Recent Horse Pictures from October 25 2010

I thought I'd share a few pictures from our time at the barn the other night.  My teenage daughter had such a good time riding!  It took her mind of advanced math and science classes (she is taking a grade level above her grade in those two classes), boys, acne cream for her almost non-existent pimples she keeps pointing out, and our possible relocation soon. 

Then there is my girl whose main purpose in life is to eat, eat, eat:

It was a good time.  The fact that we might relocate and have to move them has me wondering if we are making the right choice.  It's a great barn for our horses and for the kids - very kid-friendly.  The horses aren't just taken care of; they're loved too and we might not find that at another barn.

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Thyroid Disease & Hair Loss

I've been lucky with the hair loss I experience due to my thyroid disease because I have SUCH thick hair that the hair I'm losing isn't noticeable to the regular person.  I worried when I was first diagnosed that I'd end up with bald spots and needing hair loss products but I have always had too much hair so a little more loss than usual everyday isn't bothering me yet. Thankfully.

I have even asked for the hair stylist to thin my hair out but she refused.  I have enough hair for two people!

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Winter Tan

I am thinking about buying a self-tanner lotion for the winter.  I am so pale and on Friday, I am getting my hair done (going dark) and I'm worried with my very pale skin, I'm going to look a bit scary.  I've also thought about making a few trips to the tanning salon but don't know what the best tanning lotions for tanning beds are. With what will be almost black hair and my pale skin, I'll bring in Halloween looking quite scary!  Definitely going to need a little bit of color.

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Personalized Christmas Gifts

Who does Personalized Christmas stockings for their pets? We do for our dogs but haven't for our horses because they don't actually live with us (they're boarded). I take their presents right to them at the stable with bows on them (and of course, bring presents for every horse in the barn while I'm at it).

I use Personal Creations for all of our personalized items and gifts.  Last year, I bought all kinds of stuff - a great personalized throw for my mother-in-law, photo plates and mugs, etc. I am going to do the same this year as well.  The personalized gifts make the best impact with family members - they're keepsakes!

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Riding After Sprained Ankle

My daughter rode her horse yesterday for the first time in about two months (she sprained her ankle).  She had such a good time!  I think Tequila was happy to have her on her back too. 

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Marital Woes

It's been a bit stressful around here lately.  The husband and I have not been getting along well the last few weeks.  It's always the same thing - fighting over his kids/ex.  We don't argue often - usually a couple times a year but when we do...boom!  This time it was his decision (made without my input) that would've cost us an extra couple hundred bucks and made it impossible to make our house payment this month.  Needless to say, I was not a happy wife over his decision.

As of last night, he backed off on it.  Not sure how long it'll take to get over the fact that he made a big decision that affected our family without me when we agreed before we were married never to do that. 

Oh the joys of blending families. 

Done with griping for now.  I need to run to the stable to drop off some stuff for our horses, take my kids Halloween costume shopping and later do some work and research on colon cleanses and colon cleansing reviews. Maybe I should buy hubby a colon cleanse for his birthday!  At the very least, he deserves a lump of coal in his Christmas stocking this year!

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Guilt from Kids

I was just cleaning out my fridge and found two cigars in one of the bottom drawers.  My husband received those a long time ago as a gift but as soon as my kids saw them, they gave them a hard time. I thought he would've taken them to work or something so he could smoke them without the kids seeing. 

Guilt is a funny thing, especially when your kids heap it on you. 

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Moving Both Horses

We are still job hunting to make a move back to our home state.  We will be taking both of our horses with us, thankfully.  I talked to our trainer about the horse she gave to my daughter and she's agreeable that the horse goes with us and if down the road, we can't keep her that we let her know first.  That made my daughter very happy.

I wish we'd just find the job so I can get to the million things "to do" in my mind to get us moved.  I still need to get an insurance quote because I believe our auto insurance will double when we move based on where we are moving to. I really hope not but I'm thinking it will.

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Social Security Disability

Last year, I briefly considered becoming an insurance agent for life insurance.  I did the study plan to take the test but all the talk about group insurance, disability insurance, Medicare part D plan, and all the other Medicare parts, was really confusing!  I didn't end up taking the test. 

I'd rather go to somebody like Allsup and let them handle my own insurance needs rather than me helping others with theirs.  You don't have to pay them for the evaluation either. 

My husband might be looking at surgery and if he has to go on disability for awhile, we'll have to contact Allsup for help.

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Inexpensive Photo Christmas Cards

Can you believe how fast 2010 is going by?  There's just a little more than two months shopping time for Christmas! 

Most years, we do Photo Christmas Cards for our Christmas cards and this year, I definitely want to continue the tradition.  I think they're more personal plus how can you throw away an actual photo like you can a regular Christmas card?  I know I can't! 

This year, I found Pear Tree Greetings.  They use 100% recycled, 100 lb matte card stock so it's a really nice, substantial greeting card.  For less than what you spend in a retail store, their cards are $1.25 or less.  You'll find most of them are $0.84.  $0.84 per card is a great price!  That certainly helps the budget during Christmas time. 

With this economy, there are times that I wonder how to save money, especially at Christmas when expenses can really take a big bite out of a stretched budget.  Christmas cards from Pear Tree Greetings, at $0.84 each, is a definite money-saver and don't break the budget.  The grandparents would love to receive one of these photo Christmas card of their grandkids.

Check out the quality of their cards in this picture I took:

My favorite are the black and white photo cards.  I think they'll look great, especially if I can get my Clydesdale paint horse to hold a couple kids on her back for our Christmas family picture!  I'll put another child on our other paint horse.

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Finally Sat on My Girl

Last week, I spent time with my mare, JeeNee, doing groundwork.  After we were done, our trainer told me to climb on and she led me around on my almost broke to ride horse.  It was really cool.  She seems huge when you're on her back, much bigger than when I ride my daughter's horse.  This is actually only the second time I've been on my girl.  Can't wait until I can ride her all the time!

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