Wednesday, June 16, 2010

take a ride on the rain train

So, if you'll recall, in my last post I ranted about the plight of watering our lawn. In my quest to make my life easier (this is never ending, BTW) I found a genius invention called "Rain Train". This fantastic gadget drives around the lawn while watering. You never have to move the sucker because it moves itself! Why do I not think of things like that??? Anyway, my very own Rain Train should be arriving today via the United States Postal Service. I can recall few times in my life when I have been this excited.
How cute is that??? There was one that looked like a John Deere tractor and I really wanted that one cause it was way cute, but it got really crappy reviews. So I went with the original. Apparently it's cast iron and weighs 22 lbs. As long as it cruises around and waters my grass, I don't care if it's made of cookie dough. I will be sure to post action shots as soon as it makes its maiden voyage.

In other news, my step-daughter Kylie is visiting me for 3 weeks. We've been having little adventures. She now wants to take a trip to the American Girl store in Atlanta. For those of you who don't know what American Girl is, here is a brief description: a money-sucking, wallet-draining piece of plastic in the shape of a doll. They do it up big - there's a doll hair salon, an ear piercing place, a restaurant that serves you and your doll, and a huge store with thousands of accessories (think beds, pets, clothes, jewelry, etc.) You can get dolls that look like you or choose one of their historical characters. Those come with their own series of books about the time that they're from. I had one when I was younger, and they are lots of fun. Plus you get the whole experience.

Anyway, I told her I'd have to talk with TJ about it because they were really expensive. So he called today and I told him about it. Here is how the conversation went:

TJ: The way you said that makes me think it's gonna cost me.
Me: Well yeah...a doll with the basics, lunch, hair styling, and ear piercing are going to be pushing $250.
TJ: Holy shit! That is ridiculous! For a doll? A DOLL? Insanity!
Me: I know, but that's the deal. It's the experience too. But that isn't counting like an extra outfit or accessories. And it's pre-tax.

(I'm going to interject with an explanation...Ky got accepted into a program at her school for excellent students. It's a separate class she goes to once a week and they do cool things. We have told her we were going to take her to do something fun to reward her for working so hard. She wanted to go horseback riding when TJ got home.)

TJ: Well, lay this out for her: You can get an American Girl with the BASICS or you can do horseback riding. If you get the doll, it's your congratulations gift.
Me: Ok, I'll tell her. But what if she wants an extra outfit or something?
TJ: Then tell her she can't have lunch with the damn thing!

At this point I started cracking up. Tears were streaming down my face. Just the way he said it...all outraged and incredulous. It was hysterical. For those of you who know TJ...I'm sure you're laughing too.

And one last bit of news...I saved up for some patio furniture to go under the canopy that the in-laws got us. I ordered it and had it delivered to the store and I got an email yesterday that it was ready for pick-up! So we're going to head over there and pick it up. Then we're going to assemble it. What will likely happen is I will assemble it while Ky plays in the sprinkler. Oh well...I get furniture!!!

So now I'm off to shower after our incredibly hot, sweaty run (me and Jers)/bike ride (Ky) this morning. Then it's destination furniture!!!!

xoxo

Friday, June 11, 2010

vote for jess now!!!

Ok everyone, I need for you to visit this link and vote for my friends Jess & Carl so that they can have new wedding photos! Believe me, they deserve it!!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

hayley scares me...

So, I've been given a blog award by my love Hayley. With it she included a sharp and pointed reprimand: "Heaven knows you don't deserve it since you haven't posted since MARCH!" Talk about a sharp kick in the you-know-what! But it also works out, timing wise, because I have recently quit my job! So now I'll have time to post again! I know there are cheers going up all around the country.

I quit my job because it sucked. Not the job. The boss. And that's all I'm going to say. Basically, I was incredibly unhappy and life is just to short to dread waking up every morning. Plus, since TJ is gone so much I like to have the freedom to visit friends and family if I so choose and I can't do that when someone expects me to be somewhere at a certain time everyday. Inconvenient. So now I am in the beginning stages of starting my very own business. A work from home venture that will be portable. And being a military wife, needing to be portable is just a fact of life.

I'm dipping my toes into the world of Virtual Assistance. Basically, I'll be providing office and administrative support services from home. This saves the business from having to pay the overhead that an employee would generate (office space, equipment, supplies, etc.) because I provide all of that myself, as an independent contractor. Also, I wouldn't require benefits, sick pay, vacation time, retirement plans, and things of that nature. And since I'll work on an as-needed basis, they will never have to fill 40 hours a week for me.

I went to the county probate office today to file for my LLC. Once that comes back, I can really get in gear and get everything set up in my business' name. I'm also working on my website at the moment. I purchased my very own domain name yesterday, so I'm super excited about that! This has been brewing in my head for a few years now, and I am so glad that I'm finally able to give it a go.

Now, let's all pray frequently and fervently that I don't fall flat on my face. Ready? Go!

Anywho, I'm sure you've noticed that my blog has undergone some changes. I decided a face lift was in order. And I am no longer "Tile Me Beautiful". Sad, sad day. That was hard for me to take down, but with everything on my plate right now, I just don't have the time for that. So now it's just little old me.

Anyway, back to the blog award from Hayley....

Rules of the Award:
1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Share seven things about you.
3. Pass it on and let the recipient know.

So, thanks Hayley! And seven things about myself...I'll try not to bore you with stuff you already know.

1. Watering our immense lawn has become the bane of my existence. However, if my husband arrives home from "vacation" and our lawn is brown and dead, it will not be pretty. So I drag out the front and back hoses and move the sprinklers a total of 15 times over about 5 hours. Unbelievable.

2. Being an official Alabama resident isn't nearly as painful as I anticipated. I have the driver's license, car registration, and I own property in the state and I'm still breathing. Don't tell me miracles don't happen.

3. I have recently become a vitamin/supplement addict. I now take a total of 16 pills a day.

4. My new guilty pleasure is tuning my TV to HGTV, turning the volume down low, and drifting off to sleep on the couch in the middle of the day. I only allow myself to do this about once a week.

5. I was totally gung-ho about painting my new house when we moved in. Now I look at the walls and cringe at the thought. That doesn't stop me from spending at least 30 minutes in the paint section every time I go to Home Depot though.

6. I have horrible, awful, traitorous knees. They hurt incredible amounts from just sitting too long. Heaven forbid I'd do something like walk...

7. I plan on being the first person ever to own a dog trained in Shiatsu massage.

So, that's that. And now, I'm going to pass the award on to someone I truly, truly adore...


She is one of the sweetest, most entertaining, most dedicated bloggers I know. She always has super cool pictures and stories that make me want to live in her life! Plus she makes me smile and laugh and just feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Mainly I just stinking love her! So go check out her blog. It's guaranteed not to disappoint :)

Gotta go move the sprinkler now...should be the 2nd to last time. I started at 6 and it's now 10. Hopefully I'll get to sleep at some point.

xoxo