When people find out that my husband and I have never been to Las Vegas, they are usually shocked. Everyone has been there at least once, right? Well, not us. From what I've seen and heard through other's experiences there, it is just not our cup of tea... at all.

Las Vegas is the epitome of all that we can't stand. First of all, everything is fake. Even the hotels in Vegas are trying to be something they are not. This works in places like Disney World, to some degree because of their high attention to detail, but even there it gets annoying after four or five days. Then we have all the bright lights, loud noises, crowded spaces, and adults acting like idiots because "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Again, more of our top pet peeves.
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January is a good time to go through your paperwork and get rid of anything that you can. There are some things, like utility bills, credit card and bank statements that can be shredded after two years. Tax returns and all supporting documents should be kept on file for at least seven years, according to the IRS, but I prefer to hold on to tax documents for as long as I have room for them, just in case.
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People are living longer these days thanks to the many advances in medical technology. And with the advent of portable oxygen concentrators and electric wheelchair "scooters", senior citizens can still carry on a normal life and even partake in activities they may have never thought possible with their ailments.
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After several years lacking organization in the garage, my husband finally found tool storage he is happy with.

It is a tall Craftsman tool chest unit with small drawers in the front. It is on wheels, so moving it around is easy, even though it is made of metal.» continue reading

Before Christmas, I discussed the idea of saving money around the holidays by giving personalized handmade gifts. I still love this idea, but just for fun I was imagining the thought of having an unlimited gift-giving budget, and just what I would spend it on...

For my dad, it would be a sleek zero gravity recliner, which would look stylish in his house and relieve the back pain he lives with daily since being in a car accident and fracturing his spine thirteen years ago.
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I've mentioned before how I prefer shopping online for gifts, toys, books, and pet items. We live about an hour from the nearest large city, so it has to really be worth the trip for us to make that drive (especially with gas prices as high as they are). I've noticed lately that online stores are getting very specialized, which is good if you can find the specific store that has exactly what you need, but difficult because you end up buying from several different stores. Different stores means multiple shipping fees, several deliveries to expect at my house, and more time searching on the internet and comparing prices.
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We all have our weaknesses when it comes to spending money. For some, it's expensive clothes, shoes, or jewelry. It's easy for me not to spend money on diamond rings because I would rather spend money traveling. Since I am so anti-clutter, I would rather have an unforgettable experience where the only things added to my belongings are the photographs of my trip.
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I watched a great movie last week called "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" which I borrowed from the public library. It is about a woman who raised ten children in the fifties by winning contests and writing jingles for products. Honestly, I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did, but it is an incredibly uplifting movie. It makes you feel like worrying and stressing out is pointless, and things just have a way of working themselves out if you have a positive attitude. It is a great movie and I highly recommend it. The movie is actually based on a book written by one of the children, Terry Ryan, and I may read it later on as books are always better than the movie versions of stories.
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