Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Note to Self: Are We Having Fun Yet?
Are We Having Fun Yet? the 16 Secrets of Happy Parenting By: Kay Willis and Maryann Bucknum Brinley
Non-Fiction, parenting 218 pages
Book Count:23
This is a book on parenting advice from a mother of 10 kids and one of 2 kids. It offers broad idea that can be fitted for different parenting styles, lives and kids. As such it is more useful then some other books as there is more flexibility in it.
Non-Fiction, parenting 218 pages
Book Count:23
This is a book on parenting advice from a mother of 10 kids and one of 2 kids. It offers broad idea that can be fitted for different parenting styles, lives and kids. As such it is more useful then some other books as there is more flexibility in it.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Happy Passover!
Note: We are sorry for incorrectly stating that the last post we did was the day before Passover, after double checking the dates for it this year, we saw that it actualy started yesterday evning. Our calender lists the Jewish holidays on their first full day and not the date they start on.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Shopping Highs!
(and Lows)
Today was a shopping day. Target had vitamin water on sale for $1.00 and I had a $1.00 coupon. Free drink! At Meijer's mustard was on sale for $1.00 and I had a coupon for $.30, which was then doupled, plus at the check out it printed out a coupon "brought to you by French's" for a dollar off the next time I shop. I also got a container of dressing that after coupon was $.17. Yahhhh!!
But, on the down side there was way too much wine on sale. So I got two bottles of MI cherry wines for the next time I see my in laws, as they cann't get cherry wine where they live and mom misses it. Plus, as Passover is tommorow they had all of the Kosher wine on sale, and so I picked up some ones we like.
So, over all I did good on saving money as everything I bought (excluding a couple of neccisities and a container of hair gel) was on sale for a good price and/or I had a coupon making it a good price, I still way over shot my goal for the trip.
Today was a shopping day. Target had vitamin water on sale for $1.00 and I had a $1.00 coupon. Free drink! At Meijer's mustard was on sale for $1.00 and I had a coupon for $.30, which was then doupled, plus at the check out it printed out a coupon "brought to you by French's" for a dollar off the next time I shop. I also got a container of dressing that after coupon was $.17. Yahhhh!!
But, on the down side there was way too much wine on sale. So I got two bottles of MI cherry wines for the next time I see my in laws, as they cann't get cherry wine where they live and mom misses it. Plus, as Passover is tommorow they had all of the Kosher wine on sale, and so I picked up some ones we like.
So, over all I did good on saving money as everything I bought (excluding a couple of neccisities and a container of hair gel) was on sale for a good price and/or I had a coupon making it a good price, I still way over shot my goal for the trip.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Saving tip:
If you like ham, now is the time to get some. Most, ever grocery store has it on sale for Easter. If you have freezer space it will freeze well.
Monday, April 06, 2009
A Note to Self: Premium Beer Drinker's Guide
Premium Beer Drinker's Guide: The World's Strongest, Boldest and Most Unusual Beers By: Stephen Beaumont
Non-Fiction: food 211 pages
Book Count: 22
This book goes over the history, ingredients, and characteristics of many different styles of beer. It then gives info and reviews of a couple of beers in that style. This information includes the relative price of the beer (As prices differ some by state's laws, taxes, where you buy it, etc.) How easy it is to find it and how long it is good for when stored correctly. I learned that there are some beers that one should age like one would with a wine. I learned about unusual ingredients in some beers and many other things. It introduced me to the beershake. It would be a good book to get for someone that loves beer.
Non-Fiction: food 211 pages
Book Count: 22
This book goes over the history, ingredients, and characteristics of many different styles of beer. It then gives info and reviews of a couple of beers in that style. This information includes the relative price of the beer (As prices differ some by state's laws, taxes, where you buy it, etc.) How easy it is to find it and how long it is good for when stored correctly. I learned that there are some beers that one should age like one would with a wine. I learned about unusual ingredients in some beers and many other things. It introduced me to the beershake. It would be a good book to get for someone that loves beer.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Today is Palm Sunday
There I posted something today.
Also there is only one week untill Easter. I forgot about posting untill now, so I didn't have time to think up any great post. Sorry.
Also there is only one week untill Easter. I forgot about posting untill now, so I didn't have time to think up any great post. Sorry.
Saturday, April 04, 2009
A Book in Review: Vampire High
Vampire High By: Douglas Rees
Fiction: juvenile, fantasy 226 pages 2003
Book Count: 21
This is the story of a boy who is upset that his family has moved across the country from California to a small town in Massachusetts. He shows this by flunking all of his classes in his new school. He's dad then decides to change the school he goes to, he can either go to the super strict "Our Lady of Perpetual Homework", or the odd magnet school "Vlad Dracul". He picks Vlad Dracul school, after he is invited to go there as long as he tries out for the water polo team. Once there, he learns that it is a school for vampires and he is only there because they hate water and he is there to help fulfil a water sport requirment of the state. From there his life gets intresting. It was a fun read that I wished was longer.
Fiction: juvenile, fantasy 226 pages 2003
Book Count: 21
This is the story of a boy who is upset that his family has moved across the country from California to a small town in Massachusetts. He shows this by flunking all of his classes in his new school. He's dad then decides to change the school he goes to, he can either go to the super strict "Our Lady of Perpetual Homework", or the odd magnet school "Vlad Dracul". He picks Vlad Dracul school, after he is invited to go there as long as he tries out for the water polo team. Once there, he learns that it is a school for vampires and he is only there because they hate water and he is there to help fulfil a water sport requirment of the state. From there his life gets intresting. It was a fun read that I wished was longer.
Friday, April 03, 2009
A Book in Review: It's All Too Much
It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff By: Peter Walsh
Non-fiction: home improvement 228 Pages
Book Count: 20
This book is by one of the people on the show "Clean Sweep". It has lots of useful ideas on how to organize ones house and how to decide what things you should keep and things that you really don't need. I do have a few issues with it thought. Some are small issues like his belief that you need to seat at a dinning room table to talk with your family at dinner. The main one is his belief that one NEEDS an organized space to be creative. That's like saying you can't write or paint a masterpiece unless you're sober. Sure, the millions of artist and writer I could name as working while drunk/high/both weren't falling down drunk at the time, but my point is more that one often has a harder creating in a sterile enverment then in a mess. Sure, given what he does for a living he is most likely one of those people who can't work unlike everything is just so, but that's not everyones ways.
Non-fiction: home improvement 228 Pages
Book Count: 20
This book is by one of the people on the show "Clean Sweep". It has lots of useful ideas on how to organize ones house and how to decide what things you should keep and things that you really don't need. I do have a few issues with it thought. Some are small issues like his belief that you need to seat at a dinning room table to talk with your family at dinner. The main one is his belief that one NEEDS an organized space to be creative. That's like saying you can't write or paint a masterpiece unless you're sober. Sure, the millions of artist and writer I could name as working while drunk/high/both weren't falling down drunk at the time, but my point is more that one often has a harder creating in a sterile enverment then in a mess. Sure, given what he does for a living he is most likely one of those people who can't work unlike everything is just so, but that's not everyones ways.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Update:
In case you didn't guess it, yesterday's "Odd Laws on Undead Manatee Mating Rituals" was compleatly made up. It was only for April Fool's Day. We hope you enjoyed the joke.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Odd Laws on Undead Manatee Mating Rituals
* Necrophilia was not illegal in Florida until 1972.
* In Iceland one is not officially considered dead until a doctor tickles their nose with a feather and gets no response.
* In the Cayman islands it is illegal for any animal to mate within 100 meters of a graveyard.
* Manatees can be inprisoned up to 45 days for mating with a seal in Panama.
* Manatees can legaly eat their dead in Key West.
* In Aruba, Manatees are considered fish.
* Vampires can legaly vote in Wyoming, Utah, Californa, and Alaska.
* In 1837 a manatee was fined $1.25 in Homestead Florida for dancing on a Sunday.
Happy April Fool's Day!!!!!!!!!!
* In Iceland one is not officially considered dead until a doctor tickles their nose with a feather and gets no response.
* In the Cayman islands it is illegal for any animal to mate within 100 meters of a graveyard.
* Manatees can be inprisoned up to 45 days for mating with a seal in Panama.
* Manatees can legaly eat their dead in Key West.
* In Aruba, Manatees are considered fish.
* Vampires can legaly vote in Wyoming, Utah, Californa, and Alaska.
* In 1837 a manatee was fined $1.25 in Homestead Florida for dancing on a Sunday.
Happy April Fool's Day!!!!!!!!!!
NaBloPoMo blogging
As some of you know NaBloPoMo is a group that is into getting people to post blogs every day during the month. I decided to sign up to be on the list of daily bloggers for this month. I'm not posting on the suggested topic and I don't know if I will be able to do it, but if I'm going to be as bad as I have been at working on my other writngs, I mind as well be doing something. ;P
Monday, March 30, 2009
A Book in Review: Not Buying It: My Year without Shopping
Not Buying It: My Year without Shopping By: Judith Levine
non-fiction 264 pages 2006
Book Count: 19
This is the story of a person who tries to spend a year without buying any luxuries. So she basically buys simple foods for a year. I.e. no pre-made food, no clothes,or fancy shampoos only basics,charities, bills and taxes. Now there are a time or two that she does buy something, but only a couple times. Because this book is about NOT doing something, there is a lot of pages spent on other things then what they did that day. It has a lot on why one should or shouldn't buy things, politics, rants on society and the like. The parts on the not shopping were interesting, but all the other parts were meh. It is interesting that a liberal Democrat, arty, person in a two income home in a election year gives less total to "charities" (i.e. tax deductible groups, politic parties, the arts) then like 1% of their income. (I can't find the page, its on, but it was a tiny amount, a membership to a couple museums and suggested donation to a saving the earth group could equal that amount. We give more then that in a year, sure as the writer is an atheist, it's not like they are going to tithe, but you would expect them to be into giving to different causes they are into.)
non-fiction 264 pages 2006
Book Count: 19
This is the story of a person who tries to spend a year without buying any luxuries. So she basically buys simple foods for a year. I.e. no pre-made food, no clothes,or fancy shampoos only basics,charities, bills and taxes. Now there are a time or two that she does buy something, but only a couple times. Because this book is about NOT doing something, there is a lot of pages spent on other things then what they did that day. It has a lot on why one should or shouldn't buy things, politics, rants on society and the like. The parts on the not shopping were interesting, but all the other parts were meh. It is interesting that a liberal Democrat, arty, person in a two income home in a election year gives less total to "charities" (i.e. tax deductible groups, politic parties, the arts) then like 1% of their income. (I can't find the page, its on, but it was a tiny amount, a membership to a couple museums and suggested donation to a saving the earth group could equal that amount. We give more then that in a year, sure as the writer is an atheist, it's not like they are going to tithe, but you would expect them to be into giving to different causes they are into.)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
A Note to Self: Downsized But Not Defeated
Downsized But Not Defeated: The Family Guide to Living on Less By: Hope Stanley Quinn & Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Non-Fiction money 292 pages 1997
Book Count: 18
First, in case you didn't read the post two days ago, we were reading this NOT because we were downsized at work, but because we are into reading books on saving money at this time. This book has a lot of good information on if you suddenly HAVE to live on less money. It deals with what bills you should try and cut or reduce and what things you will still want to have in case (like car and house insurance.) It goes over the benefits of things like budgeting, cooking from scratch, and involving the whole family in saving money. But, it is more about when tragedys happen then a just want to save money type of book. It would be useful for that and it has lots of advice of where to get help. Also, I would like to know what type of made up world they are living in where ever school has at least a school nurse and some may even be a place to get cheap medical services for kids. I have never been in a school with a nurse and everything I've heard about schools with them, they don't do much of anything. Also, given the cost of running a oven, verses the cost of bread even not at a discount or bakery outlet store, I would think it wouldn't be cheaper to make at home. (Excluding, if you had a breadmaker, then it might be cheaper.)
Non-Fiction money 292 pages 1997
Book Count: 18
First, in case you didn't read the post two days ago, we were reading this NOT because we were downsized at work, but because we are into reading books on saving money at this time. This book has a lot of good information on if you suddenly HAVE to live on less money. It deals with what bills you should try and cut or reduce and what things you will still want to have in case (like car and house insurance.) It goes over the benefits of things like budgeting, cooking from scratch, and involving the whole family in saving money. But, it is more about when tragedys happen then a just want to save money type of book. It would be useful for that and it has lots of advice of where to get help. Also, I would like to know what type of made up world they are living in where ever school has at least a school nurse and some may even be a place to get cheap medical services for kids. I have never been in a school with a nurse and everything I've heard about schools with them, they don't do much of anything. Also, given the cost of running a oven, verses the cost of bread even not at a discount or bakery outlet store, I would think it wouldn't be cheaper to make at home. (Excluding, if you had a breadmaker, then it might be cheaper.)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Today's savings
OK, this was actual a couple days ago, but I though that it would make a good title for a reoccurring bit. So anyway I went to the shoe store to look for Easter/dress shoes for the kids as the oldest is outgrowing all of her dress shoes and well, little shoes look so cute. Anyway we found a pair of black dress sandals that the oldest liked on clearance for $4 in here size. And there were ones in the baby's size that were brown Maryjanes with pink hearts embroidered on. There were on clearance for $5. So for under $10 I got them both dress shoes that should work until they outgrow them/ fall (which ever comes first) as they won't get ruined after wearing them once like white ones do with little kids.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Shopping Highs!
We have have yet another great shopping day of savings. So we have decided to go on a savings spree. We will be reading books on saving (as we went to the library during a shopping high) and working on saving more in life. And then we well tell you all about it to give you something else to read between looking up odd laws, famous members of the undead and manatee mating rituals. (See, last post if you too wonder what people are reading this blog while looking for those things.)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Reader Rant
OK, I just went and looked at my weekly information on how many people read my blog and other basic info on readership. And I have so many questions now. First, every time my own computer gets recorded as a reader because the cookies get reset or something, it sets up a new city it thinks I'm at. And its not like it is at times anywhere close to where I live. Also, why is it that the only people who randomly look at my blog from googling something are looking for one of three things: 1. odd laws, 2. manatee mating 3. vampire, undead and other Halloween type things. Who are all these people looking for manatee sex. What kind of freaks are you. I can understand a hit or two of people looking for this, especially right after the episodes of Connan O'Brien that I was talking about, but really!!! And last, how come anytime some one who is from a place that I know people looks at this they're here for under 1 second. If your a friend or family member at least wait a second, before deciding that you don't want to read this. You're making me a touch paranoid that everyone hates this blog, I read yours (If you gave me a link, or I could find it on my own. Minx yours is IMPOSSIBLE to find, send a link pleeze!!)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
A Book in Review: American Thighs
American Thighs: The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Preserving Your Assets By: Jill Conner Browne
Non-Fiction, humor 307 pages
book count: 17
First, if you don't know who the Sweet Potato Queens are, we would suggest reading one of there earlier books first to learn more about them and/or tasty but dangerous recipes. This one as the title notes is on keeping you body looking good as you age. It includes many funny stories on age, the past, immaturity and other related subjects. And it has profound age advice, like maybe we shouldn't have spent years out in the sun covered with baby oil and enjoy being young, and other things no one has ever thought up before. It was not the best of their books, but there is little that can beat bacon covered in sugar, so it is just that the bar has been set so high, not that it wasn't a great book we really enjoyed, as it was and we would suggest it to other people to read.
Non-Fiction, humor 307 pages
book count: 17
First, if you don't know who the Sweet Potato Queens are, we would suggest reading one of there earlier books first to learn more about them and/or tasty but dangerous recipes. This one as the title notes is on keeping you body looking good as you age. It includes many funny stories on age, the past, immaturity and other related subjects. And it has profound age advice, like maybe we shouldn't have spent years out in the sun covered with baby oil and enjoy being young, and other things no one has ever thought up before. It was not the best of their books, but there is little that can beat bacon covered in sugar, so it is just that the bar has been set so high, not that it wasn't a great book we really enjoyed, as it was and we would suggest it to other people to read.
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