When Bad Luck is Good Luck

One of the most annoying things in the world that could happen around the holidays, always seems to happen. Without failure, something breaks, somebody gets sick, a window falls out of your house, your vehicle doesn't pass inspection, or your electric company decides to revise your budget plan for the coming year, in December!
For as many years that this has been a "tradition" in our family, it has also brought some of the best lessons, and brought our family even closer together.
It usually happens around, October, each year. (this is also when my pick up truck is due for inspection)
Inspection went ok this year, with the exception of the gauge cluster dying. That doesn't sound bad, right? Wrong! In my truck, (a Ford F150), the gauge cluster display of course, displays the mileage, and also all of the warning lights, the tach and speedometer, typical gauge cluster...... Until, my husband takes it out and there are no fuses, no wires. It looks like something from a science fiction movie lol! There is a circuit board attached, along with a bunch of tiny, little tongs!! (It does always seem like everything that does happen here, is beyond complicated, it can't be something simple!)
So, after some research and phone calls, and some very outrageous quotes from local Ford dealers, we found a place who could fix it, and since the gauge cluster holds the actual mileage for the truck, we were able to keep the low mileage that is on the truck and have it repaired within a week.
Yes, as odd as it is, the mileage is inside the cluster, nowhere else in the truck. Which is strange, because, once the cluster goes, your mileage will be off.
My options were:
Buy a used one from a junkyard with super high mileage...
Go to a Ford dealer, and have them take it out, charge a fortune, send it to Ford to repair, and charge another giant fee, and then pay them to program, and do whatever magical things they need to do to supposedly get my truck running again.
OR, we could run it to a shop, (in another vehicle of course), and let them have it for a week, to reprogram, repair, whatever they do. BUT, it sure was not even a fraction of the price that the dealer wanted.
We opted for the latter, of course. It saved us tons of money, money we didn't have at the time, since this was the 3rd thing to break in a month.
Now to the "good luck" or "positive" that came from this recent dilemma....
Since the truck really couldn't drive without the cluster, (the battery wouldn't charge with it removed), I had to gather all of our groceries, and make sure that every little errand for the week was done, all in one morning.
That took quite a bit of planning, cutting coupons, and lots of lists!
We live in a very rural area, and sometimes, groceries alone take a whole day to grab. Especially when I want to get actual groceries and have to travel several miles just to get to a store with more then one brand of each product.
We also are down to one vehicle, so, this is tricky. Thankfully, I work weekends, and I am able to stay home with the little ones throughout the week.
Sunday morning was a bit of a struggle, but I was able to knock out each list, in 6 stops.
The rest of the week, for the first time in several years, I was able to stay at home, without having to run somewhere, everyday of the week. That was a vacation in itself!
The kids were more then pleased too. No rushing around after school, or after dinner, for a full week, we stayed home. We had so much fun! I was able to get a few things done on my "project to do lists" that I don't often get done, due to our super hectic schedule, and we had time to sit and enjoy each other's company.
I will take a broken gauge cluster, anytime!
I always believe that something good always comes from everything. Sometimes, it may take a while for it to shine through, but in time, it will. This particular time was almost instant.
For this I consider myself, very lucky, and yes, I do plan on making more time like this, by "pretending" that the truck is in the repair shop again.

This is one of Deegan and Genevive's favorite videos and songs. This gets replayed so many times on my laptop, but they act like it's the first they have seen it, again, and again! Check out Little Rockstar on Youtube! This has been our favorite channel for kids so far!

You have to check out these adorable videos for your little ones;) These are so much fun to share during the holiday season, and Little Rockstar has lots of different fairy tales and beautiful music, sweet character voices, the animations will certainly keep your little guys hypnotized long enough for you to take a break! You can find Little Rockstar on Youtube!

Free Slice of Pizza at Sbarro!!

Save on Huggies

Easy and Quick No nonsense Outfits for Busy Moms

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of No nonsense for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am always super busy and I am almost always weaing pajama pants and t shirts everyday. Unless it's a weekend when I go to work, or we have a dr appointment. I am constantly struggling, just to get into the bathroom, much less trying to get real clothing on!!

When I do wear real clothes, it is usually as simple as I can make it, I love leggings and skirts and long sleeve shirts or short sleeves, and I usually choose bright colors, and black and gray. I like easy and simple and I also really like when it is excellent quality for a very reasonable price.

This is why I was very anxious to get an opportunity from No nonsense, to try out their leggings and tights and post my review. No nonsense tights and leggings

There are a lot of positive points to make about No nonsense, my favorite being the price! My next favorite is the fact that these are usually found at food and drug stores, as well as mass retailers. I am a big fan of solid colors, and comfortable leggings and tights, and these fit the bill all around!

No nonsense recently partnered up with Jill Martin. Jill is a fashion stylist and TV personality, and the co-author of, The New york Times, bestselling guide, "I Have Nothing to Wear" You may have also seen her on Access Hollywood as the New York Correspondent.

You can find Jill and No nonsense on Twitter and Facebook, where she will be offering suggestions and advice and fashion tips, using the colorful tights and super comfy leggings that will definitely complete and accent many outfits!

Follow No nonsense on Twitter, username, @BeNoNonsense and "like" them on Facebook, to enter contests and get fashion advice that will fit any busy moms budget and style.

I have been a fan on No nonsense on Twitter and on Facebook, and I love all of the updates and helpful hints thay post regularly.

No nonsense on Facebook

I received a pair of brown tights and a pair of brown leggings the leggings are my absolute favorite!! I have RSD in both legs and comfy leggings are very important for me. (Another reason you will find me running errands in pajama pants!)

I love ruffled skirts and black went the best with my No nonsense tights!

I love these leggings!! They are so soft and look like they cost a lot more then they really do. I washed both the tights and leggings a few times since I have had them and they have held their color and shape quite well!

 

I am going shopping for my clothes for the winter in a couple weeks and I will be grabbing many more tights and leggings from No nonsense, to go with my tops, skirts, sweaters and even sweatshirts!

Have you tried any of the No nonsense tights and leggings yet? What colors would you choose?

Fall and winter are a super good reason to go stock up for a new wardrobe, and I'm sure you will find that most of your favorite tops and skirts you already have, will fit in perfectly with your new tights and leggings! Simply adding a few new pieces can create many more options and outfits!

smiley360.com—Be Heard. Be Happy.

smiley360.com—Be Heard. Be Happy.

boliverisms.: I was really hungry for deep fried Oreos....

boliverisms.: I was really hungry for deep fried Oreos....: Too bad we can't use our stove, and I don't have a deep fryer... Or maybe it's not so bad? I decided I was going to have my dessert. So ...