Osama (not to be confused with President Obama) got exactly what he wanted. September 11, 2001 Bin Liden set out on a mission: to cripple America financially. This is why he hit the World Trade Center. Ultimately, he got what he wanted. You can blame the Bush Administration, you can blame all the uneducated irresponsible people that bought houses they couldn’t afford. But the beginning of the circumstances that brought us to the economy we are in today happened 9/11.

It makes me sad to see the terrorists win. It’s like we are their puppets and they are sitting back and laughing at the show we are putting on. No one could have predicted the chain of events that have taken place in the last 8 years, except maybe for Al Qaedia. They have watched us for many years. Studying how we live, our mannerisms, our weaknesses. They saw our weakness and attacked.

America as a whole is greedy and lazy. We always have been. This dates back to the time of slaves. We’ve never wanted to do certain tasks so we find someone else to do it for us. We didn’t want to plow our fields so we got the slaves to do it. As time evolved, the duties we don’t want to do ourselves are done now by Mexicans. (brick laying, working out in the hot sun) We’d rather be on the couch drawing an unemployment check. We are okay with illegal aliens as long as it doesn’t affect us. But as soon as they start putting a strain on our legal system, its time for them to go. But that’s okay. We’ve made the economy so bad, they are gladly leaving. If they have to live in poverty, they might as well go home and be with their families.

Rights are worth more than safety. These days we try to be so politically correct that it affected our safety. We let one and all in our (used to be) fine country without questioning their reason for being here. They are human, they have a right to be here. Nothing bad will happen, don’t worry.

I just pray that we can come together as a nation and change the way we do things.

It finally hit me this week that I’m not mad at AIG. I don’t agree with how the conducted business, but I’m not mad at them. I am mad, however, at the government for giving out my hard earned tax money without giving proper stipulations up front. The original bill that gave AIG the money included agreements concerning bonuses. It was only after the public found out about how much these bonuses were that they tried to go back and “fix it”. Click here to find out how your government tried to do publicly do damage control once this went public. I am absolutely outraged! Where were these people before the money was given to AIG?  Not to mention the fact that AIG gave President Obama over $100,000 toward his campaign. (Obama Contribution from AIG )  So if we are having to give them money, does that mean that essentially the tax payers paid for his campaign? I have a feeling there is a LOT more to this story than we know.

So what can we do? Find out who your Rep is.  Let them know how you feel about what’s going on. Check their voting record to make sure they are speaking your voice and not theirs! Keep up with what’s going on so you know how to vote next election. Despite what the high and mighty think in Washington, this is still OUR Country.

I have recently decided to try to brush up on my sewing skills. I was motivated by my little one that’s on his/her way. I feel I need to be able to make Halloween costumes, hem/dart pants etc. During this quest, I have learned there is hardly any information out there concerning my sewing machine. So I thought I would post some information that may be useful to others that have the same type of machine I do.

What size bobbin does the Euro Pro 8260 take? Class 15

How do you thread the Euro Pro 8260?

Threading the upper thread: Raise the needle bar to its highest position. Follow exactly the numbered threading sequence illustrated below. If you skip a step or fail to properly engage the thread in any of the thread guides, the machine will not sew properly (1-5)

Continue to draw the thread down and into the needle bar thread guide. Insert the thread through the eye of the needle from front to back. Leave about 10 cm of thread loose behind the needle. (6)

Bringing up the lower thread:  Hold the upper thread with the left hand. Turn the hand wheel  towards you with your right hand until the needle goes down and comes up again to its highest position. (1)

Lightly draw the needle thread forming a loop with the bobbin thread. The upper thread should have caught the lower thread in a loop.

Pull the needle thread toward you and the lower thread will come up from the bobbin in a large loop (2) Pull about 15 cm of both thread away from you under the presser foot.

These were the most common questions I ran across as I was searching for the size of the bobbin.  If you have any other questions concerning this machine please leave a comment and I will try to help you the best I can. Happy sewing!

* Information provided by Euro Pro Instruction Manual

Dealing with the public over the last 10 years I’ve come to learn a few things. Most importantly, you can’t change how people are, so you might as well learn the best way to handle them to make your life as easy as possible. Some people let mean/rude people get to them, and all they are doing is letting them ruin their day. I’d rather be glad I’m not that person and move on than dwell on it and waste valuable time and energy on that person.

Some people you just can’t please. The sooner you accept this, the better off you are. If you offer them the moon, it’s not going to be enough. So all you can do is tell them what you can do for them and let them be unhappy.

People would rather hear what you CAN do for them, not what you CAN’T do. Instead of saying “No, I can’t make your premium cheaper” say “ What we can do is look at your auto insurance so you can get the 20% multi policy discount, how does that sound?” Even if you can’t do it cheaper, at least they know you tried.

I’ve learned that sometimes its easier to empathize with people. I have mortgage companies call all the time and they need everything now! Since I used to be in their shoes, sometimes it takes the edge off the conversation if I tell them I understand what they are going through, I’ve been there and I hope they have a better day. (Even though I’m still a firm believer in bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part)

Some people are just always in a bad mood. They want everyone around them to be in a bad mood too. To these people, I feel sorry. Instead of letting them get me down, I thank my lucky stars I’m not in their situation that makes them live their life like that. I want people to be happy when they are around me, not grimace when they see my number on their caller id.

I’ve also learned you have to stick up for yourself. This was a hard one for me, because I don’t like confrontation and I want everyone to be happy. But sometimes people start out talking to you like you are an idiot and sometimes you have to politely remind them otherwise.  I know the “customer’s always right” (Even though they aren’t) but you can’t just sit there and take a beating. There comes a point where you have to tell the person to calm down and/or tell them to call back when they can act human (not in so many words of course)

I hope this helps someone out there deal with that unpleasant coworker or that client that knows how to push your buttons. I’ve learned that life’s too short. It’s best to pick your battles and know how to handle people.  I’m still a work in progress but it’s getting better as the years go by.

A friend of mine turned me on to E-mealz and now I’m hooked! I just signed up for the Lowfat Publix Plan (They have lots of different lists depending on what you are looking for. They take the current sale paper and send you a weeks worth of recipes and a shopping list already categorized based on what’s on sale. Also, it takes about 15 minutes to shop now.  Josh and I spent $80 this week ($20 less than we normally do) and that’s with me buying breakfast and snacks! Definitely check it out. If you decide to try it out, let me know what you think.

Here’s the link E-MEALZ Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families

For those of you who don’t know, Josh  and I are expecting our first child at the end of August.  You always hear people say how children change their lives. I didn’t realize how much that was true, and the kid’s not even here yet!

My new bed time is 8:30. By 8, I’m yawning, by 8:30 I’m out. This has vastly put a dent in my free time. By the time I come home, cook dinner, clean up, take a shower (another new habit, I have to take showers at night now, can’t handle it in the morning) and dry my hair, it’s bed time. No more watching movies after dinner. We tried that and 30 minutes in, I’m asleep. Not only that, our to-do list has grown tremendously. We have decided we need tile/hardwood floors before the baby gets here. Mainly for sanitary purposes. We also  have to paint the nursery, register for baby stuff (to which I have no idea what we need), house needs a new roof, pressure wash the siding… we’ve got family coming in 6 months to see “Megatron” (this is what we’ve decided to call the baby until we find out what it is)

Where I shop has changed. I used to go to NY and Co, and Ann Taylor Loft for all my clothing/retail therapy needs. Now it’s Motherhood and Old Navy Maternity. I must say my first realization came when my best friend and I went shopping last weekend. We went into Motherhood and the girl had to explain to me how this works (that felt odd in itself) Then I go into the dressing room to try on these not so cute clothes, and there’s a flippin’  pillow in there to show you how you’ll look down the road! I tried it on and about died! At first it was funny. The pillow was all lumpy, then I freaked.  Is that REALLY what I’m going to look like 4 months from now!? 

HOW I shop has changed. I used to be able to go on a power shopping trip and go for 5 hours straight. Now, after trying on maternity clothes, I need something to drink (and a nap, but don’t want to be a wuss) So we go on a search for bottled water. Then, we strategically plan out how to maximum shopping and minimize energy usage. “If we go this way, we can go to Store A, B and C… If we go this way, we can only go to Store D… Is Store D REALLY worth walking ALL the way over there? Not really..Okay, this way it is then” After 2 hours, I REALLY need a nap. And a snack. {sigh} I can only imagine doing this with a stroller.

Conversations are different. I used to talk about the weather, NASCAR, how my week went.. Now its “How are you feeling? Sick and tired, thanks for asking.” “Aww, how cute!!! No, not really… I’m tired all the time, and my clothes don’t fit anymore” “ It’ll get better soon… You’ve said that for 3 weeks now, WHEN is it going to get better?!”  

Alas after all my trials and tribulations we will have a bundle of joy. Despite the fears and doubts, I can’t wait to meet the little booger.

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups Chex cereal
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1. In 1-quart microwaveable bowl, mix chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute, stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla.

2. In large bowl, place cereal. Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon food-storage plastic bag.

3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool.

1 bag of Oreos (must be Oreo Brand, other brands don’t do as well)

1 block of cream cheese, room temperature

dipping chocolate

Put one bag of oreos in the food processor until well blended (should be almost like dust) Add to cream cheese. Blend with hands until you can no longer see any cream cheese. Wrap in plastic and put in fridge.  Once, cold (about an hour), take out and roll into balls. Put back in fridge until cold. Then melt chocolate and dip balls. Put on wax paper until they set. 

* my hubby likes for me to use Mint oreos and they taste like thin mints

1 bag of butterscotch chips

1/2 bag of chow mein noodles

dry roasted peanuts

Melt chips in a double boiler until smooth (this is the best method to get the butterscotch to smoothly melt without burning it). Add in noodles and peanuts (however much you want to add), mix until completely covered. Spoon out onto wax paper.  Let cool until set.

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. (340 g) package flavored chips ( I use peanut butter or chocolate)
1 7-oz. (198 g) jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in flavored chips till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.