Janie's Creations

All sorts of new stuff!

2010-02-04T08:27:00.000-08:00

Introducing Boogie Bear! In keeping with a New Year (I know, I'm a bit behind), I've decided to move all of my baby product line to its own site/blog, as well as come up with a new name for it.

Named after my first son (his nickname), Boogie Baby is currently focusing on designer burp cloths and baby blankets and quilts. I am currently working on several new products, and hope to introduce them by the Summer!

Check it out:
Boogie Bear!

More burp cloth pics

2010-01-29T01:53:00.000-08:00

Because I do have (a few) more pics, and want to make sure I have them up, here's a few more. Please forgive the awful photography, as I was using our kitchen table, and we have horrible lighting in this house. I hope to get more pictures up in the coming days:

Some recent projects

2009-10-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

I've been working on lots more burp cloths lately, and here are pictures of some of the completed versions. I've made SO many more than this, but every time I make some, I forget to take pictures! Gasp! I'll be taking more of the ones I'm currently making, as well as some fabric samples today. So I'll post those as soon as I get them uploaded . In the meantime, here are a few that I have (excuse the bad lighting, Italian homes aren't the greatest for natural light).

Because I'm addicted ...

2009-09-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so when my husband finds fifty thousand dollars on our credit cards, spent at The ScrapBox website, he can't blame me. His only option is to find Kelsey from Vanilla Joy, and hold her responsible!

Browsing through their website, looking for the item I want when I win Kelsey's contest, I found this little goodie:

Now isn't that the greatest idea?!? I'm always trying to figure out where to put my ice water when I'm crafting, and that's just the cutest idea! Just yesterday, I ended up spilling an entire (40 oz) cup of ice water all over my husband's freshly washed cammies because I put my cup on the less-than-balanced ironing board. I thought it would be out of the way, but all I had to do was brush by, and then, oops!

At only $19.95, I may just get one of these doohickies even if I don't win. My sanity, and my husband's cammies, will be greatly served!

OMG! Isn't this amazing?!?

2009-09-28T22:47:00.000-07:00

Over on Vanilla Joy, there is a contest to win this beautiful treasure! As I'm typing, drool is running down my chin. I would give several people's left legs to have one of these! The ideas that are already running through my head are enough to scare my husband into never letting me near a craft store again!

Anyway, head on over, and sign up for this contest. One lucky person will win the whole shebang! And there are other prizes too! Check it out!

Quote of the Day ...

2009-09-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

"The good mother, the wise mother ... is more important to the community than even the ablest man; her career is more worthy of honor and is more useful to the community than the career of any man, no matter how successful."

Theodore Roosevelt

I need to get better about this ...

2009-08-12T03:44:00.000-07:00

It seems I've been multitasking a little too much lately, thinking that "divide and conquer" would be the best way to handle things. Apparently, that mean divide Janie and conquer nothing!

Anyway, I'm trying to consolidate several blogs, limit the things I do get involved in, minimize my projects (including just plain finishing some of them), and giving up those things that don't mesh with my life right now. In the meantime, please bear with me while I figure things out.

In addition to all this, I want to attempt to blog better. I've decided that one of the things I want to focus on is my baby gifts and crafting, so I want to use this blog for that.

Along those lines, I heard about a giveaway for a complete blog makeover that I am uber excited about! This blog could certainly use it, since I have all these great layout ideas, and lack the knowledge to actually put them into practice. Check out the details of the giveaway here. I believe you can also click on the button I added in the sidebar. Either way, I'll be keeping an eye open for an opportunity to use Jennisa's genius at some point in the future!

Project Update

2009-04-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

So I read entirely too many blogs. What can I say, I find inspiration from other people, and I can't seem to get enough inspiration. Unfortunately, that inspiration has caused me to start innumerable projects that I have never finished. I have several lists of projects to get done, but rarely "find the time" to do them.

So when I read about the Project Procrastination Party on The Inspired Room, I decided that, even though I'm going back home during this time, I still have tons of projects that I can catch up on, or even just get more work done on, during the same timeframe.

I've still yet to come up with a list of things I want to finish/work on, as I have a to-do list a mile long that I'm avoiding (yes, I'm the ultimate procrastinator), but I'll put it up soon.

In the meantime, I need to get my butt up from the computer and go clean some dishes and start on dinner while the little one is asleep.

P.S. For those reading this in Google Reader, I apologize for the influx of posts. I combined another of my blogs with this one, and it created a new post for every post I brought over. Sorry!

Foodie Fights

2009-04-20T05:31:00.000-07:00

I've been following a blog for a while, called "Macheesmo." It's highly entertaining, and I am regularly in awe at the great cooking projects that Nick comes up with to try. So when he posted about this new idea, Foodie Fights, I was stoked!

Here are the basics: several blogs are chosen to compete, given two ingredients and a few rules, and tasked with making a dish with those ingredients and blogging about it. The entries are judged by popular vote (with two guest judges, for fairness), and a winner is chosen! This week’s challenge was potatoes and lemons. So here’s my entry:

Gnocchi e carciofi al limone (or, Gnocchi and artichokes in lemon sauce)

The ingredients:

Gnocchi
Approx. 2 ½ pounds potatoes, peeled and diced
Approx. 1 ½ cups flour
Salt to taste
The potatoes are easiest to deal with if blanched instead of boiled. The easiest way to do this is to boil a large pot of water and put the diced potatoes in either a blanching basket or a colander, just above water level. Cover the lid and let the water boil. The steam will cook the potatoes. You want them firm to the touch, but soft enough to poke through with a fork. Mine took about 15-20 minutes.

Here is a picture of the potatoes blanching:

… and done …

After your potatoes are blanched, pour them into a large bowl, salt them liberally, and hand-mash (you can also put them through a potato ricer, but alas, I don’t have one).

Add the flour, about 1/3 cup at a time, until the mixture is firm, smooth, and no longer sticky. You may need more/less flour, depending on the moisture of your potatoes, and the relative humidity of your kitchen. Mine took quite a bit, a little more than 2 cups.

With two small spoons, roll a small amount of the mixture between the spoons to create an oblong oval shape. At this point, you can score them with a fork, but it is optional.

Once formed, drop the gnocchi into boiling water. Each piece will drop to the bottom, then float a moment later. Let them float for about 2 minutes (about 3-4 minutes total cooking time), then strain them out and place on a paper towel or cheesecloth to dry.

I completely neglected to get a picture of them boiling, but here they are when done.

Unfortunately, home-made gnocchi isn’t always the prettiest. But it is pretty darn tasty, and highly satisfying knowing you made them yourself!

Lemon Sauce with Artichokes
4 Tablespoons salted butter
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Zest and juice of 2 lemons
Fresh basil leaves
2 cups cream (can also use half and half for a lighter version)
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash of nutmeg
Dash of oregano
10 ounce jar artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and chopped

Grate lemons on zester and set aside.

To juice lemons, roll them under your palm on a flat surface. This helps release the juice from the rind.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then add garlic and lemon zest, sautéing until highly aromatic and garlic is browned. Add lemon juice and sauté another minute.

Remove browned garlic from pan.

Add 2-3 shopped basil leaves, then cream and spices.

Turn heat off and add artichokes, coating evenly in sauce.

Serve over warm gnocchi and top with 2-3 basil leaves for garnish!

My husband, the pastry chef!

2009-03-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

We both had a sweet tooth today, and since I had a multitude of cake mixes from a recent sale, we decided to make some cupcakes to satisfy them. It was actually a lot of fun, as it's been forever since I made cake mix cupcakes.

To my surprise, Neal came in the kitchen as I was preparing to frost them, asking if he could do it. So I handed over the pastry bag and ... voila!

Pork Roast - in honor of the new "Stimulus" bill

2009-02-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

Mommy's little helper

Before seasoning

All put together

I had a pork roast I was planning on making, and given how much "pork" was added to the new Stimulus bill, decided to make it for dinner last night. I'll be holding my tongue on getting any more political than that, otherwise this may become a long post.

And of course, on the first meal that I decide to photograph and blog about, I forget to take an "after" photo. Oh well, I'll just have to make it again. I guess we were just a little more focused on getting food in our bellies than getting pictures for my blog.

This was just a "throw together" roast. Ever since I was a kid, my mom made roasts like this, and they almost always turn out well. It's also super easy because it's made in an oven bag, so all you have to clean is the actual dish you cook it in. These days, I'm all about convenience.

Basically, I just placed the roast in the bag, then threw in a chopped onion, large carrot slices/chunks, potato chunks, and a few pieces of chopped celery for flavor. I lightly salted it (I use low-sodium salt), then added pepper and a fifteen ounce can of cream of mushroom soup. I then added about a half cup of fried onions and about 3/4 cup of water.

Tied up in the bag (with holes cut for ventilation), it went in a 300 degree oven for about an hour and thirty to forty-five minutes. I always use a meat thermometer to tell me when my meat is done (pork roast is done at 170 degrees). I find that it's the safest way to cook, but also ensures the best meat. That way, I can cook it just until it's done and not when it turns to rubber. The meat is more juicy, easier to cut, and much more tender. And with pork, that's always good.

It turned out great, and we had a good amount left over that will make for good lunches. I also made a green bean casserole with it because Neal loves it so much. You can't ask for an easier meal. Thank you Reynolds for this amazing cooking tool!

Here are the pictures:

My burp cloths!

2009-02-19T01:46:00.001-08:00

I wanted to post pictures of the burp cloths that I made last year. Granted, the pictures/lighting/colors are awful. I'm hoping to get some better pictures with the next set I make. Right now, I'm working through some fabric I have that is discontinued, mainly for practice. I'm ordering more soon, and am still considering color schemes. I'm hoping to have some samples to photograph and post soon!

So I've been slack ...

2009-01-22T02:09:00.000-08:00

So now that I'm a mom, I'm realizing just how much I don't/won't get done each day. Granted, we're finally starting to develop a regular routine (thank God), but there is still so much to do in a day, and I find myself thinking each evening about all the plans I had for the day, and wondering where the time went.

The other day, I remembered a poem (by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton) that I'd heard several times, but that never made complete sense to me until recently. I understood the concept of it, but didn't realize just how true it is. Anyway, I've decided that this poem will be my motto while in the child-rearing season of my life:

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lull-a-bye, rock-a-bye, lull-a-bye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lull-a-bye, rock-a-bye lull-a-bye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Life's Simple Pleasures

2008-06-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Frozen grapes

Fresh-made lemonade

Frozen Thin Mints

Oreo balls/truffles

Ice cubes

Breakfast any hour of the day

I could go on and on ...

Wow, it's been a while!

2008-06-27T02:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I hadn't intended on waiting this long to blog again. Wow. I was trying to be better about it, but life definitely gets in the way.

In the back half of May, I went back to the US to go on vacation with my family. They go to the beach every May, and I've missed the last couple of years. Between that, and given how stressful living in another country (and being a Navy wife) can be, it was kinda therapeutic being back there again! It had been three years, but we'd gone every year for so long, everything was so familiar and welcoming! It was very nice. I also have a tendency to be able to think more clearly while there, I think because you have nothing to do, nowhere to be, etc. I always get my best thinking done there.

June has kept me busy, as Neal got promoted at work, and the transition time has been a bit hectic. He is home every weekend now though, so it's nice to be able to count on that. And once he gets things in order and things on base settle down, he'll be home at a decent hour every night, and that will be wonderful!

The pregnancy is going well, clipping right along, and I'm now hitting the nesting stage. I've been cleaning like a mad woman, trying to organize rooms and get rid of unnecessary junk, and just keeping things neat in general. I've been meaning to do it for a while now, but the looming arrival of a newborn has a great way of motivating you to finish projects!

In the last few weeks however, I've been much more introspective about my life. I think, again, the idea of a newborn coming and all the responsibilities that come with it make you think about things in a whole new way. I've not been the happiest person while being in Italy. The hardest part is feeling so isolated from my family and friends, but also with the base closing and losing a lot of services, I feel so useless and bored at times. We honestly planned on me at least having the ability to work part time while here, just to keep busy and have some play money. But that never panned out. Being a stay-at-home wife can get boring at times, as there's only so much cooking/cleaning you can do, even in a big house. I wasn't all that motivated to make friends before because of a few bad experiences when we first got here. And I think I got depressed and let the house get out of order, along with life.

As I start getting things in order, I think it makes me start thinking of what else I want organized in my life. Though I love the idea of being a mommy full time, I know I want to do more with my education. Whether that means getting a masters' degree, or just taking classes to be able to sit for the R.D. exam, I know I want to do something. I do feel that in a way I'm wasting my degree that I worked so hard to finish. I don't want to just be able to say that I got it, but that it's being put to some good use. I get frustrated that I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do when I went into college (well, I did, but it wasn't feasible at the time), and I majored in whatever I thought I'd enjoy. While I loved my college major, I wish I had really taken the time to research, because I know now that I would've majored in Nutrition instead of Food Science, or some combination of the two. Looking back, I think it's ridiculous that my school separated the two.

Long story short, I feel that I am in some sort of "holding pattern" in life. And I know that last time I said that, trying to change things through my own strength only made things worse, with years of drama and unnecessary pain and grief. Though I've learned my lesson with not forcing things, it is hard to wait and let God do what he's going to do. It's hard to see my husband work so hard with so little notice or reward. It's hard to sit around at home, feeling like I'm doing nothing. And it's very hard to pick yourself up out of the pity party and let God take you where he wants you to go.

But writing this only makes me realize how large of a pity party I've thrown, and that I have no excuse not to have a better attitude about things. After all, God is in control, and I know that this is all for our good, and will work out perfectly in the end.

How many times has He proven that to me in the past?

Pieces of Flair!

2008-05-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

Okay, so if you don't get the reference, you need to find yourself a copy of "Office Space" and watch it.

So anyway, on Facebook, there's a new feature where you can pick out pieces of flair to display on a corkboard. It's cracking me up! I love some of them! Here's a few jewels:

"Spooning leads to forking"

"Girls are not complicated...seriously, how hard is it to say 'You're pretty' and give us chocolate?"

"Don't follow in my footsteps, I run into walls"

"I'm not short, I'm just fun size"

"Put on your big girls panties and deal with it"

"Careful, you may end up in my novel"

"Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble wrap is cheap. You decide."

"Save the ta-tas" (with the pink breast cancer ribbon in the middle)

"I'm not random, you just can't think as fast as me"

"nananana...Batman!"

For some reason, those just made me laugh!

Things I miss ...

2008-05-06T02:30:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant! I have had just about the easiest pregnancy thus far, and I have nothing really to complain about. Several people have told me how wrong it is that I haven't thrown up, been super nauseous, or the like, and I know how blessed I am.

However, just being pregnant in general lends to some minor sacrifices that begin to seem less and less minor by day. Though I love this child already, and I would do anything necessary to ensure its health in any way, I often find myself thinking, "Kid, you better appreciate what I'm giving up for you!" Lately, it's mostly food items. But there are so many things that I can't do now that I could before:

1. Hot dogs: I was never a huge hot dog fan, and after going through the Food Science program at the University of Tennessee, even less so. However, Neal and I found these spicy beef hot dogs at our Navy Exchange, and I kinda got hooked on them. I know they're awful for me (they have about 15g of fat per dog or something crazy like that), but they're so good! And now that I can't have them in pregnancy (because of the risk of listeria poisoning), I really want some! I'm sure it doesn't help that it's now grilling season!

2. Running: I've never been a runner. You can ask my old PE teachers, my parents, or anyone else for that matter. I've always hated it, and never really had the stamina to even bother trying. Last year, I finally got serious and started working at it, and managed to work myself up to running (at a turtle's pace) for 25 minutes straight, and was really beginning to enjoy it. I even had a goal of eventually running regular 5k's. I ended up spraining my ankle and having to start over again and never really got back to a regular schedule before we found out we were pregnant. And of course, that's the first thing the doctors told me I couldn't do.

3. Fresh mozzarella cheese: I'm in Italy, and can't take advantage of one of the best parts of being here! Of course, there was a recent scare of toxins in the local cheese, so I likely wouldn't be eating a lot anyway, but it's everywhere and really tough to avoid. And I've always loved my Caprese salads!

4. Bike riding: Neal bought me the bike I've been wanting last year, just in time for the weather to get cold. I was completely planning on riding it this Spring/Summer to get in shape, but it will have to wait another year.

5. Wine: As if it wasn't bad enough that Neal helped me develop a love for red wine before getting pregnant, I also have to deal with living in Italy without being able to drink it (other than a sip or two of Neal's every now and then). On top of that, Neal found an amazing Chilean Cabernet-Sauvignon and opened it up shortly after we found out about the baby. I had a sip, and it was one of the best reds I've tasted! Of course, now that we want to stock up for later, we can't find it anywhere, and I am super bummed about that!

6. Bikinis/tanning/laying out: I know this was never really a healthy habit anyway, but I used to love lying in the sun and (slowly) getting a tan. I think it's part of my Florida girl roots. My favorite part of my family's beach vacation every year was laying in a beach chair, tanning oil sprayed on, listening to Kenny Chesney's greatest hits, and enjoying the beach breeze! Right before we moved overseas, I started tanning here and there at a salon, and loved the way it felt! I still have my old tanning lotion, and every now and then, I go to the linen closet in our bathroom for a sniff. It's got this tropical-coconut-cocoa butter smell to it, and just makes me feel better every time. It's probably expired by now, but I keep it just to smell every so often.

7. Wearing my own clothes: I long ago stopped wearing my regular jeans, but have been able to get away with roomy/stretchy pants until recently. Lately, I've been wearing Neal's workout shorts and shirts around the house. They're just more comfortable. And until I get some new maternity clothes (on their way from my parents), I only have a pair of maternity jeans, which are a bit hot now that the weather's consistently in the 70's.

8. Feeling like I was at least in decent shape: Lately, I feel as if I'm in horrible shape. I get breathless just walking up the stairs in our house, and can't bend over to pick something up without feeling light-headed and dizzy. If I didn't know I was pregnant, I'd think something was horribly wrong.

9. Sleeping: between having to pee twice a night, fighting to find a comfortable position, weird/vivid/bad dreams, and the pillow that's now permanently between me and my husband, sleeping has become quite the challenge. I wake up easier (birds chirping, cats outside fighting, or the dog snoring can wake me up), sleep lighter, and can no longer sleep on my stomach or flat on my back, two of my all-time favorites. I guess I should just chock it up to preparing for those midnight feedings.

10. My brain: Lately it seems to be getting worse, but "mommy brain" really does stink. I was a bit forgetful to begin with, but every now and then, my mind will completely go blank! I will completely forget what I'm talking about, forget where I put things, or go into a room to do something, only to forget what the heck it was I was doing in the first place! It really stinks because you know you weren't this bad pre-pregnancy, too.

Wow, it's been a while

2008-04-02T05:37:00.000-07:00

So I've been out of the country lately. I had gone home to the U.S. to visit family for a month, and didn't have a lick of time to post on my blog. Oh well. But updates abound:

First, we're pregnant! Part of the reason I was going home was to find a doctor for when I move back this summer. The baby's due this fall, and we're not super comfortable with the thought of me being pregnant during the tourist season here, and at least a 1.5 hour drive from the hospital, so I'm going to be having the baby back at home.

Another reason I went home was to house-hunt, but HOLY COW! the real estate market is crazy right now. Prices are ridiculous, and people just aren't coming up off of their listing prices. Given the current state of the U.S. mortgage industry, we keep thinking this is the best time to buy. But apparently not. Blah!

So being back in Italy was a bit weird at first. I didn't realize just how much I had gotten used to being back in the U.S. until I went to get on my flight to Rome. When I heard people speaking Italian, it was almost foreign again, which was weird. I had gotten to the point that it was natural to hear.

There are definitely some things that I don't like about moving back to the States - mainly, leaving my husband behind. But I'm also going to miss the food, the cheap produce, being so close to so many travel opportunities, the few friends that I've made here, my awesome garden outside, and the cultural experiences that I've (finally) gotten used to. I think I had to leave for a month to realize just how much I would miss. Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy being back in the States, and how easy life will be when I know exactly where to go for the things I need, but I will miss European living. Once you get used to it, it has it's appeal. I know, weird.

A few things I'm looking forward to though:

-Not having to ask everyone if they speak English before I embarass myself and try to say something in Italian
-Knowing what cut of meat I'm looking at in the grocery store, and that it's not horse (ew!)
-Stores like Trader Joe's, The Fresh Market, and Nature's Pantry
-People obeying traffic laws (for the most part)
-Not having to dodge people as I'm walking through the store
-Smoothie King!
-My esthetician
-No longer having to do math in my head to figure out how much I'm spending (and crying when I hand over Euro because it hurts so much)

There are pros and cons both ways, but I am so looking forward to being near family again, especially with a little one on the way. I'm ready to find a good church, be near friends, and just feel like I'm home!

Funeral protests

2008-02-03T05:01:00.000-08:00

"If you won't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them."

So I don't get the people that protest at funerals. For those of you unfamiliar with them, it's a group of people that call themselves Christians (Westboro Baptist Church), and go around protesting mostly military, but mainly high-profile funerals, telling people that their loved-ones deaths were God's vengeance on America for allowing gays civil rights.

Granted, I'm a military wife, so it's a touchy subject, but even if it wasn't mostly military funerals, what kind of person protests where people are grieving?!? I just really don't get it, there's a total disconnect between these people and common sense! When doing some minor research on their website http://www.godhatesfags.com/, you just really can't make sense of their statements. On their home page, they say that because they were conducting "peaceful demonstrations" opposing the gay lifestyle, that America bombed WBC, and now God hates America.

Okay so first, how do you call yourselves children of Christ when you speak nothing but hatred? Also, I'd call their demonstrations anything but peaceful. Any time you strike at the heart of someone's grief, it is not peaceful. And I won't go into how I think God sees that. Then, they say that America bombed them. The supposed bombing was one guy that decided to take matters into his own hands, and set off a pipe bomb near the house of two of the families. That's not America, and that's not bombing the church. I agree that this guy should have gotten more than the 16 days or so in prison that he got, but America didn't do this, he did.

Now, as to God hating America, I think these people have a seriously messed-up view of God. I guess that means that God hates everybody then, because when was the last time that you led a sinless life? I know I haven't. If God hates America for protecting someone's civil rights, then we're all in a heap of trouble. Now, whether or not you agree that gays should be a protected group, do you think it's right for these people to be targeted for their choices? God can forgive a multitude of sins, and we're okay with that. But we're not okay with that one? It's not okay for your house to be bombed because of what you believe, but it's okay for us to ignore gays being targeted for their choices/beliefs? Please!

Anyway, I'll get off my high horse about it. But I will say one thing: anyone that goes around stating "God hates..." should be awfully careful. The God I know loves, and while the bible does say he hates sin, nowhere does it say that he hates his creation (the sinner), and yes, gays are a part of that. I also seem to remember a verse that states:

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12 17-21)

Today's been a bit of a drag...

2008-01-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

So we got back from visiting family in the States a couple weeks ago. It took me a while to get back on European time, and my husband caught a killer sinus infection that seems to be hanging on for dear life. He's also working nights, which is never fun, and makes a regular schedule that much less a reality.

I'm missing home big time now. It was so much harder leaving this time. I don't think it was the leaving part, as much as the "I don't want to go back to Italy" part. It was so nice being home. If it weren't for looking like a complete lunatic, I would've kissed the ground in the Memphis airport as soon as we landed. People actually knew how to drive, and though you still had your random crazies, they followed the rules for the most part. Only about 5% of people didn't know what they were doing, instead of the 85% in Italy.

I got to drive my truck again! It was the highlight of the drive to Knoxville and back. As soon as we got to my in-laws' house, I saw her in the driveway, and exclaimed, "my baby!" I even lovingly patted her as I walked by (again, so I didn't look completely off my rocker, I elected not to hug her and not let go for 30 minutes). I usually don't mind at all letting Neal do 90% of the driving, but I had to drive her from just West of Nashville to Clarksville. It was so nice driving a vehicle you didn't have to coax into working! And people on the road actually drove on the right and passed on the left! They weren't coming at you from all sides!

Besides the wonderful driving conditions, there were WalMart and Hancock Fabrics trips, outlet shopping, milkshakes, the mall, lemonade, baby back ribs, and Chik-fil-A!!! Oh, the joys of the U.S.! Even when the temperature dropped about twenty degrees overnight and I got a cold, I was happy as a lark just to be home!

Coming back to Italy was quite a rude experience. It took us forever to get home, and we were going on very little sleep. And to top it off, it rained for just about two weeks straight. It's finally turned nice again, but it certainly didn't help the attitude. Add to that the wonders of winter here: needing bombola (heating) gas every time you turn around, electric bills through the roof, gas at our discounted rate of $3.75 per gallon (please don't whine to me about $3/gal gas), cold tile floors everywhere, the neighbors' dog that barks 24/7, cats that thought they took over my garden while we were gone, and general stupidity on base. Between all that, you get a very lovely attitude toward Italy.

Last night, I made dinner for the off-going and on-coming security guys, and on the way to base the clutch in the car decided to just stick to the floor. It has been acting up, but we haven't had a chance to take it to get looked at. That's a process in itself. It finally popped back out just before I got there, but I had to have someone follow me home just in case. Then when I got home, the pilot light had gone out, and there was no heat in the house. Luckily the landlords came today to fix it, but not before I had to go all day without a shower, delay dinner so long that Neal had to take money to order out, and put me in a horrible mood in general. I even had a minor breakdown on Neal because I was so frustrated at everything!

So yes, today was my pity-party day. It's getting better now (heat and a fire in the fireplace will do that), and I'm sure that tomorrow things will be much better. One of the girls that used to work here that we'd made friends with (she's in Belgium now) is coming to town this weekend, so that should be fun. It's supposed to be sunny for the next week, and Neal has a long weekend off. Something tells me that I just need some good sleeping in and lots of chocolate and I'll be all better!

Last but not least, stay tuned for my report on how much Mikelauren kicks my rear on Monday when I get back to her fitness class after the holidays!

2007-12-08T04:57:00.000-08:00

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Things I miss from home ...

2007-12-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Given that the holidays are upon us, I am constantly thinking of all of the things that I miss in the US, and how much easier life is when you know where you can go, at what time, to get what you need. So here are a few things that I miss from back home:

English - Yes, I'm trying to learn the language here (and doing well enough to at least get by), and yes, there are other Americans here that I can talk to (though I don't get to base all that often). But sometimes it would just be nice to be able to go out and get something at the store, put gas in your car, or go out to eat without having to think about what you're saying and just say it, knowing that the other person will understand you. I do realize how lazy this makes me sound, but it's actually very hard work, and very taxing, to think in a non-native language all day.

Rules and regulations - They don't exist here. Seriously, I often wonder if they do. I know there are signs and speed limits and cops, but nobody seems to take notice of any of them. And when you almost get side-swiped by the Italian in the Fiat Punto, you realize just how easy it would be to stay at home 95% of the time, not taking the risk of driving on Italian roads, and not getting in wrecks and having to, once again, explain to the Carabinieri that you were in the right, even if you are an American.

WalMart - Ack! Yes, I said it. I miss WalMart! Evil as though the darn retail giant may be, I miss being able to drive to Wally World at any time of day or night for that one item that I need and just can't do without until next time. Given that Italians have never heard of a 24-hour anything, such a premise is beyond ridiculous here...which makes me wonder...do I really need that one item that I can't wait until next time for, if I'm forced to wait for it here in Italy, and I survive just fine? Hmm...

Customer Service - When you walk into a store and get ignored because the girl behind the counter is snuggling with her boyfriend, who has his hands all over her butt, and three-quarters of his tongue down her throat, you know you're in Italy. What's even better is that this is an accepted practice here. If you need help, you are expected to ask for it (if you don't mind the dirty looks for interrupting the sales-girl's makeout session). It is extremely common here for you to not speak one word to anyone who works in the store during the course of your visit, including while they ring your purchase. And heaven forbid you don't have the correct change!

Clover-leaf interstate ramps - I know that's kind of a random one, but that whole "you can't get there from here" thing, we found out really does apply in Italy. You can easily get off on an exit, thinking you can just make a U-turn and hop right back on, only to find out that you're either on another interstate headed in a completely different direction, there's only an exit ramp and not an entrance ramp there, or you're five kilometers and about 30 turns away from the entrance ramp. Seriously, just ask Neal's college buddy Chris. I took him and another buddy of his to visit the remains of the Pompeii site when they came to visit, and when I missed my initial exit on the interstate, thus began one heck of a learning experience. I ended up driving all the way around Mount Vesuvius and still came in the opposite direction from which I intended!

110 power - I still have appliances that we were given from our wedding that I've not used. We were given a transformer when we moved into this house, which is currently set up beside the TV, with about five plugs in it (TV, VCR/DVD player, PlayStation, toaster oven, toothbrush recharger, etc.). We were given another from a sailor who married an Italian (thus, no need for his), and it powers the computer. For anything else I need, we've had to do without, but the Italian version, or go ghetto-style like with the toaster and toothbrush recharger in the living room beside the TV. I have two hair driers (unfortunately, that IS a necessity), and I can't even use my sewing machine because even using it with the transformer will burn up its motor. This has become a very expensive issue.

Radio - Actually, they have radio here, but there are only about three radio stations, and one of them is Virgin Radio, which is actually British (think Virgin Airlines). The biggest thing is that, once again, everything is in Italian at least 75% of the time. I really miss being able to channel surf on the radio, knowing each station has their own style and how to easily find country, christian, jazz, etc. instead of just listening to one of three pop radio choices.

There are plenty of things that I miss, but these are what I immediately thought of. Trust me, I could write a 35-page dissertation on what I miss about the US, but I'll leave that for another day.

Just a funny...

2007-11-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

I just had to post this picture (found on www.lolcats.com) for all the girls out there...

Italian Driving Rules...

2007-11-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

My husband likes to joke that when it comes to driving in Italy, everyone is related to Mario Andretti. We joke about the driving here constantly because it really is laughable. Here is a satirical look at driving in Italy...

The rules of the road are as follows:
1. GET OUT OF MY WAY
2. Anyone can do anything at any given time
3. Those lines painted on the roads are purely cosmetic, there is no purpose for them whatsoever
4. The person who pulls the furthest into the intersection first has the right of way
5. There is no such thing as a crosswalk, the entire road is a viable option for crossing
6. You MUST go at least double the speed limit
7. You MUST slam on your brakes and come almost to a complete stop when Polizia are spotted
8. Seat belts are purely optional. In fact, children are not allowed to use them. They are required to be up and about the cabin of the car at all times, smiling and waving at other drivers.
9. It is illegal to have any less than 6 inches between you and the next car, this is reduced to 2 inches when stopped

More to follow, as I find them...

Italy...

2007-11-29T10:58:00.000-08:00

Rules/laws/etc. are strictly relative terms, they are not acknowledged, followed, enforced, etc.

I don't think Italians could draw a straight line with a ruler...for all their art and architectural history, I've yet to see a level building

Italians would put the worst American rednecks to shame with the things they burn/bury in the yard/throw out the car window

Driving in Italy, what can I say? *see my post on this topic below*

The tighter the clothes, the better...this especially refers to those who are overweight

Italians have never heard of city planning. Everyone parks in the roads (which are already barely big enough for two cars to pass) and big trucks with deliveries often block entire lanes of traffic.

Italians don't use dry wall in their homes. They are concrete walls which are impossible to nail anything to.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

We thoroughly enjoyed our Thanksgiving Day together. It was just the two of us, with loads of food, and it was nice and relaxing. I couldn't help missing family though. Thanksgiving being the beginning of the holiday season, it really makes it hit home harder that this will be my first year away from family during the holidays. I've been okay with birthdays and all, but the holidays are just completely different.

I think we're both getting more and more anxious to get back home for a visit, as we were talking all day yesterday about what we want to do when we get there, things we want to take with us, and things we could only get in the U.S. We're both very weary of being so far away, and overly ready for a trip back home. It will have been almost a year since we've seen our families by the time we get back home to see them again. We're both family-oriented people, and that's getting to us, I think. This assignment is really testing our patience.

All day Wednesday and yesterday, while I was prepping and cooking our big meal, I kept thinking of how Thanksgiving back home would be. My mom had told me that my immediate family was traveling down to Florida to see her side of the family. All day, I was tracking where they'd be and what they'd be doing, and I couldn't help but feel a little wistful. What's funny is how easy it is to forget the stress of being around large groups of relatives, and still miss them all and almost wish you were there. Neal and I had a wonderful day, and I loved every minute of spending the holiday with him and how quiet it was, but it just felt so weird.

Since I’m from a large family, Thanksgiving usually includes a lot of people. Even if it was just the ones who lived in the same town, it was still six people, including two tweens, so it definitely wasn't quiet. When I was growing up, Thanksgiving was the stereotypical huge affair that you usually see in the TV specials. My mom was one of twelve kids, and usually her oldest sister hosted, and there were constantly people coming and going, kids everywhere, and hugs and kisses all around. I miss those holidays.

Neal didn't seem to miss a beat with our quiet day. I guess it's partly been ingrained in him, given how many holidays he's missed out on from being deployed or working and not able to get home. But he's also an only child, so the quiet holiday dinners are more common and familiar to him.

I really did enjoy the time we got alone, him helping me cook, sitting at the table and nibbling on what was left on our plates after we filled up, and enjoying a glass of wine and a game of cards together. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect, romantic, or special Thanksgiving. It was just very weird, and probably one of those things about being married now (especially being married to a U.S. Sailor) that I will just have to get used to. New marriage, new family, new traditions.

Those in need

2007-11-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

Since Thanksgiving is usually one of those times to reflect on how thankful we are for all of our blessings, I thought that it would be a perfect time to also point out how we can help those who don't have all those blessings we have. During the last two years, we have sponsored a child through a program called "Compassion International." They are a Christian company who focuses on education as a means to help the needy of the global community. They have schools in many countries, and allow people to donate by sponsoring a specific child, so that they can see the difference their donation is making.

Our little girl is named Ambar. She is from the Dominican Republic, and will be eight years-old in March. We have received three letters from her, and they are the most precious letters a person will ever receive. She is so curious about us, tells us about her family, asks us questions about ours, and it is just the sweetest thing to receive. We've sent her letters as well, along with a picture of us, and it is an amazing blessing to know that this little girl will have a better life because of our small $32 a month. Through Compassion, we were also able to send an extra donation so that Ambar and the other children in her school will receive gifts for Christmas.

If you have ever considered donations to a ministry, I would highly suggest Compassion. They are very transparent as to where they spend their money, send regular updates on special projects they are doing (for example, right now they're doing a special project in Africa to help mothers and babies who are HIV positive), and are highly recommended by several national groups. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me, or to view their website.

Regrets

2007-11-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

So I was playing on Facebook this evening, which is a common enough occurrence for me once Neal has gone to work for the night, and ran across a quote in the "bumper stickers" application which I thought was worth noting. It said, "Never regret something that once made you smile."

While that statement can obviously be taken way beyond common sense, I agree with it for the most part. Looking back on the many decisions I made, things I did, people I befriended, etc. I realize that it would be a very sad life for me to constantly be focusing on those things that I should have done differently. After all, those things got me to where I am today. And it's a great place to be.

While it's never fun to look back at things you'd rather forget about, I think that those things make a person who they are, and there are many life lessons that can't be learned otherwise. It brings to mind how awesome God is, that he is actively involved in things being just right for our good. No, I don't like some of the things I've seen/done in life, but God allowed them to happen so that I would learn something, or to put me in a place to meet someone, etc.

I once met a girl in a desperate situation. I was on my way to a friend's apartment, but was running late from work. I was supposed to go to the bank to make a deposit that day, but had missed their hours and had to use the ATM instead. I didn't like making a deposit that way, and seriously considered just waiting, but I didn't want to have a lot of cash on me, so I went. While I was there, a girl with an infant in her arms walked up to me and asked me to take her baby. I was shocked, but asked her why.

It turned out that she was heading back to her parents' house after being kicked out the year before. She had gotten pregnant, and because she wouldn't break up with her boyfriend and have an abortion, her parents kicked her out. Unfortunately for her, she realized too late that her boyfriend was not all that interested in being a father, and abandoned her just after the baby was born. She had no friends, and had no choice but to go home. But she felt that she couldn't take the baby with her, and was trying to "give" it to someone. I tried to reason with her, telling her that her parents must be horribly worried about her, and will just want to know that she is safe. I told her they wouldn't turn them away, but she was adamant. She told me that if I didn't take her, she was just going to leave her somewhere.

I ended up taking the baby. Knowing how it would look if I then gave her money, I offered to buy her a meal before she left. I was secretly hoping that I could stall her long enough to come to her senses. But she refused, and the "deer in the headlights" look in her eyes told me that she really would just leave the baby. In the end, her bus came, and she got on and left. I knew one of the police officers in the area, so I reported what had happened to him. I then had to hold the precious little girl until Children's Services came to take her. I asked if they could inform me of what happened to her, but because of privacy dealing with children, they couldn't. I really wished I had been at a point in my life to have adopted her myself. But it wasn't in God's plan.

It broke my heart to see this girl. Yes, I was sad for the baby, but her mother weighed more heavily on me. What must her experience in life thus far have been like to convince her that she had to abandon her baby in order to survive? She had to be in denial, given her actions. What guilt must she be living with now. I often think of this girl. I wonder where she's at, if she's managed to make a living for herself, and I pray that God will heal her heart from such a rough life. This experience for me was one of the biggest lessons in God leading you to the right place at the right time. Who knows what she would've done with that baby girl had I not taken her? It was a horribly traumatic experience, but if I learned anything from it, it was how much God loved that baby girl, and how much he trusted me.

I am still learning the lesson of God's timing. And every time, it still amazes me.

Happy Birthday...

2007-11-12T01:15:00.000-08:00

Today is my little sister's birthday. Not my baby sister, but the second youngest, Karen. She'll be eleven this year, and I can hardly believe it. I think back to 1996 and what was going on at the time, and it doesn't seem like eleven whole years have passed since then! I was fifteen when she was born, and was in the tenth grade. Stephen (my brother) and I took piano lessons, and I remember Karen used to love sitting in her little bouncing seat beside the piano while we practiced. Both she and Sarah now play piano themselves, and love it. They are very good at it, and it amazes me how easily they've picked it up. I guess the creative/artsy talent that runs in Mom's side of the family is showing itself.

We spoiled that kid to death! She was another redhead, so she and Stephen have always had a special bond. She was the sweetest baby you'd ever meet - not that I was biased. She has always been the social butterfly, and the sing-song creative one. She loved listening to music, dancing (dad used to dance in the kitchen with her), and always got tons of attention wherever we went.

Karen's compassion is unparalleled. She has always been sensitive to everything around her. She used to cry at sad movies and shows. We had to fast forward through parts of "Lady and the Tramp" for a while because she would start crying when she saw the puppies and dogs in the pound. To this day, she is so compassionate, she will start tearing up when someone else is sad.

Karen is a huge blessing to our family, and to anyone around her. I still remember when she was around 3, she went through this phase of asking people, "Do you know God?" Mom and Dad were trying to teach her that some people know God and some people don't, and she just started asking people. It was adorable, and completely endearing. She was our little evangelist. And every now and then, you could tell God used her to ask the right person, to get them thinking. You never expect something like that out of such a young kid.

When Karen was dedicated, several people said that she would be a peace-maker. To this day, she has lived up to that. She can't stand disagreement and tension, and will do whatever she can to stop it. It works hand-in-hand with her compassion. It's amazing to see God in her, and how he works through her. People are always complimenting my mom on both of my little sisters, and how different they are. It's so obviously God in them.

Karen's now in the fifth grade and going to her first year at private school. My mom says it's been quite a transition, and she's had a hard time with her social tendencies. Something tells me that she'll level out and thrive there though. If anything, hopefully she'll be that evangelistic influence while there.

Karen is so special, and I hate that we've had to miss out on this last year of her and Sarah's lives. I can't wait to go back home and see them. I have learned so much through those girls, and I'm certain that God has used them in my life in many ways. If anything, I understand a little more the heart that a mother has for her children. Even though they're not mine, I can only imagine the love I will have for my own children, just based on the special place in my heart that those two have.

Happy Birthday Karen! I love you!

Motivation toward my goal...

2007-11-11T12:15:00.000-08:00

I have seriously been slack in the last several years with working out and exercising. During my first few years of college, I worked out at least 4-5 times per week, and was in really good shape. After two car accidents, a really stressful couple of years of working full time and trying to finish my degree, planning a wedding, and other things keeping me distracted, I've decided that it's time for me to get back to it.

I used to love working out, and every time I do, I love the high that I get. I've also determined that though I've never been a runner, it's high time I become one. I've been attempting off and on through the summer, then sprained my ankle (I refuse to give up!), but I'm finally back to it. I still have to be careful with the ankle, but I'm doing fairly well.

Starting out, I weighed 160lbs at my heaviest. I'm finally down to 150, but it's taken two months to get that far, and it's time to kick it into high gear. My measurements and everything are below.

Starting out (10/23/2007) :
Weight - 153
Waist - 37
Hips - 40.5
Neck - 14
BMI - 27.1

Today (11/11/2007):
Weight - 150.5
Waist - 35
Hips - 40
Neck - 13.5
BMI - 26.6

Goal: (by my 27th birthday, 03/30/2008)
Weight - <130
Waist - <30
Hips - <38
Neck - <12
BMI - <23

My other motivation...

Random cheesy thought of the day...

2007-11-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

From the foil inside seal of a tub of Daisy Sour Cream: "The best way to get a hug is to give one!"

LOL! So cheesy, but it works for some reason. Whoever thought you would get life lessons from a sour cream tub?!?

Make new friends...

2007-10-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

So lately I've been in one of those melancholy moods. I'm sure the fact that we've had our first taste of winter helped that. Granted, the weather's back up a bit during the day, but everybody gets in a funk every now and then, and I've found that this funk often throws me into some of my best thinking.

So anyway, lately I've been catching up with some old friends. Of course, by old friends, I mean friends from high school, and those from my first couple of years of college. We moved around alot when I was young, so I didn't make really close friends until my late teen years. As I'm only twenty-six, some people may not think those friends are really all that "old," but it's one of those cases where you're really close and for one reason or another you lose touch, keep meaning to call, etc. etc.

My girlfriends from high school never missed a beat. We were all fairly close, having all been home schooled, and it's as if we never lost touch (only a lot has happened since then obviously). It's so nice to see that the growing pains, stupid mistakes, and constant self-questioning are a common theme among us. Whether it's the natural sheltering that happens to home schooled girls, or just a product of being young and naive, I don't know. But it's almost therapeutic to see that someone else went through similar crap to what you did, and thinks the same way about things.

But while those girlfriends were relatively easy to find and get back in contact with, I can't help but think of those whom I'd met after high school - friends that were just as great, but for some reason, I've lost touch with. And of course, now that I'm married and living in a totally different country (temporarily, thank goodness), it can seem overwhelming knowing that there's no really good way to get in touch with them even if I could.

To the girlfriend who was there for me while I was moving out on my own, whose cell phone number I still have, and could easily call: "Hi there. It's Janie. Remember me? Last time I talked to you, you were having a baby, and I never got by to see her because I was planning a wedding, finishing my senior year of college, and dealing with general drama in my life. I know that's no excuse, because if I was a good friend, I would've made time. But can you find it in your heart to talk to me, now that I have the time? I know you're dealing with a two year-old now, and there's no way we can just go out for coffee or something, but is now a good time to talk?"

How horrible it makes me feel to know that I've let her down. Sure, we played phone tag for about six months after her baby was born, and neither of us are the phone type. She and I both took our time calling each other back, but it always worked for us. The last time I thought of calling her, it was about two months before I was leaving the country, and I felt like a heel trying to keep up a friendship, just to move away soon after.

Then there's the girlfriend who's a couple years older, who moved away after graduating from college. We used to keep in touch by phone every couple of weeks, and emailed regularly. Somehow, the emails became less and less frequent, and eventually, I had a hard time figuring out how to contact her. I always had her email, and we were both "too busy" to respond quickly, then forgot to respond, and it became a relationship of forwards and random emails here and there. She was a great shoulder to lean on when I was a senior in high school, and had the biggest crush of my life. She was logical, like me, and we understood each other. Even though we couldn't be logical about our own love lives, we made sense of each other's, and listened and said what needed to be said. How did I let that go?

There's the girlfriend who I met in college, who was in a few of my classes. We hit it off immediately, and even though we only had a few classes together, we knew the other understood us. We didn't have classes together for about a year and only saw each other in the hallways for a while. Then, I found out she was dating my best guy friend, and I couldn't have been happier! We had another class together during the semester she was graduating and planning a wedding, and I made the cakes for their wedding. After they moved, I kept up with them occassionally, but because her husband was friends with my boyfriend, any time they'd talk, my boyfriend would tell me they said hi, and eventually that was the only way I kept up with them. When I broke up with said boyfriend, I talked to them once more, but let what someone else said manipulate me into thinking they were mad at me, and I left it up to them to call me if they wanted. Big mistake.

This past April, I got back in touch with her, but only through email, and even then, it's scarce. Unfortunately, from what she said, it seems that my one-time best guy friend in the world is actually upset with me, and I've not garnered the courage to call and chat with him. One of these days, I will call and at least talk to him and see what's really going on, because he was an amazing friend. I have to pray through that though, and gather the courage to possibly open up some old wounds. But it's worth it.

Then there's the couple I was best friends with during college. They were part of a whole group of friends that used to run together. After I broke up with above boyfriend and was newly married (and all the drama that ensued with that situation), I tried to get together with them. Knowing that they would want to discuss some of the drama with previous boyfriend (they had only heard his side), I was willing to talk to them about it. Unfortunately, it apparently wasn't what they wanted to hear. Though they said that they still wanted to keep in touch, it was obvious that they were bitter about the situation. I have always questioned whether I should've handled the situation differently. I tried not to involve mutual friends for this reason, but had my hand forced, and lost what I thought were good friends. In this case, maybe one day they'll see the real picture. But it still makes me sad, knowing how much we all went through together, and how when I did something that I felt was best for me, because another of their friends didn't like it, I ended up being the bad guy. I guess that's usually the case when you finally wise up. But I still love them and miss them.

On a good note, I recently got back in touch with a guy friend from several years ago. He and I had met at a church conference and called each other regularly. I started dating a guy who was not comfortable with that, and I ended up just not calling any more. I found him online, and when I realized all that had gone on in his life in the five years since we'd talked, I felt awful! He had some important moments in his life that I had missed. Moments that I thought I would never miss in a friend's life, but I did. Luckily he understood, and wanted to know about my life in the past five years as well, but I still felt awful. I let a guy come between me and a good friend, and he was not the only one. I am only now realizing that my priorities were in the completely wrong place in my early twenties.

These aren't the only friends that I've lost touch with. There are many many more. Overall, I've learned many lessons through these lost relationships. Even more so now that I'm in another country, with limited relationships available. I'm beginning to realize the truth in the song, "Make new friends" that we were taught in preschool. I'm learning just how important relationships are. I'm also learning that you can't cater to everyone, please everyone, agree with everyone, or avoid conflict in friendships. I've learned how important it is to maintain my own friends, apart from the guy I'm dating/I marry. I'm also learning that though I love my husband, and we love spending tons of time together, and he's a great listener, I can't depend on him to meet all of my relational needs. I need friendships outside of my marriage, if for any reason, just so I don't drive my husband crazy with my constant "chit chat" gab!

Anyway, though it isn't New Years' yet, my resolution is to work on the relationships I have, had, and to gather more of them in general. Friendships are hard, and there is so much more involved than just the stuff I put in this post. But they are essential because God made us social creatures (especially women, lol), and worth it.

My first post...

2007-10-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

So I decided that since I've started writing again, and I'm really enjoying blogging about our life here in Italy, I'd start my own random blog. I'll write about random things I think about, spiritual, financial, medical, whatever. Some of my girlfriends and I are into discussing things via blogs, and I've been in a really creative mood lately, so here goes. This will be an online journal of sorts.

Today's thought: rate chasing.

Definition: people move their savings money around to different internet savings accounts in order to take advantage of higher interest rates.

Neal and I are doing this currently (sort of). We started an HSBC online savings last year for our emergency fund because the highest we could get with our bank was somewhere around 3%. HSBC had 5.05% at the time, with a special of 5.5% for a month. Given that the difference was so huge, and that we knew HSBC by name, we went for it. Now just this past month HSBC, along with many other banks, lowered their rates (down to 4.5% - ouch!) because of the Fed rate cut, so we went window-shopping. We found a bank that had a much higher rate (5.19%), so we've opened an account, and are going to sit back and see how it goes.

Although ours is just being savings-wise, apparently this is a big thing to do. I've heard of people opening credit cards to take advantage of an introductory 0% offer, then using that money to invest until the offer expires, and paying it off the day before. So you're essentially doing the same thing the banks do: using someone else's money to invest with, and keeping the interest income. While I believe I'm pretty money-savvy (it took a long time unfortunately), I think this is still a little bit more risky than I'm comfortable with right now. But more power to those who are doing it, I guess.

Here's an interesting article on this phenomena: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/13/business/yourmoney/13money.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

So anyway, this is an interesting topic to me. I guess I just don't feel quite as much like a bank snob now for moving our savings for the higher rate. And I guess it's essentially the same as playing the stock market - just a lot safer!