Favorite things.. iPhone app

I am addicted to Apple products, I never thought I would be and remember laughing at Wyatt when he was trying to convince me to go Apple instead of PC. Now I regret that.


My favorite thing right now is my iPhone. I have had it for about 6 months and love it more all the time. (We did have a short time this week when my phone decided not to tell me about my emails. I'm not sure what brought this on, but it started working again so I won't hold that against it)


I just discovered an eBay selling app. Since I have been trying to sell things on eBay to earn a little extra money during my time off, I am so excited to see this app! It will be great for things that only need very simple pictures and not too much detail for the description, but I really think it is going to be a time saver.

one of my ebay listings

I can also research something on the app to see if it is worth my time and money to list it. This is going to be so helpful! I have been standing in the middle of thrift stores lately trying to open Safari to research stuff. Its great that I can just act like I'm texting and no one is the wiser, but this app is going to make it much faster--Yeah!
I can also check on my auction status to see how much money I am making!
I really am in love with my iPhone and think it is worth every penny.

Fantasy vs Reality

When I knew I was quitting my job I had a vision in my mind. A vision of how my life would be so awesome; so incredibly all about me. I would do things for my family, of course, but I would be so centered and in such a state of bliss that it would be a pleasure and a privilege to serve them.
But I have seen reality, and reality is slightly different than I had pictured.
These are actual examples of the polar opposites I have experienced in the last 2 weeks.

Fantasy-- I pictured myself spending my days floating around in a gauzy gown and a golden halo, or at least in a fashionable cute outfit 4 sizes smaller than I wore on the last day of work.
Reality--Driving 80 miles per hour down the interstate in my pajama pants because I didn't get up early enough to change before driving the kids to school

Fantasy--Preparing nutritious meals from scratch, using my home-canned salsa, free range beef, and fresh homemade tortillas
Reality--freaking out when I see the flames in my oven caused by wayward tator tots catching on fire while I am cooking frozen pre-made Buffalo chicken strips 50 degrees hotter than the package says to because we are all starving and just want to eat.

Fantasy--Reading on my Kindle for hours, cozied up with a soft warm blanket and a ice cold diet cherry Pepsi. I am wearing my fuzziest shirt and fluffiest socks. The weather is misty and slightly drizzly.
Reality--Having a melt down because it is 90 degrees outside and none of my tshirts are clean. I am wearing a stained (actually bleached out) black tshirt that I dug out of the dryer before it is dry. I don't know where my Kindle is because I haven't had time to read. I am sitting in my sons 1998 Pontiac with no air conditioning. The sunroof is letting the sun beat down on my head while I wait in the parking lot for the kids to get out of school.

Fantasy--My house is clean. It sparkles. The dishes are never in the sink. The floor never needs mopped. You can actually see the top of the dining room table, the coffee table, and the end table. I have so much time that I hang the kids' clothes in their closets.
Reality--Annie just asked me where her high school tshirt is. I told her I remember washing it. She asked if it was in the wash or in her room. I told her I didn't know, to just go look. I can see the tops of the tables because I made Clay carry all the crap to the basement so I wouldn't have to look at it.

Don't get me wrong. I really like the changes in myself and my family since I quit! I am so thankful that I have this time to recharge and look at where I want my life to go. I just find it interesting that reality doesn't listen to me very well. :)

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

I need to start telling you what I want for Christmas.
and I need to tell you I want, no I NEED Born shoes!! I really dig the Black Argyle.
OMG these are A. dor. a. ble!

I'm pretty sure if I don't get them I might die or something even worse might happen to me and it will be your fault.
Say hi to Rudolph and Mrs Claus,
Tanya

favorite -- Clay quote

The other day Annie and I decided to make shortbread. Annie was going to run into Albertsons to get the supplies and a few other things. "Butter" I told her about 5 times, "make sure the package says butter on it".
When we got home I opened the package and saw the packages that said indicated the contents were 'spread'.
"Annie, I told you butter!" I heaved a sigh. She said that she thought it was all the same. (this from the child who didn't know what a cigarette lighter in a car was). Annie was upset, I told her it was fine and we would make it work.
Clay witnessed this exchange and then went to get another bag from the car. When he came back in he had a funny look on his face and said "mom, I bet I know what Annie is thinking".
"What?" I said, annoyed.
"I can't believe it's not butter" he said.
I almost died right there in the kitchen. Annie was not so amused.

Favorites -- Book

Recently I was listening to a favorite podcast of mine, Rick Steves, when he interviewed an author by the name of Leslie Carroll. I loved that she was so passionate about her new book (pun intended :) and I was inspired to pick it up for me Kindle.
The book is Notorious Royal Marriages.

I just have to say-- you need to read this if for nothing else than the Napoleon section. Poor Josephine.

I loved this book! The book was set up chronologically, with each chapter devoted to a different royal marriage. The chapters were well filled out, with excerpts from letters and publications from the time. This was one book I wish I didn't finish so quickly.
I have been reading and watching anything I can get my hands on about the Tudors recently. I have always had a hard time keeping all the wives straight in my (well attached thank you) head. I, for some reason, thought there was eight wives. Which when reading all the names with the Annes and the Janes etc, only thoroughly confused me.

This book gave each wife of Henry VIII her own chapter, which was helpful in squaring them all away in my mind. I have been watching The Tudors TV show, and to see that the show had pulled quotes and information from the past and wove them into the TV show was very cool.

There are stories from Italy, Russia, Germany, and France; just to name a few. I never realised how very intertwined all the royal families really are until I read this book.

The last couple discussed was Prince Charles and Diana. It was so interesting to look at their relationship in comparison against all the other stories I read. We really are not so different from our ancestors at all.
I highly recommend this saucy book for all the great details, fun gossip, and for each very entertaining story it presents..