AVON Representative ANGELENA RYDER serving the Marlinton, WV area

AVON Representative ANGELENA RYDER serving the Marlinton, WV area

It's time to start Christmas shopping:) Avon has some wonderful products at great prices. Click on the link above to go to my Avon page.

Thanks

Facebook Fibbers

Report cards came out yesterday in our neck of the woods. This morning when I logged onto my Facebook account I was slammed with stories about how everyone's kid got Straight A's. Really?!?! Every single parent was posting about their prodigal child. Now either I am the only parent whose child did not get straight A's or some people are stretching the truth a tad bit.

Could it be that the teachers have chosen only 2 kids in the whole school not to give A's to and those 2 kids just happen to be mine? Conspiracy theory?

I am going to start looking on the bumpers of all my friends to see if they have that coveted "honor roll" bumper sticker- cause I think they are (gasp) stretching the truth a tad bit.

Now I might not get that honor roll bumper sticker cause my kids grades are "average" but I am thinking of making some bumper stickers to add to the back of my car:

• My kid may not be on the honor roll, but he can hold my beer without spilling it while I drive
• My kid can't read your bumper sticker
• My degenerate beat up your honor roll student
• My underachiever got your honor roll student pregnant
• I can drive, text, and beat the shit out of my kid at the same time
• My other kid is Charlie Sheen  

So there Facebook Fibbers take that!  

Cheap Laundry Detergent

I read an interesting email this morning

I use Ajax, Dawn or Joy to wash my clothes. It's bunches cheaper than Tide. Mix it 7 to 1 (Water/Ajax, Dawn or Joy) in your empty laundry detergent bottle. Pour in 7 cups of water, then add 1 cup of dish detergent. I use the bottle cap to measure just like the Tide.

I also fill my Downey ball about half full of white vinegar and toss that in. It removes soap build up and softens too.

I think this may be worth a try!

Listia - my new favorite site

I know I haven't blogged in a while and I am hoping to get more time to do that- but I just have to share this site with you. It is Listia- think ebay only everything is FREE!!! I know!!! Listia is an auction site for Free Stuff where you bid on other people's items using credits instead of real money. They have some really nice things! Sign up is free and you also get bonus credits for signing up. Click Here  to sign up. I am also putting some things up for auction. I have a 3 piece colonial candle tart in Hot spiced Apple  ready for bidding all free- no cost- even the shipping is free. They will make your house smell wonderful

20 Lessons from the Great Depression

1. Save a dollar for every dollar you spend.  I’m a big believer in the Pay-As-You-Go rule, but if you allow more cash to go out of your door than goes under your mattress, you’re asking for trouble.
2. New doesn’t automatically mean better.  New this and shiny that may get you a lot of attention and give you a feeling of importance, but new stuff usually costs more than old stuff.  Slightly used, gently used, or just plain used will often to the job.
3. Be thankful for what you have.  All of us have complained about eating leftovers when we didn’t want to or complained about eating the same thing three times a week, but there are quite a few people in this world that might not know where the next meal will come from.  Just be thankful you have what you have … if you have it.
   
4. Learn how to fix/maintain what you have.  Nothing can be more frustrating than having a piece of machinery, whether it be your car or your laptop, that you rely upon, paid good money for, and have to pay someone to repair it.  Eliminating the need for the repairman will save you countless hours and dollars over the years.
   
5. Waste not, want not!  If you’re discarding a substantial portion of what you bought (or made yourself), you’re essentially throwing money in the garbage can.  Either cut back on what you’re making, or find ways to reuse it at a later date.
6. Make cheap food taste like a million bucks.  I probably violate this suggestion most of all because I’m a wannabe chef, but during my college years, my food budget rarely exceeded $100 per month. Learning how to make good eats on the cheap will save you thousands per year if you can learn a few cooking basics.
7. Don’t pay what you can do/make for yourself.  It seems like an odd question to ask, but why would you pay someone to do something that you can do for yourself.  I understand that we’re all super busy and we may not be an expert in everything that modern society pushes upon us, but thanks to the Internet (praise be Google!), you can find a DIY video for almost anything on your Honey Do List.
8. Preparation can keep you from being blown off course.  Many times during your life you’ll face some type of adversity.  The more prepared you are to handle it, the better off you’ll be at weathering the storm. As the old adage goes: you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails!
9. Family time is fun time.  I’m one of the least social members of my family, but nothing beats a classic game of Monopoly with the folks.  This weekend happened to be catching up over baseball games on TV and lots of hanging out in the kitchen.  Funny how positive social interactions work aren’t they?
10. Make your big purchases off season.  One of my cardinal rules of shopping (which I loathe to do) is buy most of my winter clothing in April.  This way, the retailers are desperate just to break even on their investment and clear the excess inventory to make way for Spring/Summer months.  This works equally well when buying summer clothing in November.
11. Marry someone who complements your weak points.  No this doesn’t mean someone who will say “good job” each time you do a good deed.  Not that kind of compliment.  In a complementary relationship, your strong suits will make up for your companion’s weaknesses and vice versa.  In the end, the marriage is stronger than the two individuals!
12. Exchange time, skills or service as currency.  If you know how to play the piano and your neighbors want their kid to learn to play piano, find something they have that you want. 
13. Learn to preserve and store food.  Even if you’re not into growing your own food, it never hurts to buy in bulk and keep it frozen for a few months.
14. Start a garden and pay yourself for growing your own food.  Why pay a grocery store for food that you can grow yourself?  Many people these days are under the false impression that gardening is too difficult to try and best left to the hippies and hillbillies.  Hardly the case since Michelle Obama and started a victory garden on White House grounds.
15. Credit cards are the devil.  If you tell my Grandma that you bought her Christmas present on credit, you better hope you got your fill of pumpkin pie prior to opening gifts.  Chances are, she’ll cut you off and give you a 10 minute lecture from Proverbs.  Most old school consumers won’t even think about buying something unless they pay in cash.
16. Patience is a virtue.  Be patient, save your pennies, and wait until they turn to dollars.  Paying cash is the only way to go.  I admit, this doesn’t translate well to 2009, but if you can rely upon your debit card more than your credit card, you’re on the right path.
17. Work hard, and work often.  My family wasn’t exactly the affluent type back in the day, so I’m glad to have some of that blue collar mentality rubbed off on me.  I never really understood what it meant to say “I built that” or “I made that from scratch” when I was a kid, but I certainly learned what those phrases meant once I became a bit older.
18. At the end of the day, think how to make tomorrow a little better.  This phrase is fairly common, but it’s been sitting on my grandfather’s antique desk for as long as I can remember.  Probably longer than I’ve been alive.  But to me, it’s a testament to how both of grandparents lived their lives.  Over time, little improvements add up a lot quicker than you think.
19. Envy is still a sin.  Even though I’m the blaspheming evolutionist of the family, it doesn’t mean I don’t pay attention to sound advice.   Believe it or not, the Bible has really good tips on debt avoidance and the “debt is slavery” principle.
20. Speak convincingly and be a leader.  We all know a hierarchy exists in most families, and if that happens to be you, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion.  Even if you hurt a few feelings here and there, they’re family and they’ll eventually forgive you.

article from Steadfast Finances

Wednesday Baking | Oatmeal Cinnamon Bread

Wednesday Baking | Oatmeal Cinnamon Bread



Looks like a delicious recipe that I am going to make this Christmas

Marriage becoming obsolete

[091/365] Wedding Ring
Originally uploaded by Lel4nd (be back soon in Dec)

I recently read an article that said most Americans believe that marriage is becoming obsolete. Really? Is that what we have become? I have been married for almost 20 years to the same wonderful man that one day I will grow old with and join into our Heavenly Fathers kingdom with. This is the same man who has fathered my 3 sons, stood by me through thick and thin. Seen me at my best and at my worst. Followed me up and down the path of mood swings, migraines and all sorts of other goodies.

Why are people not wanting to get married? Maybe society has made it easier for folks not to get married. After all - who wants to be "tied" down for the rest of their life? Don't you want to be an independent person? Who wants to work through an argument when you can just walk away and move on to the next bump in the road with someone else?

Marriage is not easy. There is no quick fix. One can not be self centered and have the "me" attitude. It is a "we" attitude. Looking out for each others best interest, the "I got your back" attitude. Each person must give and take. Arguments are bound to happen. But what about the good times. The making up, sharing memories, raising children in a loving home, growing old together, looking back on your life at all the achievements and disappointments? Granted marriage is not always a bed of roses, but I think the benefits far outweigh the alternative.

When my husband and I were first married there was the honeymoon phase. Life was grand- I woke up to glitter and rainbows every day. Then came the adjustment phase- uh- not so great. Little things like leaving socks on the floor, not picking up his towel, leaving glasses on the counter drove me nuts- and I let him know all about it every chance I got. Sure I drove him nuts too, my anal ways about housekeeping- among lots of other things. But we worked through it. Both of us had to grow up and realize that we were each our own individual - but joined. It was not about who was right or wrong, it was about learning to adjust to each other.
Now we are in what I like to call the comfort stage. We are completely comfortable with each other. We know each other like the back of our hands. With one look or touch we almost always know what the other person is thinking or feeling. Sure we still have our arguments - but doesn't everyone?
One day we will reach the end of the road. We will not know when that time will come, or how it will happen. But we do know one thing. He will be there holding my hand as I take my journey into Heaven or I will be there holding his hand as he takes his journey. I will not have to worry about being abandoned and alone during my final walk for he with be with me every step of the way. We loved each other enough to make an eternal commitment to each other. People who think that marriage is becoming obsolete really don't know what they are missing.