Seriously, running a household is work and I dare anyone to say it’s not. The cooking, the cleaning, the child-rearing …. AHH! It’s okay and I can handle it; but when my kid starts acting afool and all my husband wants to talk about is buying new games for our Wii I get a little STRESSED.

I already did the meal planning for the week (utilizing my crockpot and lots of Mexican recipes of course) and spent around $100 for the weeks worth of food (that will in turn make leftovers and re-created meals for the other week bar a few other ingredients).

I have around 7 reviews to write for various sample products and I’ve got around 5 things to list on eBay (if not more). I have to burn my friends’ website onto a disk for her so she can update it. I have to put a price list up on my Designs site. I have to CLEAN MY LIVING ROOM!

I need a drink.

This weekend my husband and I (along with out 3 year old) attended a command-sponsored marriage retreat at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. (Believe me, I will be posting a review - keep your eyes peeled!). We learned the tools for better communication and how to figure out the “underlaying” issues that cause problems in a marriage. All in all it’s been a very interesting time for us! We had a lot of childcare provided - so hubby and I were able to settle down and just TALK for well over an hour. I think when we get home there will be a lot of changes coming in to play. Once I figure out my notes I think I’m going to post a blog about what we learned more in detail. But, for now - I’ve got 10 minutes on the ‘net before I completely CRASH (I’m so tired).

We ate a ton of food the past couple days also; especially tonight when they had all you can eat peeled shrimp, crab dip, crab legs, and lots of other yummys on the buffet! Holy COW! I think the first thing we’ll need are a couple matching exercise bikes!

Gas prices (and food prices and entertainment prices …) are really kicking my ass. Driving to and from Florida recently I am sure I spent well over $300 on gas alone. “Cheap” gas is like $3.70 around here … I know, I shouldn’t complain because others have it worse - but I still am complaining! I don’t LIVE in New York or L.A.! I don’t want to pay this much for gas! Luckily, I have a semi eco-friendly Honda Odyssey. It’s got that funky system that drops a cylinder when you get up to speed. It’s great when you compare auto insurance - you know they give you a deal when you try and “go green!”

Anyway; what are you doing to make a little more $$$ during these “hard economic times” ?? Cuz the BUSH isn’t going to save your ass from bankruptcy!

My husband and I were discussing work the other day - mostly MY work schedule. Right now I’m open for business like - 24 hours a day. I don’t really have an exit sign because I haven’t found my groove yet. I haven’t set “work” hours because I have yet to set “home” hours (i.e. when to do each thing that needs to be done each day like dishes or laundry or homeschool even!). I’m a little lots unorganized here. I have several projects going on right now including a few reviews that need to be done, some blog work, some networking, learning social media (completely), and some freelance site design (now that Starryskye Designs is up and running again).

It’s a lot, but I love it. I just need to figure out when to be working and when to walk away from the computer.

Is there anything you use to help you get organized? I’d love some suggestions!!

Oh; and FYI - my friend Lisa is having a giveaway at her site where you can win a quarterly membership to try out ListPlanIt! There are several ways you can enter so be sure to visit her blog @ LisaReviews!

I realized yesterday that while I ADORE my pretty pink (and portable!) laptop, using a desk top with two screens is more conducive to working. As opposed to dicking around on the ‘net which is what I normally do. I am happy though, because I have a nice (and even more portable!) flash drive that I can use to bounce back and forth between computers with!

Thanks to websites like PortableApps, I can install my favorite software (including Firefox - complete with favorites) onto my usb key and take it with me wherever I go, including simply upstairs to the desktop! Makes doing things like visiting blogs and dropping Entrecards way more easy.

I personally use the Firefox app; but you can also find programs like GIMP and Open Office. Check it out!

I plan on RELAXING the next few days. I mean, I have a convention to go to during my vacay but it’s going to be fun and soon after I get to see my hubby! But, I’m going to slap on my cap, sit on a chaise and await Hanna, Ike and Josephine to come visit. They really aren’t WELCOME company; but when Mother Nature’s children come a-calling you just have to deal with it.

Anyway … Enjoy your weekend!!!

I cleaned and re-arranged the kitchen. I cleaned the dining room. I half - ass cleaned the living room. I washed all the sheets (still have to do my own). I still have to finish the living room, clean the bathroom and toilets, clean Xander’s room, pack my stuff, pack Xander’s stuff and pack Alan’s stuff AND … finally … drive to Florida. My head is spinning and my stomach hurts. I’m stressing out … but at least my mama is here to help me. She flew in this morning from Florida to help me drive down.

Now, if I can just get everything DONE so I come home (with my hubby) from vacation to a clean house. All I really wanna do is sleep right now though …

I just wanted to share a neat link that I received from Old Navy this afternoon. They are introducing their fall plus size line soon and you can get a Chic Peek - an early look at the season’s freshest fashions. Shop the new Fall collection in sizes 16-30, only at oldnavy.com/plus.

I have issues cleaning when my son is awake because he tends to try and “help” and mostly “hinders” instead. But, I got a lot accomplished today anyway while he took a nap. (Yeah!!) But - while he was playing around the living room trying to get me to play Nintendo with him I was surfing the ‘net (well, AND playing Nintendo with him - he’s not very good). I’ve come across everything from dirty Harry Potter fanfic (drooooool) to Leptovox (it’s a diet pill in case you didn’t know). There is a whole world of useless information out there, lol …. Well, all this surfing (and reading dirty Harry Potter fanfic) has made me realize something super important … I MISS MY HUBBY!!!!!!

I get him  back soon thankfully … Otherwise, I might hurt someone.

I have a loft in my house and I just adore it but really haven’t figured out how to USE it yet (that and it’s a disaster area). Right now there is a large corner desk for the computer, two book shelves, a smaller desk for Xander, another desk for “computer building” (read: crap), the top of another desk acting like a table and a futon. Oh and boxes. OH and the dog crate - folded. It’s on my “to do” list because I want to make it a more usable space. It would be nice to get some QUALITY home furniture up there - make it more pulled together perhaps? It’s a nice big space; just completely unorganized.

It’s half clean - I have a feeling that the other half will be finished once my hubby is home and he can help me. Or hinder the cleaning and just help me move furniture. It’s upstairs - so I’m at a loss. I’ve got a smallish roll-top desk (a $17 thrift store purchase) in my VAN (for a month now) that I would like to put upstairs - but I can’t get it out of the van much less into the house and up the stairs. I also have a treadmill (a $20 yard sale purchase) that I know we would both use if it was in the house and not the garage. I also want all my crafting stuff (scrapbooking & sewing) upstairs so it’s not in the guestroom /slash/ hopefullysomedaynewbaby room.

I guess I need some inexpensive (read: CHEAP) ideas for organizing. I wish I could steal some plastic milk crates - lol .. Those make nice shelves!!