I just got a Myspace message regarding my 10 year high school reunion is “coming up” most likely next summer. Wait, what?! 10 year reunion? Do I want to see these people? I don’t talk to many of them, and the ones I do talk to I usually see when I plan my various vacays back home. So, I dunno …

This summer (well, more Autumn) I’m planning a couple Orlando vacations and a visit home. So, I will see most of my friends from high school then. Plus, I have a couple friends that weren’t in my graduating class - so they won’t even be at the reunion (obviously). There are a few people that I don’t care to see actually, including an old friend who up and married a girl who I’ve never gotten along with - so, of course I don’t get to speak with my old friend. I guess he didn’t remember the old “Bros before Ho’s” rule, lol … Yeah, most of my friends in high school were guys.

If I do attend, I told my friend (who has no interest in attending the reunion) that she has to come with me so we can people watch and talk about everyone.

I’ve been hanging out at Flickr lately checking out the groups there. I was in a grave/cemetery one the other day (I’ve taken my fair share of grave yard photos) because I was checking out history and “hauntings” for here in Virginia. So, lately it’s been about ghosties, lol. I also found a gal who takes photos in and around my old stomping grounds in Hernando County, Florida. It was wonderful looking through all her beautiful photos of all the grand OLD houses I’ve been obsessed with since I was young. This all makes me want a new camera of course since my 2.5 pixel is just not working anymore for me. It takes good photos - but I want a camera to play with you know? A camera that I can focus in on what I want to focus in on. No, I’m NOT a pro-photog at ALL (my BFF is though!) but I like taking photos - especially of my kiddo, and he’s like a tornado.

I’m considering buying some vegan/vegetarian stuff and adding more veggies to my diet. I’ve done it before and “felt” healthier … so maybe I will feel that again. I can’t switch completely because hubby is a big carnivore and honestly, I love me some Chicken McNuggets.

I want a TiVo … or at least DVR - because there are a bunch of shows starting up (or starting up again) and I’d like to watch them. Not from the comfort of my leather home theater seating of course, since I don’t HAVE leather home theater seating … but, still … a DVR would make me happy. I should look into that. ‘Cuz then, when my little one is asleep I don’t have to leave on “The Goodnight Show” just cuz it’s nice background noise. I’m such a loser.

I’m driving to Florida in September because hubby will be gone and I’m not spending my birthday by myself. Plus - my Daddy already promised to take me to Red Lobster! *Squee!*

So, I figure I will be around 5 1/2 months pregnant then and I will be driving so that makes me crazy so I will need travel supplies. I’m not sure what I will need for the road … I have a first aid kit in the car already, so I just have to make sure it is stocked (especially with Tylenol since I can’t really take anything else pain-wise). I’ll need plenty of bottled water (cooler!!) and plenty of HEALTHY snacks (maybe trail mix and granola bars?). Maybe one of those neat lumbar cushions. I plan on breaking up the trip (a total of 14 hours) into 7 and 7 I think and staying over at a motel. Problem is that I have a 115lb Lab so I will have to find like, a La Quinta because they are animal friendly. We shall see. I’m more of a “drive til I drop” kinda girl, but being pregnant puts a slight damper on that idea. Any tips for me?

Seriously … I don’t think we’d be “above water” sometimes if it weren’t for the work I find on the internet. We’ve just gotten ourselves into debt and it’s taking some time to pay it off. The extra money from the reviews and paid blogging that I do are truly wonderful and helpful and I feel blessed that I was pointed in the direction of it. By a fellow Navy wife no less!! Otherwise, I’d be on the street selling legal steroids or knitted notions (and I CANNOT knit so I’d be in trouble!!)

Today, I received in the mail (finally) some letter charms that I had ordered from a great little website. I plan on making a few bracelets for my friends’ little girls. If they come out well I will be making more and selling them! Now that I sit (a LOT) I have time I think to finally make some things. I so need to sew up a few bags and such (a few are due to some friends). I’m getting more in the mindset to craft lately. Then I look around the house and think - damn, it’s a MESS in here! I will figure it out though. I’ll just buy seventeen boxes of Saltines and I will feel better, lol.

Some women have a “thing” for shoes … I have a “thing” for bags. They don’t have to be expensive either (in fact, I haven’t really seen a “name brand” bag that I would consider buying!). I just like bags …. regular bags, tote bags, diaper bags, golf bags … Okay, maybe NOT golf bags, but you get the idea. The NEX (Exchange … military shopping store) has a good selection of bags (especially those “name brand” ones) so the past few I’ve bought there. I don’t currently have an everyday diaper bag because Xander’s 3 years old and I only really need to carry around a couple diapers, a small wipes case and a couple toys. I will need one in a few months though and you can bet I’ve got a couple in mind! My current “purse” is a nice black and silver fake-leather one with plenty of room. It’s a kindof “boho” style I think. It only cost $25 and I’ve had it for a couple years now. I have a few others that I switch to every so often including an “America” one with vintage pics of the ‘States and I also have the “Sailor Kissing” bag which is a small one. I usually bring that along when I don’t have the kiddo and I only have my wallet and phone.

My very favorite (but I’m a little biased) is a booty bag made from my hubby’s camo uniform. I made it

I think there are a million and four website dedicated to things like baby cribs, feeding, birthing and whatnot. My head is spinning just thinking about it all. At least I have 8 months to figure out how to change our guestroom (which was going to be my office) into I guess a baby room. Although, I just bought a bed (twin) for the room, so it’s staying in there. I hate making plans only to have to re-make them. I guess thats life though.

I’ve been out shopping and window shopping online and finding more and more cool things - so I’ve been doing a lot of product reviews on a couple of my blogs. I enjoy trying out products and sharing what I find! I’m also working on an ecommerce store/website for a couple friends. It’s a pain, and I complain about it all the time - but I enjoy learning and building websites. I hope to get the design company off and running again …. We shall see! Right now I will just sit on my couch and drink my raspberry flavored water Makes me happy …

My son is watching “Alvin and the Chipmunks” (the movie) … again … for the like, 300th time. It’s not a terrible movie - I mean, I wouldn’t compare it to a colon cleanse or anything, but it gets OLD. My son (he’s 3) loves it though. Plus, it’s raining outside - so he can’t go out and play.

It’s raining … I’m working. Still working on the shopping cart project I’ve been fighting with for the better part of a month. Now I’ve downloaded trials of both Microsoft Expression Web and Sharepoint Designer to see which I can make websites on easier and code in PayPal plugins. eCommerce has kicked my ass, seriously. So, we shall see which program works better for my needs and then I will hopefully be able to get a damn storefront up and running! So far, I think Expression Web looks similer to Dreamweaver. It was okay software - but it’s not previewing in a browser at all - so there’s something wrong there. I dunno yet …

Atomic-Mama.com yet? It’s my new blog all about parenting and reviewing products that parents would find interesting and useful! I am also including crafty blurbs and different links to Mom-run businesses. I hope to do some giveaways soon!

I’m excited about it because I finally have a place that I can target a specific audience. I’m not signed up for any “paid” blogging on that particular blog, so I can write what I want, when I want. The reviews you see on that site are either items that I find that I WANT (lol) or items that I physically have in my hands. Sound good? I thought so!

So, as long as you don’t mind some crafty blabberings … parenting moments and shopping - go check out Atomic-Mama!

As many of my readers know, I do some paid blogging in order to make some extra cash to pay off credit cards and do fun things with my kiddo. Well, I’m not ashamed! LOL! I’m pretty clear when I do a paid post, but now, since I signed up for SocialSpark it’s REQUIRED that I disclose! So all you disclosure freaks will be happy! (I’m teasing … but I know you all appreciate it when you are told you are viewing essentially a “commercial” on a personal blog). Anyway, Social Spark is pretty cool – it’s a lot like a Myspace or Facebook idea where it’s social networking, but, you can “network” with other bloggers right along with advertisers. So, if there is an opportunity listed that you aren’t “qualified” for (due to RealRank /site visitors, category, target audience, etc.) you can contact the advertiser directly and let them know why you think you’d rock their opportunity!

I’ve only done a couple opps for Social Spark so far – but they’ve been pretty nice. They pay around the same as opps from PayPerPost (by the same company who brought you SocialSpark) but they require disclosure (as I mentioned earlier), real opinions and it’s also search engine friendly (so Google *shouldn’t* have a problem here!!).

Another cool section of Social Spark (other than the “Post” and “Sponsored” opportunities is the “Sparks” section which offers you some ideas for blog posts. So, when you are running dry, you can check out the “Sparks” and get some ideas! You may even get “blogged back” by someone on their blog when you do a Spark they came up with! These aren’t “paid” posts, just a nice way of getting incoming links and helping someone else out!

I’m incredibly excited about Social Spark – I really enjoy blogging and I especially like making money blogging. I like the way I can “speak” with advertisers directly and form relationships with my favorites. It’s a great opportunity to supplement your income or even, if you are so inclined, make it your job. Networking is KEY – and Social Spark is making it easier!

I’ve been cleaning lately … which usually happens while I watch something on HGTV or Learning Channel … which usually leads to obsessions with decorating. So, I get online and start bookmarking, lol! Here’s a few of my favs! I don’t have an apartment - but I simply ADORE “Apartment Therapy” because it’s a great product review and decor blog! I’ve been getting tons of decorating ideas off the site (and might I add they have some super awesome nurseries!) I think the reason why I like the site is that the decor normally is done to homes that are rented … Living in military housing or rented houses is boring when you can’t paint. So I love getting ideas that don’t (usually) involve paint.

Another site I adore is the Livejournal Community SaucyDwellings! I love seeing other peoples spaces and getting ideas from them. My home is no where near “Saucy” but I can dream right? Someday I will have a saucy home …. Someday.

Digs Magazine doesn’t really “apply” to me anymore (they say they are for the  “post-college, pre-parenthood, quasi-adult generation” which I am not). But, I digress … The magazine has some awesome tips for decorating or playing hostess (or host).

When I actually WAS organized (during last deployment, lol) I used FlyLady. Her tips and organizational tricks are a-m-a-z-i-n-g! Seriously. I’m about to hop back on that train and get organized again!

Right now? I need to clean my living room and dining room. Like, seriously.