Taxes and Newspapers

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I love getting the newspaper and I hate getting the newspaper.

Love: Recipes, comics, coupons, news, travel in that order.  The coupons come out first.  If I can’t clip them right away, they go into my grocery shopping binder for later.  Next, I read the rest of the ads, then the comics.  Then, I dig deeper and see what’s going on in the world with the news.  The main reason for my subscription to the Journal Sentinel out of Milwaukee, WI, is the recipes.  I especially love this section during summer and holidays.  There are rare times when I find nothing I will use, but I usually clip out at least one recipe or tip.

Hate: News.  It’s either depressing or biased towards the Democrats.  I want an unbiased media.  Also, they rarely report GOOD news.  There is good news out there and I want more of it!

Over the holiday my newspaper pile really stacked up.  I had so many papers I couldn’t get to, that they stacked up under the coffee table.  I couldn’t fit anymore under there and I was afraid my husband would start calling me a hoarder again.  This past weekend I forced myself to go through the stack and toss out the unnecessary.   I only got half way through, but found more great recipes!

While reading through a comic section from a week or two ago, I came to my favorite comic strip: Family Circus.  I love the drawings and scenes of family life in this comic.  At first, I looked at the comic and thought it was cute.  It was really simple, Bill Keane was saying, “Here we go again” and there was a whirlwind of activities that encompass the whole year.  The drawing had New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, going to the beach, back to school, Christmas and everything in between.  When I looked at each of the little drawings that made up a year, I became really happy!  Why?  This is a difficult time of year.  We are done with Christmas, it’s tax time, the weather is cold and dreary, and whatever you have to deal with right now is just more depressing.  However, looking at all the things that are coming up in this new year makes me look forward in anticipation.  What will I learn? Who will I meet?  What new goals can I set and achieve?  Where will I go?  What will I see?  What drawings will I add to MY whirlwind at the end of the year?

Family Circus Comic
Family Circus Whirlwind of Drawings

Before anything else can be planned on and anticipated, I must pay my sales taxes for giggleFritz and Co. this week.  Today is paperwork and sales tax prep day.  Yuck!  I was sick this weekend, but I did manage to get some things done around the condo so I wouldn’t have to worry about them this week.  Christmas finally got packed away in storage for next year.  Laundry got done.  I am off to do my taxes!

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Missie

Packers vs. 49ers

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Tonight I will be watching the Packers and the 49ers do battle in the playoffs.  This morning I gathered my three Packer’s shirts (one is in the laundry), and asked my husband and daughter to each pick one for Packer playoff day.  I was anticipating some resistance but was surprised that with a little coaxing my husband decided to wear one.  My daughter was actually excited to wear one!

A few months ago I brought my daughter to Inspired for You on a day I was working in the store.  She looked at all the handmade items and liked what we were selling.  One of the things she fell in love with was a green and gold Packers inspired tutu.  “I want this!” she said repeatedly.

I am frugal (no, not cheap!) and a self-proclaimed DIYer.  My daughter knows this.  She did ask, “Can you buy me this?”  She quickly changed that question to: “Can you make me one?”  I should have bought one to promote the store, but I knew I would save money making my own.  I have made tutus for sock monkeys I sell.  I waited for Hobby Lobby to have a sale on their tulle and bought the needed yardage.

Up until last weekend I had not made my daughter her tutu.  Last Friday I worked in the store again.  I decorated a dress form with Packer inspired clothing, took a picture and posted it on Facebook for promotion.  One of the items was the green and gold tutu.  I thought to myself later that night, “Now is totally the time to make that tutu.  I could actually make two tutus and bring them to bowling when the game is on, and it could be a lot of fun.”I ran this idea past my daughter (I did not want her to feel like I was stealing her tutu!), who was fine with me “borrowing” her tutu.   My sister and I each wore one and they were passed around by several people.  We had so much fun!  The Packers won!  We even bowled well!

Packers and Tutus

Tonight, my daughter will be wearing HER good luck tutu.  I will be wearing my Packers shirt watching and sleeping.  As of yesterday I am sick with some sort of something that makes me very tired and my head hurt.  Nonetheless, I am excited for the game tonight and really hope they win!

Have a nice evening!

Go, Pack, Go!

Missie

Keurig Coffee Maker Problem

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Keurig® B31 MINI Plus Personal Coffee Brewer

A week before Christmas my husband, daughter, and I helped my sister and brother-in-law move into their new home.  It was a day or two after we received 12+ inches of snow.  Oh, what fun we had! (Heavy on the sarcasm)  What is more fun than moving?  Moving in wet snow!  We started at 9am and were still moving after 8pm.  My husband helped move a few more things the following morning.  They are pretty much settled in now and I am very happy for them!

After we had finished moving at night, they asked us to stay and we ordered some chicken from a local place that delivers.  While we were waiting for the food my husband and I were draped over the new couch staring at the television, eating Christmas cookies and Sun Chips.  My sister and her husband were putting things away that we could not.  In the process of setting up their coffee maker in the kitchen, they pulled out their Keurig coffee maker.  My brother-in-law asked if I wanted it.  I said, “Sure, you don’t want it?”  He said, “Well, it only makes one cup at a time.”  I know what he means. I drink at least 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning.  But, I have been curious about the K-cups and how they taste.  Everyone makes a K-cup now, even for tea (which I think is silly and wasteful).   I said, “Yes, thank you!”  They gave me what they had left of some “Donut Shop” K-cups.  I was excited to try this out!

We went home after eating some delicious chicken.  I was so tired I forgot the Keurig machine at the new house.   Two days later I tried out the new machine.  I have no box or instructions.  No problem, I can wing it!  Plug in the machine, push the power button.  Lights start blinking.  It looks like I have to add the water in the top.  I fill up my cup with cold water and pour it in the top.  Now lights are blinking for the top and one says to put in a K-cup.  I put in the K-cup quickly and shut the front.  Lights are still blinking.  I push “brew”.  Nothing is happening but lights blinking.  I figured, maybe it needs a minute.  I walk away and come back and the machine has shut off.  I turn the machine back on and retrace what I did.  I will sum this up quickly.  After several attempts, I ended up with several cups of coffee ground filled cups of coffee and a counter full of coffee grounds and water.  Each time I tried to make the coffee I thought, “Oh, I got it now.  I just have to do this…”  Every time – coffee grounds in my cup!

I had two cups of coffee that weren’t too bad.  The coffee tasted fantastic and the few grounds I had just settled to the bottom and I avoided them.  I have no instructions so I have been looking online for troubleshooting.  What I got from the online help is that the machine needs descaling.  There are two needles and small water lines that run water and prepared coffee.  You are supposed to descale every six months.  I have no idea how long my sister has owned this machine or if descaling was ever done.  Also, I don’t know how old the K-cups are.  My last K-cup is a little bloated.

Today, I ran a coffee cup full of vinegar through the Keurig machine.  I followed the vinegar with five individual cups of water.  Every single time I ran the machine coffee grounds came out.  Where are they coming from?  My husband says to get rid of the machine.  I just want to make it work!  It is my newest challenge!

Like it or launch it, it was still a nice gesture to give me the machine.  I still have my 12 cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker, so don’t worry about me!  And now, I am off to work.

Big Bang Theory is on tonight, something to look forward to!

Have a great Thursday!

~Missie 😀

 

Happy New Year – 2013

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Optimistic Icicles

I’m excited for the new year!  It’s different this year.  Some years I have handled going into the next year with indifference.  I felt it was just another year, same as the last.  I was sick of all the new year garbage on television, radio, and internet of “quit smoking”, “lose weight”, resolution this and that.  In other years I handled going into the new year with the attitude that it was a “clean slate”.  I made my resolutions and kept track of how long I could go without swearing, eating chocolate, or drinking soda.  It’s different this year because of the way I am looking at the layout of this new (and hopefully improved) year.  It’s not a good idea to be indifferent about your future and you can’t disregard failures and successes with a “clean slate” attitude.

On this last day of 2012 I am looking back thoughtfully and planning ahead optimistically.  I’ve set some new goals for 2013, both personally and vocationally.  I want to attend more events and travel locally with my family.  I want to be more active outside before spring gets here.  I want to read more and participate in more events at our local library.  I want to make more sock monkeys!  These are a few of my goals for the new year and the year after that, and the year after that….

I don’t know what the next year will bring, but I know what I will be doing this evening.  To bring in the new year I will be with my family eating those little smokey cocktail weenies my daughter loves, drinking wine that I love, and eating Mamba chewy candies that my husband loves.   We will watch the ball drop and clink glasses and say, “Happy New Year!”  Tomorrow we will work on making the year Happy!

I hope you are looking ahead optimistically at 2013.

Happy New Year! 😀

Missie

Ditz Machine

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Did you have a nice Christmas?  I really did this year.  I had a great time talking with family and friends.  People gave me some very nice gifts and did not go overboard on the quantity of presents given.  I feel people were happy with the gifts my family gave.  My only complaint, and it is my own fault, no one but mine,  I ate and drank WAY too much!  I feel like I am detoxing as I write this (and when I said “drank” I meant soda and punch.  I am not a big alcoholic drinker.  I had a glass or two of wine, but too much soda!)  I am so sorry liver and pancreas!  I will behave now!

So, what is next?  I know many people are still visiting with their families.  My sister stayed with my family over Christmas, but she went home yesterday.  I will spend time with my daughter today and tomorrow.   My husband went back to work yesterday.  I also am back to work sewing, crocheting, and minding the store (Inspired for You).  I’m just not good at sitting still.  When I do, I eat and get antsy.

Valentine Sock Monkeys Before Photo

What is giggleFritz working on?  Sock Monkeys!!!  Of Course!  I have some very cute socks for Valentine sock monkeys.  They should be ready before February 1st.  But, not only sock monkeys.  For the past six months I have been telling myself to pretty up and organize my workspace.  Something always comes up or is more important to work on.  No more excuses!  Yesterday, I started arranging my workspace and making plans for a more organized, Zen area where I can create beautiful things!  I will paint a wall, get some bookshelves, buy better office supplies, and be ready for the “come what may”.  Then, I will do my taxes.  No more Ditz Machine!  My New Year resolution, no, my right now and always resolution, is to be more put-together.   I will share some “before” and “after” photos when I am finished.

If you have some holiday time off, enjoy and relax!

If you are working today or this week, MAKE your day great!

~Missie