I got married when I was 19 years old. I got divorced at 24. Those years were the some of the worst times in my life. First my ex husband was so mean to me. Always calling me names and treating me bad. I was nothing but caring and supportive to him. And when I told him I wasn’t going to stay and take it anymore that’s when he decided to change his ways because he knew what he had and didn’t want to lose it. But I stuck to my word and I left, well we both went our separate ways. Looking back on it now I realize that it was the best decision ever.

Being single has its advantages, and its disadvantages. But I just love that no one can tell me what to do or what not to do. I can date who ever I want and go anywhere, be anyone, do anything. I’m in a relationship now and I wouldn’t have met him if I didn’t get divorced and move 1000 miles away. I have never met anyone so sweet and caring before. Totally opposite of my ex. But would I want to get married again?

I really don’t see why marriage is the next step in a relationship. To me that’s when people change and then when you think you know someone you really don’t know them at all. Why can’t we just stay boyfriend and girlfriend? Its cheaper and easier to move on if things don’t work. If I got married again it would be for the right reasons. Reasons I don’t know at the moment. Tax purposes? Maybe but being single and independent, I can get grants to finish school!

When I was married, I couldn’t finish school because my ex made too much money, to qualify for grants, however we were always broke so I couldn’t pay to go to school and I didn’t want to take out a ridiculous amount of money in loans.

I don’t know about you but I’m not ready to be tied down again. I still have to finish school and start my career and life before I get married again.

** I wanted to share my experience at Buffalo Exchange in San diego, with all of you ** By the way… I do not buy ugly clothes, all my stuff is cute and trendy. So thanks for the mean comment, it wont be posted.

WORST experience ever. I will never shop at this or any of the buffalo exchange stores ever again. I will tell all my friends my experience I had here and will advise them not to go either. This was the worst experience I had since the death of my mom.

The people working at “B E” did not find a single item in my suitcase to sell at all. Not a single item, seriously. I brought in a suitcase full of stuff, some new, some never worn, some worn once, but all really good quality items. And two shoes that have been worn once, but very clean.

And you know what they told me? “Oh, but you can donate your shoes.” And when I asked about the new stuff, they told me to try to sell it at another location. ARE YOU SERIOUS?

If I would have known that all “B E” wanted was old dingy clothing, like the ones I found on the racks, I would have raided my Grandmothers closet. (No offense, Nana!)

As previously stated, I WILL NEVER EVER SHOP HERE AGAIN. So to anyone who hasn’t shopped here, be aware, you may have the same experience as me. It is obviously too hard to trade clothing at this place. Even if you have new items. Cool idea, but it obviously doesn’t work.

Well, not anymore. Seattle’s reputation for being bad drivers should be wiped clean. And if you live in Southern California, like I do, then you would understand.

I lived in Seattle for two years and I used to think the worst drivers lived in Seattle and surrounding areas. But after living in California for about 6 months, now, my opinion has changed.

It really makes my head spin, watching the way people drive out here. And I put a list together to show you everything I’ve noticed:

1. TURN SIGNALS, PLEASE! People out here do not, I repeat, DO NOT, use them! I used to think that maybe it was just one or two people, but after driving around a while, I’ve noticed it’s EVERYONE! Like seriously, if your sitting at a light not moving, it would help to know that your trying to make a left hand turn, and maybe, just maybe I wouldn’t blow my horn at you to move, if I knew your turning by having a turn signal on! Or even worse when driving on the highway people just cut over without using turn signals, and it makes it kind of scary to drive, because you don’t know if the person next to you is going to try to get in your lane, because they’re not using turn signals. I wonder where these people learned this and from what age group. There should be a study about this.

2. No Cutting In Line! OK another thing drivers do out here is cut you out. They’ll just wait until the last minute to get over into your lane, to the point where you have to slam on your brakes, sometimes. I’ve noticed this mostly when drivers are in driveways and parking lots and on highways.  So these people will cut over into your lane and they’ll do it without using a turn signal.

3. RIGHT OF WAY, Stay out of my lane. Recently I was driving straight in a parking lot when a driver from the opposite lane cuts into my lane to make a right hand turn. It was like he didn’t even see me driving there. If I was going any faster, he would have hit me. These people need to pay attention. And if you have to turn, first you have to stop, second make sure no one is coming, and third when it is safe to turn, turn! All the while using your turn signal to let others know your intention of turning.

4. Was that a stop sign? OK people, you know what they are, you know what there purpose is, so why can’t you just follow the law!? You must stay at a stop sign for like 5 seconds before proceeding. And if there are other cars like at a 4 way stop intersection, then the person to the right has the right of way (if you all got there at the same time) If you where there first, make sure no one else is going through. BUT, if you were not there first, IT IS NOT YOUR TURN TO GO! IF YOU SEE OTHERS WAITING TO GO THEN IT IS THEIR TURN, NOT YOURS. And, just because someone in front of you went, does not mean you go through the stop sign too. Its a stop sign, not a traffic light, after the person in front of you goes, you have to stop at the line too. Also USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS TO LET OTHERS KNOW YOUR TURNING.

5. RULES OF THE PARKING LOT! There are a few things that you should be aware of, when driving through parking lots and looking for spaces.

a. Max speed should be 10-15, sometimes less, unless posted otherwise.

b. PEDESTRIANS have the right of way ALWAYS. If a person is walking in the parking lot, DON’T RUN THEM OVER!

c. If someone is BACKING out of a space, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT race by them. Instead, STOP and let them out of their space! Racing by them may cause you to get into an acident, because the person may not see you. Or if someone is trying to back out, BE NICE, stop and let them do it.

OK, my rant is over. For now, at least until I think of something else. If you have noticed anything else let me know, I’ll add it! Also if you don’t live in CA, tell me why your state has the worst drivers!

Pile of Earrings

I have a great idea for getting your earrings off the counter! All you need is paperclips and a place to hang it!

pile of paperclips

1.) Take 10 or 12 paperclips and link them together.

2.) Wrap the linked paperclips around something. I wrapped mine around a hand towel holder in my bathroom. Finished product

This is the finished product. You could use different colored paperclips like I did, or you can use just one color, either way works just fine.

Now you can hang up your earrings!

3.) Just clip your earrings, or hang them on the paperclips and Voila!! Your earrings are off the counter and out of the drawer!

The article is from: http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22145/52070-20-healthiest-foods–1 and is commented by *****me*****

1. Oats
High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol. And they sure are cheap—a dollar will buy you more than a week’s worth of hearty breakfasts.

****What is that? Where in the Store can you find OATS? Is that like oatmeal or something?????******

2. Eggs
You can get about a half dozen of eggs for a dollar, making them one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of protein. They are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may ward off age-related eye problems.

*****You can’t buy just half a dozen, unless you go straight to the farm.*****

3. Kale
This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium. Like most greens, it is usually a dollar a bunch.

*****Usually?*****

4. Potatoes
Because we often see potatoes at their unhealthiest—as fries or chips—we don’t think of them as nutritious, but they definitely are. Eaten with the skin on, potatoes contain almost half a day’s worth of Vitamin C, and are a good source of potassium. If you opt for sweet potatoes or yams, you’ll also get a good wallop of beta carotene. Plus, they’re dirt cheap and have almost endless culinary possibilities.

*****A sack of potatoes is more than dollar*****

5. Apples
I’m fond of apples because they’re inexpensive, easy to find, come in portion-controlled packaging, and taste good. They are a good source of pectin—a fiber that may help reduce cholesterol—and they have the antioxidant Vitamin C, which keeps your blood vessels healthy.

*****I hate apples*****

6. Nuts
Though nuts have a high fat content, they’re packed with the good-for-you fats—unsaturated and monounsaturated. They’re also good sources of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and protein. And because they’re so nutrient-dense, you only need to eat a little to get the nutritional benefits. Although some nuts, like pecans and macadamias, can be costly, peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, especially when bought in the shell, are low in cost.

*****Ok obviously this person has never bought nuts before. I buy store brand nuts and the cost per small container is 8 dollars. Can you say expensive?*****

7. Bananas
At a local Trader Joe’s, I found bananas for about 19¢ apiece; a dollar gets you a banana a day for the workweek. High in potassium and fiber (9 grams for one), bananas are a no-brainer when it comes to eating your five a day quotient of fruits and veggies.

*****No arguments there*****

8. Garbanzo Beans
With beans, you’re getting your money’s worth and then some. Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but ’bonzos are also high in fiber, iron, folate, and manganese, and may help reduce cholesterol levels. And if you don’t like one type, try another—black, lima, lentils … the varieties are endless. Though they require soaking and cooking, the most inexpensive way to purchase these beans is in dried form; a precooked can will still only run you around a buck.

*****Beans are okay*****

9. Broccoli

Broccoli contains tons of nice nutrients—calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber. As if that isn’t enough, broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients, compounds that may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plus, it’s low in calories and cost.

*****But is it under a dollar!*****

10. Watermelon
Though you may not be able to buy an entire watermelon for a dollar, your per serving cost isn’t more than a few dimes. This summertime fruit is over 90 percent water, making it an easy way to hydrate, and gives a healthy does of Vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that may ward off cancer.

*****and a better sex drive! or something*****

11. Wild Rice
It won’t cost you much more than white rice, but wild rice is much better for you. Low in fat and high in protein and fiber, this gluten-free rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates. It packs a powerful potassium punch and is loaded with B vitamins. Plus, it has a nutty, robust flavor.

*****um what about the rice shortage??*****

12. Beets
Beets are my kind of vegetable—their natural sugars make them sweet to the palate while their rich flavor and color make them nutritious for the body. They’re powerhouses of folate, iron, and antioxidants.

13. Butternut Squash
This beautiful gourd swings both ways: sometimes savory, sometimes sweet. However you prepare the butternut, it will not only add color and texture, but also five grams of fiber per half cup and chunks and chunks of Vitamin A and C. When in season, butternut squash and related gourds are usually less than a dollar a pound.

14. Whole Grain Pasta
In the days of Atkins, pasta was wrongly convicted, for there is nothing harmful about a complex carbohydrate source that is high in protein and B vitamins. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest staples you can buy.

15. Sardines
As a kid, I used to hate it when my dad would order sardines on our communal pizzas, but since then I’ve acquired a taste for them. Because not everyone has, you can still get a can of sardines for relatively cheap. And the little fish come with big benefits: calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. And, because they’re low on the food chain, they don’t accumulate mercury.

*****ewww*****

16. Spinach
Spinach is perhaps one of the best green leafies out there—it has lots of Vitamin C, iron, and trace minerals. Plus, you can usually find it year round for less than a dollar.

17. Tofu
Not just for vegetarians anymore, tofu is an inexpensive protein source that can be used in both savory and sweet recipes. It’s high in B vitamins and iron, but low in fat and sodium, making it a healthful addition to many dishes.

18. Lowfat Milk
Yes, the price of a gallon of milk is rising, but per serving, it’s still under a dollar; single serving milk products, like yogurt, are usually less than a dollar, too. Plus, you’ll get a lot of benefit for a small investment. Milk is rich in protein, vitamins A and D, potassium, and niacin, and is one of the easiest ways to get bone-strengthening calcium.

****when could you ever buy a gallon of milk for a dollar?*****

19. Pumpkin Seeds
When it’s time to carve your pumpkin this October, don’t shovel those seeds into the trash—they’re a goldmine of magnesium, protein, and trace minerals. Plus, they come free with the purchase of a pumpkin.

20. Coffee
The old cup-o-joe has been thrown on the stands for many a corporeal crime—heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis—but exonerated on all counts. In fact, coffee, which is derived from a bean, contains beneficial antioxidants that protect against free radicals and may actually help thwart heart disease and cancer. While it’s not going to fill you up like the other items on this list, it might make you a lot perkier. When made at home, coffee runs less than 50¢ cents a cup.

*****OHHH! I LOVE COFFEE!*****

]]> http://leashie.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/20-healthy-foods-for-a-dollar-or-are-they/feed/ 1 leashie555 http://leashie.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/higher-education-for-all-americans/ http://leashie.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/higher-education-for-all-americans/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:14:26 +0000 leashie555 http://leashie.wordpress.com/?p=17 ]]>

I don’t know if you have noticed, but a lot of people in the United States of America don’t even graduate High School anymore. Maybe they have to support their family or maybe they just hate school, whatever the reason may be it’s just making the U.S. as a whole look stupid. Seriously.

I am one of those people who dropped out of High School, and I regret it every day of my life. I wish I spent more time studying and learning than hanging out with my friends. I wish I took the SAT. I wish, I wish, I wish. I got my GED in Feb. of 2004, so in actuality I “graduated” before the people in my class. I started going to Community college and was doing well. I made the “Dean’s List” and completed 2 semesters and was working on my third, when my Husband and I decided to move to Seattle, WA. Needless to say, I didn’t complete my third. Instead I enrolled in the Art institute of Seattle for Graphic Design.

Everything was great, I was really excited to get a BFA degree in something that I enjoyed doing. I had to take out student loans to go there and it was really expensive. I completed three quarters before I realized that it wasn’t for me. I now owe close to 20 grand. Worst mistake of my life. Now I have something else to regret every day of my life. At least when I went to community college I was approved for grants and didn’t have to pay for books or anything.

I now live in San Diego, CA and really want to go to school. But since I never took the SAT I can’t apply to the 4 year colleges or universities. Plus I didn’t complete enough classes at community college either and my classes I took at the Art Institute will never ever count for anything. Their credits just wont transfer anywhere. My parents never saved up money for me to go to school and my mom is dead and my dad is poor so I can’t ask for their help.

I always hear about how other colleges and universities are free for all in other countries and wonder why it isn’t free here. I also always hear how their aren’t enough people graduating with science and math majors and how we are all stupid and have to outsource to find qualified people. But what are these people doing about it? NOTHING. I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL. But I can’t afford it and I’ve learned that you have to live in California a year before you are considered a resident for tuition purposes. Residents only pay 20 dollars a credit at community while non-residents pay 180 dollars. That’s 540 dollars for a 3 credit class at COMMUNITY college! A resident would only pay 60 dollars for the same class. That’s 480 dollars difference! And it’s not fair.

All I want is for our government to stop spending money in IRAQ, IRAN and the whole Middle East and put it into our EDUCATION! We spend billions on the war and the military and practically nothing for Education. The grants are only good for people who are poor. What about the people who are just above the “poor” line to not be qualified and still CAN’T afford to go to school? Like all the “middle” class people. Gas is so expensive, food is expensive and so is everything else, but we are still getting paid 7 dollars an hour. Our salaries haven’t kept up with inflation and its really starting to hurt. I don’t even want to talk about health care. Most people don’t have it and can’t afford it.

You get mad at me because I don’t take my Dog to the vet, but I can’t even take myself to the doctor! I haven’t seen a dentist since 2000, and that was to take my braces off. If we could at least get discounted education and actually PUSH education maybe we could all go to school and get GREAT jobs so we can afford the Vet and health care. But the way things are going now, it seems there will be two classes: the very Wealthy and the very Poor. No more middle class. We will become a third world country. The American dream is getting farther and farther away and soon it will be a thing of the past. We have to do something now before it slips right through our fingers.

P.S. If you want to sponsor my College Education email me or leave a comment. I’m a struggling student whose goal in life is to become a Psychiatrist. Any amount helps.

Thank you and God Bless.

I recently came across some useful information about cell phones!

1.) The emergency number worldwide for mobiles is 112. If you’re in an area with no coverage and you have an emergency, dial 112 and your phone will search for a network to establish a connection. Also you can dial 112 even when your keypad is locked. It works, I just tried it on my phone, if you push 115 it will flash press menu then star to unlock, (or whatever your phone would say to unlock) but you can press 112 with out any trouble.

2.) This is really cool, if you have ever locked your keys in your car you will appreciate this. However it only works if you have two keyless remotes and two people with two cell phones. OK so you locked your keys in your car again and you don’t want to call the lock smith, what do you do? Call home! All you have to do is call someone who has the other keyless remote to your car and have them push the unlock button into the cell and as they are doing it you have to point your cell to your car to unlock it! I haven’t tried this, but I’m excited to try it!!! Supposedly you can also open the trunk and whatever else you have on the keyless remote… Can’t wait to try this.

3.) Hidden Battery Power! Did you know that your phone has extra power hidden somewhere? I didn’t. Ok all you have to do is push *3370# (star three three seven zero pound) and push send. You will now have 50% power on your battery. And the next time you charge your phone this reserve will get charged as well. I tried this and it isn’t available on my phone I pushed *3370# and then send and it said processing and then it said unavailable. Oh well, maybe gophones don’t have extra reserve. I also tried it on my regular phone and it said requesting but then it said data unknown, so maybe AT&T doesn’t have this in their phones or the phone has to be dying before you can use this feature? I don’t know. Try it, let me know if it works.

4.) Disable a stolen phone. First check what your cell’s serial number is by pushing *#06# (star pound zero six pound) Your 15 digit code will appear on the screen. WRITE THIS DOWN! And keep it somewhere where you will find it later on. If your phone gets stolen or lost, call your service provider and give them this 15 digit code and they will disable your cell. This works even if the thief puts in a new SIM card. Your cell phone will be useless now!

5.) Don’t dial 411 anymore!!! Are you tired of being charged to use that service??? then call (800) FREE 411 or (800) 373-3411. Program this into your phone and use it everytime for 411 info!!!! I’m putting it in my phone now!

So there you have it, all the secrets you never knew, until now! Let me know if you have more!

I recently moved to San Diego, from Seattle and all my stuff is still in Seattle so I have no where to sit! Or sleep! So I have been looking on Craigslist.com for deals. I want to decorate my apartment like the model so I have been looking for modern, contemporary sofas. IKEA has great furniture for that style. So I started looking for the Klippan style. This couch is really popular because everytime I found one on craigslist.com someone else was buying it.

So finally I found one that wasn’t spoken for and got it delivered to me this morning. I paid $100 for it, but wow, it sure needs to be cleaned. I was expecting a lot cleaner, because this couch is $250 new, but oh well. Once I get my steam cleaner down from Seattle, it will be good as new! So anyways, I went to IKEA to get a new slipcover, because I am not going to sit on it as it is. And to my dismay they had little to choose from.

They have the natural slipcover color, which I do not recommend because it looks naturally dirty even in new condition. They also have navy blue, red, white, black, sheep skin, and 5 with different patterns. I was disapointed because I thought they would have a lot more. I chose black at first and when I went down into the warehouse part of ikea, I saw one with a pattern that caught my eye.

Its lime green and dark green and white. It kind of looks like something you would find in Hawaii or something. Anyways, I really like it. I think it looks great in my livingroom. I love the look of the Klippan sofa and also I like the look of the Kramfors. But for now I’m enjoying my semi new and recovered IKEA Klippan loveseat, thanks to craigslist.com! And Ikea.

Smokey, the talking bird says “Obama, Yes we can!” I love it! Not only do I want a bird now, I want to train it to speak too! How cool would that be? I actually worked with a bird once, when I volunteered at the animal shelter. His name was Itchy, and he was the coolest! Every time I saw him he would greet me. And every time I left he would say good bye! Mostly he just said, “I itchy bird.” Which is why he was at the animal shelter in the first place. His owners weren’t good to him and didn’t give him the proper care. He tore out all his feathers and every time his owner came over to him they would call him “itchy bird.” Hence “I itchy bird.” Sad story. But anyways heres the youtube.com link.

Yes We Can!

If you know me then you would know that I don’t own a TV. Yeah, thats right I don’t own a TV. Get over it! But what you may not know is, I watch all the prime time shows like everyone else. How you say? The internet of course!

Abc.com, nbc.com, cwtv.com, fox.com, scifi.com, just to name a few, all upload most of their shows online! I recently watched the latest episode of House from fox.com and noticed a comment from a user. She said that she found a website with the conclusion or part two of the show I just watched. I was skeptical at first, and normally I don’t click on links that I’m not familiar with, but I clicked on this one. Good thing to, because it was part two of the House episode!

I was able to watch part two without waiting a week for them (fox) to upload it. I’m not even sure this has been aired on TV yet. Well anyways, I thought I would share it with y’all!

**Make sure you watch part one of episode 17 first, available from fox.com and then click on part two.

episode 17

Part Two of episode 17