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5 more till 40!
My birthday has never bothered me before in all my priors years. I have enjoyed my birthday, celebrating with friends and family another long year come and gone. Grateful for the things I have, my family and gorgeous husband, my beautiful boys. Yet this year for some reason turning 35 years old has hit me harder than any other year I've celebrated.
For me celebrating a birthday has always been a monumental display because in my mind I was always grateful and blessed I had survived another year on this crazy insane planet of ours. I celebrated being alive. I celebrated everything I had lived through. And I celebrated the journey I was about to embark on.
This year however as my 35th year approached finally landing on my behind today October 11th, 2008. I find myself actually feeling older and I have no idea what to expect from here on out.
1....2....3.... oh who are we kidding?
I'm 35. I'm 35. It's not that if I keep saying it somehow I think it will sound better. It's just suddenly I'm hit with the fact that thirty years of life--my life--has gone by in what seems almost like the blink of an eye. And in looking back on what I did during those 35 years I don't know if I should feel sad or glad with how I spent my time and whether or not I've actually accomplished anything.
Age is a Number but Weight is a measurment you can't deny...
At 35 years old I'm still overweight. I've battled with my weight my entire life. But now my body is starting to feel old. I huff and puff when I walk. Sometimes I think my heart is actually going to jump out of my chest. I've been exercising and it feels good to do so. I guess I just thought I'd be in better shape by this age, looking and feeling younger begins when you enjoy seeing the reflection of the person staring back at you in the mirror.
"Hey Jodi are you going on vacation? Because u sure have a lot of baggage under your eyes..."
Dark circles. Lines. Wrinkles. I have them all. I actually noticed yesterday four gray hairs on the top of my skull. I mean I know they didn't magically just import themselves there to celebrate my special day. They've been there for a while. I'm just noticing things like this more and more suddenly and it's kinda a bummer if you know what I mean...
Age is a state of mind...
Have I accomplished everything in my life I've wanted to? Let's see. I'm 35 and I'm married--that is a bonus. I have 2 great kids. Another plus. I'm a published writer. A goal to which I set for myself when I was only sixteen years old that by my 35th birthday I'd be in print and my second story for Chicken Soup for the soul: divorce and recovery just came out a couple days ago. So yeah I managed to finish that.
I've lived. I've lived through an abusive relationship. Watching my mom and dad both have heart attacks. Watch my son suffer with disabilities daily and my husband struggle with his brain injury. I've been sick and gotten better. I've witness both life and death, the passing of friends and loved ones, and I have everything I could ever really want. A roof over my head. Clothes to wear and food on the table. What more could I ask for?
The passing of time...
TIME.
That is what it bothering me. At 35 I am just now discovering what a joy life can be and suddenly I feel as though time is running out and I'm scared a little. I want to live and be here. I want to enjoy what I have and give to those who don't. I want to see the smiles on kids faces and the laughter that can sometimes swell this giant world we live in momentarily which we miss if we don't stop to take a peek. I want more--time.
Okay a big present to ask for. I know. I'll settle for less gray hair and kids that don't argue. A house that's clean all the time, and bills that are always paid. Parents who will be here by my side forever, and animals who never die.
Too much?
I thought so. So I guess this year I have to just suck it up and say yes age is just another number. It's between 1 and 100 and so far I'm enjoying myself as I count my blessings this life has given me. I can't wait for 40 to come! 
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Get what you want at a good price!
Okay so I know most of you know what Craig's list is. If you don't you are about to and you might (like me) suddenly find yourself addicted to shopping online. I don't think I've had this much fun on the computer in a long time. And the best part is I don't need a credit card.
WORLD WIDE
CRAIG'S LIST is a world wide bargain shopping mall. I say bargain not because the stuff on it is crap or anything. In fact quite the contrary. It's basically people selling their stuff so you can buy their stuff, so you can sell your stuff, so they can buy your stuff, and in the end everyone still have stuff. (Ain't that great?) *wink wink.
I'm addicted to it. I have to say this because admitting you have a problem I'm told is the first step toward recovery. Though I'm not quite sure what I'm supposedly recovering from. My friends and family constantly tease me because I'm on CL at least ten times a day shopping for things I want.
In my defense though I have to say it's the best site. Instead of going out to the big box stores and paying triple what I would on Craig's. I know you're saying well how much stuff do you need? It's not that I need stuff. We are redoing our home. Painting, putting in laminate flooring through the downstairs, ripping out the carpets and since we got married we've decided it's time we search for things we want and get rid of the stuff we don't. And there is no better place to do it than Craig's List.
Things we've gotten rid of over the past month.
Sold for $40 Replaced with futon sofa, black dirctors chair and tv stand $35
Jake loves his new look. He's older now and loves his tv console for his video games and that he has a cool joint for his friends to come and hang out. The bed is on wheels and takes up less than half the space the bunk bed did.
Sold for $70
A couple from Coquitlam came out and picked up the bike for their grandson. We chatted for a few minutes. And Jake got his bike sold so he could put the money toward a bigger bmx to start racing.
Sold for $50 which came with umbrella and patio light plus four powder coated steel chairs with nice chair pads.
Other items we sold were Corey's George Foreman Indoor / Outdoor Grill $40, Computer Desk $30 with office chair, dining room table and chairs still for sale $50, LCD 15" computer monitor $50
Craig's list is more than about selling your stuff. Though it's nice to get rid of unwanted items you are no longer using and the cash doesn't hurt when paying for gas prices to go somewhere. We have also picked up a few things we could otherwise not afford had it not been for people selling them.
Such as these items:
Akai 47
and this which was my most recent purchase and I absolutely love...
25 years old cost: $25
This table will go perfect in our dining room with our new floors once they are done. Now all I need are chairs and we are set. 25 years old it was hand made by an oriental man for his family designed after the many tables you see in the Chinese restaurants. It's solid and I love the marble finish. For that price you can't go wrong.
No matter what you are buying and selling or even trading. Check out Craig's List first. They have everything and anything you might want from blenders to sofa's to beds for your kids at half the cost.
There are a few things to beware of though when dealing with buyers.
1.) Don't ever meet at night. Make sure others know if you are going to pick something up and never go alone.
2.) If the ad is too good to be true it usually is. You can't get a 40" LCD working condition for $50 bucks.
3.) Don't get SCAMMED. Craig's list works hard to keep scammers and spammers from appearing on their site but they cannot control everything. People selling dogs who ask for a deposit up front. SCAMMER. People selling gift cards for 1/2 their price... ARE STOLEN and so forth. Use your judgement and trust your instincts.
4.) Double check prices as the big box stores before making a purchase. People are selling Nintendo Wii's for more than $200 what they are worth. Disney cars are for sale $7.50 each when you can buy them at Walmart for $4 and so on. Don't get fooled into thinking you are getting a good deal. Know you are getting one.
Anyhoo I have to get back to CL because I still need an entertainment unit, chairs, a lamp and a few others things. Wish me luck...
Till next time
~ JP
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September 28th 2008 18:09
A few minutes a day is all you need...
Okay so I have about 30,000 photos on my hard drive to which I haven't put to disc, printed and are just floating around inside my computer creating dust. And I know I'm not alone. If you are like me and love to take pictures then you know what I'm talking about. But what do you do after those pictures are taken?
I used to scrapbook by hand. Yes the old school way, cutting paper, using scissors and glue and buying my stickers and embellishments from a specialty store. That was years ago. I'm very proud of my first scrapbook album, my oldest son's first year growing up.
The problem is now as a work at home mom of 2 boys, one of which has disabilities. There doesn't seem to be any time for me to sit down with all my crafty supplies and create those magical memories by hand. I'm always on the computer.
Digital scrapbooking has come a long way from when it was first introduced. And let me tell you. The freedom I get from being able to whip up and priceless page to print and then slip into a protective sleeve to add to a three ring book to keep forever. Well... take a look at some of the pages I've made below and you can judge for yourself.
One I did of Jake because he loves music
Front page for Perry Clan my Facebook family page
No matter what the idea or project is for. You can do more than just scrapbook your photos for yourself. I've used digital scrapbooking to make presents and trinkets for family and friends during Christmas time, birthdays or just because gifts to show I care.
One example of a fridge magnet
One year I took photos of all the kids, cousins and my boys and scrapbooked them, took them to a shop and had them laminated, went to dollar store and bought a roll of magnet strip and put it on the back of each one. I sent one set to my mother in law and one to my husbands sister of all the kids for them to put on their fridge. They loved it!
You can make laminated calendars, coasters, t-shirts, pictures in frames, in books. The ideas are endless.
Gift I did for my mom to put in a frame to hang in her kitchen of our son Trace
Jake's soccer page
story of us
Look online and you can find free templates, digital art work, layouts and designs. You can even find free software to help get you started. It can take minutes to put a page together with easy templates. Just drag and drop your picture, add some text, a background or two and wala!
You've made your very first scrapbook page.
Here are some sites to get you started...
No matter what site you choose to download your ideas, templates or designs from. Remember to have fun. Creating memories that can last a lifetime can be simple, easy and affordable. Don't have a printer? That's okay. It cost me $13.00 from a local print shop to print laser copies of my colored scrapbook pages in 8x10 format for my books.
HAPPY SCRAPPIN...
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September 23rd 2008 07:32
Thousands of readers read blogs every day. I have three I post to. Here and my personal blogs. But one of my favorite things to do in my down time (I know what's that) when you are a mom. I love to read other people blogs, especially on parenting
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September 22nd 2008 16:51
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September 16th 2008 04:31
So okay it's not totally new as the Plasma car has been around for a long time, a few years at least. It's one of the hottest things and Canadian made I have to tell you I'm really impressed.
The Plasma car is a durable plastic ride on toy that out does anything Little Tikes or Step2 has put together from what I've seen in a long time. I only say this, not because I don't like Tikes or Step products, I live by them. But because anyone can ride one. Even me and I weight about 160lb pounds (yikes I know) and I can cruise around on one of these little foot to floor fun toys and it's a blast
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Well not that I don't already have enough on my plate, blogging at Orble, writing for Helium and Chicken Soup, freelancing articles for Parenting Magazines. I have decided to add more and now have a new blog that will focus on my life, my kids, my marriage, and whatever else I think.
Bandaid's Booboo's and Discombobulation is the name and it relates to my personal thoughts on whatever. I will of course still be writing here at Parentwriter because I like to report things. New kids items. Thoughts I have on parenting and so forth. The other blog is just personal
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Okay ranting here. It's the first week back to school for Jake and I cannot even begin to express my absolute anger over our school system here in BC
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There is nothing more magical than seeing your child discover something new and with that new found discovery the joy brought to their face
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Nintendo Rocks!
My husband wants a PS3. He had a PS2. My son wants an XBox 360 and a PSP. Me well, I've never been a big video game fan. Well not really
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Comment by JP Shaw
on Let's Mambo...Click to help me win!
Sassy Ink Author
Parent Writer