single parenting with Amber Jones

Let me start by saying there is no one who enjoys meeting a man, falling in love, and everything that goes along with that more than me.  However, once you have kids and you are attempting to find a mate it changes the whole ballgame. 

First and foremost you are now looking for not only a mate but also someone who you think will be a positive influence on your kids.  Having said this, you can still find someone for simply a “good time” but frankly, I don’t have time to waste on someone that I’m really not interested in.  I wish I had more time for myself but with very limited time for socializing with adults I feel as though I need to make that time as productive as possible.  So then I think — maybe that is my issue?  Maybe I should just go back to looking to just have a good time and that magical someone will simply “fall in my lap”. 

Any advice on the topic would be welcome………

I have had some requests for the Skin Medica eye cream that the medical spa had recommended — you’ll see it posted below.  I do have to say that it has done really well for the dark circles under my eyes.  If you have children that don’t let you get a good night sleep I highly recommend it — just don’t be surprised by the cost.  The good news is that you don’t have to use very much at all so it will last a long timeJ

The Economy…..it’s on everyone’s mind, and if it isn’t just turn on your television because that is what everyone is talking about, writing about, and thinking about.  Everyone seems to be preparing for the worst…assuming that the worst has not already hit us. 

One can only hope at this point that the stimulus package(s) make enough of an improvement so that the economy doesn’t hit the record books like the “dirty 30’s”.  I had previously blogged that my State had still been somewhat secluded from the effects of the economy….not so much anymore as we are starting to see the effects as well.  Not to the extent that California has — how awful that would be! 

However, I still consider us to be the lucky ones.  We have had a few more months than most to fully know that this was coming and be prepared.  Everyone (unless you are living under a rock) should have been changing their spending habits to pay off debt and save money for an emergency fund.  Being a single parent, however, I can tell you that there wasn’t much waste in the budget to begin with so even given that time period there wasn’t a lot of additional funds to be saved.  But, I have and will continue to attempt to save a little bit more out of the budget each month (just in case). 

On that note, what are some of your saving tricks?  What have you learned over the past few months that can help everyone out? 

More information was released yesterday on the Caylee Anthony murder case for which her mother, Casey Anthony has been charged.  From what has been released they are stating that the garbage bags, duct tape, as well as the laundry bag found with little Caylee Anthony’s skeletal remains all link to similar items within the Anthony home.  All pointing back to Casey Anthony being the killer.

 However, the confusing item for me was the document regarding the duct tape — was there a fingerprint on the duct tape or not? In one are it appeared as though they had checked a fingerprint and it didn’t match George, Cindy or Lee Anthony but it doesn’t list Casey Anthony?  However, on another part of the form it appears as though they are stating that there wasn’t a fingerprint on the duct tape?  So, is there a fingerprint or isn’t there?  If so, then does it match Casey’s fingerprints?

If Casey did kill her daughter I wish she would end the additional agony for her family (as well as those of us following the case) and just confess to the crime!!

After having a very stressful week at work I was talking to a friend of mine about our lives as a whole.  After discussing this for a while the conversation migrated to a time period last year when a mutual friend was literally fighting for his life — and frankly we both thought we might lose him to the battle.  At that point we had stated that too much time and energy was spent stressing out about the things that we can’t control rather than focusing on the things within our life that we should be concentrating on……our relationships with others. 

After all does it really matter in the scheme of life whether or not you made five digits or six?  Whether or not you drove a Lexus or a Toyota?  Or if you had the magical VP or CEO initials following your name? 

In the end, I want my kids to have memories of me and us as a family.  I want them to think of me as more than just a financial provider…but rather as a parent who took an active participation in their life. 

Having said all of this, they can only have those memories if I let go of the STRESS.   If I let go of all of the little (and not so little) aggravations in my life long enough to have the ability to enjoy my time with them.  So, with that, forget about work…forget about the bills….forget about your ex….forget about the laundry…..

Go have fun with your family!

Did you see this movie?  OMG — I loved it!!!  If I didn’t have that exact thing happen to me I had a girlfriend who did so I could relate to each and every one of the different story lines.  I couldn’t help but thinking about one of my friends who is in the same situation as Jennifer Aniston’s character — and given the fact that at the end he finally ends up popping the question I thought……..oh no, now she is going to continue to think that there is hope–ugh!!  I wanted to call her immediately and say — she was the EXCEPTION!!

Seriously, though, I wish I would have had a guy friend who I could have called to tell me to “run” or to “move on”  like Gigi did — it would have made life so much easier and less painful.  But, I probably also would have missed out on a lot of very fun eveningsJ

So, for those of you who haven’t seen the movie yet — you have to go!  I would recommend going with a group of girlfriends so that you can point to each other and laugh when things look and sound a little “too familiar”.  Until then I’ll be looking for someone who is totally “into me”.

Over the holidays I decided to buy myself a gift from Santa — and this year I decided that I was going to treat myself to some good skin care products.  So I went to a medical spa and recieved a free skin analysis to determine what products would work best for my skin.  Because I have somewhat oily skin and ever since I have had my kids I get periodic break outs (especially with my period) they recommended that I start with some products to try to reduce the oil and help repair some of the damage that I had done with other products first.  I do have to give them credit — my skin has been clear ever since.  In addition for the first time in a long time my skin seems to really soak up the moisturizure to obtain the full benefit of the product. 

Because I’m not getting any younger, they also prescribed a night time eye repair cream……………to hopefully keep the crows feet at bay.  Given the fact that I haven’t noticed any additional aging I guess I’m happy but for the price I also haven’t noticed a huge improvement either.  But I do have to give them some credit due to the fact that I currently don’t have wrinkles there so it is difficult to measure. 

Overall, I give the Skin Medica line a definite recommendation for its quality and effectiveness.  As for the price…….with these economic times……lets just say I might be checking to see if I can work there part time to get a discount on the productsJ

As a mother myself, I can not imagine the grief that I would undergo if my three-year-old daughter was murdered.  So what does grief stricken Casey Anthony do — not even ask to watch the public memorial held for her daughter, Caylee.  My question to her is this…..is your schedule so busy behind bars that you didn’t have time to participate in your own daughters funeral?!? 

Then at the memorial Casey’s brother Lee spoke of a C.M.A. - rather than using the name Casey or Caylee so no one but Casey would know who he was speaking to…..this whole family situation is beginning to look a little creepy!