The Stuff I Live For

A Note From Me April 23, 2009

Hi All!

Somehow, somewhere along the line, I totally lost control of my time management. Somethings I liked to do were replaced with some more things I had to do, without me even realizing it. Aside from Hell’s Kitchen and The Amazing Race, which Eric and I watch together, I’ve forced myself to not get involved with any television programming because, time-wise, I can’t afford to want to force myself to sit down infront of the TV at specified times. (No, we don’t have Tivo! Is that even how you spell it? I am not exactly technoligically with-it.)

Anyway, this loss of free time, is not exactly a problem. I’m so happy and thankful that Mushy Bug is doing well on etsy. I’m having a great time with it and have recently begun to at least manage my time well enough that I’m not staying up in my little studio till well after midnight anymore. Hopefully, Christmas time 2009 will bring back those crazy hours, but for now, I’m happy with my etsy biz.

I’ve actually had a lull in sales these past two weeks, and will try to use my extra time to get motivated to blog once again. I’ve been getting comments here and there over the past couple of months, quite a few more subscribers, and my average daily page views has gone up over 100 more than it was before! All while I’ve not written at all. Hmm, maybe you all prefer to visit me when I don’t update?! Kidding. I appreciate all the comments and emails from my regular visitors asking where and how I’ve been. I’ve truly missed reading all the great comments.

There’s so much that’s gone on in the past couple of months that I didn’t get to write about. It’s sad because I like to think of The Stuff I Live For as my journal. I didn’t get to post the great pics of my biggest baby’s 5th birthday

So, I suppose I have lots to say and I should get with it again. I’ve made some good etsy purchases recently and will be posting about them for sure. If I haven’t lost you, thanks for still visiting me! I will be catching up with many of you on your blogs soon…

~Elexis

Resolutions? January 2, 2009

I never do these. I'm too realistic a person to try and tell myself I'll stick with something just because I tell myself it's a new year and I should.

So, they're really more like mental notes I suppose. This year, I hope to…

1. Use our camera and video camera more. I really wish we had video of when the girls were babies, but I put off buying the video cam -stupidly.

2. Get creative up in my little studio and use up some of my ridiculous fabric stash! Mucho importante. Mushy Bug is doing well, but I'd have much more profit if I'd use my extra fabric up.

3. Stop being a compulsive fabric shopper.

4. Pad our savings account - somehow - to work toward moving. I want an inground pool! How I'm going to do this one, I have no idea.

5. Attend church more regularly. Must do. Nuff said.

6. Get organized! In the past week, I've spend over $300 on organizational stuff from Lowes, Target and The Container Store (which I think has some fun stuff, but is quite expensive. Plus, they really should carry some Good Pails!)  I've already done the playroom closet with shelving. Next - some cabinets and our linen closet.

7. Use my ab roller and hand weights - at least sometimes. I'm not an exceriser, never have been, so I'm not going to tell myself that I'm going to do this regularly.

8. Wipe up the kitchen and dining room floors everyday instead of doing one crazy difficult cleaning every few days. I despise our dark Pergo flooring - shows everything.

9. File a complaint on our neighbors whose dog has pooped on our lawn at least 25 times. I've been putting this off for months since their 9 year old is Ayla's only neighborhood friend and Eric plays whiffle ball with their 3 sons all summer. I have to be the bitch, though. Can't stand picking up someone else's dog crap any longer.

***I reserve the right to add to, or delete/forget, any of these and anytime of the year!

Just Watched… December 27, 2008

The Strangers with Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler

Riculously scary. Can't handle that stuff anymore. I will not be sleeping well tonight.

Got My Baby Back December 6, 2008

But not without a fight. First the stupids at Dell EMAIL me that the issue with my computer has been discovered. Duh, the screen was broken. You could see that. How many days did it take them to discover this? The email stated that I need to call Dell within 5 days or my computer would be returned, un-repaired. Why would they email me when they have my computer? Am I wrong to think that most people don't have more than one computer in their home? They had my phone number, but their protocol is to email and not call the customer. Smart.

Next, they tell me the LCD and the Motherboard both need to be replaced. All I did was crack the screen. Don't know why they said the motherboard needed to be replaced. The guy who answers the call to the 800 number I was told to phone of course has a crazy, annoying foreign accent and I'm not even sure I believe he was in the same country as my computer, which was sent to Texas. He tells me, 'Jip, zip, yanna blah zip, hanna yanna zip blah blip 199 flat rate plus zip, sip yanna hoona 159 for a total of 358.'

What! $358! I only bought the piece of junk for $600. So, I tried to make myself cry to him but of course couldn't muster up my best actress voice and ended up just sounding like a bitch.

Oh well, it worked to some extent. He went to 'talk to his manager' (yeah right) and came back to tell me they could repair it for the flat rate of $199. I'm pretty sure no motherboard was replaced and Dell is probably hurting just like most other companies right now. They were trying to get one over on me. If I would've said OK to the initial $358 they'd have taken it from me.

In summary, if you're considering a new laptop or desktop purchase right now, I wanted to share this experience with Dell with you. Maybe HP and Compaq are the same, I don't know, but the customer service at Dell is quite frustrating.

In other news, I just updated my Playlist too, which you can see at the very bottom of the page. I just love making my husband wonder out loud if we have anything in common! I get such a kick out of it.

Worth Your Time November 21, 2008

Whale Wars on Animal Planet, Friday nights at 9 pm EST. The first two episodes of this seven-part series are available On Demand now if you have Comcast Cable, and the third show airs tonight.

Captain Paul Watson and his Sea Shepherd crew are a group of amazing people who set out to stop Japanese whaling ships through any non-violent means necessary.

Their mission is intense, dangerous, controversial and noble. The Japanese have killed tens of thousands of these beautiful mammals in the name of 'research,' though the fact of the matter is that a single day's worth of whaling can make the Japanese as much as millions through their sale of the whale meat.

I truly wish for an end to cruelty to animals (or mammals). Thoughts such as these evoke tears in me in an instant. I simply ask you to educate yourself on this atrocity happening in our world right now.

I’m an Idiot November 19, 2008

I picked up my laptop by the screen yesterday and must've cracked it internally. Now one third of the screen on the right side is not visible. I have to send it off to some techie at Dell. Who knows what this is going to cost, but more importantly…What am I going to do without my laptop for TWO weeks?? I'm having such a great time with my new etsy shop and doing well, but this means no uploading pics of new items to my shop and no new pics to this blog till I get my baby back.

We have an archaic desktop that I'll have to make do with. But it means devoting at least 10 minutes to send one email. The thing takes 20 minutes just to restart. Probably bogged down with hundreds of viruses.

We are having a remodel done in our bathroom this week, out of necessity really. Tiles starting falling off our shower wall, leaving holes in the wall because the sheetrock has starting rotting away. Needless to say, taking a shower with holes in the wall and seeing glimpses of mold through those holes makes you feel like crap.

Also, Eric needs two new tires on his car desperately. Plus it's the holidays. Trying to keep reminding myself how blessed we are. It's just one of those 'when it rains, it pours' things I guess.

Still, I'm an idiot. Here's a pic in case you want to share in my heartache. Or laugh at me.

Oh, my baby, I am going to soooo miss you while you're gone. Hurry back!

Two Thumbs Down November 17, 2008

I always wanted a thumb-sucker. Heck, I was one myself. I thought (and still think as long as it's not my kid) that it's so cute. Then, after Ayla was such a tough baby and always needed pacifiers, which of course get lost constantly, I sort of 'forced' Shay to suck her thumb. As an infant, I'd stick her thumb in her mouth when I put her down in her bassinet. If it popped right out, I'd shove it back in! She got the hang of it quickly and has always been such a good sleeper.

But now…

Shay's 3 years old and has been wearing Bandaids on her thumbs nearly 100% of the time since the end of July. That's almost 4 months people. And it's not working. We've literally gone through 1 1/2 mondo, 100 count boxes of Bandaids from BJ's.

Once every three or four days, I catch her taking one off and still sucking her thumb! I cannot figure out how the habit isn't broken by now.

Any tips besides the old thumbnail paint from the drugstore? I'm about to give up and let her suck her way straight to the orthodontist.

How Many Licks? October 20, 2008

Went shopping at the mall yesterday with the family and my sis-in-law, Cheryl. I haven't really shopped for new clothes in, I'd say, probably - years! My clothes shopping wouldn't be complete without stopping for my absolute favoritest sweats in the world - Victoria's Secret Pink.

They're have a little promotion, get a free mini dog with each Pink purchase. Of course I have two kids there who each wanted a dog so I asked Cheryl to pay for one of my items and I gave her one of my credit cards so she could get the other free dog for me. On the way up to the register she grabs a lollipop from a basket in the Pink section. Why Victoria's Secret is selling lollipops, I have no idea.

After we get home and Cheryl leaves to go back to her house in central Jersey, I put my clothes away and found her lollipop still in the bag. The receipt, with my shirt on it says $2 for a lollipop! I'm a little perturbed that VS is ripping us off by selling overpriced candy now next to their overpriced teeny undies and clothing, though terribly cute as they are. Guess I'm a sucker too for shopping there, no pun intended.

I was thinking of beating her for buying a $2 lollipop on my credit card. Too drastic??

The candy with a 500% markup is tucked away in my drawer. At least now I know what Cher's getting for Christmas.  One down.

John - Then and Now. I Prefer Then. October 18, 2008

Just wasted a couple of hours of my life watching "War, Inc." What the hell? Since when did John Cusack do AWFUL movies?

Remember this?… John Cusack in 1989's "Say Anything".   Best clip from a movie. EVER. Really, ever. Just try and tell me you haven't wished this scene on yourself. If you haven't seen the movie, a set up- he wants the girl back.

Just watched it twice in a row, now I gotta go cry.

Anybody know anything… October 13, 2008

about sergers? I am thinking of expanding my self-taught sewing skills and was thinking of getting a serger for professionally finished seams. Do I dare? I'm not sure.

I know most bloggerss I frequent, and most commenters here aren't ladies who sew, but I also know I have lots of lurkers who don't normally comment. Do any of you sew? I am looking for info on any sergers, both ones you like and ones you don't.