Life Is Good

Life is good,you want to know why?
I didn't like my life 10 years ago. I didn't like who I was and I was in unhealthy relationships. Although it was hard,I made some dramatic changes. I got divorced and quit surrounding myself with toxic people. It took hard work and patience but 10 years later I am where I used to wish I was. Life is simple. I work a job I love,I share my free time with a loving partner and I surround myself with honest and true friends. I appreciate all that I have so much! So this brings me to today...
I sat on my bed examining the contents of the big envelope I got in the mail. My credit report. Honestly I have never seen it...and I was worried. The good news is that I have "fair" credit and only 3 things dragging my score down. Those damn poor choices I made in my 20's coming to haunt me again! My eyes switched to the other paper laying on the bed. My pay stub. Deductions for  health insurance,vision insurance,401k,taxes...yikes! Where the heck did my paycheck go?! Frustrating.And then it happen,that little smile I get inside on these moments, when I realize again that I have become the person I waited so long to be. At times I almost don't recognize myself! Simple and responsible. A retirement planning,insured woman with fair credit,I like the sound of that :)

For Jessica

Grandma Davis' Frozen Cranberry Salad

1 package frozen cranberries chopped in blender/food processor
1 cup sugar
Mix and let stand 1 hour

In a separate bowl-
1 pound can of crushed pineapple
1 bag of mini marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Mix and let stand for 1 hour

Fold and gently stir all ingredients together in one bowl and add 1 pint of whipped cream or Cool Whip (I use Heavy Cream Cool Whip.
Pour into 9X13 pan and freeze overnight

This is a Thanksgiving must have for me plus great memories of my Grandmother :)

Mean Lady..

The day went great,8 hours of money making madness. I had just said goodbye to my last client of the day and sat down,when in walks a mom and her daughter. I tried to explain that we closed in 10 minutes and that wasn't sufficient time for a hair cut....but that didn't work. She went off on some rant about business hours bla bla bla and demanded a "number to call". I gave her one..with a friggin smile on my face and my name printed on the pamphlet,just in case she needed that info later :) She went on and on as my willingness to help her diminished.At some point, her words became a blur and I was speechless while she made her way out the door. I wasn't going to argue,she was looking for an argument..I wasn't going to say the right thing at that point....gooood bye. I try to shake off these times when people are mean or rude..but it's hard. She ruined a perfectly good day,her icky vibe has poisoned my head all evening. Part of me has a laugh...Did she really think it was a good idea to DEMAND a 10 minute haircut?! I am expected to give up MY evening because she couldn't get there the other 8 hours we were open today?! I'M the rude one here?! Ugh.
Thanks a lot Mean Lady,
I hope someday you get the "10 minute hair cut" you feel you deserve so badly.

Hut,Hut,Hike

Bruxism is when you clench (tightly hold your top and bottom teeth together) or grind (slide your teeth back and forth over each other) your teeth.

What does this really mean? You get to sleep with a mouth guard that makes you look like a quarterback. Oh my poor boyfriend....but I suppose it is better than waking him up by sounding like a trash compactor. I have slept 3 nights with my new mouthguard and haven't had any problems. I got it at Walgreens for about $20 and it lasts a year. Painless. Let's hope it stays that way.

A Dose Of Shrooms

Vern and I went for a walk in the woods today to get some fresh air.

I found these cute little mushrooms just begging me for a photo opportunity.

In an attempt  to keep my creative juices flowing,I turned them into a creative photo blog for today.

Enjoy

:)

Doggi Cannoli

"Hello,HR Department. This Is Cara. How May I Direct Your Call?"

November 1st..oh boy.
I have been a lazy blogger. (That means that I got a lot of house work done)
Halloween came and went and that means that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Honestly...
There are so many things running through my head tonight. I sit here and contemplate...do I want to chatter on about the "lighter" subjects or do I vent about the deeper stuff? What is the blogging emotional outburst etiquette anyway? Is it ok just to burst out in a good bitch session every once in awhile without freaking people out?! (ok,I admit that I am kinda cracking myself up now :)...)
All in all I am fine. No one died,no one is sick and overall life is good.
That being said...
I am struggling with the newest chapter in the "Step Mom Handbook".This chapter is titled "You Can Talk Until You Are Blue In The Face But They Don't Listen"
 It's almost strange how a child that is not your own can still give you gray hair and wrinkles. This is round two for me. It was a little easier with David because he was so young,it is so very different with an 18 year old. I was on such a great maternal high last week! But..Trevor crushed that with a wild night out with the boys this weekend.
BUSTED.
There went our whole weekend.
Ruined.
A supportive lecture about good choices from both of us, just hours before it all happen..
a waste of breath.
I know that I am an inexperienced parent and a hard ass  when it comes to rules and discipline. So most of the time I bite my tongue.
I know that children will hurt their parents more than they will ever know ...and despite it all, parents love their kids more than life itself.
It's just not fun to be the person to have to sit back and watch it all happen and not get upset.
But I must remember the rules for successful step parenting-The Step Parent is a support system and not the CEO...not even the Vice President....more like the Human Relations Department.
Got it.
Proceed biting tongue.
It's worth it to help the man I love and keep our "company" strong.
I'm just not going to pretend it's always easy.
Thanks for the vent
I do feel a little better
:)