Do-It-Yourself 310: The Simple Pallet Patio Table (A Temporary Fix)

Pallet are cheap and easy to come by. In this particular case of pallet creation, these pallets were found outside of a neighborhood veterinary clinic. They were in good structure condition, but big and dirty, so I instantly knew these pallets could be used outside. After we knocked off some dirt, pill bugs, and beetles, we loaded these bad boys in my awesome Camry. These 42 x 42 pallets were placed into the trunk, but of course, the trunk didn't close. I hope to invest in some sort of work truck soon. We made due, had to tie the trunk down with bungy cords.


 I wanted to make a fancy table but since this is my first creation, I kept it simple....


Supplies:
Pallets
Bricks
Potted Flowers...done

Now, I can sit outside on a nice weekend morning, enjoy a hot cup of "Joe", and listen to the birds chirp...



SO once you have done building your own simple pallet table, you can pull up a chair, and take out your electronic devices and check out my website...www.jsimonesonline.com. See what's on sale this week!

Take a Break

 "Can I get a time out, Ref?"

It’s never too late in the year to take a vacation.  I’m not talking about a few days from work, I am talking about a few days away from it all. Sometimes life gets a little tough, throws us a few punches, and can get a little overwhelming whether it is spouse woes, financial woes, kid woes, work woes, a neighbor’s tree woes, on and on and on. Sometimes we need to take some time out for ourselves.

A break, somewhere isolated for a few days with my husband and some friends, that is what we are taking advantage of. I am so excited. Gatlinburg, Tennessee is our destination. It’s not fancy, glittery, and glam like a great vacation city such as Las Vegas or Miami, but I am expecting our vacation to be calm, soothing, and relaxing.

(This is our first vacation without the baby so I am a bit nervous. I do have my family and friends to help us out while we are away. I promise not to call home, too much!)

I am, however, expecting cool breezes, refreshing mountain air, warm fireplaces, and plenty of cocktails. We planned this trip months and months in advance and time is ticking down to departure day. I have been watching the calendars and counting down the days.

My idea of a vacation?

 It could be two days, three days, a weekend excursion, or whatever as long as it is 50 miles from my house, it is a vacation.

I am pretty simple. When I go out of town, I don’t have to stay at the fanciest chateaus or 5 Star hotels (although it would be nice.) As long as the dwellings are clean, crime free, and bug free, I am happy! I do enjoy scenery such as rivers, lakes, lakes and open fields. I always seek out the fame foods of the town I am visiting. For example, if I go to Atlanta, I want some Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. If I go to New York, I am seeking out pretzel joints and street food. When we went to Biloxi, Ms, my husband sought out seafood (I am allergic to shellfish.) If someone comes to Memphis, they are looking for the barbecue. I don't know what they eat in Gatlingburg, maybe raccoon or squirrel, something caught and cooked. (Just kidding, Gatlingburg citizens.)

The economy is blah, and some of us are broke, so we have to be realistic. If we don’t have it, we just don’t have it. We have to work with what we got. Maybe one day in the future, we can take that trip to Vegas or South Beach.  This time it’s East Tennessee. I am more than excited. I have never stayed at a cabin, in the woods, in the mountain.

 Now, if you are wanting that elaborate vacation, go ahead and plan ahead.  Websites such as Expedia.com offers great vacation getaways. Call me ‘cheap’, but I am always looking for deals (I love the internet.)

I know this was brief but I know a lot of you readers are in the same boat as I. You want to get away, but don’t have a lot of money. Well, you can always save up for your vacation for next year or simply get away if only for a few days, stay in a hotel, get pampered, sit by the pool while it’s still a little warm. I guarantee you will be so happy that you did.

Only $33/day on midsize cars with Payless Car Rental! - Expires 12/14/2011

E Readers (The Evolution of The Way We Read and Store Books)

E Readers (The Evolution of The Way We Read and Store Books)

We all remember back in the day school days when we had to carry a backpack filled with books. We also remember our parent houses filled with book shelves and book cases. Some of us had to pay hundreds of dollars for ungrad and graduate school books to haul them all over campus. Well, those books still cost a lot of money, but now we have the convenience of the e Reader. These technological innovative ideas have revolutionized the way we read books. School literature, novels, Bibles, encyclopedias, and much more are available with the touch of a button, for a price, on these mini handheld devices.

 
   Where did the idea of eBooks originate from? The eBook originated in 1971 by Michael Hart at the University of Illinois (Wikipedia, 2011). Hart was given extra computer time on the school’s mainframe and while trying to figure out a use for his resources, he typed out the entire Declaration of Independence in a digital format. Shortly after, Project Gutenberg began and an array of books was put into digital format.

   In the beginning, eBooks were on for certain scholastic groups, political references, and small devote interest group readers, but today almost anything that was copy written in the last 70 years is available on an eBook.

(You can find more interesting information about Michael Hart at www.projectgutenberg.com)

Why get an e Reader?
As I said in the beginning, with an e Reader you have the convenience of carrying around hundreds or even thousands of books around in your purse, backpack, or briefcase.  You can travel and take along with you a mini library in your e Reader and still have space in your luggage for those extra outfits and shoes.

Books are easily downloaded from various websites. Some e Readers offer the power of WiFi, which always come in handy.

I have read that one can get easily distracted while reading an e Reader. Well, you can get easily distracted while reading a regular book as well.

Another plus is that it is very easy to turn pages with your fingertips and save your last page read on an e Reader. You won’t have to be bogged down with corner folds in your books or bookmarks trying to save your place in your book.

 If you are tired of the dull gray screen, some e Readers now offer color screens with less glare.

e Reader vs. I Pad or a Tablet?

A consumer is going to pay for what they really want, especially if it involves electronics. I Pads are cool, but expensive. Some tablets are fairly priced and they serve a duel purpose. Some e Readers are pricey, but if you shop around you can find one that is efficient and not as expensive. You may prefer an e Reader if you don't want to be interrupted with emails and instant messages.

What are some e Reader choices?

The Kindle: price range: $89-$400 

This is one of the most popular e Readers offered by Amazon.com.

You can read it in the sunlight with no glare. The font is better than the previous Kindle. It has an enhanced PDF reader, and the pages turn 20% faster than the previous model.



Pandigital E Reader and Tablet 7" or 9" (In color) 

You can find this item at J. Simone's

 This e Reader/Tablet price range: $150- $250.
It is Android powered and WiFi capable. It offers a touchscreen, rechargeable battery, and a full virtual keyboard.

SONY PRS-950SC Daily Edition Reader
You can find this item and others like it at Amazon.com
Price range: $200-$400

This 3G mobile reading device offers an anti-glare easy page turning touchscreen.
Easy to highlight pages and take notes.

SKYTEX Primer 7" Color E-reader and Media Player
Price Range: $69-$129


This e Reader has a duel purpose. It is an e Reader with a media player! This device is unique because it offers a built in mic and recording software. You can also store audio/music files. It also offers plug and play into your PC.


If you decide to get an e Reader, protect your e Reader! There are products available to help you protect your e Readers from scratches, smuges, bumps, and bruises.
J. Simone's offer a variety of e Reader protectors, covers and sleeves.

Please check us out at www.vendio.com/stores/jsimones!

At J.Simone's the customer is our #1 priority!

www.vendio.com/stores/jsimones

Get ready: Back to School

 Hello, readers! I know it’s been a while since my last post, but I have been through some personal hurdles these past few weeks and hopefully now that I got those hurdles behind me, I can get back on track. (Being an adult, a parent, a student, a full-time employee, apart-time employee, a perspective business owner, and a wife is challenging. Is there some sort of instruction manual I can borrow from someone? That’s a whole new blog, lol!)

GET READY: BACK TO SCHOOL

Benjamin "Future Scholar" 5yo

For the parents all over the world and here in Memphis, Tennessee, it is almost time for school to begin again. Memphis City Schools will begin on August 8, 2011 and this year is also my son's, Benjamin, first year in elementary school. He is starting kindergarten, I’m so elated.  So happy he is starting school, very happy to get a break from daycare fees.You all do not realize, I had to participate in open-enrollment this year. For all of you who don’t know what open enrollment is, it is us Memphis and Shelby County parents lining up outside of the Board of Education at two in the morning, hoping and praying we can get our kids in an option school or just a better school out of our neighborhood.  There were people there who had been camped out since the night prior. Those are serious, die hard parents! I am not too familiar with the neighborhood's elementary schools around my house, but I knew I wanted my son to go to a school that offers an optional program as well as a diverse atmosphere. Not to say that my neighborhood school aren’t good. There was a process to the selection. I had to research school start times and end times, location from school to job. Does the school have a before or after school program? What kind of extracurricular activities are offered? Is it in a convenient location? Does it offer a diverse atmosphere? I am big on diversity and exposure.

 In my first semester of college, I and a lot of my classmates or whatever you may call them, were in a bit of "culture shock", if I’m even using those words right. Growing up I lived in a mostly black community. In elementary, junior, and high school, there were few to no white children. We weren't raised around a lot of people from other nationalities (being truthful here).  In college, some of us, along with the other freshmen Caucasians, Asian, Hispanics, sort of tip toed around each other on campus. We had our own little race cliques at pep rallies, sports events and even in the cafeteria. I can’t speak for everyone, but I think we just didn't know how to approach one another. We did work together on class projects or in work-study programs but socially we were separated.  It got better over the semesters.  I feel you can learn a lot from other cultures, races, ethnicity, or even religions. We shouldn't limit ourselves. I think what your surround yourself with is a start to your future, and where should one start, at school. I also work in a very diverse environment and I absolutely love it. I am what you may call a people watcher. I love to see some of the people and how they dress or act.  I like to hear their opinions or political views on certain events. It is very interesting and sometimes you do learn. That is the avenue I am taking with my kids. I want to expose them to the outside world. This may open doors for lots of opportunities.

O.k., back on the subject, back to school,  in my opinion I just felt the neighborhood schools were not the right choices for my Benjamin. There is a very nice optional school close to my neighborhood but the start time is a little too late. (I did, however,  list it as a second choice on the application.)The main school of choice for Benjamin is Downtown Elementary. The board has graciously accepted our application and we will be enrolling on registration day, Tuesday, August 2nd. This school is unique because, it is downtown. I love our downtown area. Not overpopulated, not to busy, laid-back area. The school’s mission statement stood out to me, “Providing an exceptional educational foundation that enables students to be productive, self-aware, and self-sufficient learners who value themselves, contribute to their community, and are able to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing world (Downtown Elementary, 2011).”

    It is convenient from school to job, they offer before and after-care, there is an optional program, and school lets out 15 minutes I after I punch out. The added bonus, their lovely principle was at the open enrollment, early in the a.m., offering any inquisitive parents any information they may have inquired about. It gave me confidence about choosing this school for my child but this is my first time entering a child into public school. The principal seemed welcoming and comforting. (There were only a few school representatives at the open enrollment.)Those are the positives. The only negative for me is, before-care start time hours and my job's punch in time conflicts. So a kink I’ve got to work out.

Some parents may not like the idea, but I love the fact that Memphis City school children here have to wear uniforms. Benjamin’s school wears white or red plain tops, khaki, black, or navy bottoms. (Check out Memphis City School's Uniform policy here). I've been checking out the local shopping deals here in Memphis. I must warn you, I am not into name brands and not to say I am cheap, but I am a very efficient shopper.

Local stores like Roses and Village Mart have uniform shirts ranging from $5.00 -$9.99 and bottoms from $9.00 and up, depending on the brand.

Department stores in our area, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and Sears have great deals on school uniforms as well. You'd better get them now because if you wait until last minute you may have a hard time finding uniforms in certain sizes and colors.

You can always shop online. I like Cookiekids.com, FrenchToast.com (a little more pricey), and Kolhs.com Cookiekids.com have reasonable deals on school uniforms, free shipping, and I love their regular kid’s selection as well.

For those of you who want to save major monies, Tennessee’s Sales Tax Holiday is August 5-7, 2011.

Be diligent shoppers. Look at the quality of the uniforms. You don’t want to purchase stuff that tears or rips easily. Buy some Woolight. You don’t want those shirts fading.

Don't forget Memphis City Schools start August 8, 2011 

School Registration for Memphis City Schools is August 2, 2011

 If you still haven't had that family outing, here are some other end of the summer activities for families, parents, young adults, teens, and children:

Can I live Celebrity Weekend. July 22nd- July 24th. There will be a school supply drive, family day picnic, a summer jam, and much more. Follow this link: http://citygearusa.com/community/can-i-live-celebrity-weekend-722-24

 Elvis Week August 10-16, 2011

Mid -South MMA Championships II August 6, 2011 at the DeSoto Civic Center. Visit http://www.desotociviccenter.com/ for ticket information.

Everything for Kids Sale August 6, 2011 at the Memphis Agriculture Center. 

The Memphis Flea Market "The Big One" August 20-21, 2011 at the Memphis Agriculture Center

The Delta Fair and Music Festival September 6-11, 2011 www.deltafest.com

So I hope this info is helpful to you all. I will try to keep the blogs coming. I got a few emails asking me about my blogs. Made me feel kind of special. *tear.

Check out what's new at my online store, J. Simones

References:

Welcome to Downtown Elementary School. 2011. Retrieved July 2011 from http://www.mcsk12.net/SCHOOLS/downtown.es/index.html

www.vendio.com/stores/jsimones

Whitehaven Fest 2011 (Memphis,Tn)

Whitehaven Fest June 2011, Memphis, Tennessee

  Hello World! On yesterday we broke out the sunblock and bottled water. The kids and I then headed out into the heat to enjoy the Whitehaven Fest given by the Koinonia Baptist Church here in Memphis, Tn.

Little firetruck ride for the kids.

 This annual fest offered free admission and the rides were free as well. I am not a member of this church but I wanted to get the kids out for some fun and support the cause which to me was, bringing the community together. The fest was filled with activities for the kids such as balloon bouncers and slides, water slides, little carnival rides, horseback riding, tennis, etc. Despite the hotter than Hades temperature on yesterday, people still came out to sweat it out and have a memorable time.

My little Phoebe was brave in the heat.

Listening to the Speakers.

OMG, I was burning up!

Benjamin really enjoyed himeself!

The other kids really enjoyed the horses

Koinonia Baptist Church located on Millbranch near Raines 

  The only thing we paid for was the food. We had to purchase tickets in order to pay for food and it smelled and tasted great. There were snow cones, popcorn, funnel cakes, Bar-b-que turkey legs, smoked sausages, sodas, nachos, ice cream, and plenty of water! The people were happy and kids were dancing. It was nice despite some of the music that I felt was not kid or church ground appropriate.  There was a brief speaker, Tommy Nicholson, from Soul Classics 103.5, a local radio station. He spoke on kids and communtiy. Besides the d.j., there was some live music. There was one soloist that grabbed my attention among others named Gabriel Cox. She sang, "Before You Walk Out of My Life" by Monica (one of my favorite songs by Monica.)  There was also a very courageous women there named Nicole Becton who also spoke to us. She was very beautiful. She spoke on AIDS awareness and getting tested. Being  HIV positive herself, she spoke on the importance of safe sex and abstinence. She contracted the virus being a victim of a rape. It's very sad to hear of this type misfortune but her speaking to the crowd was very encouraging. She wasn't sad, depressing, or whining, but very upbeat, secure, and confident. She also shared the fact the Koinonia offers free AIDS testing that is confidential. The program is appropriately named, "Friends for Life."

Yummy funnel cakes!

Other kids enjoying the carnival rides

   I missed the speech that was to be delievered by our lovely mayor, A.C. Wharton, but after waiting in anticipation for him for an hour and a half, I had to pack up the kiddies and head home. (It was 100 degrees in the shade!) On my way out the drive from the fest, guess who pulls in? ( can you say, "C.P." time?) I did get a glimpse of him though. :-( Sorry, Mayor, I'll just have to catch you on the rebound.
Until next year, Koinonia. Thanks, we had a blast!

What Happened to the "Fun" In fundraising?

Fundraising or Begging?

Sorry about the crappy pictures, I didn't want to hold up traffic.

 What are we teaching our kids? I live in a fairly large city, Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis, to me, is like a "mini-metropolitain" type city. The city is big, but not too big . Big and busy enough to have busy, dangerous, and broad intersections. Some in which require stoplight cameras due to the fact that those particular intersections have so many wrecks a month, according to the local police department. I am seeing kids literally begging  for donations for various neighborhood or little league football teams and pep squads in these hectic, crazy intersections. Half of the time I'm not sure they are legit because I do not see any adults around and when I ask the kids about their team or group and what they need money for, they are stumbling and bumbling over their words. (Sounds kind of fishy to me.) This past weekend, driving home from work, I approached this almost always congested intersection in the southern part of the city. Congested, yes, especially on a Saturday afternoon. There were kids, maybe 12-16 of them, boys and girls, maybe between the ages of 5-16,  on all four sides of the intersection, on the sidewalk, in the street, and in the median, with their football helmets, begging for money. Yes, they were begging, soliciting, what have you, the point is, it's wrong, teaches a lazy practice, and is extremely dangerous.  If you are going to get your kids out begging, at least teach them some proper etiquette. They don't explain who they are or what the money is for? How could they have the time, the red light is about to change? "Hey, ma'am, would you like to donate?" said this one kid, stepping into the street, leaning over into my rolled down passenger car window. "Donate for what," I asked. He names a football team I've never heard of (it's a little league, so I am not familiar with many of the teams), no name on his Jersey shirt, just  a helmet. Make a believer out of me. I asked him, 'where is your sponsor or coach?' Of course he wasn't in the street playing "dodge cars" risking his life with those children. He was posted up in his air conditioned car, maybe 100 ft away in a fast food restaurant parking lot. The kids had noone watching them, noone directing them, no guidance whatsoever.

On top of that, there was a police car at a gas station in a nearby parking lot. (Don't ask me what they were doing. You would think they would have gotten the children off the street.)

Where is the "fun" in that fundraising? Ducking and dodging cars and trucks, trying to get as much money you can before the light turns green. That's not fun at all. What wrong with the car washes, bake sales, candy sales, etc.? We could teach our kids to be creative. Have a karaoke party or a pajama party. Properly managed and supervised, these ideas could be good ways to raise money. A fish fry or barbeque plate sales are other good examples of fundraising. Gather your team up and cut some lawns, trim some bushes, paint some houses, these are good sources for funding as well. Let your community know you want to help the neighborhood look good as well as raise money for your team. Host a health walk or run. Let your community know the importance of excersie and diet. Your team would be relaying an important message as well raising funds for their group. These ideas and other fundraising ideas are better than teaching the children to beg. Proper fundraising is not only profitable, but it will help the participants to understand purpose of hard work and to help them to become more productive citizens in the future.

For more fundraising ideas please check out my article: No Soliciting:Fun Fundraising Ideas

Please check out our store: J Simone's Online Designer Boutique for our latest sales!

Father's Day Is Coming...

My father died when I was 18 years old. I remembered the phone call vividly. It was a few days before my graduation from high school. I was expecting the caller to say, 'we are on our way down to Memphis for your graduation.' Instead it was a call to let me know that my father had passed. It seemed like only a couple months prior, my father was calling me to inform me of his illness. He was 43 years young. My father, a mechanic in the United States Army Reserve, died from complications due to lung cancer. It was totally unexpected. Even though my mom and dad had been separated for years, I was still shocked and saddened by his passing.

  To this day, I wish my father was still around. He would be glad to know that he has two wonderful grandchildren. When I found out I was pregnant with my son five years ago, I instanly knew what his name would be. I named my son Benjamin after my father.

 You should appreciate the fathers and the father figures that you may have in your life. You never know when God will call and the time comes for them to go home. Women, appreciate the good fathers or "baby's daddies" that are taking care of their children. Just because you all are broken up, he has moved on, and started a new relationship doesn't mean he loves your children any less. You two may not be together anymore, but work together as civilized adults for your children. Tell him, "Thank you for being there."

    Some of you may not have money for father's day gifts. Show that father, that brother, that husband, or that best friend your appreciation by cooking him dinner, buying a greeting card, writing a poem, sitting down and watching the games with him, taking a walk with him, or by taking him to church. Tell him you love him! It is the little significant things that counts and matters the most.

The Good Samaritan???

A good samaritan, a considerate human being, a good citizen, which one are you? All or none? Some of the time? Most of the time? Ok, how about this: Have you ever pulled up to the bank teller machine only to see the person before you did not completely close out their transaction? "Would you like to continue? 'Yes, or No?'" Would you hit the 'yes' button or would you cancel the transaction and start your own transaction with your own bank card? You are on the Interstate and the sign reads,
"Construction Ahead , merge left, 2 miles... 1 mile... 1/2 mile... 3/4 mile...2 inches. " You merged left back at the 1/2 mile mark, but the "jackwad" in the souped up Camero wants to ride the lane out to the very very end, if not, he is going run off the road. Do you let him over or punch the gas? Get in where you fit it. You go to your local Starbucks, decide that you want one of those nice $20.00 coffee mugs. Over the counter, you hand the barista the coffee mug you would like to purchase. While doing that, at the same time ask for your daily Grande Skinny Caramel Macchiato. "That would be $5.60," says the nice, cheery barista. Would you say, "I am purchasing the mug as well," or, in your mind say, "Free cup for me," and hand your 5.60 cash or debit card to the barista. You are coming out of your job's parking garage, walking towards the elevator. "Wow, is that a hundred dollar bill on the ground?" You pick it up. Breakfast for you and your buddies, or do you turn the money in to security, lost and found, whatever? That scenario about the lost money did happened to me today.
 I lost some money in our parking garage. I was so distraught. I coudn't find it. I just knew I would never see it again. I wanted to be optimistic, but I know times are hard and someone thought it was their lucky day. I could not think, I could not work, I could not function. Man, I needed that money! A couple of my colleagues helped me search for my cash. (Thanks Jess and Ty!)We checked with security, rechecked my car and under the neighboring cars, and retraced my steps, twice!  Another colleague, who saw I was clearly bothered, gave some encouraging words, very optimisitc. Another, who is always offering up spiritual inspirations to others, advised me to put a message on our bullentin board. Good thinking. I sent a message, "Lost my money somewhere in between the parking garage and the elevators. Please, please contactme if you find it. I REALLY REALLY need my money." Well, I should have checked the board beford I posted my message because 30 minutes prior someone had already posted message, "Money found in Parking Garage X. Tell me how much it was and I will return it to you. Call: yadda yadda at yadda yadda number."
 I called and spoke with the woman. It was my money she had found. The woman even made it a point to contact the human resources department to report it. YAY!  Elated and shocked at the same time. There are still some good people in this crazy world. My colleague gave all praises to Mighty God and I did the same. Lord, knows I needed that money. When I met the woman, whom I later found to be a nurse, I gave her the heartiest of hugs.  I offered her breakfast, she politely declined. My mood did a total 360 and the rest of my day went very well. The feeling I received behind that was wonderment!(one of my favorite words from 10th grade English. Thanks, Mrs. Poole). Has it become that rare these days that you find that good citizen, that self considerate being, that good samaritian. Besides the occasional mild case of road rage, hence the question about the jackwad,  I do consider myself very considerate. When I see something being done wrong, that's illegal, I do occasionally anonymously call the non-emergency police number. (It is stored in my phone) I have actually experienced the teller incident on several occassions, where someone is rushing, or not paying attention, pulls away from the teller machine without having closed out their transaction. It's not worth it to go into someone's bank account even if they are negligent. The Starbucks incident, I over heard someone talking about it one day. We all know what's right. I do not want to be judgemental. (However, those coffee mugs are expensive, but the Skinny Caramel Macchiatos are the BOMB! I should invest in Starbucks). 

They grow up too fast... to my Phoebe E'dele.

It seems like only yesteday I found out I was pregnant and now you are almost 7 months old. I must admit, when I found out I was pregnant back in March 2010, I was not at all happy. I cried for three or four days. I was in the middle of planning my wedding when I found out and I was disappointed. The only thing I could think about was that I did not want to be waddling down the aisle. It reminds me too much of Miss Sophia marrying Harpo in, "The Color Purple." I could imagined my mom and my sister saying, "Big though!" (You got to see the movie or read the book, its one of my favs.)It was the end of March and the wedding was originally planned for August, I was already 8 weeks. We moved the wedding up to May. You came late in the fall on October 25. I couldn't believe I was having a baby girl. Benjamin, my son now 5, was excited to finally have someone to play with. Our family and friends blessed us with so many gifts, prayers, and support. Today, I look at you now no longer disappointed. I suppose things happened for a reason. I was blessed with you, my baby girl. I love you so much. I wish you could stay this size forever but now you are almost 7 months wearing 12 month clothing. You are trying to crawl but its more of a scoot. You are finally holding your bottle on your own. You fill our conversations with baby gibberish. Anything that goes in your hand goes in your mouth. You are teething now so we go through a ton of bibs and cloth diapers everyday. The poop, oh, we are not even going there. ;-)  I'm so sorry I sobbed alot when you were inside me. I once read if you are depressed alot during your pregnancy, your baby would be a whinner. That is so not true. You are a very, very happy baby. Now, when I look at you and I'm sad about something, upset about work, whatever, I look at you with those tight eyes and that gummy smile, and my heart melts. You are my angel!

Now, we have all these baby clothes that you can no longer wear. I want to keep them all but, we have no where to put them. Your legs are strong (really strong) you like to kick (and kick hard). I wonder what you will be when you grow up, a swimmer or a female kick boxer, lol. Your lungs, don't get me started. You let us know when you are not happy, but that's ok. You are a princess, our princess, and we want you to stay happy. Hopefully, one day when you are older, you will log on a read through my ramblings. Until that day comes I will be blogging here and there about you and Benjamin, until I can blog no more.

 

(Actual delivery video, and yes, I was crying.)

Please check out my items for sale this week in my EBAY store:



E-BAY: Huge Lot of Baby Girl Clothes (NB-6mo) Approximatley 70 items +

Happy Bidding!

 Also check out other items at: www.vendio.com/stores/jsimones

My First Blog- Do I have to get a part-time job? I'd rather be my own boss

Hello World! Welcome to my first blog!

Are you like me asking yourself, "Do I have to get a part-time job?" We work hard all day, eight hours shifts, five days a week, no overtime, and what for? Just enough money to cover bills and the necessities. We need a part-time job, but we don't want to have to punch in on another's clock. We do not want another boss. We work full-time already and  would love to become our own boss someday, but how will we get there? Some of you are sailing on the same boat as I. Returning to college, have not yet obtained any degree (Over half way there). Along with the hubby or significant other, trying to raise a family and maintain the household. We really do not have the time to go job hunting. This will require some of us to have to take off work from our full-time jobs and burn up our much needed vacation time. What can we do? What will we do? Well, I am going to utilize this Internet until I can do no more. I started with my own website, but that isn't panning out too well. I started my own website only to find out after a few months later that I was spending more money maintaining the site than what I am earning. BUMMER! I started selling things on EBay without opening a store (don't get me wrong, I love EBay) but I spent more money on insertion fees and final value fees than anything else. I cannot give up. I will not give up. I have dropped my paid website in exchange for a new free website with Vendio.com. I have dropped my limits. (My first website was just for pet supplies. Now, I have opened my doors to sell a variety of things). I have started an actual EBay store, which cuts back on insertion fees and picture fees, and also I am utilizing Facebook as a source for advertising. I have become an Amazon.com associate, so I can advertise Amazon.com products on my site, if you buy it, I get some change. I have also joined Commission Junction or http://www.cj.com/, so I am able to make money from advertising other companies and products as well. It's slow, but I am not going to give up.

If you are looking to start a free online store you can check out some of these sources:

Vendio.com

Ecrater.com

Miiduu.com

To all my readers, please bear with me. I am constantly learning about the e-commerce and blogging business DAILY. I could use your help and your feedback. Look for more stories to come.

Check out my online store: www.vendio.com/stores/jsimones I'm adding products daily.
Featured Album is Adele 21. I love Adele, she had a beautiful voice.This album is the BOMB! I named my daughter Phoebe E'dele. after her. I know its not the same spelling but, I had her in my heart when I named my daughter.

On sale at J Simone's this week:
Focus Electrics Milk Shake Maker