HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year!  It is a beautiful morning in Eastern NC.  The sun is shining and it is Sunday,  and we will be going to church.  What a wonderful way to start the new year of 2012.  If we ever needed God it is today.  This is not popular, but this is my life and I must include it.

In the following days, I will be posting ways to save money, earn money and live frugally with what we have.  We must make use of every available source wisely.  The American dream as we have known it, is a thing of the past.  Our minds must be reprogrammed to live as productively as we can possibly make it.

When I was young and my life was open before me, the sky was the limit.  A young man or woman could go out and get a job very easily.  Some of the choices for the young were, filling station attendants, factory work, retail sales (there were many other stores & choices besides Walmart), working on farms,  fast food restaurants, waiters in restaurants,  grocery store baggers, and after school sweeping floors at a local small corner grocery store.  Today we do not have the gas stations who need attendants, the factory jobs, retail sales except Walmart, the farms are equipped with machinery and migrant workers, many local restaurants do not have the waiters or waitresses as before,  or no corner grocery stores.

Where do we go from here?  Of course a good education is the foundation of landing a great job, but they are not even available now.  The jobless statistics are only from the ones who are filing for unemployment.  What about the ones who have run out of the unemployment income?  Sounds bleak to my ears.  We cannot depend on the government because we know the government is living on borrowed time and money.  As I have already stated, reprogram your mind, and I will add, daily habits and the way of life as we have known it to be for years.   You may not be to this devastating point in your life.  You may have a great job and everything is going well, but I believe from my research, that this will change for all.  I sound very pessimistic, I know, but I believe it is reality.

We need to buckle down and determine in our minds that we are going to make it through these most difficult times.  What a way to bring in the New Year.  I know how this must sound, but we are going to make it through all the challenges that lie ahead.

Happy New Year!

It's Crazy Out There!

I have been visiting other blogs, you know, just for ideas.  It's crazy out there!   People blog about "nothing".  I thought my blog was probably uninteresting to read, but not any more.  Number one, I don't want my every thought and deed posted for the world to see.  That is what friends, doctors and prayers to God are for.  I intend to have many interesting topics to help you in the coming year.  Maybe you don't see eye to eye with me on everything, but if you pick up one detail or tidbit that you can use, I have done my job.  I find that people don't always want to listen to you, but a blog is a way you may help just one.  That will be worth it all.  Stay plugged in and I hope to have items of interest in the coming new year of 2012.

Rest, Rest, Rest!

Don't you think it is about time to slow down the pace and rest?  I am trying to do just that, however, it is not easy.  Many of us are back to work from our short vacation and dealing with all the aftermath of the season.  It is very important to take care of yourself since we are coming into the cold and flu season.  Remember to rest a little more in the evening (make yourself).  Eat a healthy diet including plenty of fruits and veggies.  Drink that orange juice.  Put all that candy, pies and cakes you indulged in over the holidays right out of your mind.  Wash your hands often to prevent those germs from getting to you.  It's like they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  It can be very expensive to get ill nowadays.  Now, save that money!

It Has Passed!

Do you feel a little like I do?  Glad it is behind us?   All the busy schedules, baking, cooking, shopping and the list goes on.  We have a tendency to overdo it during the Christmas season.

I received a Bath & Body Works gift card on Christmas day.  After thinking about it, I decided to go ahead and place an order online, before the prices could go up.  I, frugally, purchased items on sale, using a promotional code I got from a website.  I did a Google search for "promotional code".  Several different sights are available for codes.  It saved me 20% off my entire order, even though the items were already on sale.  I feel so good about my purchase.  Now I will have on hand shower gels, lotions to use for myself or for gifts.

Do you have gift cards that you received?  Maybe now is the time to use them while you can take advantage of the sales.  Be sure to search for a promotional code if you shop online.  Learn to use codes, coupons and discounts whenever possible.  They are out there for the taking.  It takes a little time to find them, but they are well worth it.

Christmas Memories #12

Merry Christmas everyone!   Met with more family today at my home.  We ate and ate and ate.  Soooo full of food, it is really sinful.  We enjoyed our afternoon together with laughter, cheer and happiness.  Everyone loved their gifts and we sent them off until next Christmas when we can do it all over again.  We are sooo blessed to have warm homes, good food and peace in our land.  I never want to forget the real meaning of CHRISTmas!  We wouldn't have a holiday without Christ.  Remember to keep it simple for Him, for sure, He came to earth in simple form, born and laid in a manger.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Memories #11

Oh Well!!!!!   It has happened again!    My extended family meets tonight for Christmas party and  I have not made all the goodies I had hoped to.   But refer to Christmas Memories #10.  Do not stress!  Let it go!  It will be alright.  No one but you will know the difference.  Others are preparing and bringing food and goodies.  We will have a great time!   The best thing about it is we are all going to be together to celebrate this beautiful Christmas season.  Will miss you again this year, daddy!   My wonderful dad passed away in 2007 and he is so, so missed.  Words cannot express the emptiness you can feel when you lose someone so dear.  We do, however, have the assurance he is in a better place.  That, we are thankful.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Memories #10

One very important thing to remember during this busy season.   Do not stress because you cannot do all you had hoped or planned to do.  It will be alright!  Sometimes you will be the only one who knew you didn't make that last batch of candy or buy a gift for the drive thru window attendant.

Trust me your family and friends will appreciate you much more if you are not a basket case for Christmas Day.  Not only that, but your health is even at risk.  Stress can cause illness including hypertension that will be another problem, going for an expensive doctor's visit.  Our immune system is weakened due to stress and not eating properly, so enjoy the time you have with family and friends and just LET IT GO!