And no, I didn't send money to a Nigerian Prince :) Since we moved last year, come January 1, 2012, we had to register our house as our homestead to get the break on our taxes. So I got something in the mail from the state to take care of the paperwork. Or so I thought. I filled out the document and sent it back with the $35 fee, not a happy person.
Yes, I know I should have done my research, so I do take partial blame, but really, is it that unbelievable to think the state imposed a fee? Plus, the laws did change in September 2011 to make it where you have to provide a copy of your drivers license with the address matching the house you're claiming and either proof that your vehicle is registered at that address or an affadavit stating that you don't own a vehicle.
So I got all that paperwork gathered and sent it into the state. And then received another official looking document that hubby and I had to get signed and notarized together, and send in with another $39 fee.
At this point, I was furious. First, having to get the two of us together somewhere during business hours and second another freaking fee. So I started to do some googling and found out it's a total scam.
It looks official. It comes from a company called Homestead Recording Service in Austin, Texas. Yes, if you go down to the very bottom it says it's an advertisement. But my problem is that it's selling itself as being from the state. It's just wrong and I don't know why the state lets them do it.
Because all the "work" they did for $35 was to send me the document to fill out. The document that's free online. So I know it's a done deal and I know it won't happen, but I want my freaking $35 back!!! And I did file a complaint with the State Attorney General.
This is my PSA to let everyone know not to fall for the trick I did. I'm just glad it was only $35.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Flylady
I know I haven't posted a flylady challenge in awhile, so I wanted to give a brief update. Yes, I'm still fluttering, but with modifications. Part ofnthe beauty of flylady is that each person has to adapt it to their own life. She just give basics blocks to start the building.
One thing I've let go of is the routines. Sure, I have things that have to get done each morning, noon, and night, but I've realized that they don't, and can't, get done in the same order every day. So it's a daily to do list, I know certain things have to get done before work, after work, and before bed. And it works perfectly for me.
Next thing that's going pretty well is decluttering. I'll admit, I have stuffitis. I have a hard time getting rid of things, it feels like a betrayal to those who gave it to me, or a betrayal to the money that was spent. I'm working on getting over that. 3 boxes went to good will last weekend and it felt good.
Do it now! Seriously is an awesome concept. I don't know why the human brain exaggerates the time it takes to do things, but it does. The dishwasher? Roughly two minutes to empty. Load of laundry? About 10 minutes, including going upstairs. I've been trying to do things before my brain can talk me out of it.
Still a lot of progress to make, but I feel good. House is looking not half bad, and I'm taking it one project at a time.
One thing I've let go of is the routines. Sure, I have things that have to get done each morning, noon, and night, but I've realized that they don't, and can't, get done in the same order every day. So it's a daily to do list, I know certain things have to get done before work, after work, and before bed. And it works perfectly for me.
Next thing that's going pretty well is decluttering. I'll admit, I have stuffitis. I have a hard time getting rid of things, it feels like a betrayal to those who gave it to me, or a betrayal to the money that was spent. I'm working on getting over that. 3 boxes went to good will last weekend and it felt good.
Do it now! Seriously is an awesome concept. I don't know why the human brain exaggerates the time it takes to do things, but it does. The dishwasher? Roughly two minutes to empty. Load of laundry? About 10 minutes, including going upstairs. I've been trying to do things before my brain can talk me out of it.
Still a lot of progress to make, but I feel good. House is looking not half bad, and I'm taking it one project at a time.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
V is for Vengeance
I know you've all been waiting anxiously for my review of V is for Vengeance...so here it is!
First I have to say I loved it, of course. Sue Grafton gets better and better each book. I can't wait to read Z is for ? but I don't want it to be over, either. Who knows, maybe she'll start into double letters? AA is for Angry Attackers? Just a thought :)
V kinda reminded me of S in a way. In both tales, the reader sees more than just Kinsey's view of what's going on. In V, we get to meet Nora, a happily married middle aged woman. We're slowly fed tidbits of a tragedy that occured in her past. I loved Nora. She definitely did some things most women only dream of.
We also meet Dante, a gangster loan shark. Have to say he was strangly likeable. He has an evil father and an idiot brother. But his uncle is pretty cool. Dante meets up with Nora and falls in love.
We first meet up with Kinsey as she is shopping for underwear. And being the mostly-honest mostly-law abiding citizen that she is, she alerts the store to a shoplifting duo. How is she paid back for her good deeds? By being hit by a car, of course. Poor Kinsey. It only gets worse, however, as she ends up with a broken nose at the end of the book. On her birthday. But even that could have been so much worse.
Henry was on a trip to visit his sister for most of the book, so we didn't get a lot of their chats, except on the phone. Rosie's cooking gets worse and worse each book, I think I finally figured out why Kinsey is so skinny.
Anyway, the plot is full of twists and turns I never saw coming. I inhaled this book, just couldn't put it down. A++ and you must go out now and get it!
First I have to say I loved it, of course. Sue Grafton gets better and better each book. I can't wait to read Z is for ? but I don't want it to be over, either. Who knows, maybe she'll start into double letters? AA is for Angry Attackers? Just a thought :)
V kinda reminded me of S in a way. In both tales, the reader sees more than just Kinsey's view of what's going on. In V, we get to meet Nora, a happily married middle aged woman. We're slowly fed tidbits of a tragedy that occured in her past. I loved Nora. She definitely did some things most women only dream of.
We also meet Dante, a gangster loan shark. Have to say he was strangly likeable. He has an evil father and an idiot brother. But his uncle is pretty cool. Dante meets up with Nora and falls in love.
We first meet up with Kinsey as she is shopping for underwear. And being the mostly-honest mostly-law abiding citizen that she is, she alerts the store to a shoplifting duo. How is she paid back for her good deeds? By being hit by a car, of course. Poor Kinsey. It only gets worse, however, as she ends up with a broken nose at the end of the book. On her birthday. But even that could have been so much worse.
Henry was on a trip to visit his sister for most of the book, so we didn't get a lot of their chats, except on the phone. Rosie's cooking gets worse and worse each book, I think I finally figured out why Kinsey is so skinny.
Anyway, the plot is full of twists and turns I never saw coming. I inhaled this book, just couldn't put it down. A++ and you must go out now and get it!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Happy 16 months Elayna
Wow, I can't believe Elayna is already 16 months old! I know everyone says it and it's super trite, but it's true that time flies. At 16 months, Elayna is:
Completely fearless
Wearing size 3 diapers
Between 21 and 22 pounds
Still wearing 6-9 month clothes along with a few 12 month outfits
Size 4 shoes
Has the craziest long hair, almost to the middle of her back. Has some curl to it. The kids at daycare like to pull her ponytails :(
Has 11 teeth! 4 front upper, 4 front lower, and 3 of her first molars
Is quite the eater
Loves to climb the stairs
Has the cutest giggle ever
Does "muscles"
Is still rear facing, but finally in a big girl chair instead of her infant seat
Still not really talking but does babble more, mama, dada, night night, and other babbles
Signs more, bath, tired, please, thank you, toothbrush, and shhhh
Imitates us
Trying to run, which is so funny to watch
Is still nursing morning and night. Nooooo idea when she's going to stop, it's totally just a comfort thing now.
Loves to run away from the bathtub while naked
Knows to throw trash (and sometimes non-trash) away
Loves loves loves being outside
Is on amoxicillan just about ALL THE TIME for ear infections
Goes to bed and nap in her crib like such a big girl
Still puts everything in her mouth
I'm sure I'm forgetting tons of things. She's just so much fun to be around. It's hard smetimes knowing she's not a baby anymore, but she truly gets to be more and more fun every day. There is so much personality running through that tiny little body.
Mommy loves you, Ellie belly :)
Completely fearless
Wearing size 3 diapers
Between 21 and 22 pounds
Still wearing 6-9 month clothes along with a few 12 month outfits
Size 4 shoes
Has the craziest long hair, almost to the middle of her back. Has some curl to it. The kids at daycare like to pull her ponytails :(
Has 11 teeth! 4 front upper, 4 front lower, and 3 of her first molars
Is quite the eater
Loves to climb the stairs
Has the cutest giggle ever
Does "muscles"
Is still rear facing, but finally in a big girl chair instead of her infant seat
Still not really talking but does babble more, mama, dada, night night, and other babbles
Signs more, bath, tired, please, thank you, toothbrush, and shhhh
Imitates us
Trying to run, which is so funny to watch
Is still nursing morning and night. Nooooo idea when she's going to stop, it's totally just a comfort thing now.
Loves to run away from the bathtub while naked
Knows to throw trash (and sometimes non-trash) away
Loves loves loves being outside
Is on amoxicillan just about ALL THE TIME for ear infections
Goes to bed and nap in her crib like such a big girl
Still puts everything in her mouth
I'm sure I'm forgetting tons of things. She's just so much fun to be around. It's hard smetimes knowing she's not a baby anymore, but she truly gets to be more and more fun every day. There is so much personality running through that tiny little body.
Mommy loves you, Ellie belly :)
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