Sei got the part time job I mentioned a few posts ago.  It’s been such a blessing. He works between 20 and 30 hours a week writing bids for a contracting company that does things like asbestos abatement and stuff… Idk- I read that on their website. haha But he is enjoying and likes the people he’s working with. They pay him and treat him well. He started the first week of Oct. We- obviously- have a lot of lawyer bills to pay, etc…, but we decided that the 1st 2 months we were rewarding ourselves for getting thru a crappy 2009. So, for Christmas I bought- WITH CASH!!- a new washer and dryer. This is our 1st NEW washer and dryer in our marriage.  I didn’t go all crazy. Just bought a basic Samsung front loader and dryer. And I bought them while they were on sale and used a 10% off coupon. I was feelin’ cool! And I LOVE my new appliances!!! The washer washes HUGE loads- which is the only kind of load I know. And dries them so well. The dryer senses how wet the clothes are and only dries til they are dry. So cool. They both play a little song for me when they are done. After 15 years of doing laundry for other people I think I deserve a new, awesome set. Not only that, but I was able to give my other washer and dryer to my brother and sister-in-law who were thrilled to not have to walk to their apartment laundry room anymore!! YAY!

For Seiul’s Christmas present he bought our very first NEW television. All of the tvs in our home are probably 10 years old and we got them all off of Craigslist.  I know I said we were getting rid of cable to save money, but when we called to get it cut down to just the basic channels, they discounted our cable sooo much that we are only paying $10 more a month for almost all the channels we already had as we would be paying for 5 basic channels. Nice.  We get to save $40 a month, but still have cable. What’s funny is with Sei’s new job, we never watch tv anymore. haha  Anyway, now thanks to Best Buy’s great Black Friday deal, Sei and the boys are watching Sports Center on this:

I’m not writing this post to brag at all. I know people have been praying for us to get a break and FINALLY we are. This job is such a blessing because now we can pay ALL our bills without “creative bill paying”… as I like to call it. Thank you so much to those that prayed for us throughout the last 2 years. We have had such financial and emotional turmoil and it’s so nice to get a breather. Obviously we are still FAR, FAR, FAR from rich, but making ends meet is nice change. And now, it’s down to business. We will be paying extra on our lawyer bills, etc… to get out of this hole faster. But it was fun to spend some on things we never could buy ourselves before without getting in to more debt.

We are also putting money away to celebrate our 10th anniversary a few months late. Sept. 2011 will be 10 years, but in the summer of 2012 we are hoping to take a trip to Hawaii. We looked at Royal Caribbean cruises because we went on one for our belated honeymoon back in 2002. We LOVED IT- it was amazing. Cruises are the way to go if you want to get the most for your money.  But I really want to go to Hawaii, so the saving begins!! I am finally going to learn to surf, buy all the sandals I want and probably come home totally depressed!! Yay! And if we don’t do it in 2012, then we’ll do it in 2013. I’m excited.

Anyway, that’s all. I just want to say THANK YOU for all the prayers and support. We’re finally getting close enough to the lite at the end of the tunnel that we can feel it’s warmth.

This giveaway is now closed.

Winner is comment #44. Congrats!!

I have worked with Tropical Traditions on several occasions and I have NEVER been disappointed with their products or their customer service. This time I had the opportunity to try the Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach. And I of course LOVED IT! The thing I really like about the Oxygen Bleach  is that  the clothes come out totally clean and smell fresh and look “brighter.”  It destains and deodorizes all in one. With a house full of stinky kids this is important!!!

Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach is a safe and effective alternative to chlorine based products and it can be used in many applications in and around the home. It is based on sodium percarbonate which uses oxygen for destaining and deodorizing. Oxygen Bleach is safe to use at all temperatures, on most washable fabrics, and all colors, in hard or soft water, and is compatible with other household cleaners. Also, it produces no harmful by-products which negatively affect the environment. Unlike chlorine bleach, which can merely cover up a stain, Tropical Traditions Oxygen Bleach attacks and breaks down organic stains to totally remove them from the garment.

Tropical Traditions is letting me host a giveaway for their Oxygen  Bleach. I PROMISE you’ll love it!! I have 7 kids I’m washing clothes for- it works.  You can win this 6 lb. container that normally sales for $30 (on sale now for $23.99!!) , which – and there’s a lot of ways to enter.

MAIN ENTRY: Visit Tropical Traditions and tell me about another product you’d be interested in trying. While you’re there you can Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Sales Newsletter.

BONUS ENTRIES: