It’s supposed to get cold here - like, we’re talking possibly cold enough to snow. Right now it’s 43 degrees according to the weather channel site - and the forecast says tomorrow it will be a high of 62 degrees (which isn’t cold to me). But, I’ve heard that this weekend the temps will drop. I’m not sure what kind of "winterizing" I am supposed to do to my van - maybe some tire chains and some windshield wiper fluid that makes it easy to scrape ice? I don’t think it’s going to snow THAT much - but I just want to be prepared. I leave the house early in the morning and I don’t want to deal with an icy windshield or sliding down the highway when I don’t know how to drive in the snow.

If I were still a hermit I wouldn’t care - I love looking out the window at snow. But now I’m a high-falutin’ collage student who would like the roads to remain nice and ice-free.

Ya dig?

Finally (not that I am particularly happy about it) it’s cold here in Virginia! It’s been around 40 degrees consistently the last few days - so all I’ve wanted to do has been to curl up on the couch in flannel pj’s with my electric blanket and play on the laptop. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten little to no studying done! School starts up again on Monday (yes, this Monday!) and I’ve got a few quizzes to do and a report (or two) to begin! Ugh! Talk about not planning things correctly!

Hopefully, in addition to getting a few new links up and a new template for my other blog - I can find the time to do my homework. I am really trying to get an "A" average here and being a slacker when I have to do work is completely unacceptable. Time to get my butt in gear and get my homework done.

Ahh - being a Stay At Home Mama / Full time student / Work at home Mama is tiring.

I have many "hats" so to speak when it comes to "work" - I am married to a Sailor so that takes some organizing skills (keeping track of his schedule along with his "trips" and such) and also being able to know how to sew on a patch or mount medals on a new uniform where the local dry cleaners is located and also where the cheapest place to have medals mounted is. I am a Mom - so I need to keep track of playdates, birthday parties, friends names and numbers, when the "sitter" is available, preschool information (next year baby!) and more. I am also going to college so I need to stay up to date on schedules, homework, reports, current events, and who’s who at the school. Add all that to the fact that I am a blogger who happens to also freelance blog/write. I am also a freelance web designer (which is also what I am going back to school for - a bachelors in computers with a focus on Web Development).

It’s a lot - and it requires money of course (gosh, doesn’t everything?). My husband makes "okay" money with the military - he’s been in 10 years now so it mostly covers everything. I really have no room to complain. But; on top of our rent we also have to pay a mortgage because we bought a home in Jacksonville when we were there. So - really that’s bringing us down a little. I’ve been covering the extra’s thus far with what I make "from home" but I am trying to find out more ways to work "from home" that aren’t going to cost me an arm and a leg and eventually turn out to be a complete hoax.

Here is a list of what I do from home to make a little extra money - also included are planned endeavors.

1. Freelance Blogging
2. Banner Ads (mostly Project Wonderful)
3. Affiliate Ads
4. Freelance Design (graphics or websites)
5. Crafting (coming soon)
6. eBay (I have a TON of stuff to get rid of)

Look, I’m not trying to afford a pair of english saddles or any other equestrian gear here. I’m just trying to make the "ends" meet a little better. So, if you have a REAL (i.e. not rip off) idea to make money from home I’m game. Let me know in the comments some ideas please!

My two friends and I are going to start losing weight beginning in January. We’re going to be doing our own personal "biggest loser" type program where there will be MONEY on the line (which is always nice). Hopefully; the only weight loss products that we will need will be some free weights and a class or two. It’s always (always!) easier to lose weight when you have a couple buddies to help you through.

They both already have memberships to local gyms - so that’s something I need to look into now. Can’t really afford it - so I am hoping to find some good deals because now is the time of year that just about everyone wants to "lose weight" you know? Either that or pick up a cheap Elliptical from the thrift store or Craigslist. The Elliptical is really the only machine I like to use - the rest of the time I’m using a ball, the floor or some free weights.

So, I guess I can kiss junk food and liquor goodbye come January. Our little "program" will run from January until June. It took me 6 months to lose 60 lbs - working out every day for two hours. I don’t know if I can commit to working out that much. But, I know I will want to win this competition - so we shall see!!

Aside from decorating for Christmas I am working to clean and "move in" here at the house. We never hung photos or any art on the walls nor really organized well. I don’t need much to decorate this place; I’ve got most of the furniture that I need to store everything. I’d like another bookcase (we have way too many books!) and I’d love to replace the coffee table; but that isn’t really high on my list.

I have been checking out decor magazines to try and get inexpensive decorating and storage ideas. So, all I really need to do is get moving!

If I had money I’d be all about new furniture and some Moen faucets and stuff. But, alas …. no moolah - so it’s cheapo decor with what I have instead

Where do YOU get ideas for inexpensive decor and organizing?

Will this country … meaning the United States of America … be the next "Roman Empire?" As in, that huge ass empire that FELL? Sometimes I think so. I’m just being honest; I love my country - but some stupid decisions are being made (and have been made) and I think it might be awhile before we’re out of this "recession" - I feel sometimes that it’s way more of a "depression" though. It’s sad and stupid how so many people are losing their homes. I mean; how can I blog about crazy stuff like tuxedos when most people can’t even afford them! In fact, my family (well, husband and I) are dealing with that right now. I bought a dress (formal) the other day for $30 - deal right? Well, the dinner that I am going to wear that dress to? The tickets cost $50 per couple. The tickets to the dinner are more than the dress was. Couldn’t the group hosting the dinner FUNDRAISE MORE!? Hello? Plan much? The command Christmas party was only $10 per couple - I bet that the dinner will suck compared to the Christmas party.

I see all these commercials for "earn money at home quick" and I want to fall for them. I know better - but hot damn, making money would be nice right about now.

This card sounds pretty damn awesome. I’m going to apply for it and let ya’ll know what happens.

So, I’ve updated my Harry Potter Collectibles Squidoo Lens with all the nice sales that are going on (beginning tomorrow) and have been looking around on the net to find any good sales. My husband would love a playstation 3 but we just don’t have the funds this year. I think I’m going to try and get him "Grand Theft Auto IV" which is the game he really wants. They now have it for the PC so he doesn’t *really* need the playstation right now. I wish they would come out with the game for the Wii - we HAVE a Wii! I might get him (and I) "Quantom of Solace" (however that is spelled) for the Wii. Then eventually when we have some extra cash floating around I can get him the playstation.

My husband just put on Boomerang which is a cartoon network that just shows old cartoons (from like, the 1960’s thru the 1980’s). A lot of the cartoons shown I really have no memory of since I was only born in 1981. I remember some, but the one that is on right now? I have no idea what it is.

I personally like to watch old shows like Scooby Doo and Snorks - they are cute and my son likes them also. He’s watching the one on right now I think because they are riding motorcycles, this kid is obsessed with motorcycles like I am obsessed with every diet pill on the market. (I’m kidding … sorta).

They keep saying "wonder wheels" on the show. Maybe I should search that out.

Ahh here we go - "Wonder Wheels" - wow that show is old! I wasn’t even born yet in 1977! Tom and Jerry is coming on next - that is more my speed. Although I hate letting my son watch it now, lol … I think it’s "too violent" yet my husband let him play Grand Theft Auto. Oy!

According to a trainer that I used to work out with there are some fat burners that work - and some that absolutely do NOT work. He said that if you used them consistently according to directions but also ate well and worked out on a regular basis the fat burners would add a 1-2 pound loss each week. So, if you were losing 2lbs a week normally - after a couple months of using a fat burner you would in turn lose 4lbs per week.

Now, I don’t know if that is 100% true but I have noticed that the fat burners that work for me personally is the green tea fat burner. Green tea is some amazing stuff - it is just healthy and it tastes wonderful. I drink green tea almost every day just because I like it.

I notice that when I take a fat burner or appetite suppressor made with green tea I notice that I lose a couple extra pounds. It’s nice!