Tukle

Valentines is just around the corner, as well as my baby’s birthday and my birthday. My brother just had a birthday, and my nephew’s birthday is coming up.

I hate spending the $2 or so on cards, plus the time to find them (with all the kids in the shopping cart getting into trouble), the postage to send them, and of course the trip out the door to my mail box.

I recently found a new solution: free funny eCards. My sister-in-law is known for always getting the funny/silly cards – now I can compete with her!! With a wide selection of funny, animated, and even risque cards, I can easily send cards to all my family and friends.

If I’m super organized, I can even set up all the cards for the year, and schedule them to be sent at the appropriate times. The first month is free, and a year’s membership is: $13.99. Considering how many family members and friends I have, I will definantly spend much more than 14 bucks if I buy traditional cards.

So check it out, see what you think, and send me a card just for fun!

The other day my girls were playing with a “magic wand.”

Listen in on my oldest daughter:

Bippity, boppity, boo – Sister, you’re Cinderella!

Bippity, boppity, boo – I’m Sleeping Beauty!

Bippity, boppity, boo – Mommy, you’re a pumpkin!

A pumpkin, how come I’m a pumpkin!!

A couple weeks ago my husband lost his cell phone, and then it took him a week or so to get another one. And of course he was away on a business trip! What a pain.

I had forgotten what life was like without cell phones. We both have one, and almost all our family and friends have one. In fact, a number of them only have cell phones, and no landlines.

Not talk in the car? Not be able to track someone down where ever they are? Not talk on the phone even when you’re on vacation? Have a long distance plan on your home phone because you don’t have free long distance on your cell phone?

If you don’t have a cell phone yet, you should check out the TMobile site. Until the end of March they are offering a $50 rebate if you order your new plan online, as long as it’s over $34.99. They of course offer choices of the RAZR and the Blackberry, among other phones.

I promise you, once you get a cell phone, it’ll be hard to ever go back to not having one. Not only hard for you, but also for every one who likes to stay in touch with you.

Writing about binoculars yesterday has got me thinking about our recent camping trip.  We went to this site south of St. Petersburg.  It was a great location, especially for drive-up camping.

There were bushes/scrub between each site, and a playground and bathroom a couple hundred yards away.  But best of all was the 30 feet of grass and then 10 feet of beach bewteen our campsite and the bay.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed their camping experience, and we had a pretty good time too.  I think we’ll take them again soon before it gets too hot to be outside again!

On a recent camping trip my oldest daughter discovered binoculars. She had the best time looking at dolphins in the bay, objects on the beach, and people near and far. I thought her own pair of binoculars would be a fun birthday gift.

So I began an online search to discover what binoculars are best and where is a good place to get them. My search led me to Eagle Optics. They have an excellent selection at a wide price range. They even offer free financing if your order is over $200. I contacted customer service with some questions, and they were courteous and helpful.

Maybe I’ll get a couple pairs – for my daughter, as well as for me when I’m birdwatching, and my husband when he’s hunting. I’m confident I can find all the Bushnell binoculars I need at Eagle Optics.

All my friends can attest that I am definantly not a fashion diva. I leave that to my sisters-in-laws, who are much more stylish than me!!

But The Diva’s Dreams is great website to get practical and easy-to-implement fashion tips. They have some fun pictures as well. Their tips on accessorizing, whether it’s jewelry, handbags, or shoes are really helpful.

I don’t like to buy clothes every season, and Diva’s Dreams has some great hints for making your clothes last through more than one season. They also have some great links to some other good fashion sites.

Not only does Diva’s Dreams talk about fashion, they also have other good lifestyle tips on topics like good champagne and what to serve at parties and the best way to present it.

I recently found out the transmission my min-van needs to be replaced. Since I just bought it last year, I still owe money on it. Even if I trade it in, I probably will still owe money on it.

Enter Car Refinance. I can refinance the remaining money owed on my van (or the amount owed on our other car if I wanted to), and even have 60 days to make my first payment. I can apply online, and will know within 24-48 hours if I’m approved.

Sounds like a good deal to me!!

My husband got me a Mac laptop this summer. I was surprised and shocked and excited. It was great for a couple summer road trips – the kids watched DVDs the whole times (and I didn’t have to tell so many stories as we drove.)

I love having a laptop, and I love having my own computer. Not that I couldn’t use our desktop, or my husband’s laptop whenever I wanted to. But there is something about having your OWN computer.

So thanks, sweetie, for my own computer. And thanks for getting me a Mac – I love it. Maybe in exchange, I’ll even get you the new Apple phone when it comes out!!

This cake is AWESOME. In fact, it’s so delicious that I have discarded my family’s tried-n-true chocolate cake recipe, and replaced it with this (although we still do our traditional peanut butter and chocolate icing topping.)

I post this today in honor of my brother. Happy birthday, bro!!!

EASY Delicious Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar
1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
¾ cup Hershey’s Cocoa
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
peanut butter and chocolate icing for topping

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two nine inch round baking pans or two loaf pans or a 9×13 pan. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, vanilla. Beat on medium speed for two minutes, stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Leave in pan. Put lots of peanut butter on while still warm. Once cool, put chocolate icing on top.

My kids love to hear stories. They probably ask me at least 5 times a day to tell them stories. I usually try to stall, but probably end up telling at least a story a day.

My subject matter:
- my or my husband’s childhood
- things happening that day
- previous events in their life
- made up stories about them and their cousins
- stories that involve Dora, Diego, Boots, and Baby Jaguar
- some combination of the above

I know that it’s good for our bonding, their imagination, etc., etc., etc. But sometimes I wish I could go at least one day without “Mommy, can you tell me a story?”