So, yesterday I bought tickets to see the final Harry Potter installment, like millions of people. I have gone to see the past 4 Harry Potter films and the last 2 Twilight movies with one of my friends. She and I are both in our 30's and really fell into the hoopla associated with the books. So at least I have someone to share all the titillating details with.
Next... I want so badly to be debt free that I am continuously rearranging my bills to chip off a little more each week. It is getting a bit obsessive, but debt is a pair of cement shoes. They keep you from going and doing things. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a credit card or two to use for the trivial things you "want", but when you have put thousands of dollars in medical bills, and frivolous bullsh*t on them, they begin to hold you back. And I refuse to be a slave to the system. One more year and we should be debt free, actually I am thinking more like the beginning of next year. So with that being said, I am doing my due diligence and proactively eliminating them. I am simultaneously stashing cash into our savings. My husband (love him so much) has no idea just how hard it is to save. I explain the details of my "debt free" plan, however it never really infiltrates that beautiful head of his. Anyway, I am on a path to credit card destruction come hell or high water.
So with that being said I am now trying to save for retirement as well. Better late than never...right? I used to have a 401k with my last company (they fired me) and didn't have as much as I had put in, due to the economy. So I ended up taking that money out. It wasn't much , just a couple grand, but I guess it would have served as a nice base to work with. So Charley (my Hubby) has just started investing in his 401k as well. I am a little miffed at him, because he has been with his employer for the past 5 years and could have contributed quite a bunch by now. Like I stated previously, better late than never. Besides, I like to think we are still young, sort of.
So next thought, I have been wanting to buy local produce and meats for some time now. I do buy some locally raised meant and chicken, but I haven't gotten into the swing of things when it comes to produce. There is a great farmers market a couple of towns over and I keep meaning to buy. The food is beautiful! Produce in every color of the rainbow, fresh baked artisan breads, cheeses, honey and meats. I'm talking sausages, steaks, poultry and so forth. Even fresh eggs, which I think I will try. They have beautiful bouquets of flowers hand arraigned and only $10! For a big bunch. Can you believe that? I really am going to try, why not right? Instead of pumping processed chemicals into my body and my children's, I can change it up. I think I will try a few recipes this weekend as well. Maybe a bread and a broccoli recipe. Who knows, maybe the whole weekend will be filled with exploration.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
I have looked around Blogspot and realized what a great outlet it is for so many. I see families chronicling their everyday lives (which I have done myself), I see warriors documenting their battles with their diseases, I see religion being interpreted and people who just want to ramble...I even saw a blog dedicated to someone's 11 house cats and 2 outdoor cats.
We are all authors of the greatest story ever told. I feel enlightened, sometimes jealous (but in a good way), stimulated, creative and a bit more compassionate after reading some of your posts. What a gift to share a glimpse into another's life.
I have not been faithful to this blog, like I had initially intended. However, I will give it the old college try once again. Wish me luck.
We are all authors of the greatest story ever told. I feel enlightened, sometimes jealous (but in a good way), stimulated, creative and a bit more compassionate after reading some of your posts. What a gift to share a glimpse into another's life.
I have not been faithful to this blog, like I had initially intended. However, I will give it the old college try once again. Wish me luck.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Living room
OK folks! Here is the new Living Room furniture. We have not finished the room, because we are still missing an ottoman, a chair, and side tables. But! We have the two couches...which is a start. Here are the several before pictures up to our newest set.
In the beginning! There was this ugly piece of ....!
Then I inherited Hugh Hefner's 1970's couches!
Then we got the "Big (not so comfy) Couch" set.
And here is our new set of lovelies :)
In the beginning! There was this ugly piece of ....!
Then I inherited Hugh Hefner's 1970's couches!
Then we got the "Big (not so comfy) Couch" set.
And here is our new set of lovelies :)
~Austin is 7~
Congratulations to my big SEVEN year old son! Austin you are a wonderful delight and have a heart of gold! WE LOVE YOU!
P.S. He got a Mohawk!
P.S. He got a Mohawk!
This past Saturday, Charley and I took Austin to Hiddenite, NC. We took him to a real emerald mine. He got to sluice for stones and pan in the river. He loved it!
Not only did we go mining, but we also went out to eat a a restaurant called "Red Robin". Austin loves their Mac & Cheese. Then we went home and had chocolate-chocolate cake and super sweet ice cream, and Austin opened his gifts.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pictures
Here are a few new pictures of Jackson. He has changed so much in the past few weeks I feel that I need to share with everyone.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Life Update
Well, I am happy to report that all is well in the Cowles household......well sort of. Let's see we will start in alphabetical order.
Austin: This child is not only the sweetest child, but he is also the most clever. He has been flexing his lying skills on Charley and I lately by telling he has been behaving better than he actually has been in school (mind you he was doing this for about two weeks before he got caught). Then he got caught trying to pass off someone elses' spelling test for his own. That in combination was exhausting, not to mention the weekend long punishment that followed. I think what children don't realize is that grounding is punishment for the parents as well. Not only can they not do anything, but neither can we! Frustrating!
Anyway, Austin has now parlayed his two week long dysfunctional behavior to this week. He got a note sent home for talking and misbehaving. Now, I have tried several types of punishment for his bad behavior; soap in the mouth for lying, spanking for lying and not listening, sitting in his room, on his bed for hours, so on and so forth. None of which have made a real impression. Yesterday I decided to do what comes natural to mothers, THE GUILT TRIP. Ha Ha! This one may actually may be the one. I made him stand in the corner for about 30 minutes while I proceeded to tell him about my disappointment. I also threw in some stuff about planning the annual Disney trip without him. At this point I had him crying in the corner and I didn't even have to lay a finger on him. I went a bit further and made a big plate of steamed broccoli (which was really for me) and told him this was his dinner for bad behavior. I made him a floret before I gave him the bowl of spaghetti oh's that I had really prepared for him. I am not sure if this tactic will work, but it was worth a shot.
Charley: Last night while sleeping Charley received a phone call from our neighbor at 2AM! Both of us were sleeping pretty good and barely heard the phone. Well, our neighbor called us because he was up with their baby (she is two days older than Jack) and was standing by the upstairs bedroom window. While looking down at our house he saw a man (who he thought was Charley) at our front door. The guy was walking around our front porch with what looked like boxers, a t-shirt and no shoes. Then the guy walked over to their house pounded on their door and then left. Of course Tim (our neighbor) called the cops and they were there in a few minutes patrolling our streets. Needless to say the situation was scary and aggravating. All of our neighbors, including us always feel so safe in our little neighborhood. Then something like this happens and it makes you feel a bit violated. Granted, this could have been a sleepwalker from another street over, especially if he was wondering around barefoot and in boxers. Or it could have been someone casing our hood. I would like to think it's a sleepwalker and there is no danger. At least not for us anyway, can't be sure about the sleepwalker.
Jack: Mr. Man is going through his 3 month growth spurt. This means cranky behavior, hungry all the time and poor sleep patterns. Which in turn makes all of us like this, except for hungry all the time. I will admit it's a small price to pay to see the little guy getting so big. He is getting growing bigger and sweeter every day. His personality is showing a little bit more too. It's almost creepy how much he acts and resembles Austin. They even sounded the same as babies. Weird! We noticed that when we watched Austin's birthday video.
Me: I am back at work full time and missing my home life badly. Surprisingly it's been a pretty seamless transition. I already had to get up early to get Aussie ready for school, so that makes getting ready for work not too hard. I do miss Jackson, but I go visit him for lunch and it makes it easier to finish my day.
Well that's a recap of what's been going on lately at the Cowles residence.
Austin: This child is not only the sweetest child, but he is also the most clever. He has been flexing his lying skills on Charley and I lately by telling he has been behaving better than he actually has been in school (mind you he was doing this for about two weeks before he got caught). Then he got caught trying to pass off someone elses' spelling test for his own. That in combination was exhausting, not to mention the weekend long punishment that followed. I think what children don't realize is that grounding is punishment for the parents as well. Not only can they not do anything, but neither can we! Frustrating!
Anyway, Austin has now parlayed his two week long dysfunctional behavior to this week. He got a note sent home for talking and misbehaving. Now, I have tried several types of punishment for his bad behavior; soap in the mouth for lying, spanking for lying and not listening, sitting in his room, on his bed for hours, so on and so forth. None of which have made a real impression. Yesterday I decided to do what comes natural to mothers, THE GUILT TRIP. Ha Ha! This one may actually may be the one. I made him stand in the corner for about 30 minutes while I proceeded to tell him about my disappointment. I also threw in some stuff about planning the annual Disney trip without him. At this point I had him crying in the corner and I didn't even have to lay a finger on him. I went a bit further and made a big plate of steamed broccoli (which was really for me) and told him this was his dinner for bad behavior. I made him a floret before I gave him the bowl of spaghetti oh's that I had really prepared for him. I am not sure if this tactic will work, but it was worth a shot.
Charley: Last night while sleeping Charley received a phone call from our neighbor at 2AM! Both of us were sleeping pretty good and barely heard the phone. Well, our neighbor called us because he was up with their baby (she is two days older than Jack) and was standing by the upstairs bedroom window. While looking down at our house he saw a man (who he thought was Charley) at our front door. The guy was walking around our front porch with what looked like boxers, a t-shirt and no shoes. Then the guy walked over to their house pounded on their door and then left. Of course Tim (our neighbor) called the cops and they were there in a few minutes patrolling our streets. Needless to say the situation was scary and aggravating. All of our neighbors, including us always feel so safe in our little neighborhood. Then something like this happens and it makes you feel a bit violated. Granted, this could have been a sleepwalker from another street over, especially if he was wondering around barefoot and in boxers. Or it could have been someone casing our hood. I would like to think it's a sleepwalker and there is no danger. At least not for us anyway, can't be sure about the sleepwalker.
Jack: Mr. Man is going through his 3 month growth spurt. This means cranky behavior, hungry all the time and poor sleep patterns. Which in turn makes all of us like this, except for hungry all the time. I will admit it's a small price to pay to see the little guy getting so big. He is getting growing bigger and sweeter every day. His personality is showing a little bit more too. It's almost creepy how much he acts and resembles Austin. They even sounded the same as babies. Weird! We noticed that when we watched Austin's birthday video.
Me: I am back at work full time and missing my home life badly. Surprisingly it's been a pretty seamless transition. I already had to get up early to get Aussie ready for school, so that makes getting ready for work not too hard. I do miss Jackson, but I go visit him for lunch and it makes it easier to finish my day.
Well that's a recap of what's been going on lately at the Cowles residence.
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