And THIS is why "they" don't want Walmarts in California...

I'm a shop-on-a-shoestring mama. I love a bargain and I run a pretty tight budget when it comes to groceries and necessities. Hence, I shop at Walmart on the regular. I buy baby formula, diapers, wipes, bottle supplies, toiletries, and most of the kids' clothes there*. You just can't get those things cheaper anywhere else!!!

But I absolutely HATE shopping at California Walmarts! When I lived in Pennsylvania, it was almost a treat to take a trip to Walmart. To begin with, we were privy to a Walmart Supercenter, the mecca of discount shopping. I really, really miss that - getting it all done in one shot. *sigh* Furthermore, you were guaranteed to run into someone you know, catch up on gossip, and make empty promises "to get together sometime."

Out here, all you encounter are rude, pushy, and ignorant people who don't give a hoot about you and your little brood. They will ram into you (front OR back) with their carts if you don't get out of their way, they give YOU dirty looks if you're in the way and simply can't move, they completely trash the shelves, and nothing's where it belongs and half of the packaging is destroyed. The best example of this: back in December, we went to Walmart to buy a megapack of Huggies for Robby. You know, like 116-or-so Size 2s.

All of the packages had been ripped open and diapers had been taken from each package. I understand that hard times come about and moms do what they gotta do, but damn...don't steal. We've hit rock bottom but we just bought the cheapest diapers we could find (Parents Choice, White Cloud, Target brand, etc.)**. The end result of stealing diapers from Walmart is that you're now a pain in the ass to us honest people who just want to diaper their baby, you've broken the law, and because of you, the cost of diapers will go up another fraction of a cent to make up for the loss. Thanks.

People are animals at Walmarts out here! I know it's marketed towards the less-affluent end of society, and I make no claims to be high-falutin'. If anything, I declare with complete honesty and a tinge of pride that my little crew bare red necks. ;-) But c'mon folks, keep it nice for everyone! We don't shop there, really, because we want to, it's because until our youngest is out of diapers and formula, this is where I need to shop.

After that, I'm on to Target. Shampoo can't cost that much more there!

Lane Change: I had a really good day with my family. We're being guilted into dutifully headed up to my in-laws place tomorrow for Father's Day, so we're celebrating the holiday for my husband today. We took the kids to San Gregorio State Beach on Highway 1 to look for seashells and introduce the baby to the Pacific Ocean. We left early, around 8:30 a.m., and got there a little after 9 a.m. Beth was fine, until her feet got too cold...then she sorta fell apart. The baby loved it! He was smiling and kicking his legs in the Snugli the whole time!

Afterwards, the kids napped in the car and we drove down to Santa Cruz, had lunch at a Chinese place, and headed back home. This evening, I was talking to Beth before she fell asleep and here's how the conversation went:

Beth: I like the ocean.
Me: Oh yeah?
Beth: Yeah.
Me: Do you want Daddy to take you back to the ocean?
Beth: No.
Me: No? Why not?
Beth: I'm sleepy. It's sleepy time.

I was so amused, I had to bite my tongue to stifle my laughter! I forget, quite often, how literal little kids are; she thought I wanted Rob to take her back tonight!!

Ah, kids.

Pictures from our morning...

The Things We Think and Do Not Say

Ever have one of those internal moments, long after a discussion has passed, where you think of a million things you should have said but didn't? Or you think of them during the conversation, but don't say them for fear of confrontation, rejection, anger, etc.? I hate that. I'm very non-confrontational, I don't like fighting and I'm a big chickenshit. I won't ruffle feathers if I can't find a quick exit out of the henhouse. I'm always afraid I won't be able to back up my words and that I'll end up looking like a big asshole.

It's probably a self-esteem problem. I do hold some pretty strong opinions on certain subjects and in my own, soundless rhetoric, I sound fairly intelligent. But I fear the debate. What if someone else holds an equal or superior argument? Will I be able to hold my own?

What are some things you wish you could say to people in your life, be they loved ones or strangers you see every day? You don't have to name them, but I'm always interested in what goes on in peoples' heads.

Here are mine:
- I know your life's different now, but that doesn't mean it's a bad different.
- Grow up, please. People are laughing at you.
- I'm really proud of what you've done with your life, you've really turned things around. You have a long way to go in other areas, but I can tell you know that.
- You're not as important as you fancy yourself.
- Please stop pushing religion down my throat, no amount of badgering is going to change my mind.
- I love you, and I'll help you out when I can, but I don't want you involved in my childrens lives.
- Please quit trying to make me feel bad for moving out here; we're making our own life out here, you should be proud.
- I miss you and our talks. It's not fair that you "handed me off" and missed my wedding. I haven't heard from you in years and I feel like you all but abandoned me and that hurt worse than anything.

So c'mon folks...what's in your head?

I'll be back!

So as it turns out, you can't add much HTML to Wordpress, which sucks. I was liking my little slice of BlogLand over there. But now I have itchy feet and miss being able to add certain widgets, so I'll be back to Blogger soon. It's going to take me a day or two to pack up and move, but never you fear: I'll be back!

So I'm moving...

to WordPress. :-)

Here's a link.

Feminist Uprising

Excuse me for my rant, but I started thinking about this whilst being the domestic goddess that I am, doing dishes and making lunch.

For as long as it's been in business, I've always wanted to try Hooters wings. I've heard nothing but good things about them. Hubby has been there, raves about the food. However, he also claims that it's a "family place" and that we should take our kids there for dinner sometime.

*blink*

This is where I have a problem. I'm all for some good wings, especially when good wings are few and far between out here. California doesn't consider wings a main dish, they consider them appetizers, and usually serve them boneless. But I digress, I refuse...no, I adamantly refuse to take our kids (and more specifically, our daughter) to a restaurant where they make money by having scantilly-clad women serve you your food. Of all the things I don't want my daughter to learn, this tops the list: your boobs and your ass were not put on your body to put money in your - or worse yet, "the man's," pocket!!!!

Oy. I can understand a girl working there because I'm sure the tips are incredible, but c'mon. A family place? Really? No thanks. I'll take my wings to go.

Oh Happy Day!

Beth pooped on the potty! All on her own too, no prompting from me, save for two remarks the day prior about it. I finally have a big girl!!!! All I have to do now is get her to use the big potty instead of her little plastic potty. We bought her a Dora the Explorer toilet seat adaptor, we just have to make her realize that the big potty is the same thing, only cooler, than the little one.

I promise, folks, someday I'll stop blogging about bathroom things.

So I'm very eager to get this babysitting thing rolling. Beth needs an outlet, someone to play with. She bores easily and has been deliberately disobeying me with regards to her brother. Plus, we could really use the money. We want to get gym memberships when we get the "stimulus package" next month, and we'd need an extra $60 per month to do this. We're gym snobs, we only want memberships at 24 Hr. Fitness. We were members there when we first moved out here and they're really nice facilities. The one down the road from us is awesome, they have a pool, a hot tub, and a sauna. I LOVE saunas. You feel like a million bucks after getting out of it.

Plus, I'm on a mission. I'm done making babies; it's time to get serious about dropping the weight. I've got a lot to lose, about 80-90 pounds. We've done pretty good about changing our eating habits, we're back to the low-carb lifestyle. Just need to up the activity level! The way we figure it, Rob will get up extra early and go work out with his uncle. I'll go after both kids are bathed and the youngest is in bed. I don't really want to work out at night, but it's really my only time, unless I drop them both off at the childcare place at the gym and I'm not sure how I feel about doing that. I don't know what kind of experience those people have, ya know?

This blog has gone on forever. I shall end.

The Wonder That Is Grocery Outlet

So it's kind of a dive as far as grocery stores go, especially sitting less than a block away from Lucky. And you can't do ALL of your shopping there. BUT...the prices will leave you speechless! I got about $100 worth of groceries for less than $50! I was astounded! Oscar Mayer lunch meat for $1.50. Packages of Libby's frozen broccoli for $.99. And much much more. I'm just so tickled because it's right across the road from our parking lot!

In other news, Beth is doing really well with potty training! She wears underwear all day and always goes pee-pee in the potty. We're still working on the poop, but I'm totally optimistic! I thought we'd be at this for months and it's only taken about 10 days! There's something to be said for waiting until you're sure they're truly ready.

I'm having issues with Baby Boy, though. Now that he's so good at rolling from back to tummy, he's doing it in his crib and waking himself up every time. I've tried a sleep positioner, but he just flips over inside of it! Aye. I don't know what to do! No sleep for this mama.