Flahsback Friday: 800 Miles of Fun

It is the beginning of 2013 and if you have any plans of traveling, usually this is the time that you start planning your vacation.

There are a lot of places to visit in California. But just because
it is in our backyard doesn't mean we go all the time. What
tourist spots are you wanting to check out?

My family is pretty fortunate. We are surrounded by tourist attractions. From museums, to theme parks, to natural interests like the Ocean, there is so many things that we can do right outside our front door.

That being said, I find it horribly ironic that we rarely do these things. We use the excuses that since we are so close, we can do it anytime. And what happens - We don't do any of them. We take these tourist attractions for granted. Last summer, I think we made it to the beach once. Ironic because it isn't like a trip to the beach is going to break the bank.

And yes, some of these places aren't very budget friendly. Just because Disneyland is right around the corner doesn't mean I go there every weekend (or even every single year!)

When my sister came out to visit a couple of years ago, I set up a plan that would show us what we have been missing around California, but what would still keep us within an affordable vacation budget. Whether you are traveling or you live in the area, don't miss out on the attractions because they are right there. You might be missing out on some great memories.

So, as my husband and I decide what kind of places we want to catch this year, I thought it would be a great time to highlight my sister's trip to California and how in one week, we put on more than 800 miles.

Flashback Friday this week highlights...

Attractions in Southern California: 800 Miles of Fun

Flashback Friday: Credit Card Benefits

Credit Cards can be evil... but they can also be a very good tool if you use them correctly.

I remember when I first got a credit card. I was young and I was on my own. I had joined the military and I was miles away from home and any kind of adult guidance. I was excited. Being that I have always been good with money, I didn't think having a credit card would get me in trouble.

I was wrong. One credit card lead to another which lead to another and another and another. Before I knew it, I was rolling in credit cards and rolling in debt. So, I decided to get rid of all of them and never look back.

It has been years since I have had a credit card. I don't want one. Why would I if I can have a debit card with a Visa or Mastercard logo right on it. It would work the same - right? Wrong!

I have learned the hard way that a credit card is a must have. Not only does it help you if you are in a bind, but a lot of times, there are things that are limited without a credit card. For instance, renting a car is out of the question.

So sometimes the benefits far outweigh the negatives... But just in case you can't use them wisely, feel free to hide your card and only bring it out for those times you really need it!

So for today's Flashback Friday....

Credit Card Benefits!

Flashback Friday: Making a Packing List

We are headed out for the holidays. Getting ready to go on a long car trip takes lots of prepping and prepare. The reality is, it is a headache.

Since we have always had to travel, whether it is flying or driving, I have come up with a system that seems to work well for us. Naturally, there is still the waiting until the very last minute, but it has gotten a little more smooth over the years.

It doesn't matter if we are gone for a week or if we are gone for a day. You can bet that I am making a packing list. So, since we are actively using this list right now, I thought it would be perfect feature for Flashback Friday...

Making a Packing List.

Flashback Friday: Shopping Addiction - What Makes Us Want To Waste Money?

I guess if you are going to shop, you might
as well make it fun!

I am not a big shopper. In fact, I down right hate it. Yet, this time of year means I have no choice, I need to get out and do some shopping.

Now, the fact that I despise shopping is kind of weird. I don't like shopping but I love gift giving.

I know! I know! It is almost the same thing... or at least it is in the same ballpark! Ok - maybe they aren't even close. You can go shopping without giving and you can give without shopping!

Needless to say, since we are heading out of town for the holidays, we are celebrating Christmas early. What does that mean, I have an earlier deadline than most do when it comes to holiday shopping.

Eek!!

So I got a couple days left before the first Christmas celebration. And the other gifts I can't even get until I get back home. After all, we don't want to have to carry them with us. (And if we buy the gifts there we pay less in taxes. That is what I call smart shopping!)

Well, I guess I better get my shopping done.

So for today's Flashback Friday post...

Shopping Addiction - What Makes Us Want To Waste Money?

Flashback Friday: Status Update Overload

Today as I was browsing... I mean... wasting time... constantly refreshing my browser on Facebook and Twitter, I came across a tweet from a fellow writer/blogger Julie from Life According to Julie, stating that she was having twitter block.

Then I realized, I have never said anything quick, cute, cool, or funny on Twitter. I must always have twitter block. Oh my, my life is doomed.

Ok - I am going to tell you a little secret. I don't know how to be a tweep. 

I have tried to share stuff and then I realize that I look like a spammer. Then I try to stay stuff that would make moms proud - including mine... and realize that it just isn't my style. I tried to be sarcastic and witty, but usually I lack in that department as well. I mean I can do it, but usually not in 180 characters or less!

Geesh... what do people expect. Comedy without a commentary!

And then there is Facebook. I realize that bouncing between Twitter and Facebook is a problem. I don't have the etiquette for it. If I find something entertaining to say on Twitter... like...

"I am going to go play the piano like a #madWoman - which means I am going to bang on the keys like my 3 year old. Having a piano is fun!"

... a big part of me... and I do mean a REALLY BIG PART OF ME... wants to put the same status update on Facebook. Is that against the rules? I don't know. But what if someone that doesn't follow me on both platforms would miss what I find is the most humorous thing I have said all day. It might even start the apocalypse! Just saying!

I haven't figured all these social networking sites out. I mean - have you seen my hashtags? They are random and make no sense! But they are #awesomesauce. And Facebook - well, you just don't know what I will end up saying. And I will admit lately my status update creativity has been a little zapped.

Jumping back and forth between these social networking sites is exhausting. Which is what brings us to my perfect choice for Flashback Friday...

Status Update Overload

I am pretty sure there are a lot of you that can relate. So tell me, have you felt the effects of Status Update Overload?

Flashback Friday: 200 Things to Make You Happy

It has been raining here for a couple days now. There is just something about the gloomy weather that just puts me in a bad mood.

A lot of people get that way this time of year because of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) so I guess I am not alone. It is common when the days get shorter.

Not to mention depression strikes high during the holiday season anyway, whether it is due to missing family members, or maybe the financial stresses of the season, or maybe even bad memories invoked by the holidays.

Yet, I am not trying to make this a depressing post by mentioning how depressing the gloomy weather is, or the fact that you bank account just bounced because you went overboard with the gifts, or maybe that you are surviving off Ramen noodles until the next paycheck. But look, I did it again.

What I am trying to say, is this is the time to count your blessings and remember all the good things you have in life. We just celebrated Thanksgiving and we spent the whole day (some of us, the whole month) telling others what we are thankful for. Well, why not continue with that mood and spirit throughout the holiday season.

Christmas time is a time to treasure our family; spend time with our loved ones. It doesn't matter how many gifts are under the tree or how much money may or not be in the bank. It is a time to remember the important things in life.

Unfortunately for me, we can't really do much for the weather. But maybe tomorrow the sun will come out for a visit.

And if it doesn't, today for Flashback Friday I want to highlight...
200 Things To Make You Happy

Flashback Friday: The Joy of Giving

Can you believe it? Next week is already Thanksgiving... and then we hit upon Black Friday. Before you know it, December will be here and you will be expected to have your arms full of gifts for all those people on your list for Christmas.

The Scrooge in me really wants to skip Christmas this year. Partially because everybody on my list is so difficult to buy for. They don't really need anything; they don't express anything that they want; and frankly, they usually go out and get it for themselves if they really really wanted it anyway.

Or maybe it is just me. Maybe it is because I want the gifts to sing to me. (And I don't mean that they have to make noise!) It means they have to be the perfect fit for that person. Well, after years and years of giving the same people gifts, suddenly the gifts stop singing. This year, I am fresh out of ideas. I don't know what to get anybody.

When it comes to gift giving, I have always been more about the thought. I love getting people something they really want, but I also try to get them something they didn't even know they needed or wanted. Yes, my gift giving is just like me, mostly sarcastic.

I am the person that will give someone Ninja Shaped Cookie cutters or a zombie in a bottle. I might even give someone a Yodeling Pickle (If you don't think they exist - just check amazon!) Or my personal favorite is the Nose Shaped Soap Dispenser. (Yes - you push on it and the soap comes out like snot! The idea is brilliant!)

So, today I am making my list... and I am going to start compiling ideas. So if you have difficult people in your life to buy gifts for, consider this feature for Flashback Friday...

The Joy Of Giving - Gift Ideas For The Difficult To Buy For

Flashback Friday: Living In A Dream World

Writers live in their heads...

We all know that feeling. The story comes alive in our head. We think out the perfect words to describe each situation perfectly. Sometimes it is funny, sometimes it is sad, sometimes it is dramatic, sometimes it is crazy. But what we do, is we create a world that no one else can see until we are able to put it down in words.

Sometimes it gets a little crazy up here!

As I continue on my journey with NaNoWriMo... (I know I know, it is all I seem to talk about lately) I realize how much of the story is just floating in my head. It is trying to escape. It has been trying to escape for years. But with NaNoWriMo, I have finally been given the opportunity (or maybe the fire under my ass!) to finally get the words out.

But it goes back to the same thought. As a writer, we live in our heads. We are constantly living these fictional stories. Whether or not we write them down is another question. We can do it in so many different ways. We can write a book or we can even write a poem. It is an expression of what we are living on the inside.

So, as I continue on my journey, creating an imaginary world, I wanted to share another imaginary world that I created a while back. This one is a poem. But it describes perfectly how I feel right now.

Today's feature for Flashback Friday is...

Living In A Dream World

Flashback Fridays: United We Are - Divided We Stand

I hate politics! I particularly hate election years!

Most people who know me, know I keep my political stance and opinion to myself - for the most part. I am a firm believer it doesn't matter what you say, you won't change someone's political stance. So why would I even bother getting into an argument that is way over my head?

Now I already said I hate politics, but this doesn't mean I am not informed. I do follow them - a little - just not enough that I could get into an argument and back up my facts. Yet, it makes me wonder - is it even appropriate to state facts - after all, we are talking politics! It really is nothing more than a he said - she said kind of deal!

That being said, I am very patriotic. Hello - I joined the military. This should be obvious. I won't say anything nasty toward the President whether I like them or not. Why?  Because I respect the office and they are the head of the military. I wouldn't bad mouth or talk back to my commander and that is what the President is to the military. I despise when people don't have respect for the office. You don't respect the office, you make all of us Americans look like a damn fool.

But enough negativity. This isn't about President Obama and respecting him or the office. It isn't even about who you should vote for. This is about the Elections coming up. I am sure you already know what I am going to say...

Go Vote!

That is right! Go vote! It doesn't take long and it does make a difference. Not voting is like wasting a vote. I don't care if you vote Democrat or Republican or Private Party. Hell - vote for Roseanne Barr for all I care. The thing is, you need to vote for the best person for the job.

I know that seems hard, but we all have to make our decisions based off the best lies. And yes, I am going to call them all liars. After all, it is politics. They will say just about anything to get into office. But the reality is America works on a system of Checks and Balances. They can promise you the world but congress will have to back it up!

But most importantly, we need to check ourselves. I have never seen a country so divided and these elections are bringing out the worst in people. So remember, regardless of who you vote for, we are Americans. It is time we stood together instead of dividing.

And hopefully once Election Day has passed we can suddenly go back to the normal drama on social networks. You know the drama - the OMG - I can't believe so and so didn't like my post... or I know they are talking about me. Well, at least it beats all the political bashing!

So, today's feature for Flashback Friday is...

United We Are - Divided We Stand

P.S. Can you tell I really hate politics?
P.S.S. This is not meant to be a political debate. You will not suede anyone's vote in the comment section so, if you don't have anything nice to say - keep your mouth shut!

Flashback Friday: Writing the Right Thing at the Right Time

Writing can be hard work... in fact it can be downright
stressful at times. 

As a writer, we all have issues when it comes to ideas. Sometimes we just can't get the ideas flowing and other times we just don't have enough time to get all the ideas down on paper. It is a back and forth situation that can leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

When I started writing online, I focused on it being a hobby. I didn't have deadlines and I didn't have anything in particular that I really needed to get done. I wrote by nobody's rules. However, once I realized I was working for pennies to the dollar, I started wondering why I was even doing it. After all, it is truly sad to realize that most freelance writer's can't survive off the writing.

So I started stressing and realized, I really wanted to contribute more than just the written word. I wanted to pay bills. So I started brainstorming. Everything I did I wondered how I could turn into an article to make some extra cash. Then I realized with all of these ideas, I suddenly couldn't motivate myself at all to do anything. I became stressed and I needed to stop. After all, this job wasn't paying the bills.

This situation has happened on more than a few occasions. And I am sure many other writer's can also relate. The problem is, what do we do about it?

As writer's we are always trying to find new ways to spread our work and make extra money. If you haven't figured out by now - that means we are spreading ourselves thin. So what do we do? Do we write online blogs that pay pennies, do we find a hosting site that will take our written articles for dimes; or do we find contract jobs that will pay dollars? Or do we take it one step further and try to write that best-selling book?

Well, while a break might be necessary, it isn't necessarily the case. That means we have to set priorities. We have to know what are true passion is. If we aren't making bundles of money (or if the money isn't needed to pay the bills) then it is time to find what you are most passionate about.

The last time I had this issue where I found I was unable to write, I opened this blog. Suddenly all the ideas started coming back to me. I could write and I have written, almost every single day. The other sites, while I still participate, have no longer been my top priority. In addition, I have decided to allocate some of my time to writing a book.

The reason - because in the long run, I hope those are the things people will remember me by. If I publish a book - I will be an author. Maybe I can get my name out there so people will say, "Hey did you read that last book put out by Stacy? I couldn't put it down!" Or my blog, because I have created a space that is a place for nothing more than stuff floating around in my head.

So for me, it is about setting priorities. What is going to make me the happiest in the long run. Sure, the pennies and dimes and dollars do add up. But once I spend it on that donut, in years from now it will be forgotten about. So, while I may not be running at the front for the whole world to see right now, I am working hard to get there. And if all else fails and I get overwhelmed, it is important to know that there is always tomorrow and that I have the option of taking a break. As a writer - sometimes it is hard to think about those kind of things because we just want to get what we say out there!

So, if you are looking to read something that will help you relate to how writing in this online world can be stressful and overwhelming at times... check out this week's Flashback Friday feature...

Writing the Right Thing at the Right Time -

 overcoming a form of Writer's Block

Flashback Fridays: Sleepy Head

My husband is a good man.

Now you might think I am just saying that because I want something - like for him to do dishes tonight, or maybe a new pair of jeans, or maybe a shoulder massage that he hasn't promised me yet - but I really am doing nothing more than stating facts. You see, he works hard for our family so I can stay home with the kids.

Having one of the parents stay home is a sacrifice for everybody involved. Finances are tighter, there is less family time, and one spouse may be stuck working two jobs just to make ends meet. In 2011, my husband was working two jobs for most of it and at other times it was just really bad hours. Unfortunately, because we only had one car, this often times made it difficult being the stay at home parent. We had to plan for everything because he almost always had the car. If I needed it, I would have to drop him off at work. Yeah - at times it sucked and it really brought a whole new meaning to "Stay at Home" since without wheels, it was hard to get anywhere!

Today for Flashback Friday, I wanted to feature something I wrote back then called Sleepy Head. Often times I dabble in poetry and during this time, I did it just to attempt to stay awake. It was times like this, when I needed the car, that I would have to make sacrifices, like staying up way past my bedtime to pick him up from work. On normal days, this wouldn't bother me. Since we were staying with his parents at the time, I didn't have to disturb the kids. And usually, when he worked late, I stayed up late and wrote. This particular time, I was pretty sleepy and I was struggling to stay awake.

Yet, while I may sound like I am whining, I really just want to thank my husband for working so hard for our family. If it wasn't for his willingness to work two jobs or work bad hours, I would have had to rejoin the work force. For anybody that knows me, rejoining the work force wouldn't have been an issue. What was the issue is I am a workaholic and my job also had bad hours. I worked a lot of nights and weekends. It was the needs of the trade. I had to be available to cut hair when people needed their haircut, and frankly that isn't something that always gets done between the hours of 9 to 5.

While I was working, I missed a lot. I missed first steps, I missed school programs, and mostly I just missed time. When I got home the kids would be heading to bed. Sure, I would see them in the morning, but it was just to send them off to school. While most families had the entire weekend, sometimes I would have to work. And frankly, that is life. I can't complain because I loved my job and I loved my clients. My life became my job and family was falling to the sidelines. So, making the move to stay home was a big decision and not one I have regretted. However, the decision came with sacrifices. My husband had to pick up the slack and that meant long hours and odd hours of work for him.

Yet, when the reality gets you down, it doesn't hurt to have poetry to make situations a little lighter. So check out this piece that I wrote in the past. Times have changed, but this piece sure brings back memories for me. And if anything, I am sure others can relate to feeling like a Sleepy Head just like I did!

So go ahead and click...

Sleepy Head