Bug and Mouse issue

We have mice. I have found mouse poop on our kitchen COUNTERTOPS. BLECH! Now, I'm not scared of mice, but I am seriously disgusted by the idea of a mouse running around where we prepare food. So I cleaned off all the counters, bleached everything down, and we keep everything in the fridge or high up in cabinets. But we still find mouse poop. Jeff has put traps down and we've caught two, and while I feel slightly guilty about this, it's got to be done.

Today I went into the soon-to-be-nursery and found two ANTS crawling on the window. ICK! ANTS!!! Seriously, are we running some sort of pest bed and breakfast and we don't know it?? Is there a vacancy sign outside that only small critters can see??? Because I want them GONE, NOW. NOW. I am so disgusted I have thought seriously about whipping out a credit card and swiping $400 for an exterminator to come out.

So any help??? Anyone have any suggestions?? I've already roped my dad into coming over and spraying our basement since I can't, but anything else we can do? It's an old house and I suspect that's part of the problem but I want to nip this in the bud ASAP.

HELP!!!!!!!!

New purchase for Jeff

This product is from the 1960's and the 1970's and it can do the following "Goodbye to shapeless, bony, flat, sagging buns with Super Shaper Buns Brief". I was reading this ad and I almost wet my pants laughing.... I would pay a nice little chunk of money to buy these and wrap them up for Christmas. Just to see Jeff's face when he opened them would be worth it. So worth it.

Immaturity

I was standing in line with a friend about to have brunch (one of those cafeteria style places with the trays and everything) and there was a group of guys next to us. For some reason, and I don't know WHY I did this, I started talking to my friend in really, really graphic details about breastfeeding. VERY grapic details. And then I amused myself by watching his eyebrows practically shoot off his face before he moved away from us.

I just thought it was too freakin' funny and I'm not sure exactly why I was so amused, but I was. It's the little things in life I suppose!

Attempt at Budgeting

We're attempting to budget. And by that I mean trying to put a little money aside each paycheck to pay for bills we know we'll have in the future. Sounds simple, right? Well we've NEVER done this. Never. We get bills that are seasonal (oil) or once a year (car tax) and we're ALWAYS surprised and shocked. See, we're very good at the monthly bills. We have a calendar where each paycheck is already pre-designated for certain expenses. But for those every now and then bills... or unexpected bills... we have nothing. So I've started something called "The envelope system". It's where you have envelopes for certain expenses and you put a little money in each of them so when that expense pops up, you have the cash. I'm sure EVERYONE is familiar with this concept, but as a "If I have a penny, I will spend that penny" kind of person, this is not something I'm normally good at. So I have four envelopes.

1. Oil (Like I said - this bill comes every time we get our tank filled in the fall and we're ALWAYS surprised. No more, maybe I'll have some cash to pay it by fall of 2009!!)
2. Car Tires (I've already replaced 2 tires on my Jeep, and I know I'll need to replace the other 2 at some point. Might as well put some money aside NOW so we don't have to charge it like we did previously).
3. Daycare (We already have a nice chunk set aside for that unholy cost of daycare, but we'll need more. I figure I'll start setting some cash in an envelope for this now so we're not caught short and out of options.)
4. Fun (Now this seems silly, but I tend to leave myself out of the equation when budgeting. I'm all or nothing kind of person... and like if I'm on a diet I'll do really, really well for MONTHS and then one day I'll freak out that I haven't done anything nice for myself and I'll go crazy. By putting money aside for "fun" like say getting my haircut, or a pedicure, or maybe some non-maternity clothes, or... be still my heart... a new pair of shoes!!! Maybe I can stop this cycle of good, good, good... CRAZY!!!!)

I'm sure I could get even more detailed with the envelope system, but this is what I'm going to start with. What do you think? Does it make sense?? And what do other people do with budgeting for unexpected or non-monthly type bills??? Feel free to share, we need all the help we can get!

Desire to be 17 Again

This was an interesting article on MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30194074/

I got to thinking, would I want to be 17 again and if I was would I change anything I had done? Well at 17 there was the following,

1. I was a senior in high school and engaged to my boyfriend at the time - and pretty damn happy about it.

2. My grades were decent because I was happy, and I was contemplating which college to go to.

3. I worked at Emerson Hospital in the kitchen and could drive and make my own money which meant I pretty much did what I wanted.

Yes I see I made mistakes at that age, and I was pretty passive about my life at the time. I didn't "really" care which college I went to, I just knew I wanted to go. The engagement wasn't my idea but for me it was the ultimate proof that my boyfriend loved me and I desperately wanted and needed that at that point in my life. And being able to drive gave me quite a bit of freedom and you could see me zipping everywhere in my mother's car. It might be interesting to go back in time and redo some of the things that I wish had been different. Give my 17 year old sef more confidence, but at the same time, all those experiences made me who I am today. I've grown and learned and I don't think I would change too much. Plus, I doubt many people REALLY want to go back to their teenage years. So much angst and drama and the unknown, it's not really a glory day for most people. Or maybe I'm just projected too much! Anyway, at 34 I can safely say I am happy with my life (though how nice would it be to win the lottery and pay off all our bills???? VERY NICE!!), and how things are going. My vote would be no, I don't want to go back to being 17 again. Though I do have many fond memories of big hair, as shown in the picture below!

Entertainment this evening

I found these pictures online - apparently taken in Chicago. I think I am way too amused by them!

First "Mommy Clothes" purchase

I don't have a lot of "Mommy Clothes". And by "Mommy Clothes" I mean clothes I can throw on without thinking and look presentable and nice, and also be comfortable. Comfort being key since I figure that postpartum I am going to be looking for clothing that is easy, simple, involves little to no thought, and is COMFORTABLE. Oh, and I could wear to the store without being embarrassed. Like I was this past Sunday when I drove with Jeff to Home Depot but refused to go into the store since I was not only NOT wearing make-up but was also dressed in shabby sweatpants with the waistband all stretched out, and a huge tee-shirt. I sat in the car and waited for him (which by the way, was a HUGE plus because I HATE the Home Depot with a passion!).

Regardless, I need some clothes that I could actually, oh, go out into public and not be ashamed. Enter my good friend, QVC.

QVC has a line called "Sports Savvy" which is basically athletic wear that you can wear anywhere. And since they had two outfits that I liked on "easy pay", I bought them. Without further comments, here they are:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx?view=2&app=detail&params=item^A76736,frames^y,from^se,cm_scid^isrc,cm_ssi^Item:%20A76736&cm_re=PAGE-_-SEARCH-_-A76736

and

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx?view=2&app=detail&params=item^A72722,frames^y,from^se,cm_scid^isrc,cm_ssi^Item:%20A72722&cm_re=PAGE-_-SEARCH-_-A72722

BTW, sorry for the huge links, but for some reason QVC won't let me cut and paste. Anyway, the outfits even fit right now (granted, it's a TIGHT fit over my belly) but they look kind of cute. SCORE! Plus.. comfort. Comfort is key right now. I may break down and get a few more outfits! See, QVC is the BEST!!!!!!!!

Concern with Monty and the Stuffed Toys

When Jeff and I first got Monty, he had no idea what toys were. Fresh from life on the racing track, he'd never really "played" and he certainly didn't know what to make of all the dog toys we had brought home for his enjoyment. He's figured it out since then, and now he sleeps with his toys (see below) and runs around with them in his mouth.

Now here's my concern. Any and all stuffed animals that come into the house are usually his. And dog toys, especially the plushy ones, look EXACTLY like stuffed animals you would give a baby.

See:

Dog Toy

Baby Toy

Both are floppy and stuffed animals.... both could possibly be dog toys. Now our unborn baby already has gotten stuffed animals as presents. Right now I keep them far out of Monty's reach, but frankly there is NO WAY Monty is NOT going to think those are HIS!!! HIS TOYS!! And he's going to be after them. How in the WORLD am I going to explain to our pampered dog that not every plushie in the house is his?? Ideas?? Suggestions??

Nails

On the plus side, prenatal vitamins have made my nails grow and grow. And I'm loving it. I've been spending hours at night painting them and making them look all pretty. Right now they are a pretty purple glitter color and I LOVE it! Back in high school I used to paint designs on my nails and change the color all the time. It was my hobby, and now I can indulge again.

So for all my whining about the downsides of pregnancy this is a huge PLUS and I am really enjoying it!!

Shopping Experience

So I'm at 28 weeks right now, that's about 7 months. Third trimester. And my body, it is CHANGING. Now, I was prepared for it to change, I really was. Or I thought I was prepared. But seeing my waist disappear and my belly pop out... well it's just been hard. I've never been stick thin, but these changes are so big, it's sometimes hard to remember "I'm Pregnant" and that all of this is SUPPOSED to happen.

Today, I went shopping for a spring maternity dress. Something I could wear to work and quite possibly to a baby shower. You know, nice, but casual, and not too expensive. Well it wasn't a super fun shopping trip to say the least. The two dresses I found REALLY emphasized the baby belly, and let's just say the view from behind was not flattering. At all. So as I twirled in front of my friend in silent debate, one of the salesgirls brought this over to me.

Yes, that is maternity spanx. Now, I have no problem with spanx and actually own a pair that I have worn in the past under a few skirts that are too clingy. But maternity spanx? People, I'm getting to the point where putting plain ol' UNDERPANTS on is a trial. I seriously have a hard time bending over to get each foot into the leg of pants and you want me to squeeze my ass into a girdle??? No thank you. I will pass on this lovely idea.

Needless to say instead of buying anything for myself I bought our baby a few little clothes from Gymboree, a candle from Yankee Candle, and a piece of cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory which I am about to eat. So not a BAD day shopping, just not QUITE what I was hoping to leave the mall with.