Thrifty Thursday with Nina!

I have a TREAT for you guys today. And for all you dieters,

THIS SHIT AIN'T SUGAR-COATED!

Nina for The Nina Show is the bomb-diggety at budgets and craftiness and badassness.

Check her resume. All are on there.

Not to mention she is a Pinterest legend, blogging guru, and a bad mamma-jamma all at the same time.

When I knew I'd be out of town for Thrifty Thursday, I asked her to come up with a rad post for you guys and whoa did she.


Read. Enjoy. Follow her. SAVE MONEY.


 

Thanks Jesus. Now I have a crapton of credit card bills and a low flow of dolla bills to go with.



That, America, is why we can't get our shit together. Want. Buy. Broke. Buy More. Charge. Debt. Depression. Buy more to make ya happy.



It's a vicious cycle it is.



Girl STOP. You do not need that Michael Kors purse....or the wallet. If you want to get your shit together financially...you have to sit your ass down & plan that shit out and put yourself on lock down.



Yes. LOCK DOWN. I realize this is coming from a girl who has no clue how much is currently in her bank account because she's too scared to look. I just keep swiping & praying I don't hear dat decline ding.

 

BUT...my friends..I may not always practice what I preach..but I FO SHO know my shit.



Let's get real now...sitting down & making a budget..AND FOLLOWING THAT BUDGET...it's the only way. Life isn't all cupcakes & unicorns...your budget & discipline is not going to just float in on a puffy white cloud and save the day. So roll up your sleeves & get busy. Do it YOself is the new black. & Thrifty Thursday is totally the new Friday. Duh.



The first step to getting your shit together is to GET ORGANIZED. This is where I'm legit a pro. I've created a fool proof, stupidly easy, do it YOself, bill paying system that will get you giddy with the "I got my shit together" feeling. Muh Bill Book post has been viewed 385,991 times and gone completely viral on Pinterest. The people love it & you will too. I show you how to organize your bills like a pro & even include some pretty rad FREE printables to get you going.

    The next step to getting becoming a financial guru is SIT DOWN & MAKE A BUDGET! Here is a simple budget sheet:

 

Click HERE to download.

Ok..listen up folks...it's not rocket science ok. $$$ you make (paychecks) minus $$$ you spend (bills & expenses) = $$$ you have left to BLOW See...easy as pie! If that budget worksheet is just a little too simple...then allow me to introduce you to something called: THE GOOGLE.

 
Just use The Google to find one that fits your needs.

NEXT...you need to take that extra money you have left over from you budget & go
buy that Michael Kors pursedecide what to do with it. The most logical thing would be to tackle your debt. If you have no debt then you can save it. But if you live in America...more than likely you have a buttload of debt. One of the best tools to tackle that debt is the DEBT SNOWBALL.

 

It's simple. It's easy. It's effective. Here is a link to some free printables that have complete detailed directions on how it works and free worksheets to. CLICK HERE to get 'em. Be sure to look down to the right on that page where it says related documents to access them all. And the last step to getting your shit together....

 

Nina OUT.

Confessions of a Non-Decorator

There have to be some of you guys with your Christmas trees still up.




 

Right?

No?

Just me?

Fantastic.

As I looked at my Christmas tree last night that is STILL UP, I couldn't help but think to myself, "When God was doling out all the 'girly" when I was born, where was I? How did I get missed?"

Because let's be honest... decorating SUCKS.

But what sucks worse than decorating?

Taking down the damn decorations!

It is kind of like making your bed in the morning... why would I do that? I'm just going to get right back in it tonight.

Can't I just cover the tree with a bag and be done?



I mean, at least decorating for Christmas you get hot chocolate and see your son dance around to Elvis Christmas songs...

Just me again? Oh well.

But there is no "put the Christmas decorations up" music. And what drink goes with that?

Vodka? Beer?

I need one or both to get the motivation to put those things up.

You have to take down the ornaments and lovingly wrap them in bubble paper or you'll have to sift through shards of glass next Christmas.

Then the tree comes in 3 different parts. And the box says it'll fit a 7ft tree in it, but it means that you have to fold it like an origami chandelier and then you and the whole family have to wrestle the box into submission while you strap it down before one of those wily branches gets out and you have to start the whole process again. And get a tetanus shot.

If you are lucky enough to get that thing strapped in the box, then you have to lug the 40lb box upstairs and into the attic.

Attics suck too! Its dark and cold and I'm positive there is a family of spiders up there plotting my demise.

By the end of all of this, I need a nap. Just thinking about it makes me need a nap.

So what do I do instead of taking down the damn Christmas tree?

I take a nap. Because napping is fun and does not suck. I can't say the same about the drama that is a Christmas tree. 

Monday Memoirs

You guys! It's been too long! 

Between the dreaded cancer drama and the fact that it is conference season at work, I haven't been on the bloggy scene in quite some time. And I've missed it! 

Then I get on today, and Royal has started this awesome link-up called Monday Memoirs and I thought, "I have to join in on this action." 

TWSS

So I've decided to tell you all the story behind this picture. 



Yup. That's me. In a Texas Highway Patrol car. 

So here is the story because I know you have all the questions... 

We were driving down the blessed Texas interstate at 78 mph (the speed limit is 75) and I pass this lovely car on the side of the road. I got over in the right lane and looked in my rear view mirror to find him pulling onto the interstate. 

I can't believe he is going to pull me over for 3 above the speed limit! This is just GREAT!

So I slow it down to 75 mph and prepare to pull over. He gets in the left lane and speeds up. 

Glory to fluffy unicorn glittery land, he is going around me! 

As he passes me and gets dead even with my car, he suddenly slows down. 

Aw hells no. 

He then gets right behind me. And you guessed it... lights on. 

Well shitty shitty damn damn. 

I go on and pull over, wondering what could possibly be in store for me. 

I roll down the passenger side window, and here comes Texas Ted, complete with cowboy hat. 

"HOWDY! Ma'am I pulled you over because that left lane there is for passing only. Now don't worry, you aren't gettin' a ticket or nothin'. I just need to get you are warnin'." 

Me: "Oh, was I in the passing lane? I didn't even notice."

"Yes ma'am. Do you have your license and registration?" 

Me: (hands it to him)

"Alright ma'am. You can just come back here and I'll get you your warning." 



Say what?!


Did you just ask me to get out of my car and come back to your car to get my warning? 

Do you guys not deliver that shit anymore? 

The road is dangerous enough for you to talk to me through the passenger side window, but you want me to open my driver's side door into traffic, get out, and walk back to your car? 



Texas Ted got in his car and starting putting information in the system while Cowboy Curt vacated the passenger side seat so I could sit down. That's when Tracy jumped out and started snapping pictures. 

That's when Texas Ted started asking more questions: 

"Ma'am have you ever been in trouble with the law before?"

Me: Just that one time in Russia but they said that wouldn't follow me over here. 

"Where ya'll headin'?"

Me: "Fort Worth for a conference."

"And what type a conference is that?" 

Me: "We work in student housing on a university campus so it's our annual conference for those like us in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas."

"Huh. Welp, here's your warning ma'am." 

And I got out of the car, thanked them for their time, and went along my merry way. Ever so cautious to not be in the passing lane except for passing only. 

So, why do you think he actually pulled me over? Because no one was behind me... nay, I was the only person on the road.

On Love and Hope

I am not participating in any link ups today as I have something in my heart to share. 

Today is the international day of love. 

And while I do not enjoy this holiday in any form or fashion in what it is intended for, I do, however, find great meaning in celebrating showing love to one another. 

In my eyes, there is no better way to show love for another person than by doing something for them. To see a need in someone's life and then fill it without asking them... that is an act of love and to me, it carries the most impact. 

Anyone can buy a gift or say the right words... but put in the effort of DOING something for another human being that they need shows love in its purest sense. 

Did Jesus want to be nailed to the cross? 

No. In fact we was scared to do it. And he begged for reprieve. 

But He did it anyway. Because He knew that it was the ultimate sacrifice of love. 

Let's celebrate that today. 

You all should know by now that I'm desperately trying to get more people to register as bone marrow donors. If you haven't been in the situation to desperately need a hero so you could keep your loved one around longer, I'd like to ask you to try and picture it. 

You all know our story by now of trying to keep my son's grandma around to watch him grow up. (If you don't, you can read here.)

Today I have another story to share. Can you imagine have an 11 year old son, and not being able to promise him that everything will be okay? That momma will get to watch him grow up? 

I don't think there is a stronger love in this world than that of a mother to her son. When Mary lost Jesus, she described it as her soul being torn. 

And just imagining something separating my son and I leaves me with that same aching fear... the fear of my soul being torn. 

Please read this story and considering donating. Please share this with your friends on Facebook or Twitter or via email. 

Hi my name is Kris and I have an 11 year old son who is the love of my life, two dogs and a special person who lives near the Great Lakes, who will always share my heart.

On. Nov. 26, 2013 at the age of 33, I was diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy- adult on-set, the rarest form of this disease.  I had become forgetful, and was having trouble remembering things and doing things I had done well for years. I had been diagnosed with Adult ADD, so thought my medication needed adjusting. I never thought I would be told I had a genetic degenerative brain disease -one that has no cure.

I was told I was born with this -that-nothing in my life could have caused it. It seems it was destined to onset around age 15 which now explains how I went from a straight A student in a private elementary school to someone who began to struggle in high school.  From onset there were periods of stability mixed in with periods of problems-depression, behavior changes, difficulty concentrating, sleeping, reasoning and the inability to problem solve.  It is the periods of stability that make you falsely believe you are fine then the progressive stage begins and you realize something is really wrong.

I was referred to a great neurologist Dr. Day, who immediately did an MRI and saw the abnormalities in the white brain matter. The blood test confirming the deficiency in the enzyme -Arylsulfatase A. I learned that without enough of this enzyme,sulfatides build up in my brain and slowly cause it degenerate.

Not willing to accept nothing could be done, my mom went on a search nation wide to find me help.  Through prayer and with God's help- she did-at the Children's Hospital in Pa.  Dr.Maria Escolar runs the largest center for rare degenerative brain disease in the world. Though a doctor for children, lucky for me she began taking adult patients 3 years ago.

I spent a week in Pa. with Dr. Escolar and her team undergoing multiple tests.They were caring and compassionate.

At the end of the week, I was given a gift- HOPE.  Dr. Escolar told me that because the MLD had only affected me cognitively, and not yet physically I have a small window of time for a Bone Marrow Transplant. I met Dr.Paul and his transplant team and I know I am in the best hands. If I have the transplant and it is successful, it will stop the disease. Though I won't gain back the abilities I have lost, I will be a functional adult -most importantly - I will get to continue to be a mom.

My only sibling, my sister is not a match, though she really wanted to be. So the donor registery is being searched to find me a match. Due to my small window of time, if you are on the registry and haven't updated your current address, please do so, so you can be found to be my match or that of someone else in need.

If you have not registered and are willing to have your cheek swabbed to see if you could be a donor for me or someone else in need, please order a free, do it your self kit online or attend a donor drive. By the way,you do not have to match a person's blood type to be their donor. I know my wonderful cousin Meg has organized a donor drive for the first weekend in Feb, at St.Mary of the Assumption Parish in Glenshaw, Pa.  Thank you Meg!  My sister is also organizing one in KC North-and  St. Peter's too is organizing one before the end of January in Kansas City as well. Thank you everyone for helping me find a donor and to St. Charles for helping to get the word out!

I have HOPE -a small window of time that God has given me. 

Let's stop making excuses and start making differences. You could be Kris's hero. You could my son's. 

Again, I ask that you share this link on your social media outlets. Give the gift of life this Valentine's Day. Give the gift of hope. 

And you just might get a gift in return. Follow this link to learn how to become a donor. It is as easy as swabbing the inside of your cheek. There are also some really great prizes up for grabs. 

BE THE HERO

Thoughtful Thursday and Updates on Bone Marrow Drive

I know some of you all have been wondering how my mother in law is doing because the updates just kind of stopped. 

The reason they stopped is because while we were in St. Louis trying the study drug with the chemo to try and get her blood counts to rebound, we had a minor set back. 

The study drug was trying to shut down her liver. 

We arrived for the fourth day of treatment (out of seven) and she had a fever. We noticed she was yellow. As the day progressed she was turning orange. 

They tested her blood and to put this all in perspective, normal billrubin (liver waste) counts are supposed to be 1.0 or under. When she came into the hospital before treatment, she was at a 1.5. Elevated but not bad. 

On the fourth day of treatment, she was an 11.8. 

She was severely jaundiced. 

So on the fourth day of treatment, we were admitted to the hospital instead. She was developing a fever and not responding well to treatment so we were back at square one. 

While all of this seems really frustrating, we knew we were taking a chance when we agreed to do the clinical trial. When you get leukemia because of a previous chemo treatment like she did, the odds are stacked against you. That's why we had to try the trial. We were hoping it would get to a place where she was blood transfusion independent and that would buy us some time before the bone marrow transplant. 

But either way, we were going to have to do the bone marrow transplant. The clinical trial wasn't a long term fix. So her doctor removing her from that trial was a good thing. It just wasn't right for her body.

Where are we now? 

At this time we are back in Little Rock. She goes twice a week to the hospital to have her blood checked and get transfusions if needed. She is having to get them at least once a week but again, that isn't necessarily bad news. It is just the way this disease works. 

She did start losing her hair this past week from what little chemo she did get so I'm currently it hot pursuit of some fun hats for her. If you know of a place to get some cool beenie hats, let me know. If you haven't had a chance to read all the updates from St. Louis, you should. She is a CHARACTER so if I can find some funny hats for her, I know she'll wear them and fun with it. 

When we talked to the nurse in St. Louis earlier in the week, they were still in the process of finding the best match. They have two blood samples that they are testing further to see if it will match her. They said we would be in transplant phase anywhere from 6 - 8 weeks from now if one of those work. 

Everyone is asking what they can do to help us. 

1) Register as a potential donor. Please. 

You have no idea what it can do for someone else. Even if you aren't a match for Pat, you may be a match for someone. And to give someone in a situation like this hope is priceless. When you are in this situation and you hear that a bone marrow donation is the only answer, you are putting your life in the hands of strangers. 

You want to be a hero? You want to leave a legacy? You want to do something meaningful with your life? 



Give someone else more time with their family. Give a grandmother more time to watch her grandson grow up. Give more time to a young child so that a mother and father don't have to face the heartache of losing their child. 

The stories are endless of people out there who are waiting on their hero. You could could be that here. To find out, you simply swab the inside of your cheek. 

How to Register

2) Send prayers. 

Pat has no immune system right now. Any little virus or infection can do some serious damage. We need an air of protection around her. We need her to be able to eat well, and stay hydrated, and stay well! Since the diagnosis back in November/December, she has been hospitalized twice with pneumonia. 

That's irritating. And to be honest it is scary. 

When this process starts up again, pray that she has strength to get through. That she receives the treatment well. That she accepts the donated marrow well. 

4) Participate in the giveaway. 

Promote it. We want to raise awareness with this as well. Again, you may not be a match for Pat but there are millions of others who need their heroes just as bad as we do. Post your swabbing selfie on Instagram or Twitter. Post a reason why this is so important or why others should swab. 



The giveaway is on the original drive post. You can find it here. 

3) Please stop by the following bloggers and show them some love as well.

I reached out to them to ask a favor... help me promote this drive and help find a match. And then they took it and went above and beyond. They have tweeted, blogged, facebooked, emailed.... these girls are my angels and I consider each and every one of them my friends now. Real angels do exist here on earth and they live among us doing little things for little people. Please reach out to them and thank them for being such wonderful people in what can sometimes be a very ugly world. 

Nina @ theninashow.com

Holly @ thestanfieldclan.com

Erin @ shesabigstar.com

Meg @ nerkyblog.com

Amanda @ abrownieworld.blogspot.com

Royal @ royalproclaims.blogspot.com

Tammy @ youwouldntcallitadrinkingproblem.com

If you would like to read the story from beginning to end, here you go (they aren't all sad. we find can find humor in almost anything): 

 

First Post (Big Bad Bloggers Bone Marrow Drive)

Second Post (St. Louis Days 1 and 2) 

Third Post (Day 3: First Day of Chemo and Rikki Lost her Shit)

Fourth Post (Day "What the Eff Ever" Update)

Fifth Post (On Gratitude and Little Things)

Sixth Post (Let's Get Some Perspective)

Seventh Post (Shit My MIL Says)

Eighth Post (WTF Wednesday: Disposable Panties)

I call conspiracy!

Dear Winter Storm Pax, 

Kiss my dimply freckled ass. 

Sincerely, 

The South


Okay guys, WTF was that?! I've never in all my life experienced all of the meteorologists in a tri-state area not know what in the hell is going on. And I remember the days before Doppler radar and they were just going out and licking their finger, sticking it up in the air and saying, "Feels a bit windy today. Wear a light jacket and layers." 

Back in the day where the color of clouds, the way the birds were flying, the way the turtles were crossing the road.... all of that was more accurate than this weather predicting voo-doo we have today. 



Sunday night: 

I went to bed confident there would be no school the next day because of all the snow. I promised my son we'd make pancakes. Again, because ALL THE SNOW. 

Apparently I missed the memo on Sunday when they changed their minds and informed us all the Snowmaggedon Pax was a bit delayed on his trip to Arkansas. 

And boy was my son PISSED when there was neither snow nor pancakes on Monday  morning. 



Monday night: 

Snowmaggedon Pax is a bit delayed again, but never fear! A very thin line of Arkansas was going to get hammered with 1 - 3 inches of snow (and we were in the line).

On my way home from a birthday dinner, it started sleet. 

BLESSED SLEET! YOU ARE THE MAJESTIC PRECIPITATION THAT PRECEDES PAX AND ALL OF HIS SNOW BEARING GOODNESS! 

And then I woke up to NOT A DAMN THING ON THE GROUND. 

Not even frost. I'm not kidding. 

This is Central Arkansas today. A bunch of folks all bundled up for NOTHING!

Listen up weather gods, global warming, and voo-doo weather predicting gadgets... 

I live in Arkansas for the MILD winters. I don't do cold. I don't do ice. And since once every ten years we get a real SNOW event, I'm going to need you not to taunt me with the opportunity to stay home with my son, eating delicious pancakes and making snow ice cream. 

Will I play in the snow? 

No. Again, I don't do cold. 

But extra days with my little boy are precious and you got my hopes up with all your "70% chance you'll be out of school on Monday." 

Do you know who I think is behind this? 

The bread and milk companies. They paid off the weather dudes and Doppler radars and the voo-doos and they sat back and raked in the dough when all the crazy southerners (me not included b/c I don't like people that much and would rather starve) went and bought up all the bread and milk. 


Dear bread and milk companies, 

Summer is coming and judging by the severity of this winter, my guess is it is going to be hotter than Satan's ass here in the south. I'm sure the milk will by flying off the shelves in 100 degree heat. 



And as for you bread peddlers, I hope more people go gluten free. 



Sincerely, 

The South


Also, don't forget about becoming a hero and our Big Bad Blog Bone Marrow Drive! There are some wicked awesome prizes and I'm still not seeing a lot of swabbing selfies! 

Five Minute Fridays: WRITE

 

Ever the follower, I've decided to ditch the Five on Fridays thing and do something a little more challenging and community oriented. 

5 minute Fridays are simply to take the prompt and write for 5 minutes. No editing. No rules. Just write on that prompt. 

Sometimes I'm sure I'll go with funny or serious or whatever. I think that's the beauty of it. 

Today's Prompt:

WRITE

Writing for a blog is natural for me. I find it therapeutic (as most bloggers do). But I know some people struggle with it. 

Through a conversation yesterday with a friend, I realized just how simple it was. I was actually giving advice and learning at the same time (sometimes the best form of learning). But when writing, what do you want to convey to your readers? 

What is your mission? When they read your writing, what do you want them to come away with? 

There are so many types of bloggers out there. Mommy bloggers, fitness bloggers, business bloggers, foodie bloggers, blah blah blah. And I don't fall neatly into one category. 

I just want people to laugh and not take life too seriously. And I want to inspire people to love deeply. 

That's it. 

And I feel like I accomplish this by pointing out the absurdities in life (hello ass-less panties!) and by reliving the extreme realness of being a parent (eat dirt, Gwenyth Paltrow!). Life is funny. Life is messy. We make mistakes. There is no prescription for how to do everything in life and most of us are learning as we go. So I write to let the rest of the world know it is okay if you slipped and called your son a little shit (or if that's his nickname) because chances are... he really was being a little shit. 

I write to let the rest of the world know that stepping out there and standing up for someone who can't do it on their own is scary, but worth it. 

I write to vent. 

I write for release. 

And I write because I'm flinging flanging awesome and the world could be benefit from a little more "awesome" and a little less "asshat". 

Happy Friday! 




 

Thrifty Thursday: Risky Bizniz (Enter if you dare)

This post is edgy beyond belief. If you scare easily... back away now.



Yeah right. You are all going to proceed forward like I didn't warn you.

Fine then.




What's the fuss about?

Panties.

I realize I just did a post (a week ago... who is counting?) about disposable panties and how awful I feel they are, but my husband showed me a website last night and suffice it to say, I may not have given the "good wife" response.

You see, there are "Panty of the Month" clubs.

Did you know that?

You can sign up (or sign your wife up) for a different panty to be mailed to you every month.

Yee freaking haw.

Nothing says I love you like a piece of fabric to keep your junk from being chaffed. 

Anyway. You put in their favorite colors, their preferred styles, etc and BAM! New underoos every month!



There's more. 

You can pick the regular prude panty of the month....



OR

You can "enter if you dare" and pick more exciting "freak in the bed" panty of the month. 

The front is perfectly  normal. 

But then... BAM! 




YOUR ASS IS HANGING OUT!



Justin and I had a long conversation about these. Clearly I'm wrong. 

But what is the point!?!?!

To me those say, "Hi. I'd like some butt sex please." 

Which if you do, that's your business. What you do behind closed doors is up to you and ain't my binnizz. 

However, why go through the trouble of all that?! Buying assless panties?! That's a bit much. 

I bet going up to your husband, taking off your pants and saying, "Hey I'd like some butt sex," would work just fine too. And all the money you'll save?!?!

Also... what's the point of wearing the underwear anyway?! Want to be sexy to man? 

Just don't wear underwear at all! And tell them as they are at work or on their way out the door! They won't be able to think about anything else, it costs you nothing, and there's a little less laundry to do. 



Maybe I'm just too practical. I just see all the dollars wasted on an unfinished product that results in the same thing as if I just got naked and said, "Wanna do it?"

Is it romantic? 

No. 

Do they care? 

Men chime in here, but I'm pretty sure "naked lady who wants to have sex with me" works just fine. 

I just don't see the point in wasting the money on panties with no ass. 

What do you think?