Monday Miscellany & Monday Mingle- I love Random!

I love Miscellany Monday because I can randomly write things that I wanted to write that really have nothing in common at all. :)  Let's go! 

1. Plus Size What?!

I can't stand how Plus Size starts at a size 10.  Are you serious? Plus Size?  I can't stand how those plus size stores have models that are probably a size 10 with a flat stomach and skinny arms and legs.  Come on...let's see REAL women that won't make the plus size women feel inferior!  I'm happy to say that I no longer shop at those stores and now fit in normal Juniors size clothes, but I know how I felt when I did and saw their advertisements with the skinny girls.  It drives me crazy.  It's bad enough the media makes the "perfect woman" out to be a stick thin beautiful airbrushed model.  Even Dove airbrushes and fixes their "Real Women".  

2. Imagination Movers ROCK!

Come on, aren't they the BEST kids show ever?  Maybe I'm biased because I have a secret crush on Rich and my kids absolutely LOVE the show, but it's awesome.  We watched them on The View this morning and that's what reminded me. :)  I was going to bring my kids to the show, but I wasn't sure if they would let kids in or what.  So we just watched from home.  My kids (and I) hope they go on tour again because we'd love to go! (Any other Movers Mommys reading?!)

3. Gaining Weight, thumbs down.

I haven't been caring too much about what I'm eating, which is bad.  Today I restarted caring and eating very healthy.  I felt the difference too when I splurged and ate what I wanted to.  It's only noon and I'm feeling SO much better from eating healthy. :)  Yay. I would love to lose a few more pounds within two weeks.  

4. Potty Training Update!

Olivia is more or less trained!  When she came home from her dad's house on Sunday, she had underpants on and stayed dry all day!  She did her poops and pees in the potty, and we're so proud of her.  She only wears pull ups now when it's bedtime.  Of course, we fight her on it, but we're all so proud of her for doing it!

5. MMMBOP!

Laugh at me, make fun of me, tell me I'm old school or a geek, but I'm so excited.  Tomorrow I'm going to Sayreville NJ to see HANSON!!! I could not be more excited and can hardly wait until we leave at 1pm tomorrow. :)  I've been a Hanson fan since 1997 and will always be one no matter how much people make fun of me! BRING IT ON!! :D  (You bet you're gonna hear about it tomorrow!)


That's all I can think of for now, but I'll update this if I have any more random moments!!

My Monday Mingle is going to be written today because #1. I look like crap. #2. I'm still in crappy clothes because I haven't unpacked my car from my weekend trip and #3.  My tooth hurts too damn bad to actually talk. (Wow, me? Not talking? What a miracle!!)

1. How many computers are in your house?

We have 3.  I have a desktop that I use occasionally, my mom has a Verizon Netbook and I have my MacBook that I use all the time and am in love with. :)  Sometimes I consider selling my desktop and just using the laptops, but Windows is good occasionally for some things.  Just not everything.  I'm so used to Apple.


2. Are you connected on the go? (via cell phone with data service, netbook, laptop, etc.)


YES!!!  I am.  I have a Blackberry Storm w/ Data Plan, iPhone w/ Data Plan, a laptop (Macbook) and a Netbook w/ Data Plan (HP).  I love my connectivity and it's very important to me.  Especially being a blogger!  My iPhone is my "business phone" for my Jewelry business as well as my blogging.  My Blackberry is for calling, texting, Yahoo, Aim, etc...


3. What is the longest amount of time you can go without the internet before missing it?


ONE DAY! LOL  The hotel that we stayed in this weekend had NO Wifi service without paying for it or being in a certain set of rooms. I tried to go without it for as long as possible, but I did end up caving and signing onto my Netbook by that night.  I love the internet, I love checking and reading blogs when I have nothing else to do and I love to blog...  How did I ever live without internet when I was a kid??

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Monday Miscellany - Musings galore!

1. Beach Time!

Yesterday myself, my mom, my best friend and the kids went down the Jersey Shore.  (No, not THAT Jersey Shore.) I work with Amusement Advantage and I had free vouchers to go Point Pleasant Beach, so we got to go to the Beach, Boardwalk, Aquarium and Gold Course for absolutely free! It was very fun and exciting to even go in my new car.  We were all excited, actually.  Going in a car that we know won't break down is the greatest part! Ha!  

We had a great time.  My friend and I really wanted to go in the ocean, but the tide was so rough and there were so many rip tides that we couldn't go farther than maybe knee deep water.  It was fun, though.  My kids were afraid of the ocean since the waves were big, so they just put their feet in a little and played with my mom on the sand.  Olivia took a few minutes to get used to the sand.  She was pretty scared of it! lol

Needless to say, we had an awesome time.  The only problem was that we got sunburnt!  I want to post all of the pictures I have -- I'll do that tomorrow. :) I'll post just one right now.

2. Back To School Event

Life of an Artsy Mom will have an official announcement soon.  Starting the end of August beginning of September, (date TBA) we will be having a Back to School event!! We have many companies that are going to be doing Giveaways with us that are perfect for Back To School!!  We're very excited to be doing this and we're even more excited that this is our first event!  We're currently working on a design for the button for you all to put on your page to spread the word about the Back to School event!!  We're also looking for some guest writers who would like to contribute any articles of their own about Back to School.  Any tips? Tricks? Recipes for lunches or after school snacks? If you want to be a guest writer, please e-mail us HERE. 

3. Paycheck to Paycheck

Do you know what sucks? Living paycheck to paycheck.  I absolutely hate the one week where ALL the bills come due at once and we're at that in between before we get a check.  So today was that day for us.  $10 in my wallet, had to scrounge through everything in my house, all my old purses to find some change, found some old lottery tickets that were $1 winners and had some video games we never used.  This happens every time the bills come due.  For some reason, they all come due on the same week! ha.  Our luck!!  We came through, however.  We had $10 in change that I went to Coinstar with, I got $10 for some old video games and a few dollars in lottery tickets. Just enough for dinner and gas in my car for tomorrow.  I'll get my check tomorrow, which is great, so it's grocery shopping day tomorrow! Does anyone else go through this at one time or another?  Sometimes I feel like we're all alone in our scrounging for money.

4. Potty Training 

I'm currently going through potty training with Olivia.  She has wanted to do it for quite a while and she HAS been trying.  I have to give her credit where credit is due.  However she needs to be more consistent.  There are times she forgets and just goes in her underpants, so I really have to get on asking her every half hour if she has to go and getting her trained.  She wants to and tries very hard.  She gets discouraged every time she almost goes but misses the potty.  I know she's ready.  I just have to put my all into it. I will get started on that!  It's just so difficult to do!

5. Bachelorette 

I'm now rooting for Frank, but I have a bad feeling about him right now.  Next in line for my support is Roberto. ha!  I'm watching it right now and hopefully Frank won't let me down! (Though I doubt I'm right.) 

6. Uh Oh - Coach?! 

Yesterday I found out that there is a COACH OUTLET around here!  It's about an hour away but from what I hear, it's VERY worth going.  Purses for just $100 and under?! Oh yeah.  They take coupons? Even better!!  I think I'm going to have to make a special trip there soon! :D

7. Fresh Brewed Tea

I hate fresh brewed tea!!  I cannot stand it...AT ALL!!  My mom made some tonight and I really have to load it with sugar or I can't stomach the taste.  I guess maybe I'm just weird, but I also can't have sweet tea.  It's just disgusting! lol

8. The View

Tomorrow I am going to see The View and I am very excited to just get out for a few hours and be with some friends. :) I'm hoping to find street parking in NYC just like I did the last time I went to The View.

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Monday Miscellany - A bunch of random musings for this week.

ONE}

I can't believe my luck.  My 4 year old is obsessed with that stupid Christmas movie ELF.  Buddy is one of her imaginary friends now and she constantly watches it.  Yes, even in the dead of summer.  I was reading different articles online today and what do I see?  That on Nov. 2nd ELF is going to become a BROADWAY MUSICAL...  We're 20 minutes from Manhattan so there's really no excuse I can give not to take her...  Maybe she'll be over the phase within 7 months... Yeah right.  Wishful thinking, right? Ha!

TWO}

Domestic isn't even the word for me lately!!  I made low fat/low cal orange buns this morning.  They were so delicious I could barely stand it.  Everyone else thought so too.  Between yesterday and today I think I cooked enough for an entire small country. ha!  I'm in a huge cooking phase and I'm not complaining.  I actually am enjoying it too and of course, I have tons of recipes to post here!

THREE}

Tomorrow I go to look at my car.  Of course, it's not my car yet.  I'm still driving my Subaru, but not for long.  My car is honestly too dangerous to drive.  Brakes are shot, shocks and struts are shot, fan belt is shot, something with the wheels.  My car has lasted me a long time and I tried to make it last longer, but unfortunately it just can't make it anymore.  *pats car*  I'm gonna miss it, but I'm looking at this awesome Chevy Equinox that is very decently priced and just sitting there waiting for me.  The guy said he'll work on a good price with me.  Let's hope.  We only will have the money after we cash in my car and my mom's. Wish me luck!!

FOUR}

I made the decision ... I'm going  back to the gym.  I'm going to Bally's on a month free trial.  I'm excited that I can attend the classes and work out as much as I want.  I feel like it's going to help me along a lot on my goals.  I just wasn't liking my local gym. (Planet Fitness)  I've been to Bally's before, when I was going to college, and I liked everyone there.  I actually can't wait to go work out.

FIVE}

This year I didn't get to see fireworks.  I had been doing a quick job when they were in our town and besides, Alayna had strep.  Our town is directly across the skyline from Manhattan, so we CAN see the Macy's fireworks.  I took a quick drive myself to our waterside last night to see them.  Unfortunately, so many people were there it wasn't even worth staying... but I did see a good portion of the Macy's fireworks. :)  I decided just to go to Wendys, get Frostys and go home. 

SIX}

It's been so fucking hot here.  100 degrees has been the highest, and that's been the majority of the day.  Right now, it's almost 7pm and it's 91 degrees.  How can ANYONE handle the heat?  We've had scattered "brown outs" around here and actually our living room power doesn't work as well as my daughter's room power.  I guess we're sleeping in my room tonight until the power starts to work in those two rooms.  How weird that only those rooms don't work!

SEVEN}

I'm so incredibly restless.  I'm tired, I'm bored, I don't want to sleep, I don't know if I want to go out anywhere. Haha! I don't even know what I want to eat!!  So I'm just a big useless blob of crank today.  (Although, so is everyone else.  It's the damn weather.)  I'll write a full entry later... right now I just have to go to the store to find food.  Someone get me up and push me out the frikkin door!!

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Computer frustrations, blogging and Monday Mingle!

I'm going to mix two lovely things today... A great new "meme" called Monday Miscellany and Monday Mingle! I found out about Monday Miscellany today and it just seems like so much fun.  I'm always so random in my blogs, and this gives me a reason to be!  So without further adieu, Monday Miscellany! (Monday Mingle vlog is below this, so if you're here for that..it's here!)

1.

As much as people complain about Apple Computers for their shitty warranties, their lack of insurance for iPhone and their overpriced merchandise, I have to love them.  I am a Mac Geek.  I've been using Macs for almost 10 years and I've had an iPhone since the first generation.  I love their products and have hardly any complaints.  Today, the worst thing happened.  Well, one of the worst.

You see, I have a Macbook that I got in 2007.  It was my first Macbook (Even though I had a G4 before this) and it was the love of my life.  It got me through quite a while before I upgraded to a newer Macbook. (Thanks to tax refund checks and birthday gifts. Ha!)  I had always kept the first Macbook I got (I've had for almost 4 years) because it had my Photoshop, graphic design stuff, iTunes (with all my music) and it's the computer I use for my iPhone. It still worked like a charm... Until today.

I turned it on (or attempted to) in hopes to finally download the new update for my iPhone.  I turn it on...nothing on the screen.  I do a hard reboot and I see a very scrambled screen that is partially black.  I freak the hell out.  I mean freak out as in start sweating, shaking, NERVOUS BREAKDOWN-esque.  The first thing I do is call my local Apple Store... They set up an appointment for me to come in and have it looked at. Ok... So I go.  They take me right away and the first words I hear are..."Oh no, your screen is shattered."  Um...HOW THE HELL DOES MY SCREEN GET SHATTERED IF I KEEP IT IN A SAFE PLACE AT ALL TIMES?  They answered that since it is almost 4 years old, it can happen with age.  GOOD THING - It can be fixed... I ask how much.  Ready for this?

$445.00

Is that really a good thing Mr. Apple Bar Technician?  So, I tell him to go ahead with the repairs, since that Macbook has a lot of stuff on it that I need.  I'll come up with the $445.  Maybe the money tree in my back yard will magically grow $500 within a week. *eye roll*  He was very kind and said that when it's repaired, all I have to do is put down a down payment and I can pay off the rest.  Well, thank you Apple Bar Technician.  You are now my new best friend.  It will be fixed within a week.

2.

My trip that I am taking this coming week has been moved up. I was supposed to leave early Monday morning and come back Tuesday evening... I got a call today that it would be easier to leave Sunday morning.  After a talk with my mom and realizing that we really don't have anything to do on Father's Day, we both agreed Sunday would actually be better.  It just adds one more night of homesickness and missing my little lovies. :(  They're just excited that they can have two whole days of special day trips with my mom and my uncle. Ha!  I hope they'll miss me just a little bit!

3.

We are having a yard sale on Saturday, know what that means?  This week will be hardcore cleaning until we can't stand cleaning anymore.  I note this as a good thing because I really have so much that I need to get rid of.  So many baby things, electronics, furniture and so on.  Maybe I can pick up some extra pocket change.  Except, my kids don't understand the concept of: You have too many toys.  You have to go through your toys and sell what you don't want or don't play with anymore.  They find this agonizing and torturous.  Oh yes, I mean blood curdling screams torturous.  Torturous as in it will kill them to sell some of their toys.  Of course, when I bring up the subject of whatever money they make from selling toys we can use towards fun day trips this summer or a small trip to Toys R Us, they change their tune.  I'm still dreading going through their toys with them because I know the argument will ensue again.  What's funny is we just watched an episode of Caillou yesterday where he had to go through his toys for a yard sale... Oh the irony.

4.

Dear Alayna decided she doesn't want bangs anymore.  We never actually got her bangs as they just grew in that way when her hair grew in as a baby/toddler.  She decided she wants to let her bangs grow out so she can be "bangless".  Hey, less trouble for me to cut them, but I don't think she's gonna enjoy it when her bangs are in that "in between" stage and in her eyes all the time.  Let's see how long the "i don't want bang" thing lasts. I give it two more months.

5.

Olivia is already telling me what she wants for her birthday, which is in December!!  So far, on her list, she has a new Pillow Pet (a dog, to be specific), her own Nintendo DS, she wants Imagination Movers tickets (even though we have no idea when they are going to go on tour again) and more flip flops.  Yes, she wants flip flops in the winter.  She is starting to talk more and be able to communicate what she wants... The joys of TWO chatterboxes in the house. lol

6.

I'm still waiting for a package that was supposed to arrive this past weekend.  On the shipping information it says it has been rescheduled...um??  I kind of need it before I leave on Sunday.  Here's to hoping the "reschedule" still gets it here in the TWO BUSINESS DAYS I paid for it to get here.  If not, my angry self will be calling the company and try to get reimbursed for the express shipping fees I paid.  Yeah...

7.

I'm addicted to Hanson's new CD.  Addicted as in listening to the CD at every minute I have that I can listen to music.  It's making me even more hyped for the concert I am going to in mid July.  I NEVER get tired of Hanson.  They have been my true band love since 1997! (AND I AINT ASHAMED! lol)

Onto the Monday Mingle...

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