1. Every single thing in my life since July 21st, 2011 has revolved around my home burning down, retelling the story to those who need more details, working overtime to make enough money to start to replace things we lost and trying to find the best deals on everything we need to replace. So when it comes to blogging…I just have no more left in me to talk about, in fact I quite enjoy what “quietude” I can salvage these days but after six months of living with my parents and twin brothers, away from Buzz who is overseeing the rebuild, who can blame me right?

2. We need the money and items that these contests offer, even a toaster helps at this point.

3. Contests. Are. Awesome.

With that out of the way, I wanted to tell you about the Ragu Tailgate Party Contest that Baby Loving Mama is holding on her blog. The contest is generously being sponsored by Ragu and not only gives you the opportunity to win a $300 AMEX card but it also gives you some great ideas for tailgating recipes. Since I have been staying here with my family for a while my diet has changed, I eat what the family eats for the sake of keeping things simple and that’s not a good thing – at least not for my waistline. Since new years however, I resolved to make a few better eating choices and when I went to find some recipes that I liked I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find any that would work with eating healthy…er. I did find quite a few that sounded delicious though! Take a look at two of my favorites!

RAGU NO FRYING CHICKEN PARMESAN

TUSCAN VEGETABLE WRAPPERS

After reading The Financial Blogger’s blog post with an opportunity to win $500 which, let’s face it, I could very much use right now, I have decided to share my financial confessions of 2011 here on my blog. The $500 Financial Blogger competition is sponsored by Life Insurance Finder – the easiest place to compare life insurance and this is an opportunity I couldn’t miss…so here we go:

This year I have relied too much on the credit cards I worked hard to pay down.

This year I have frequented those “fancy coffee shops” just a little too much for “a special treat.”

This year I have bought far more craft supplies than I would ever have time to use.

This year I indulged a little too much in my cookbook collecting habit.

This year I did not invest half as much as I wanted to back in to savings.

This year I did not have renters insurance – an investment I REALLY REALLY wish I had made when I watched our home go up in flames.

I am sure there are plenty more but those are the biggies for the 2011 year and they are all things that I am working on for this financial year – hey, I haven’t had a Starbucks hot chocolate even ONCE this year so far!

Before the fire department arrived

The fire department arrived and took it in their hands

The restoration company comes in and all smoke / heat damaged furniture and belongings have to go

The downstairs of my home after the gutting

The master bedroom with some charred cinder blocks – this is where I was sitting when I noticed the smoke

There’s something surreal about seeing the remains of a collage I made Buzz for valentines day still half intact

Back down to the kitchen

More items for the trash pile

What used to hang on our kitchen wall now trampled on the back deck

So I’d say that the reason that I would like to win this Glidden paint giveaway is somewhat obvious. I would like to have a nice home again, a home with some furniture and maybe even some pots and pans.

This is all.