Hey, It's Okay

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. You can link up any day of the week. All you have to do is make a list of what you're okay about. Simple! Please do not link up a post that has nothing to do with Hey, It's Okay. It's rude.

Hey, It's Okay....




....to be going on vacation next week! We're headed to Gettysburg, Williamsburg, and North Carolina.



....to finally be able to pick up a copy of The Handmaid's Tale from the library. I was number 200 on the wait list about two months ago.



....to be nearly done watching the latest season of Orange Is The New Black. It's okay but I'm kind of over the whole riot thing.



....to have inwardly cheered during Cersei's revenge towards the woman who killed her daughter. I know she's crazy mean and all, but if I could get away with it, I'd probably do the same if anyone hurt my kids.



....to wish people would present me how Daenarys Stormborn was. "The mother of dragons, ruler of such and such, healer of such and such..." I could be presented as, "This is Amber, mother of two, whose epidural was turned down for her first child so she suffered the pains of childbirth and felt the ring of fire, cleaner of barf, guardian of two cats which she rescued from a shelter, reader of many books."


....to have tried the new confetti cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory.

What's Inside The Kawaii YumeTwins July Box

"Is my YumeTwins box here?"

"Not yet."

*Next day*

"Is my YumeTwins box here?"

"Not yet."

*Next day*

"I heard the mail lady, is my YumeTwins Box here?"

"Not yet."

*Next day*

"Is my YumeTwins box here?"

"Yes."

*SCREAMS*

(Am now partially deaf.)


My daughter always gets excited when her YumeTwins box arrives. She's into things that are kawaii (a Japanese word for cute), so she's always eager to see what the box holds.

Naturally she screeches as she pulls out each item.

"I love this!

"I LOVE THIS!"

"EVERYTHING IS SO KAWAII!"

She got some kawaii adhesive bandages. "Perfect, because I'm always getting hurt," she mused.

She got a My Melody Dental Travel Kit. It comes with the following:

"For the first time in my LIFE, I'm trying toothpaste from Japan!"

"How does it taste?"

*Smacks her lips* "Minty. Just like American toothpaste, basically."

"I see girls dressed up like Sailor Moon all the time on the Internet."

She got some Sailor Moon playing cards.

She got Re-Ment Sanrio and Japanese Goods Blind Box. I guess this is the equivalent to those Minecraft blind boxes she gets?

This is what she got:

One of the cats started batting one of the toys around and she was like, "Stop it! These are special. They're from Japan! They're kawaii."

She also got a Disney Squishy "Potemochi" Plush.

"It's Winnie the Pooh! A fat Winnie the Pooh. And he's soft. And squishy! I love him!"


Naturally, she's ready to see what's in her next box.

If you want a box full of kawaii goodies, you can sign up here AND you can save $3 with the code AML3.

What was your favorite item in the box? I personally love the squishy Pooh.

Why Your Teenager Should See Dunkirk

Last week I took my teenager to see Dunkirk. My husband and I wanted to see it and I asked if he wanted to join. He agreed.

"It's non-fiction, right?" he asked. "World War 2?"

I nodded.

"Lots of people died," Tommy continued matter-of-factly.

I nodded again. My throat squeezed. My Grandpa fought in World War 2. I think of him whenever I see World War 2 movies. I think of all my family members who selflessly fought in the war so we could have freedom today.

Tommy typed something into his laptop. "Did you know that the director of Dunkirk also directed the Batman films?"

Tommy has autism, so his subject matter changes quickly.

When we got to the movie theater, Tommy whispered to me, "Did you know the director of Dunkirk also directed the Batman films?"

"Yes," I answered.

He repeats stuff often.

The movie is well-made. I hate to say it was fantastic, because, well, it's based on a true story and many people lost their lives. I can't really spoil anything because if you Google Dunkirk, you'll see what happened. But you'll leave the theater feeling satisfied and appreciative. I think it is important that teenagers see this movie. And here's why.

Source

1. They'll learn history. So many don't know much about it. Or they'll roll their eyes and claim history is boring. Well, history is what made our country what it is today, so everyone should appreciate it. I'm glad my kids love history and enjoy learning what happened "back in the day."

Source

2. It gets them away from the electronics. My son probably spends too much time on his video games. So anytime I can pull him away is a good thing.


3. It's quality family time! Instead of watching some fluff movie, your teenager will watch an educational movie.



4. There isn't a lot of blood. I know some parents are wary letting their kids see a movie with lots of blood, even though that's war, unfortunately. But this movie was made in a tasteful way. It's not like Saving Private Ryan. I still have haunting images of that movie. But I'm not one of those parents who won't let my kids see violent films. If they can stomach it, they're welcome to watch.



5. It'll help them appreciate our soldiers. My kids already do because their Daddy is in the Air Force. Their grandfathers were in the military as well. But sometimes people view soldiers as killing machines with no heart. They aren't. They fight for their country. They'll give their LIVES for their country. They work long hours for little pay. They go towards danger while others run away from it.

My teenager said the movie was "good" and he was proud of the soldiers. "I'm not sure if I could do it," he admitted.

Not a lot of people could.


Even if you don't have a teenager, I still recommend this film.

Have you seen Dunkirk yet? Have you watched other war films? I've seen most of them because of my husband. Naturally.

Hey, It's Okay

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. You can link up any day of the week. All you have to do is make a list of what you're okay about. Simple! Please do not link up a post that has nothing to do with Hey, It's Okay. It's rude.

Hey, It's Okay....




....to have thought the race between Michael Phelps and the shark was cheesy. I kept hearing about it so I caught it on repeat and I was like !!!??.



....to finally have checked out Schlitterbaun, which is this giant water park nearby. Tom's Great Uncle visited us from Houston, and he works at Schlitterbaun Galveston, so we got in free. It reminded me why I generally don't go to theme parks with my husband anymore though. He's too impatient for me.



.....to have really liked the movie Dunkirk. I highly recommend it!



....to be really annoyed with how Big Brother is going. I'm close to giving it up. I cannot stand Cody and Jessica.



....to have picked this birthday cake funnel cake at Schlitterbaun for my lunch. It filled me up, that's for sure! There was a funnel cake, birthday cake flavored ice cream, and whipped cream. Yum.

How I'm (Mostly) Debt Free

I hate being in debt. Hate it, hate it, hate it. It's the worst feeling for me. At the moment, I don't have any car payments. I don't have any credit card debt.

I DO have a mortgage though, so currently that is my only debt.

Here are ways I was mostly able to be debt free.

1. Pay more on your car payments.  I always paid over. Sometimes $100 over. Sometimes only $50. But something. I wanted it to be paid off as soon as possible. Plus, before you buy a car try to have money set aside for a decent down payment. The more you can pay in the beginning, the lower your payments.


2. Live below your means. There are times when I COULD go out and do stuff. But I opt not to. This is not to say that I don't have any fun: I do. I've gone to Disney World multiple times. I love to eat out because I hate to cook. But I watch the spending. Yes, sometimes we're known as the cheapskates, but hey, we're the cheapskates with hardly any debt, so...


3. Sell your old stuff to buy new stuff. It's no secret that I love to buy clothes for my kids. In order to do this, I sell their old stuff. I usually sell it on eBay or Once Upon A Child. With the money I receive, I turn around and get new things.

4. Don't buy all the new stuff. I recently upgraded the 32 inch TV that was in the living room because hey, it still worked, so why did we need a new one? For the longest time I had a flip phone while everyone else was running out to buy smartphones. You don't need ALL the new gadgets. If you can't afford a drone, don't get one. Yeah they might seem cool, but they crash easily.


5. Adopt, don't shop. Both of our cats are from the shelter. When we got them, the money we paid went to the shelter so they could help other animals in need. Granted, I am a bit of a hypocrite here, because if there was a way I could buy my own Grumpy Cat, I would.

6. Coupon! I am NOT an extreme couponer. I don't do the double coupon thing or get 100 of one item. But I do use them. Coupons.com is a fantastic site. Also, before buying anything online, I ALWAYS check retailmenot.com to see if there is a code to use. More often than not, there is!


7. I use ebates! Before I purchase something online, I also check eBates to see if the website is listed. If it is, I'll get cash back. It's so easy. All you do is click on the store link on the eBates site, and that's it! You'll get money back! If you do sign up for this, please use my referral link here.


8. I don't smoke. I would imagine smoking or vaping would add up in cost. I also don't drink much, so I'm not running out buying booze every week.


9. My kids aren't in every sport out there. I'm not one of those people who feel the need to put my kids in everything. Unless they have a passion for something, I won't bother. My son was never interested in sports. My daughter has done gymnastics for years. She was actually offered a spot on the team, but we declined because she didn't seem to care one way or the other. I wasn't about to shell out a ton of money for a kid who'd whine about doing meets and going to extra practices. At the moment my daughter has decided to NOT do any sports, and I won't push her.

10. I try not to put a ton on a credit card. Sometimes this is easier said than done. When Tom and I were first married, we didn't have a lot of money so we relied on credit cards. When I saw the interest fees, I freaked. I vowed that we would try never to put more than we could pay off the following month on the cards again. But life can have surprises so there were times when we had to do it. These days, however, we pay off the cards every month. Credit cards aren't always completely evil--they will build your credit, at least. The cards I like are ones from USAA and the Amazon Reward Card, because I shop there weekly. (Another thing I have to put limits on at times.)


11. Do not lend money to family and friends. It only causes issues. If you're going to give money, have it be a gift. Trust me, it's easier that way. Otherwise you might have to deal with people not paying you back, which can lead to resentment. I know we've declined giving money to family because we have two kids to send to college. It's okay to say no.


12. Put money aside each month in savings. Sometimes you might not always have a lot to put back. But $1 is better than nothing. I like to always have something to fall back on in case something breaks. Vehicles aren't cheap when something is wrong. And now that we're homeowners, you never know what can happen.


13. My husband and I don't care about fashion. I basically live in my jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers all year long. Tom lives in his khakis, t-shirts, and sneakers all year long. Plus his military uniform. We don't give a hoot about name brand stuff. I'm missing the girl gene that makes me gaga over shoes. I carry a purse found in a clearance bin. I'd rather buy books. Or clothes for my kids. But even they aren't walking around in Coach and Tom Ford stuff. Tom Ford is a clothing brand, right? Or no? That shows how much I know about fashion...it's okay if you DO care about fashion, but don't go overboard. The people in your life should like you no matter what you have on and if they don't, maybe they aren't the people you need in your life.

I might not always be mostly debt free. There might come a time when I have to buy another vehicle. But for now, I'm busy setting money aside just in case something comes up.

How do you save money?

Why Pointy Nails Scare Me

Source

I admit, I'm not that girly. I've never had a manicure before. When I say this to people, they're like:

But it's true. It's mostly because I do a lot with my hands and a manicure wouldn't be worth it. Plus I can't have things on my nails--I feel weighed down. It's most likely a sensory issue. I also don't bother because I'd rather spend the money on a book.

I've noticed that pointy nails seem to be on trend.

These.

Source

And I have odd thoughts going through my head when I see them. I mean, yes, I admire the color, because I do love colors.

But here are my thoughts, because I've always been strange, and here is why they scare me:




1. Wouldn't they poke someone in the eye? What if you go to hug someone and a nail goes into an eye?



2. How do you wipe properly? I'm not trying to be gross, but seriously, can the TP still be gripped? Or would the nails rip it? Would your butt get poked?



3. Can you clean? I clean daily but I imagine the nails would get chipped rather easily. I'd be doing the dishes and SNAP! I'd be pulling off the couch cushions and SNAP!



4. If I rub my eye, would I poke it? I know this goes along with question 1, but I also worry that I'll poke my OWN eye and then have to rush to the ER and be like, "Oh, I was rubbing my eye and my claw jabbed it."



5. Do tiny kids call them claws? Because they sort of look like colorful claws to me.



6. Is it expensive to get the nails to look like this? It looks expensive. As I mentioned before, I'd rather buy a book. Or go to Target.



7. Can you type properly with pointy nails? Or do you have to peck the keys?



These are probably some bizarre thoughts. But you know. I do wonder. Aren't you curious? Or maybe you have the answers? You can check out all the trending beauty discounts and save!

So do you have pointy nails?

Hey, It's Okay

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. You can link up any day of the week. All you have to do is make a list of what you're okay about. Simple! Please do not link up a post that has nothing to do with Hey, It's Okay. It's rude.

Hey, It's Okay....




....to be happy that Game of Thrones is FINALLY back.


....to get annoyed when I post something like "That first scene on Game of Thrones was amazing!" on my social media and someone is like, "Shhhh, I haven't watched it yet." First of all, don't "shhh" me on my page. Second of all, I didn't spoil anything, nor would I, because I know that's rude. Third of all, if you don't want a single tiny thing to be spoiled, stay offline?


....to be going to see Dunkirk with Tom and Tommy on Friday. Tom loves all things WW2 so he's excited. I'll probably cry. It's always humbling to see what people do for their country.


....to love when I can use my slow cooker for dinner. It makes the house smell amazing and it's usually fairly simple to put together.


....to really hope Cody doesn't come back in Big Brother. He's such a jerk. I really hate when the show allows contestants to return. They're gone, CBS. Just let them go.


.....to have loved the Japanese garden of peace at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas.

There's Always Rapunzel

"This is the story of how I died."

When Natalie was little, she used to recite this line often. It would terrify people when she'd do it in public. They didn't know what the tiny little human was talking about and tiny humans utter things like that in horror films sometimes right before they kill you.

"Oh, she's quoting Rapunzel," I'd explain to gaping mouths. "It's the first line in the movie."

For the longest time, my daughter was obsessed with the movie.

She watched it over and over again. She had the dresses. She frightened people when she walked around with frying pans. She'd correct people when they'd call Rapunzel's boyfriend Flynn Rider.

"Actually," Natalie would say primly. "It's Eugene Fitzherbert." When she was small, it came out as, "Fizzherbert" so it was especially cute.

In Pre-K the kids went around and said what they wanted to be when they grew up. Most people said the normal things. Teacher. Fireman. Policeman.

My kid?

"Rapunzel!"

She was so sure she could be Rapunzel. She would flip her long hair and call it "Rapunzel hair"--before it was cut off, that is. When we went to DisneyWorld in 2010 she couldn't wait to meet Rapunzel.

Meeting Rapunzel was her dream and the meeting did NOT disappoint. Natalie had on Rapunzel's wedding dress. Her brother was dressed as Flynn Rider--excuse me, Eugene Fitzherbert--and Rapunzel was charmed. She asked if Tommy had the crown in his satchel and he did. So she put it on. Natalie was thrilled. There was her hero, who she wanted to be, right in front of her.

Natalie asked if she could touch Rapunzel's hair, and Rapunzel agreed. I think Natalie was baffled why her long hair was back when it was gone in the movie--but she didn't really care about the inaccuracy because her HERO was in front of her. Showing off her hair that felt and looked so real.

As Natalie got older, her Rapunzel infatuation slowly faded away. It wasn't all gone, of course. When we went back to Disney World in 2013, she insisted on meeting Rapunzel again. The look of awe was still there.

She still loved Rapunzel, but at this point a little movie called Frozen came out, and a lot of her attention was on Anna and Elsa.

But she still had a soft spot for Rapunzel.

Granted, I could see she was getting older, and her love of Disney Princesses was starting to fade. In fact, I watched in horror as a neighborhood little girl walked out of the house with Natalie's Rapunzel light up wand.

"Uh, Natalie," I said, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. "Your friend just left. With your wand."

Natalie raised an eyebrow and looked at me as though I were an imbecile. "I know. I gave it to her. I'm getting rid of my baby stuff."

It felt like I was kicked in the gut. Baby stuff? What? She was only nine.

"I mean, she's in second grade and still likes that stuff," Natalie continued. "And you always told me I should be generous."

A lump started to form in my throat. I pictured Natalie in her Rapunzel dress flashing a perfect row of baby teeth at me as she danced around holding a stuffed Pascal and Maximus.

I know she's getting older. I know it'll be about makeup and boys and Snapchat. But I didn't think it would happen so fast. So when we went to Disney World in March when she was ten, I wasn't sure how it would go. In the past she'd excitedly meet the Disney Princesses.

But this time?

When I asked if she was excited to see the Disney Princesses she told me that she wasn't a baby anymore and that she knew they were actresses.

"They aren't REAL," she told me pointedly.

Still, she wanted to see the princesses, real or not. She wanted to see Rapunzel because "memories," as she put it.

I didn't know how it would go. Would she walk over to Rapunzel and look bored?

No. She still looked at Rapunzel with magic in her eyes. Rapunzel was still her hero.

"You were always my favorite. You still are," Natalie told her.

"Why thank you, Flynn," Rapunzel answered with a grin.

It was Natalie who gave Rapunzel the hug.

"I watched you all the time when I was small."

Sometimes I wonder if Natalie is also grasping onto being a kid. She knows she's at the awkward age of being a child but also crossing over to being...older.

I think she'll always hold onto her love for Disney Princesses. Yeah, she might know they aren't real.

But she'll always remember.

What Girls Can Wear To Disney World (And Universal Studios!)

I absolutely love going to Disney World. I wish we could do it more often but alas, we have these pesky things called bills. If money weren't an issue, we'd be there every few months.

Whenever we go, I like to find fun outfits for my daughter to wear. I did a post like this before when we went in 2013. We went again this past March, and I was able to get some other fabulous outfits. As she gets older, I imagine she won't always want to dress up, but it's okay, because we'll have lots of memories.

(When my son was smaller, I got him to dress up too!)

And here's another from 2013:

It was always exciting to figure out what she'd be wearing and I was able to find some stuff for our latest trip. Plus I love finding things on Etsy and supporting shops. I am amazed at what people can create because I can't sew to save my life.

1. I picked up this Belle dress from the Beauty and the Beast line at Target, because I'm obsessed with Target. I knew we'd be eating at Be Our Guest, and this dress was perfect for that. Natalie said it was a little bit itchy though, so we had capri bottoms underneath to stop the itches.

I got the headband at an Etsy shop called All Ears Boutique Co.

2. A Chewbacca dress from A Posh Pumpkin. If your child is celebrating a birthday at Disney World, you can pick up birthday mouse ears at MimisMouseHouse.

3. We love Dole Whips, so this shirt was a must. You can buy it at LeapinLizzardDesigns.

5. A Flynn Ryder Dress from FancyStitches. The Rapunzel ears are from DoodleBugDesign6.

Gaston thought she should be wearing a dress like his outfit and she was all, "But I like Flynn Rider more."

6. A hilarious shirt from IzzyBTees1.

She wore it to dinner at 1900 Park Fare:

7. If your kids love Harry Potter, consider getting them a dress from A Posh Pumpkin. The headband is from VeryLegendAryee.

We always love going to Disney World. Natalie will be past the age of cute dresses, but at least there are many fun t-shirt options.

What do you normally wear at Disney?