Holey Nightgown Batman!

I worked an 11 hour day today, getting 1099's out to our subcontractors. I am tired.

My hubby was awesome and made dinner. Beans con Ham. (I will have a WHOLE other post on that another time) After eating, I wanted to get comfortable. Not sweats and a t-shirt comfortable, REEEEEALLLLY comfortable. My radar was set to my favorite nightgown. You know the one: it's probably older than your kids (if you have any), long, stretchy, a few stains, one or more holes, maybe even the seam(s) aren't even sewn anymore. That's the one. Mine has one more "feature"... The sleeves were too long and I "tailored" them. (if you call grabbing a pair of scissors in a blind fit of destruction, tailoring) They are now gloriously uneven. But, I am comfortable. REEEEEALLLLY comfortable.

What are your favorite jammies or comfy clothes?

American Dollars?!?!?

I occasionally get emails from Ticketmaster about events coming up. I saw they had this cool show called Walking With the Dinosaurs and thought I would check it out and with my birthday FAST approaching (only 18 more shopping days left, everyone!) I was trying to find something fun to do. Well, I saw the tickets were priced from $29.50 to $49.50. I would naturally want the best seats, but not willing to pay in excess of $100.00 (with tax and all the charges that ticket master charges!) to basically see a MOVIE.

I digress... my hubby loves professional wrestling (I am into it now too, because of him). Before you say how wrestling is fake, blah, blah, blah, lemme finish.

He asked me to look up when and/or if the WWE would be anywhere close to us. I saw all the various events and places and saw "Wrestlemania" in April. I clicked on it for kicks and grins to see how much the tickets were. Again, I would want the best seats to be close to the action...

Guess how much the best seats were? I dare ya!

I'm waiting.......

More......

Higher......

Higher......

No, you're not even close.

One last guess, then I'll tell you.


Alright. Are you sitting down? Do you have a paper bag?

The tickets were OVER $9000.00 EACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I said out loud: "Is that AMERICAN DOLLARS???"

And I thought $49.50 was a little pricey!

Family Ties

I am a little overwhelmed. (In a good way) I have been working on my family history for several years and came across someone working on my bio dad's line. I was shocked, I never thought I would find anyone working on that line. I found her number from the family history website and called her. When we spoke, I found out that she is my cousin's mother-in-law. She gave me the number to my cousin. I was thrilled. You see, I have not seen or spoken to that side of the family in 30 years. (It is a long story, that I won't bore you with)

I called my cousin and we ended up spending over 3 hours on the phone catching up. He then gave my number to his sister and we spoke for another hour, plus she send me some pictures of the family. We promised never to lose touch again.

We are even making plans to have a reunion. I have no words for how grateful for the Lord answering my prayer. I feel like a piece of me was missing for so long and it has now been restored.

I just wanted to share my great news with you all.

On the Cheap PLUS A GIVEAWAY!!

My friend Sandra was nice enough to treat me to lunch today. {{Thanks!}} We had Mexican food at Sara's Place in Las Cruces (givin a shout out for them, can I get a Wooo Wooo!!). The food was so good, the salsa was hot. (I lika da spicy!)

Then it hit me... HEARTBURN. Oh, the pain, oh the agony!!! I get it a lot, but not like I used to, so I always manage to keep tums or rolaids around. Well, I took some rolaids soft chews (very tasty, but keep them away from the chillens, because they look and even kinda taste like candy)
but they didn't help.

Then I recalled that Sandra had told me just yesterday, as a matter of fact, that baking soda works very well as an antacid.

I got home and thought... "What have I got to lose?" So, I filled a cup halfway with water and disolved a level teaspoon (the kind you would eat cereal with, not the measuring spoon) of baking soda in it. I drank about half** and within 30 seconds to a minute, my heartburn was G.O.N.E!!!

I actually danced around gleefully in the kitchen.

For all you out there who are BOGOing, pennypinching, and frugaling, this is LESS than PENNIES per dose!!!!! I buy the generic baking soda for about $.45 per box (less if it is on sale). When I bought the Rolaids Soft Chews, they were $3.29 for about 15 pieces!!! You do the math. No, really.. do the math. Dooo it. DO IT.

**OK, now for the "catch":

IT TASTES AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But it works and is cheap, so I will continue to use it. So, to all of you... I am putting a challenge out there.

What home remedies or tips have you found like this that were:

1. Cheap, cheap, cheap
2. You Actually TRIED
3. Successfully Worked

For any who leave a comment and link to my blog (you know the drill) I will pick a winner and you will get a BRAND SPANKIN NEW box of baking soda, with my autograph. C'mon, you know you want it!

Am I Being Too Sensitive???

At my job we share an office with another company. We are going to be moving our office soon . The District Manager of the of the other company (who shares the office with us) was talking about a "super office" and just getting a much bigger office (to combine a few of their satellite offices and ours) and promoting their HR Specialist to their office manager. I said "Great! If we do that, you can hire a receptionist so I can have my own office." (I am the office manager and all around "Jane of All Trades" in my office. I sit in the front office because our receptionist quit a year ago and business has been too slow to justify hiring another one. )

He then said, "Tammy you ARE the receptionist!" I was floored! All I could say was, "Uhh, NO, I am not!" He then laughed and walked away.


I was actually kinda pissed off! I have paid my dues at this office. It might have been a joke, but I couldn't help feeling way undervalued, and like all of my experience and accomplishments were just dismissed. I am not trying to look down on receptionists. I think they are valuable assets to an office.


I need some other opinions.

Cross Your Fingers!

Maybe I might win this time?!? I am new to the giveaways in all things blog, so... Vote for Me! Vote for Me! Ohhh, right, I guess it doesn't work that way!

Well, check out the Happy Daisy, I am telling one and all about the giveaway. This will give me 2 entries. I will be sitting, holding my breath, crossing my fingers and toes, because I really, really, really, really want to win.

.... if I turn blue and pass out, leave a comment, it works every time.


1/20/09 - I am completely awful, I am piggybacking this post with another giveaway!



This looks yummy!!! The picture is the link. I am all about the Huckleberry! Be sure to check out Lisaloo's blog!

Honest Scrap

WOW! I got my first award today. You realize that this is just going to add to my already out of control blogging.

This was awarded to my from An Eagles View. Thanks!

My acceptance speech: *Ahem* You like me, you REALLY, REALLY like me!!! (sudden flashbacks of Sally Field getting her Oscar) Anyhoo, this is just too cool. I appreciate the recognition of my random and candid thoughts.

I should probably post the rules:

The rules for the Honest Scrap award:
A) First list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep!
B) Pass the award on to 7 bloggers whom you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.



OK, Here goes (I will try to do this quickly, like ripping a bandaid off)

1. I am the youngest of 4 kids and the only active one in the church. It makes me sad.

2. I am trying to lose weight, but I feel like I constantly self-sabotage myself and can't figure out why.

3. I think my husband is super handsome when he is in all his temple gear!

4. I wish I had the ability to say exactly what is on my mind (tactfully).

5. I can cross my eyes and then un-cross only one at a time and alternate them back and forth. It kinda freaks people out. I think it's cool.

6. I met my hubby online through LDS Planet. We got married about 4.5 months after the "face to face". Best decision I ever made!

7. I desperately want children and having gone through 8 (known) miscarriages, it has taken me a LONG time to not get upset when a friend or family member has a baby.

8. I do not have a college education. I have had to work from a very early age and just never had the opportunity or time until I moved to NM. I am currently TRYING to get my degree here. (Go AGGIES!) I did, however, get my PhD from the School of Hard Knocks!

9. I have decided to "train" myself in the culinary arts. There are no culinary schools around here and I really want to enhance my skills, so I decided (just last night!) to do it myself!

10. I did not appreciate my membership in the LDS Church until I was 32 years old. I had a "spiritual epiphany" of sorts and have worked very hard to build my testimony and to live my life making the best choices possible. I do not have one. single. regret. for making those changes in my life. I actually am more at peace with myself than I have been in a LONG time.

There... Now, the 7 people I nominate/tag are:

April of A Honu Experience
Stacy of The Gray Area
Ashley of The Weir Family
Lisa of Leatherwood Family Adventures
Wendy of No Botox Allowed
Sarah of The Payne Family
Paula of Random Thoughts from a Random Blonde

Great Movie

The hubbs and I met some friends to see this movie yesterday. The theater was almost completely full! We sat 3 rows from the front. (We didn't have our customary Cherry Coke, which usually enhances the enjoyment factor of the movie going experience. The lines were too long and the previews were gonna start! I gotta watch them previews!!!!)

We laughed and laughed throughout the movie. The nicest thing was it was only rated PG!!! (I won't go into a long diatribe about the script or special effects or the realism of the quantum hoohah, because it kinda bugs me when people can't just watch a movie for entertainment purposes.)

It was entertaining and I would recommend watching it. Plus, if you have kiddos you can take the whole family.

Our next venture (oooh I am soooo excited) will be to see the new movie with Liam Neeson called "Taken". I can't wait!

Heavy Heart

Earlier today I was sailing through the sea of blogs and came across a blog where people were encouraged to share their innermost secrets (anonymously) in the comment area. As I was reading the comments, my heart ached. I finally had to stop.

A while later, my hubby asked what was wrong. I guess it was showing.

I told him about the comments on the blog. I had another "a-ha" moment.

We have read in the scriptures about prophets mourning because of the choices of their brethren. I finally get what that means.

*** DISCLAIMER *** I am not perfect, nor claim to be, I am not passing judgment on anyone, just sharing my feelings.

The reason these comments affected me so adversely, is because these people say that they are LDS and they have been to the temple. The comments almost seemed (to me anyway) to brag about what they have done and now that they made an anonymous comment on a blog, they are able to just "get it off their chest" and move on.

I just sat there and cried. I know what it is like to make wrong choices and not see the error of my ways.

I also know what it feels like to make every effort possible to repent and try to make it right with the Lord. The joy that it brings is indescribable.

I don't know their circumstances. I don't know what is in their heart. I do know that they are children of a Heavenly Father who loves them, in spite of their mistakes.

I know that this is a very solemn post, but it was weighing heavily on my mind. Thanks for listening.

Ode to Cholula

Oh Cholula,
You wonderful sauce, making my eggs dance on my tongue.
Full of fire and flavor.
My potatoes cry out for you.
Don't ever change.
Breakfast will ever be better because of you.
Oh Cholula.

Calling ALL Family History Buffs!

My hubbs and I had the opportunity to go to the temple on Saturday and do ordinances for a lot of my ancestors. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!

Because of that, I have this need, this desire to find more names to bring to the temple. It is borderline obsessive, hinging on a true mania.

BUT, in one area of my family history, I have had a stumbling block for many years. Not just a bring wall, but verging on the WALLS of JERHICO, encircled by The GREAT WALL OF CHINA, while I am standing in the GRAND CANYON looking up at these nameless family members, without a clue how to climb out or get past these road blocks.

SOOOOOOOOO, if anyone has some experience with family history, that would be willing to help, I am all ears!!

Even if you don't have any experience, but know someone who does, please, please, please pass this along.


Thanks!

Fix A Flat Builds Testimony.. Who Knew?!?

I really need to post about my testimony a bit today. Over the years of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have often wondered how people gain a testimony.

Over the years, I have really tried to do what the Lord has asked of me. In some areas, I have failed miserably, in others I have done better.

What I have noticed, is that the more I choose to follow the teachings of Christ and "prove the Lord, herewith" I see that not only do I feel a greater desire to make better choices, but I have started to have aversions to choices that would lead me away from these good feelings I have been having.

So, this being said, WHY do I have a picture of "Fix A Flat" in this post? WELL, I walked out of my office to go home and before I got in the car, I felt prompted to look at my tires. I never look at my tires. I don't care about my tires. They don't excite me in the least. So, I looked at my tires and one of them was flat. I figured I must have ran over something.

I immediately called my husband to come and help me change the tire. I sat in the car and waited for him to come. When he got there, I popped the trunk and saw my little miracle. The can of Fix A Flat!!! I swear the thing smiled at me.

I filled the tire (DO NOT get this stuff on your hands... it STINKS!!!) and was able to drive home without incident.

Why do you ask does this help my testimony?!?!?

We are constantly being counseled by the prophets of the Church to be prepared; financially, food storagely, spiritually, etc. (Remember the parable of the 10 Virgins?)

I decided a long time ago, that I would buy a fancy, schmancy First Aid kit as well as an Emergency Road Side Car Breakdown Sort of Thing kit and keep them in the trunk of my car.

I WAS PREPARED!!!!! I actually started getting a little weepy on the way home sharing my little testimony builder with my hubby over the phone.

I know that to some you may think that this is no big deal, but the moral of my story is, Listen to the Counsel of the Lord. This moment in my life gave me the little boost I need to better stock our food storage, save as much money as our budget will allow and do all I can to be temple worthy.

Weighty Issues

Sooo.... A new year is upon us.

As I begin to ponder what I want to accomplish this year, I turn inward. I want to lose weight, no, I NEED to lose weight. But I also want to make my life healthier overall. My goal is to not look at changing my eating habits (which are horrible) as a temporary fix, but something to shape and modify for the better for a lifetime.

I also want to incorporate exercise into my everyday life. If I have the time to watch TV every night, I have the time to exercise.

Mike and I went to California for Thanksgiving. We flew. I guess my "A-ha" moment was when I couldn't get the seatbelt on the plane fastened. I cried the whole flight. (The weird thing was, that I got it fastened on both of our flights on the way home.) Anyhoo, it was a horrible moment.

Mike and I are also trying to have a baby. I have PCOS (which doesn't help with the weight gain OR the baby making). It will also be a LOT healthier for me (and baby) when I do get pregnant.

So, I am putting it all out there. My heart is on my sleeve, I am sharing this with all who read this and will be updating my blog with my progress. I really would like to hear from others who are dealing with the same thing.

Consider this my "Before" picture, people!!!!!