Rebuilding

Divorce, separation, and death change our lives. Sometimes we move to avoid having to live in the same place we did prior to the separation, but sometimes we can't afford to move and we want to change our living environment. 

Maybe we want to build an addition or change the look of pre-existing rooms, so we can create new memories. Unless we are builders ourselves, though, we have to rely on outside builders to change the look of our homes.

How do we find quality builders? Word of mouth is often the best way to determine whether or not a company is as good as commercials say it is. But if we were able to know, before we decided upon a company, which one was trustworthy, we would feel better about our choices. 

So how can we know – if our friends and neighbors haven't already utilized the services we want to employ – if the company we choose is going to live up to our expectations? BuildDirect reviews gives consumers information to help them in their home improvement and renovation shopping experiences.

Check out their Facebook page (by clicking the link) to see some samples of what they have done to improve the looks of some homes. 

Does Your Daughter Cry When You Brush Her Long Hair?

People who read my other blogs are going to think I'm crazy when they read this post, because I can't say enough about the this brush! I bought it for myself, because when my hair grew back in after chemo treatments, it came in frizzy and curly. I HATED brushing it, because it pulled and it HURT!

So when I saw the commercial for the Tangle Teezer, I decided to give it a try. I even tried it on my granddaughter, who frequently grabs her head when her mother brushes her long hair – and her hair isn't even curly.

If brushing your child's hair is painful, get the Tangle Teezer. I no longer use any other brush. 

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Loving Your Pathetic Life

Life is a struggle for most of us, especially those of us who raise children without the support of a spouse. We especially feel that nagging feeling that we don't have enough and that we're not giving enough when it comes to the holidays. We get out our shopping list and see all the people on it. We see our kids' shopping lists and know that we can't afford those Skylanders or that Xbox or that Barbie doll house, and so we look further down the list hoping to find Pokemon cards or new crayons. And we become inventive – like getting the perfect container for those Pokemon cards or new sparkly markers.



We try to appeal to our children's creative sides by purchasing fun crafts our kids can create or build. And we learn to accept that we already have everything we need. As I write in my article, How to Love Your Pathetic Life, I feel fortunate to have everything I need to make life comfortable for me. I have, "a home, furniture, a car, a television, a laptop, a PS3, a wii, a stationary bicycle, weights, yarn, and crochet hooks." Yes, almost everything I own was given to me or purchased on sale, but I truly do have everything I need. And my biggest joy comes from spending time with my family and friends.

I also love making jewelry and crocheted items for others.

Just recently a couple of my kids asked me what I wanted for Christmas. Truthfully? Nothing! I want nothing. And then one of my daughters suggested a Hobby Lobby gift card, and I said, "Seriously, I don't want or need anything, but if you feel you have to give something, that's probably the best thing you can give."

So if you feel that your life is pathetic, look around. If you're reading this post you probably have kids and for that alone you should be grateful. I raised all of my kids with very little money. For years we lived below the poverty level, though they probably never knew that at the time, because I never made them feel poor. They are all grown now, and they still love me.

If your children feel loved, you have given enough. You have given more than enough. Love is everything. But if you're still feeling sad about not being able to give enough this Christmas, please read, How to Love Your Pathetic Life.

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Efficient Gift Wrapping Techniques

My first job at 16 was working in a gift shop, so gift wrapping was required as part of my job. Everything was set up nicely for me, but when I got older, I had to learn how to wrap gifts without having the advantage of a gift-wrapping station. More than 45 years later, I finally figured it out, and wrote about it here: 10 Tips for Wrapping Gifts.

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