Where to shop for plus-size clothing

I am plus-size, but I am not frumpy. I'd sooner leave my house in garbage bags than wear some of the frumpy, old-lady style clothing that stores like K-Mart and Walmart carry. Since I have been plus-size for so long, I have definitely shopped around, and I know where to find fashionable and stylish clothing that fits well and looks good (well, as good as it'll look on a plus-size woman!).

For "junior" style jeans and tops, and the latest in coats and jewelry, look no further than Fashion Bug. They have a great selection of sportswear, casual, semi-casual and business casual clothing and accessories in sizes 14-32. You can expect to pay $30-$40 for fashion jeans and pants, and $25-$30 for fashion tops.

Looking for intimates? I recommend Fashion Bug for underwear -- boy shorts, hipsters, low-rise, bikini and thong. But use Lane Bryant for bras. They fit and look better, and last longer.

For slightly cheaper plus-size clothing that is casual and comfortable, Old Navy is the way to go. They often clearance a lot of their seasonal clothing, so you'll be able to find tops and pants for 50% off or more!

Give the gift of gift cards!

Never underestimate the power of gift cards. I, personally, absolutely love gift cards. I enjoy getting them for my birthday, for Christmas, for whenever. One year my husband and I received over $300 in gift cards and cash, and we were happy as can be.

My husband and I argue over gift cards. He thinks they're lazy gifts, a quick fix for someone who doesn't want to make an effort to find a "real" present. Pssh to that. There are some that may use gift cards at the drop of a hat, but I reserve them as a last-resort type gift, after I've shopped around and tried to find an actual present!

Awesome Mens Jewerly!

Jewelry is always a popular gift to give, especially during the holidays. But, what if this is not within your spending budget? No worries if you take a look at titanium jewelry that is the up and coming must have in jewelry today! One of the leaders in titanium rings and jewelry is Titanium-jewelry.com. They have the best selection of the hottest designer titanium jewelry anywhere! This is where I bought a ton of mens jewelry for my husband and, he loved all of it! Try this place out before you buy anywhere else, you'll be glad you did!

Passing Down Keepsakes to My Kids

Some of my favorite pieces of jewelry are some of the keepsake pieces that were given to me when I was just a baby. I have two baby lockets that I keep in my jewelry box that I had since I was born. I have a picture of my parents in there and when my girls get big enough I will pass these down to them. I also, have a few rings and silver bracelets that I love and always wear. These are just a few things that I hold dear. What are some of the favorite keepsake pieces that you treasure? Will you pass these along as remembrances for your children? Holidays are a great time to give these kinds of gifts so, every Christmas I choose a few pieces to give to the family!

Crossing My Fingers!

I had lunch with my girlfriend who works just across the street from me. I have to say that I am a bit jealous of her building. Door man, beautiful lobby, awesome office furniture. We both work in the same field, and, I wonder how she got it so good! I am always asking her if there is an opening coming up soon. It would be great if we could work in the same office. The people at my office now are a bit on the boring side. It makes me feel like back in high school. How all the cool kid's sat at one table, nerds at another, etc. I feel like I am at the social outcast table at this point. Let's cross my fingers someone gets quits over there!

Make That Dream Wedding a Reailty!

Weddings are one of the times in your life that you will want to remember. That is why I think that little girls dream about this day for their entire life. It's not just about the bride and groom but, also involve the people who are close to us. Don't you want your wedding t o reflect everything you dreamed of? From all the little things like the flowers, table settings, wedding favors, and wedding party gifts? You can find all of these simple but elegant wedding favors and more at Americanbridal.com! Making that dream wedding a reality!

Unique Baby Shower Gifts

Do you ever wonder where to get those hard to find baby shower gifts that everyone loves? I have found some of the cutest
unique baby shower gifts easily at Theshowerfoundry.com. I don't have a lot of time searching the mall for hours for something that would shine at my friends baby shower. This place had such cute and adorable baby gifts to choose from, the only thing that took long was picking out just one! I finally chose this super cute gift basket, that comes with everything a little one needs! You should of seen the look on every one's faces when she got to my gift! It was a winner!

Beautiful Finds on Holiday Baby Clothes!

With the holidays just around the corner, it's time to find those special holiday baby clothes and extra special dresses for your little ones! The Baby Nay French Rose Collection is a superb choice in dressing children up! The entire coordinating collection features super, soft cotton and beautiful rose prints. The elegance of style and comfort are featured here in one of the Baby Nay French Overlay Dresses. Underneath cotton bodysuit with snap closures, black tie at waist and lovely rose print are all part of our wonderful Baby Nay Collection. And, you can save 15% off Baby Nay Baby clothes and dresses on select styles today!

Sleepy... must write more about wedding favors!

So I'm annoyed. I'm sitting here messing with some new voice recognition software that I'm trying out (I love doing product reviews on In My Bag; I get so many free goods to try out!), and I put a little too much weight on my keyboard drawer (read: more than the weight of one hand), and the left side of the drawer pops out of the track. The screw is gone, and I'm thinking I vacuumed it up several weeks ago, because I didn't know what it was ... oops.

Anyway, the dictation works. I'm kind of choppy/awkward with it, because I'm used to my thoughts whirling around in my head and my fingers flying over the keys of the keyboard. I am not used to piecing together everything in sentence form and then speaking it verbally. But I have several assignments on wedding favors, promotional items and business design to work on, so I'm definitely going to grasp it so I can use my mouth more and my hands less.

Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to read my favorite celeb trashing site, Perez Hilton!

Time to Shop for Those Fall Designer Baby Clothes!

When it gets cold out do you think of a new winter coat? How about new accessories like some mittens or scarves? I love this time of year when it's all about layering! I actually look forward to the hunt of new winter kids clothes and, a new coat for myself this season. I just wish my kids could actually wear out a coat before growing out of them so fast! We have a good thing going I think in the family. The coats get to be handed down and, once in awhile I break down and, spoil the kids with brand new ones! I love down coats and the durability of the designer baby clothes because, they never let me down. They stay looking better longer through all the washings, and hand me downs! With this said, I better take out the big Tupperware container of winter baby clothes and go through everything before the big kids get home. I think it is coat shopping today!

Ideas for Those Special Wedding Favors

Planning your wedding and, afraid that is going to cost you a fortune? Well, there are ways that you can plan the wedding of your dreams with tips and tricks like these.
If you have the time to do a little research you can easily find ideas of fabulous wedding favors online! With everything you need to plan, from gifts for the bridesmaids, attendant guests, and reception decor, Americanbridal.com has everything you need without breaking your budget!
Try and think of the type of wedding favors that your guests will be able to use after the big day. Otherwise this is just like throwing away money on useless gifts. Most of your friends and family would love whatever you choose, but, you can choose wisely. Think about items that you would want and would be able to use yourself.
How about a great sports bag for the groomsmen which can be personalized with their initials? And, for the bridesmaids gifts how about a beautiful jewelry set that can be worn during and after the wedding? With so many affordable, and great wedding favor choices, it's easy to find a special and, versatile gift for everyone in the wedding party.
With fast and easy shipping that Americanbridal.com offers, you have the ease of shopping from your home and save time and money on the high price of gas.
It's just one way of saving on all your wedding gift giving and, one more thing you can check off your wedding to do list!

Fashionable Bridesmaids Gifts to Give!

If I were a bridesmaid I would want something like this when it comes to bridesmaids gifts! I would love to have a cool looking duffel bag that I can use during and after my friend's wedding! So, when it came to helping her choose something that everyone in the party would love and actually be able to use afterword, she took my advice and picked this lovely little travel bag out! It's nice to have a friend like me with a litte "Fashion Sense!"

Sorting through baby clothes

So, fall is officially here. Yay! I love fall. The autumn season has always been a favorite of mine. It used to be that fall was something I associated with starting a new year of school, going back, something new, something fresh. But since 2000, I have happily associated fall with the beginning of my relationship with my husband, Daniel. We went on our first date on August 16th, 2000, but because he was leaving the area for his first year of college, I didn't see him after August 22nd, not again until mid-September. The following year I took tour buses and trains out to Pittsburgh to visit him, and the year after that I moved with him to Pittsburgh. Oh, and two years after that our daughter was born. And lastly, the year after THAT we conceived our son. For those still playing along, that's 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005. ;)

Alyssa is all ready for the fall. She really hasn't grown too much since last year (just upwards!), so all of her pants from last year fit her just fine. She inherited my short legs, so at least this year most of her jeans won't be dragging the ground. I seriously have to roll up the cuffs on 90% of her pants. It's ridiculous!

Ryan, on the other hand, not so ready.... he has new shirts, about ten of them. But he needs pants. I wasn't sure what size pants he had leftover from last year, so I decided to wait on buying new ones until I checked out his drawers. Well, I went through them yesterday, and he's down to one pair of jeans and two pairs of cargo pants. Ridiculous! That kid grows too much. He was wearing 24mo/2T in the summer of 2007, here we are in the fall of 2008 and 5T fits him now. In comparison, Alyssa is wearing 5T loosely, and she's almost two years older than him. Well, that's my chunky baby.

So guess who has to go shopping for more baby clothes. Or should I say toddler clothes, since there's nothing really BABY about a whopping 5 in toddler sizes!

Psst... anyone else who has a horse-sized toddler like mine, check out eBay for onesies. I found a bunch (new! in packaging!) by Gerber that are 4T! I'm stoked!

I love to go baby shopping

I think one of the most exciting things to shop for is a new pet or a new baby. I recently got a pug (four months old, female, beautiful, very well behaved and well mannered), and shopping for her was a lot of fun. But there's only so much to shop for for a dog. A baby, on the other hand, requires a lot of preparation! Baby furniture is just the tip of the iceberg, and even that is a lot. Cribs, playpens, strollers, car seats, high chairs... then there are the optional things like slings, baby swings, cradles, bassinets. But the fun stuff, the REALLY fun stuff, are the baby clothes, diapers, bibs, towels, and accessories like pacifiers, diaper bags and diapering essentials, breastfeeding supplies, toys and musical CDs.

When you think about it, it's amazing that there are literally thousands of items to buy for a new baby. I know we spent a decent chunk of change and time on new baby things for Alyssa. With our second child, we didn't have to get the big things, but we needed a lot of new baby clothes and baby gifts, since we were having a boy, and obviously he wouldn't look too good in pink or purple. ;)

What was your favorite baby purchase?

Tired, getting worn down

I am sleepy. It's only 11pm, but I could totally crash right now. A week ago that wouldn't have been the case. That just goes to show you how much can change in just a few days time. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday were exhausting for me. I got a full night's sleep last night, but tonight I'm not sure how things will pan out, because I have a lot of work to do.

In addition to work, I have laundry to finish up, and a desk to organize. I was going to fix my old laptop for Dan (weird driver issue), but Jason is over and is taking care of that for me (thanks Jason!). I also need to go through Alyssa's drawers. She has a lot of fall and winter clothing in them from last year, and I want to try everything on her and weed out what doesn't fit. Ryan has a bottom drawer filled with clean and in good condition baby clothes that I need to donate, but I'm waiting until I get Alyssa's clothes sorted out. Then I'll run everything over to a local shelter at once.

Appropriate Game Atire

Why is it whenever Football season rolls around, the stores go crazy! Everyone is wearing nfl jerseys, or crazy sports apparel in the upcoming teams colors. You would think that this time of year was one huge party especially, on Sunday's and, Monday's!

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against team spirit or football or anything, I have a favorite team that I cheer for on game day. I actually sit with my husband through the four quarters of heavy hitting and touch down passes if there are any. I think I enjoy it more now that its more that my husband explained to me. Now we spend these two days out of the week watching the Football game together, kind of our date night!

I find myself looking at all the NFL football jerseys & NFL apparel online. Now that we have date nights set, isn't it appropriate that I have an appropriate new outfit? I'm even thinking of painting my up my face too!

Charming Baby Clothes Make the Perfect Gift!

I was out shopping the other day for a little gift for a friend who just had a baby. Everywhere I went they all had the same style of baby clothes. I really wanted to pull out all the stops and, give her something that was fresh and, new. I was glad to find this adorable little layette set that was perfect. I found it at Babybox.com and, it came completely packaged in a nice tulle bag, ribbon and gift card. How perfect! A charming baby gift, that my friend just loved. And, it was as simple as a click of the mouse!

Back to school time is here!

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock these past few weeks, you can’t help but notice all of the “Back to School” sales at all types of stores. Be it clothing for your little one or even bedding. I mean after all, what says “Back to School” better than a new updated coordinated bedroom. I don’t know about you, but I and my three children have all made it through school, including college just fine without having new coordinating bedding each school year.

And, then school supplies themselves are like looking for that all elusive three leaf clover. Between my two sons, ages 10 and 13 respectively, looking for just the right backpack that conveys not only a sense of self but also sends just the right message to everyone else too. It’s unbelievable the array of both color and style out there. In my day, there were fewer to pick from. Yet, I believe it was easier to choose the necessary items with less fuss than there is today. Not everything is cracked up to be what they are advertised as nor do they deliver the inferred promise of success either. Just as in my day. It is especially true today, good old-fashioned work ethics count more towards success than the advertised promises we see today bombarding us from all forms of the media.

We had a bassinet for our daughter

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I decided that I wanted to have a bassinet for her. I thought cribs were too big, bulky and overwhelming for such a tiny baby. Furthermore, a crib couldn't exactly be squeezed into a small bedroom, or put alongside a bed. I thought bassinets were the perfect choice, because they're small and often portable, thanks to most of them being equipped with wheels.

Well, we were both working low paying jobs at the time, had the expenses of moving and buying the more necessary baby furniture (car seat, stroller, high chair), and so we didn't have room in our budget for a bassinet, let alone the small and often expensive baby bedding that we would need to outfit it.

Imagine my surprise when my husband's grandmother invited us to her house when I was nine months pregnant with our daughter. She gifted us with a bassinet that was filled to the brim with baby clothes, small baby toys and baby books.

I wound up giving away the bassinet to a pregnant co-worker a year later, which coincidentally was just a few weeks shy of me getting pregnant with our son, but it worked out for the best because we were able to borrow a cradle for the first few months of his life.

Now all of the baby things are gone, including cribs, bassinets, cradles and baby bedding. My daughter is turning four in October, and my son just turned two in July. Needless to say, they're both in regular beds - twin beds!

What's a Do!

I have noticed that people are no longer wearing those horrible outfits while golfing. That makes me happy! I always would cringe when I would drive by a golf course and, see all those people in plaid shorts, bright shirts, and, those funny looking golf shoes! Now that the fashion industry has taken hold, the ladies golf apparel has become something that I would even wear, on or off the course! I'm not the fashion police but, I do take notice of what is in style and what is a obviously a don't! This outfit would be great for a day of golf, working out, or running errands. The point being is that when you are in public you want to look good!

I remember when...

Go Steelers! My husband and I lived in Pittsburgh for a little under two years. Actually, he lived there for three and a half years -- he moved there for college in August of 2000, and I joined him in August of 2002. We moved back home a year and a half later, just a few days before Christmas (yes, driving a uhaul from one end of the state to the other during the mad last minute holiday rush was INSANE. I promise we'll never repeat it!).

I loved Pittsburgh. It's going on five years since we left that city, and I still miss it. City life is a pain and expensive, but it's convenient and it's definitely quaint. Of course, I think I reflect more upon my memories of my husband and I together more than I do about the city, but it's still very special to me, and I would like to go back to visit.

One thing that really got me about Pittsburgh was the borderline RABIDNESS people had in terms of enthusiasm for football and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pittsburgh Pirates got some attention, but NOTHING like what the Steelers got. You would think it was an official holiday, the way people would dress up in nfl jerseys. The freakin' stores would even decorate, and employees (I worked at a K-Mart and a Target) would be strongly encouraged to wear the team colors (black and yellow).

Football never has been my thing, nor will it ever be. My husband enjoys it somewhat, so I'm thinking of getting him some kind of official jersey. I might even get a youth NFL jersey for our son, so they can dress up and be all GO TEAM! together.

Bad teeth and good fashion sense

Earlier tonight my husband and I were watching Speeders. Think COPS, only less drama and action and running around, because it's more about following cops around as they lay speed traps and nab speeders and other traffic law offenders. I like the show especially because of the funny commentary, and because the cops the camera guys trail are usually pretty hot. Rawr!

Anyway, on one of the episodes we watched tonight there was a woman from London who was pulled over for running not one but TWO stop signs. While my husband was entranced by her British accent and fixated on her stereotypical horrible British teeth, I was admiring the outfits she had her two little boys in. I guess there really IS something about European childrens clothes, because let me tell you, her little guys were absolutely adorable!

Baby clothes: what I look for

The best part of having a daughter is being able to dress her up in all of the great little girls clothing! I have a son as well, and I must admit that the selection of boys outfits is never as nice as what I can find for girls! Don't get me wrong, I can find nice childrens clothes for both of my kids, but the good boy stuff is few and far between. My biggest complaint with boys clothing is that everything is dark and dreary, camouflage or sports themed, or plastered with tacky illustrations and television and movie characters. Is it so wrong to want to dress your little boy is nice, sweet little boy apparel?

Now girls clothes on the other hand... a walk in the park! Last week alone I was able to find my daughter a pair of metallic silver jeans, dark blue denim jeans with silver sparkles all over them, and some great tights in the baby clothes section at Babies 'r Us.

Where do you shop for clothing for your children? I know that Gymboree and The Children's Place are often recommended, but there have to be some other nice stores as well! I love Carters clothing, but sadly their sizes don't go beyond babies!

Save on childrens clothes with back to school sales!

If the barrage of commercials on your TV and the aisles stocked sky high with pencils and binders haven't clued you in, it's back to school time! This means that it's time to stock up on school friendly snacks, batteries for alarm clocks, school supplies and... new clothes! Sandbox Couture has a terrific sale going on right now for their childrens clothes. The back to school sale offers you some great deals on a lot of clothes.

My favorite pick for girls heading back to school this fall is the Small Paul Frank Pink "Wanda" jacket. Red and pink plaid complete with pockets topped with stylish pink bows is a must have to match with dark denim jeans and corduroy skirts. Take advantage of the current back to school sale and save 15%!

How we got married

I am the first to admit that my wedding was not what I thought it would be. As a child and young teen, I imagined a traditional wedding. What I got was a justice of peace wedding. It was out of necessity -- I was pregnant. And not just a bit pregnant, but VERY pregnant. My husband and I married exactly seventeen days prior to the due date of our first child, our now almost four year old daughter Alyssa. Needless to say, we didn't choose to have such a rushed, informal wedding. We had gotten engaged in August of 2001, and planned on having a late summer or fall wedding in 2005 or 2006. My pregnancy with Alyssa was unexpected, but we wanted to be married before she was born, so we moved things up and tied the knot the quick and somewhat tacky way -- in front of a judge.

I don't regret marrying my husband. I do regret the timing, and hope to someday have a "real" wedding. I can only imagine how exciting it would be to have a wedding wishlist and countdown on Wedding Wire, and to pick out the perfect bridesmaids gifts. Oh well. All in due time, I'm sure.

Going Green

I have always tried to do the right thing and, go green. But, when it comes to find clothes, especially baby clothes it's difficult to find good looking organic baby clothes. I have found that there is a place that carries a variety of earth friendly baby onesies, pillows, accessories, and, toys. These are made of organic cotton materials that aren't just eco-friendly but, are too cute! I love these little baby onesies that I just picked up at Estella-nyc.com!

Adorable Kid's Tees!

Let's say you are out of ideas for that upcoming baby shower! You have no idea what to give and, don't want to show up with a lame baby gift. I have the perfect place for you to check out! Get some amazing personalized baby clothes that mom's and kids will love! If this little girl's smile doesn't say it all! Mamabebe.com has something really special to give for every little boy or girl!

coolstuffcheap.com

coolstuffcheap.com has some really, REALLY neat stuff. I can think of many scenarios where their fog machines and lava lamps would be perfect: dorm rooms, a teenager's room, even my three year old daughter's room (well, the lava lamp). A fog machine is a great thing to have at parties, particularly themed and Halloween parties.

The company also carries neon clocks. These are things you don't see except in bars, retro restaurants and in music videos. If you like these clocks, definitely check out coolstuffcheap.com!

Save money when shopping for baby clothes

So, here is my secret for shopping for baby clothes for two toddlers without breaking the bank: shop between seasons. It sounds like a strange thing to do, to wait until the end of summer before buying summer clothes, but I promise you you'll save a lot of money, and here's why: stores push the season merchandise before the season begins. This means that by the time summer is nearing an end, the retailers need to get the fall and winter clothes out on the floor. So they clearance all of the summer merchandise to get it out of the way.

Shopping between seasons for baby clothes and childrens clothes works with retail stores, specialty boutiques, and online stores like sandboxcouture.com. They key is waiting for the right time. For spring and summer clothes, check out stores in July and August. For winter clothing, check out stores in March and April.

By shopping between seasons, you'll save as much as 75% on clothes! Here's an example of what I picked up last week: four pairs of toddler girls' shorts, four tank tops, and two pairs of toddler boys' shorts. Guess how much I spent? Ready for it? $30. That's right. $30! Thanks to the items being on clearance, I spent an average of $3 per item. These clothes are normally priced anywhere from $3.99 to $12.99 each. :)

He's almost two!

My son turns two on Saturday. I would be lying if I said that these past two years haven't gone by fast. I know a lot of moms often lament that the baby and toddler days seem to drag and drag, but for me they really flew. Of course, having a busy life and another child assisted with that. My son has a sister who is going to be four in October. I also work from home. And since my son's birth, we have moved twice, dealt with a lot of family drama and changes, and have kept busy doing family things. For instance, in the last seven weeks we have gone swimming at least a dozen times, gone mini-golfing four times, have seen three movies (Hancock, Wall-E and Dark Knight), celebrated three birthdays, went to an amusement park, and went on vacation to the NJ shore.

So, two. What do two year old little boys want for their birthday? That's the question I have been getting from family and friends, and I'm having a heck of a time figuring out the answer. I mentioned clothes and/or gift certificates to a few people, simply because my son is going to need fall and winter clothing. His age really hit me then: two. Two means no more baby clothes. Two means shopping in the little boys section, graduating from 4T and 5T to x-small and 4/5.

Moms, let me tell you: the baby and toddler years go by very quickly. Make sure to stop and enjoy the little moments of them!

One of these days

In April of 2004, I realized that my engagement ring was cracked. Specifically, the band at the very bottom, at its thinnest part, had cracked through entirely. I made plans that week to call up a jeweler to find out how much it would cost to have the ring repaired, but I never got around to it.

Oh hi. Four and a half years later, and the ring is still damaged. It isn’t an issue, except the one or two times I have managed to somehow yank the engagement ring, and the two separate pieces close around and pinch my finger. Do you have ANY idea how painful that is?! Let me tell you, painful. The one incident happened in June of 2005, and I still remember the pain quite vividly, heh.

So yeah, I need to get my butt in groove and call up a jeweler. There’s a local one that advertises free repairs for mens wedding bands and womens wedding bands, so maybe he/she does engagement rings too?

mamabebe.com

Whenever I know of someone who is pregnant, my first thought is of what type of baby gift to get them. I love giving personalized baby gifts, because personalized ones are unique and stand out from the rest. Diaper bags, high chairs, boxes of diapers and onesies are always nice, but what about personalized piggy banks and other keepsakes? Those are definitely unique gifts that won't be soon forgotten.

mamabebe.com is a baby apparel and baby gift website that has all sorts of baby things. You should definitely check them out!

Check out Smartee Pants Clothing!

Smartee Pants Clothing has some really adorable things. It's horrible when I have extra money sitting in my PayPal account, because then I start checking out sites like these and thinking about all of the cute things I could order for Alyssa or Ryan. Ryan in particular should definitely get a little something, since his birthday is just a week away. :)

So... money in my account, nothing to do but shop... what am I looking at? Well, I know that Alyssa would love their rhinestone tees, particularly the one featuring a crown and her name, or even Princess or the heart or cupcake. Their personalized children’s clothes are adorable, and I'm getting some ideas for Alyssa's birthday... I'm thinking a birthday girl t-shirt? I bet she would love that!

Moving on from Alyssa, there are some really nice baby gifts then I can picture as being perfect for a friend of mine who is due to deliver any day now (speaking of her, I'm going to call in the morning to see how she is doing!). If she wasn't so far along, I'd consider buying her some designer maternity tees to show off her baby bump with.

You know, I'm really glad I didn't know about sites like these when I was pregnant with Alyssa and Ryan! Otherwise I don't know how we'd have the money left over for baby gear and diapers and clothes. ;)

Get inspired

If I want to change my hair style, find some new ways to wear makeup, or pick up some new clothes and accessories, I don't waste my time with fashion magazines. Let's face it, as neat as the stuff showcased in them is, it's often a little too extravagant and "out there", and is almost always a lot more than I can afford!

So, I head straight to the mall or a park, and people watch. I have been most inspired by the styles I see walking in front of me. And if I really admire the way a girl has her hair styled, or the color of her eye shadow, or her shoes, I won't hesitate to approach her, compliment her on her [whatever it is that I like], and then ask her how she did it/where she bought it. I've never been turned away from a conversation like this. :)

Great Offer!

Don't forget to check out this nice offer from Titanium-jewelry.com!
This is my favorite place to shop for awesome looking mens wedding bands, titanium rings, and more! Save today!

New show: The Baby Borrowers

I just finished watching The Baby Borrowers. The show has a really neat concept: set up a teenage couple in a house and hand them a baby to watch for a period of three days. The house was completely furnished with regular furniture, baby furniture and food, and once the teens got their clothes and such unpacked, their child was brought in. Obviously there were safeguards in place: a nanny available 24/7 to shadow if need be, and the parents themselves could watch what was happening in the house at all times, from another house right across the street. But generally, the teen couples were on their own with their charges.

So this week's episode featured toddlers. I can definitely sympathize with the frustration level some of the teens experienced. Toddlers ARE frustrating. And yeah, they sleep 10 - 14 hours straight, rather than the horrible little cat naps that tiny babies do, but they are SO much more active during the day.

Heh, I think this is my new favorite show. Have you seen it?

Thursday night ramblings

I have to pee. I'm thirsty. I'm desperately craving chocolate. But I don't feel like getting up, my glass isn't within reach, and there's no chocolate in the house, and my mom has my car so I can't even go out to buy chocolate. Le sigh.

Alyssa is up. She slept late today and didn't come stumbling out until almost noon. I need to hurry up and get her into bed though, because tomorrow morning we all have to be up and ready to go out the door when Dan needs to leave for work, and that's at 11am. We need to leave a few minutes earlier, so that Dan has the time to grab his check and take it to the bank. Since we've all been sleeping in, getting up at 9:30am (me) and 10:15am (kids) is going to suck. But, sigh, we'll deal, somehow!

So, what does everyone have planned for the weekend? I plan on taking a part of my paycheck and shopping for mens rings, and paying bills. For the rings, I'm looking at titanium, but I also like tungsten rings. I know, I'm so exciting. ;)

I love shopping at Target

If you want to excite me, take me to Target. I love that I can get almost everything we need from there. The only exception is plus-size clothing for me (I'll take Fashion Bug any time!) and food beyond the basic gallon of milk, loaf of bread or frozen pizza. I'd say that 99% of Alyssa's clothing and 100% of Ryan's clothing came from Target. I buy socks for myself at Target, and all of my husband's clothes from Target.

Now, if you want to bore me to tears, drag me to a hardware store like Home Depot. Nothing will put me to sleep faster than lumber, paint, plumbing, commercial lighting and carpet swatches. Though I try to make the most of the time there and keep myself lively by checking out some of the neat gadgets they'll often have near the cash registers.

What is your favorite store?

I still have baby bedding

So I had been yapping about a neighborhood yard sale that was held on June 28th. I had every intention of participating, but I was so wiped out from our vacation, driving home and getting settled back in at home (we came home on Thursday evening; the 28th was a Saturday morning) that I skipped it. In hindsight, I should have put a bunch of stuff (baby bedding, baby toys, a few infant outfits) outside with a donation box and let the neighborhood have at it. But I didn't. And now the stuff is still in my house. And I'm sure that half the neighborhood is pissed with me for not doing my part and turning out with crap to sell. Oh well. The downside is that every time I look at the baby stuff I want more babies!

To be honest, we have lived here for a little over a year, and aside from the people on either side of our house, I have no desire to really meet and mingle with anyone else. Not the guy across the road who we had an issue with over a basketball hoop, not the woman next door to him who bellows like an enraged yak for her teenage boys, and not the family on the other side, the husband who is very nice (he helped my brothers and I push my mom's stalled mini-van down the road) but the wife who stares daggers at me every time she sees me (apparently me leaving a plate of cookies on their porch as a way of saying "Thanks for helping me push a mini-van!" is synonymous with, "Hi, can I steal your husband?" ), or the other parents of cretins whom they never take responsibility for.

I'll just keep on being that snobbish, uppity neighbor that I'm sure everyone thinks I am. :P

Tungsten rings

Since titanium-jewelry.com has a coupon good for $25 worth of savings floating around (use coupon code CS25 to get yours!), I'm checking out some tungsten rings for my husband. He has expressed some interest in black titanium and tungsten. I think I like the tungsten personally.

In addition to black titanium and tungsten rings, titanium-jewelry.com also has a huge amount of jewelry available in regular titanium. They carry rings for men and women, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories.

What happens next?

When I was a kid, I never had to think twice about not touching property that wasn't my own. From the time I was very young, it was drilled into my head that it was absolutely unacceptable to venture on someone else's property or touch property belonging to someone else, unless I had their direct permission.
I'm obviously grown now, but those teachings have stuck with me, influenced me, and are now being handed down to my children. My daughter knows that she is not allowed to touch another child's toy or go onto the property of any of our neighbors unless she was specifically invited to.

But so many kids are missing this crucial lesson. A prime example is the neighborhood where my grandfather's home is at. Twice this year his flood lights have been shattered, and I know that it's irritating, misbehaving kids or even teens that are responsible for it. My mom and I make attempts to drive by and check on the home at least twice a week, but unfortunately we've never caught the jerk(s) in the act.

Sometimes I really worry about how the children of today and tomorrow are being raised. So many parents don't want to crack down on their kids for the basic things -- such as staying off the property of others, not vandalizing or trespassing, etc. If these little but common sense things are being overlooked, what does that say for the big things?

Save money at titanium-jewelry.com!

Every now and again I post about titanium-jewelry.com. Well now I'm back and blogging about them again! As you may know, Titanium Jewelry is a leading company in the titanium and tungsten jewelry market. They also have jewelry available in black titanium and even palladium. They carry a large, high quality selection of mens wedding bands and womens wedding bands, but they have plenty of other jewelry as well, including bracelets, necklaces, earrings and accessories for men (cuff links and the like).

Anyway, I came across the following coupon today, and thought I'd share it with you all!

Use the coupon code CS25 to save an instant $25 off of any purchase of $69 or more at titanium-jewelry.com!

Looking up the best titanium ring for my husband

I want to do something special for my husband. While we both work and probably log equal amount of hours most weeks (yes, I am that busy working from home!), his job is much more physically demanding than mine, and definitely more stressful. Plus there's the driving time to and from work, and I know how much he hates to drive.

I have one idea in mind, but it would take a lot of planning, and a significant amount of money. It's something I hope to pull off by the end of the summer. I'm so tempted to just jump and do it this weekend, but unfortunately those pesky little things known as "bills" always want to be paid first.

Today has been a really quiet day. I did some blogging, started a new book (check out my Good Reads to see what's on my reading list!), read some of the confessions at True Mom Confessions, and did a bit of research on titanium rings for a writing project I wrapped up just a little bit ago.

I need to get geared up for July and then August! Ack! Summer is just whizzing by. My son's second birthday is in two weeks, and then we have a swim party to plan for on August 5th. Whew!

Titanium jewelry

When my husband and I planned on marrying, one of the last things we did was go shopping for wedding bands. It was easy enough to find a wedding band for myself, as the selection of womens wedding bands was impressive. But finding a wedding band for my husband turned out to be a bit more challenging. We did finally find one, but not without a lot of hassle and running around.

I wish that we had known about titanium-jewelry.com. Their selection of mens wedding bands is incredible. Better yet, not only are these rings very stylish and well made, but they're also affordable! Many of the mens wedding bands available cost less than our monthly car payment!

While titanium-jewelry.com's specialty is titanium, there are also mens wedding bands, rings and other types of jewelry available in tungsten, black titanium and palladium. Styles range from classic to contemporary, with solo rings, sets, and even tension sets.

The Moses basket

A moses basket is a unique, comfortable and very safe haven for your infant to be. The moses basket looks exactly like you would expect it to look: a long wicker basket that is padded and lined with soft white or other pastel linens, wide and deep enough for your baby to be comfortably nestled in, with sides high enough to keep him or her protected. All moses baskets feature sturdy, strong handles which you can use to transport the basket with.

A moses basket is a great choice for keeping your baby with you, while still keeping him or her safe, comfortable and content. Take the moses basket around the house with you, or on the go! A moses basket makes a perfect accommodation for your baby at the park, on the beach, or at home in your own back yard.
Moses baskets are very popular choices for many mothers, and it's easy to see why!

The Fashionable Baby Boom!

Do you try and stay on top of the huge baby boom going on in Hollywood? I think it may be in the water as the saying goes! I like to keep track of what all these lucky babies are going to wear and, sleep in. Let's just say there is no limit on what the stars will lavish their youngsters! Have you seen the incredible looking baby furniture, bassinets and, baby bedding the cekebrities buy in quantites? Everywhere you look, the newsstands have a variety of stars embracing their new arrival! Inside you can have a peek inside the beautiful nurseris full of luxurious baby furniture, and, custom decor. All I can say the baby market has really boomed!

Birthday Gift Ideas for Kids!

When I saw this super cute dress for little girls, I thought how perfect! You see I needed a birthday gift for my niece. You know how important the first birthday is! That's when I went in search of some 1st birthday ideas. At, Mamabebe.com they had some really fun ideas! Like this cupcake dress that can be personalized with little crystals! My little niece is gonna love it! I had her name done across the front! Miss Abbie!

Jewelry in Motion!

I saw this very interesting piece of jewelry that contains gold, titanium and, black onyx spinning balls! Now, this is something that I have never seen before! To think about all the different designers out there, this designer really thought outside the box! Titanium rings like these would totally get some attention don't you think? Check out all the cool designs that are getting talked about, at Titanium-jewelry.com!

Inspired by Tiffany - Titanium Heart Bracelets!

My Pick of the day will definitely be this Tiffany inspired titanium bracelet. I adore the look of the chunky bracelet and, whats great is that it's very lightweight. Titanium material is made to last too and, Titanium-jewelry.com guarantees their stuff. This would look so nice with the titanium wedding bands that I was looking at too! I think this is the way to go when you want something very trendy, but, at a totally affordable price!

Camo Caps!

I have such an obsession with hats. Every time I come across one that I dig, I have to buy it! Camo is so hot right now, so when this cap caught my eye, I grabbed it! This is actually one of those Nighthawk golf caps. These are the best you can get in fit, and quality! Double Bonus!

Pick a Wedding Band that will Last a Lifetime!

When choosing the ring that is intended to last throughout a lifetime, titanium wedding bands, are the right choice! I have seen so many knock offs on the web, and, almost made a terrible mistake. The rings that are being imported from China are not true titanium. The only authentic titanium rings that are guaranteed are at Titanium-jewelry.com!

Make a good decision and check them out before making such an important purchase!

Quiksilver Fashions for Boys!

Button Down shirts, t-shirts, and pullover hoodies are a staple in a little boys wardrobe. Since they live in simple and versatile garments, why not dress them in Quiksilver childrens clothes for boys. These designer baby clothes have always been such a hit with kids that like the stylish beach style clothing. Laid back and, comfortable clothes for boys, don't have to be boring. In fact, the Quiksilver brand has been around for years and, are such a hot line that I see boys wearing this gear from the beach to special occasions! Check out Sandboxcouture.com for a great selection of Quiksilver clothing for boys!

Who Loves a Parade?

I think I have finally found the perfect crib bedding set for the nursery! Even though I am waiting to find out what I am having this set is for a boy or girl! Who doesnt love a parade? The colors and characters are so whimsical and cute! I even have an idea to paint a mural on the wall to match. Can you tell I am having fun? I cant wait to see the whole room come together! If you are looking for some truly original ideas to decorate your baby's room, Babybox.com has some awesome baby bedding, baby furniture, bassinets and , more!

The Most Important Rings of Your Life!

When it comes to purchasing those wedding bands for the most important day of your life, look no further! I have come across the rings for my wedding here. Titanium-jewelry.com has an awesome selection of wedding bands for men and women. I love the prices too! Who wouldn't want to wear one of these titanium rings? Best thing, you get great looking rings, that will last a lifetime, come with a lifetime warranty and, are very affordable! Who could ask for more?

Fashion and Football

Ok, so there are all kinds of fashion... It always depends on the person looking at it. So I have a question for you... Is it always necessary to be fashionable and if it is, is the fashion different if you were attending say a football game.
If I was going to an NFL game is it ok for me (fashionably speaking) to be wearing one of the NFL jerseys. Or do I still need to be dressed like I normally would? Feedback is appreciated! Thanks.

Designer for the babies

I love how the fashion industry is taking it to all levels. Designer baby clothing is becoming increasingly popular. These days people are willing to spend the big bucks on designer baby clothing even though their babies will grow out of it within months. We are always changing an always coming across new fashion trends and no doubt they will be filtered through to the babies.