C is for...Camera!

I am a scrapbooker...which means I need photos...and therefore, a camera is essential! After our recent trip to DC, my handy point and shoot decided it had fulfilled all of its dreams and was fine to leave us before its time.  When we returned home, I dutifully downloaded the last of our pictures off the SD card and when I tried to reinsert it, she'd had enough.  I even took APART THE CAMERA to see if I could fix whatever was ailing the poor gal (mind you, I know NOTHING about camera repair, but how much could it hurt?).  No luck, and no warranty, meant it was time to let her go.  Hence began the research on a new camera.  Luckily, I did have my trusty Canon DSLR to keep me company while I searched, but there is nothing like the convenience of a handy, little camera that you can just throw in your bag and go around town with.  I looked at dpreview, cnet reviews and even consumer reports.  For the budget I was working with, the Canon ELPH (SD models) kept coming up as a good value.  Now, I know that the picture below is NOT of the current model, but turns out I got a killer deal on this one and the reviews didn't really put the newer model that far ahead of this one from last year.  So it arrived safely into my arms this past week and I quickly charged the battery so I could play.  Here is a picture of old faithful taken by the new camera.  And one taken by old faithful of the new gal in town. Now I have options, people! Works for me.

B is for...BB's Closet Consignment Sale

Ok, so maybe you're reading this from the comfort of your home many, many miles away from New Jersey, but I just had to mention the local consignment sale that comes to this area twice a year.  I started shopping there several years ago when my daughters were much younger and found that they carried very gently used "stuff" that was waaaaay below retail price.  After spending quite a bit of money on my great finds, I decided I should also try becoming a consigner myself to make up some of the money I spend each year.   Well, I have been doing so the past 4-5 years.  So what does this have to do with anything worth blogging about?  Well, it makes me happy that I am doing my part to live a greener lifestyle.  Not only am I saving tons of money on things that I need for the kids, but I'm also able to "splurge" and let them get something frivolous that I never would have allowed at full price.  Case in point, the 3D Pictionary game that my daughters just had to have this time around.  No way would I have agreed to it at the retail price of $35, but for $12, I let it slide.  And for the boy?  Well, he got himself one, rad kitchen for a mere $15.  Hopefully, he'll learn to cook for real someday and make someone very happy!

So there are probably some new Moms out there that wouldn't think of buying anything "used" for their new, bouncing, bundles of joy (hey, that was ME just a mere eleven years ago), but let me tell you, by the time kid #3 rolls around, you get over that really quick!  When DS was born 2 years ago (7 years after my youngest at the time), I made out like a bandit when it came to getting the essentials like playpens, bouncy chairs, high chairs, exersaucers (YES-they are essential) and toys.  Everything I bought was in perfect condition and the best part was that when dear 'ol Adam outgrew it, I could sell it BACK at the next consignment!  And wouldn't you know it, the Grands wanted to get us the "big" stuff, like our crib and dresser, so that worked out for us, too.

So, if you're looking to lead a greener lifestyle and aren't quite ready to take the plunge in a major way, then consider visiting a local consignment store for some of your family's necessities.  You'll find great deals and save a boatload of cash to boot. Wow, after typing that sentence, now I'm thinking I could have blogged about boats or boots.  Oh well...

Now, before I go, I can't help but give out a BIG shout out to my daughter, Leena, for BLASTING her science fair project right out of the universe last night.  Way to go, baby.  You worked hard and we're all proud of you!

Until tomorrow!

A is for Appalachian Trail...

Thought I'd start out the A to Z Blogging Challenge writing about something unexpected (after all, I could have gone with Adam, my son's name), but decided to go with this instead.  About a year ago, I came across the book "A Walk In The Woods" and became interested in the Appalachian Trail (AT for short).  I'm not much of a hiker (or exerciser for that matter), but I got this desire (white blaze fever, as its sometimes referred to) to try to hike parts of the trail some time in the not too distant future (seeing how one of the trailheads for the New Jersey portion of the AT is not that far from where I live).  I started reading everything I could get my hands on, including trail guides, and recently finished another book called "In Beauty May She Walk", about a 60 year old woman's "through hike" (a hike of over 2,000 miles within the same year).  I thought to myself, heck if she can do it, I could certainly attempt to hike some of it.  I've got a couple of decades on her and time to condition myself for the trail ahead.  Well, my goal this spring, is to start some serious training. By serious, I mean actually get out of the house to do some regular hiking on some local trails and see if my wanderlust of the trail via reading matches my desire in real life! Maybe I'll even attempt a small section of the AT next fall...even my daughter is interested in joining me, although I'm not sure how serious SHE is.  Just one thing, though...first I gotta figure out how to get over my squeamishness about mice, and let's not forget the bears!

Getting ready...

for the AtoZ Blogging Challenge.  Heard about it on NJ101.5 this morning and had to check out one of the hosting blogs.  Turns out, you play along by choosing to blog daily (except Sunday) on any topic that begins with the letter of the day...tomorrow is A and we'll go through the alphabet in the month of April.  Hey...I haven't started yet, it's just that alphabet and April all begin with A.  Stay tuned for my post on my "A" word of choice tomorrow...and that's not an April's Fool trick!  If you're interested in playing along, too...just click on the button on the right and sign right up!  See you back here tomorrow!

It's her birthday...and she's 11!

My oldest turned 11 today--even though this is posting the next day (I'm a night owl, what can I say?).  Hard to believe that eleven years ago, on March 23rd, at 5:20pm, she came into this world and made me a Mommy for the 1st time.  She is growing into a beautiful, intelligent young lady and we love her very much.  We are proud of her accomplishments and look forward to what the future holds.  This week alone, she earned her blue belt in Tae Kwon Do and performed for us at band rehearsal during a visit to her school.  Her trombone playing has come a long way in a few short months. Today, we went out for dinner and then came back to the house for a little cake--one of her favorites--Red Velvet.  Last weekend, we took her to Washington, DC-at her request-as her birthday gift from us.  We had a great time and she was excited to bring back some of DC's finest cupcakes to enjoy this week.  Here are some pictures of our trip and of our celebration today.  May you have many, many, more happy and healthy birthdays ahead, baby girl!

Time flies when your stressed out!

Well, I'm having fun, too...but I have been really, REALLY busy between LOAD, prepping for my classes here at home and getting the girls back and forth from activities.  Let's not forget the ultra-active 2 year old with a naughty streak...he has me on my toes constantly.  I also had a vendor fair to prepare for, which unfortunately was a big DUD.  Wish I'd known that before stressing out about getting things ready the night before!!  Oh well, live and learn...I'm never doing THAT again!

LOAD was a blast!  It was relatively stress-free (if not for those OTHER committments), very inspirational, and I FINISHED ALL 28 LAYOUTS!  Plan to post these here in a bit, but first, I've fallen a bit off the Yesterday & Today wagon (and my One Little Word wagon, for that matter) and plan to start back up with those layouts.  This Friday, I'm having a HUGE decluttering sale on a ton of my business and personal scrap and rubber stamping supplies--so if you're nearby and want to score on some awesome stuff-then swing by any time between 7pm and 1am Friday night, March 11th.  It's my SCRAMP night, so I'll be here all night :-)

In other matters, I have managed to lose a total of 19 pounds since starting my new eating plan on January 1st.  My hope is to keep it going, but boy, are these grey, winter days starting to drag me down.  Can't wait for spring to get here.  Excited we're finally moving the clocks ahead this weekend...that will mean we lose an hour of sleep (and God knows I can't afford that!), but anything for that extra hour of daylight.  For those of you who don't know the eating plan I'm on, just look at my string of layouts below...I dedicated an entire spread to "The Belly Fat Cure".  Discovered an awesome spread that makes  a good chicken taco out of this world...so happy that it's Belly "good".

This weekend we are hopefully (!) picking up some bed frames for the girls' new and improved SHARED bedroom...and we hope to finish "toddler" proofing Adam's room so we can try to put him down there for naps and bedtime (instead of with us!).  Next weekend, we'll be celebrating Yasmeen's 11th (!!!) birthday with a weekend jaunt to DC.  She asked us to take her there as her present, so we'll be hoping for good weather.  Really HOPING for good weather...nothing worse than walking around the city in the cold and rain.  After our return, the following weekend is for ME!!  I'll be going to an all day crop nearby and spending time creating and hanging out with friends (even Aileen is coming!!).  Can't wait for that.  Last but not least, that SAME weekend, we're giving Yasmeen a gift of--ahem...-The Red Cross babysitting course at the local hospital.  She can't wait to take it, and frankly, we can't wait for her to take it-LOL!  In a couple of years, both she and Adam will be perfectly suited to hanging with each other when Mohammed and I finally decide to sneak away for a bite to eat on any given evening.  Well, a girl can dream, can't she????

Enjoy the rest of the month, and let's hope that March does indeed go out like a lamb.

Here is a close up of my handmade flower. Really proud of this one :-)

Well, if you've lasted this long...thanks for looking.  I'll be back here again soon with some more babbling.  Have a great week!!