The Cost of Raising a Child

My husband and I were dreaming of all of the things we would do if we won the powerball drawing. It is expected to be $250 MILLION dollars. I have a laundry list of things I would do if we won, but number one on the list would be to have another baby. ANOTHER BABY?! Are you freaking crazy??? I'm sure this is what you are thinking. My biggest dream, though is to have a house full of kids and have nothing to do but play with them. Oh, I'd paint, and sew and have a glorious time with the most incredible craft room ever. Wait. I'd make a craft HOUSE. A little comfy number in the back... Sort of like a potting shed on steroids. My main job would be to play with our kids. I would have someone to cook and clean, and I would never have to worry about money again. We could send them all to GREAT colleges! And they would NEVER have to worry about money.
According to the USDA, we are going to have to win the drawing just to afford the three kids we HAVE! The press release says a child born to middle income parents in 2008 will end up costing us "$221,190 ($291,570 when adjusted for inflation) for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise that child over the next seventeen years."
We have three kids. I'm afraid to do the math.
I have to stop and get powerball tickets on the way home from swimming today!!!!

Save Handmade

I know I'm terribly late on my posting. I'm trying to put together a holiday party for this weekend, and it has been pretty crazy around here.

This is just SO important!! Please read it and write to your local officials!!!! Obviously we have to be safe. We can't be making things in our homes loaded with lead or make things that would harm our children. "But this year, the CPSC passed the ill-conceived Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act which goes into effect in two months and will absolutely decimate the small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have already earned the public trust." This is from Cool Mom Picks. Apparently this could also affect all of us who make ANY children's products.

Booking Airline Tickets Online

I am so angry, I have to vent! We have been trying to book my niece a flight out here from Rochester, New York. I looked up the price on www.travelocity.com and it came to about $250. I emailed my mom and said, "book the tickets!" She logs on and says, "What are you talking about? They are $600!!" I've been checking all day long every day since then, and the prices haven't dropped below $500. Today I got another $260, did a celebration dance, and quickly click the button to buy the tickets. Here is what i get:

SORRY, the price has increased since your search.

......
Are you kidding me?? It has increased in the last 30 seconds?? I think that is called BAIT AND SWITCH, no?? What is the deal with the airline companies that there is no PRICE for anything? It is a constant freaking bouncing scale that you have to some how pounce on at the exact right time. The very same seat is $200 one minute and $800 the next?!?!? Makes me so angry!!

Spinning Tower?

Spinning Tower?? Seems fathomable, if they can make the top floor of a building spin, why not the whole thing, right? However, the part that scares me is, "Fisher acknowledges that he is not well known, has never built a skyscraper before and hasn't practiced architecture regularly in decades." Although to his credit, he has top consultants on board including a very successful structural engineer.

Additionally, his background (his version of it) seems pretty cloudy.... I wonder who is funding all of the planning and renderings??

Electronic Art?

I just came across this, and it knocked my socks off! The idea is fantastic, and the product is just beautiful. Do the spikes go up because someone is moved by beauty? Do they go up because they are frightened? Does their heart race because they remember the spot where they shared their first kiss? I don't know, but I know I WANT to know more. Check it out for yourselves:
http://biomapping.net/