Today's Quote...  

Posted by: Maria in ,

I love Quotations. I have collected them for years. I started at Lawrence Intermediate School when our music teacher Mr. Cole had us write down a quote at the beginning of every class. The only one I remember is the first one he gave us. Quitters never win and winners never quit. I think that is a pretty good one to remember for 30+ years!

I was sharing quotes with my cousin today and came across this one.
Wisdom too often never comes, and so one ought not to reject it merely because it comes lateFelix Frankfurter was born on November 15, 1882
American jurist, 1882-1965

Felix is a part of my history in a way. He was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court from 1939 to 1962. One of Judge Frankfurter's first law clerks after he took office was Edward Prichard. Ed Prichard or "Prich" was a brash young man who someone once said had too many brains and not enough discipline.. He was actually on the staff of the White House when his world crashed. He had made some enemies in Washington, most notably J. Edgar Hoover. When Prich made the "mistake" of engaging in some ballot box stuffing in Bourbon County, the FBI snatched him up like a hawk with a mouse. He paid a dear price for something that was widely ignored at the time.

In the end though Prich redeemed himself in his home state when he was appointed to the Council on Higher Education in 1966. Unfortunately after that he suffered serious health issues. By the time the Prichard committee for Academic Excellence was formed in the 1980, he was blind and dependent on others. Ed Prichard died 6 weeks after the first town forum that started the reform of education in the state of Kentucky but his work, passion and dedication never left the committee.

I worked for the Prichard Committee for many years and I can tell you that passion was always evident. I guess it is a good thing that Prich was so celebrated that Judge Frankfurter took notice or the improvement of education for Kentucky children might never have happened.

So Happy Birthday Judge!

Why Crime Pays...  

Posted by: Maria

In May and June of this year my family was attacked by a couple of drug addict, waste of breath on this earth thieves. Last July we moved into my Mother in law's home to bring her to live with us as her retirement community was not doing her any good. When we did that we had everything that was in her retirement apartment, everything that was in her home and everything that was in our home to deal with. To compensate, we used the things that were in her house already, left most of our personal things, appliances and furniture in our home. The home that we own. The home we bought and paid for. The home that we lived for more than 20 years in. OUR HOME. We also moved a lot of my father in law's things into our home to give the house that held 2 people room for 6.

Apparently according to these theives, the house was abandonded and we a shopping mall for them. The went and picked up what they wanted, trashed what they didn't and then sold it for whatever they could get for it to put up their noses, or into ther lungs or arms or whatever it was that they were using to become such successful citizens. In that manner, the rape of our lives began.

We were at the house every couple of weeks picking something up or just walking around. It wasn't like there was never anyone there but we were never there over night or on a regular basis. All the doors were closed and double bolted. The doors were always that way when we went back until the last time. My son had been there two weeks prior and discovered that my husband's truck had been stolen out of the driveway and apparently they had just gone since there was fresh mud on the road and transmission fluid tracks down the road. We believe now that the truck was scrapped but since Kentucky law does not require anyone from the company that is accepting the scrap metal to verify who is bringing it in, VIN numbers, license plates of towing vehicles or anything else. Basically, I can walk into a parking lot, find an unlocked car, hotwire it (if I indeed had that skill)or hook it to a tow truck, take it to a scrap yard and scrap it with no one knowing or caring that it didn't belong to me.

The day my world really crashed was when we went to the house, I don't even remember now what we went for and discovered that both the doors were opened, and left opened, my furniture was totally thrown around and trashed, dressers dumped, and my washer and dryer stolen. Going through the house we discovered more things stolen, every appliance with a cord had the cord cut off. My copper plumbing was cut out, wiring pulled out of the walls, ceiling tiles pulled out of the ceiling and broken paneling pulled off the walls. In short, we cannot ever move back into that house without major plumbing and electrical work.

Cutting to the chase through a series of amazing events, we did catch the two upstanding young men resonsible for the damage and recovered the washer and dryer but most of the things that were stolen will never be recovered including my coin collection.

Today I pick up the police report and according to what was written, it looks as if it was our "fault" that this happened. The lawn was high, the bushes beside the house were over grown and it "looked" abandoned. Well isn't that a fine thing. If a building looks as if it is abandoned you can go right on in and help yourself. And so the problems just continue. The things they were able to track down, we have mostly lost since they have been sent to wholesalers or sold "privately" through Craigslist. (Let me tell you if you get robbed, you need to check that out since no one knows or controls what is posted there and you as a buyer will never know that you have purchased stolen goods until someone tracks you down and eventually they will, ask the guy who bought my washer and dryer!)

I can't get anyone to tell me when these yahoo's go to court and now I have to pay a lawyer if I want to sue them for the damage they did and the things they stolen so I get hammered yet again.

I am beginning to believe that this system only protects the criminal. We rented a house to someone who was supposed to be a friend and she stiffed us for 6 months rent and utility bills. We have a truck stolen and a scrap yard just takes it without even considering that it belongs to someone other than the yahoo that drags it in. Your grass is high and your home is abandoned. No I didn't have utilities hooked up, why would I? That does not give you the right to come into my home and take what you want. I wish I did have the electricity on so they would have gotten zapped but then I would probably be held accountable for that and get sued.

It is past time for law abiding citizens to start standing up for themselves and I intend to. I am sueing these kids and their parents since they are both under the age of 21. (I forgot to mention that the father of one of these stars was involved as well in selling the washer and dryer). I am also launching an all out assault on the Kentucky legislature to put controls on what can be sold at scrap yards and by whom. (How can you POSSIBLY thing you can run a business like that and just take whatever from whomever?)

Will I ever win, maybe, maybe not but by God, I won't be a victim!

A shopping I went!!  

Posted by: Maria

I came home from work, spent an hour or so rounding up/cutting out coupons and checking ads then I went shopping. I hit just Krogers and Walgreens. Tomorrow will be target but I am already a winner and $105.47 to the good. Walgreens was a smaller trip so I will start with that.

4 boxes of Nutrigrain bars on sale 2/$5 =$10.00
4 $1 off coupons =$6
$2 Register Reward (RR)=$4 or $1/box

2 BenGay Pain Relief and Massage Gel on sale for $4.99 each =$9.98
One $5 coupon =$4.98
one $3 Coupon = $1.98
or $0.99 each!

Nice and Easy Hair color on sale for $6.99
one $2 coupon =$4.99

Preference by Loreal Hair Color (I am not really picky) $9.49
Store coupon $2.50 =$6.99
P&G coupon $1= $5.99
RR $3 =$2.99

Gillette Fusnion Razor on sale for $9.98
P&G coupon $4 =$5.98
RR $5 =$0.98

Walgreens Coupon savings= $2.50
Walgreens Advertised Savings= $15.70
MFG Coupons= $19.00
RR= $10
Total Savings $47.20

I won't go through all the individual things from Krogers but highlights are

Pampers Wipes final cost $0.59
Free Oreo Cookies
Free Gillette Body Wash
Free Old Spice Deodorant
Free Olay Total Effects Body Wash

My Total savings was $58.27, $37.86 in MFG coupons, $18.70 in store coupons and plus card savings, $1.70 in bonus savings (double Coupons)amounting to 56% of my total!

I will hit Target tomorrow after work but one thing I have to do and fast is find an organization system that works and get it together... It is difficult to find things just stuffed into an envelope.

A couple more goodies before I go...  

Posted by: Maria

If you sign up at Redbox now they will give you a code for a free movie rental Free Movie Rental

AND a biggie. You can get free Oreo cookies tomorrow and download more savings at Nabisco Cookies This is good tomorrow June 7th and for the first Monday of each month for the rest of 2010 *while supplies last* To get the cookies you must buy a bag of cookies and a gallon of milk. Limit one per household.

Getting on the Savings Bandwagon...  

Posted by: Maria

OK so I have been trying to come up with some ways to start cutting some regular costs around here. I have been perusing The Coupon Goddess which led me to Hip2Save and Totally Target. So I sent DS#2 out this morning to get the Sunday paper and discover my wealth! Thought I would use what I have learned to save some $$$.

If you are in the Cincinnati area Kroger is our big grocery store. With the Plus card this week you can get the folloing with Red Plum coupons:

Glad Trash Bags
Plus Card Price: $6.99
coupon savings: $0.50
double coupon: $0.50
Final cost $5.99

Clorox Wipes 35 count
Plus Card Price:2/$5.00
coupon savings:$1.00 off 2
Final cost: 2/$4.00

Pine Sol 48 ounce
Plus Card Price:2/$5.00
coupon savings: $0.50
double coupon: $0.50
Final cost 2/$4.00

Clorox Bleach 82-96 ounce
Plus Card Price:$1.69
coupon savings: $0.25
double coupon: $0.25
Final cost:$1.19

There is a big P&G Ad this week with over $111 in savings and that is before anything doubles (if you can get double coupons)

At CVS this week you can get a free 9 roll pack of Charmin when you spend $25 on things like:

Dawn Dish detergent
on sale for $0.97
P&G coupon: $0.50
Final Cost: $0.47


Pampers Cruisers
on sale for $8.98
P&G coupon: $1.50
Final Cost: $7.48

Cascade Gel Powder or 2 in 1 Action packs
on sale for $3.97
P&G coupon: $0.25
Final Cost: $3.72

Tampax Pearl
on sale for $2.97
P&G coupon: $2.00
Final Cost: $.97!!!

There is also A $2.00 coupon in Smart Source so you can get a second offer as well

Always Panty Liners

on sale for $2.97
P&G coupon: $1.00
Final Cost: $1.97

Walgreens has some goodies too!

The Gillette Fusion Proglide Razor
Sale Price: $9.89
P&G coupon: $4.00
Register Reward $5.00
Final Cost: $0.89!


L'Oreal Preference Hair Color
Coupon Price: $6.99
Red Plum Coupon: $2.00
Final Cost: $4.99

Tide Stain Release
Sale Price $3.99
P&G coupon $1.00
Final Cost $2.99
(actually there is a Red Plum Coupon for $1.50 so your final cost could be $2.49 or you can get another one!)

Cascade Dishwasher Detergent
Sale Price: $3.99
P&G coupon: $0.25
Register Rewards: $1.00
Final Cost: $2.76

Venus Razor
Sale Price: $8.99
P&G coupon: $2.00
Register Rewards: $2.00
Final Cost: $4.99

Colgate Toothpaste
Sale Price: 2/$10
Smart Source coupon: $1
Register Rewards: $2.00
Final Cost:2/$7

I don't know what the regular Price of Tampax Pearl or Always Panty Liners are but they are BOGO at Walgreens so you might be able to max out the coupons I priced in the CVS ad there.

Prilosec OTC 28 count
Sale Price: $18.99
P&G coupon: $3.00
Register Rewards: $2.00
Final Cost: $13.99


Pampers Cruisers
on sale for $8.99
P&G coupon: $1.50
Final Cost: $7.49

Pampers Wipes 64 or 72 ct.
on sale for 2/$5
P&G coupon: $2.00
Final Cost: 2/$3

There is a Walgreens Ad coupon for $4 off Claitin and one in Smart Source for $4 as well



Target

John Freida Hair Awakening
on sale for $5.99
Smart Source coupon: $3
Final Cost: $2.99

Lysol Wipes
on sale for $1.89
Smart Source coupon: $1
Final Cost: $0.89


Lysol 4 in 1 liquid
on sale for $1.89
Smart Source coupon: $0.75
Final Cost: $1.14


K-Mart is also on the Gift Card bandwagon. Get a $10 GC when you buy $35 or more in P&G products. This is if you are a Shop YouWay Rewards member only so it would pay to sign up.

OK, that's it for now, I need to get ready for work unfortunately! :-(

Social Spark  

Posted by: Maria

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.



I joined a program today called SocialSpark. This is a program where bloggers have a chance to try and review products and write about them in their blogs! I like that idea since I sure love to give my opinion!(+) You are free to say or write whatever you want regarding those products.You get paid to offer your opinions...good, bad or otherwise!(+) I also get a chance to offer you some great coupons for the products I review as well and I just love gift giving so this seems like the perfect fit.(+)


The sign up process was quick and easy (+). The first challenge was to write about the process which was also easy (+). You can also donate the money you earn to charities (+++)(susan G Komen and The American Red Cross are on the list) You get to choose which offers appeal to you as well (+)So? Am I making you think you might want to give it a try?

You can go to SocialSpark to sign up or better yet, read their Code of Ethics before for you decide.

Give it whirl and see what falls out. You don't have a thing to lose!Visit my sponsor: I Signed Up for SocialSpark!

Berry Fever!!  

Posted by: Maria in

Berries are coming into season and we are eating a lot of them. I subscribe to the Kraft Foods Newsletter and these 2 recipes came up today. One of them will be made for dinner tonight but I don't know which one yet, they both look delicious!


Angel Lush Cupcakes
prep time 15 min
total time 1 hr 30 min
makes 30 servings
What You Need
1 pkg. (16 oz.) angel food cake mix
1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
2 cans (8 oz. each) Crushed Pineapple in Juice, undrained
1 cup thawed Whipped Topping
2 cups assorted fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries and sliced strawberries)

HEAT oven to 375ºF.

PREPARE cake batter as directed on package; pour into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. Bake 12 to 15 min. or until tops are golden brown and cracks feel dry. (Note: If baking in batches, refrigerate remaining batter in bowl until ready to pour into lined muffin cups and bake.) Cool cupcakes in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

MIX dry pudding mix and pineapple in medium bowl. Gently stir in COOL WHIP; spread onto cupcakes.

TOP with berries.

If you can't bake all the cupcakes at once, store remaining batter in refrigerator between batches and bake up as quickly as possible so cupcakes are light and fluffy.

Substitute 15 fresh strawberries, halved, for the 2 cups assorted fresh berries.

Store in refrigerator

orrrrr....Individual Strawberry Cups

What You Need
1-1/4 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 cup boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz.) Strawberry Flavor Gelatin
2 cups ice cubes
24 fresh strawberries, divided
2 cups thawed Whipped Topping
1/3 cup strawberry jam

HEAT oven to 350°F.

MIX crumbs and butter; press 2 Tbsp. onto bottom and up side of each of 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Bake 5 min.; cool.

MEANWHILE, add boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add ice; stir 3 to 5 min. or until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. Crush 12 berries. Add to gelatin with COOL WHIP; whisk until well blended. Spoon into crusts. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

SLICE remaining berries. Remove strawberry cups from muffin pan; top with berries. Microwave jam in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 30 sec. or just until melted; stir. Brush over berries. Refrigerate 20 min.

Variation
Prepare using Strawberry Flavor Sugar Free Gelatin and COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping.

How to Remove Strawberry Cups from Pan
Gently run small sharp knife around edges of desserts to loosen from pan. Then, use tip of knife to carefully lift desserts from pan, being careful to not cut into sides of desserts.

OK, there is is, you decide!! Oh and if berries are not your dessert of choice the newsletter also has a recipe for creamy lemon squares and a candy crunch pudding pie! Oh my!

Kraft Newsletter Signup You know you need it!!

Some now it is March  

Posted by: Maria

The winter doldrums have passed with the coming of the sun and warmer weather. Lots of wonderful fruits and vegetables too. I bought my new Food Network Magazine Food Network Magazine to read at lunch and saw this recipe for Vanilla Mousse Cheesecake. I decided on the spot that I was making this tonight. I did. We haven't eaten it yet as it is still chilling. I bought fresh strawberries to go on it too. Yes I followed the recipe and no it is definately not non or low fat! (2 pounds of cream cheese!)

Things on the fibro front are getting more and more interesting. First, upping my dose of gabapentin from 300 MG two times a day to 600 MG twice a day has taken care of a lot of the pain. So much so that now just a couple of over the counter pain relievers will knock it out. Second, once the pain was managable, I realize that I was still exhausted although I was sleeping now and not tossing and turning from the pain. When I saw my intrepid doctor yesterday he let me know there s nothing specific they can do for exhaustion but that a shot of B-12 might help. If so that is a quick and easy fix. If not, it wasn't going to hurt me. Boy oh boy did it work. I was able to go right to sleep last night and woke up easily this morning. I went through the day without the drag of exhaustion, went to Borders and Wal-Mart after work and was still feeling good when I got home. Baked the cheesecake, tried out the treadmill, made dinner and here we are. I am tired now but I did get up at 2:45 this morning. I hope it hangs on. Tomorrow I am going to check out the health food store and see if I can find the sublingual B-12 so I don't have to go to the doctor every time I start to run down. Since I am at the start of a 6 day work stretch I hope it hangs on.

I am at the end of my Physical Therapy for my feet as well. I had messed up the tendons probably from being on concrete 8 hours a day and not wearing the most supportive shoes. I am so happy to be wble to work and walk again!

So here's to March. The start of new things and pain free living!

The Winter Doldrums  

Posted by: Maria

I guess that is the best way to sum up my life right now. Most of my days I feel like I am just getting through them. My job is good, my health could be a lot worse (!), my life is really at a much slower pace now than it has been so why I am so glum? I don't think our dull, gray weather has much to do with it.

I think the fibromyalgia or maybe just the diagnosis of fibro is getting to me. For so long I just kept thinking if I do this or don't do that things will get better. now I know they probably will not and they will probably get worse. I saw the doctor yesterday and he upped my dose of gabapentin so hopefully that will help. I think he was pleased that I would rather try and work with this medication than just trip on over to something new. I think he believes it will work and so that gives me hope...sort of. I wish I could block the fibromyalgia commercials on TV though, every time I see one I want to scream. Have you seen the side effects of some of those drugs? Good Lord, I would rather ache all day that have my tongue swell, my liver convulse and start sleep driving! Oh man. All those commercials are pretty much the same no matter what drug you are looking at for what ailment. THAT is why I am against taking any drugs at all which also tells you how bad I was feeling that I would even start taking anything.

I am not going to just do that though. I made up my mind that this year I am going to take care of me. If I can't function there will be a whole world of problems around here. Right now I am looking for a warm water aerobics class as therapy for my joints and I am also looking at alternative health providers such as acupuncture. My doctor is believe it or not, all for that. He says his job is to eliminate my pain, not sell drugs, imagine that!

I am also trying to get back into my creative outlets. Pretty much since last April I have shut that part of me off. Not so much that I made a conscious decision to do that but that I have had no desire to do it. At the beginning of December I decided to get involved with Project Linus. One of the things my friend Pam intended to do after she retired was to make blankets for Project Linus. When her birthday rolled around, I decided that I would make a couple and donate them in her honor. So far I have made I think 15 and I am still going strong. In addition, I have started an afghan for me with the leftovers from the PL blankets so I am getting some hand therapy, reducing my stress level and helping a good cause. I need to take some pictures and get them up here.

Now that I have exorcised a few demons, I guess I had better go get dinner started!

The end of 2009  

Posted by: Maria

Well I cannot say I am sorry to see this year go. It has been one things after another but it seems like the years are all like that anymore. I have a friend who just wishes for peace in her life this coming year. I have to agree with her, PEACE, calm, harmony...I don't care how you say it just to get through the days without a knot in your stomach over one thing or another would be nice. That's my hope for this year.

On the plus side, I got to spend New Years with Karen and Miles and baby Isabell was mine for 24 hours. I have forgotten how much work babies are but when they smile you do forget all that so it is OK. Since Karen's transfer is all but a done deal, this will probably be the last weekend that I get to spend with them unless I head to New York. That makes me sad but I am so very glad we have had the time we have had! We will work hard not to let things go by the wayside I hope!

I ahve started making blankets for Project Linus. The idea really belonged to my friend Pam and I decided on her birthday that I would do that for her and I have. So far I have completed 6 blankets and have fabric for many more. There is always a child somewhere who needs to be kept warm. :-)

Today was the end of my extra holiday days off so tomorrow marks the return to the daily grind. It is my plan to take better care of me this year. I need to find out what is causing my problems and take care of it one way or another. Just getting into a routine will help. I need to pick my sewing back up again and get my creative side nourished so my stress side can take a break!

We will see!! Here's to 2010