life goes on.
No matter what is happening in the world of finance, we all still have bills to pay. Utilities, mortgage or rent, car payments, insurance, food and fuel continue to eat away at our income. We can cut out the extras like movies or eating out but we can’t stop providing the necessities. And you know, when things get really tough, the government sure isn’t going to bail out a regular old citizen.
Things are tight here but we’re getting by. In fact, we’ve take steps to reduce our fuel consumption by installing a wood burning stove in our fireplace to help heat our house and reduce our need for propane this year. Still, that doesn’t mean that we’re not worried about our personal finances. I can’t help but wonder what will happen if one of our vehicles need major repairs. What if our refrigerator dies or our water heater fizzles out? With a few bad winters behind us and the currently dead construction industry, there just isn’t all that much money saved up to cover something unexpected.
I’ve read about various payday loans and frankly, I’m not comfortable with most of them. My understanding is that they’re very short term and carry extremely high interest rates. That makes me very uncomfortable. So I’ve been looking around and I’ve discovered ThinkCash, specializing in providing short term cash loans for those unexpected emergencies.
With rates 25% - 75% lower than typical payday loans, ThinkCash is a no-brainer. Why would anyone go elsewhere? Even better, these loans, which can range from $250 - $2,500, can be paid back in several installments. You can even pay the loan back early without penalty. There are no hidden fees and there’s no paperwork. The entire process happens online and the money can be deposited into your bank account the very next day.
My husband and I have never really used Credit Cards much. Our loans have always been for our home or for vehicles. Nevertheless, we’ve found ourselves needing a personal loan a few times and by the looks of this winter, that may happen again. It’s good to know that regardless of credit history, there’s someone out there willing to help the average guy get through a rough time. It’s good to know that there’s a lifesaver when we’re faced with an unexpected car repair or a miscalculation is going to cause a check to bounce.
Money is on everyone’s mind right now. We’re all trying to get through this economically rough time and just stay afloat. There are a number of ways to control our debt, reduce our spending and make it through the financially tight times. ThinkCash is one tool that might come in handy for some of us. It’s one option that I’m going to keep in mind. You should, too.
- Posted in:
Yes, I know I’m getting older. It isn’t just the creaking bones, the failing eyesight or that strange old lady who keeps staring at me when I look into the mirror. It’s my entire life.
I’ve always loved the ocean and have tried for years to get my husband to consider vacations in very warm weather. My love for all things tropical is what got us to Hawaii back in 2001 and kept my husband going back each winter. (Yes, I encouraged him.) We’ve tried to plan Disney vacations so the kids could have fun and we could stop by a beach for a day or two but that never happened. The best we could do was Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio, and the beach of Lake Erie.
Anyway, as I’ve been searching online for masonry work for my husband, I’ve found myself drawn to areas that have mountains. There’s something about a mountain cabin that leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy. Maybe I’ve been watching too many Bonanza reruns or something, but I’m feeling very rustic lately.
Okay, someone slap me before I book a camping trip or something. Because you know I’ll regret it if I do.
- Posted in:
The kids are already asking for special gifts for Christmas. Kendyll is at that age where she notices every toy advertised on TV and proclaims, “I want that” every 30 seconds. Steven is happy to play with any toy that he finds lying around and can entertain himself quietly forever. Boomer and Maggie are more selective but their gifts are much more expensive, too. Levi never knows exactly what he wants. He’ll mention one or two things but it’s like he’s not even sure.
I have a few ideas for Kendyll and Steven but I’m stumped for the other kids this year. Money is a bit tighter than years past. I can remember when each kid got a new bike, new remote control helicopters, cars or trucks, 3 or 4 video games each and more Legos than any ten kids could use in a lifetime. And Maggie always ended up with a half dozen dolls or so. My how times have changed around here!
The thing is, though, that the kids are fine with fewer gifts. Its the grown ups who expect to see more. When I’m trying to make the Christmas money stretch this year, I’m going to have to remember that.
- Posted in:
I can’t seem to figure out why numbers that end with zero are more significant than numbers that end in, say, 4 or 7 or 9. Why is 30 more significant than 29?
As I sit here staring at the half century mark I can’t help wonder what the big deal is. I’m the same this moment as I was an hour ago, before those numbers clicked up one more. I’m almost certain I have no more wrinkles than I did two days ago, no extra gray hair. My weight is holding steady at “Oh, NO!” and the same bones that creaked last week are creaking again today. In other words, nothing has really changed.
And yet here I sit, contemplating this age. I wonder and I fret. I know I’ll get past this and head on to the next Zero-ending milestone but for now, I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to be feeling. Maybe I thought that something magical and fantastic would happen as midnight rolled around. Maybe it will happen at 6am, the hour I was born.
Or maybe not.
My husband says, every single year, “It’s just another day. One day older than yesterday, that’s all.” And he’s right. I’m not a year older than yesterday, I’m a day older. Every day, I wake up one day older than the day before. This is no different really. I’ve just been doing it for 50 years and if I have my way, I’ll be doing it every day for another 50 years. Or so.
- Posted in:
