Charli's Angles

Stickey Liver Thompkins here..haha, this is funny!!

If you were born in da U.P or Wisconsin..someone in your family drank PBR...hahahaha

~Charli

Alan Jackson has put out a new single and I like the up-beat fun ones, but I dont know if it's the mood I've been in or that I have related to this in the past..but this is a great song!!

Anxious to see what you think....

Charli

Hi!  First off I certainly dont want to offend anyone who has ever given or would like to get any of these items..I just had my 2nd little girl and I personally found there are some awesome things that all new moms need and some gifts that are somewhat of a 'waste'!  Of course, if they have it on their baby register, than you are safe to just go with that.

THE BEST GIFTS

• Gift Cards....these are perfect! Ryan and I got a bunch from Target and that has been awesome..We can go get diapers and wipes and the little things that add up!
• Diapers and Wipes-ALL SIZES...Unless they are going to use cloth diapers-you cannot go wrong with these. Start with the newborn sizes and go up til size 3 and even 4. This is one of the biggest expenses for new parents..And wipes. I would tell every person buying a baby a gift to throw in wipes no matter what!!
• Newborn Outfits...People disagree with me on this one because the baby grows so fast, but when we came home w Presley I had NO tiny outfits to fit her. Im talking the cute, little zip or button up cozy Jammies that lil newborn will be in all day. Suprisingly the 0-3 mo. sizes didnt fit either. She drowned in them.  I had to send me husband out to shop for Newborn baby clothes the day we got her home. I still didn't have enough for Josie either
• A Button Down Nightgown for Mom...I am breastfeeding and I got a great pajama set from a good friend and it's been heavenly to lounge around in w the new baby.
• Gift Certificates for Housecleaning or Home Cooked Meals...This one is self explanatory!

THE WORST GIFTS-this is just my opnion from my experience

• Blankets......I have 7 blankets that aren't even used yet, sitting in my daughters closet! I am trying to use every one because of the thought and care put into them, especially the beautiful homemade ones. But I have yet to talk to a mom that doesn't have too many blankets. I would stay away from them or give a gift receipt so they can take them back
• Diaper Warmers....Look, I registered for and got one too! They are cool at first. The warm, cloth on baby but then it just gets ridiculous cause you are so tired and are gonna change baby wherever you are at in the home and trust me, you are not going to miss the warmer.  You definately aren't going to want to take it everywhere with you either
• Milk Warmer...I never got this one. Just put a pan of hot water on the stove and within 2 minutes the mile is warmed!
• Socks...The reason I say this is because everyone gets these and you will end up giving mom something she has WAY too many of! Plus, dont buy the newborn mittens-a lot of time the child wont wear them to keep from scratching themselves or mom can just use one of the gazillion pairs of socks to put on their hands-like I do!
• Dollar Store/No Brand Bottles..... They are cheap and they leak and they will give baby gas that will only bother them and make them cry. Unless mom has registered for certain kind-stay away from bottles.

Congrats if you are a new mom or if you are expert baby gift giver feel free to leave a comment with more ideas of Best and Worst gift ideas!
~Charli

How much money have you spent on cover up? Lots-like I have? It breaks so right away you get a new one and throw out the other..I love this that I found on how to save it and still use it!! All u need is rubbing alcohol! This works on bronzers, eyeshadows, blot powders, whatever! Enjoy

~Charli

Here are the steps!

• Add a few small drops into your broken powder makeup compact or casing.

• After you add the alcohol to the broken powder you will notice it seep into the powder causing it to become soft.

• Smudge the soft soaking powder around, making it into a paste-like substance and re-form it by smoothing it out with your finger. You will know exactly what to do!

• You can then smooth the surface out with the bottom of a spoon if you choose to, but remember that it does not have to be perfect to work perfectly.

• Let it dry overnight for best results.

 Here is what it will look like after 24 hrs..still useable and you saved money!!!

Hi friends! I am finally sitting down and updating everyone on Josies' arrival. I just needed a few weeks to breathe..I am loving having both my girls but wow, it's a little overwelming too!  Josie Florence was born at 12:05p on Tues, Dec 20the..My husband picked the first name and her middle name is after my mother-in-law's middle name.  I had her via c-section and she weighed 9lbs 4 oz and she was 2 1/2 weeks early! I have big babies ;)

The first 3 days at the hospital were great, Presley would NOT let Josie out of her site..this photo is the first time Presley met Josie and she was on a natural high..she didn't want anyone to hold her baby sister...not even her grandmas. All of the family was so good with Presley, they brought her little gifts to make her feel special and asked Presley if they could hold or touch Josie. It really helped to make Presley feel special!   I have to thanks the staff at Aurora, especially my nurse I had for 3 days-Vicky. She was so helpful in the tips I needed, I forgot what having a newborn was like!!!   My salute to Aurora-they were wonderful there...

Having Josie join us feels like she has always been part of us. I was really worried while I was pregnant with her that I wouldn't have enough love for her cause of all the love I had for my first daughter, Presley. It's normal to feel this way. The  minute I saw Josie-I fell head over heals in love with her as well! Its not so tough balancing the 2 kids..well sometimes:)  I will forever remember this advice my sister, Natalie gave me...If both the kids are crying at the same time-go to the older one first..The baby isn't going to remember that mommy didn't pick me up or come to me, BUT the older toddler will..great advice!

Our family is complete and I am going to enjoy every single minute of maternity leave..Ill check in with Bear and Erika from time to time and Ill see some ofyou at the Jason Aldean show in February...but for now, Im gonna try to rest when I can and enjoy being a mom to 2 of the most beautiful girls on this planet-Yep, Im biased!!

Ill keep updating things on my blog..share some stories and some pointers Ive been given along the way....

Happy New Year!!

~Charli McKenzie and the family

Happy New Year...have you heard about this young man? Ben Breedlove? I had heard his name over the last few days and last night a friend sent me his story..It is pretty inspiring!  You have to watch this....I maybe should've waited til I wasn't only 1 week out of having a baby, cause my hormones were a raging watching this:) 

Enjoy

~Charli

Everyone knows the Packers are the heart and soul of Green Bay, we  own "stock" in the team, and season tickets are a valuable commodity. That made tickets to the Christmas night game with archrival Chicago either the best gift a fan could find under the tree, or (if her sign is to be believed) a perfect way to get back at a cheating boyfriend.  Classic and I love it!!

~Charli

As we steam roll toward 2012, let's pause and pay tribute to all the idiocy uploaded to YouTube over the past 12 months. Here's a 12-minute-plus compilation of the best epic fails from 2011. It's a delightful time-killer.

Im not gonna lie..some of these are GUT WRENCHING..watch w care:)
~Charli

What a year it's been...kind of feels like it was all about the celebrity scandals this year. I know that I keep up with the stars, like they are actually my friends LOL..Here is the best of the best!

~Charli

Top Regularly Scheduled Series

1. American Idol, Wednesday (23.9 Million)
2. American Idol, Thursday
3. Dancing With The Stars (19.7 Million)
4. Dancing With The Stars Results
5. NCIS
6. America's Got Talent, Tuesday (12.6 Million)
7. NCIS: Los Angeles
8. 2 Broke Girls
9. (tie) The Voice (11.9 Million)
10. (tie) America's Got Talent, Wednesday (11.9 Million)
11. (tie) Unforgettable (11.8 Million)
12. (tie) Person Of Interest (11.8 Million)
13. (tie) Once Upon A Time (11.6 Million)
14. (tie) The X Factor Wednesday (11.6 Million)
15. The X Factor Thursday (11.5 Million)

Top Grossing Movies Of The Year (in millions)

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (381)
2. Transformers: Dark of the Moon (352)
3. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (259)
4. The Hangover Part II (254)
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (241)
6. Fast Five (210)
7. Cars 2 (191)
8. Thor (181)
9. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (177)
10. Captain America: The First Avenger (177)
11. The Help (169)
12. Bridesmaids (169)
13. Kung Fu Panda 2 (165)
14. X-Men: First Class (146)
15. Rio (144)

 Top Selling Singles on iTunes

1. Rolling in the Deep - Adele
2. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO
3. Firework - Katy Perry
4. Grenade - Bruno Mars
5. Forget You - Cee Lo Green
6. Give Me Everything - Pitbull
7. E.T. - Katy Perry
8. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5
9. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
10. Super Bass - Nicki Minaj

Top Selling Albums on iTunes

1. 21 - Adele
2. Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
3. Tha Carter IV (Deluxe Edition) - Lil Wayne
4. Watch The Throne (Deluxe Edition - Jay-Z and Kanye West
5. Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay

Best Selling Books on Amazon

1. Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson
2. Heaven Is For Real - Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent
3. StrengthsFinder 2.0 - Tim Roth
4. The Hunter Games - Suzanne Collins
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever - jeff Kinney
6. Unbroken - Laura Hillenbrand
7. Inheritance - Christopher Paolini
8. The 17 Days Diet - Mike Moreno
9. A Song of Ice and Fire 4-book Box Set - George R.R. Martin
10. Go The F--k To Sleep - Adam Mansbach and RicardoCortes

 I read this article and there was no way I couldn't share this...it seems everyone is trying to save, including our family.  Good Luck

~Charli

• Comparison shop every year. If you have a choice of health plans at work or through Medicare, review your options during the open-enrollment period (usually in the fall). Find out what each plan covers so you know what you'll have to pay. Consider deductibles, co-payments, and other cost-sharing in addition to the monthly premium. If you're buying your own policy, go to HealthCare.gov, which lets you screen every plan sold in your state to find one that will meet your needs. Then consult an independent broker to sort through your options.

• Seek cost-effective treatments. Check out prescription drugs on BestBuyDrugs.org, a Consumer Reports website that compares medications and lists the most cost-effective and safest ones for your condition.

• Buy drugs at big-box stores. We compared the prices of over-the-counter drugs and found they were up to 50 percent cheaper at Target and Walmart than at local supermarkets across the U.S. Those two stores also charge just $4 for a 30-day supply of many generic prescription drugs. For an even better bargain, get a 90-day supply for $10. Similar programs are offered by CVS, Kmart, Kroger, Rite Aid, Sam's Club, and Walgreens, although some, like CVS, charge an annual membership fee. Some local pharmacies will match the low prices at chain stores, but you have to ask.

• Check bills for errors. Eight of 10 hospital bills contain mistakes, according to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, a national association that checks medical bills for consumers. So go over your bills carefully. You might spot mistakes that will save you money—and some insurers pay a reward if you find and report errors.
 

Food

• Shop the supermarket sale cycle. Food staples like cereal and chicken hit their lowest prices once every 12 weeks. Make a note when you see sales and you'll know when to stock up next.

• Make coupon searches simple. There are so many online coupon sites that searching all of them could be a full-time job. To save time, stick to just a couple of them. We've found Coupons.com and SmartSource.com usually have up to 100 deals at a time, compared with no more than 30 coupons in newspaper circulars. And both sites have new mobile versions that let you scroll through offers from a smart phone without downloading special software or apps.

[More on Yahoo! Shopping: Outlet Stores Worth the Trip]

• Bid on your groceries. Food auctions aren't common yet, but they're a growing trend. Auctioneers say you can save 40 percent or more off typical supermarket prices. We went to a grocery auction website and found big savings. For example, a box of three DiGiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust Three Meat Pizzas was $14, about half the price at a local market; Hickory Farms Summer Sausage and Kellogg's Rice Crispy Treats were 78 percent less than Amazon.com's prices. Look for local events at www.auctionzip.com and www.craigslist.org. Check the prices of the items you want first so you won't overbid, and bring a cooler for pickup.

• Buy store brands. They can save you 50 percent or more compared with brand-name alternatives. Every year we test dozens of store-brand items, and find that many of them are just as good or even better than name-brand products.

• Split a warehouse membership. If you've shied away from those clubs because you don't have room to store dozens of rolls of paper towels, packs of soap, and jumbo-sized packages of frozen food, consider splitting your purchases with someone else. The savings can easily offset the membership fees, which you can also split. In our price comparison between clubs and supermarkets, we found savings of as much as 50 percent or more on such staples as cleaning products, coffee, drugs, paper goods, and snacks.

• Check social-network offers. More stores are using Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter to lure customers with deals. Walmart uses Facebook to post coupons and specials at the store in or closest to your ZIP code. Whole Foods offers one-day sales, recipes, and more through Facebook and Twitter.
 

Car Expenses

• Update your insurance annually. The auto coverage you signed up for when your car was new is often more than you need as it ages and depreciates. It's a good idea to call your insurance company once a year to see whether you should adjust some coverage. Every year you don't file a claim or get a ticket, for example, makes you a lower risk, which could qualify you for a lower rate. But you have to ask.

• Check the competition. You might find a cheaper policy by calling other insurers for quotes or comparing prices at AccuQuote or Insure.com. But if you've been with the same company for several years and you've got multiple policies with that insurer, switching might not save you much, if anything.

• Shop for the cheapest fuel. FuelPrices.net, GasBuddy, Gas Price Watch, MapQuest, and MSN Autos can help you compare fuel prices in your area.

• Go longer between oil changes. Although car dealer service departments and oil-change shops might suggest changing your oil every 3,000 miles, modern engines are usually designed to go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes under normal driving conditions. The shorter time span is often used only for cars driven in severe conditions, such as stop-and-go driving, frequent trailer-towing, mountainous terrain, or dusty conditions. Check your owner's manual for its recommendation.
 

Pet Care

• Buy pet food at Target or Walmart. When we sent 21 of our secret shoppers to stores around the country to price top-selling brands of dog and cat food, prices at those two stores were about 20 percent less. Online pet-food prices were especially high; Target and Walmart beat them by an average of 50 percent. If your vet has recommended a premium food brand because your pet has health issues, check prices at both Petsmart and Petco.

• Inquire about price matching. Some stores will match other retailers' prices. One CR staff member brings circulars or printouts of online deals when she shops at Petland Discounts. Target matches competitors' prices and its own sale prices if you have a receipt showing you paid more within a week before a sale.

• Check out flea-and-tick options. A patent has expired on one of the active ingredients in Frontline Plus, so new competitors have emerged, including PetArmor Plus and FiproGuard Plus. At Petco we found a three-month supply of PetArmor Plus for $28, compared with $50 for FiproGuard Plus and $62 for Frontline Plus. You might find even bigger savings on those products at other stores or online.

• Ask vets about costs. If your pet is prescribed a medication that's also given to humans, compare the vet's price to the cost of filling it at a drugstore, supermarket pharmacy, or big-box retailer. If you're shopping for a new veterinarian, call a few offices nearby and ask what they charge for an annual exam as a gauge of other costs. It can range from about $35 to $46, according to a 2008 national survey by the American Animal Hospital Association.

• Skip pet insurance. Our analysis has found most pet owners are better off saving money in an emergency fund.
 

Entertainment

• Slash restaurant tabs. BiteHunter.com lists restaurant specials and daily deals from other sites, such as Citysearch and Groupon. It's easy to search by cuisine, deal, or restaurant in a particular city. EatDrinkDeals.com posts discounts from national and regional chains.  

• Download free e-books. Hundreds of thousands of books published before 1923, including many classic titles, have been digitized by Google or Project Gutenberg and are offered as free downloads. Some newer titles are free for promotional reasons. There are free e-books for the Kindle, Kobo, Nook, and Sony Reader devices. You can also access e-books free on your Nook, for up to an hour a day, when you're in any Barnes and Noble store. And, of course, you can always borrow books, books on tape, and DVDs from your local library.
 

Clothing

• Go to outlets for off-season duds. In-season items are often made specifically for the outlets, and manufacturers might cut corners, as we've discovered in our tests. Out-of-season clothes, however, might come from their nonoutlet locations and be higher quality. Still, inspect them for defects before you buy.

• Get free shipping. More online retailers are offering it year-round, not just during the holiday season. FreeShipping.org lists dozens of stores that ship free with no minimum purchase.

• Read the labels. Natural fibers, such as 100 percent cotton, wash and wear better than blends. Cheaper fabrics can shrink and are more prone to pilling. Try to avoid items that have to be dry-cleaned.

Download These Money-Saving Apps

These six shopping apps can turn your smart phone into a savings tool. All are free; to find them, search by their name in a Web browser.

Clothing-Sale App: Where
Once you've followed a few steps to tag favorite retailers, it tells you every time they post a coupon. Works on Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Palm Pre, and Windows Phone 7. (The app is called Yowza on the iPhone.)

Fuel-Saving App: Gas Buddy
Finds gas stations near you and shows you their recent prices. Works on Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows.

Entertainment App: Foursquare
By tracking your location, it alerts you to deals at nearby movie theaters, museums, restaurants, and other places. It also connects you to daily deals from Groupon and other social-shopping sites. Works on Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Palm Pre.

Grocery-Coupon App: Cellfire
Loads coupons from more than 3,500 grocery stores and other retailers onto your loyalty cards. It sends a mobile reminder that you have a coupon when you enter the store that provided it. Works on Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Phone 7.

Price-Comparison App: PriceGrabber
Lets you know who's selling goods at the best price, including tax and shipping fees. Scan the item's bar code or type in the product name. Works on Android and iPhone. Please note that Consumer Reports collects a fee from Pricegrabber for referring users. We use 100% of those fees to fund our testing programs. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with any retailers.

Yard-Sale App: Garage Sales Tracker
Finds garage sales, flea markets, and consignment shops in your area. Works on the iPhone.

consumersreport.org

Monday, January 2nd-

        7p  The Bachelor (ABC)

        7p  How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

Tuesday, January 3^th

        7p  The Biggest Loser (NBC)

        7p NCIS (CBS)

        7p  Switched At Birth (ABC)  NEW COMEDY

        8p  Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC) this one has some crazies, including Gary Busey

        9p  Parenthood (NBC)

Wednesday, January 4^th

        9p  Revenge (ABC) One of the best new shows of the season..watch the first half at abc.com!! You’ll love it!!

Thursday, January 5^th

        7p  The Vampire Diaries (CW)

        8p  Grey’s Anataomy (ABC) Oh, thanks for returning after being gone for 8 weeks!!!

        9p  Private Practice (ABC)

              Jersey Shore (MTV)  You know your going to watch it!!!

Sunday, January 8^th

        7p  Once Upon a Time (ABC)

7p  The Simpsons, followed by Cleveland Show,  The Family Guy, American Dad-Sunday           Animation Domination!!!!

8p The Firm (NBC)  Series Premiere

Monday, January 9^th

        7p  Castle (ABC)

Wednesday, January 11^th

        7p  Are You There God, It’s Me Chelsea?  (NBC)  Series Premiere

8p  People’s Choice Awards (CBS)

9p  Law and Order: SUV  (NBC)

Thursday, January 12^th

        7p  Bones, winter finale (FOX)

        7p  30 Rock (NBC)

        7:3p  ROB (CBS)  New Comedy

        8p The Finder (FOX) New series

Friday, January 13^th

        7p  Kitchen Nightmares (FOX)

        8p  Fringe (FOX)

Sunday, January 15^th

        7p  The Golden Globes (NBC)  Hosted by Ricky Gervais..my favorite of all the awards shows!

        7p  Undercover Bosses (CBS)

Monday, January 16^th

        7p  Alcatraz (FOX)  New series

        7p  Gossip Girl (CW)

Tuesday, January 17^th

        7p  GLEE (FOX)

        7p  90210 (CW)

        9p  Justified (FX)

        9p  Southland  (TNT)

9p  White Collar  (USA)

Wednesday, January 18^th

        7p AMERICAN IDOL (FOX)

Friday, January 27^th

        7p  Chuck (NBC)  Series Finale..bye bye