While I have fully embraced social media and I love all that it offers, today I got to see first hand the downside.  After promoting the Mamapedia.com deal that was to be delivered today, mamapedia decided to run the ad at a later time.  Not only that, but they decided to run another photographers ad this week.

So, my friends, I know that many of you have been doing just as I’ve asked and told friends about the deals that were coming.  And, I am hoping that they turned around and told friends.  That’s the beauty of social media right?

Until something like this happens.  And I have no way of knowing how many friends of friends are online right now buying another photographers packages.

No way to unring that bell.

That being said, Mamapedia has ‘gone dark’ (for all of my 24 fans!).  Since they have done so, I would like to extend a very special offer to you in place of the Mamapedia ad, because in the end, it is my job to take care of you.

I will offer the same offer that Mamapedia was going to run, which is for $99 you will receive $199 worth of credit to use towards any package you’d like.  Meaning, if you apply it towards the nibble, you are good to go for only $99.  BUT, to help remind you to pitch in and unring the bell that has been rung by telling your friends and family about THIS deal, I will also throw in a completely FREE 8 x 10 print of your choosing.  This offer stands for anyone that mentions this blog posting, or what I am now nicknaming the “Unring The Bell” deal.

So please, get the word out there to anyone who you may have already told, and anyone you think could use this deal.  This deal is only available directly through me, and I will honor it for anyone who books and mentions the deal, for the remainder of the month.

I love you all more than my luggage,

Angie

For example, as I mentioned yesterday, the Used Car Salesman Chiropractor wanted me to pay over $3k for 6 months of chiropractic and alternative care, all without my insurance.  I told him IF we decided to move ahead, we could not do it right away as I would need to save the money prior to starting.  He then offered me a financing through Chase Bank, and told me it was ‘better’ than financing because the credit limit would be much higher than what he would need to use, so I would have that ‘cash’ on hand to use however I’d like.

At first, I politely explained that I don’t use financing for anything, and I would need to stick to my plan and save up.  He assumed I couldn’t get credit, so then he assured me that he could get me approved.  I explained that was not the issue, as I could probably get approved with no problem, however I choose not to use credit of any kind.

He said he does the same, yet about two minutes later he brought it up again and said “What is your health worth to you?”.  I simply said it’s not worth taking food out of my kids mouths and credit cards are not good for our family.

That afternoon, Daddy went back to talk them again about the options and payment plans available.  He then politely and not as politely had to explain at least five more times that there is no way we are going to get a credit line for this.  And that was all before he left with the screaming baby about 20 minutes into the conversation.

So, I either had my third eyeball uncovered, or not using credit makes me a freak.  Because the look on his face when it finally sunk in had to be a result of one or the other.

For all of you DR fans out there, have you had people give you a hard time about credit?  What did you say?  How did they react?

It was awesome and I was so proud.

When I got home, I reviewed the insurance again, and Dr. Muscles (from last week) is a covered provider under my chiropractic care, however when I called my insurance they said I had no acupuncture care.  However, on a whim, I looked up acupuncture care and there were a bunch of providers listed.  Dr. Muscle wasn’t listed under acupuncture, however I am hoping since he’s a covered provider, the whole thing will be covered.  We shall see.

The thing about Used Car Salesman was I actually found his treatments intriguing.  I believe in oxygen treatments and I saw my father in law have miraculous healing while using oxygen as part of his homeopathic recovery from Hepatitis.

So, now I am torn.  By the time we left the office, he’d agreed to about 50% of what he wanted, broken into 3 payments.  He said he couldn’t break them up anymore because of insurance law.  That kinda smelled like something bulls do after they eat, because I am on a two year payment plan for some unexpected medical things … but whateves.

I am trying hard not to let my desire to feel better cloud my judgment.  And I know I may not have to go the typical medical route, and I am okay with paying out of pocket for those services.  I am so thankful our insurance covers a lot of holistic and alternative medicines, but of course I understand they are just not fully covered … yet, and I am willing to pay for the care I want.

So, please keep the prayers a-comin’ as we make these crazy decisions.  I can feel Gods hands around me, and your prayers … and I love that!

One of the first houses we visited had a beautiful crock that I’d love to store my potatoes in, but the man wanted $75 for it, and for something I don’t need that’s a bit much for me.  It was worth every penny as it was in perfect condition, but it was a touch big for me anyway so we moved on.

Then, I spotted this:

Could it be?!  Oh my … not only was it a gumball machine, but this is the real deal.  Glass bowl, metal case, etc. etc.  They wanted $15 firm.  Monkey has been saving her allowance and only had $8 in her spend account right now.  So I made her put it back and walk away.

Just kidding!  We went halvsies with her!  I’m not that mean.  EBay price = $50!  Woot!

The other item we were searching for was a telescope.  Monkey has been checking out the stars and planets lately and about a month ago we spotted one at a garage sale that was just a bit too expensive fancy for us.  So when I spotted one for sale, I made Daddy jump out and go check it out.  The man selling it said he couldn’t get it to work, and couldn’t find a manual, so for $2, it was ours.  We snatched it up thinking even if we had to order a part, it’d be a good deal for the five year old.

We got it home, tightened up the wingnuts, and bam! Works perfectly.  Ebay price = $40.

Both Monkey and Daddy had scored, but I had yet to find anything.  So, back out again the next day we went.

We wanted to make the Castle Rock Festival, so we didn’t want to garage sale all day, and frankly Caterpillar was at his limit for driving around.  So, after just a few stops, we were planning on heading out.  We turned onto a street that didn’t have any sales, but at the very end of the cul-de-sac was a deep freezer with a sign that said ‘FREE – WORKS GREAT”.  We couldn’t believe it.  We’ve been contemplating buying one, but with our extra funds being applied toward debt and Disney, it just wasn’t happening yet.

Daddy jumped out and knocked on the door to let the family know we’d take it, but had to go home and get a truck first.  No answer.

The race was on.  We raced home (about a 15 minute drive) and back only to see the freezer was gone.

As we turned the corner to leave, I saw the freezer.  It had been moved to a sale around the corner and now had a sign that said “$20 – WORKS GREAT”.  Hmmm.

Daddy got out and explained we’d just gone home to get the truck and the man said he’d gladly give it to us for free.  I started to get out to help load, and Daddy leaned in and said I didn’t need to, as the guys were embarrassed and offered to load it.

They loaded it up, Daddy got back in the car and said he was the one who was embarrassed.  When I asked why, he explained that it was in fact their freezer!  They had moved it around the corner to their friends sale, and marked $20 on it so people wouldn’t think it was broken!  The wife had come out of the house and said she’d just defrosted it that morning because it was too big for their needs.  They refused to take our $20 and said they were thrilled a family would get to use it.

The freezer is circa 1973, but we plugged it in and once it cooled down it froze a milk jug of water, so it’s working great!

Although, even though I assumed that they had moved it and were now trying to make $20 off of a neighbors free freezer, I admired their entrepreneurship and have to admit – I might have done what I thought they did!

What is it that people say about the word assume?

Oh, that’s right … nevermind.  Ebay price = $35.

Did you find any deals and steals this weekend?  What’s your favorite garage sale tip?

A

I am sure you all are about sick of me always going on and on about the boudoir sessions that I love so dearly, but I can’t help myself. I just booked one for Melissa, and I am only sharing that with you because … well, she already told the whole darn internet.

I absolutely love her post about the emotion that comes with prepping for them.   The funny part is, she’s GORGEOUS and adventurous pretty much the perfect candidate for a boudoir session.  What makes her perfect for them?  The fact that she’s having fun with it!

So, to all the ladies out there who have been considering scheduling a session:  Perhaps you’ve looked them up online.  Perhaps you’ve even contacted me and asked questions.  Perhaps you are waiting for the baby weight to come off.  Or you want to be toned.  Or more blonde.  Or more … (fill in the blank with whatever you think you need to be more of)…Hear this:

You need to do this.  If not with me, with someone else.

There’s something about the sessions that sets a woman free.  And it’s not just the wine that I bring as part of the session.

The most common comment I deliver boudoir photos is “That’s me?!  I look so beautiful.”

Yes.

Yes you do.

You need to see yourself He sees you.  As the camera sees you.  And as your husband and I see you.

Beautiful.

Our other hesitation about cheerleading was the costs involved.  They have a way of snowballing.  The uniforms are not cheap, but then there’s the hair bows, warm ups, matching shoes, spanx, etc.etc.  I know how quickly this can add up because I remember how many times I would come home to my own parents with an additional unexpected charge.  No way around it – cheerleading is pricey.  Even when they are only five.

However, we did find out that they offer used uniforms, so we were hoping to get lucky.  In true Damn Ramsey style I budgeted for a new one, and I was praying for a used one.   The friend who had told me all of the details about DC Cheerleading (her daughter did it last year) offered to let me try on their used uniform, and if it fit she agreed to sell it to us for a fraction of the cost.  We invited them over for dinner for the big try on (because we don’t really need an excuse for dinner at our house, but when one presents itself…) and I think it fit her well.  The shirt may be considered just a smidge too big, but they aren’t even starting for four months, so we are hoping it will fly.  As they were leaving, she told me that she wouldn’t let us pay for the uniform.

I couldn’t believe it.

What a huge blessing that is for our family.  Things were going to be tight as we are still doing our debt snowball (thanks again, Damn Ramsey) in addition to saving for Disney in October.  I was completely humbled by her generosity because she could have easily sold it back to the group, who in turn would have no trouble selling it to another family.

Wasn’t I just saying that I was having a bit of a lull in business?  Well, if you didn’t hear me say that, forget it.  I spoke too soon. In addition to wrapping up a few smaller projects, I am wrapping up for MOPS as well.  That means I am putting together our annual slideshow and doing some of the paperwork/nitty gritty things and preparing for next year.

But, as crazy as the start and end of the year are for me with MOPS, I truly love volunteering for them.  I love the work I do, and it is so fun to see God working in our members lives.  I am super excited for the new leadership members and I have been praying over them often.  Next year is going to be awesome.

I also captured Monkey’s team soccer pictures, so I am working to get those ordered in time for the end of season soccer party which is creeping up on me.  I am doing a slideshow for those girls as well, with photos I’ve taken throughout the season.

So, the lull has quickly passed.  Daddy’s business has been busy and steady all year, and as 1 Cor 10:13 reminds me:

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

(That is actually the translation in The Message bible.  I normally don’t like it as much as a more traditional translation, but I’ve been liking it more and more lately.)

I have always liked that verse, but in this very busy season, I like it a lot.  Kinda like Gods saying ‘Hey lady – been there, done that.  You got this.’

Make it a great day – and hopefully I’ll be back before I wish I’d said ‘Make it a great week’. 

With these new things comes a lot of frustration for him.  He is hitting more, and he lets out a very low scream when things aren’t going his way.  This is hard on Monkey.  She wants to play with him, and knows we like it when she does, but doesn’t understand why he’s always hitting her in the face, pulling her hair and yelling at her.

As a result, she comes crying or whining to me, which makes me want to scream ‘can’t you figure it out, long enough for me to pee!?’

It’s pretty isolating.  I mean, how can I take him into a public setting when this is his form of communication right now?   Daddy has been busy with work and to be honest it’s an easy way out for him and if I were him, I’m not sure I wouldn’t jump into that escape too.

Monkey has been so good.  She’s really turning out to be such a good and loving little girl, but I can also tell she’s tired and frustrated.  He keeps us all up all night by screaming every 2 – 4 hours, and he doesn’t nap much during the day.  So, she has less and less alone time with me.  I have been trying to make the most of our time, but he’s so demanding it’s tough.

But, I am faithful that God has us in this place for a reason.  If there’s anything I’ve learned as an adult, it’s that He can get us through anything and that it’s all part of a bigger plan.  Right now, I am just repeating Romans 12:12 over and over. 

Be joyful in hope, patient in afliction, faithful in prayer.

Gotta run, Caterpillar just hit his sister with the phone …

Basically, the doctor feels Daddy has an overgrowth of yeast in his tummy, and in order to get things balanced back out he started Daddy on an all new diet with a lot of ‘cannot eat’ and very little ‘okay to eat’ items, but I think the fact that it’s only for two months made Daddy accept the regimen with a graceful attitude.  By graceful I mean that he didn’t tell the doctor to stick it (as he had joked ahead of time that he would) and he took his list to Sprouts and said he wanted to follow it as much as possible.  I personally am excited for what may come, as I know how good I felt when changes to my diet were made.

The kids spent the day with Monga and Papa, and I am pretty sure they didn’t want to come home at the end of the day, but being the mean mom that I am, I made them.  We are all home now, prepping for our 12 inches of snow with delicious comfort food such as quinoa flakes and wheatgrass.  Yum-o!

Her eyes got as big as saucers, and she said “WHOA!!!”

So then we started heading into our neighborhood and I said “Do you see all of those houses and that field?  It’s bigger than that!”

“Wow!”

So then I said “It’s bigger than our whole neighborhood!”

To which she responded “Wait… is it bigger than you!?”

That was the end of that discussion.

Monkey and I have been having more and more disagreements, and I think part of it is because she is such a Daddy’s girl.  Don’t get me wrong, I love their relationship, but it is starting to cross the line where she thinks all parental direction is invalid until it has been confirmed by Daddy.  To top it off, I don’t know if it’s because her vocabulary has gotten so much better, coupled with she just acts older, but I have realized I have an expectation of her to act like a caring, responsible human being.  I am not saying all the time, because I haven’t completely lost sight of the fact that she’s only five, but I do think it’s reached a point where being nice to her brother for a few minutes while I carry in groceries is not an unreal expectation.

Monkey is great.  That’s not a pat on my back, because I often wonder how the heck it happened… but how does someone go about teaching compassion?  I think everyone in our family does a good job when it comes to serving others, so why does she think it’s okay to rip a toy out of brothers hand and just let him cry (especially when the toy isn’t one she’s touched in months)?  Monkey is the sweetest little girl to everyone she meets.  She is always making friends when we go out, yet she comes home and treats Caterpillar and me like we are doormats.  Not all of the time, but isn’t some of the time too much?

So, now we’ve reached this awkward point of where if I need something really enforced, I have to rely on Daddy to drive it home.  I tell her and tell her, and show her and show her, but at the end of the day when Daddy comes home and says the exact same thing that I have repeated 100 times throughout the day, it sinks in.

I think back, and obviously I don’t remember when I was Caterpillars age, but even as far back as I can remember my brother was always my ally.  He used to clean my room for me so I would stay out of trouble, he was thoughtful and kind and just a great guy.

At this point, I know all I can do is give it to God.  I don’t know where I went wrong, but clearly I have.  I am calling out an ‘uh-oh, Daddy’.  I need my Father to show me how to make this right.  Show me how to encourage that love in her heart that I know is there.  I see glimpses of it and I know she really does adore her brother … but I need Him to teach her how her actions are being perceived by not only Caterpillar, but her actions are not a reflection of Gods love.  So, in my mind, an ‘uh-oh, Daddy’ is in order.  And I am praying that by me calling it out now, she won’t have to later.