Have you ever wondered...

Have you ever wondered what you'll find if you click on the "Next Blog" 15 times or so? I always wonder about the blogs I'm grouped with/near, so I do this quite randomly. How else am I supposed to know there are blogs out there that I want to read? 

As an aside, is it nosiness or actual interest that has us searching the blogs of strangers for words of wisdom? I admit to sheer curiosity, which could very well be nosiness. And interest. I am one of those freaks who, for the most part, is actually interested in the lives of others. Not just their dramas and their troubles. Not just their heartaches and sorrows. Everything. People fascinate me. It's why I continue working in Customer Service. Maybe I should have gone for my Psychology degree? 

So I pulled open my blog this afternoon and clicked on "Next Blog" about 15 times. They were all in Finnish and I chose not to have Google translate them for me. A few looked like those "let me scam you out of your money" blogs that try to convince you that you can make money online just by investing in something they've done. A few looked like personal blogs. One was a Finnish rock band - I know this because it was actually written in English! The great majority of them haven't been updated in years. 

And of course, these groupings change. My second go-round had me bundled with a bunch of Anime blogs. 

Oh, so it's all random? Like life, I suppose? Well, OK. I guess that doesn't really help me figure their pattern out, does it? 

Today was a very hard day at work. I'm really over it and I'm ready to move on. 

DIY Laundry Detergent

I don't much care for PINK, but today it fits. I'm almost 38 years old. I've learned not to argue with myself. (Finally)

Boy Wonder and I are big into saving money whenever, wherever, and however we can. So we've often done the homemade detergent route. OK. Once. We did it once. We made this recipe but I didn't care for the inconvenience of the liquid. So I found this recipe. I bought everything except the baking soda and the Purex Crystals. I have to go back for the baking soda but I'm mixed on the crystals. I don't necessarily want fabric softener in all of my clothes, and Boy Wonder does not want frilly scent all over his. 

(Frankly, I don't blame him. I've always considered that a way of branding your man. A) If he's a good man, you don't need to warn other women off. 2) If they are "that kind" of woman, they want a taken man.)

But I do so like soft clothes...

Anyway, this was encouraging because it says it lasts about a year. I need something that will last about a year! We did our grocery shopping today - I spent about $200 (including the laundry stuff and  various other cleaning products that we do not buy each week). It seems like a lot, so I have to keep reminding myself that it should last about 3 weeks! (So if $50 of it was cleaning product/paper product and $150 is grocery - that's $50/week for 3 adults.)

The house needs a good "Spring Cleaning" so I've been buying extra stuff lately in order to tackle that. I'm no molly maid, so I'm thinking one room a day, other activities permitting. 

We might have to move in a few months due to a tax situation on the landlord's part. I'd rather not try to find a place that will allow us to live there with our 4 dogs and 2 cats and 3 adult humans. Only because I think it will be expensive and difficult - especially as we want a house with a fenced in yard. UGH. 

So, back to Wal-Mart so we can pick those things up. I'll update about that laundry recipe later. 

Family Fun Day

I've made it fairly clear that Boy Wonder and I are broke, right? I hope so. WE. ARE. BROKE. Poor. Rich in love, well-off in possessions, and yet still poor in cash. And surprisingly no, not because we are well-off in possessions. Still...

I love to spend time with my Husband. Even when we are arguing over something silly, we are still right there with each other. I tend to joke that we're co-dependent. Maybe it's true. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. 

Yeah, I went there. Sue me. I'm still learning the Blogger format and having fun while doing so. Plus, that is totes an awesome movie. One of my faves. If it were available to stream on Netflix, I'd say go watch it. As it is, I can only echo a resounding WTF that it's not on Netflix. SRSLY???

So anyway, Boy Wonder and I have this blog together, even though I've already warned you that I do most of the posting. But now that he's working again, our together time is lessened - I mean, we're not together at the gym every day now. In fact, we might have to start doing our cardio separately. I'm confused. 

Wanting to ensure that we continue our dates, I decided to find something we can do together, just an hour or two a week. Something that he likes to do more so than I. So, he's a gamer. I'm not. But, we are going to try this. I found Aion is a free game to download and play, so we're going to try that. 

Tomorrow, we'll do the gym for an hour or two, then come home and play. Well, tomorrow or Saturday since we still have to do our grocery shopping. Either way, I'll let you know how it goes!

In the Habit

Boy Wonder and I have recently started exercising. For reals. Exercise. Yes. Me. Voluntarily moving my fat ass to and fro in an effort to shed fat from the ass and belly. And to build muscles. 

Creating a new habit is hard. I hate the gym. I love the accomplishment. We joined Planet Fitness about 2 1/2 months ago. Being complete noobs, we kind of muddled our way through - trying all the different machines and using each of the cardio equipment. They have a very awesome 30 minute circuit room - it targets a whole body workout + cardio in 30 minutes. And you really have to work at it; really create a sweat. 

Then we met with a personal trainer. We did what he said. And nothing. 

Then we met with a new personal trainer. OH. MY. GOD. 

I think I'm going to die. 

So, we'll see if this works for us. I really hope so because something has to change, right? 

(And yes, this is mostly to set up the label for "exercise" so that I can create the category, lol...)

What to read next...

Spider-girl here. Let's talk books, and reading. 

Are you an avid reader?? A careless reader? Not a reader at all? Boy Wonder is what I might consider a careless reader. After an unfortunate issue with a favored author, he has very little interest in reading. 

I, on the other hand, could probably be considered a voracious reader. I will attempt to read just about anything. Yes, I am particularly fond of historical romance, paranormal romance, chick lit, and fantasy but I'll read other stuff too. 

Money is tight in the Wonder Household. To put it plainly: we are cash strapped, credit unworthy. No bigs. We survive and thrive. We are learning to make do with less and even make our own. I especially enjoy the making of our own. 

But, this means that I cannot buy new books as often as I would like. Not even 'previously owned' books. Thankfully, there's a Kindle app for that. And did you know that there are a zillion and one free books available on Amazon? No? Well, I did. I love my Amazon free books. 

The problem? It's a first world one, to be sure - I've become spoiled by actual printed books that have been professionally edited. If the story is good, the occasional spelling or grammatical error is easy to overlook. If the story is no good, however? Well, then it depends upon whether or not I have something else to read already lined up. As it stands, I have close to, if not more than, 1500 books in my Kindle library. And yet I am always verging upon the precipice of "I don't have anything to read!!"

Right now I am enjoying I Bring the Fire Part I on the Kindle app for my phone, while reading Allerednic - A Regency Cinderella in Reverse on my PC Kindle app. No, I don't actually own a Kindle. Why spend the money on one when I have a free app on my Smartphone? These are both enjoyable in completely different ways. I Bring the Fire is a bit stiff. I'm biased, but I think I could have done it better - had I only had the idea first. 

But these books will be finished within the next few days. So, the question becomes: What shall I read next? 

Testing

Boy Wonder and I will be testing the Blogger format after time spent with WordPress.com.

We hope you will be patient with us as we build our new home. Check back frequently to see what we've accomplished.