I need a J*O*B*!

As much as I have enjoyed my family the past 3 months it's time that I go back to work.  The kids will be in school soon and that's my time to find a job.  Having NO money SUCKS.  I'm used to having money to go get a latte, take the kids to the newest movie, or buying something online that is a GREAT DEAL but the last 3 months haven't been like that at all!  I've learned my spending habits were out of control and I didn't even try to save my money.  So lesson learned.  I know what I can go without and what I can't these days.  The kids had some major eye openers too.  Hopefully we all have learned a lesson since I've been out of work.

What's been hard is how much stress this has brought into our family.  My hubby and I argue over money now- or lack of and how much he is paying and how much I'm not.  All bills fall in to his lap now and he is totally stressed out and in a bad mood a lot.  He is stepping up and doing it so I can't be mad at that at all- and really appreciate the fact he has been paying for everything.  But it is straining our relationship.  We have been together for 12 years and we pretty much was a DUTCH kind of family- we each payed half of everything.  Now he pays 100% of everything except rent which I still pay my half.  The only good thing that has come out of this is he now realizes I was doing my part in fiances and took care of the whole house too. 

The kids are stressed too... they aren't able to go get the "game" or "toy" they want when we go to Target.  We only buy food when we go to Target now.  They got a lesson in their spending habits too.  They are way too spoiled.  They don't need everything they ask for and I can say NO and it's not the end of the world when I do!  We have been doing a lot of FREE stuff and having fun doing it so another eye opener- we don't have to spend money to enjoy each other.

I'm happy I had this time with my family but I need to go back to WORK! 

Custom Soccer Banners 2011

My husband makes SOCCER BANNERS.  Are you looking for one? The banners are 6x4 with sewn in pockets for PVC pipe (not included). We offer 4 different options/prices to fit every budget.   

1. NAME ONLY~ $65.00: This banner includes only the team , coaches, sponsors, and players names airbrushed in athletic script in team color.

2. BASIC~$85.00: One Mascot Image and Soccer Balls for Names

3. EXTRA~$95.00:One Mascot Image and Simple Design for Names
4. FULL: ($105.00) The whole banner is painted (top to bottom) with Mascot and Simple Design for the Names

We are located in Oakland, California but we WILL SHIP anywhere.  Shipping will cost an additional $5.00 for basic ground.  If you mention that you saw this on PinkMama'sPlace you will get an $1.00 off of shipping (I know not much but hey it's something)

You can leave a comment here and I will send you the soccer banner order info or you can order on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/plIDR6

Examples:

 

Big Brother Wedding- Ugh!

Yes, I'm a Big Brother fan- watch every season.  This season is just CRAZY and I feel sorry for the newbies because they are at a disadvantage but this week I think either Rachel (ewww) or Brendon will be leaving.  Thank goodness because I can't stand her voice, laugh, attitude and Brendon oh wow don't get me started on him.  Whatever one leaves will be a blessing!

Guess what they did?  A Garbage Bag Wedding and their outfits weren't half bad either.

Go here to watch the WEDDING: http://www.cbs.com/shows/big_brother/video/2081462128/big-brother-bonus-scene-the-brenchel-wedding

Free Books from Amazon Kindle Store

I'm a STALKER....yep I'm going to admit it- I stalk the Top 100 Free books in the Kindle Store on Amazon.  I read most of my books on my iPad.

Today I got FREE:

Hollywood Scandals









Raising Motivated Kids: Inspiring Enthusiasm for a Great Start in Life (School Savvy Kids)

Stress proof your life (52 Brilliant Ideas)

There are so many more to choose from so head on over and get you some summer reading.  You can put them on your Kindle, PC, Laptop, Phone, and iPad.  I can read my books anywhere I want! 

LOVE Amazon E-Books

Winner of Uprinting.com Brochures

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 8

Result:

6

so the winner is Lady of the Ozarks

Going to Get the Kids- Woohoo!

It's been almost 2 weeks and we are heading back North to get our kiddos!  As much as I enjoyed the quiet and kid free fun my hubby and I had I really MISSED THEM! 

When the kids are home I'm consistently doing this or that so I took this time to DO NOTHING.  Now don't get me wrong I cooked, cleaned, and took care of house stuff but I didn't venture out much.  I needed some "me" time and I got it!  I'm relaxed and happy so my vacation was peace and quiet at my house. As a busy mom I needed that.  Thanks MOM- she must know these things.

We spoke to the kids 2 times everyday so I knew what they were doing and if they were staying out of trouble.  My mom says they are good kids and didn't fight whatsoever....ummm does she have the right kids?  My kids are good but damn they fight over the littlest things..."Mom Sahara touched my knee with her big toe" , that's what I hear on a daily basis.  They wonder why I roll my eyes all the time.  I'm just happy they were good for Mom- thank you kids!

Tonight we are going to drive about 4 hrs and then tomorrow 5hrs and then we should be pulling into Florence Oregon.  My hubby is going to be amazed with the Sand Dunes.  I'm sure we will be taking a lot of pictures (forewarned!).

I'm just going to say it...DRIVING SUCKS and anyone who knows me know I hate driving so doing trips like this is frickin annoying but to get my kids I'll suck it up and JUST DO IT!  LOL! 

Have a great weekend- and wish we have nice SUNNY weather so we can enjoy this camping trip that my mom thinks I'm not going to do well with...I'm not a camper either. 

Hotel Night- Spiders Oh My!

I can't sleep at hotels, can you?  Even when I sleep at someone elses house I'm constantly waking up.  So then how can vacations be fun if I'm always tired.  I guess that's the price I pay to have fun with family.  Well I'm getting older and sleeping in beds that are not mine is getting harder and harder.  Now lets say if the bed has one of those fluffy mattress/pillows that adjust to your body well then maybe I can do that! 

After driving through the night to get to the hotel we arrived around 1:30am and we were all tired so I thought no problem I'll be able to sleep.  I had to go to the bathroom bad so when we got the key to the room I went right into the bathroom and guess what I saw...a big spider!  Just take a wild guess on how I slept that night.  Not good, I itched all night and even had bites on my legs in the morning.  Ugh and Ewww! 

Now we are not staying in 5 star hotels more like 2.5/3 so I know we aren't getting the best but its what we can afford so I need to deal with that and at least its not Roach Hotel LOL!  Hey the kids and hubby slept just fine.  It's just me who is bitching.  I'm also the one who hates camping so it's just my issues. 

The next morning we get up and get ready to get on the road.  Oh yeah FOOD is needed.  We walk over to the Hotel's Cafe and had a yummy breakfast. They served 1/2 breakfasts now that's what I like! We were getting ready to leave and I'm looking for my phone and can't find it.  Before having a meltdown and dragging everything out of the car I send hubby to the hotel office and guess what...yep they had it!  Phew!

Back on the road!  Hubby was driving, he owed me some hours because I did most of the driving the night before, lol!  I'm in the back seat with Lil Mama who thinks putting her feet up on me is funny and proceeds to do that for about 4 hours.  I read on my iPad and played numerous games with her and in my head was wishing I was up in the front seat but also knew my son was having a blast in front with Daddy.  They were having some cool conversations about sports, games, and music.  Man stuff!

At the end of the day we pulled up to my Mom's house around 8:30pm and we were very HAPPY!

Please enter my GIVEAWAY: FREE 50 Brochures from Uprinting.com it ends 7/28.

Road Trip- Rental Car Problems

Oh my where do I start...when did it become so hard to rent a car?

We are a family who has DEBIT CARDS not credit cards.  We only spend what we have.  In our 20's we both got in trouble with credit cards so we decided not to have credit cards.  Well that awesome idea might have to change due to you can't rent a car unless you have a credit card. 

Now some agencies will take a debit card but put a freeze on the amount plus additional % more.  For example, our car rental was going to be $575 for a mid size for 10 days and they wanted to put a $1000 hold on our credit card.  Of course that wasn't going to work for this 1 income family because we needed that extra $500 for our vacation.  We didn't know all this until the DAY we  are to leave, of course. 

My husband works by the airport where all the rental car agencies are so he had his friend drop him off after work at agency.  Friend leaves and hubby goes in and went through all the motions with the agent and then BOOM..."we don't take debit cards, sir" - even though we used it to reserve the car in the first place.  He calls me and lets me know the bad news and that he will go to Hertz, we've rented through them before so he doesn't think it will be a problem.  They would but had to put a hold of over a $1000 on our card.  Nope- not worth it! So off my hubby goes, he has to walk a couple miles to the Bart and then walk home.  I would have gone to get him but he parked his truck in front of the driveway so my car was blocked in.  It was one disaster after another. 

But we all kept our focus on leaving so we tried to stay in good spirits.  We weren't taking our car because we really wanted something new and comfy to travel in.  Plus our car needed new tires and oil change so guess what hubby had to do when he got home- yep new tires and oil change.  At this point we are 4 hours behind schedule.  It crossed my mind just leave early in the morning but we had a hotel room already reserved so we had to go or loose $80.  Such pressure!  We leave and the best part was there was NO TRAFFIC.  If we would have left when we planned to we would have been in the heart traffic for a long time so maybe this happened for a reason- that's just my wishful thinking and reasoning not to get upset at the situation. 

Lesson Learned: Can't rent car with debit card!

Make sure you enter my Giveaway:  http://pinkmamasplace.blogspot.com/2011/07/uprintingcom-giveaway-50-brochures.html  ends this Thursday!

UPrinting.com Giveaway- 50 Brochures

I was SO EXCITED when I was approached to HOST this wonderful giveaway. 

One(1) Winner
50 Brochures
8.5" x 11"

Do you have your own business,up coming event, or anything you want to print up in a brochure- think of the possibilities!!  This is great marketing tool that can add to your sales. Plus Uprinting makes it so easy for you as well, they have templates!  Please visit

How To Enter:

100lb Paper Gloss,
With Folding (Half Fold, Trifold/Letterfold, Z-Fold, Roll Fold, Accordion Fold), Outside and Inside printing,
2 Business Days Turnaround

Simply leave a comment telling us what you would use the 50 Brochures for and this must be done before extra entries will count.

Extra Entries:

• Like UPrinting on Facebook and let them know PinkMama's Place sent you!
• Follow UPrinting on Twitter
• Sign-up with Giveawayblogs.com
• Follow PinkMama's Place with Google Friend (right hand side)
• Tweet, Facebook, Blog about this Giveaway- put link in comment 

 Other Info: 

• Please leave a comment for each extra entry. 
• Open to the US only 18 years or older
• Must not have won the same print giveaway within the past six months.
• Make sure we have a way to contact you if you should win.
• Giveaway will be closed on July 28th, 2011 at midnight Pacific Time.
• Winner will have 48hrs to respond

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive a brochures for hosting.

Check out UPrinting.com to see more of their brochures and  brochure templates.

GOOD LUCK!

I Needed a Vacation from My Family Vacation

Wow...just wow what a TRIP that was. We got back last Monday (today is Saturday) and I'm just now feeling up to blogging.  I was exhausted emotionally and physically.  I've been on the couch the last 3 days with a killer stomach ache that the nurse said I might have an UCLER.  WTF!  I think I just ate something bad and maybe all the soda I drank while on vacation just messing with my tummy.  I prefer my diagnose.

Vacations are suppose to relaxing...right?  Yeah right when you travel with 2 kids on the road for 2 days then visit with family for a week then drive back in the RAIN through mountains, nope not relaxing in my book. 

However, I got to visit with some awesome family and friends and it was WORTH it so yes I might bitch a bit but it was overall a wonderful trip! 

This week was suppose to go a lot different but being on the couch sick made me slow down so I guess this was my laying by the beach moment.  I know reaching but hey it worth a shot.  I'm back feeling better and get ready for posts about our Family Road Trip!

BTW...kids are still up in Washington with their grandparents :)