So what happens after the holidays?

To be honest a lot of good intentions and lounging. Hahaha

As my mind starts to shift mentally to prepare for the next term of Grad school (& the course I've feared before I ever got my admission letter). I had a lot of projects, cleaning/organizing that I wanted to achieve but haven't done much. Christmas sucked sometimes, just laziness. Its harder with kids, it is true. At least for me since I haven't found that sweet rhythm yet. So with a new year starts a new you!

Goals:

Get Healthy
Get Focused (particularly for school)
Get Clinical Preceptor Commitment
Get Lily some education

I'm a big goal and list type of person so it's always a working thing, modifiable & adjustable.

Do you have any new goals for 2018?

Merry Christmas

Happy birthday Jesus and Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone is blessed not only today but in the new year. And may the world be kinder & more compassionate in 2018. 

Military Life

Are you (or your spouse) in the military?

I'm interested in finding out some personal insight/opinions. I have considered the military as an employer several times in my life. Recently, I've gotten some information from a recruiter from the Air Force because it is the only branch accepting WHNPs. While some of my family are strongly against the idea of me joining the military, it is still something I can't rule out. My biggest concern is how my kids would be impacted. With moving at least once (if I only served 4 years) and the potential for my deployment (although less likely than a FNP and probably only for 4-6 months). 

I'm gathering information as I continue with school. 

Some pros would be: job security, honor in serving as a Captain (probably), healthcare/potential retirement benefits, military discounts.

CVS Trip

I went to CVS today to spend about $9 ECB from my Thanksgiving trip.

My breakdown:
I spent $33.11 OOP
got $18 EB back
Which would be about $15 on this stuff. I've never tried any of the makeup product but am trying to expand my makeup abilities. Get cute and maybe look have a sharp professional look. At least need some good headshots. I've got a month until my $18 EB expires so who knows what else I'll get but if you need any makeup they are having some great deals.

The Christmas Gift that almost wasn't...

A couple weeks ago my husband ordered me a gift. It hadn't come yet so he checked the status on the retailer's website. It was sent to an address that we lived at 10 years, maybe a couple miles from our current house. I suppose my husband was "click happy" and didn't bother to read the shipping address. We went to the post office to see if it might be there. We went to the old house but no one answered. We didn't leave a note but decided to see if the retailer had gotten it back. While they had not they were very nice with working with us to fix the problem, even giving us free 2-day shipping so the replacement could arrive before Christmas.

So, I thought that was the end of story. But this afternoon someone came to our house and handed the package to my mom, saying they opened it figuring it would be someone's gift and checked the billing address. 

I don't know who lives in our old house and they certainly owed us nothing. It was a simple mistake. They could have kept it or returned to sender. So I just want to say thank you & God bless those with an honest heart and the kindness to deliver a gift to the correct house. While the gift of this item is a material possession I could live without, the true gift is knowing there are still good people in the world, in America. 

So don't get too caught up in the materialism of the holidays but remember to be kind, compassionate, and giving. Those gifts will outlive any material item. Merry Christmas!

DIY Gifts

Are you making any of your gifts this year?

Recently I have tried a few DIY recipes for household products and am going to use some as gifts. I use Pinterest to find the awesome recipes. Click my link to pinterest on the right and go to my crafty album. 

Homemade Vanilla

Toilet Bombs

Challah

Taco Seasoning

If you've used Pinterest then you probably know that you can find almost anything on there.

But if you prefer to buy your gifts, why not a Zulily Gift Certificate. They have such a wide selection from baby gear to clothes for the family, even pet things at times. 

Try the cute reindeer as a little extra embellishment. Lily & I made a few of them the other night, Fun project for kids! 

Happy Gifting!

Tuesday Tunes

This week's song is a catchy little old song that reminds me of love. It also reminds me of How I Met Your Mother. But this song could be applied to many of the people I love and has a good beat tht I can clean to. Sing it with me...

The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)

And if Netflix hasn't taken HIMYM off the life-up then I'd watch an episode (it was featured in several episodes). Because when you love someone, anyone, wouldn't you walk some miles? 

For my daughters, my husband. 

Thrift Store Trip

So I like to go to some thrift stores every now and then and see what kind of magic I can find. I will say that stores of second-hand items vary greatly. The Goodwill stores near my home are not that great, maybe I've just come after all the decent things are gone OR maybe it is related to the organization of the store but I've rarely gotten anything at them. However, the very best second-hand shop I've been to is a Goodwill in another town (another state), I go to it about once a year but secretly wish I go about once a month haha. When I lived in Palm Beach County the Goodwill was pretty good too. Got some of my favorite jeans there. So do not judge one store based off of another!
My latest purchase was at my local thrift store. I was going for the purpose of needing some 18th-month clothes for Trinity, the selection was limited but probably expected due to the closeness to the holiday shopping season. I got some items for her and picked up a few more...

Above: 2 toys for Trinity $4

Above: 2 pairs of Torrid Jeans $18.99

I "might" be able to get a lower-priced brand of jeans at Walmart for that price, just one pair or slightly more. If I were to go to a Torrid store the price be about $64-74 for one pair, so I definitely got a good deal there! The toys I'm not sure what would retail for brand new. 

Do you shop at thrift stores?

Tuesday Tunes - Christmas Edition

Well it's December so that means it is time to bust out the holiday jingles (if you haven't done so yet). This week of my little musical segment I'm focusing on my favorite Christmas songs. Although, I am honestly still in a 90's R&B kick (or something with TLC, Boys 2 Men, etc). Which makes litte sense to me because I've a rock godess with heavy mental & alternative tendencies but I do grow up around then. Perhaps when I heard those songs my heart was still innocent & dreaming of a fairy tale... then life occured & bring on the Zombie muhahaha. But anyways, here is my (quickly put together) grateful 8.

8.Dean Martin - Let it Snow

7. The Drifters - White Christmas

6.Amasic - Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

5. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song 

4. Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack

3. You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch

2. My Chemical Romance - All I want for Christmas is You

1. Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

While I love most any Christmas song, the last one has been my favorite a long time. It makes me reflect and miss my grandma. But always a message dear to my heart keep going, move forward, it will be OK, we will meet again. 

Merry Christmas

Kohls Shopping...

Who doesn't love $15 Kohls Cash? Well, I loved it so much that I was able to score two of them with some post black Friday shopping. What is better than earning them? Redeeming them baby. Below is what I got...

Big One King Size Comforter Orig. $119.99

Moana Girls Tee Orig. 20

Baby Girl Jumping Beans Plaid Henley $16

Men's Sonoma Flannel Shirt Orig. 40

St. Nicholas Square Gingerbread Salad Plate $4.99

-------------------------Cost Me Out of Pocket $56.34------

Saved $154.59

used $52.12 in promo code & my previous $30 in Kohls Cash & $5 reward

I also earned $10 in Kohls Cash for use next week 

Moana Shirt - a birthday gift for Lily

Red plaid shirts - Lily & I already have one that matches them so we are going to be a red plaid matching family

Salad plate - it is going to be used as out Santa cookie plate for Christmas Eve

Comforter - Just something for me & the Hubs, we needed a change in the boudoir