Something Different

My in-laws recently installed bamboo shades in their den. I never thought about buying these for our house, but they look really great! They have wood floors, and the dark shades look really look good in there. I think that with the right accents, they make a great choice. We have white faux wood blinds that are new, so I don't think we'll be changing them anytime soon anyway.

Great Gifts

This year we received lots of great gifts. My favorite was the clock radio with a projector. It shows the time and temperature on the wall! I also like the tv stand we received for the gameroom. This one is much sturdier than the one we had before. We'll feel much safer with this one now that Cameron is pulling up to standing so easily now.

So Many Choices

For some reason, my wife and I cannot seem to agree on which bathroom light fixtures we should buy. Every time we walk into home stores, it just seems like there are too many choices! Should we go with silver, gold, or satin nickel? Which style of bulbs are best? I don't really care anymore! I just want to get the bathroom project completed already.

Cameron's Commercials

My wife and I can't get over how much Cameron loves commercials. Sometimes we think it must be the music, and sometimes it has to just be the narration. When he hears the Cymbalta commercial (you know, "Depression hurts, Cymbalta can help.") he always stops in his tracks and stares at the TV until it is over. But Sally Field's latest Boniva commercials doe not contain music in the background, and he loves that one too. He even likes a local lawyer's commercial that is looking for people dealing with mesothelioma. I guess we all like what we like!

Annoying Little Suckers

If there's one thing I hate, it's insects! We just had someone come out to spray an odorless spray inside and outside of our house. But lately, we've had a few moths. I guess they are coming in when we let the dog out. I need to check around to see where they are coming from. For now, I bough a pantry moth trap that might catch at least a few of them.

A Nice Surprise

One thing I have always wanted is a nice set of bar stools. This year my wife surprised me for Christmas with a set of two! She was somehow able to hide these in the house without me knowing it. They are a little ornate, with wrought iron and they have soft tan seats. They really look good at the bar. We had been looking for awhile, but couldn't decide on the exact style. I'm really happy with what she picked though.

Congrats to Sam Bradford

I have to say that I was very pleased that Sam Bradford was chosen to receive the Heisman Trophy this year. He had an outstanding season, and seems to be a very nice person in general. While I am definitely NOT a Sooners fan, I do recognize talent and dedication to the sport. That said, I hope the Gators blow out the Sooners at the National Championship Game. (If LSU can't get there, I have to stick with the SEC).

Great Smile

There's nothing better than a nice smile. When people feel confident about their teeth, it helps them accomplish more in life. This may sound weird, but I think it's true. I didn't have to wear braces, but my wife did. She's really glad that her parents made this decision. We would both love to have our teeth professionally whitened. I saw something about Washington DC cosmetic dentistry where they can whiten teeth quickly and safely.

Losing Weight

If I see one more add for another diet pill I might scream. What ever happened to eating less and exercising more? But, I understand that this is a lot easier said than done. With the winter weather, and the holidays upon us, it is hard to find time to exercise. While I'm sure the pills help some people, those are not really for me. Plus, I'm fine with my weight right now.

Computer Upgrade

I have thought about getting another central processing unit. I could just buy a new video card to upgrade the sound and picture quality, but I would also like more features that will require buying a new computer. It would be cool to actually play games that are in HD, but I'm not sure if it is really worth the money.

Best Gift Ever

The best gift I ever gave my wife was her ipod nano three years ago. It is only a 2 GB, but it's just enough for us to both put our favorite songs on it. We have a special cord that connects it to the speakers of our regular stereo, and that is generally how we use it. Of course, it's great ot bring with you on a long winter walk. The newer ipods have come down in price while giving you increased memory. I might buy another one so that we don't have to "share" the space anymore.

Eating Right

It is so hard to eat right this time of year. Every time I turn around there are brownies or cookies just waiting to be eaten. I'm fine with my weight right now, but I don't want to gain a bunch of pounds over the holidays. Leptovox is one thing I've heard about. It is some sort of weight loss supplement. I need to read more about it, and ask my doctor if he thinks it is safe to take.

Making Money

We are always trying to think of ways to make more money. Who isn't? Once we almost got involved with retail franchises. We had some other family members try this out, and were pretty successful with it. You have to be highly motivated, and open to long hours. With Cameron right now, I'm all about having a set schedule, and being home on the weekends. But it's something to look into for the future.

More Shopping??

My wife insists that we aren't finished Christmas shopping. Really?? I can't take another minute of the mall this year, so she's going to have to be creative and find more things online. I found some Oscar de la Renta sunglasses that my mother-in-law would like. She is very difficult to buy for. But, at least I won't be the one out searching for the perfect gift for her this year.

Weight Solutions

I can't believe how many products are out there to help people lose weight. I mean, if you are interested in taking something like Phentermine, which stimulates the central nervous system, you should really check with your doctor before taking it. It could help you lose weight, but you should learn as much as you can about the product before taking anything like this. It is also supposed to decrease your appetite, and there are other products out there that claim to also do this. Just be careful!

Leading Ladies

I have always wondered why women used to torture themselves to get into corsets. I've seen how they are put on in movies, such as Titanic. I mean, to me, they seem unnecessary. You don't see men having to suck everything in and barely breathe. The standards for women seem to have always been higher than those for men.

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How Much Is Enough?

Lately I have been thinking about all of the different types of insurance that we have. Between health insurance, home owner's insurance, auto insurance we seem to spend a huge amount of money on it. Let's hope that money will be there if we really need it. I have also thought about getting quotes for term life insurance. You can never be too careful!

Office Supplies

Since I started my new job, I have been able to order lots of cool new supplies for my office. Even though I have plenty of stuff for myself, I was thinking about ordering some promotional pens to pass around across the university. Pens are a great way to advertise. Plus, I don't know anyone who will turn down a cool new free pen!

Great Neighbors

Unfortunately, I've been noticing a lot of moving trucks in our neighborhood. I met a lot of our neighbors after Hurrican Ike hit. We were all scrambling around trying to find roof tarps and reliable contractors. Everyone really chipped in to help each other board up and then take down the boards off of window, as well as mend the wooden fences. I really liked everyone that I met, so I hope that the ones I know are not the ones moving!