Your Frugal Friend-Tip Two

Money saving tip #2: Do not pay for anything with a credit card that you couldn't pay for with cash.

Well, that's what we do. That's what my parents did. Mr. Wild's parents did not have a credit card at all until I think we were dating, or even married (this would have been in the early or mid 1990s). So obviously, we come from very cautious credit card users who try to make sure that every month's balance is zero.

What Mr. Wild and I found is that if you use some of those cards with rewards this way, it is like getting free money. We have an Amazon card we pay off every month. For every $2500 in purchases we get a $25 gift certificate for Amazon.com. Since we don't have a balance, and don't carry interest on it, then the $25 is like free money. Those certificates have come in mighty handy at Christmas time. Or on the occasion that we want to pick up something rather expensive. We save up our certificates and then can get something. You can buy lots at Amazon.com. We got our PS2 this way.

We also have one main credit card we use. We try to close other credit card accounts as we decide we don't need more than one. I say no to all the store cards and so forth. They don't really offer anything more special than our Amazon Visa and we really can use Visa everywhere.

If you're carrying a balance on your credit card(s), get that balance down to zero, cancel all cards but one, then use the one as if you're paying with cash. If you're not sure you will have the money to pay it off at the end of the month, then don't go ahead with that purchase until you can be sure you have the money.

I know these are repeats of what you may have heard on TV or read about, but it is absolutely true. Try to treat credit cards as a convenient way to handle your cash. Don't treat them like "credit" cards, because using them for credit is essentially highway robbery. If you are one of those people too tempted for using them as credit, then get rid off all but one and then put it away in your house and try to pay cash always. If you can't stand waiting until you have the money to buy the next new thing, you need to seriously double check your priorities. There is nothing wrong with deferred gratification and it is going to be a really good thing for your kids to learn.

Something, but I don't know what

I am running dry lately. I am all into this frugal thing and have about five tips ready in the pipeline, but I don't want to overwhelm or bore folks with frugal tips.

I have had great ideas on the go. I'm in the car and think, "Oh, that would be good to blog about." Then I get to work and promptly forget what I was going to talk about. I swear to you, I've had about three or four really good ideas lately, for short, cute, sassy blogs.

But, nothing. I get home and help with dinner, eat dinner, play with the kids a bit (Pixie Hollow on-line was last night's session and we all, including Mr. Wild, were working on getting around the fairy land) and then focus on getting the kids to bed either with jammies or bath and jammies. Then I'm web surfing (damn Facebook, time eater), reading (Hondo, ancient Egypt, and other blogs, but no Jane), and watching waaaayyyy too much TV.

I keep telling myself I need to stop following some shows. I think I've finally dumped Grey's Anatomy. They "jumped the shark" when they made Isabella see and "sleep" with her dead fiancee. Actually, I think they "jumped the shark" when they killed the main character and brought her back. Ridiculous.

Anyway, so I feel I've been frittering my creativity on things not related to blogginess. I read all these other blogs, and wonder where my blog savvy has gone. As if I had any to begin with.

You know what, send me some topics. Please, please give me something creative to tackle. We can treat this like "Cawfee Tawlk."

Here's something to get you started:

"The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss."

"The New Deal was neither new nor was it a deal. Discuss."1




1Coffee Talk. (2009, January 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:09, January 30, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coffee_Talk&oldid=264807268

Poor Jane!

I really do like Jane Austen. I have two other friends who do as well. We were getting together about once every month to six weeks to discuss another Austen classic. We got through Pride and Prejudice, everyone's favorite, I'm sure, then also discussed Sense and Sensibility. Our next one was to be Mansfield Park. I started reading Mansfield, I really do like Fanny and feel sorry for her. She's a little bit like Cinderella with stupid step-sisters. But I haven't gotten that far into the book.

All three of us belong to another book club with more people. So, the holidays and that book club seemed to get in the way. I miss Jane. Our last Jane book club, instead of discussing the book, I put together a Power Point on Regency period clothing. Oh, how I love those styles. I think they are rather flattering and forgiving looks. And rather easier to sew, I might add. I really want to have an excuse to make an 1800s or 1810s gown, or two or three. I put on a dress I had made in college, that was relatively early 1800s, but not entirely, and did up my hair with the curls on the sides of my head. They got such a kick out of it. So did I.

But, we still haven't gotten back to Mansfield Park. My library renewal ran out, I put it on hold again, then neglected to pick it up. Now I'm knee deep in ancient Egyptian (another period I love), so I haven't had the gumption to get back to Jane. On top of that, the other book club assignment is The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox. Don't you just love the name Esme?

Alas, poor Jane!

Your Frugal Friend-Tip One

Ok, this is not my idea. This was totally my mom's idea. She thinks we're pretty responsible with our household spending (thanks, Mom, we appreciate that) and thinks we could share something with other people. But I liked it and I wanted to see if I could help anyone out in these economic times. I intend to share some money-managing/money-saving tidbits with you folks and anyone else out in the ether that is interested. I intend to request suggestions from folks, too. And, I intend to not be totally serious.


Money saving tip #1: Marry someone Dutch.


You know what they say about Dutch people. You've heard of the saying "going Dutch."* They have that reputation for being cheap. You've heard the joke about their dead and bike racks.** See, problem solved! I cannot take credit for this tip, Mr. Wild came up with it.


Yeah, ok, not practical for most of you who are already married. This is a running joke in our household. Mr. Wild is half Dutch. Well, okay his Dutch ancestors came over to the midwest, set up in the Pella area, eventually his dad was born, and his dad married his German descendent mom, so that makes him half Dutch and half German. Since those enclaves of people probably never married outside their ethnic groups until his parents did (shock! gasp! breaking with tradition, yeah, another running joke), I like to point out that he is still truly half Dutch and German.


My practical suggestion is to make sure that you and your spouse understand each other's expectations of spending money and where you are stand in the bank account and what you each will accept for being involved in the decisions for big purchases. We are lucky in that our spending habits actually mesh and our appetites for "stuff" are about the same and still fit within our means. I know of some other couples where there is tension due to very different attitudes about spending money, what is acceptable debt to be carrying, and what are appropriate large purchases for the family unit. If you feel that there is tension and you avoid talking about it, you need to talk and both sides need to listen to the other. It also helps if you budget, or, at least, add up all the expenses for a month and look at your monthly income compared to that number. Do not forget your car insurance, divided by six for a monthly cost, house insurance divided by 12 for a monthly cost or taxes divided by 12 for a monthly cost. You need to talk and you need to try to get on the same page. And you don't need to buy everything you think of exactly right now, at this moment. Kids, either. Practice deferred gratification. You'll thank me for it and your kids will thank you for it.


We are practical modern people and we enjoy our perks to life as much as everyone else. We are not off the grid, grow/make our own food, heat with wood pellets, avoid restaurants and avoid cable type of people. We both have done living history, and neither of us want to "live history" everyday. We could, but we don't want to. But we also know what our means are and stay within that. Some things might have to go or be set aside for a much long time than we anticipated. We'd like a newer, bigger TV, but the two we have are working just fine, we don't need to convert for the HD switch over, so we'll continue as we are.

So, look for more tips in the coming weeks. Once a month, I'll try to come up with a "tips" theme and have everyone write in with their own.


*A "going Dutch" story: When Mr. Wild and I were first dating, on one of the dates, when we were done, I offered to pay for coffee, dinner, something. Mr. Wild was sooo incredibly excited that I offered to pay. He doesn't really remember this, but I remember he was like you could knock him over with a feather when I offered to pay. I always figured that's what sealed the deal on our relationship.
**Dutch joke (I apologize if this offends anyone): Why do the Dutch bury their dead with their butts sticking out of the ground? Because they need bike racks.

What I didn't get out of the historical inauguration

I have a friend I met through work and though she's moved on from the place I work at, she has kept up a correspondence and has come to visit me and my family for dinner on occasion. She is a very dear young lady (I can say that, she's ten years younger than me) whom I got to give career advice and she took it (gasp! I actually said something useful). She has moved back to Chicago, and I am sorry I won't get to have her over for dinner even once every six months anymore.

My friend is African-American, middle to upper-middle class. She has a master's degree in marketing and is doing very well in her field. The last time she came over for dinner, which was November, I told her I had to ask her point blank what it meant to her that Barack Obama had been elected to be the next president of the United States. I asked her if it really did surprise her and if it really did mean something to her. I have no idea if her experiences in life are the same or different from mine.

She told me that it made all the difference in the world. She was light-hearted about it, but she explained it really well. She said, "Sure people would always say anyone can become president, but deep in our hearts, as an African-American, we knew it didn't really apply to us." I could see that and told her that I could see that. "But now, it has really happened, and now we feel we really can do anything." She was really on a high. We were on a high, too, as we supported the man from Illinois as well.

But, on inauguration day, though I am very happy to have helped in my own small way to elect an African-American as president, I cannot, in anyway, fathom the joy and the feelings of people of color have for having an African-American as president. I am sure it must be indescribable. And I will never actually know that feeling.

I can say that I am overjoyed that the United States in my reality, is also becoming the United States in my mind. When people said anyone could become president, in my mind's eye, I did believe anyone could regardless of race, religion, sex, or any other background. I believed this as a child in the 1970s, I want to believe it as an adult. I don't care what you look like, I will support the candidate whose priorities match mine.

I know that our country is far from the ideal country that is in my head. I know there are many people who have issues because of race or sex. They may not even know that is what is holding them back. People are still raised with prejudices. It will probably still take many generations before the country in my head is the country we live in. But yesterday was as gigantic a leap for the United States as the step Neil Armstrong made on the moon.

I am glad my children are seeing it and seeing the joy people have to have faith in their government again. I am glad to be in the United States, in this time, in this part of history.

I am glad I get to say to my grandchildren, I was part of that election, I was there, I helped make it happen.

Nothing says love like an egg salad sandwich

Yesterday, I made egg salad for lunch. It was pretty yummy. I had some leftover egg salad and I wanted to eat it at lunch today. Mr. Wild also liked the egg salad, but I had made it after he had lunch yesterday, so he had only a little sandwich because he had already eaten. Today, he also wanted egg salad.

There was a rush on the refrigerator and two people grabbed the egg salad at the same time. I claimed ownership because I had taken the time to make it for myself yesterday.

But then I said, "Do you want egg salad?" Mr. Wild said he did. I had leftover hard boiled eggs (I made extra in case we wanted them on salads, or more sandwiches!). So I asked him to get out the ingredients: Miracle Whip, dijon mustard, lemon juice, green onion, and celery. To that I added cracked black pepper, dill weed and salt. I took the time to chop up small the onion and celery, carefully diced the eggs in my egg slicer (I marvel every time that you have to make three cuts through the egg to get perfect dice. I guess it is three dimensions), and stirred everything together. Not hard, but I realized I like to cook and mix up things, because it shows how much I care. And I like them to come out tasty, because I took the time to try to get it right.

I put the egg salad on some bread and took it into the den where Mr. Wild was watching Torchwood

"Here's your sandwich."

"Oh, thank you, hon."

Simple appreciation for a simple sandwich, simply perfect.

Lotions and potions

When I was in my early, mid, and late 20s, I took offense when someone thought that I was still a teenager. I would complain to co-workers or friends and often get the statement, "Oh, you will appreciate being mistaken for younger when you're older.

The first time I was giggly over being mistaken for younger was soon after #1 was born. Here I was, late 20s, a new mom, and found that I was mistaken for a middle schooler. I had to laugh at that one. It was a pretty good one. As I approach 40 (which is not that far off at all), I've had some fun times with being mistaken for younger, and I now appreciate my co-worker's comments.

Then, one day, it hit me. I could tell my laugh lines were becoming more pronounced. The crinkles around my eyes aren't deep, but they are there. My forehead creases stay, instead of disappearing, once I quit furrowing my brow.

Years ago, maybe 6 or 7, I had friends get me Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me and The Beauty Bible both by Paula Begoun.* We mostly used it to look at makeup choices that were inexpensive, but that would work best for our skin types. It also had good skin care routines, set up to help keep skin healthy and avoid early wrinkles. At that point, mostly, I might have gotten a blemish or two around that time of the month, but I wasn't really thinking about anything else and I didn't give the skin care routine a second thought. I used to, maybe, wash my face with water in the shower and maybe remove the eye makeup before I went to sleep. Ah, not anymore.

But now, I have turned to the pages with "Battle Plans for Wrinkles." She's very good at explaining the science behind your skin. Now I have a gentle cleanser for my face, a product with AHA and another product with BHA. Both are chemical exfoliators, removing the dead skin cells from the surface and from your pores. AHA is better for dry skin, which I have, and BHA is better for your blemish prone skin, which I also get, especially once a month. I have eye makeup remover, and moisturizer with SPF15. The biggest thing for skin is to keep the sun's rays off of it. I have another sunscreen for the summer with SPF 45 for my face. I also have some thicker facial cream for at night, especially in the winter.

Last winter, my face, especially my cheeks, always felt really dry and got incredibly flaky. Since I started being more diligent about a facial care routine, I think the exfoliators have helped keep the dry dead flaky skin away. Last year I was using the thick cream every night to soothe my skin, but this year, the light moisturizer seems to be all I need.

So, do I notice that the wrinkles seem to be getting less? I really don't know. Probably too early to tell. I guess I can say the new routine has helped my skin be less dry this winter, so that is a huge plus. Am I vain about my looks and staying young? Maybe. But, you have to admit it's nice when someone mistakes you for a 20 something.



*If you're interested in all this information, the best place to start is cosmeticscop.com. I can guarantee you'll find the reading interesting, at the very least. Paula Begoun seems to do a thorough check of all the brands you can imagine. The website has newsletters, and recently she sent one out to recession proof your beauty routine. It was about the best, least expensive skin care and makeup products available. Paula has her own line as well, and they are reasonably priced, too. I haven't tried them, because the ones I've found seem to work well enough.

My favorite gum

Hey, I'm nothing if not random.

So, I'm getting a piece of gum after lunch. My favorite and nearly the only kind I will chew. Dentyne Fire. Hard for me is that it is difficult to find and buy. I can still find all sorts of variations on Dentyne Ice, but the cinnamon Fire is very hard to come by. Usually, I only find it in convenience stores at gas stations. I worry that I won't find it at all one day. Then, gasp! I will have to choose a new favorite gum.

Oh, I like speariment and peppermint just fine. Fruit flavor is ok and I could do without bubblegum flavor. Cinnamon is my favorite, but it has to be done just right. I'm not particularly enamoured with Trident or Big Red or Eclipse. Orbit's Cinnamint is nasty. Stride Sweet Cinnamon is too sweet. I haven't tried 5 Flare yet, because I have been disappointed many times before. I end up with a whole pack that I really don't like.

So, I guess I'm sending out a plea. If you like cinnamon gum, try to find and buy more Dentyne Fire, so the company thinks loads of people love it and I can keep getting it. Thanks.

Living in fear of our toilet

This may be an indelicate discussion about poo and toilets, so, if you prefer, please do not read any further.

We are not actually fearful of our toilet. We live in fear of our toilet getting jammed. We know how to use the plunger way too intimately. It is not the grownups that are usually the culprits either, it is one of the children. Not that it is on purpose. But man, since we had kids, you can't believe the stuff that comes out of them. Or not. Or what comes out days after it hasn't. This might be our main problem. Days, and then the breadth and width of stuff is much more than our toilet can handle.

Why is it that, once you have children, you spend a lot of time discussing and worrying as much about what comes out of them, as what goes in them? Nobody told me that it would continue to concern us after the potty training was over. Accidents in the clothes and backed up toilets. Great.

And we get so tired of the plunging. We also get tired of the hurried way we must try to stop the water from an overflow.

We did replace our downstairs toilet because it did get clogged so very often. Mr. Wild is very handy and figured out how to switch out the old for the new. The new we made sure had an extra wide tunnel out, was glazed all the way through, and has a good flush. Apparently many large tester balls could go down the new toilet. (we didn't do the experiments, it was touted on the company's advertising) So far so good, except now we can't seem to make sure the problem child uses the toilet on the first level. It used to be that the lower level was used all the time, so we were plunging that one all the time. Now, the second floor is used, which is a riskier proposition. We found out the hard way, the first time, that an overflow rains down into the lower bathroom. Yuck, yuck, and yuck.

Maybe we should replace the upstairs with a toilet that has a larger, glazed (read smooth and non-catching) outlet, but right now, after all the things that went bad this holiday season, let's just see if we can ride this wave. And convince the kids to use the downstairs.

I am a lazy cad, the last of the Christmas cheer is out

Yes, sadly, today is the day that we finally mailed out my "New Year's" letters to my very favorite family and friends. They needed the school photos in them, so I delayed that even a few more days than when I sent out our yearly letters to everyone else. I am so lazy, I did not send my parents' own present out until today. Sorry, Mom, it's in the mail. But you can enjoy it at anytime of the year.

Mr. Wild has been more than patient. He spent 1.25 hours folding, and sticking stamps and labels on the letters, then took them to the post office. I really love the yearly letters everyone sends us, but I wish I had more of my act together to reciprocate the gesture. This year, I had to fight with both computers, a stupid printer and finally had to wait until I went back to work and could use that computer to make my computerized label list work right. Efficiency was thwarted by Microsoft's stupidity of ever making Microsoft Works and/or placing Corel Wordperfect on IBM clones. So tired of the PCs. If I had more money, I would spend it on a Mac, but I don't ever see me having enough money to buy a Mac.

Oh, well, I guess I should be thankful that we have three functioning computers, incompatible as they are.

Dream job

This is what I would really like to be able to do. Mr. Wild and I have a working background in the same field. I wish that we could job share the same job, one that would have benefits and the whole package, but we would each only work 20 hours a week. Then we could both get the chance to stay home doing things in our community, spending time with our kids and doing field trips and school activities, and both get the chance to do some work in our field and feel like we're keeping our skills fresh and up-to-date. Problem is, I don't think our field is forward thinking enough to allow that.

We'd make a great team for a position. He has skills in areas that I'm maybe a bit weak in and vice versa. Some place would benefit from both of our expertises. Together, I think, we create a whole package.

Oh, well. Hopefully, I'll just keep the job I have. I'm in one of those fields that is considered non-essential.

Sky/ocean

Not on a daily basis, but every so often, my daughter's eyes catch me off guard. They look so blue. Like the blue sky of morning, with a few puffs of cloud floating by. Like the deep blue ocean, warm and vivid. Like those, but more. So much more blue, I just want to sit and get lost in them. They are bluer than mine ever were, that I can remember, and I'm just amazed at how they can hold me in their thrall. They make me feel warm inside, but also like my heart is breaking, they can be so achingly, painfully blue for me. And I just want to stare at them forever.

But I don't, because I'm mom and she's daughter and she's got more important things to do.

Family table

So, those of you with kids between the ages of 2 and 12 and are lucky enough to have cable/satellite are probably familiar with Nickelodion. So, perhaps you have seen those "public announcements" about having dinner at least 3 nights a week as a family. It always kind of makes me mad and sad at the same time. Mad because, heck, I have been doing that with my husband, and then one and then two kids since 1995, and before that my own family almost always had dinner together. I can't understand how people wouldn't sit down for that one meal to eat together. Then sad, because I realize maybe many more people do eat separately, or in front of the TV and never talk to each other at a meal.

I can't imagine not doing that. I really like to get home and help Mr. Wild finish fixing something or help him get something started. If we can't stand the cooking, then we all go together to get something and bring it home or eat it out. I like my kids telling us things. They are never really profound, but it is nice.

Me: So how was school today?
Wild Child #1: Fine.

Me: Did you do anything interesting?
Wild Child #1: Not really.

Of course, you ask #2 a question and she can fill several minutes describing what Mrs. N taught them, how lunch was, who she played with at recess. But that's her, all verbal.

So, yesterday, Mr. Wild was picking on #1 and #1 was kind of pissed and he had reason to be, so he elbowed Mr. Wild. Mr. Wild knew he deserved it and kind of laughed.

But #2 says: "Wild Child #1, you're mean." Then she quickly adds, "But I still love you." And smiles a big huge grin. It was all out of the blue.

(Me, I turn my head and have a supressed giggle)

#2 says: "Ohhh, that was funny!" (see, because Mom giggled at her statement)

(Me, more supressed laughter at her powers of observations.)

Then, Mr. Wild and I were discussing something about being naughty or not being naughty. Apparently, we must have all turned our heads to #2 because she hollers: "Why do you guys always look at me?!"

Mr. Wild and I dropped our jaws and then fell into lame protests that we didn't do that. Personally, I didn't think we did it that often, but perhaps we do it more than we mean. It's just that she's a sneaky person, sneaking snacks, gum, candy. Sometimes she gets away with it, sometimes not.* So, perhaps we have developed the habit of looking at her.

No matter what, the dinner table has been a source of fun for our family. If you don't make the time to do it, I suggest you do. These are antics that won't be repeated again. Ever. So make hay while the sun shines and enjoy it for as long as you can. Pretty soon, it may only be Thanksgiving and Christmas when you have your family around you again at the dinner table.

*In the sometimes not category: One night, a night that Mr. Wild was out with his D&D buddies (which his does once a week), I could hear #2 moving around in her room when she was supposed to be sleeping. I went upstairs quickly and flipped on her light just as she jumps back into her bed. She makes a quick wipe of the mouth with the back of her hand. Suspicious I say, "What have you been doing?" "Nothing." Why did you wipe your mouth, did you get into the chapstick?" "No." "Let me smell your lips." I lean down and sniff, but it doesn't smell like anything strong. She wipes her mouth again. "WHAT have you been doing? Have you been eating something?" She shrinks herself into her covers, "No." "Wild Child #2 (this is where I would say her name with a threatening tone), tell me what you have been doing."

She climbs out of bed and pulls her open door shut a little. Behind the door is the box of ice cream. From the freezer. Only now it's a bit melty on her bedroom floor. Unbelieveable! (thinking it, not saying it). However, I am not relishing the fact that someday soon my mean angry voice will no longer be enough to get a confession out of her.

Forays into the blogosphere

So, I haven't really ventured very far into the blogosphere until just a few days ago; New Year's Day to be exact. Doing one of those viral random tag posts made me move a bit beyond my comfort level and exploration zone. A couple of days later, I was exploring Irish Gumbo in a little more leisurely manner, as he was kind enough to stop by my blog, after I so randomly tagged him. I then wandered into Lost and Found in India. Somehow, I also wandered into 70 Plus and Still Kicking, but I can't figure out how I got there, I think through Lost and Found in India.

And, lo and behold, they've bothered to wander by my little piece of the internet to actually say hey. So very nice. Irish Gumbo even put me in his blogroll, a nice reciprocal gesture, since I just placed him in my blog follower list. I would have never expected that these folks would have or make the time to come by and comment. It is a very nice, warm, glowy feeling. I know I'm being sappy, but since my audience has consisted mostly of my friends, sister, and mom until now, it is kind of interesting to have some folks from farther afield to stop by and see what I am or am not saying.

Mostly, I think I've branched out so far, because of Feet off the Table. I picked that one from the roll of blogs that were continuously shown as updating on Blogger's main page (I think they've gotten rid of that now) and Feet off the Table sounded interesting (nice title!). Then, I see the author is name Aliceson, which I immediately take a liking to, because the name Alice is near and dear to my heart. It also doesn't hurt she's a mom in my part of the midwest, which is kind of fun. We've been comparing snow days notes as of late (please, no more snow for a while), as well as Christmas cookies (or I've been comparing cookies, I think she's got me beat).

So, I guess I'm just saying thanks to everyone for sharing yourselves and for the entertainment. It broadens my world and let's me think about a lot of different things.

Here's to a fascinating 2009. Let's see where it takes us.

P.S. Yes, I should update the photo for the day.

First random tag post ever

I've only been blogging since September. But, thanks to Aliceson over at Feet off the Table, I get my first tag to post randoms things and I have to do the following. Or I guess I could choose not to, but then where is the fun in that?

This is how it works:

1. Link to the person(s) who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they were tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Six random things:
1. I made Renaissance Festival costumes for me and Mr. Wild just because, a couple years back. We did go to the Ren Faire in them.
2. I grew up in the great state of Iowa.
3. I secretly would love a good spa day and have it include a massage, mani, pedi, and a facial, but hardly something I can afford.
4. I read Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern in junior high (back when they did call it junior high).
5. I was in marching band as a flag squad member not only in high school, but also in college. Was even captain of both the high school and college squads.
6. I stood in line for the cattle call for playing the daughter of Meryl Streep's character in Bridges of Madison County. I didn't even get in the door.

Shoot, six tags is going to be hard, seeing as how I've only just ventured into the blogging world and I haven't made all these bloggy friends yet. I've had a great time keeping up with Aliceson. I'm sure we'd have a blast hanging out in a bar somewhere in the midwest sharing stories from the motherhood trenches. I may have to steal some of her bloggy pals. They'll be like, who? what? OR maybe I'll go random and steal them off the update page for blogger. I guess that would work too. (evil laugh)

Ok, here, in no particular order, I am tagging:

1. An Iowa Mom (because I was born and raised in Iowa, yay Hawkeye State)
2. An Island Life (because I have a cousin that lives in Hawaii and I hope to visit there soon)
3. Irish Gumbo (because I have a good Irish friend, even though this blogger doesn't seem to be Irish)

And like Aliceson, I need to bow out, because I haven't spent much time in the blogosphere to really have lots of links. If these people will indulge my intrusions, I truly appreciate their patience and understanding.

There, done!