Life Lately

It has been busy around here lately. Cam has been really busy with college work and work work. Jar has been busy finishing up the last of his Algebra and doing more driving. We ran quite a few errands last week. I made food for Mother's Day and also for this long weekend with Michael working on Cam's car. (I like to have lots of food all made up, so that when I need to make food quickly, it is really easy to do so) Michael has been super busy at work...that hasn't changed. I have been busy getting all of Jar's school year stuff wrapped up (everything graded and posted and then the portfolio all put together) I also got his school stuff all ready for next year. I always do this as I wrap up the previous year. When September comes, I am all ready to begin. I don't have to think about it.

Here is what has been happening around here the past week or so...

• I made Jar some spicy chicken...he had been craving it

• Jar has been driving everywhere...he is doing a great job

• We had some hot days, so after doing yard work, I got myself an ice cream cone

• One evening, Michael and I sat in the livingroom and both did stuff on our computers (I was watching makeup/hair tutorials, and he was researching car stuff for Cam's car)

• Michael picked up Taco Bell last Saturday. He got me a chalupa

• I made hamburgers and hot dogs for Mother's Day. Mom made mandarin orange salad...our favorite

• I made a strawberry shortcake cheesecake...seriously one of the best desserts I've had

• I got Mom some flowers and a card with a McDonald's gift card for Mother's Day

• The boys got me an owl night light, and Cam got me a cappuccino mousse dessert in a chocolate coffee cup

• Jar made me a card...I love his cards

• Michael and Cam changed the o-rings on the air conditioning and then put freon in it...the air conditioning on his car works now

• the boys and I ran lots of errands

• Michael picked up a steering wheel cover for the truck

• Here is the haul from our errands

• Our blow dryer could not keep the end nozzle on anymore...we had that blow dryer for 15-20 years. I finally picked up a new one. I don't use a blow dryer all the time, but I still need one for those rare times. This is what I picked up...a good deal at Walgreen's.

• I had a coupon for a free drink

• I got a new silverware tray at Marshall's to match my other tray for large utensils. The original tray was 23 years old...we got it when we first got married (it was a cream color and dirty...dirt that wouldn't come off)

• I got some eye shadows that had been recommended in some of the tutorials I had watched. They were 79 cents each...and then buy one get one free

• I picked up this movie...I love all of the Nicholas Sparks movies (I've read all of his books)

• I asked Jar to pick up some salsas...this is what he chose (fire-roasted pepper and habanero pepper salsa; roasted tomato and chipotle salsa)

• The boys desperately needed a new shower curtain...we thought these colors looked beachy

• Jar got a new chair...an early birthday present (which we ended up returning the next day, because after only sitting in it for 4 hours, his back hurt really badly)

• We got lots of great snacks at great deals at Target...using all of my coupons and Target cartwheel deals

• I also picked up this little cutie at Marshall's to put on the table (it looks big, but it is only 3-4 inches tall)

• Cam got his college books in the mail for his next classes

• I got these because I heard they work great...and we saw them on Shark Tank years ago

• I got this at Marshall's to use for iced tea (I have been using it every day now since I got it...it works great. (I can make a huge batch that will last me for 3-4 days)

• I wanted a coral color nail polish. I had coupons and one was on sale. I bought the one on the left at Ulta on their clearance rack, and then when we were at Target I asked Jar to pick me out a Sally Hansen coral color (I had a coupon and a cartwheel deal). He picked out the one on the right without even knowing I had already bought the one on the left. They are almost the same color...funny!

• I have dry skin, so I have to use lotion every time that I shower. I wanted a really light lotion for every day...that is not heavy and sticky and dries right into the skin. This Aveeno one had been recommended in some of the tutorials that I watched (it is cheap too and natural ingredients). I also got the baby shampoo to wash my makeup brushes

• I have some grey hair at the roots that sometimes needs covering up, so I got some of this root color spray to cover my ends when they are growing out. I also bought this dark brown dry shampoo. I hate the white powder dry shampoos for my dark hair...it takes forever to brush out the white powder.

• I had some major coupons to use and free stuff to get at Ulta

• I got this cleanser to try...anything coconut is great (plus it is cheap...and natural)

• I got this purse at Marshall's...I cannot wait to use it all summer (Marshall's is the best place to buy purses. You can get name brand stuff for cheap) The boys helped me pick it out.

• I got some new pajamas for a couple dollars on Marshall's clearance rack

• I got some cheap shirts at Target for camping

• I could not pass up this Minnie Mouse t-shirt. It is so soft

• When we took Jar's chair back, we popped in to World Market and Pier 1

• I got a basket on clearance at Pier 1 to put my makeup all in one place

• Then I went home and organized my makeup drawer

• Michael worked on Cam's car...replacing parts on and around the front end tires

• Well, I think he was working...

• Jar and I went grocery shopping to get food for the weekend...here is the lettuce drying on the countertop

• I made gluten free chocolate chip cookies...they tasted exactly the same. We all loved them

• work continues on the car

Cam researched to find out how to get the upper control arm bushings apart

Here is a list of what is being replaced:

1. upper and lower control arm bushings
2. upper and lower ball joints
3. shocks
4. inner and outer tie rod ends
5. tie rod adjustment sleeves
6. pitman arm
7. idler arm
8. center link

• one side of the car done