Taxes

I just love tax season...NOT!!!

Its not because I ever owe taxes, I don't. I generally get a decent refund, but I really hate waiting around for all the tax forms to show up in the mail. I just wish everyone would get their act together so I could get this business over and done.

Yesterday I finally received my W-2 forms from my job and from the insurance company that paid my short term disability last year when I was on maternity leave. I received the forms for my student loan interest quite awhile ago, at least someone is on top of things. However, we still haven't received Thomas' W-2 from when he worked last year. I am at a stand still until I receive them. GRRR!

In the age of e-file, online filing programs, etc, why can't W-2 forms be available online? I know some companies do this, but more should have it available. Thomas worked for a company that is nationwide, with restauarants in most every state. My job doesn't even give us real paychecks or stubs. My paystubs are only available online, I have to print them off if I need them. However, I had to wait and wait for my W-2. I generally file within a few days of getting all of my forms, I just wish companies had the same sense of getting taxes done that I do.

Oh well, I am still playing the waiting game. How goes tax season for everyone else?

Blogging

I have a folder in my bookmarks list that is entitled "Blogs." It has in it links to all the blogs that I read on a daily basis. I don't update my blog daily, so I can't complain too loudly. However, two of the blogs I "read" haven't been updated since the end of November. I can understand not blogging in December because of Christmas, but January is almost over and they still haven't been updated. Now, I know from reading other blogs that they comment on, or have had their pictures posted on, that these folks are NOT dead, and since they are COMMENTING, they do have computer access. My question is, why keep up a blog that you don't post on in over two months? Any ideas?

I Love Macy's

Okay, I admit it, I love Macy's. I can't usually afford their prices, but I love the clothes, linens, etc. I have discovered a way to afford Macy's however, I have learned to wait for their sale on their clearance items. Today they had a sale for an additional 30% off their clearance items.

I bought two pairs of slacks and a lightweight sweater, all by designers I adore. I like the more "classic" style of dress, and Macy's has a lot of clothing along those lines. My bill today was $33.90, which averages to $11.30 for each item (including tax.) $33.90 for two pairs of nice pants and a sweater? Unbelievable, especially being high quality, designer clothing.

I can't buy such well made clothing at Target, and DEFINITELY not at Wal-Mart. Nor could I walk out of either store with the equivalent purchases for that price, it would definitely cost more.

I also bought us some new bed linens and pillows with the Christmas money my mom gave us. I bought three king-size sheet sets (not sure who they are made by) and two pillows (by Ralph Lauren) for less than $90.00. My receipts said I saved $155.03 (plus tax) on the linens and $71.98 (plus tax) on my clothing.

I love nice things, but I love saving money even more :o)

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband.

After six years, I love you more now than I did when we first married!

Thank you for six beautiful years and our wonderful family.

I love you very much!

Shaving My Legs

My least favorite womanly "chore" is shaving my legs.

I put my makeup on almost everyday, only time I don't is if I am staying in, I don't like going out without makeup on.

Now, I admittedly don't blow-dry my hair very often, but my hair has enough issues with the ends drying without my helping matters. I will blow-dry for special occasions such as going out dates with my husband (these are far and few between, the last one was actually my birthday this past December, before that it was in May, 2006,) or job interviews. I also blow-dried my hair the day I went in for my c-section when Sofia was born, but that was also a special occasion. I very rarely dry my hair "just because."

However, shaving my legs is the bane of my existence. I had gotten really consistent at it when I was pregnant with Sofia, however when I became too big to be able to do it, Thomas shaved them for me. He didn't shave them as often as I did, which got me out of the habit of shaving them quite as often. As I hate shaving my legs, I have not worked real hard at getting back into a routine. I generally do it when it starts to bother me.

What got me thinking about this subject is I just finished shaving my legs. I bought myself an electric razor about a year ago and I do like using it. However, when I shaved my legs the old fashioned way, I used baby oil as a lubricant so I didn't cut myself. It works better than soap, and doesn't dry them out so much. Dry legs are the issue facing me right now. Electric razors don't require soap or baby oil or anything, thus I think I had as much skin flake off as I removed hair. I know this is way too much information, but it is just the way it is.

I have an aversion to body lotion because for most of my life I had oily skin, the dry skin thing blows my mind. Body lotion is not a good thing for oily skin, it just makes matters worse, so this is how I have been trained to think most of my life. Now, just in the last couple of winters have I had issues with dry skin. My hands flake, my legs flake, it is gross. I do use lotion on my hands, not that it does much good though. My profession is very cruel to hands, but I do try to keep them lotioned.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for making it better? I will NEVER like shaving my legs, but I still do so...when I have to.

What is your least favorite womanly "chore?"