LONG Overdue Development

Well, a new post is LONG overdue.  I've had lots of personal family issues to juggle.  I know.  C'est la vie.  And, it's no excuse!  ;)

Well, I'm here to tell you I HAVE been working in the background, even if it's ever so slowly.  I've started to set up the domain www.Metro-Mama.com to be self hosted instead of re-directed here to this blog on Blogger.  So, if you had trouble finding us, the actual URL of this blog is www.Metro-MamaBlog.blogspot.com.  And will remain so until I get the Wordpress set up, designed and this blog migrated over to it's new platform. 

What all does this mean? ...you may ask?  or perhaps you don't care?  Well, I'm here to tell my story, no matter how slowly, of how I'm setting it all up, getting started, and going to make this work for some part time work at home for me.  So, stay tuned for instructions, referrals, references, and my own clever commentary along the way.

For now, I must sign off of writing so I can go set up the hosting and etc.  I will explain more in detail later.

Happy Thursday y'all!  One more day to the weekend!  And in our case, our household is preparing for the annual Daddy-Daughter Dance put on at the elementary school by our AWESOME (hear the angels singing in the background?) PTO!  Yes, it's a PTO, not a PTA.  Again, I suppose more on that later too, LOL!  And, here I was worried I'd have difficulty finding plenty to write about. 

Cyber Smooches!!



MetroSpunkyMom

(by George I think I"ve just found my signoff!  see how the creativity or GOOFINESS can just flow from the tip top of my brain to the frozen tips of my fingers?)

Back To School After The Holidays



So, the holidays are over and school starts back tomorrow.  I have to say, having school start back on the Tuesday after, rather than the Monday, really slows down my enthusiasm to jump back into the routine!  HAHAHA!  Nonetheless, I've been researching planners for better time management in 2015, making some goals and am eager to get this party started!

Here are some noteworthy free downloadable planners: http://www.polishthestars.com/2014/08/free-2014-2015-printable-planner.html http://www.thehandmadehome.net/2014/06/free-planner-and-calendar-more-2015/ http://thebudgetmama.com/free-2015-planner-printables

and these are just a few I've found!  putting together my own Life Planner binder now!  Will write more soon!  I'll share my journey of planning, goal setting and figuring out "what I want to be when I grow up" as soon as I have some structure and have learned some new "stuff."  (giggles)

Until next time,

Finnegin begin again!

 

Well folks, it's been waaaaaay too long since I posted on this blog, let alone took the time to think about it's development.  So, here I go.  I'm going to start fresh, begin anew!  I LOVE new beginnings!  They feel like they are SO filled with hope that I can't help myself but to let a little spark of excitement grow!! So, recently I've started posting on Metro-Mama's Facebook page, to open my mind to the possibilities of developing this blog into something special.  I'm not quite sure, yet, exactly what that "something special" is.  And, what's funny, is I'm such a worry-wart, I've procrastinated, put off writing and development because I felt I needed to know what that "something special" is to have an end-goal.  I know logically there is no such thing as an "end-goal" in life because life is the journey.  I suppose it's taken some time for me to accept that in my heart so I can have the strength and/or courage to "put the pen to paper."  Ok, ok, so it's a new age and it's more accurate to say "put my fingers on the keyboard?"  That sounds goofy!  HAHAHA! So, for those who are new to me and Metro-Mama, you'll learn, I'm silly and love to laugh and crack myself up and make myself laugh!  AND, SQUIRREL... I have a limited attention span.  Not saying I'm ADD, because I'm not. I have the ability and proven skills in focus. However, where is the fun in that?  (giggles!!)  Type-A is definitely my type, but, I've trained myself to learn the pros of the Type-B ways...afterall, there are pros and cons to both, right?  Why not take a load off and do something unplanned, unorganized and without reason?!  So yes, occasionally, well truthfully more often than not, in the last few years, I've let myself explore the tangents I veer off onto. (and again, yah yah yah, bad grammar ending the sentence in the word onto).  Here's to a new beginning with some interesting, fun and educational tangents!  (giggles)

Carpe Viem!

Ahh…Fall is FINALLY in the air here in Florida. And for me, that means I finally get to dig out my cold weather running gear. Alright, maybe not cold weather, but at least colder weather! And it also means crisp clear mornings that most runners live to run. Did I mention I'm a bit of a run-aholic too? Okay, it is probably not so much due to the actual rolling my butt out of bed at the crack of dawn to exercise as it is the endorphins and how my bum eventually looks in my jeans!

But this year I have a new running partner, and she is kicking said bum! It is not a new neighbor, or even a new puppy, but someone right under my own roof: my 13 year old daughter! Eldest yard monkey has played soccer for the past 5 years, but it has only been thisyear, as the competition and size of the field increased, that endurance training became a necessity. And up until this weekend, when cooler weather moved in, we have had no problem matching pace. But this weekend-holy cow! Either she is drastically improving (which I am sure is partially the case) or the cold weather is like an adrenalin shot to her young veins! Either way, my old bones have got to get moving or I am quickly going to be outpaced and in the market for another running buddy!

Now I am by no means a professional runner, but I do two marathons under my belt so I am not a complete novice either. And after years of running, I must admit-she has definitely been my best motivation and inspiration. 5:20am three days a week, my energetic little running buddy is at my bedside asking me if I am ready to run! Talk about accountability! If I slack off on a run, there she is, across the dinner table, with her knowing eyes. And I am literally not just hurting myself if I miss a run. Since I certainly will not allow her to run alone, especially at 5:30 in the morning, she too is missing out on her critical training sessions. So I guess it's time to pick up my game and position myself as a true fitness role model. Maybe I'll even sign up with her for her first 10 k….So Carpe Viem ladies, see you out there!

Extreme Couponing? Or Extremely Annoying?

Alright, I am going to get up on my high horse a bit here and vent. With the seemingly never ending recession, it is understandable that more and more families are being cost conscious. I myself have taken to couponing, BOGO shopping and bulk shopping. While there are some fabulous sites that help you get the most for your money, TLC has created an Extremely Annoying monster with its new series "Extreme Couponing." Or rather it has created thousands of extremely annoying, coupon carrying, shelf clearing, grocery hoarding and price increasing monsters.

It didn't bother me initially. In fact, I have a number of friends who are self-proclaimed coupon maniacs. But with all of the new couponers hitting the aisles spurred on by the idea that they too can get something for nothing, even those couponing friends are getting annoyed. While the prospect of getting thousands of dollars worth of groceries for nearly nothing sounds tempting; the fact is, someone is paying for it. And it is usually me, and in more ways than one.

Just Monday I went to pick up milk at the grocery store. I was surprised to see that BOTH of my local grocers were not only each left with 1 and 2 gallons of skim milk, but the shelf that held the cereal that was on sale for $1.99 (General Mills Brand) was nearly gone as well. It was only when I noticed the coupon machine next to the milk that I understood what happened. We had been hit by couponers. Like I said, I am all for a good deal, but after seeing "Extreme Couponing" I am fully aware that there are a number of my neighbors who likely are sitting with 20-30 new boxes of cereal in their cupboards and just as many gallons of milk in their refrigerators. Seriously, these deals go on all of the time. Why is it necessary to clear the shelves??? Now if I am lucky, I MIGHT be able to get one or two of the boxes for the same deal. Thanks. Speaks so closely to the gluttonous and selfish society we have become…

Anyhow, to cost #2… Because of the clearing of the shelves and the consequent (and I am guessing here) loss of revenue to the stores, I have noticed not only a dramatic increase in prices, but too a dramatic decrease in the fantastic sales. Additionally, our local grocery store no longer is lenient on their coupon policy. They used to accept expired coupons, (up to a month) competitors coupons, and multiple coupons. Guess what? Yep, because of (and this came from a cashier) "individuals who were taking advantage of the coupon policy, such as trying to use warehouse coupons, pet store coupons etc, we have had to discontinue our program." Now they ONLY accept coupons from the store up the street (who incidentally uses a discount card program instead of coupons.) Excellent.

This brings me to cost #3. The cost of my time. Now before this lovely new show, I hardly ever saw crazy couponers. That is because the original couponers were considerate enough to go "off hours." Over the past few weeks I have found myself, at 5:00 in the afternoon, stuck behind these new couponers. Arguing obscure coupons (including those mentioned above) and arguing with the cashiers on each and every item. Cashiers and customers alike were SUPER annoyed.

Unless these people are extremely phillathropic and donate all of their spoils (though none that I have seen on the show are,) or are feeding a family of 50 on a weekly basis, I have to wonder how they are able to use everything before it expires. Even then, they must be using a significant amount of their storage space to keep everything. It makes me beg the question, is TLC trying to drive us crazy, or simply securing their future seasons of "Hoarders?"

~Leximom