Johnny Depp *swoon*

I must admit that when I was younger I had the biggest crush on Johnny Depp. I even had a poster hanging up in my room!

Most recently I've been able to watch a few of Depp's movies and I'm constantly impressed at how he can really get into playing the character! In Pirates of the Carribean he makes the movie. There's no doubt that without his acting and skills the movie would in no way have received the fame and publicity that it has. Also, there probably wouldn't have been as many sequels to the movie either!

My favorite appearance in a movie by Johnny Depp was in the remake of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. That was my all-time-favorite movie and so it was hard for me to think that anyone could have been as good as Gene Wilder. However, I must admit hat Johnny Depp - did it!

He was zany, crazy, and fit the role perfectly!

I love scary movies and movies with adventure so I'm pretty excited about his upcoming movie.

You can visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site



Of course, if you're into the MySpace scene you can also visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace!

It looks like there's going to be some good movies this holiday season and I can honestly say that I'm pretty excited to see Johnny Depp at it again with a new chartbuster!

Running late.

So we've gotten into the habit of sleeping in when I don't have a subbing gig. What that means is that we wake up at 9am or so and then Graem likes to lay around in bed and watch some cartoons.

Of course, that means that we typically don't get into daycare until 10:00am or so and I get all kinds of looks.

However, it's not worth it for her to wake up and be grumpy. I figure she needs the sleep and I don't want to disturb her if I don't have to.

Today I'm going to head to my office at Borders and catch up on some blogging.

What a mess.

I just went down to our basement and it's a complete nightmare down there. The guys just left who were installing our heater an there's crap all over the place.

I think we might need to invest in a nice utility cart so that we can store some of Margot's tools. We probably should get some shelves and hangers so that we can put everything in it's proper place.

Of course, that would just clear the floor for us to stick more junk in the basement!

Day of work.

Today I have an appointment at the midwives, then I'm coming home to do computer work. Then I have another appointment with my chiropractor. Let me tell you the fun never ends around here!

Of course, I'm going to spend most of my day at home because they are going to be installing our new furnance.

Hopefully, this afternoon/evening we can crank it up and actually have heat throughout the house.

Have I mentioned, how excited I am about this?

Pathetic!

So scary.

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. The significance of that is that I have seen some pretty dangerous thunderstorms and hurricanes in my time. I remember the sky turning completely black while in school. There was also a bayou behind the school and it was approx. 100 feet deep or so.

At one point during one of the horrible thunderstorms the bayou would start to overflow and you could hear the water from our classrooms pour over the top. It was quite scary! Especially as a first grader and just wanting to be at home with my parents.

Now there's a movie that is just as scary! The Mist by Stephen King is coming to a movie theatre November 21st and is sure to have you biting your nails.

The trailer looked pretty good and shows a group of people that are trapped. Each time someone tries to fight "the mist" they don't return! Everyone has an instinctual way about them and survival of the fittest shows at it's best!

I'm sure Stephen King will deliver another scary movie that is bound to have you staying awake with the lights on for weeks! This could be a potentially good date movie if you want a little snuggle time at the end of your date!

So much for being productive today.

So, I decided to get a baby doppler so that I can listen to the kid's heartbeat. Of course, little did I realize that every time I had doubt that I'm still pregnant I would reach over and use it!

This morning I stressed out because for about an hour I couldn't find the baby's heartbeat. Which meant that I was sweating, had the ultrasounic goo all over me and I was a nervous wreck.

I ended up taking Graem to school and then came home and tried to get it again. Nothing.

So I called the midwives and they made a time for me at 2:15pm. I decided to try it one more time. Finally....the galloping of horses and the little kid's heartbeat appeared.

*sigh* Damn doppler.

We're starting to get excited!

Tomorrow I'll be 11 weeks pregnant! Who would have actually thought that IVF #5 would have worked! Since we had a miscarriage in December we've been pretty nervous about announcing the pregnancy and also equally paranoid that something could go wrong.

However, just the other day I started looking at baby furniture online! Since Graem didn't use much of her furniture since she slept upstairs the changing table and baby crib are in great shape.

I must say that even in the three years since we purchased her furniture the baby cribs have gotten so much better!

I think once I get to the second trimester in a few more weeks we'll finally be able to sit back a little bit and just enjoy the pregnancy. It's so different the second time around because you have everything and unless this kid pops out a boy...I'm not sure we'll need one thing aside from nursing supplies!

Are you covered?

I just realized the other day how old my car is looking! Of course, is isn't a spring chicken and it's almost 8 years old. However, living up north and it getting salt damage really is starting to take it's toll.

At some point I might even want to think about looking at car covers. At least when the car is not in use or when we are going through a stint of carpooling the car doesn't have to be exposed to the horrible upstate New York weather!

D'Oh!

Well, all last night and early this morning I was expecting to get a subbing call. This morning when i woke up at and it was 8:00am and no call I was somewhat shocked that none of the teachers had called in or needed a sub.

I took Graem to school and then I went to get my medicine. Finally, I realize after going to the library and it being closed --- it's Veterans Day and there's no school!

So, that makes sense as to why I didn't get a subbing gig today!

Stupid teeth.

Just a few weeks ago I made the trip to the dentist. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. However, my dentist did come in and say that once I give birth I'll need to come back in and make sure to get my filling taken care of.

He was so shocked to hear and see that the filling that I've had for about 15 years is popping off and I don't feel anything. He said over the next few months that I might start to feel some sensitivity.

Of course, that doesn't ease my stress level at all. So now I'm looking for alternatives for if I start feeling pain. I know I can't take meds but I also need to have some plan of action.

I've been looking at Dentemp OS and it is actually a way to provide temporary relief for people undergoing cavities and need some type of relief.

In fact, look at the great features of Dentemp OS:

Developed by a Dentist:It's Easy!

Dental First Aid:

It's Strong:

Fully FDA Approved:
Provides fast, temporary relief of pain and discomfort.

Just remove it from its plastic vial and it's ready to use. No Mess! No Mixing! Several Applications in each vial.

Replaces lost fillings and may be used to temporarily cement loose crowns.

You can eat on it within 30 minutes of setting.

All products have been tested and fully comply with FDA Regulations for Oral Care.

Of course, I'd have to ask the midwives to see if this would be safe to use during pregnancy. However, it puts my mind to ease to know that I might have a solution if I need it in a bind!

You never know when you might need temporary dental repair.

Tomorrow...

Well, I don't have any direct plans for tomorrow quite yet. Yesterday I was able to get a subbing gig and it worked out good. As of right now I have yet to actually get a call to sub.

Tuesday I have an appointment and Thursday I have appointments too so I don't think I'll be able to actually get my act together enough to sub.

Hopefully, this evening I'll get a call. I really hate it when they call minutes before I'm suppose to be subbing! Ugh.

This holiday season...

I'm thinking about what to buy all of our loved ones for Christmas. Typically, I try to think out of the box. I get family something from Harry and David's and for Margot's family we always with the kitchen supply and for her brother a gift card.

This year I'd love to do something a little bit more "thoughtful" and helpful to both mankind and a cause we belief firmly in - The Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Years ago when I was administrator of the assisted living residence I worked with a whole house devoted towards people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. I saw how the disease progressed and it was devasting to see how the families were put under such stress during such a difficult time.

If you're looking for a holiday gift you might want to check out the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's estore.

They offer some great bracelets and necklaces with charms that are devoted specifically to that special caregiver. They also offer a video series too that talks about Alzheimer's Care.

It's quite interesting because as an administrator I used to show these exact same tapes to my staff. They were perfect tapes because they not only talked about the physical part of caregiving, but also the emotional.

In fact, the logistics of how to care for someone is sometimes something that can take years to learn. By that time the person's loved one might be in a nursing home or assisted living. So by purchasing a DVD set that is used by professional caregivers might really be a lifesaver for someone who is taking care of a loved one at home.

The good thing about purchasing from the estore is that all proceeds go directly to the foundation.

While a cure is important - it is important to remember the people that take care of their loved ones with memory loss or dementia.



We all want the best for our loved ones and that includes getting them the best quality of care available. Many times that can be in the form of finding good care givers or even a referral to a nursing home or assisted living.

Good news!

So I just found out last week that our good friend, Cheri, was going to move back to New York. She had her daughter a few years ago and then decided to move to Texas to be close to her mother.

Now she just got a great job back here and has accepted. Of course, now she'll be looking for a house, a school for her kid, and a way to get her life in sorts!

I'm excited too that she'll be around to help us on our taxes if we need it. Did I mention that she's a CPA and really good at it?!?!

The family recipe!

It's that time of year again and I'm pretty excited! It looks like this year we're going to New York City for the holidays. We've already decided that Margot's brother is going to handle purchasing all needed supplies for Thanksgiving dinner.

Of course, I'm going to try to bake the famous "Black Family Pecan Pie"! Here's the recipe from years and years of being in the family.


Classic Pecan Pie Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 to 60 minutes
Yield: 1 pie


3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
2 tablespoons butter OR margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
1 (9-inch) unbaked or frozen** deep-dish pie crust
Preheat oven to 350°F.


Beat eggs slightly with fork in medium bowl. Add sugar, Karo® Corn Syrup, butter and vanilla; stir until blended. Stir in pecans. Place pie dough in pie pan. Pour pecan filling into pie crust.


Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.


**To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.


TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200°F. Tap center surface of pie lightly - it should spring back when done. For easy clean up, spray pie pan with cooking spray before placing pie crust in pan. If pie crust is overbrowning, cover edges with foil.


Most of the time when I mix I use a hand mixer but let me tell you it ends up taking forever and sometimes if you don't do it all the way it ends up distgusting with chunks of sugar and/or grainy.

I really wish that we would be able to purchase the Eclectrics® Mixer. Not only does it have an all metal stand but it is the master for mixing!

Our friends have the Hamilton Beach® Mixer and absolutely love it. It mixes evenly and does it within a matter of seconds.



I think the perfect gift this holiday season for good ole Mama would be a Hamilton Beach® Stand Mixer. Of course, it would be a great gift for Thanksgiving so that I can start using it for all of my holiday cooking!

Been a while!

Well, after my appointment Friday to the midwife and then my appointment with the Chiropractor I was pretty exhausted and to say the least I could barely do any work.

Not to mention, I've been so off schedule lately. Most of the time when I'm at home, especially, with Graem I can take a nap.

When Graem starts school full-time in the fall of next year...I think it's going to be much easier to get some of my work and blogging done.

Of course, then I'll probably have a little 3 month latched on to my boobs and crying.

Which one?

When we were looking for dryers a few weeks ago we had no idea where to start. We knew we wanted a top of the line but equally important were the different reviews from people that already owned the machines.

We tried to get reviews online but all of them seemed hard to get to, too old, and one website even wanted to charge us to view the reviews! How silly is that?

We looked at both Whirlpool and Maytag Dryers and decided to go with the Whirlpool because Lowes had the best deal.

Krillion.com offers a great website where they review most appliances out there. I like the fact that they give the pros and cons. All of this information can really help when making a big investment like a washer, dryer, or fridge!

Paybacks are hell.

Today I subbed high school business and I'm friggin' exhausted. First period started out with this total pain in the ass kid. She didn't listen and boy did she have the biggest attitude.

The other classes were actually pretty decent. I got some lip from a few kids but nothing I couldn't handle.

Then I had last period and I was pre-warned about the bad kids. Sure enough, they were bad! One talked all period and kept trying to be class clown.

Life's a real bitch and I"m starting to realize I was probably that bad kid who walked in and screamed "YES" when I saw a sub.

It's a win-win situation!

I'm always looking for ways to make money. Obviously, I blog for a few extra bucks. I've found a new system of blogging that would not only help me make some major cash but also help advertisers get the word out.

Since my blogs are pretty popular and geared towards mothers, those with small children, or pregnant women it pretty much guarantees a huge following on the same.

For any advertiser that comes to my website it's easy for them to see whether advertising on my website will work for their business.

Right you can Click Here to Signup as a BidVertiser Referral!

In fact, it's as easy as putting a BidVertiser button on your website and getting potential advertisers!



From an advertisers prospective it's great because you can pick the blogs you want to advertise on and insure that it's money well spent.

Right now BidVertiser.com is offering some amazing incentives for both businesses and publishers!

Just check out this press release:

BidVertiser is used by tens of thousands of bloggers to make money from their blogs by showing the BidVertiser ppc ads. Anyone can join BidVertiser either as a publisher or an advertiser, but we would like to share a new opportunity that not everyone is aware of:

BidVertiser now opens the the opportunity for bloggers to join as a referral, and as a unique benefit - a $20 coupon of free clicks is included with every referral account! This coupon can be shared and passed on to anyone - by placing a referral button on the blog, by adding the coupon link to a newsletter or even to an RSS feed

Once you signup as a referral, you get your unique referral link which will give $20 in free clicks to anyone that clicks it, adding great value to your blog as well as being a great benefit to your readers. Referral earnings are tracked online in the referral control panel and payments are made monthly, via PayPal or check, with a minimum of only $10.

If you choose to also activate your publisher account, you will also be able to get access to a new set of referral links that will both give your readers $20 in free clicks and will enable them to advertise directly on your blog via BidVertiser, increasing your earnings even more!

This post sponsored by: BidVertiser.com

Exhausted.

Tomorrow I'm taking off since I'll have a doctor's appointment in the morning that I'm guessing will take up most of the morning and afternoon.

After that I think I'm just going to come home and take a nap.

Graem's sick and I had to take her to the pediatrician and I feel a cold and sore throat coming on myself.

Gotta love it.

Of course, I'm back to work on Thursday and working with the snotty kids again!

1+1 = ?

I haven't even started working on Math with Graem. I mean we do talk about things like taking away from something and asking her how many we have left...but we don't really do equations or anything like that.

I figure when she gets a little bit older we might look into getting a few Math Tutors to help out.

I have a feeling she's going to be pretty good at math and science and hopefully she'll be able to grasp the ideas pretty quickly.

Score Learning Centers offers assistance too in case she needs it. They offer tutoring for kids 4-14.

This post sponsored by: Score Learning Centers

Not good.

I just called Graem's pediatrician and they said that everyone has the cold and that they can't get her in til 4:00. Yikes. That's really not the best timing considering that I have someone coming out at 3:00 to do the estimate on the furnance.

I guess I'll just have to tell them I can't chat for long and that I've got to take my kid to the doctor.

Hopefully, those assholes from Sears won't be late and they won't try to be sarcastic salespeople. Yeah, right.

She can read!

I'm talking about Grammy! Each night when Graem's in the bathtub Margot works with her and uses the spongy letters to do spelling and reading.

I'm sure when she gets older she's not going to appreciate her moms doing the teaching and we're going to have to look into hiring Reading Tutors.

I've heard that Score Learning Centers offers great tutorial services and they're located all over. OF course, we'll have to wait til she turns four because they offer the services for kids 4-14.

This post sponsored by: Score Learning Centers

Daylight savings.

I must admit that every year daylight savings comes around I'm almost relieved. I kind of like it when it gets dark early. It makes me tired the first few days and with me being pregnant I was ready to go to bed at 5:30pm last night!

I like that it gets bright early though. This morning I was ready to wake up at 7:00 this morning and so was Graem.

Maybe I'll be more motivated to move my ass in the morning with the sun shining in my eyes!

Shut it out...

So just the other day I got a letter from the local credit union that since there hasn't been activity on my account for close to a year that they'd start charging me an annual fee!

Now that doesn't make a damn bit of sense. I figure since I only had $34.00 I might as well just cash out the account and get the money.

No need to pay $12.00 a year for the NON-use of my account.

So much for having a business account.

Man, our taxes are going to be a nightmare again this year!

Just a few more years...

before we're going to have to get an Innovative Tutor for Grammy!

Each night Margot works on letters with Graem and she absolutely loves to learn.

I'll have to look and see if there's a Score Learning Center in our area. They specialize in tutoring and have a full staff of trained professionals that work with kids 4-14 years old.

I'm also glad that Graem will be starting Montessori in the fall. I think she's really going to love the learning aspect!

This post sponsoreod by: Score Learning Centers

Darn money.

Well, I have to work my ass off more than ever not only with the holidays coming up but because our damn furnance has died. We weren't planning on having to spend $4,000 to get it fixed.

You've got to love these unexpected things that keep coming up. I also just had to spend $1,320 on the IVIG transfusion. I'll have to do one more of those at 14 weeks pregnant.

I guess the good thing is...I'm pregnant and we won't have to spend anymore money on that. PLUS, we'll be able to join Margot's insurance starting in January and that will save us a little bit of money.

Should I think about...

going back and getting a masters or phd? Years ago I used to say if I won the lottery that I'd go back and get an MBA or a law degree. Now getting your online phd has never been easier.

At capella university they offer an extensive and impressive list of programs and you can receive a Bachlors, Masters, or Phd. I really like the fact that they offer a blog and you can get an idea of what life of a student is like!

Their programs are designed with the working professional in mind. You can do the coursework when your schedule allows.

The great thing about Capella is that they are accredited and really have the attention of business and industry leaders. There are many employers out there who are sending and paying for their employees to gain extra knowledge and obtain higher degrees of education.

Of course, you also have to sign a contract with the company that you won't just gain the education on their tab and leave!

Working today...kinda.

Well, I had planned on not subbing today because after this weekend's spotting incident I really wanted to take it easy. Plus, I had a few jobs online that I could take care of and make just as much money as online.

So I figured I would pick up the house a little, take Graem to school, and have the rest of the day to get my act together and do some blogging.

That all went to hell when Graem woke up this morning coughing and not feeling good. I don't want to send her to school like this and so I'll call those guys and let them know she's not going to make it.

I'm going to take her to the doctor and see if we can finally get her on antibiotics. It seems like she's had this cold since we went to San Francisco!

I don't understand why her immune system doesn't kick in...

Could it get earlier?

I swear that kid is going to drive me crazy! She has been getting up so early lately and I just want her to have one great sleep in day where she sleeps in til twelve.

Hmm..that bottle of Benadryl is looking better and better! The thing about her sleeping though is that she's so tired and really doesn't feel good. A good day of sleeping in would probably help her kick this cold.

Are you a dealer?

I'm not just talking about any dealer...I'm talking about a coin dealer!

One thing that never loses it’s value is silver coins! Even when our stocks are floundering you can always look to silver, gold, and precious metals to maintain their value.

Monex Deposit Company offers silver and other precious metals for delivery or they will make arrangements to have your metals stored privately and securely at a bank or depository.

I didn’t realize this but Monex Deposit Company (MDC) is an industry leader. They sell silver in two forms: coin or ingot. We all know what the coins look like, but the ignots are pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape. I can only imagine they look like the blocks that are in most cartoons!

The world demand now exceeds the supply demand for silver - which makes it a pretty smart investment.

Dear God...

I'm exhausted and just want to be in bed!

Today my subbing gig has been really easy. I had four classes, one short prep period, a 2 hour lunch.

Now, my afternoon classes look like they are going to be outside instead of music which means I'll have the afternoon free to do blogging and catching up on web stuff.

YAH!

Of course, I just want to sleep.

It's a squeeze!

It seems like since we are living on one paycheck we go back and forth on money security! Since Margot gets paid every two weeks we're realizing it's either feast or famine!

One thing that we might want to look into at some point is Payday Loan Quotes! Many people take out a payday loan just to get them through a few days and so that they can pay their bills on time.

PayDayLoanQuotes.com is an easy to use website and gives you all of the information you will need to make a smart choice.

This post sponsored by: PayDayLoanQuotes.com

I know it could be worse..

So I've been working like mad these past few days since I found out that we're going to have to replace our furnace. Not only did I just have to spend $1,320 on medication for the IVIG transfusion...but it looks like we're going to have to buy a new furnace to the tune of $4,000!

Of course, we have a nice amount coming back for taxes but we had planned on holding on to that and using that money when I have the baby so that Margot can stay home for a good 8 weeks or so.

So much for trying to save and plan.

What to buy...

So the other day we were thinking of gifts for guys since we have to buy Christmas presents for Margot's brother and father.

We figured we might just pick her brother up an i-Tunes gift card and call it a day. Her father seems much harder to shop for since he has everything and enough money to buy anything he might want!

I've come across CarGuyGarage.com and I'm sure that they will have something for him on their website! Margot's dad spends tons of time in the garage and all of his tools are there and it's his safe haven!

Shopping shouldn't be too bad this year!

This post sponsored bY: CarGuyGarage.com

No work Tuesday!

Well, I'm going to be going into the fertility center for my second transfusion of the IvIG medication. We will also get another ultrasound of the kid!

Since my days to work with either blogging or subbing are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday it looks like I might actually get a day off!

Of course, I never thought that I'd take a day off of work over getting poked and prodded!

Now that's good business!

The other day I was reading about the warranties that come with many of the products that we buy. Typically, the manufactuer comes back and for some reason denies the claim for one reason or another.

Now there's a flooring company who is willing to stand behind their product - no matter what the cost! iFLOOR is now offering $1 million dollars of warranty protection for all of it's customers!

Here's the press release:

iFLOOR, America's largest online flooring retailer, today announced a $1,000,000 limited warranty designed to protect its customers from predatory manufacturer policies that exclude warranty coverage from online purchases.

The policy, which goes into effect immediately, offers up to one million dollars of coverage in the event that a customer's warranty claim is denied specifically because they made their purchase online. It is complimentary for every iFLOOR customer, and protects the buyer under the same terms as the original product warranty.

iFLOOR, Inc. CEO, Steve Simonson, came up with the program to combat "scare tactics" used by manufacturers of hardwood floors and laminate flooring. "Their idea is to discourage you from buying at a discount!" wrote Simonson in his blog "It's About Flooring". "This is not right! You deserve to save money! So we're going to take care of this problem once and for all."

And it would appear that federal law is on his side. Section 108 of the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Act, states that, "In general, tie-in sales provisions are not allowed. Such a provision would require a purchaser of the warranted product to buy an item or service from a particular company to use with the warranted product in order to be eligible to receive a remedy under the warranty."

Under iFLOOR's new warranty, a key provision allows for iFLOOR to "seek justice" on behalf of the customer in the event of legal action. According to Simonson, "I'm putting iFLOOR's money where my mouth is."

About iFLOOR, Inc.
Since 1998, iFLOOR.com has been the leading online and retail flooring company, with 36 local retail stores nationwide offering more than 70,000 products, including hardwood floors, laminate flooring, bamboo flooring and cork floors. iFLOOR.com is the largest online flooring retailer according to Internet Retailer Magazine, and was named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States for the past three years. Committed to quality customer service, superior selection and friendly expert advice, iFLOOR.com enables customers to buy flooring both online and in its retail stores at a substantial savings over traditional retailers. For more information about iFLOOR, please visit www.iFLOOR.com.

Workin' like a dog!

These past few days I've been busting my balls! In fact, I had a subbing gig Tuesday and by the time I got home I was exhausted.

Today I'm subbing elementary music and it's noon. The teacher has prep and lunch for 2 hours! Which of course means that I have another hour of blogging!

To say the least if I get all of my blogging done, some housework, and fold laundry...I'm going to reward myself with a nap.

I'm exhausted!