Never Pay Full Price For Gas!

With gas as expensive as it is I have found what I think is a very clever plan to save money on gas. I thought I'd share it with you and pass on the savings especially since the last news report I heard said gas would be over $4 by summer...

I am sure you all are aware of the grocery stores that offer .10 cents off  per gallon for every hundred points you accumulate (1 point = 1 dollar). So typically, you buy groceries for the week (or get a qualifying prescription at the pharmacy) and your reciept says you get .10 cents per gallon in savings, which is not bad - but it can be better! I will now refer to Fry's even though I know other stores offer these rewards but Fry's just happens to be a block away from me so it's the store I go to. Near the entrance, I know you've seen them, there are these kiosks with tons of gift cards but if you look closely it also says recieve 2x fuel points or even 4x fuel points if you purchase one of these overlooked cards!



These Kiosk have gift cards for pretty much EVERYWHERE!!! So what I started doing awhile back is buying gift cards for anywhere that I know I will be going. Dinner- they have it. (even fast food) Movies- Yes. They even offer cards for online stores like Itunes, Amazon or Ebay. If you can think of  it they probably have it, with the exception of the grocery store's competitor. Fry's doesn't have Walmart gift cards but they do have Target cards, so hit this place up before buying those electronics and household items. These work especially well if you are working on projects around the home since they have Home Depot cards as well (your husbands will rack those point up quick with this one). You are going to spend this money anyway so you might as well make your money work for you! I typically go in and buy all of the gift cards I need, and remember it is DOUBLE fuel points so your $100 now got you 200 points or .20 cents off each gallon of gas! So plan ahead, this is a really easy way to save a lot of money. On a side-note, I also use my rewards credit card to buy the gift cards and then reap double rewards- I'll blog on the beauty of a good rewards credit card another day.

This week I managed to rack up 1000 points- yes, that was $1 off! It was not hard to do, remember that is $500 in gift cards, and even less if you grocery shop there (which I do). So the day I went to get gas it was up to $3.79 so with $1 off we got down to $2.79.



Being the saver that I am I don't just fill up one car I actually wait until Kiohud has the day off so we can fill both vehicles at the same time. I drive a very un-fuel efficient Expedition ALL day and Kiohud drives a fuel efficient Avenger but drives 120 miles to get to work and back for 1 shift, so trust me we need all of the gas savings we can get! So we take both cars line them up and fill them both up at once, as long as you do not put the gas handle back in the keeper, you can keep fueling (this requires some team work). This week we filled up both cars for $94.28- probably not the number you want to see when paying for gas but this actually saved us almost $34 this week.  We fill up both cars weekly so that would equate to saving $136 per month or $1632 per year! We do pretty well with this system and get almost $1 off every time now. (and no it's not ghetto!..it's efficient). Keep in mind, some fuel stations have a limit of gallons purchased.



Hope this saves you some money- remember in the words of Benjamin Franklin "A penny saved is a penny earned" and these days the pennies are getting scarce :)

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The Do's and Don'ts of Interviews

So you finally landed that interview you have been waiting for- here are some tips on how to get that job!

Do's:

Do be on time!!!- There is nothing more unprofessional than arriving late to an interview. If possible drive there the day before and figure out exactly where you are headed. Try to arrive about 15 minutes early.

Do wear a suit- It is so important to have a suit that you feel great in- ladies this goes for you as well! A suit demands attention- and it will give you the confidence you need to get through the interview. Some tips on the suit- 1. Get it tailored. For a suit to look good it has to fit properly so spend the extra money to make it fit you perfect- you will not regret it! 2. Try it out- There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable in an outfit so wear it around- get acquainted with your suit. Wear it out to the store and you will notice how much attention and respect one suit can give! Go ahead, order some people around and see how they respond!

Do bring a resume- limit it to one page with only important information. No one reads more than 1 page! Truth be told, if it's 3 or 4 pages it will probably get thrown out before you even land the interview. And remember only pertinent information- no one is going to be impressed that you can use Internet Explorer or a calculator! (trust me I have seen this on way too many resumes..and trashed way too many resumes because of these special skills) Don't forget to bring multiple copies in case you are interviewed by a panel.

Do bring copies of any pertinent certifications- This will avoid the back and forth when you do land the job. File them neatly in a portfolio along with your resume.

Do research the company- know about the company, some of it's history. You want to know who you will be working for, you may be asked some general questions. Think of it as a pop quiz, you don't want one of these questions to spoil your chances.

Do be professional to EVERYONE- You never know who has input! I had an interview once where my secretary was out of the office so I seated the applicant myself, as he sat down he says "I am so nervous- who is going to interview me- are they mean?" I had to explain to him- "that would be me"-..needless to say, he did not land this job.

Do smile, stay calm, and make eye contact- I know this can be hard if you are nervous but you are there for a reason- they already liked you application!


Don'ts

Don't talk to much- it's okay to elaborate on your answers when asked but don't drag your answers out.

Don't lie- Everything will be referenced and that "little white lie" could cost you the job. Be honest and if there are any "blemishes" on your work history be honest about them.

Don't bad mouth your previous employer- even if they were totally awful! Do not give any negative comments and try to talk about everything with a positive attitude. No one wants to work with "the pessimist"!

Don't interrupt- listen to the question completely and then answer. Like I tell Emily- It is impossible to listen and talk at the same time!

Don't send the wrong signals- Remeber communication is primarily via body language. Don't fidget, know your nervous quirks and avoid them.

Don't Flirt with the interviewer!-Really..you need me to explain this?

Don't stress- You have what they are looking for they are just double checking. And if you don't get this job- God has something better in store for you!



Hope this helps- Good luck my friends! :)

Patience is a Virtue

If there is anything in my life that is always a work in progress it would have to be patience... As a workaholic, mother (of small children), firefighter wife, and aunt to a teenager- well, saying my life has to be flexible in a huge understatement. I have had to learn that life doesn't revolve around me- actually, I am usually running to keep up!

This was one of those weeks where I had to practice extra patience. A few of my extra stresses this week were that-

A: This week Kiohud was home about a day and a half and was at work the entire rest of the week. We love the extra pay and Kiohud doesn't always get offered overtime so when he does he usually jumps at the chance. This however adds a little more work to our schedules. Now, I am pretty independent as far as wives go and I can run this home pretty well but it is really nice to have help!

B: Also, this week my carpool buddy decided to go totally nuts! Honestly, I could write a whole blog on my carpool buddy but it wouldn't be very nice so I will just tell you she is bi-polar and we can leave it at that. This week she decided to go a little overboard and almost called the police because the school couldn't find her child- only problem she was right where she was supposed to be with Kiohud on her way home. Apparently my carpool buddy forgot to inform both me and the school that she was doing her own pick up that day and didn't need to carpool! So after that very awkward conversation I had to inform her that the carpool was no longer going to work for me. Sad thing is I really missed her picking up Emily half the week even if she is a little out there...

 This morning Jacob who never wets the bed woke up soaked. I asked him "Jacob did you pee in the bed?" He looks at me with his big brown eyes as serious as can be and replies "No mom, I was in a boat and I got all wet!" As I was changing him I realized that schedules will conflict, deadlines will be missed, kids will get sick, carpool people will go nuts, and life will happen (and it's always unpredictable). I have learned that I can either stress my self out when things come my way or learn to live around them and sometimes- I just have to laugh! :)

Emily the Birds and the Bees- oh my!

Today something I have been dreading since Emily was born happened- we had to have "THE TALK"! (yikes) Here is how that went...


So today as we are in the checkout aisle at Walmart Emily sees one of those magazines, you know Cosmo- the one with the S word all over it (I'll keep this rated G, in case any of my younger friends are reading) We have done this of course many times before but she has always been oblivious to them. Well, today she turns and says "How dare they put that word on a magazine cover? Don't they know there are children that can read in this store?!" So at this point I am thinking ok, so what does she know and how much of it does she know. I really don't want to have this conversation inside of Walmart so I just look at her and said "I take it we need to have a talk..."

 I will pause here in the story to let you know that I have read the books, I have read articles, and I have even talked to other parents who have gone before me but I was NOT ready for this yet! I know, I know, I sound like a total chicken but I never got "the talk" I learned the way most people did- all information from their peers who knew no more than I did or knew what their older siblings had taught them. I did not want this to be the only information my daughter had on the subject. I wanted her to have this information the Godly way.

We got home sat at the table (Emily, Cecelia, and I) over some ice cream and I asked her "Ok, Emily so you go first- what DO you know?" Thank God she didn't have much information mostly that Cadence (a girl in her class) had told her "Emily that word is so disgusting you don't want to know what it's about!"  So I started easy and asked her if she knew how animals mated- and she replied "Oh, you mean like how when the male peacock sees a female peacock he extends his feathers to show off and then lands his mate?" Well, close enough... haha At this point- I don't know exactly how I am going to approach this so I just say a quick prayer in my head- God help me not to die in the middle of this conversation (at this second I realize why my mom skipped this talk)! "Ok, well Emily I' will start off by telling you that it is not disgusting. This is something special that God gave us to share with your spouse once we are married. And if not for "it" you or I would be standing here today." Emily quickly comes back with- "Well, you said I'm not allowed to get married!" (I think I told her that when she was 3 and then changed it to after college)  The rest of the conversation is basically me telling her a very G rated version of what it truly is and how she needs to save herself for who ever God sends her to share this gift with. I then told her and Cecelia that if they have ANY questions to please come to me before going to their friends and I would always be as honest as possible with my answers.

The thing is that although to this day I do not have the kind of "openness" with my mom where she and I would EVER talk about this, I want to have this with my children. I want them to come to me for questions and advise that way I can give them the answers that God wants them to have not just whatever advise is being thrown at them by their peers or even worse the media. So as hard as this was for me, I hope that our future conversations will be easier. Like Kiohud said "You know, this is conversation 1 of 50" I just hope this opened the door so that my children will be able to make wise, Godly decisions. :)

Life Insurance

Kiohud and I have decided we are ready for more life insurance coverage. We have had a lot of changes in the past four years or so and have not updated our policies to reflect those changes. I would never want to "leave" without knowing my family was being taken care of. Kiohud made the statement the other day "If anything happened to you, I'd have to marry pretty quickly because I'd need money". Half honest, half jokingly we laughed at the time and then I realized I would never want to put my family in such a tough spot. So here I am shopping for a bigger life insurance policies. Let me share with you some knowledge on life insurance...

Types of Life Insurance
Term Life Insurance- sole function is to pay designated person (Beneficiary chosen by you) a lump sum upon your death.

Whole Life Insurance- Pays benefit to your designated person AND also is a low risk savings account which is also tax deferred ( which means you don't have to pay taxes on this money until you use it) This plan lets you make fixed payments as long as you make payments as planned. The money is invested for you. You also have an option to receive payments from your account or withdraw from it in your lifetime.

Variable Life- This insurance is basically identical to Whole Life with the exception that this plan offers more flexibility to borrow from.

Universal Life- Again similar to whole life but you can earn interest at market rate on the cash value portion (the amount that doubles savings account) So basically it is more flexible than the above and has the potential to earn you more money.

Universal Variable Life-  This is the "premium life insurance". This account gives you more control over your money than any of the other accounts. With this plan you have all of the benefits of any of the other accounts plus you are able to invest in multiple accounts with more freedom. You are also able to borrow or make withdrawals in your life time however if you end the contract early you loose some of the money you would have been entitled to if you kept the policy full term. This account is for people that want to "baby" their account because you have to manage your own account and your success depends on the investments you make.

So- how much life insurance should you have?

 Well, that depends on your personal situation. Average life insurance is 2-6 times your normal income. But don't forget to take into consideration mortgage, children, college, etc. Basically, any expenses your family would have to cover without your income to help take care of them. I found this calculator it seemed to be pretty easy to work with http://www.insurancecalculators.com/


Life insurance is a lot cheaper than you would think espescially if you get it while you are fairly young. For Kiohud and I to get a 1 million dollar policy we are looking at 35-50 dollars per month depending on which type of policy and company we chose. If you are looking for a larger amount you will have to justify it with the company-  basically, they need to know you are worth that much money so be prepared to have financial documents ready. Also, you may be required to take a physical and get blood drawn to make sure you are in good health.

Also, I want to add that you can obtain most of these polices online now. However, I would suggest either calling your own insurance company (the one you have your home and auto insurance with) They may be able to give you a "bundle" discount (I hate Flo). You can also go down to your local bank or credit union and talk to the financial advisor there as they are usually certified to sell insurance as well. Part of my job (when I had a real job) was to sell life insurance policies so I am pretty familiar with this process already but this was a good refresher for me. I hope this helps your family as well- Good luck! :)

The Love Dare Part 2

As promised- here is a continuation to The Love Dare Part 1. For those of you who did not read how my first 5 of the 40 day challenge went click  HERE to catch up! This is how days 6-10 went... :)


Day 6: Love is not irritable- Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Make a list of areas where you need a margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life. Basically for me this boils down to me overworking... If you don't know me that well I have to admit that I am a bit of a work-a-holic! I am constantly checking emails or doing something work related so if we are ever having a conversation and I have my Iphone in hand and don't look like I am totally paying attention- chances are I am not! (I am sorry- this is a terrible habit!) I have decided to give my self a "cut off time" so I work until 3 and then if I have any work left over I can do it after the kids to bed. This way I am not the totally irritated mom/wife because I am juggling work, dinner, homework, cleaning, and anything else that has to be done!

Day 7: Love believes the best- For today's dare get 2 sheets of paper. On the first write positive things about your spouse on the second negative things. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose for each. At some point during the day pick out a positive attribute from the list and thank your spouse for having that characteristic. Well, I have to admit I didn't actually get 2 sheets of paper. I typed my list on my Iphone hoping Kiohud didn't look and wonder why he has a "pros and cons list"! At some point during that day I interrupted my chaotic work to go into his office (the next room) and tell him how much I appreciated him and the fact that he was so good at taking care of us... :)

Day 8: Love is not jealous-Determine to become your spouses biggest fan and reject any thoughts of jealousy. Take yesterday's "negative list" and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he has recently enjoyed. Well, writing the list on my Iphone wasn't such a great idea! Not that Kiohud would have agreed to have an open flame but it probably would have had more of a dramatic affect then just hitting the little trash can! I am totally Kiohud's biggest fan! I am so proud of him and all that I have seen him accomplish- if Kiohud can dream it he will do it and it is fun to watch. Jealousy? Honestly, sometimes it's hard having a husband who is a "10" at everything but he also helps motivate me and always believes in me. I complimented him on his recent music endeavor- if you want to see his new page click HERE although he hasn't "officially" launched this page yet (so hopefully I don't get in trouble for posting it) I am so proud of him!

Day 9: Love makes good impressions- Think of a specific way you'd like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them. This I am totally guilty of! Kiohud walks in and half of the time I am busy at work and barely glance up say hello and then go on to typing or I'm on the phone and wave hello- even worse! I read in another book (I don't remember which) that you should greet your spouse before anyone else when you get home. This prioritizes your marriage and will even teaches your children that they should prioritize theirs if they see this done on a regular basis. Well, this is a little hard since whenever I get home 3 kids attack me. So, I have made an extra effort to say "Hold on guys" walk over to Kiohud, kiss him hello, and then say okay, NOW it's your turn. And when Kiohud gets home I drop whatever I am doing to greet him and ask him how whatever went. This took extra work on my part!

Day 10: Love is unconditional- Do something out of the ordinary for your spouse- something that proves (to you and to them) that your love is based on choice and nothing else. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage. Good thing Kiohud worked overtime on the day I was initially supposed to do this because I had no clue what I was going to do! Then I thought instead of one big thing maybe I could do a bunch of little things so first I went out of my way to pick up some things he had been needing for a project he is working on. Then I realized he had one of those nights full of calls and didn't get much sleep so I had him take a nap while I made dinner and I cleaned his "man cave" he slept pretty well since I even had the carpet professionally cleaned and he managed to sleep through that. Then after dinner I took out the trash and fed the dog- both usually his jobs. Oh yeah, and I also crushed all of the cans in the "recycle" pile. All little things, honestly nothing took too much effort but I hope this made his day off a little easier.

And that was the week! I am really enjoying this book. It has made me see that little things can make a big difference! Oh and if you are wondering about Kiohud's progress... well, he is still trying to get started on Day1! :(

Stay tuned to see how the next 5 days go!

P.S. I have great news! I picked up a sponser "to be announced at a later date".  What does that mean for you? As soon as I have more "followers" (people that subscribe not just read) I can start doing give-aways (like gift cards or merchandise)! So, sign up on my home page where it says "Join this site with google friend connect" to be entered into drawings coming soon! :)

Just In Case

So I have been working on a "Just in Case" file for Kiohud. If you are asking yourself what is a "just in case" file? It is a file for Kiohud to be able to find any details regarding our finances should anything happen to me. I know, I know- this is not the happiest of all subjects but the truth is- emergencies happen, we all will pass away at some point, and we can make this a little easier on our loved ones if we prepare a little. Detailed is a list of the things going in my folder- I'll add more as I think of them and if you have any thing to add please comment on the bottom as I would probably want to add them on my list as well. :)

Bank Account Information: In our home, I run most of the finances. If this is your job also, then do your spouse a favor and write down the names of all of your bank accounts, including account and routing numbers and the most current balance.

Debt Information:  Account numbers, balances and payments for all mortgages, auto payments, and any other debts you may have.

Utilities: This may seem like "no brainer" information but usually one spouse pays all of the bills and the other never even sees them. Also, many of these bills may be paid online so leave all log in information to avoid a lot of stress!

Life Insurance: If you don't have it- get it! Make sure to get enough so that your family is taken care of. Kiohud and I are currently in the market to up our life insurance (after I heard the sentence- If anything happened to you I'd have to get married pretty quickly because I'd need money) so I will write another blog on that soon. Also, policies are not nearly as expensive as you think they are and some can double as an investment account.

401K, stocks, bonds, or other investments: Names and account numbers for these accounts. Always good to go over those documents again and make sure you have the correct beneficiary in place.

Copy of your driver license, birth certificate, and social security card: Will all be necessary for obtaining information.

Your Final Wishes: Morbid, I know. Having done this for my sister recently I have to tell you it was one of the worst things I have ever had to do. Although when I'm gone I will be happy celebrating with the angels I now know that I would like to make everything as easy as possible for my family who I leave behind. Write down all of your wishes and if you do go out and purchase your own "arrangements" have details of that in the file as well.

A couple of signed checks: If any of the accounts are in your name only sign a few checks so that your family can have immediate access to any funds available.

Ok, so that is the list of things that I have complied so far. Now before anyone here starts lecturing me on the dangers of having all of this pertinent information in one file- I am keeping this in my safety deposit box at the bank- I strongly suggest you do the same! Wish me luck as I track all of this down! :)

The Story of Us

In honor of Valentine's Day...

Where Kiohud and I met actually differs depending on which one of us you are asking: I say- Kiohud and I met in high school 3rd period both student teachers to my choir (his band) teacher Mr. Hawkins. Kiohud says we met Sophomore year in Mrs. DiGangi's chemistry class but I ignored him... :(  Anyways, we didn't actually talk until senior year. We didn't exactly hit it off- we both agree on this part! I thought he was a nerd (he was), he thought I was stuck up (I was). Spending a lot of time on the same tasks we ended up becoming really close friends. We had a lot in common- we shared a love for God, and a love for music. Somewhere along the way I started to like him. We had a mutual friend who I would ask about him and found out Kiohud had other people he was interested in. Well, being a girl and all (I always say girls are way more manipulative) I made it my mission to make it look like he was "taken" until every girl that he liked hated him. (If you were one of those girls- I'm Sorry!) When prom came he had no one to ask but me so of course, I said no. I don't know why, I was a jerk. I really thought this plan was going to backfire but then as I had hoped he asked again. This time I said yes!



A very young "us" Kiohud and I on our first date.



Kiohud and I dated for a little over a year a year and married June 16. 2001. Being married at such a young age is not easy. We both were just growing up and being married and not long after having a baby (The Reason we had to get married) was a really hard way to do things. When young people tell me "well, you guys did it and you are so happy" I always tell them we did things the really hard way! So kids if you are reading- go to school, accomplish some of your goals, marriage, and then when you know each other- baby! We survived only because of A: God- He was and still is a big part of who we are and B: I heard a preaching once that said that the word "divorce" should be excluded from your vocabulary once you are married. That may have been one of the best things anyone has ever told me. Whenever we would have disagreements we never went there. To be honest, the storming process (our first 2 years) was so difficult, that I blanked out so many initial memories. It's not that way for everyone, but for us this was the period of time where our marriage became strengthened. If you are going through this, I would encourage you to stick it out- there is something great on the other side.


Kiohud and I grew up together. We both worked hard to form our family. School, work, family- we juggled it all for awhile. We became a team, learned to work together, realized our strengths and weaknesses and always put God first in our marriage and HE honored that.

Today we have a beautiful family and a marriage that I believe is one of the best. We don't always agree on things but we have learned to work through everything together. I always say that we were not initially the perfect puzzle piece but God squished us together and made us fit. We took the really hard road, but we appreciate each other because of it.

I couldn't have asked for a better husband and friend. Thank you Kiohud for taking this journey with me. I am a very blessed girl to have you! :)

Hair By Ellie!

ES Urban Hair Salon- Hair by Ellie http://esurbanhair.com/

I will start this blog by letting you know that I am not allowed to cut my hair- it is not that I chose not to cut my hair- I'm not allowed. For any feminist that are out there cringing, in our marriage we have certain "rules" for example; he doesn't leave the toilet seat up, I don't cut my hair- everybody wins!

My friend Ellie started working at ES Urban Hair on 16th St. and Indian School a few months ago and has been trying to build her clientele so I decided to stop in for a trim. Before I went I told my niece Erica where I was headed only to find out that I was not "cool enough" to be there. "I'll warn you now Sophia- the walls are black and have spray paint all over them- I can't picture you there. You may walk out with a mohawk!" I told her I totally trusted Ellie so I really didn't care where I was headed I was going to help my buddy out.

Walking up to this salon, I already had this impression in my head of what it was "supposed" to look like. I have to tell you I  was pleasantly surprised! Located between a Goodwill and a bakery tucked into this tiny corner, was the cutest salon I've seen! Somewhere between the last time Erica had been there and now the place has been totally remodeled.  With different  wall paper in every room, art hanging everywhere, and 70's inspired lamps throughout there was so much to look at!

Ellie gave me a little tour and then got to work! I have to tell you that I usually trim my own hair because I have had too many occasions where my trim turned into a "cut". Ellie did exactly as I asked straightened out my "not so handy" work, and gave me a few more layers. I also have to add that she gave me a conditioning treatment that I am still loving a few days later- my hair has been sleek ever since. End result= I LOVED it! I am loving these layers so much that I may actually start getting my hair done here on a regular basis!

p.s. I have to add if you love cats you will love the "salon cat", if on the other hand like me you are TOTALLY allergic take some Benedryl before you go you will thank me later!

The Love Dare Part 1

So this week I went out and bought the book The Love Dare, written by Stephen and Alex Kendrick it is a 40 day challenge and according to the back of the book will help you "learn the keys to finding true intimacy and developing a dynamic marriage." If you have never heard of  the book, there is a movie named Fireproof that it was based off of. Anyways, I bought this book- Kiohud grudgingly accepted (but I don't think he has actually started yet)... So here is my progress so far I have decided to update you every 5 days (this may take longer to post than 5 days since Kiohud works every other day). Also, I should note that if you want to do the "Love Dare" you should go out and buy the book since what I will be posting on here is just a glimpse of what the book has to offer..


Day 1: Love is Patient- Dare: Say nothing negative- basically if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all... This was pretty was for me since I am more of an optimist I ususally don't say much that is negative..

Day 2: Love is Kind- In addition to saying nothing negative you are to do at least one unexpected gesture of kindness... I decided my "act of kindness" would be to wash Kiohud's car for him. I took it in to get washed and even went out and bought him some air freshners. I was home when I saw some dirty spots on the seat so I came in and got a wash rag- Kiohud followed me out and said "Oh, great what did you spill in my car?" haha- I guess I don't do that enough! I also wrote a note and left it on his steering wheel telling him how much I appreciated him (an extra girly detail).

Day 3: Love is Not Selfish- Buy your spouse something that says "I was thinking of you today"  Ok, so this day I have to admit I didn't go as "out" as I should have- The kids had been sick all week and I was coming down with whatever they had so on my trip to the pharmacy I bought Kiohud some Lemonheads and Black Forest Gummy Bears- 2 of his favorite snacks only to find out that he was fasting candy! That's was about all of the energy I had that day...

Day 4: Love is Thoughtful- Contact your spouse during the day with no agenda other than to ask how they are doing and if there is anything you can do for them. Again, I do this probably 4-5 times a day- the only difference is this time I did have an "agenda" to complete my dare for the day! I did feel guilty about that..

Day 5: Love is Not Rude- Ask your spouse to tell you 3 things that cause him to be uncomfortable or irritated with you- you are not allowed to attack or justify your behavior. Ok, so Kiohud had a total field day with this! First, he made me wait the entire 24 hours after initally saying "Oh wait, I have a good one but let me compile a list first!" Then he told me the only thing he could really think of was that I never put the keys away when I got home- ok, so that's not too bad and I half annoy my self when I do it because I have to search for the keys when I am going some where- I will work on fixing this... Oh, and he came up to me today and said how many things do I have to tell you again? I am still working on my 3 things... TIMES UP Kiohud- it was a one day dare!!!!

And that completes my 5 days! I am enjoying this challenge and it's a good thing after 10 years to be reminded every now and then on how to treat and appreciate your spouse!

Keep you posted on the rest of this "dare" and if Kiohud jumps on board I'll let you know how it goes for him too! :)

Cake Pops!

I have been wanting to learn how to make a cake pops for awhile- for those of you who don't know what a cake pop is it's basically a cake shaped as a lollipop. I think they are so cute but when I looked up the recipe awhile back it looked sooo confusing! Then I saw this infomercial- I am not an infomercial-kind of girl but since I have been wanting to make these, I was instantly attracted to this one... Bake POPS so for $28, you get not 1 but 2 sets of Bake Pops- I was sold on the idea but not the price, since I only needed 1 and didn't want to pay $28 for it. I then found it on sale at Walgreen's of $13! YAY! Not only could I try it, but if it turned out to be a total flop,it would make returning it a lot easier...

Ok, so in this box comes the pan to make the cake pops, 20 sticks, the little yellow things that hold the pans together while baking and of course instructions:

To make the cake pops you need:  Any cake mix, frosting, and your choice of decorations:

So directions are pretty easy: Prepare cake mix according to directions (we always substitute apple sauce for oil to reduce calories and make it heart friendly :) ) Then pour into the pan which should be lightly sprayed with oil on both sides.

Then put the lid on and fasten together with the little yellow tabs.

Put into the oven, here is where the directions went off a little the directions called for 25-30 mins but after 18 I could smell "cooked cake" I pulled out and sure enough they were done, had I waited I would have had "burnt pops"

Let completely cool before opening- Jacob waited patiently...

Here is what they look like once cooked:

Put a little frosting on your stick before you insert to get it to hold on a little better- They were really easy and kid friendly- they popped right out with no sticking and in perfect form.

Decorate as you wish, today we went kid friendly and as easy as possible just plain frosting and sprinkles- next time I'd like to try actual melted chocolate...

End result: We loved them- very user friendly, easy, quick and cute. Things I will probably change next time are: I will probably get sticks that are a little thicker since these were not the sturdiest (might try Popsicle sticks) Also, as I said I will probably try a harder chocolate base.

Enjoy! :)

Start Your Own Business!

At your request- here are some basic things you should know when starting your very own business!

1. What is your motive?- Know your motive/s- write them down, this may seem silly but this will be good for reference later especially if times get tough!

2. Know your talents- Don't start a business in something you have no interest in just because it will "make money". Do what you LOVE! If you don't know what you are good at ask friends and family- chances are they have already identified your talents for you! :)

3. RESEARCH!-  Know what kind of business you are getting in to, costs, your market, and your competition.

4. Find Resources- This may be tough, do you need financing? Employees? Equipment? Suppliers? Where will you get all of the resources? Compile a list so that you are not stuck a few months down the road.

5. Lifestyle Changes- This comes with ANY business. Sacrifices will have to be made, are you willing to make them? Schedule changes, late nights- make sure every one in your home is on the same page so there are no surprises later on.

6. Money- Do you have enough money to keep your business running? Most businesses take a year or two to yield a profit. Many people go into business expecting it to take only a few months and are stressed when they have to compensate with their personal accounts. Plan ahead so this doesn't happen to you!

 7. Network- Networking with people in similar industries can usually lead to business and good advise. People in the same industry are usually willing to share what did or did not work for them to help you avoid mistakes. Take time to network- you won't regret it!

8. Give it your all!- Going into your own business is hard work! Be prepared to give it your all with no or little rewards in the beginning.

9. Timing- As they say "timing is everything"! Make sure it is the right time for you and your market to launch your business.



My motive to start a business was easy, I wanted to actually see my children grow up. Working a very demanding job that required many hours of overtime I felt as though I missed so much! I prayed and God told me it was time. I put together my business plan and formed Sanderson Enterprises L.L.C., it would be a year before I could actually quit my job. Working for yourself is not always easy. You don't get holiday, vacation or sick pay and in the beginning- you don't get paid at all! For me it took a lot of invested money and time before I saw any profit. Hard work and persistence paid off for me and I was able to quit my "real" job. There are some hard days (and a lot of good days), but in the end I'm fulfilling my motives and I'm here for every milestone that my children reach.

 I know that this sounds like a lot of work and it is but I will sum it up for you by saying, I would never go back to the 9-5! :)

I would encourage anyone that has a dream to go for it! It may not be easy but it will be worth it in the end! Good luck my friends! :)

Tortillas! :)

There are few days as good as this in the Sanderson home. Here, despite what you may have heard about Mexican women tortillas only get homemade about twice a year. Always for my brother's birthday (he is in the NAVY and this is his birthday request every year) and whenever else my mom musters up the energy to make them. Since we will probably never make tortillas FOR you, I have decided to share the recipe with you- after all somethings are too good to keep to yourself! :)

Makes 5 dozen

Ingredients:

5 pounds of flour my mom will ONLY use La Pina

3 teaspoons of salt

a pinch of baking powder- I know this isn't very recipe friendly but that's how we Mexicans do it!

3 3/4 cups of water

1 1/2 cups of lard

a cast iron skillet (comal)



1. Mix all of the ingredients until a ball of dough forms. 



Dough should look like this.

 2. Preheat your cast iron skillet to medium high. Separate dough into little balls. Roll them until smooth.

3. Lightly flour your ball. With a rolling pin roll into your desired size. This will take practice! Do not be surprised if they look anything but the shape of a tortilla in the beginning!

4. Gently place your tortilla on the cast iron skillet.

5. Turn once one side is cooked- it should look like:

6. When both sides are cooked your tortilla is done!

7. Wrap in a kitchen towel to keep warm while they cook.

Continue until all of your tortillas are done- this may take awhile...

Tortillas should be stored in a zip-lock bag in the fridge to be preserved.

Enjoy! :)

Date Night!

I LOVE date nights! Soon after Emily was born for some reason I felt guilty having dates with Kiohud. He would ask me to dinner or a movie and I felt so guilty leaving my baby home! That went on for a little while and I noticed how much I missed getting away. Being home with the kids all day it is really easy to forget you have an identity that is not "mom". By getting away for a few hours a week (usually it's more like every other week) Kiohud and I have time to sit and catch up on everything else. We talk goals, buisness, life, and just enjoy each other's company without any interuptions. I love spending this time with my best friend! Oh, and did I mention- I get to dress up?! (for my outfit selection click on the fashion tab)

This week's date night Kiohud and I went to see a small independent film called More Than Frybread at  the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino. This date doubled as an oppurtunity for Kiohud to network with filmakers which we are always excited for. We actually arrived later than expected since we wanted to have a nice dinner before the film but we underestimated rush hour heading east. I have never been to this new hotel- I was surprised at how big and beautiful it was. If you know me, you know how cheap I am and so I don't usually hang out in casinos since I figure odds are against me- I'm there to LOSE money! I do however like the dining there since the restraunts are usually amazing.

Anyways, the movie was good. It was a comedy about a frybread competition- it had a lot of Native humor that most non-natives wouldn't get but I've been married to one long enough so that it was funny. Afterwards, we went out and Kiohud was able to meet with the producer of that film and another filmmaker so that was awesome. Mission accomplished- keep your fingers crossed!

By now we were starving- we met up with some friends Joe (Kiohud is currently working with him on the film Villalobos) and his wife Bernadette. We ended up opting for Fatburger inside of the hotel since we were too hungry to wait on anything. Joe and his wife were hilarious and we laughed and talked for a good while. Afterwards, Kiohud and I walked around the hotel and took some pics. And that was our date...

I have to add that I will be sure to check prices on restraunts from now on- we had reservations for Shulas Steakhouse I assumed prices would be the average nice steakhouse $100 per couple, I came home and checked the menu to see what we'd missed and it was $100 per person! That's a little too pricey for a non-celabratory dinner! So all in all, it was a good date not our typical- but we had fun! :)

Tax Deductions!

Ok, so it's that time year again-time for taxes. Some of you love it but for me- well, lets just say it's a scary feeling. (taxes aren't nearly as fun when you have your own business) :( Anyways, I have been reading everything possible and called my accountant too many times so I figured I'd save you all some time (and hopefully money) and share with you some of the tax deductions I found!

Deductions:

Education: up to $2500 in student loan interest, up to $4,000 in tuition and fees, and you also may qualify for the Hope Credit!

Teachers: You can write off up to $250 for any expenses on your materials that you pay out of pocket.

Energy Credit: Money spent on energy-saving home improvements, for example solar panels

Moving:Did you move more than 50 miles to be closer to your job? You can write it off the moving expense!

Child Care: For children under 13

Dependent care: For those taking care of the elderly

Medical Expenses: Only if it exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income

Mileage: Please note this is not for driving TO work. This expense is when using your vehicle for work, medical, moving, or for charitable reasons.

Donations: Another reason to give to charity! Tithes or money given to church, school, and even clothing, furniture or car donations can all be written off. (To a non-profit organization)

Please know that if you chose to take any of these deductions it is very important to keep your receipts! The IRS now requires receipts for any deductions taken. The IRS has up to 3 years to audit any taxes, so keep them in a file.

That is all I have for now, I will update with anything else I find. Feel free to comment in the section below if you have any other good tips!

Good Luck! :)

 Disclaimer: I am not an accountant most of the knowledge I have in this area is either from many hours of reading or talking to my personal accountant. This reading is for informational purposes only. If you have questions on your personal taxes, please consult a tax professional.