Huckle Buckle and Other Mom Stuff

2009-12-29T10:55:00.002-05:00

Fragrances...

2009-11-09T23:24:00.006-05:00

I have always gone in phases with my scents. Sometimes I prefer a distinct perfume, other times a body spray. Currently, I have quite a collection of scents, including perfumes, sprays, lotions, body washes, etc. I have seen Philosophy's "Amazing Grace" on TV, and have always been curious about how it really smells. People claim that it smells "clean," and that it's a perfect scent for those with sensitivities. Well, I tried it, and I am hooked. It truly does smell clean, and isn't too overpowering. It is, however, a distinct fragrance; one that could easily be considered a "signature fragrance." To find your favorite scent, try this site: Scent . There is bound to be something you'll love!!

My hands hurt...

2009-01-31T07:28:00.003-05:00

I have been away from blogging for a while now, mostly because my hands hurt. They aren't just tired, they hurt!! Somedays it is so bad that it makes me nauseous. I would really love to see a doctor about this, but I have no insurance, and of course, it has been put on the back burner. For now, I am going to try a wrist splint (is that what they're called) and pray for warmer weather. In any case, I think if I write short posts, I'll be able to keep up with my blog. I really hates being away!

How many sleeps til Christmas?

2008-11-22T08:36:00.004-05:00

My son keeps asking me, "How many sleeps til Christmas." It started a couple of months ago and I would tell him, "too many..you have to wait until Halloween is over." After Halloween, I'd say, "you have to wait until Thanksgiving is over." So now that it's fast approaching, and that he sees all of the holiday decorations in the stores that we visit, I had to count the days on the calendar. Then it hit me; there has got to be a countdown ticker on the internet. Alas, there is. Thanks to the folks at emailsanta.com, we have a ticker that even counts "how many sleeps."

I've got a sweet tooth...

2008-10-30T14:34:00.002-04:00

And there's nothing I can do about it. It's especially bad right now, because my son keeps bringing candy home from school, Halloween parties, his Aunt's house, you name it. He doesn't really like chocolate too much, and that's my favorite. He likes all of the stuff that would have been sitting at the bottom of my Halloween bowl, the Mike & Ikes, and fruity stuff. I never liked getting gum, either. So, we balance each other out very well. I'm petite, and have considered buying a mask so that I can trick-or-treat with him, and get double the candy. It's that bad. I always said taht I never understood how someone could be addicted to anything, but I guess this is my answer. Maybe I have just realized that I have a problem. Is there a support group for people like me?

The passing of a loved one....

2008-10-17T14:25:00.002-04:00

I haven't been writing too much lately because I have had some things happening in my life that are complicated and sad. Just this past week, my aunt passed away after a 5 year long battle with cancer. She was 47. The worst part is that she lived far from me, and I didn't see her too often, but she always thought about me, and when I did see her, it was like we saw each other every day. She always made me feel comfortable (I have a pretty large family that I barely know...long story, another post). In any case, her passing has made me re-examine parts of my life. I am 29, and am realizing fast that life is truly very short. I will miss my aunt very much, and treasure the very short time that I had with her.

I sent her a card with some pictures in it the morning before I found out she had passed. I will always regret that I hadn't sent it sooner (she asked me in June to send her some and I just "got around" to it now), and I will always wish that I could have seen her one more time....

2008-10-01T22:08:00.002-04:00

My little 6 and a half year old boy has had an obsession with bowling since he was 2. In school, all of his journals and projects have been about bowling, and everyone who knows him knows that he loves bowling. He was just assigned an art project and decided that he wanted to take pictures at the lanes. The guys there even took us in the back so we ccould get a few shots of the machines. Here's one of them.

The Dreaded "Your Child Needs Extra Help" Letter

2008-09-27T07:23:00.002-04:00

So, after a horrible day yesterday (I won't go into details), I go to pick up my son. This is normally a highlight of my day, and the weather was even cooperating so that we could walk. When I get there, my son, who is 6, says "today was the best day ever." I was so happy, because he is not a big fan of school. Apparently, they did a bunch of "science projects" and one of them was making ice cream. Who wouldn't love that, right. Well, I let him play for 10 minutes on the playground with his friends while I open his back pack and read everything in there. He got the letter. I knew that he couldn't read too well, but I didn't realize that he was behind his other first grade classmates. I really thought he was at a normal level. He excels in math, and is extremely interested in science. His mechanical skills (is that what you call them) are awesome; he can take things apart and put them back together again with ease. Last night, I cried about this. I felt like I have failed my son. He didn't even know about the letter, and I am not going to tell him. I have resolved to teach my boy how to read, and make sure that he stays ahead of his class. That was always my intention, and I thought he was doing pretty well. I hope today is a better day...

Embossing

2008-09-23T07:31:00.003-04:00

I just found a new craft that I really enjoy doing, and that's embossing. While trying to create invitations for a friend's bridal shower, I stumbled upon the technique. After several trips to various craft stores (and, armed with a bunch of 50% off coupons from Michael's), I delved into this fascinating art. The finished result was a beautiful handmade card that cost me only a fraction of the price of others much like it.

Freecycle

2008-09-16T07:39:00.003-04:00

I love Freecycle. Basically, it's a site, or message board, where people post things that they want to get rid of, or things that they need, and because of this, less gets thrown away. It gets "recycled," or "freecycled." I needed some coupons for a craft store and my post generated over 20 responses. I listed a kid's bike that someone picked up the same day. It is just great. Every time I have something to get rid of, I post it on there, and a lot of times, if I need something, I look at the other posts. Check it out. Almost every community has one, and you'll be keeping stuff out of landfills!

Update...Tooth Fairy

2008-09-15T07:09:00.002-04:00

My son's tooth fell out and the tooth fairy left $5. Apparently, that is the going rate...

He was so excited and shows everybody his tooth (or, I should say, the spot where his tooth was). He even smiles for pictures in a way that lets you see the spot. I really have a feeling that they are all just going to come out one after another.

The Tooth Fairy...

2008-09-08T21:47:00.003-04:00

So, my son is about to loose his first tooth. He has been "wiggling" it before it was even loose, but it's definitely going to fall out any day now. It makes me a little sad, because he's growing so fast. His little baby teeth are just so perfect and cute!! He is just so super excited about it. This all leads me to ask the following question; What does the Tooth Fairy bring for a first tooth these days??

Recycling

2008-09-05T19:15:00.003-04:00

After cleaning up after dinner tonight, I realized just how much goes into the recycling bin. I really try to recycle everything that I can, and I am starting to notice even more items that can be recycled (frozen veggies come in plastic bags and they have a recycling logo on them). Not only am I helping out our environment, but I realized that I am saving a bundle on garbage bags!! It always infuriated me to purchase things that I am just going to throw away, so that is an added bonus!! I am savinf money and saving the earth at the same time!!

My Purse

2008-09-05T14:27:00.002-04:00

My purse is way too heavy. I really need to figure something out, because I feel that my back is suffering from it. Really, all that's in there is my wallet, a couple of lipsticks, and some random papers. The wallet is kind of big, and stuffed to the max (maybe that's the problem). Although the size of my bag could easily accommodate a 6 pack, I don't fill it up. Maye I should just scale down to a smaller bag and my problem will be solved.

Funtainers...

2008-09-05T14:20:00.002-04:00

I love Funtainers, made by Thermos! I purchased a set for my son's lunch, and they are working out very well! He likes a warm lunch (he's picky) and luckily, he eats leftovers. He also LOVES chocolate milk, and I am able to pack organic milk for him. I was a little worried at first that the milk wouldn't be cold enough, but I "prepped" the thermos by putting ice water in it first. That made it nice and cold, and in fact, he brought a little milk home yesterday after school and it was very cold! The same goes for the food container, I prep it with boiling water before I put any food in there. It just makes me feel good that I am sending a nutritious lunch with my son, and that he's not throwing anything away. I really feel that Funtainers do what they say and their value in the long run will be well worth while!

Fall leaves already....

2008-09-04T14:33:00.002-04:00

I have been noticing the leaves are changing. Even though it's currently in the 80's right now, fall is right around the corner. I really love the colors of autumn, but I can't take the cold of winter. So, the beauty of the leaves are only a small consolation to me. I suppose I should try to squeeze the last ounce out of summer, before the balmy weather goes away. But then again, cold weather means pumpkin pie, cookies, and treats...Hmmmm, maybe it's not so bad after all!!

Back To School

2008-08-31T13:32:00.004-04:00

This past week, my son started first grade. We walk to school, and I started getting choked up as soon as I closed our door. I work at the school, which makes things a little easier. But, for some reason, the beginning of a school year reminds me of how my baby is growing up. When his birthday rolls around, it doesn't quite sink in, but the start of a new school year is a concrete example of how he is getting older (and is becoming less and less dependent of me). Hopefully, this year will be a good one for him, and that he learns a lot. More so, I hope that his love of learning and curiosity doesn't waver, and that he will make th best of what he was given!

College Textbooks

2008-08-24T21:37:00.005-04:00

My son is going into 1st grade, and I am going back to my college classes. A huge expense for me this time of year is my textbooks. Thankfully, I found a website that you can literally "rent" you books from. It's called Chegg.com. Last year, my books would have been over $500 from the campus bookstore, and that included used books. Through Chegg, I paid under $150, and just sent them back when I was done with them!! I didn't have to deal with reselling the books myself, or dealing with the long lines/waiting period at buyback time. I would recommend all college students to check Chegg out. They are a great company committed to the environment (they even plant trees when you rent from them to offset the shipping impact), and have awesome customer service. Shipping was super fast, and the whole process was a breeze! I love CHEGG!

Clothes Shopping

2008-08-20T20:38:00.002-04:00

I am finding it increasingly more difficult to find clothes for myself. I'm not sure if it's the styles that are out right now, or not, but things just don't look too great on me. Hopefully, designers will move away from the maternity-style trends that have been out.

Online College

2008-08-15T08:01:00.002-04:00

Well, school will be starting again for my son, and me. I attend online classes through a community college in my state. I have also taken classes at Penn State's World Campus, and plan on returning (the community college classes are a lot less expensive). I really love it, and financial aid pays for it. Really, I don't know what I am going to major in, but I just want to get an undergraduate degree ASAP!! Most people are intimidated by online schooling, but the professors are accustomed to adult students and know that we have families and jobs to take care of, as well as their classes. Also, there are message boards where you can interact with other students. It is really reassuring that you can ask your peers questions about material or share you opinions with them. I think after my degree is complete, I will probably take a class here and there (most likely at the community college..lol) just because I love learning!!

A random thought

2008-08-11T20:30:00.001-04:00

Did you ever drive somewhere, and when you get to your destination, you wonder how you got there?? Like the whole ride is a blur?? It's kinda scary, huh?

Water Bottles

2008-08-05T16:03:00.002-04:00

I am trying so hard to drink more water. The truth is, I just don't like it too much. I kinda got accustomed to drinking bottled water, but I kinda feel guilty about the environmental impact that I am making from this. I just starting recycling about 2 years ago, but I didn't realize the impact that the manufacturing of the bottles makes. So, I decided to buy an aluminum bottle, a SIGG to be exact. I used it all day today, and already drank a whole bottle (that's around 20 ounces, I believe). I really feel good that I will be able to reuse my bottle, and I think it looks pretty cool too! Today, I got a couple of compliments on it, so that felt kinda good. Hopefully, this enthusiasm sticks, and I drink all of my water!!

2008-08-03T21:09:00.001-04:00

You Are a Realist

You don't see the glass as half empty or half full. You see what's exactly in the glass.

You never try to make a bad situation seem better than it is...

But you also never sabotage any good things you have going on.

You are brutally honest in your assessments of situations - and this always seems to help you cope.

Are You An Optimist or Pessimist?

JOBS

2008-08-03T06:12:00.001-04:00

I noticed that it's really hard to find a job these days. I look everyday in the paper (well, the online version of the paper), and you either have to be in the health care field (I don't do blood) or you have to be able to life 75 lbs all day (I'm 5'3", 97 lbs...I probably could lift that much if I tried, but I would have to set it back down really quick). Luckily, I already have a job at my son's school (in the cafeteria), but sometimes I just look around. This summer, I really "looked" because that steady income sure was missed. School will be here before you know it, though, and I'll be wishing that it was summer again!!

Huckle Buckle?

2008-07-29T18:35:00.000-04:00

Yes, Huckle Buckle. I know, you may be thinking that I named this blog after the "hide-and-seek" type game. That's what most people think when you say "Huckle Buckle." I use that term in a different way. See, one day, after preschool, my son kept saying "Huckle Buckle." I kept asking him what that means, and after his jumbled attempt at explaining to me, I totally got a different impression of the true meaning. I thought it meant "hurry," as in, "Huckle Buckle, we're going to be late!" It kind of stuck, and I find myself saying "Huckle Buckle" at least a few times a day. So, if you are a hurried mom looking for a little laugh or even a way to make a few bucks, I'll have it all for you here. I am a full-time mom, and have tried many ways to make money from home. I do surveys, secret shopping, online auctions and the such to make a little cash. Now that my son is in grade school (he'll be going into 1st this fall) I work a couple of hours in his school cafeteria. I am always trying to live frugally with the least impact as possible on our dear planet Earth. I hope you will come back and join me!