Thinking about Next Christmas Already?

I am. I already began my Christmas shopping for next year yesterday. I braved the crowds of after-Christmas shoppers at Walmart. Yeah, me! I got a huge amount of stuff (at least I thought so...) for next Christmas, including stocking stuffers, which are always quick to get expensive.

But... for those of you who are always being asked what you want for Christmas... I found this handy little universal button from Amazon! supplied by a wonderful person on FrugalScrappersYahoo Group. You add this button to your browser tool bar and everytime you are on a site that has an item you want... you click "Add to My Wish List" and it stores the site to your Amazon wish list with the item! Loved ones can get your wish list and find the things you've been wishing for. What a great little tool! Now I only wish... that each person I gift to would get one of these handy little buttons!

To get yours... simply click on the link and move the little button to your toolbar! It's that simple. Here ya go! Click on Link

Been a While, but HEY! Merry Christmas!!!

Make a Smilebox greeting

Newcomings...

On the 4th, we tried to take Marissa to a small circus - the 5pm show. They informed us there wouldn't be a show due to lack of patrons. I wanted to inform them they wouldn't have an 8pm one either, as everyone would be wanting to see the fireworks. We watched as they turned away 4 more cars. They had said they needed at least 50. While we were watching, there went at least 20... who knows how many more they turned away. We got the impression they just didn't want to work...

So, here's a camel that wanted to say, "HI!" to me...So we ended up going to see Ice Age 3D: The Dawn of the Dinosaurs. It really was pretty good with lots of humor in it. I recommend it!

Yesterday, the girls (the older ones) got their belly buttons pierced. We had a deal. Clean room for a month, age 15 or more... belly buttons pierced. Here's their piercing many. I'd show you shots, but it didn't even hurt them, so... no dramatic photos. Bummer. Not even for their scrapbooks.

I picked this from my garden this morning. Do you know what it is?It is a Boston Pickling Cucumber. Looked funny... tasted great. Too bad there aren't any more right now. We split it between the three of us. Yum-O!

Oh! Stacy's visit on Sunday went great. We hope she stays in touch now and that we see her much more often. It was just like old times... You'd think time never left us.

That's all I got for now... Toodles for now! lisa

Happy Fourth of July!!!

I'm sure lots of you have plans for today, whether it's hanging out with your friends, bbq-ing, watching the fireworks, whatever... Some of you have to work, and some of you are not doing anything... No matter. No matter what, I want you to all to have a safe and happy holiday. Enjoy WHATEVER you may be doing!!! Toodles for now! lisa

Found a Long Lost Friend Last Night

Yep... after spending a lot of money on people search engines over the years and finding nothing current, I found my friend for free on Facebook.

What a hoot. I have been wondering about her for 15 years. Even my daughter (age 16) is named after her. She was the best friend I ever had in the whole wide world. We plan to meet on Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes.

Rey won't be able to meet her, though, unless we go to the pool. Hmm... maybe...

Don't know what we are gonna do for dinner, either. I'll think about it. But I'm just so glad to find her. We have so much to talk about and catch up on. When I talked to her last night, it was like we had never been apart (the friendship I mean). That's a good thing. Toodles for now! lisa

I LOVE REDBOX!

If you haven't discovered this wonderful little video store within your local grocery store or other market, you should check it out. Rentals are $1 per day plus tax, and not due back until 9pm the following day. They even have top NEW titles!!! Woohoo! The girls and I have seen a multitude of movies thanks to this great box.

Oh! and another thing. You can rent from any Redbox and return it to ANY redbox. So... if you've rented from your town, and go to visit someone, you can return the dvd to a redbox in the other town, or along the way. What a cool thing.

Also, if you want to keep the movie for another day or two, you can! It is only another $1 plus tax per day. NOT those horrible late charges.

If I sound like a commercial, please know that I am getting nothing for this. I am only sharing this with you as a great deal. I am so impressed with this little "redbox."

To find a Redbox near you... go to www.redbox.com and put in your zip code. You can also register for their e-mails and to reserve a movie or find a movie at a redbox near you.

Happy movie watching. Toodles for now! lisa

Today's Plans and Yesterday's News (more!)

Whelp... I had to purchase a ticket online to ensure Stacy would be able to go to the new Transformers movie. It sold out fairly quickly. Rey, Marissa & I will finally be going to see Monsters vs. Aliens. We've been waiting a long time to see it, and it's about time, as it's at the $2 theater by us.

The other day, we went and saw Hannah Montana: The Movie. It was actually pretty good. It sure wasn't a movie I wanted to see. I'm glad I saw it, though. The movie takes her back to her roots and away from the glam of Hollywood to see what a brat she's been.

Other news... I forgot to tell ya'll! Rey got her first job. (Stacy doesn't want to work yet, though.) She is a Lifeguard for the City's Parks and Recreation/School District Summer Swim. Yippee. So, she will be helping do a major contribution to her Educational European Tour next summer. Here's her first-day-of-work pic...

She wouldn't let me: a) take a pic at the pool (too embarassing!) and b) wouldn't let me take a pic in her bathing suit (another embarassment). Bummer. The fishtank and tank top were as close to water and a lifeguard suit as I was gonna get. Oh well.

That's all for now... Toodles for now! lisa