This is my take on saving money! I am a spender! It stems from my depression! (Gettin real this year remember!) But that is a whole 'nuther story! I like buying stuff! I love to shop! For me, for the kids, for work, for my hubby for gifts, heck even for groceries! There are so many things about shopping that I like I can't even begin to explain! It makes me feel good, it gets me out of the house and away for a bit, it gets me out and around people which even if I am not interacting with them I love to people watch! I love shopping with friends, by myself, with my kids (if I am in the right mood and have plenty of time and it's summer!) SOOOOO shopping generally involves spending money, which I need to NOT do - so I am trying to find ways to make saving money as fun as spending it!

I am a pretty neat person! No really I am! I am a kind-hearted, honest, creative, loyal, fierce friend, compassionate, giving person who just happens to be disorganized, anxiety ridden and a wee bit high maintenance! I focus so much on my negative qualities that I forget all about the posititive ones and I don't let people see my true self! I need to have faith that if I let people see me and what's in my heart that they will like me for who I am and be ok with it if they don't! Believe that there is something wrong with them - not me!

I do NOT want to start another Dear Mom on the iphone - of course I read that and cried and cried feeling like the worst mom ever - then I read the Dear Mom Judging Me and Another Perspective and felt better! The point is technology is here to stay and we are going to be on our phones, tablets and computers! My point is to unplug and really BE with my children for quality time! As the mom in the second article points out you can be zoned out even without a gadget!  So when it is work time on the computer that's ok! Or if mommy needs some facebook, twitter or instagram fun it's OK, but when it's kiddo time - unplug and focus on the 3 darling little people that give my life purpose!

We needed a new computer and we thought a laptop would be good for me to carry around the house! The desktop will come down stairs (once I get everything I need off of it and put on external hard drive) and be the family computer to be used by the boys and Ava and all of us for basic internet use and the boys school work. I am really loving the wireless printer idea! We will be able to print from ALL of our devices!  Love it! The laptop is a touch screen which will take some getting use to. My only experience with one was at an Origami Owl team traning on the new back office and I would pull something up and then point (touch) at it and it would take me to a completely different screen! But I am very thankful that his parents gave it to us! They are always so kind and generous!

4. A Card from a Student with the coolest picture on the front!

First off the fact that this child gave me a card is incredible - I had her older sisters and never recieved anything ever! Second I love the words made out of pictures! I even have one in my classroom! A fact that she observed and chose this card for me! Incredible! I am going to frame this and make it part of our holiday decor! This word has been coming to me a lot recently, I think the universe is trying to tell me something!

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