Aimless Conversation - Homeschool Blogger

Moving...

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:02:00 -0500

No, thank the Good Lord, not to another house. Not yet anyways. The owner of the home we are currently in did call and he may sell, so a move in our near future is not entirely out of the question, but for now..today, we are staying put. Just moving my blog.

My husband worked really hard for me and made a very pretty new blogging home for me on Blogger...Come on over and take a look. I hope to try and move my archives (not an easy task, they will not move as a whole month, so instead I will be moving them one.at.a.time. *sigh*) so if you see some posts that make you think, "Hey, haven't I read this before?" You very well may have.

Unfortunately, my comments won't transfer over, so if they delete this blog, your witty contributions will be lost forever. Please some on over and leave your mark on my new blog so I will know that you all still want to be inspired and informed by my aimlessness. I live to serve, you know.

Speaking of serving, I have just been informed that there is nothing to eat here. So I need to go forage up some food for the natives.

Free Chicken Strips at Chic-Fil-A!!

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 15:02:00 -0500

Just for today, Sept 1st, Chic-Fil-A is offering free chicken strips (a new menu item) to anyone who comes into the store (or through the drive-thru even) wearing their favorite football team logo gear. It can be a professional, college, even a highschool team!!

We were thinking of going ourselves when we realized, sports fans that we are, we do not own any logo emblazoned clothing. Actually, we have a few sweatshirts, but who wants to wear that when it's 90* outside? So our conversation is going something like this...

Hubby: We could go by the dollar store and see what kind of stuff they have. Sometimes they have sports stuff. Or that little outdoor store...they have $2.00 licensed wear.

Me: You guys could just wear your sweatshirts just to order, then take them off, that way we don't need to get everyone a t-shirt. Or we could just print out LOGOS and pin them to our clothes.

Hubby: We can't do that..I have an old Tampa Bay...oh wait, that's baseball.

Our son: Do we really NEED chicken strips THAT BAD?!

I laughed out loud. I guess if you have to buy the logo t-shirt to get the free meal, it's not really free anymore, huh?

Six Quirky Things

Mon, 4 Aug 2008 12:54:00 -0500

Let me just say, the Heart of the Matter Conference was just sensational. But, after five days of workshops (yes, five.whole.days.) I am on information overload. Add to that the PMS factor, and you've got one very frayed woman.

So, instead of posting about all the terrific things I learned or scriptures that encouraged me (those are coming my friends, soon) I decided to play along with my friend Dianne (who was also at the cyber-conference and now knows my deep seated need for attention...perhaps my first quirky thing?) and post Six Quirky Things about me. It's a lighter, less serious way to make sure I put up a new post for my one groupie and a few others who pop by now and again.

In no particular order...

I am addicted (like, I may need an intervention addicted) to the card games on my cell phone. This is perhaps a direct result of the fact that poker cards were not allowed in my home as a child. I'm not kidding. I think I know now why they [cards] are sinful.

I absolutely loathe and detest morning. I firmly believe that mornings would be better if they started later...so around here they do. Please don't call before 9 am. Seriously.

I am a 'frugal failure.' I have tried and failed multiple times to clip coupons and save money. I have joined coupon clubs, the grocery game, buyer clubs, etc. The know-how just eludes me. I have been reading frugal/couponing blogs lately, perhaps with some handholding and step-by-step instructions, I'll actually 'get it' someday. Whose blogs do you read? Where do you find your best tips?

I am a direct sales junky. I love parties and meeting new people and shopping. Direct sales makes all this possible in just one night!! I have currently become intrigued with health and wellness and I think I represent the best company for meeting new people, having fun and making money while helping people feel better and make money too. And it's CHOCOLATE....Healthy Chocolate. I'll bet you didn't think those two words could happen in the same sentence...neither did I. Drop me a note if you'd like more information. =)

I love make-up. Sometimes, when I am positively down and out, a few minutes in the make-up aisle looking at all the pretty new colors makes me feel happier. It's even better if I can come home with some new nail polish or some other sparkly. =)

I desperately desire to be organized. I am such a resource gal that if you come to me with questions about how to better organize your life/kitchen/children's chores/laundry room/meals/homeschool I will rattle off suggestions like nobody's business. I read books on this stuff like they may not be here tomorrow...heck, I consume books on this subject...yet...there are no systems/routines/organization/plans/standards around here. What is the disconnect?!

Just so you know, I do not, nor do I pretend to have it all together. Be comforted my friends. It's just after two in the afternoon here and I am curled up in my favorite cotton PJ's blogging from my bed. It's good to be me. Even when PMSing.

You SOOO Should Check This out!!

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:06:00 -0500

Remember the other day when I mentioned that there was an online homeschool convention coming up? And I hoped to win tickets? I WON! And let me tell you, if today is any indication of the rest of the conference, you should be there too. Seriously. I was so blessed today by the presenters and the information. It was a as good as any I have ever heard. They had their act together and presented well, with PDF handouts and everything! All from the comfort of my couch...coffee, chocolate and popcorn all nearby.

There are FOUR days left of this stellar conference and all the workshops will be fully downloadable in about 10 days, so it is still very much worth jumping in now. Girls, for the cost...you just can't beat it. I am that impressed.

Check out heart of the matter online.

You will be so glad you did!!

Addiction and Affirmation

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:15:00 -0500

First, let me just say that I blog in my head all. the. time. It's really too bad that there isn't a way to immediately download the witty banter I entertain myself with to the internet to share with you, my pretend bffs. Alas, it just speaks of my ~~deep addiction~~ great love for all things internet.

I was just sharing with my husband the other day that this sweet pink laptop that he and the boys got for me for mothers day last year (?) is possibly the greatest gift ever. I mean, I have a whole hard drive that's all mine! To store music, photos, articles, school resources...anything I want! ANd i have NO IDEA HOW TO USE IT. I am by nature a piler, not a filer. My home reflects this when I let it get out of control (those darn 'hotspots' as flylady calls them) but my computer...oh my friends...a veritable maze of information here. You see, this lovely laptop is really just a portal by which I check my e-mail, ~~and feed my addiction~~, blog when I am inspired and in front of the computer ( a rare occurence), and generally play online...twitter, facebook, myspace, blog hopping, shopping, trivia, youtube, recipes,etc. If I see something I like, I either e-mail it to myself (only to have it be lost in the ~~hundreds~~ thousands of emails piled up in my inbox) or just save it. Do you know how HARD it is to find something you just know you've saved if you are not using a system of some sort? Yeah, something I need to work on...

But I digress...all this time online has had me pondering the interconnected-ness of my little corner of the world/internet/blogosphere and how small it seems. I love that by reading other people blogs, I feel like I know them in some small way. Their struggles, their kids, the recipes they share...layer in twitter and what they share there and they really are my pretend bff's. In some small way, I feel as if I know them! My people-person personality would love to be known like I feel like I know these gals. I was born for the stage (my children are a diversion...I will get my spotlight someday) and I have thought that blogging could be my ticket to that elusive Jr. High popularity that I have oft dreamed of.

So think of my delight and surprise when yesterday lounging by the pool at the local Y, someone walked up to me and said, "Are you Phyllis? I read your blog." Granted, she didn't recognize me on blogging alone...we had been to the same homeschool meeting last year and she remembered me from how chatty I was (evidently I am very memorable in group settings...loud clothes, loud laugh, big mouth...see I told you, public speaking is sooo in my future). At some point, I had mentioned (or more likely~ posted) that I had a blog and she has been surreptitiously reading ever since. She totally made my day! And layer that with the sweetest compliment from the author of the new curriculum I have selected for this year (that I am a gifted writer?!) yesterday was a truly good day for the internet. And it totally fed my addiction...

arggghh...Homeschool Burnout

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:16:00 -0500

I just composed a really long piece on burnout and encouragement...blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada...and I lost it. One wrong click...poof!

Suffice it to say, I really need to attend the Virtual Heart of the Matter homeschool conference. They are having workshops on both bloggings and burnout. Sounds like a true fit for me.

Head on over to see Dawn at HomeSweetHome. She is giving tickets away. If you miss out there, check out the Homeschool Blog awards. Or, you can always just check out HOTM directly. It looks like they have really pulled together a stellar conference for those of looking to save a few bucks on gas and just attend from home! =)

Maybe I'll cyber-see you there?

Fitting Room Phobia

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:20:00 -0500

Feeling the need for some groovy new summer duds, I decided to go out and pick out a few new tops. I was on a mission though as I wanted something special to match hubby. Yeah, I know...we are one of those creepy couples that actually LIKE to dress alike...or at least in colors/shirts that are complementary.

We were that couple in college that had matching shirts and wore the same colors...all. the. time. LOL A few babies later and my clothes don't really fit and well, my fashion tastes (and his) have changed somewhat. But, occasionally we still like to indulge in that fun fashion statement that says, very definitively, we are a couple...of fashionistas.

So, back to my mission. I have heard so many great things about TARGET and their flair for fashion. And lucky for us, we just got a bright shiny new Target here in our little corner of the world. So with no children in tow, I headed off to find just the right top to match my man...at Target.

I have to say, I was a little disappointed in my choices, maybe because we are a small town, maybe because everyone else in town had the same idea and they were cleaned out. Never-the-less, I was on a QUEST. I needed to find a shirt. It was for a date night...and we don't get to many of those. Time was short, so I found a couple shirts and headed to the fitting room.

Checked in at the desk, got my little tag and headed around the corner. Safe in my little mirrored room, I started changing. I am used to overhearing conversations in the fitting room. You know, us gals like to do things like use the potty and shop in pairs. But when I am stripped down to my skivvies, the voices I hear in the room next to mine should definitely be of the female persuasion!!

Immediately, I rewind to the signage in my mind...did I go the wrong way? Am I on the wrong side? Did she point me in the wrong direction? Is that a man's voice?! I am not a quick dresser, more of a prissy preener, but I set a world record in those moments. I would have made my mother proud. How many mornings did she complain about my lack of speed? But I digress...

I whipped open the flimsy fitting room door to see the backside of a male form leaving the fitting area. Now I don't know about you, but that is NOT what I want to see when I am trying on clothes. I hurried out behind him, anxious to ask the woman at the desk which one of us was in the wrong area.

Her answer, "This is a uni-sex fitting room. Anyone can try things on back there."

We've come a long way, baby. I gave her back my selections and left in a daze. While I can state with some certainly that I will not be purchasing (or at least trying on) clothes there, I have to wonder is this the direction all places are headed? What would make them choose to go this route. Are there that many folks confused about their gender that we need to make it easy for them and hard on the rest of us? Or am I just a prude? Would it have shaken YOU up to hear a man on the other side of your wall?

Anyone...

Summer Fun and Kisses from God

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 13:46:00 -0500

Don't you just love 'God Kisses?' You know, when you really want something, but it's not really a need and you don't have the $$, but then God gives you one?

I started out the day yesterday perusing the online selection of water toys...mostly slip and slides, the deluxe models. Sadly, my husband just lost his supplemental income job...the one that pays for extras and groceries, so money is going to be a little tight around here until he picks up something else. So my perusal was more wishful thinking than anything else. "You know, maybe if I can find a really good deal..."

Later in the morning, while taking my kids to FREE Tennis Camp, I passed a garbage heap that had something on top that looked a lot like something I had seen online that very morning. Girls, I am not proud. I exclaimed, "I think I am going to be a garbage picker today!" My three year old said, "I wanna be a garbage picker too!" (this caused some problems for me later in the day...she said it all day long...made for some interesting conversations...heehee) So, I dropped off the boys and doubled back by that house. I threw the whole contraption in the back of my van deciding to wait until I got home to see what was wrong with it.

I stopped by my house and threw it on the porch and went on to run my errands. When I picked up the boys, they were so excited to see it on the porch. Ian took it to the back yard to unfold it and see what was wrong. Here is what he found...

And here is how I fixed this simple problem...
Larger view of my creative solution.

Clamped off with a rubberband and a twisttie, the hose part worked like a charm and will provide many hours of summer fun, courtesy of God.

Isn't God good?

Hope you are all having a great summer too!!

WOW!

Thu, 5 Jun 2008 21:12:00 -0500

You already know how I love give-aways. I enter with the vain hope that one day, I might actually win something. Shannon over at RocksinMyDryer has an awesome giveaway going on right now and I hope one of us wins...because she's got twenty prize packages to give away!!

I am positively dying for some new music in my cd player/MP3 and her give away is the solution to my dilemma. Check out www.WOWonline.com That's where you'll find a list of some of the greatest Christian artists/songs ever. Why is this link important? Because that's where your new music is coming from too! So go check it out and give Shannon a holler. What a great contest!

Chocolate is a Vegetable

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 18:25:00 -0500

Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived from either sugar CANE or sugar BEETS. Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable category. Thus, chocolate is a vegetable.

To go one step further, chocolate candy bars also contain milk, which is dairy. So candy bars are a health food.

Chocolate-covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

The problem: How to get 2 pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite, and you'll eat less.

If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves. (We're testing this with other snack foods as well.)

If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet? Don't they actually counteract each other?

Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, you need to eat more chocolate.

Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Now, isn't that handy?

If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. You can't let that happen, can you?