Summertime

It's hard to believe that this is the end of the second full week of summer vacation.  The past couple of weeks have been filled with dips in the pool, water balloon fights, trips to the museum, movies, and more.  There are still at least two more months left in summer vacation and I have to figure out what to do with the kids the rest of the time.  It won't be that hard to figure out because our kids are simple.  Our kids like to just run around in the backyard, play games in the house, color, and even make crafts.  They are very easy to please.  If we go anywhere outside the house that is a luxury and the kids think it's the best thing in the world.  For example, the other day we just got in the car and went to Sonic to get ice cream and slushies and they loved it.  Last night they caught a frog; which they do a lot, and were so excited.  As you can see, what I said stands.  My kids are simple and easy to please.  I can't wait for the rest of summer!!

Summer Vacation

My oldest son had his last day of kindergarten on Friday, June 3rd and has been successfully promoted to the 1st grade.  Now that school is out summer vacation has finally started and I am looking forward to it because for the first time in ages I can actually enjoy my summer vacation.  And, the best part about it is I can actually enjoy it with my kids and my husband.  I don't have to worry about school and I don't have to ask for permission to take some days off so I can do something with my family; I can just do it.  It may be crazy because I have 3 young kids who are more active than you can even imagine, but God blessed me with these gifts and put them on Earth for my husband and I to care for so I am going to enjoy every minute of this summer vacation with them that I can.  We won't be doing a lot of travelling, but you don't have to in order to have a good time.  You can make a water park in your own backyard.  You can create puppets from paper bags.  You can take walks around the neighborhood.  You can picnic in the park or even outside in the grass after visiting a museum.  The possibilities are endless.  So this summer remember what's most important.  It is not about how much money you spend or where you go, it's about your family and the quality time you can have with them.  Enjoy your summer vacation!!

It's Tough Out There - How Do You Manage?

The other day I went to the store to get a few things and I found myself paying extra close attention the the prices.  As I actually begin realizing what some of the prices are I began to ask myself how do people manage to maintain and survive when the price of one of the most basic things everyone needs, food, is so high.  Not to mention how do you stay healthy and eat healthy when those are the foods that cost the most money.  There is so much talk out there about staying healthy, exercising, and doing what is needed to take care of our bodies but it can be hard to do.

Back to the grocery prices.  One of the prices that caught my attention were the packs of lunch meat.  We usually buy this large pack of thinly sliced lunch meat in our house, and I remember back in the day when it used to be $2.99 and now the price is $4.69.  Capri Suns; which my son takes in his lunches and all the kids drink at home during snacks, is now anywhere from $1.25-$2.25, depending on where you buy them.  Milk is another item whose prices has risen.  I remember when it was around $2.99, and now it's anywhere from $3.69-$4.00 (again depending on where you shop).  And let's not even talk about fresh fruits and vegetables.  Our kids love to eat apple slices and bananas and I love giving it to them but the apples in particular cost so much by the pound now.  Bananas are OK price wise, but apples is what all of them really love.  And my husband and I like to eat salads; which is one of the few veggies the kids will also eat, but look at the price of lettuce.

Now I understand that the cost of living does rise, and the cost of making things does rise, but if prices continue to rise then people will buy less groceries.  If people buy fewer groceries then supermarkets will begin to loose money.  If they begin to loose money then they will buy less product and potentially have to lay off workers or cut back on hours.  This gives people less money to spend.  If people have less money to spend then they stop shopping for pleasure and don't go out as often as they might like.  If that happens then all other industries will start to loose money and eventually may have to lay people off.  And the cycle continues.

Where does it all end?  When will we be able to go into a grocery store again and buy the foods we not only need, but maybe even a few of the things that we want as well.  When will we all be able to walk into a grocery store and buy as many fresh products and healthy foods that we desire so we can not only eat better to have better quality of life, but have better tasting food too.  The next time you are in the grocery store take a closer look at prices and I encourage you to think about that and then think about what you can do to help others who may be experiencing some kind of food dilemma.  You may not be able to buy what you want, but if you can buy what you need then you are in a good place.  No matter how bad you think you have it, with respect to food or other matters, there is always someone who has it worst.  Think of it like this, having some food is better than having no food at all.  And that is a fact!!

Movie Scenes

What is your favorite part of a movie?  I have several movies that I like as a whole and I have a list of some of my favorites scenes from movies.  Here are some of my favorites:

- Jacob & Bella kissing on the top of the mountain in Twilight: Eclipse
- The church scene at the end of Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman where they are singing (it always makes me cry)
- The end of the Avatar where Jake leaves his human life behind and becomes Omaticaya in reality (and also is becomes their Chief)
- The scene in Love Actually where Hugh Grant's character, who is the Prime Minister, goes to the Wadsworth neighborhood and knocks on each door until he finds Natalie, whom he discovers that he loves


I have other favorite scenes, and currently many of those scenes are from one of the Twilight movies because I am obsessed with them, especially Jacob Black's character.  But there are scenes from other movies that I adore as well.  Most of my favorite movie scenes have to do with love or another strong emotion because I am a softy and cry at those scenes.  I love movies and I love the idea of love.  Now that I have shared, why don't you share with me and tell me what are your favorite movie scenes?

What are we doing?

What are we doing in the world today?  What are we doing with our lives?  What are we doing with our time and our money?  I ask these questions because more often than not people have so many dreams and goals that they want to accomplish in their lives but not many of us actually follow through with what we want to do.  Sometimes it is because we are waiting on others.  Sometimes it is out of fear for what might be.  And sometimes it is just because we don't have the drive or the means to make our dreams become reality.  I say to everyone out there that life is too short to stand on the sidelines.  If you have a dream then put yourself out there and go after it.  You may not get what you want instantly.  It may take awhile for your dream to become reality, and you may not know where your path leads.  Almost nothing is certain, but one thing that is certain is if you don't at least try then you will regret it for the rest of your life.  So step out on faith and go after your dreams!!  You may be surprised at what becomes of it.