Yummie? Not At the Moment

Friday, July 29, 2011

This post is my entry into the Say Wow, Not Ow Yummie Tummie Style Session at BlogHer.

I love my child, but the pace of our summer is starting to wear on me. Tonight, I needed a bit of a break. I decided to hit Nordstrom Rack and Marshalls to look for tops for BlogHer. I struck out, big time. Everything looked absolutely awful. It seems I'm at some size in between medium and large. The medium tops I tried on were just a bit snug and the large were droopy and shapeless. Now I'm all depressed and drowning my sorrow in gelato*. The problem? This area right here. Meet my Costco sized muffin top. 

I can't even blame it on dressing room lighting
This is my most stubborn area. Even when I lose weight, that flab sticks around. Everything else south of my belly button slims down except good 'ole Muffin. Consequently, my closet is full of A-line tops that fit great around my lovely lady lumps, but flare out to hide my pooch. Some of it feels like maternity wear. I don't like having to compromise fit and fashion over function. I know with a little smoothing, some of the tops I tried on today would have fit perfectly. 

Thus, my last totally minute entry into the Yummie Tummie contest. I've heard much about the magic of their Invisible shapers. Some of my blog friends are firmly on board the Yummie train. I want to ride, too. I want to ditch my pseudo maternity wear, and to do that I need help of the Yummie variety.

I'm desperate enough to embarrass myself by showing my goods to the entire internet. Hopefully, it won't have been in vain. Yummie Tummie? Please send help.

*Yes, I know that's counterproductive. Sue me.


Check out Yummie Tummie for yourself!

Meet Amara the Cheeta | Wordless Wednesday

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Amara from the San Diego Zoofari Park

Overdrive for iPad: Borrowing Library Books with an App

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Tyler and I went to the library yesterday. I've been flying through the Sookie Stackhouse books and needed the next in the series. I noticed a news camera and reporter while I was using the computer. I asked which station he was from because I was going to be on the news myself that night. We chatted and he asked if he could use me in a sound bite. Me be on camera? Absolutely! I love being in front of the camera. It's the Leo in me.

The topic was libraries in the digital age and the new system for checking out books on your portable device. I figured I should give the system a try since I spoke about it! The app I'm using is called Overdrive and it's free in the iTunes store. 

To use the Overdrive app, you need to have an account on Adobe (for the EPUB files) as well as as access to the digital library system in your area. For San Diego, it's the Serra Digital Download Library. Once you download the app, it will walk you through setting up your account including choosing the libraries in your area, adding your library card number and registering with Adobe if you haven't already. 

iTunes iPad screen shot
Once you have your account, it's really easy to search for and check out books. I've got one book available and three titles on hold: Once Upon a Time There Was You by Elizabeth Berg*, Dreams of Joy by Lisa See, Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris and Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovich. Only the Berg title is avaialble now. Once the others are, I will get an email letting me know they're available for download. I love that, just like my regular online library account, the Serra system tells me what number I am in line for the checkout so I know how fast I have to read the books I have now.

Once a title is available for download, you authorize the app with your Adobe account ID. I downloaded the Berg book in just a few seconds and it will be available until August 9th. After that, unless I return it early, it disappears from my iPad. Since I installed the app only yesterday, I can't thoroughly review it but I have experienced some of the feedback in iTunes like the fact that you have to leave the app to search for books in a browser.

I've been wanting to try digital books and this is going to be a great way to dip my feet in. Between this lending system and the freebies that pop up on Amazon and Nook, I can still indulge my voracious habit and keep costs low. I still buy books every so often, but generally from the used books store. Combine the ebooks with the ones I buy, those I get from my mom and the ones I check out; my digital and physical book shelves will always be well stocked!

Have you gotten into the digital book revolution? Are you borrowing from your local library?

See the news piece on Fox 5 San Diego

*She's one of my favorite authors
ETA: you can also download Overdrive for your PC or Mac

Marketing Works!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

'crayons' photo (c) 2008, Firesam! - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
My son just gave me his back to school wishlist:

iPad 2
Samsung Tab
iPhone 4
iPod touch
Laptop
XBox
Pokemon cards

One of these things is not like the other! And all of them are not going to happen.

Home Away From Home

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Our first family camping trip starts now. This is our view for the next two days!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

San Diego Staycation: Maritime Museum

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

This past Saturday Tyler and I spent the afternoon in San Diego. We don't go down there as much as we should. Usually, anything south of the merge is too far for me to do on a regular basis (locals will get that insider joke). But, every time we go down I remember how much I love my city and how much we have to do here. I need to make more of an effort at being a tourist in my own city. There's so much Tyler has never seen.

We went down to Spanish Landing because we were invited for a preview of a new exhibit. The Maritime Museum of San Diego is constructing a replica of the San Salvador. I've never taken Tyler to the Cabrillo Monument so this was his first time learning that part of San Diego's history. 

When he heard that black pepper was worth more than gold he said he wanted to invent a time traveler to take the pepper mill we have back to those days and then we can be rich. Kids.

We watched a blacksmith demonstration, sails being sewn together and the framing of the ship. Tyler even got to hammer his initials onto a board that will go on the back of the ship. When it sets sail, he'll be a part of it.

After Spanish Landing we spent some time at Seaport Village and in the Gaslmap. We had a good time. It was a good day and another successful Camp Mom* outing.

How are you keeping your kids entertained over summer break? 
Have you done any Staycating in your city?

*Thank you to the Maritime Museum for letting us attend and to Stacey for the term Camp Mom.

3 Day Walker Discount at Roadrunner Sports | 3 Day Thursday

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Last weekend I stopped in to Roadrunner Sports on my home from my training walk. The salesperson told me about their VIP program. Right now, you can join online for $1.99. He was nice enough to match the online price for me so I could join in the store. 


In addition to the VIP 10%, 3 Day walkers get an additional 10%. You have to mention the 3 Day each time you purchase because that data isn't stored with your information. 

It can't hurt to ask if your store will match the online price, too. This couldn't have happened at a better time since I'm ready to buy new shoes, which are easily the most expensive piece of gear needed for the 3 day. 

Happy shopping!

*Not a sponsored post, just an FYI

Coupon Organization Pt 2: I'm Getting There!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Slowly but surely I'm getting my system in place. Coupons were taking over the kitchen and I finally had to get serious about finding something that will work for me. I found a zippered binder at BigLots. It wasn't marked so the cashier looked up something in the system and charged me $3. Then I found baseball card sheets at Dollar Tree and bought two packs of 10. I used Target web coupons to buy tabbed binder inserts and great offer that got me two pairs of scissors for .49 each.

I stole the pencil pouch Tyler was using at school and found a mini calculator in our junk drawer. The binder still has a way to go because I want a few different sizes of plastic sheets for oversize and printable coupons. 


After I got the binder started I looked around for a storage solution. I wanted an expanding file so I can mark the insert date, file unclipped coupons, sort the store circulars and set up sections for store coupons. I stumbled across these scrap book pages files while I was in Michaels. They were in the clearance section for $6.99 each. So far, they're holding up well. 


Sometimes you have to spend money to make money and I know setting up a system will help me be a better couponer. I've lost coupons, misfiled them and let them expire. That is unacceptable! I'll keep you updated as I add more items to my system. 

Read part 1 about why I decided to go with the coupon binder system.

What are you doing to keep your coupons organized?
 
copyright melanie sheridan 2009 template design by Studio Mommy (© copyright 2015)