The Target Order Mistake

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I know it's been a few years since I last posted.  I was focusing on my main blog: Beauty Brite.  

Staying overnight

Shannon is staying overnight out of town.  He packed a few things before he left so that he had the option to stay at a hotel tonight.  His training class is very draining, so he wants to go to sleep and then wake up fully refreshed.  He may have to stay overnight later this week.

I can tell this is going to be a long week with him gone so much.  I hate that he in a different city and has to commute to the training class.  

I did more cleaning today.  I cleaned as much as I could in the living room and went through Kyle's toy box and got rid of toys he no longer plays with and broken toys.

I am also trying to keep the trash and boxes under control.  I am receiving several packages a day so the boxes can easily stack up!  The last few days, I have had to take the trash and boxes out after Kyle gets on the school bus in the morning and in the afternoon before Kyle gets home.   I am also saving big boxes so when we are ready to start packing, we won't have to buy packing boxes. 

I took a rest day on my workout program.  I hope to get back to it tomorrow!  There really isn't a workout schedule, so I am taking it at my own pace. 

Day 1 of 30 Day Shred

Today was the first day of the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels.  It was difficult but I am looking forward to this challenge!

Today is also the first day of Shannon's class out of town.  He plans on coming home every night.  He is pretty much coming home, going to sleep and wake up to do it all over again.

I took the time to throw away our trash and stack of boxes.  I  hope to do more cleaning this week. 

Cleaning frenzy

Right after I put Kyle on the bus, Shannon and I went to breakfast and then went to Walmart for groceries.

Shannon's parents are coming to visit sometime this week and want to stay overnight in our second bedroom.  So, we've been cleaning like mad.  He is cleaning the bathroom top to bottom and I have been removing clutter, throwing as much as I can away, going through clothes and vacuuming.  Shannon even bought Comet and a scrub brush so he could use them to clean the bathroom.  He doesn't like my "green cleaning" products. 

They want to stay with us and then go look at a few apartment complexes the next day.  They don't want to spend $100+ on a hotel room.

We still have a ton of cleaning and de-cluttering to do.  Two years ago when we moved to our current place, we went through our things and threw away as much as could.  This time around, we plan on doing the same.  I am going to get rid of anything and everything I possibly can. 

So much done!

It isn't even noon and I have done so much today!  I am doing my last load of laundry (I did two loads earlier).  This morning, right after I put Kyle on the bus, I threw away all of the boxes that were taking up our kitchen.  As a blogger, I get a lot of packages.  I also cleaned our floors and washed our mats.  Our sheets have been changed and our towels are being washed. 

In between all of that, I wrote two product reviews.

This weekend, I received a frame and my two salt lamps that I purchased from Walmart.  My poster is now in a frame and it looks gorgeous! 

Since we are moving in May, I am saving every big box we receive.  So far, I have three boxes from Walmart orders that I am saving. 

Shannon called to let me know that he will be working until 8:30pm or so tonight.  There was a call off so he's going to cover another site after he finishes his 8 hour shift. 

Christmas Eve

This afternoon, we went grocery shopping for a few things.  It was nice for all of us to get out of the house together.  Kyle even helped push the cart to the parking lot, unload the bags and put the cart away.

Tonight, I stumbled onto a book I had downloaded on my Kindle and started reading a few chapters and found other books like it to read.  I have been reading books on living frugally and saving money.  I learned a lot of new ideas as well as ideas I have already been using.

Then I found a book on my Kindle that I don't remember downloading.  I looked it up on Amazon and looked for more free ebooks to download.  Now I have a ton of new books to read.

Laundry and Cleaning

Shannon is off from Best Buy tomorrow but has to work his security supervisor job from 11pm until 7am.  He worked all this week at Best Buy.  Next week, he's working at least 60 hours total from both jobs.

I did several loads of laundry and cleaned the floors.  I also put our shower liner/curtain through a laundry cycle but it still has the moldy look.  I washed the shower liner/curtain in with a load of towels, as recommended since it's supposed to help remove mold and mildew during the wash. 

Since I cleaned the floors, I also washed our bath mats and kitchen mats. 

Working like crazy

Shannon has been working both jobs for the last few weeks.  He's working at least 60 hours a week!  He's getting over 35 hours a week with Best Buy, which is to be expected with retail, especially around the holidays!  He has to work a 12 hour shift on Black Friday!  I remember I had to work a 9 hour shift on Black Friday at Walmart a few years ago. 

We plan on closing our Wells Fargo accounts this week and establish ourselves with our credit union.  We received our "welcome kit" the other day.  It included a few checks and our "membership cards."  I can't wait to get rid of Wells Fargo!  He currently has direct deposit going to his own account at another bank.  He's going to have his other job direct deposited into our credit union.  We still have to order checks and we will receive our debit/credit cards within 2 weeks.  In the meantime, we will have to pay any bills with his checking account that he has with the other bank. 

With Shannon gone, I am trying to stay busy with cleaning, laundry and taking care of Kyle when he's not in school. 

Thanksgiving is coming up this week.  I would have liked to make a nice dinner but we're still in between banks.  Plus, Shannon's work schedule is so erratic.  Shannon and I decided we're going to go out to eat on Wednesday since he is off of work and Kyle is home from school.  We also talked about going out to eat on Monday or Tuesday while Kyle is in school, just the two of us! 

Cleaning the closets

Last night I was looking in our closet and realized that at least half of the clothes hanging in there are those I don't wear anymore.  I decided to remove the clothing that I no longer fit into or just don't wear.  I also went through our dressers and removed clothing I don't use.  I also plan on going through some boxes and getting rid of books that have accumulated from my book reviews for my blog. 

One week of overlap

This week I have two classes that are overlapping.  I started a new class today (Tuesday) but I am on my last week of my current class!  It's a little stressful as I am trying to juggle the school work and making sure I don't miss a deadline!  My current class is pretty much done.  I have a few discussion posts to post and respond to and then I have to turn in my final paper (which is done). 

I've been keeping up with my workouts and doing pretty well!  I am proud of myself for sticking with the schedule.  I am trying to get into better shape since I want to take Kyle to our apartment complex pool this summer!  Kyle loves the water.  He loves taking a bath and I am pretty sure he would love the pool.  Although, I am going to have to get in the pool with him.  I may want to get arm floats for him to wear in the water, just in case.  He even loves putting on his swim trunks when he takes a bath. 

This morning, I gathered as much trash as I could.  I wanted to get rid of knick knacks, scraps of paper, old toys and junk that has been piling up.  I hope to do more trash gathering tomorrow.  I have to throw away things when Kyle is away from home, otherwise, he'll want to put everything back! 

We've been talking about canceling cable and switching over to Netflix.  However, I believe we need a special remote to use with the PS3.  We can still use and watch Netflix but having the remote would be much easier.  So we've been stalling on actually ordering Netflix.  I would also love to switch over to Magic Jack to save money on our phone service.  I'll have to discuss it with my husband and see what he thinks. 

Being prepared

When I was packing for Disney World, I packed paper towels, toilet paper, and cleaning spray. The hotel we're staying at has a little kitchen and I wanted to be prepared. The cleaning spray I use is all natural, made by Shaklee. Kyle ended up getting car sick soon after we arrived at the hotel. We hadn't checked in yet and he threw up in the car (we were just getting out of the car). Luckily, I brought my cleaner and had paper towels because I cleaned up any trace of the mess!

Walmart after Black Friday

We ended up going to Walmart today.  We wanted to go yesterday but Kyle was still feeling sick, coughing and throwing up.  Today he's a little better.  I hope he'll be ready for school on Monday, either way, I hope to send him! 

We bought the usually groceries.  I plan on making a green bean casserole and banana nut muffins this week.  We also bought 2 pumpkin pies!  I also decided we should buy a small bag of potatoes to have baked potatoes and any leftovers can be re-heated the next day or I can add them to soups or as a side for dinner. 

Walmart wasn't as busy in the grocery section.  Shannon and I figured that everyone has plenty of leftovers, so they don't need to be shopping for food. 

I also bought a few cleaning supplies: sponges, dishwasher tabs, baking soda (to clean), and zote laundry bar (to make homemade laundry soap).

Kyle behaved at the store.  I think he was so distracted looking all around the store and he never got bored.  If he gets bored, he'll start to whine.  I think there was too much going on for him to get bored. 

I caught up on cleaning!

I've been wanting to get some baking soda to use for general cleaning, but I remembered I have Borax which can be used to clean and deodorize.  I used borax to deep clean our bathtub and bathroom sink.  They are both now squeaky clean and as white as they can be (they are old fixtures).  I also cleaned our floors with my swiffer. 

I also wanted to clean up the spot stains on our carpet so I used borax and warm water.  I mixed 1/2 cup of borax and about 2 cups of warm water.  I used a towel to scrub it in to the carpet.  I let it sit for about a half hour and then used the vacuum on the carpet.  The grey stains are gone!  I plan on using dry borax on the carpet.  Sprinkle it on the carpet and let it absorb for about a half hour and then vacuum it up.  I need to do this while Kyle is in school so he won't get into the borax!  This will help remove any odors in the carpet and hopefully make it smell fresher!

Windex

Shannon is completely against the idea of "green cleaning."  Right now, I use Shaklee cleaning products, white vinegar, and baking soda (depending on what I am cleaning). 

A few weeks ago, he was looking for Windex because he wanted to use it to clean the inside of the car.  He likes using Windex to clean everything (not just windows).  I told him he could use my Shaklee cleaning products and he quickly refused.  He ended up finding some Windex to use and he cleaned the car with it. 

Today, he used Windex to clean a table so he could take it to the UHaul.  Soon after he was done wiping down the table, he started coughing!  He still doesn't want to see that store-bought cleaners are made with toxic chemicals. 

One more week!

It's getting closer and closer, I can smell it just around the corner!  We will be in our new place in a week!  Yesterday, while Kyle was at school, Shannon and I went through Kyle's toys and got rid of the ones that were broken, missing pieces, and toys that he really didn't play with.  We also cleaned up any trash so our living area looked so clean...until Kyle got home.  LOL 

Shannon also called to have our our cable, internet, and home phone set up and it will be installed next week. 

The lady from the new school district finally called me back (I had also emailed her).  She's the person I needed to talk to from the Exceptional Children's program.  I had to re-email her Kyle's IEP (individual education plan) and she said we could set up an appointment for them to place him in a pre-school class for the rest of this school year and also get him ready for next year.

In our new place, we would be required to pay for water, but they only charge us for our hot water usage.  I am thinking of handwashing our dishes instead of using the dishwasher to help save us on that part of the water bill.  Plus, we don't have enough dishes to use the dishwasher everyday.  It would just be easier for us to handwash our dishes.  Today, I got the idea to make my own dish soap and went online to look for recipes.  I found an easy recipe that I plan on using.  I may buy some dish soap first, just so I have a bottle to use when I do make my own.

I cleaned again

Kyle's teacher called this afternoon to let me know that next Monday there will no school but there is school on Tuesday.  Monday is a "school make up day" due to the snow a few weeks ago.  She also said they are doing something with teddy bears next week, so I need to send Kyle to school with a teddy bear.  LOL  I don't think we have a teddy bear, so we'll have to buy one. 

A few days ago, I ended up buying Valentine's Day cards for Kyle's class, so I need to ask the teacher for a list of the student's names!  This should be fun to do, since I haven't done Valentine's Day cards in so long! 

I ended up cleaning the bathroom again.  I did a quick clean of the bathroom, floor, wiped the toilet and cleaned the sink!  I love using white vinegar and baking soda and there are no toxic fumes to worry about.

I am also going to try to make homemade shampoo using liquid castile soap.  I found a few recipes that I want to try.  The same recipe can also be used on our skin since it's all natural. I also plan on using it in Kyle's bath.  Hopefully this will help our dry skin, Kyle's eczema, and prevent staticy hair!

Went to the Warehouse Store!

Kyle was off of school so we were all home, just like all of last week (due to snow, icey roads, etc.).  Anyway, we ended up going to BJ's Warehouse and bought some food!  We bought some organic burritos that all of us can eat because it's meat-free.  We also bought oranges, Uncle Ben "ready rice," Carpi Sun drink pouches (for Kyle), and a bunch of other food!  I also bought a HUGE container of white vinegar to clean with. 

I ended up cleaning the bathroom today using baking soda and white vinegar!  I feel so accomplished.  I scrubbed the bathtub with baking soda and white vinegar and then I used the same combo to help unclog the shower drain.  It helped a bit, it drains a little more than before.  I cleaned the sink too.  I also poured some white vinegar in the toilet bowl to help disinfect/clean it.  Then I wiped the bathroom floor with white vinegar and wiped down the toilet (yuck).  Lastly, I wiped down the shower curtain with white vinegar and it's a little bit cleaner.  I may have to step into the bathtub and really scrub the shower curtain.  Everything is clean in the bathroom, and it smells fresh and looks clean! 

New Video, Therapy, and Groceries

I posted a new video the other day.  It can be viewed here.  I can't wait to make more videos, I love sharing the products I use!

Kyle seems to enjoy therapy!  He has Speech and Occupational Therapy every Tuesday.  The therapists are really nice and he seems to get along with every therapist that has worked with him.  While Kyle was in therapy yesterday, Shannon and I went to Walmart.  We did a quick trip and bought all the non-perishable foods on our grocery list. I also bought a little box of baking soda for cleaning, I use it to clean/scrub the tub and bathroom sink.  While we were waiting in line to checkout, I picked up two workout tanks.  I hope to start a new workout program soon.  I've been wanting to change up my workouts since rotating my workouts is getting old. Plus new workout clothes adds to my motivation!

We recently applied for food stamps, so we probably won't be approved (or denied) until mid-September.  We are still waiting to hear whether or not Kyle will be approved for SSI.  We turned in all the necessary paperwork, so now we wait.  Shannon had to reactivate his unemployment, just like everyone else who was on unemployment.  He was not approved for unemployment so he is in the process of trying to get that reversed.  We had a little issue with our Medicaid, to where Kyle was denied.  When I called to ask why (knowing that I had sent in the necessary paperwork), I was told that our caseworker is no longer there.  It sounds like she made a lot of mistakes and she forgot to renew Kyle!  LOL  It sounds like there are many other cases like ours because the lady told me that she had a lot of other files to go through. 

Kyle goes back to school on August 25th!  I can't wait!  We haven't had a chance to get more school clothes, but I do know he will need additional pants and shirts since he will be going 4 days a week. We are limited to doing one load of laundry a day and my MIL and I take turns every other day.  But when it rains, we are unable to do laundry because it floods their septic tank to where they are unable to flush their toilet.  Their septic tank isn't working properly, to get it fixed would cost $20,000 or so they've been told.  When we use too much water, such as doing too many loads of laundry, the septic tank overflows and it starts to smell like raw sewage!

Carpet Cleaning Friday

While Kyle was at school today, I shampoo'd the carpets -- the carpets we walk on everyday! They really needed to be cleaned, there were various stains and it started to smell. I haven't had any carpet cleaning solution since I bought my carpet cleaning vacuum (it came with a sample size), so instead, I use some Shaklee product that is super concentrated all purpose cleaner. The carpets look so much better and our rooms smell better!

I happened to find a "rug & carpet shampoo" product that is earth friendly and safe to use around pets and children. I am excited to try it, as the reviews are very positive. There are still some stains and hope to get them out with this product. I miss using my carpet cleaning vacuum, it was fun shampooing the carpets! I plan on shampooing the carpets on a regular basis now. I like having clean carpets to walk on.



I also needed more homeopathic medicine for my allergy to cats! I am running low and don't want to risk running out.

I am job searching daily for Shannon. I am only focusing on finding State, City, and County jobs. I have applied for several so far. I check several times a day and search at least 4 or 5 surrounding cities and counties in addition to the State website. Every once in awhile, I will apply for other positions that are not State, City, or County jobs. Hopefully we'll get a call back soon.

I am looking forward to Kyle's doctor appointment next Thursday! Hopefully the doctor can direct us on what we should do and give us a few referrals to other specialists.

Day off with family

Today was my day off! We had a nice day as a family. We went to BJs, which is about 40 to 45 minutes away in another city. We ended up getting my MIL's vacuum! We found what we planned on getting for my FIL but it doesn't come with an iPod! So Shannon didn't get it. Shannon said he'll think of other things to get for him and keep looking. Since we were there, we walked around the rest of the store. I bought a few more things for my breaks at work. I also bought soap - 16 bars to be exact! That should last us at least a year or two! LOL I also bought liquid hand soap that comes in a foam dispenser for the bathroom! It came with 4 soap dispensers.

Since I had to work so many days in a row, I ended up doing laundry. I had to wash my work shirts and pants. I didn't do any cleaning today except a quick vacuuming. I cleaned the bathroom yesterday before work.

I have to work the next 3 days and then I am off again.