Their Idaho vacations sound like fun, though.  There is more to do there than I would have thought -- everything from camping and skiing to golfing and gambling.  Personally, I wouldn't mind taking the kids on a Yellowstone vacation since I've never been before and that seems like something they should see at some point.  Maybe we'll join Mike's family one year when they go out there.

They've also talked about moving to Idaho, and if they do, I'm sure we'll have lots of excuses to go out and see them.  They had their wedding there when they got married, and Mike got to go.  He said it was actually very pretty there, and he would consider moving if they did.  If you know me, you know I'd go just about anywhere!     

I'm a little nervous because my French has gone way downhill since I last studied it ten years ago, but I still love the idea of seeing all the wonderful sights in Paris and around the country.  My friends who have been there confirmed that the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Centre Pompidou, and Notre Dame Cathedral are all as amazing in person as they sound.  And I would love for the kids to have the experience of seeing all the artwork at The Louvre, though I'm sure they would be more impressed by seeing the view from the Eiffel Tower!

France hotels are not cheap, but of course, where else are we going to stay?  The plan would be to travel around, staying some of the time in Nice hotels and then spending a large chunk of time in Paris hotels.  Since there are some cheap Paris hotels, we should be able to save money there and then splurge on a few nights in Paris Latin Quarter hotels.  If we can pull it off, it will be the vacation of a lifetime!     

Unfortunately, bankruptcy laws have changed a lot in the past five years, and it's not as easy to file anymore.  I'd consider it myself otherwise -- but my debt isn't large enough to make it worthwhile.  

If looking over your taxes this week has brought you to consider filing bankruptcy, then you need to visit Bankruptcy HQ to learn more.  This service will help you to decide whether or not filing is the best way for you to get rid of your unsecured debt.  They will even put you in touch with a bankruptcy lawyer who can help you determine whether to file before or after turning in your 2007 taxes.

That's another thing we'd change about Mike's bankruptcy -- his lawyer was awful!  Don't make the same mistake -- let Bankruptcy HQ match you up with a good attorney!    

It's never too early to start shopping for Father's Day, especially since Mike is not that easy to buy for. I have to say, though, that he is much easier to gift now that he's into electronics. Here's his most recent wish list: Batteries & Chargers , Blank Media , Cables & Connectors , Camera & Photo , Cell Phones & Accessories , Desktops , GPS & Navigation , Memory Cards , MP3 Players , Notebooks , Printers & Scanners , Speakers. Really, with a list like that, the most challenging part of shopping is sticking to our budget!

I would really like to get him a GPS navigation system for the car. We love, love, love going for random drives down back roads, making our own way to new and old places, and it would be nice to have a GPS to rescue us when we get really stuck. Now I just need to figure out which one to buy!

I know most of you have kids, and thinking about dying and leaving them behind is hard enough . . . planning out things like who will take care of them if they're under 18, who will manage their money, and of course, how will they pay for all the things kids need as they grow.  It's a lot to think about, and it's not a fun subject at all.  If you're like us, you can get through it by joking.  When I start getting on his nerves, Mike always jokes that he is going to get life insurance quotes for me and hire someone to do away with me.  Ha, ha, right?

I get him back by planning how I'll spend my windfall if he passes before I do!        

After my own kids were born, my partner made sure to get a life insurance policy that would cover the cost of our house, plus other expenses, if he were to die unexpectedly.  He actually has two policies, since he is covered at work as well as privately.  We joke sometimes that we would be better off if he died -- at least from a financial perspective.  I could sell the house, move wherever I wanted, quit work, and homeschool my kids without a second thought.  As far as family financial protection goes, you can't beat a good term life insurance policy!  It's the other areas in which we would suffer without him.

Lately, though, I've been thinking about life insurance for myself.  Even though I only work part-time, I am a full-time mom.  If something happened to me, it would be an emotional hit for my family, but it would also hurt financially for Mike to put the kids in daycare.  My small income also matters; it pays for things like groceries, entertainment, and extras, and I would never want my children to go without, especially not if they've already lost me.  It hurts to think of that.

When we get our tax refund this year, I think it will be time to invest in a plan for me.  I have been looking through an insurance directory trying to find a good deal.  Being young and in good health, that shouldn't be hard to find.            

Anyhow, I decided to do a search for other adoption articles and found several on iContact.  Once I skimmed past the animal adoption articles, I found more of the usual -- inaccurate, biased, pro-adoption drivel.  There were also quite a few articles written by professional searchers, and I was disappointed to see that they used demeaning terms like "birth parents" and "given up for adoption" rather than opting for more respectful, honest adoption language.  Someone who wants to make money working with natural mothers and fathers and their adult children would be wise not to insult them at first contact.

All this proves is that adoption rhetoric is everywhere.  It makes me feel even better about my own efforts to provide real adoption education to expectant parents, would-be adopters, and the professionals who work with them      

Hotels in Sydney look beautiful and are so much less expensive than I would have predicted!  Hotels in Melbourne and hotels in Brisbane aren't bad either.  I'm thinking if we planned to spend two weeks there, traveling around, visiting friends, and staying partially in hotels and partially in peoples' houses, it might be affordable enough.  I'd like to wait until the kids are old enough to remember the trip, though.  I'd also like to get back in touch with a few of the friends who have faded away over the years (due to poor health and sporadic internet access) before we go.  I would hate to miss meeting them!

For now, here's a picture of one of the places my heart longs to be: 

I decided to look for some styles I might like, and found these craftmade ceiling fans that I rather liked.  Then I found these fanimation ones, and I was sold.  Some of them are very stylish and unique -- I like the idea of putting up a whole row of fans, or installing the "air shadow" style that expands and retracts (and is pretty in both positions).  I've definitely got some thinking to do before I buy anything, but I would loe to get our fans in before winter so that we can save money (and propane) by conserving our heat when the weather outside gets frightful!         

For the past six months, I have been working on a book that summarizes and explains the anti-adoption movement.  It's called Unlearning Adoption: A Guide to Family Preservation and Protection, and it is now available in print.  It suffices as a bit of a dummies' guide to anti-adoption thoughts and opinions; it's short, easy to read, and provides references and footnotes for all of the adoption facts mentioned within it. 

I know most people who hear the words "against" and "adoption" used in the same sentence are usually rather shocked to learn that adoption is actually not a gentle and benevolent solution for unplanned pregnancy and orphaned or abused children.  That's the only way we ever see adoption portrayed in the media, anyway, and that's certainly the way the billion dollar adoption industry would have us continue to see it. 

I've worked with natural parents, adopted adults, and others whose lives have been impacted by adoption since I first questioned the act myself many years ago.  Starting up a support organization for expectant parents has put me in touch with families who have lost children to unethical adoption practices, and still more families who were struggling to retain custody of their children despite pressure from adoption agencies to surrender them.  Our adoption industry is no more ethical than most big businesses, it has simply managed to attain sacred cow status in a culture permeated with celebrity adoptions and adoption-happy media (not to mention wealthy pro-adoption lobbying groups like the NCFA -- and no, they aren't getting a link here).

Have you ever thought about adopting a child?  Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy?  Do you have a niggling suspicion that something about adoption needs to change?  Would you just like to know more about adoption history and current adoption trends?  Pick up a copy of Unlearning Adoption and get ready to think about children, families, and custody in a whole new way. 

In the interest of getting ready for vacay (yes, I say "vacay," Legally Blonde is one of my favorite movies), I started looking up some travel guides.  I was hoping to find some reviews and pointers from people who had been on a cruise like the one we're taking.  So far, I haven't found anything, but I have found a lot of travel reviews and information for the New England and eastern Canada area.

I love reading about other people's vacations.  It gets me excited about my own and gives me good ideas for the future.  I don't think I'll ever feel like I've seen enough of the world.  Someone should pay me to write a travel guide -- I'd certainly be an enthusiastic tourist!   

Once we finish paying for the new truck, it'll be my turn again.  I really want a Toyota Prius.  I see them everywhere I go now and it is making me crazy.  I told Mike the other day that I feel like they're snickering at me and teasing me, "Ha ha, you'll never get me."  Naturally, he thinks I'm crazy. 

Either way, that will be another big savings on our car insurance.  Plus, my speeding tickets are nearly three years old which means my better driving record will add to our savings (if I don't screw up again before then)! I can't wait.  I am excited for Mike to get his new, dream truck, but I am ready for a new car, too!  

I started looking into beach rentals in Hawaii, specifically in Kauai. We aren't typically beach people, but I would really like to see Hawaii someday, and if we pick up a Kauai condo last minute, we can get some great deals.  I know vacations in Hawaii are normally very expensive, but it seems like you can get a good deal just about anywhere these days.  That's the beauty of the internet!

What really sells me on doing in a beach rental in Kauai is the concept of these rentals promoting eco-friendly tourism -- looking after the environment and promoting its well-being as tourists.  I know some of the other vacations we've considered are rather wasteful and excessive, and while air travel certainly does increase one's footprint on the earth, renting in Kauai could be a nice alternative to staying in a hotel. 

It would just be cool to say we were ecotourists.  Now I've just got to sell Mike on the idea!   

Usually, travelocity is the first site I check for rates (and I'll admit right now the the Roaming Gnome is exactly what sucked me in there), but I just heard about this travel site today and decided to give it a look.  They had a ton of information on Amsterdam, which is one place I would love to go.  The list of Amsterdam attractions included just about everything a person could ever hope to see, and I'm sure we would find a lot to keep us busy there.

The hotels look really nice, too, and the rates aren't as bad as I would have expected.  By the time we pay airfare for ourselves and our oldest daughter, we need to save all the money we can on hotels. I don't think we can afford five star accomodations -- though the one in my link looks absolutely gorgeous -- but many of the others look fun too!

I was really set on saving our own little euro trip for when the kids get older, but now I'm not so sure.  Amsterdam, here we come?        

I'm still going to be posting work-related links on my new blogs (and here), but I don't think I'm going to take as many creative liberties.   

Unfortunately, some businesses have no choice but to invest in kevlar sheets to protect their employees from gun violence.  From what I've read, kevlar is a popular material used to turn everyday items into bullet-proof ones.  I'm pretty sure that's what my mom's police officer friend said his vest was made out of, so I would imagine it to be pretty sturdy and protective.  Even so, I'm not sure something as simple as a kevlar sheet could make me feel secure in a truly dangerous area.  I give a lot of credit to business people who aren't afraid to stand their ground in less desireable neighborhoods.       

I spent awhile browsing the first sites that came to mind -- eHarmony, JustSayHi, and Yahoo Personals -- but it was hard to tell whether or not he would have any luck with those.  After all, they're businesses and they're obviously out to make a buck when people sign up.  They're selling a service, and they might not be upfront about the drawbacks of using it.  So I did a search for online dating reviews, and found this site.

OnlineDatingReviews.biz walks you through the main dating sites and explains both the pros and cons of each one.  Internet dating is a huge industry, so it's great to know which sites are reputable and which ones aren't.

In the end, I decided to send Kevin to the internet dating review site I found and let him take it from there.  I hope he finds someone deserving of his time and attention!     

Since then, I've had this credit card company referred to me by a few friends.  I haven't had any reason to do business with them myself, but I wish a few of the crafty WAHMs I buy from would take the hint and sign up for a merchant account.  Most of them accept Paypal, which isn't as professional as accepting a credit card straight away, and since I only have my bank card stored in Paypal, it's a nuisance when I don't have the money in my account to pay for what I want to buy.

Come on diaper-making-mamas, check out this site and get signed up.   

Just recently, we've become obsessed with text messaging.  Mike and I send each other naughty text messages during the day, we exchange funny forwards with our friends, and we make plans and arrange all kinds of things without having to make any calls.  I absolutely hate using the phone, so text messaging is my favorite thing.  At least with Verizon, we can send all our in-network text messages for only $10 a month.  It's more than we'd want to spend, but it's worth it.

One thing that I've noticed recently is that Verizon is offering the same cool phones that other cell phone companies have.  For awhile, it seemed like they only had the clunkiest, most boring phones to offer.  Of course, when I bought my Razr, they didn't have too many color choices, but now they do.  They also have a lot of other interesting phones with features that seem pretty useful or at least fun! 

Enough about cell phones; time to call Mike and tell him to come in for the night!    

We used to make a few trips a week to the local video store, but renting DVDs online is so much more convenient.  I just recently found a site that allows you to watch directly on your computer instead of waiting for them to come in the mail.  I'm not going to get rid of my trusty Blockbuster.com membership, but I am going to keep an eye on ReelTime.com, too.  This seems like  good option for those of us who prefer instant gratification -- and really, who doesn't?! 

So far, the site has a smallish selection, but they are cheap and they have more to offer all the time.  I have a feeling this is going to end up being the next big thing for movie watchers! 

As for me, I'm off to the theater to see Wild Hogs.  Speaking of instant gratification, this girl can't even wait for the DVD release!        

I'm not quite as into it as he is.  I'm quite content to get called a dirty hippy and go a month or two without shaving my legs (and ironically, Mike doesn't mind or even notice when I do)!  But there are certain parts of my body that enjoy being bare, and I would love to have hair removal done on them.  I'm sure it would hurt a bit, but it would be worth it to have that permanent smoothness!

'Fess up . . . do you dare to go bare? 

Just the other day, we started talking about online dating again.  I always tease Mike because he had a ton of online personal ads before he met me . . . he must have had an ad on every site out there!  He swears he hardly got any responses, though, because according to him, online dating is nearly impossible for men but great for women.  We decided that I should post a personal ad, and he should post one, and we'll see who gets the most responses.  I agreed to do it -- but only if I set up his account and keep the password to it!  I don't want him deciding the grass might be greener in some other chick's yard! 

Seriously, my thoughts on online dating have changed a lot in the past six years.  I would definitely go for it if I ended up being single again.  I've met almost all of my good friends online, so why wouldn't I be able to meet romantic partners there too?           

It's a very historical city, with lots of sights to see and culture to enjoy.  The Barcelona hotels also look beautiful!  My only concern is not knowing any Spanish . . . I think my daughter knows more than any of us since her friend's grandma is from Ecuador.  I took French in school, and I don't think my partner studied a language at all.  Still, most major cities are tourist-friendly.  I'm sure we would have a wonderful time in vacationing in Barcelona.   

Of course, just that morning, Mike had been griping at me for letting the baby play with my phone.  "If he breaks it, you're not getting a new one.  All your phone accessories will be garbage and you'll be without a phone," he said.  Now, it wasn't the baby's fault.  It wasn't even the big girl's fault.  But I was not looking forward to him getting home from work that night!

Anyway, I took the phone apart as best I could, dried everything out and kept my fingers crossed.  I was dreading a trip to Verizon to replace the damn thing, plus all the ridiculous add-ons (car charger, especially -- those are expensive).  We don't have the money for that right now, and I really didn't want to be phone-less for any amount of time.

Fast forward to the next afternoon.  I decide, after many failed attempts, to give it another try.  The Razr powered right up, and I was able to make calls and send texts.  Hooray!!  I don't have to replace any of my cell phone accessories now, and I can keep my fancy Razr.  Apprently, those things are flush-proof!  

Flying seems to be the most expensive part of travel anymore, and I don't even enjoy it.  Just give me some cheap airfare, fly with the winds, and get me there in one piece.  I'll still be miserable the whole flight.  I used to love it, but I have been a nervous flier for quite a while now.  It is really unpleasant.   

We flew last year to go to Florida for a week.  Maybe that was enough and we should take a break for another year or so.  Thank goodness cruise lines are now traveling out of New York City and Philadelphia . . . I think might just book us a cruise to Nova Scotia in the late summer.  I'm sure it will be beautiful, and we won't have to worry about flights -- cheap ones or otherwise!   

Just recently, she hired a professional to install some window blinds for her.  He came out to the house, measured the windows, and came back a few weeks later to put up the blinds.  We called him the "Blind Man," and made some jokes at his expense.  

The whole time, though, I kept insisting that she was wasting her money.  She could have measured for the blinds herself, ordered them online for a heavily discounted price, and installed them when they arrived.  But no, not her.  She wanted a window treatment professional. 

What I just discovered today is that GuaranteedBlinds.com has started referring customers to professional blind technicians for measuring and installation.  This is great news for people like my mom.  Now she can get all the benefits of online ordering -- great prices, amazing selection, and quality products -- without having to do the hard work by herself.      

I always enjoy getting a glimpse into peoples' lives, and the author of this blog threw in movie and gadget reviews, discussions about his dreams, and other assorted ramblings for my entertainment.  The blogger seems to have some rather eclectic tastes, at least as far as his entertainment goes, and I really like reading about dreams.  I know that's an anomaly . . . most people like to talk about their dreams but really don't care to hear what goes on inside someone else's head at night.  I'm all for it.  I actually wish my partner and friends remembered more of their dreams! 

Anyway, I didn't mean to get off on that tangent.  Bottom line, Grunge Ogre is well written and amusing . . . I will definitely be visiting that site again!   

Anyway, I've noticed that my kids are the only ones still having birthday parties at home.  I like making up crafts and games and planning a whole gala based around my daughter's favorite thing of the moment.  I even bake a fancy cake, and this year, we wore costumes so that the full cast of Gilligan's Island would be in attendance at Rylie's themed party.  It's fun for me, and for the kids.

However, I'm a little afraid that my home-made parties are going to be thrown under the bus in favor of the party places we've been to this year.  It seems like moms just don't want to plan kid's birthday parties anymore.  They would rather let places like Oogles n Googles do all the work. 

I know my kids have fun at these parties, and I enjoy seeing what's out there.  But, I am not in any hurry to pay someone else to throw a party for my own children.  I will just keep hoping that they end up like their mom -- I have fond childhood memories of all the great parties my mom cooked up!     

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Personally, I'm not a big fan of single-sex parties.  If I ever marry, I'd be happy to have a fun night (or weekend) with my partner and all our friends combined.  A bachelorette party would probably make me crazy.  I like to hang out with my boyfriend and I also have quite a few guy friends . . . it wouldn't feel like a party if they weren't included.

Usually, it's Mike's phone that bothers me.  He gets so many calls at dinner time, when all I want to do is sit and have a relaxing conversation while we eat.  There are days when I would give anything to throw that dastardly thing out the window.  Of course, I'd be rushing out to buy a new cell phone for him once I realized how much I missed our chats throughout the day.  I guess I just can't win!

If I went to England now, I'd want to stay in a London hotel for the entire trip.  I would want to see some shows, especially some fractured Shakespeare, and I'd really like to go by Buckingham Palace and Big Ben . . . all the traditional English sights.  When we went on the school exchange, we stayed in a little town about an hour away from London.  There wasn't nearly enough time for all the sightseeing I wanted to do.  I think staying right there in a London hotel would make a huge difference.    

Maybe when we get our tax refund, we can start planning a trip.  I was going to book a cruise for next summer, but maybe we should do something more cultured!   

Hopefully this site will be harder to lose than those coupons I try to collect!     

Do you have perfect credit?  Does anyone?  TradeLineBroker.com is looking for you!

Is it too goofy to think that I could use this site to raise my credit score, and then use it again to rent my credit?  Sounds like a plan Mike would come up with!   

Looking back, I wonder if taking a loan would have helped.  I was really afraid of getting into some terrible debt, but a small loan may have helped to fund some advertising and keep the store alive.  My boyfriend could have gotten a payday loan and bought us some billboard space or something.  I kind of feel like we just gave up too soon.

I love the job I have now, and I probably have more freedom here than I did with my store, but I guess there are bound to be what-ifs and regrets on some level.  Ahhh, what might have been!         

To be honest, I'm pretty thin.  What I need to do is tone up my muscles.  I used to be really good about keeping up with a pilates routine every night, and I think I just need to do a little shopping to get motivated to start again.  Since we got rid of the carpet in our tv room, I definitely need some cushy exercise mats to work out on.  

Mike is always complaining about his expanding waistline.  I think I'll order us matching yoga mats so that we can exercise together after the kids fall asleep.  I really like the nature prints featured on this website.  I wouldn't even mind leaving those set out all the time, they're so pretty. 

Better rest up now, this new year's resolution is going to leave me exhausted well into next year!   

However, with a baby and a four year old in the house, gun safety is really important.  As it is, we don't keep the gun loaded -- the ammo isn't even inside at the moment -- but I am looking into purchasing a safe for our guns.  We only have a couple of them, so we don't need anything huge.

I am thinking of getting an average-sized gun safe anyway.  That way, it can hold the guns as well as some of our personal items.  Passports, heirloom jewelry, and birth certificates would fit in nicely and be protected from fire and theft inside a gun safe.  I hate worrying about losing those kinds of things, and with two kids running around, we misplace a lot of stuff!

This year, I've been dropping hints like crazy.  I thought he might be more motivated to shop for jewelry online, so I sent him links to a few sites.  I don't need anything fancy, just a simple piece of gold or silver jewelry would make me smile. 

Five years is a pretty serious anniversary, and I'm excited that Mike seems to be remembering it rather well this year.  Still, I bet we're going to have to hit 25 years before I ever receive one of those delicate little boxes with jewelry inside! 

I was doing some research and found these beautiful beach condominiums.  I'm sure being so close to the ocean, with the bonus of NJ Transit into Manhattan, these are some pricey residences.  Then I remembered -- we're selling our house and we're going to be rich for awhile!

Point Pleasant, here we come!  

We were left with lots of good suggestions for improving the look and feel of our home, though.  We were advised to paint the front steps, which look rather moldy at the moment since the last time we painted them we were foolish enough to use white.  This time, I'm thinking of doing something like plum or another darker, more striking color.  I love me some colors anyway!

She also suggested doing some work on the upstairs bathroom (the downstairs one is brand new, so that saves us some work).  I think we'll need to replace some of the bathroom fixtures.  The ones we have have been stained by years of hard water and my poor cleaning skills.  The "stager" also said the room would look nicer with a proper medicine cabinet in it.  I'm thinking of purchasing one that has a mirrored cabinet on one side and decorative shelves on the other side.   

The kitchen was our last stop and was also in need of some repairs.  My boyfriend already fixed some of the tiles that were broken or cracked (and one was just plain dirty and not coming clean no matter what).  Next, we'll add a new set of faucets, and clear some of the clutter off the counter top.

I figure by the time we're done, our house will be in beautiful shape and we won't want to move afterall!   

An agency called Career Partners was created to bring potential job-sharers together.  They use a personality profile and in depth questionnaire to match up people in related fields.  If an employer decided to accept the job sharing partnership, the two employees would essentially act as one, dividing all the responsibilities and tasks needed to perform the job.  They would be expected to work a 20-30 hour week, significantly less than a full-time executive position.  For moms who have put a lot of time and energy into their careers, finding a career partner can be a great way to stay involved in the business world and in their childrens' lives. 

Do you feel like your job is holding you back?  Divide up the work and conquer your tasks with a career partner!    

The last of our market value reports came back this week, and we decided to list independently on LandandFarm.com (Buy me, please!!).  One of the main reasons we have for wanting to move is to get out from under the debt of our home loan.  We may be young, but we're already quite sick of living with a mortgage and struggling to make ends meet.  Ideally, we will make a terrific profit on the house, move somewhere that's more within our price range, and buy our property outright so that we never have to think about stressful things like mortgages ever again.  That's the goal, anyway! 

I can't stop thinking of all the traveling we could do, and all the fun we would have if we weren't so worried about paying our home loan every month.  One of the things that gets me most excited is the idea of buying all organic/natural foods and spending more time cooking our meals.  I guess I'll save that topic for another day, though! 

Now that I'm out of the city and Crate and Barrel-less, I've started browsing for cooking gadgets online.  My favorite place to shop is EKitchenGadgets.com, since they have a huge selection and even feature Le Creuset products.  I worked at a Le Creuset outlet store for a short time a few years ago, and fell in love with their beautiful colors and terrific cookware. 

Right now, I'm looking into buying a food processor.  Since I make my own baby food, it seems like it would be a worthwhile investment, and I'm sure I'd find a lot of uses for it even after I'm done cooking for my infant. 

I would also really like to try this stain-removing gadget.  I have a terrible time getting stains out of my family's clothes, and it sounds like this could be the solution to my problems.  It's only $9.99 so it can't hurt to try it out!!

Tell me, dear readers, what are your favorite kitchen gadgets?    

Anyway, being sick has given me the chance to lay around and do some online shopping so I can't complain too much.  Someone at work pointed out Punk Bebe to me and I am eager to place an order.  I absolutely love non-traditional baby clothes, and some of the sayings this company uses are hysterical.  I especially like "Get your own baby" -- my son needs to wear that one around his grandma -- and I am definitely placing an order for one that says "Screw the binkie, give me the tit."  If my son could talk, I'm quite sure he would use those exact words every time he laid eyes on a pacifier! 

Seriously, when I am having a rough day, nothing puts a smile on my face like funny baby clothes.  You know your baby wants some too!

Since we are planning to simplify our lives with a move, Mike is planning to work a more flexible job.  The only problem we see is that he will no longer have insurance through his employer.  It's likely that even if he finds a new job that will give him insurance, they won't give me any insurance coverage as a domestic partner and not a spouse.  That means, get married or get private insurance.  I would prefer the latter but only because I'm a nonconformist.  Financially, we'll likely be heading off to visit the court house and tie the knot for no other reason than securing insurance for ourselves and our kids. 

Maybe we should move to Canada instead:  socialized health care for all! 

Things are going to get more exciting in about a week, when we head to Florida for the first vacation we've had in a year.  I love vacations, and just like this time last year, I am starting to feel really restless and unhappy with everything.  A vacation should help me relax and recharge, and it will get Mike away from the house and his 2034983208 projects. 

We are continuing to talk about moving (I think I mentioned that earlier).  I am all geared up to go to Kentucky, and I actually found a house that I adore.  Mike wants 150 acres, though, and that's going to keep us from finding anything in our price range.  The house I like is affordable, but sits on 62 acres instead of 150.  Seriously, I do not get his obsession with acreage, and I am starting to get frustrated that it is keeping us from getting out of here.  Anyway, I am going to contact a realtor for a market value analysis of our New Jersey home.

I'm still working at DiscountClick doing link-building on our sites, and still enjoying it.  I'll keep this job forever if my boss continues to be happy with my work.  I like the challenge, and I especially like having an assortment of things to do as far as SEO, writing, and networking go.

That about sums it up for now.  Florida, here we come!!

If we do have to get married for insurance, we might as well do it right.  Today, I decided to check out some bridal sites, and found this great selection of wedding articles.  They have a lot of good ideas for getting the basics taken care of -- things like how to choose a wedding ring and hire a photographer.  I'm pretty sure my boyfriend and I won't be wanting a traditional wedding.  In fact, I started planning one of those with my ex-fiance and that fact alone is enough to turn me off to using a reception hall or church for my "special day."

Thinking about it now, I just realized that I have quite a few friends who are in the midst of wedding planning right now, and I'm sure they would benefit from a quick look at that site.  Even if I never tie the knot, someone I know surely will! 

Would you believe that this sweet baby with the infectious grin has been a monster the past couple of weeks when I've taken him to work at DiscountClick.com?  I suppose "monster" is an exaggeration, but every Thursday around noon time, he begins acting as though he's been taken over by the devil.  He doesn't want to nurse because he doesn't want to sleep, and he certainly doesn't want to watch me do anymore link-building and marketing of websites.  About 15 minutes later, he settles down falls back in love with the boobies, and he winds up drifting off to sleep for awhile.  Unfortunately, those 15 minutes feel like 15 hours to me, and they probably seem even longer for my boss. 

Speaking of obtaining quality links, I suppose it's time for me to get back to work.  Yesterday we went to a party so I have a lot of catching up to do today! 

That site is wonderful, it seems like they sell discount blinds to begin with, plus they always seem to have classic products on sale at great prices.  I could re-decorate my windows over and over again and never get bored shopping there!

Unfortunately, the adorable Mr. Ronin woke up before I could finish my order.  I'm sure my boyfriend will be glad to find out that his son thwarted my shopping efforts!   

First, there's Sarahlise.  She is a very cool young mom who has just gotten back into blogging after about six years away.   

Then there's Heather.  Heather is an adorable mom of two who's pregnant with her third baby.  She just started staying home with her kids again after working for quite a while.  I am inanely jealous that she gets to live in California and I . . . do not.

Next comes Tricia.  She's a young and ambitious nurse from Texas, as well as a wife and mom.  She has a terrific lot of medical knowledge and is always furthering her education.

And I could never leave out the beautiful and brilliant Julie.  She only just got started with her blog so there isn't much for you to read there, but those of us who know her from LJ land know how smart, funny, and overall amazing she is.  I'm sure you'll love her too!

We are all trying out this Blogsvertise-ing thing, too.  Because the bottom line is that we're young and we want to enjoy our time at home with our kids while still having some extra money to spend on fun things.    

I'm also hoping that I can make enough money blogging so that I can purchase some new educational toys for my daughter's "home school" and also pick up some new cloth diapers for my son (because cloth diapers are like mama crack and you can never really have enough). 

Knowing my friends, they are all going to jump on the bandwagon and start using blogs to generate revenue too.  An extra $50 a month would mean a night out to the movies, a trip to the shore, or a new outfit for me.  Who could pass that up?     

I was talking with some friends the other day about a woman who was offered a $400,000 a year job working 10 hours a day, five days a week.  The catch was that she had to leave her newborn to take the job.  That kind of money would pay off my house in 6 months, and I still couldn't do it.  I don't think some people realize that no amount of money in the world can get back all those memories. 

Working at home, marketing for websites while holding my son . . . the only thing better would be not having to work at all!      

As a child, I used to dream about turning 18 and getting out of New Jersey as fast as I could.  I'm sure I picked all that up from my dad, who never wanted to live here and used to complain about it all the time.  Until I actually turned 18 and moved away for school, my entire plan for my adult life revolved around leaving the state for somewhere (anywhere!) else. 

Now, though, I'm really torn.  I love the idea of packing up and moving away, starting fresh in a new state.  We would certainly be able to find a less expensive place to live, more acreage than we have now, and a totally different way of life.  It would be so exciting.  I love change and spontaneity.

Unfortunately, I think I've gotten used to all the comforts of New Jersey.  The city is close, the beaches are close, the climate has a terrific mix of all the seasons, and there's no lack of things to do here.  Maybe I would be satisfied to move to South Jersey.  Then, we could get away from where we are now, make a fun change, and still benefit from being in the state.  I think I'd like to look at some waterfront properties in NJ, and maybe consider something in Longbranch where we would have friends nearby.

I think it's time for us to sit down with a South Jersey realtor and make some changes.  We've been in our house for five years, and I'm ready for something new.   

Since some of my Livejournal friends got fed up with LJ's ridiculous policy on breastfeeding icons and moved to MySpace, I decided to get more involved over there.  In trying to figure out music and everything else, I found this informative how-to site.  They had easy to use tutorials for MySpace, including one on how to add music to your profile. I really want to do that, and the tutorial made it sound so much easier than I expected.  Now I just need to pick a song.

The how-to site also had an article on editing a MySpace profile.  Hopefully the next time I have five minutes to spare, I can update mine.  Right now it's entirely generic -- it's no wonder I have so few friends on there! 

While I'm at it, that site also had automotive how-to's, including how to remove stickers from a car.  Do you think I can convince my boyfriend that it's really so easy?  Then maybe he'll let me put some of the bumper stickers that I love on the car instead of in the windows!  Yes, silly and simple stuff like that makes me happy.

Anyway, I ended up writing an entire article about marriage agencies today.  I still don't know if I think it's a brilliant idea, but I do know that people find love in so many different ways.  Why discount this one just because it seems so unusual?     

We're going to be doing some link building together and promoting websites for our clients.  It should be fun working with her and having another person in the office on my days there. 

Speaking of work, it's time for me to go write some articles and look for more links.  I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed this week, what with not working much on the holiday and knowing I need to catch up before the weekend.  Cross your fingers and send me some links, dear readers! 

Anyway, if you're looking for advice on love and relationships, Aeryn is your girl.  You can post all your questions, and she'll answer them quickly and honestly.  So far, she's already given terrific advice to a sad guy in the Northeast who says girls in his area are just plain mean!  It really must be true, good guys do finish last!  That sort of makes me feel bad for my son, since I sure hope he'll be a good guy someday!   

Several weeks ago, a different friend was telling me how she's decided to go "poo free" -- nothing like the way it sounds!  This means throwing away all your bottles of shampoo and instead using more natural products to cleanse your hair.  I was surprised to see something that seems fairly crunchy/hippie-ish discusssed in a blog that otherwise features mainstream advice, but there it was:  hair washing advice for women!

I also read part one of the advice column on self-defense, something every woman should know.  I've never been in a scary situation that required me to defend myself with anything other than some sharply aimed words, but I like knowing how to take care of myself!  I will definitely be going back to HerAdvice.com to read the rest of the self-defense series.

Right now, I need to go get dressed and get ready to spend the afternoon swimming with the kids.  It looks like a beautiful day outside!  

I already published an article on room darkening window blinds, and I feel like I'm becoming an expert on that subject! 

If you decide to read my window blinds articles, or some of my more controversial, activist writing, I would really love your feedback!  As a writer, I really enjoy hearing from people who have read my work, especially if they have some constructive criticism for me.   

Anyway, I should get back to googling. Russian brides may be interesting, but they aren't going to help my mom find love!      

You know, when I first started my job, I wasn't sure how much I was going to enjoy the internet marketing aspects of it.  Now, seven months later, I find myself really loving it.  Swapping links puts me in touch with lots of friendly webmasters and it's always a challenge trying to come up with creative link trades.     

Anyhow, all that is what took up most of my weekend (when I wasn't wrangling my kids and dealing with those crazy goats).  Hopefully the weather will clear up and we'll be able to have some fun this week.  My daughter just learned how to swim all the way across the pool on Friday, so I want to give her lots of time to practice!  For now, she's at her grandma's and I'm link building again.

I don't even expect him to sleep through the night!  He's only 4 months old and I'm happy to wake up to feed him a few times between 10pm and 7am, but that extra hour from six until seven does make a difference in how rested I feel.  Not getting involved in silly parenting debates on LiveJournal in the middle of the night might help as well! :-) 

May you all sleep better than we do!

We'll see how it goes.  I'll let you know when I start getting rich!

]]> 6/17/2006 10:59:00 PM http://www.8pixel.net/simpleblog/?view=pLink&id=148 148 I found a new website where I can get my fill of free health and beauty advice.  I figured I might as well save a tree -- and save myself the trouble of ripping those annoying subscription postcards out of my fashion magazines -- by reading online!

The weight loss article was refreshing.  It gave realistic advice and facts, and advocates listening to your own body, something many mainstream magazines forget in their rush to promote the newest fad diet.  More importantly, it didn't advocate the use of pills or other artificial methods of weight loss. 

Like the last blog I mentioned, this health and beauty site is just getting going.  I'm sure within a week, it'll be full of terrific and fun advice! 

This weekend, Mike decided to give his projects a rest and take me and the kids to the mall.  It's been a long time since I shopped for a new pair of fishnet stockings.  I was pregnant last summer, and too cold for skirts in the winter, but now that the summer is here, I'm excited to put on a new pair and go out for the evening with my boyfriend.  I love that edgy punk look -- not for everday wear but when I really want to make an impression, that's my first choice!

I also browsed around for some new leather pants and accessories.  Summertime seems to be the best time to shop for leather -- there were a lot of good deals out there!  I'm even thinking of getting Mike a pair of leather pants for Father's Day!  What do you think?

Instead of buying anything, I decided to wait a little while and lose the last 15lbs of baby weight before I do any major shopping.  That gives me more time to read up on fashion and decide how I want to spend my wardrobe money this summer!

Stinky the Cat . . . she's so civilized, isn't she?

And our newest additions, Arnold the Goat and Fiona the (Giant) Sheep:

And Rylie looking in on Lola, the fainting goat mama

I should have mentioned that when I started this blog; I love animals and will probably be posting a lot about them. 

Now here's my best cake work ever . . . the Hogwarts Castle cake I made for my daughter's Harry Potter party last October.  It was yummy, too!

I have no idea what Rylie's going to pick for her next birthday party (right now, she's talking about Gilligan's Island), but I doubt I'll be able to do such a wonderful cake for it!

I'll post some pics later tonight; they're all precious!

Oh, and before I did the cake and went to the party, I set up a profile on AOL Hometown.  I'm really getting into making friends online and connecting with new people, so I figure the more exposure the better. 

Tomorrow we're supposed to go to Mike's company picnic.  I hope the weather is nice!  Hopefully the "goat lady" will call us back and we can find time to go pick up Arnold, Lola, and her baby (name suggestions, anyone?) after the picnic.

Goodnight, readers!

]]> 6/3/2006 10:06:00 PM http://www.8pixel.net/simpleblog/?view=pLink&id=142 142 I'm terrible at introductions, so feel free to ask me anything you want to know.

As you've already guessed, my name is Jessy.  I'm a work-at-home mom with two children.  Rylie is three and a half years old, and Ronin is nearly four months.  We live with their dad, Michael, on a small farm in New Jersey.  In a couple of weeks, we'll be adding a trio of fainting goats to our family.

When it comes to hobbies, we enjoy some pretty typical things.  We all go to the movies a lot (even the baby), and when it's warm and sunny, you can almost always find us swimming at the pool in my mom's neighborhood.  I also like to cook, and although Michael is a picky eater, my daughter is always happy to join me in trying new things.  Oh, and I take lots of silly pictures, so if you want to look at some adorable kids, you've come to the right place.

In fact, here's a pic to get you started.  This one is from yesterday morning.