Oh, I’ve been busy. Busy with the Children’s Museum, busy with trying to sell my car, busy with trying to lose some weight, busy trying to breath in the last bits of summer… Busy.
The kids all have cavities, which is besides me. I can’t figure out why. We brush religiously, it’s the one thing I can say I’m most obsessive compulsive about. There is a normal amount of sugar in our diets, nothing excessive. I’m really discouraged because Austin went until he was 13 before he got a single cavity and suddenly he’s got 6!? WTF!? Just when I had had almost enough saved to get his braces put on, he’s got $1000+ worth of cavities and other work (a tooth growing sideways under the gums that has to be sugically removed) to be done. And that’s WITH dental insurance! Sheesh. Kids.
Good news is that I’m down to 139 pounds. Which is not so bad on a 5′10″ stature. I did the cabbage soup diet for a week, then started a low fat & calorie diet. I guess it’s low carb diet too because I won’t eat rice, beans, bread, or potato anything. No sugar, no juice, no junk food at all. I don’t even lick my fingers after making a peanut butter sandwich for the kids. I’m eating lean meats (chicken breast, fish, turkey breast) and fruits and veggies to my heart’s content. I lost 10 pounds (7 the first week and 3 last week) and have another 10 to go to get me to my “pre-pre”-Bella figure. I hope to be 129 pounds by the time we go on vacation on the 22nd of September. I don’t plan to diet at all on my vacation, and after having gone that long without yummy goppy foods, I expect I’ll gain 5-10 of it back after a week of seafood and southern deliciousness. Who cares! It will be my reward to myself and I’ll get back on the diet when I get back. But worse case, I’ll be 139 when I get back from vay-cay. I can live with that, after a week of purging to my hearts content!
No one guessed the paintings right! I thought that it would be really obvious because of the lips and eyes of the animals, but Jeremy and I obviously have the same styles of painting. Thank you all for humoring me by guessing! It was fun to read your guesses!
Steph:
Flamingo, rhinos, giraffes, monkey.
Jeremy:
Elephant, zebra, lion
It turns out that once I get a shot of Crown Royal in my belly, I paint really fast. I’d be done with 3 critters and Jeremy would still be painting on his first, so then I’d move on to sewing pillows. Thank goodness for the motivation that is alcohol! We barely got done by our deadline. I’ll post pictures of the Museum soon– we’re sooooo pleased with how it came out!
I just wanted y’all to know I’m still alive, despite that I’m MIA in the blog scene. Don’t go removing me from your blogrolls just yet! I’ll be back…
![IMG00117[1] by you.](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3860256380_3d604d3bca.jpg)
I’ve been shopping at thrift stores for a very long time. I’ve always appreciated that people that “have” take the time and give the energy to donate to the folks that “have less.”
The Durango Humane Society Thrift Store was always my favorite thrift store in Durango. It’s convenient, it’s large, it’s organized, it’s mostly clean. It seems that most people that do donate do it there because it’s easy to donate there. And it pays to know where most of the donations go, or where the “happening” thrift store is, when you’re a competetive thrift store shopper like me.
The best part of shopping at thrift stores is that it’s economical! In this economy, bargain shopping is important. When you have 4 kids to feed and dress, finding reasonable prices is not only important, it’s necessary.
In addition, we’re always trying to be “green”, right? So why not re-use something, if it’s in good shape? Thrift stores give us the chance to re-use and recycle! Being green has never been so much fun!
I don’t know about you but I also catch the shopping bug about once a week. I need to buy something. But my husband agrees that I’m the lowest maintenance trophy wife in Durango because I can get my shopping fix once a week with $5!
But, here’s the thing. I’ve started to have some beef with the Durango Humane Society Thrift Store… And I’m talking about it here because, well, because my “beef” is bad enough that I am sort of throwing a boycott temper tantrum over it.
- The prices are inconsistent. Sometimes things aren’t priced at all. Most of the time items are FAR over-priced. So over-priced that I put them back. If I can go to Wal Mart and buy it brand new, same quality and same item, for the same price– why would I bother having to take the used one home, wash it up, and risk that it might break anyways because it’s used?
- They no longer do the 1/2 off Wednesdays. Probably explains why the piano that’s $250 hasn’t sold yet and is taking up space. Wouldn’t it be better if the item was in someone’s home being used and brought the Humane Society $125 rather than taking up room? I mean, it’s not like the Thrift Store is selling their first born child, or something that they actually paid for in the first place…
- The volunteers working there are a little lacking in any kind of retail knowledge but are the same folks that last minute price things at the counter when you’re checking out.
- They never have any clothing on the racks and if they do, ugh, the PRICES.
- Did I mention the over-priced thing? Yeah, sorry for the repetition. Thrift stores used to be for people who didn’t have much money. When I mentioned this to one of the managers (who drives an expensive luxury 4×4 and carries an upper-crusty demeanor), she says, “Well, we’re here for The Animals of La Plata County.” Ohhhhhh. I see. Because The People in this area are all thriving and living the dream and all. Who cares about them.
- I think, just an opinion here, that The People need to question where all of those profits are going. I’m sure I don’t need to point out that they have volunteer employees, seemingly make a large profit off of merchandise they paid nothing for, and, well, those dogs and cats aren’t eating filet mignon (or are they?) for dinner every night. Where’s the profit going, because I think there probably is some profit?
So, Durango. I emplore you. Please? Please choose one of the many other Thrift Stores in Durango to donate and shop. Distribute the treasure a little if you’re a giver, be open to new things if you are a shopper. The other Thrift Stores might actually look out for The People while their at it, not just the critters. If they are having to deny you dropping off your donations and then they are charging an arm and a leg to those in need for your hand-me-downs, doesn’t it sort of takes the “feel good” out of it?
*** This post is simply my personal opinion and is not backed by any facts or statistics. It is not meant to rock boats or hurt feelings…***
As you know, we’ve been busy painting a mural and doing some other odds and ends for a safari themed toddler room at the Children’s Museum here in my town. Here’s some of what we’ve done this week. I’ll post final pics later this weekend as Sunday is our deadline!
I made some husband pillows out of safari fabric and red dot minky fabric. The museum director asked me to make husband pillows and I gulped. I stayed up for two nights trying to figure out how the heck to make them. And, then, PRESTO! I’m so proud of them because I’ve never done anything like this…
And a few pics of our animals. We had SOOOO much fun painting together, laughing together, jamming to old school music while creating. Memories are made so easily!
Ok, and now the fun part… CONTEST TIME! If you guess all of these right, I will send you some Happy Mail! Which animals did Jeremy paint, which ones did I paint? Now the Rhinos and Giraffes had the same artist, so there’s your only hint. So, who painted the zebra, the monkey, the lion, the flamingo, the elephant, the giraffes, and the rhinos?
I will announce the winner/s next Friday!
********Edited to add: I’m thinking that maybe the hint is throwing you guys off… The artist that did the rhinos and giraffes may have also painted other animals too! Alabama Grandma and Stephieface, you guys could try editing your answers a bit!**********
No one intends to become a drug addict or alcoholic. Some people unable to deal effectively with life’s problems and turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of dealing with unwanted situations. A person usually takes drugs because they attempt to make up for some personal deficiency or life situation by numbing their unhappiness and pain with an addiction. They may be depressed, in pain or incapable of dealing with a loss of a loved one or extreme circumstance. It could also be as simple as a need to fit in and make friends, or a way to lose weight. Regardless of the reason, the person begins to seek “help” in the form of drugs or alcohol.
I have loved more than one person with a drug or alcohol addiction, and it is so hard to watch their lives fall apart. Mothers lose their children, or give them away because they know they can’t have the addiction and be a good parent. Fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters… Many have lost their way in life to a drug or alcohol addiction.
But there is help out there, if you or a loved one are suffering with a drug or alcohol addiction. Cliffside Malibu Drug Treatment Center is a residential drug rehab, alcohol rehab center and extended care facility for adults suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, depression, and other co-occurring disorders. Their drug treatment philosophy incorporates a variety of clinical components to create a comprehensive and effective addiction treatment program. The components of alcohol and drug rehabilitation include detox, individual therapy, group therapy, depression treatment, and alternative medicine. You are not alone, there are caring professionals that can help. Visit Cliffside Malibu’s website for more information on drug rehab or for their successful Alcohol Rehab Program.
« Previous Entries
