starbeck96

Thank you! Congratulations! This happened to my sister except she was supposed to have a boy and it was a girl. It worked out well though, because now my daughter and my niece are only 9 months apart. So, they've grown up being good friends.

Check in for August. I celebrated my 43rd bday this week. Celebrated with my family and close friends. Thankful and blessed to have made it another year.

Happy July everyone! It is just a wet mess here in Alabama today. Thankfully the weekend is supposed to be nice. Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone! Everyone have fun and stay safe! While discussing what we wanted to do this weekend, our daughter (14) said she doesn't really care about watching fireworks and asked if we could go bowling instead. Then she asked if her boyfriend (using that term loosely..lol) could go with us. So, I think we may do that and take them out to eat tomorrow. Next weekend is a karate tournament. Our daughter started Tae kwon do in February and this will be the first tournament since she has started. She is only going to watch this time because in April she broke her ankle and was out for 6 weeks then she had 3 weeks of camps in June so she just didn't want to try. She actually sparred for the first time yesterday. At first she didn't want to do it, but now she can't wait to do it again..She has older brothers who 23 and I told her to just pretend she is fighting with them (she has plenty of practice)..lol. Anyway, Happy 4th everyone.

Happy June everyone! June is always full of church camps for our youth at church. Some of the teens (including our daughter) went to a week long camp last week. She is at home this week, but has full week camps next week and the week after. This is definitely one of her favorite times of the year. She has already made several new friends. So glad to hear that some of the main retail chains are going to be closed Thanksgiving Day. I really hope that they go back to the classic days of Black Friday.

I can't believe it is May already! Next Sunday my daughter, my niece, a friend from church, her two teen girls, and I are headed to Panama City Beach for a few days. It has been about 8 years since my daughter and I have been so we are excited. My husband is staying at home and will be working on getting the building for his new art/music studio ready to open (hopefully in June). We are almost at the halfway point to Black Friday..

It is now 216 days until BF

Happy March! Today is our twin boys' 23rd birthday. One of our sons is married and the other one is getting married the 27th of this month. So, it is going to be a busy but happy month. I hate that the weather is getting warmer (it was 68 here today). I love cold weather but living in Alabama we don't get much of it (we live about an hour south of the parts of Alabama who got all the snow). Hope everyone has a great March 2021.

Can't believe it's already February! Happy February everyone!

Happy New Year everyone!

Happy December everyone!

I did most of my shopping online since many stores started early sales (both online and in store), I knew many of the things I wanted would be sold out by the time I got there today. So over the last few weeks, I was able to get nearly everything I wanted. A friend and I went out today and everything went great. We went to a store called Martin's Family clothing first and they gave out a 50% off coupon off non-sale items. I was able to get an Alabama sweatshirt for my sister's boyfriend for 12.50 using the coupon. I also got one of my sons a Colubia shirt for 19.99 (normally 35.00 everyone else). Went to Kohls next and I got a Scrabble game for 10.00. My friend got several things for her kids while there, but I had already bought most things I needed online. The checkout line was not bad at all. It only took about 10-15 minutes to check out. Then went to Target. I bought the game Trouble and my friend was able to get 2 of the Our Generation dolls and 2 Our Generation outfits (they were B1G1 1/2 off). We stood in line outside for about 10 minutes before they opened, but they were nowhere near capacity, so we were able to go in right as they opened. My friend was able to check out immediately. Next was Ulta. I didn't buy anything here, but my friend got several items. Then we went to Walmart. I was able to get 2 pairs of jeans and socks for my husband and fleece leggings for myself. It wasn't really that crowded, but of course we didn't get there until about 8:00-8:30. We were home by about 10:00 (we shop in a town an hour from us). I came home and took a nap and then checked Amazon. I was able to get my daughter a set of makeup brushes and a set of gel nail polish at a great price.

Thank you! I had just checked about 30 minutes ago and they didn't even have the main thing I wanted (Luigi's Mansion 3). Glad I saw this and checked again. I was able to get it.. I would also like to get the sheet set, but they are not available yet. We have to leave for church before it goes live. Hopefully they will still be available when I get home. But, if not, oh well.

As of right now, it is saying high of 69, with PM showers. We are supposed to have a rainy weekend (cold front coming through), so hoping the rain does hold off until the weekend and it doesn't come in early.

I've never bought the sheet sets either. I do remember them having them in years past as well. This is the first year I actually need a sheet set..lol. I am going to look up reviews (if I can find the same sets online) before I buy them.

Yay! Thank you Brad!

I saw several things in the ad: We just got a Nintendo Switch back in April. We only have 3 games so need to add more to our collection: Mario Rabbids Spyro reignited trilogy (if offered for Switch), Zelda, Luigi's Mansion There are a few of the Pioneer Woman sets I would love to have We need a new sheet set for our bed and my son is getting married in March, so I might pick them up a sheet set for them as well. For my husband: socks jeans Underwear New towels (we buy these yearly) and new bath rug I am hoping that Amazon will do some price matching for some of the games. I really don't care to have to try to buy anything from Walmart online.

Well we homeschool, so no gift for the teacher..lol. But, we generally give her piano teacher, violin teacher, and the youth orchestra conductor a gift. Sadly, this year all of that was cancelled with the exception of piano. Last year we gave her piano teacher a piano Christmas tree ornament and her violin teacher a violin Christmas tree ornament. We gave the conductor a gift card to Krispy Kreme (so he could treat his young children) and a gift card to Starbucks (we've known him for 4 years and he always had Starbucks in his hand). The previous years I believe we just did gift cards to local places. Year before last, for the conductor, my husband did a drawing of a violin (that is the instrument he plays) but he left room all around it for all of the youth orchestra to sign it. We had bought a glass frame for it, so once everyone had signed, we put it in a glass frame. When my boys were in public school, we usually gave the teachers gift cards.

Yay! Hopefully this year I can remember to post each month. Last year, I had issues signing in one day (I was on my work computer so that may have been the issue) and then forgot to come back and post.

My favorite things from the past are Tshirts. I would also love a hoodie or long-sleeved shirt. I would also love coffee mugs or maybe even a cup.

I got the 6qt IP for 60.00, 3 The Big One Throws, and 4 shirts for my daughter. Plus earned 30.00 Kohls cash and a little over 5.00 in rewards. I also chose pickup for an extra 5.00 KC. I do live an hour from Kohls, but we were planning on going sometime next week or week after anyway, so will just pick up when we go. It says it won't be ready until between Nov 11 and 19 anyway.

Best Buy: The kitchenaid mixer for my future daughter in law (it would be a wedding gift) $ 199.99 Luigi's Mansion 3 (Switch) for myself and my daughter $ 39.99 Walmart: TCL 55" TV (for the living room) $ 148.00 HP laptop (for my husband) $ 249 airpods (for my daughter) $ 99.00 Pioneer woman slow cookers-set of 2 (for myself) $ 9.96 Griddle (future daughter in law) $ 9.96 Sharpie markers $ 10 Instant Pot Viva (for future daughter in law) $ 49.00 Sequence board game (daughter's friends) $ 10 RC truck (future daughter in law's younger brother) $ 15 Kohls Big one throws (one for daughter, one for myself, one for future daughter in law)...$ 23.97 Home Depot: pre lit 7 1/2 foot Christmas tree $ 79 137 piece tool set (for my son who is getting married in MArch) $ 49.97 Belk: Southern. Home.™ Boxed Latte Mugs $ 7.00 Total: 999.84

My mom passed away a little over 3 years ago. She always did a stocking for everyone in our family. After she passed away, I decided to carry on the tradition. We no longer do a stocking Christmas morning, only for the Christmas with my dad. **I will get all of the women, girls, and my nephew a new Christmas ornament to put in their stocking. I also will get all the women and girls a pack or pair of socks. My daughter saw some Peanuts socks at Walmart yesterday and she told me she wanted them for Christmas. So I will put those in her stocking. For my sons (they are 22) I will put their favorite bodywash, gummy worms (this is a tradition), pack of gum, and maybe a 5.00 gift card to a fast food restaurant. For my 14 year old daughter I will do chapstick, gummy worms, a 5.00 gift card to fast food restaurant, maybe a CD, and maybe other candy. For my niece (she is 13): her favorite candy, a gift card for Roblox, a pack of gum, and a few other small items (I will talk to my sister to get a few more ideas) For my nephew (almost 3): I am not sure. He has so many cars that he doesn't really need anymore..lol. I will see if I can find a Toy story figure and, then maybe get him some type of candy he likes. For my daughter in law and future daughter in law: I will buy their favorite candy, a gift card to Starbucks for each of them, and a few other small items. For my husband: I always do a pack of socks (and usually underwear, but I won't give those in front of everyone..lol). I will get him his favorite candy and candy bars, and probably a gift card to Hobby Lobby. For my dad: I will do a gift card to a local restaurant, and some chocolate covered cherries. For my sister's boyfriend I will have to ask my sister, because I have no idea...lol

I am going to post two simple dessert recipes: Three ingredient peanut butter cookies 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg Mix together, form into balls, and use fork to flatten. I will add that I like to add a little vanilla flavoring to mine, but it is not necessary. Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes, sometimes it takes a little longer depending on how big you make your cookies. Caramel Pie You need: a graham cracker crust (or you can make your own) two cans sweetened condensed milk (it doesn't matter what brand) a tub of coolwhip (I usually only use about 1/2 the tub) For this you are going to use your crockpot. Put aluminum foil in the bottom of your crockpot. I usually make sure my piece of foil covers at least half the sides as well. Do not skip this step. If you don't use aluminum foil, it will rust up your crockpot. Take paper off cans of sweetened condensed milk. Place in crockpot. Pour enough water into crockpot to cover cans and have about 2 extra inches of water past cans. I usually just fill mine nearly to the top (you do want to leave a little room at the top so it doesn't spill over as it bubbles). Then cook for 9-10 hours on low (this allows it to be a little more firm). Take the cans out with tongs and place in cold water and allow to cool completely. Do not open while it is hot. Once cooled, pour into the graham cracker crust and spread out. Then top with Cool whip if desired. I have made these and left off the Cool whip. This is extremely sweet, but delicious.

My best Christmas present (although it was a few weeks early) was my marriage. Here we are nearly 24 years later and still at it. Does it count if I bought it myself? Last year my dad gave all of us 100.00 each. So I used my money to get an Instant Pot and a Pioneer Woman set of knives. Those have been the best gifts ever..lol.

I am a part-time 911 dispatcher in our local county. I had already asked for the day off and I just left it as is. My friend and I were talking and we are still going to go shopping that day just to get out of the house and enjoy our day. I am also off Thanksgiving, which really surprised me (but if they need me, I will go in). I am working Christmas (as I have for the past 2 years) but am working a later shift. We get double half time for working major holidays, which is why I don't mind.