Be Jealous, if you want to.

My hubby is the greatest. No really, he is. Sure he has his flaws, but some people might say that they're great things...well, depending on who you are, I suppose.

Meet Josh. He's 2 years younger than I am, but he's a smart little whipper-snapper! Josh & I met through a friend (roommate at the time) because we were stood up by some other guys on St. Patrick's Day. The 2 of us (roomy & I) being Irish, had to find something to do or someone to hang out with knowing that sitting at home was not an option. She called Josh, whom she bowled with, and he was there in a matter of minutes. We went to a movie, then back to the apartment & spent the next several weeks talking (nearly non-stop) in person & on the phone. I loved spending time with him, but was on a dating hiatus...it just wasn't an option.

I didn't know it then, but I was totally falling for him. He'd already fallen for me...but only Grandma saw that. So after showing some guts doing karaoke (that's the last time ever) & staying away from me for a week...& then about a month (while I dated someone else...stupid me anyhow!) I decided that there was nobody better. The Lord was really faithful in showing me that! After a few months of praying, we decided that the search was over & the rest, as they say, (who are they, by the way) is history! Isn't he cute?

So what makes him the greatest, you ask? Well, mostly for who he is...& then for who he's not. What he does helps, too! Like what? Oh...let me make just a short list for you gals & then you can make your standards list & see what you're missing out on! Guys, you have to live up to this!

1. Rubs my feet or back w/o my having to ask for it



2. Picks up after me (not that he has to!)



3. Listens to me whining about everything I choose to whine about



4. Cleans out the litter boxes & feeds the kitties when I've fallen asleep



5. Takes care of my car (even cleans it out once in awhile (now if I could convince him to keep it washed!))



6. Sweeps the floors (mostly)



7. Does the dishes (but that's b/c he doesn't wash them when he puts them in the sink!)



8. Keeps me entertained - whether that's making me laugh, or finding a movie to do so



9. Consoles me when I'm upset



10. Plays nice w/my friends, even when I won't return the favor



11. Goes to church (even w/me)



12. Tries really hard not to get mad at work (& even harder to leave it there)



13. Loves my family as much (if not more) than his own



14. Surprises me w/little things all the time (recently, he teased me saying that he bought Little Caeser's Pizza for the guys at work.......then told me that he brought home a whole cheese pizza just for me! I ate 2 slices, he ate the rest...oh well! It was a nice thought!)



15. He's really cute



16. He practices good hygiene



17. He loves me...even when I'm being really mean or throwing a fit...or having a mental breakdown!

How could I NOT love him!?!?! Yeah, you'd love him, too...admit it.

Blogging Haikus

Blogging is a joy
It calms the mind and body
Write about it all.
Typing can be fun
It warms up all your fingers
Keyboards are our friends.
Imagine dreaming
What if they all came to life
Post about your dreams.

Going Green?

It seems that everywhere I look these days, someone or something is urging me to become more eco-friendly, more Earth-loving, more GREEN. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand the benefits of being green, but do the costs really even out? I don't have the facts & details from researching, but from personal experience it seems that the eco-friendly options are always way more expensive than the alternative. Granted, saving the earth would seem to be worth anything, right? But those of us in the lower-middle class income seem to have a harder time paying more for items we need and those that we can't necessarily make work for us again. I mean, yeah, turning disposed food & stuff into compost for the yard, I can understand doing that. Recycling into several containers when I don't have enough room for a trash can? A little harder to do. Again, don't get me wrong, I'm all for being green...but the motivation is lacking. Do you ever feel pressured to go green? Do you feel like the media is making too much of it all at once? Please comment on this post & tell me what works best for you.

New Semi-Favorite Store

Over the last few months, it seems that I have plateaued in my weight gain just enough to need to overhaul my wardrobe. After a weekend-long shopping trip w/my friend, The Fashionista, I decided that I had a grip on what I needed to continue searching for. The last several Fridays, I have made a trip to Burke's just to see if there was something that might perk my interest...boy was there ever! In the last few weeks, I've purchased 2 shirts for work (following uniform guidelines), 2 dressier blouses, a pair of sandals, some trouser socks and footies with padding for wearing with pumps, a new swimsuit for the summer and a few other items for my husband. Believe me yet?

Burke's Outlet's website has this to say about the products they carry:

Customers can find brand name apparel and accessories for the entire family at up to 70% off department store prices. In addition most stores carry shoes, home furnishings, gifts, and toys. Our stores are designed to serve customers of all ages and income levels. We pride ourselves in offering great assortments at great prices everyday.

I've purchased items that were originally in the $40 range for less than $20...and ended up saving more due to the day I shopped on!

One really great thing about Burke's is the opportunity for so many discounts! They have a discount for the "Monday Club" (15% discount for those 50 years old & up that shop on Mondays) and another one for the "Friday Club" (15% discount for those 49 & younger that shop on Fridays (my category)). The savings don't end there! Burke's also offers a Frequent Shopper card that gets a hole-punch for every $10 you spend redeemable after $200 (a completed card) for 20% off the entire purchase (up to $500). They'll even discount already discounted items, like Clearance! I love this place! Burke's Outlet Stores offer so many great savings opportunities that it makes you wonder if it could get any better...well, it can: They have a credit card & gift cards available, as well!!! I know what I'm putting on Santa's Wishlist this year.

Currently operating in 11 United States, you might be out of luck if you live north of the Mason-Dixon line! They're only closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Days, so if you have a long holiday, take a road trip to Burke's Outlet Stores...you won't regret it, I know I haven't!