Jude’s Eclectic Resources

I was surprised how much designer names mean to the younger crowd and if you don’t have certain things with the designer name on then you just aren’t happening. We can afford to buy certain things, but since we are older we have gotten a bit frugal and kind of forgot what it means to be young and fit in with everyone. We always buy name brands for our children and Grandkids though.

Estella started out as a small store of unique clothing for babies and children, but has grown into something more unique that celebrities and others are seeking out. They avoid trends that others push and create their own because they believe in being a leader instead of a follower and they see your children the same, so they like to create for the leaders of the future.

These are luxury toys and luxury baby gifts that most of us drool over and as many of you know I am going to be a Nana again both for Bill’s daughter and my first time for my biological son. He has tried so many times and been disappointed and now he’s 38 with a newborn coming in August hopefully on my birthday, but I wont hold my breath.

We have gotten use to buying for Bills’ children  because they put their requests in at certain stores and if you don’t buy something great then what kind of parent or Grandparent are you? I noticed that all Grandparents try to out do each other because they want to be the special ones and if they put in a request at Estella’s I’m sure we would spend our money there because we don’t want to be the cheap ones.

So if we want to stand out then we need to be unique and  and purchase something from Estella in New York.

I watch HGTV all the time and I saw their program awhile back about the building of the totally green home that will be given away to some lucky person. I have never been very lucky when it comes to sweepstakes and that sort of thing, but when I saw this house I fell in love, it’s perfect and I want it. I go every day to enter and I am sending all kinds of positive energy to them so they will choose me.

I have already envisioned myself and family there and the more details I can add in my mind the better chance of the universe helping me. I know for a fact that we would no doubt see the kids on all of their vacations and it has a sealed garage so there is no chance of carbon monoxide or anything else invading the living area, a perfect garage for Bill to work on the bike and tinker.

I would think the taxes would be astronomical though on a gift of that proportion and I keep talking about it to Bill. I know he can’t leave his job and move there, but we could go back and forth until retirement. That would be so perfect and you also get a Yukon Hybrid, electric golf cart, golf clubs and did I mention that it is totally furnished? You have to see it to believe it.

I know all of you probably saw it and fell in love too and I’m sure it would be wonderful if one of you guys were the lucky one, but I prefer it to be me.

Don’t you just love those family reunions? Of course they are a great way to keep in touch with your extended family and teach your children about their heritage. But of course depending on who was doing all the planning it could be a very stressful time making sure it’s organized and everyone is happy.

Usually families figure out a date that is convenient and a place that isn’t too far from everyone’s home. I went to one of Bill’s reunions a couple years ago it was in Ohio and people came from all over, we really enjoyed it, but they like to plan one every year and that’s a bit much for me.

Family Reunions can be very difficult to get organized and that is usually the number one reason that they don’t happen as often as everyone would like. Not everyone in the family will be able to take time off work. Sometimes, someone might not even like the family and just skip the whole thing anyway.

There are way too many things to do to get ready for a family reunion. Communication is the most important aspect of the planning process and not everyone is in touch with each
other. Whatever you do make sure that you don’t try to organize the entire thing by yourself.

Many people try to do just that and it can really ruin the experience for them. If your spouse wants nothing to do with it, get a sibling or parent to help you, no one needs all that stress. Remember not to expect perfection because when you get a big group of people together, there is usually a few issues to deal with.

After you pick a date, you have to agree on a place. It could be the home of an older relative or just someone who has the biggest house or maybe a theme park. Food is always a factor at family reunions and whether you decide to have a barbecue or something catered remember that everyone loves to eat.

Family reunions always have their ups and downs and this can really get out of hand with your close family because people feel more comfortable teasing and insulting each other. My 2 sisters never grew up and they are both older than myself and they still acted hateful to each other last year when we were all together.

If alcohol is allowed at the family reunion then there is an excellent chance of people getting angry or offended. It really depends on the family though. Some families really get along great unfortunately mine wasn’t one of them.

Family reunions can be fun though and you’ll have all the pictures to look back at and remember all those wonderful memories. Just remember that people are unpredictable encase something weird should happen you’ll be better able to laugh and try to straighten it out.  

Next month we head back to Ohio for Bill’s brothers 50th wedding  ceremony renewal vows and there will be tons of people and I always get stressed out regardless of who is doing the planning because I detest large crowds. Oh well at least I’ll have a break from the computer.                                            

I will definitely have to find someone else other than H&R Block to do my taxes next year. I had always filled out the EZ form and gotten money back and it was so easy to do that myself. This year I was lost because when I looked at all the forms I had to fill out for self employment I didn’t have a clue.

So I called the lady that did Bill’s and set up an appointment and went today. She had told me on the phone that all I needed to bring was my figures so I’m thinking she doesn’t do many small business returns, but I have done none. Bill did have to go back home and get my 1099’s and I had already added up everything from my spreadsheet so that was okay.

However I didn’t realize I was suppose to break my advertising costs and everything else up separately so we played it by ear and she put everything pretty much under supplies which I really didn’t care so long as I was getting them done. Next year they will be itemized. I have to pay the IRS $3.00 because of a penalty on my 401 from Lowe’s and the state gets $5.00 from me and H&R almost gave me a heart attack.

Now here’s where Bill and I both got a shock because when she said it cost 218 dollars for filling these forms out I almost fell of my chair. I did have a send a friend thing so we will get 30 dollars back in the mail and she must have felt so bad that she searched all over the place and found some kind of code that brought the total down to $193. so with the $30 rebate it ended up costing 163.

Bill makes good money and he even gets money back and his only cost 151. I thought it might run around 70 bucks for mine so that was a shocker. I feel sorry for small business owners because it doesn’t look like they get a break on anything. Now I’m wondering if I even want to make extra money on the side unless I learn to fill out my own taxes. Yup.. I’ll do my own next year, I’m sure there must be a home program I can use.

I am very happy to report that my Son found out today that my new Grandbaby is going to be a boy. I am very happy for him and wish him all the luck in the world and if this baby is anything like he was then he will need all the luck I am giving him.

He said he wanted a girl first when I talked to him before and now I just talked to him and he is very happy he is going to have a Son. I told him I was sorry it wasn’t a girl for him and he confessed that he had actually wanted a boy, but thought with his luck it would be a girl so decided he would be happy to have a she first.

He sounds a bit like a chauvinist to me, but I’m sure he would have cherished a little drama queen princess. Well, of  course I guess it could still be that. I am so funny I crack myself up. I just hope it will be carried full term and healthy, he has not been very lucky with his dreams of having children.

Jodi will find out in a few weeks if Nate is going to have a baby sister or brother. Nate wants a brother because he says he has lots of boy stuff to give him. When all babies arrive we will then have a grand total of 5. Isn’t life grand, now I need to work on being a better Nana because I don’t think I ever want to be a Granny.