THE ME-MAW SONG

WE WANT ME-MAW.
WE MISS ME-MAW.
Just how many choruses of that do you think parents can stand before they go crazy ?!
I know the kids miss their ME-MAW...I miss her too.
Just try and take three small ones on a warm, wonderful vacation to sunny Florida for two weeks and see what they notice the most.
The sun, the fun, the beaches, the nice warm breezes, no snow, the relatives they haven't seen for some time and say they miss ? NO...they miss ME-MAW.
Who is by the way, waiting patiently back home in the cold and wintry snows for their return.
We even broke down and bought a DVD player to occupy their time and minds...once the movie is over, it is back to the same old chorus of...yep...WE MISS ME-MAW !
Don't yah just love it ?
Next time we are dragging ME-MAW with us whether she likes it or not !

Nice Place To Visit

We are still on vacation and now we are in South Carolina.
The weather is beautiful, kids are behaving all is good.
But I sure miss being home and my MOM !
It is cold and snowy there and once I am home it will be back to the everyday rat race.
But still, like Dorothy says, "There's no place like home"!
CLICK, CLICK...hey my shoes aren't working. I tapped them and it did not take me home !
Hey ! Where the heck is that yellow brick road !?

Men Want MORE Accessories Than Women

This past Christmas we managed to get our nephew a Nintendo DS.
He was soooo happy ! Finally something to make him smile. He is in his upper teen years and you know how hard it is to buy for them !
We ran across this place that has the lowest prices of any other store so far and we went ahead and purchased the Greg Hastings Paintball Game and ATV Thunder Ridge Racers and Monster Truck Mayhem, since we got them on sale and free shipping.
I think we should have got him some DS game pak cases too, but we can get those maybe for his birthday.
So we are sitting there enjoying the games and the nephew proceeds to tell me all about this accessory called a R4 DS that he just has to have !
We said we would check on it. Well it turns out it is ON SALE and FREE shipping too.
What a deal.
Now I understand that this little inexpensive item can give him more things to do with his DS like turn it into an IPOD and he can also do movies on it.
Hmm, sounds like a very cheap way to give him hours of entertainment.
What a deal !
But I saw another game we are going to buy from there also it is called My word Coach, with over 17,000 words. He could use some help in the vocabulary department. It has games he can play with this and improve his speaking skills. Hey, maybe he can even find the words "Please" and "Thank You" while he is playing.
Ah, so many accessories, so little time.
Thank goodness for sales.

Kids and Crafts

My kids love to do craft things with me.
They make the cutest, most imaginative things.
When we were out shopping the other day we ran across a gel pen set that is like no other I have ever seen.
It has 100 different colors of pens and has its own case to hold them.
It looks so cool just sitting on the table with all those brilliant colors staring back at you.
Well when the kids saw it I thought their eyes were going to bug out !
They love this and they take better care of this than they do their crayons, which by the way usually end up on the floor as they roll off the table.
The rule with the pen set is one at a time put that one back and then get another.
They are listening so well.
It is well worth the money for this set and you should see the wonderful drawings and butterflies etc., they are creating.
Have fun
See you later

Beauty and the Beast

I am not getting older, I am getting stronger and healthier and more beautiful.
This is what my sister-in-law is boasting now. She got a certificate for this day spa visit in Soho, the well known, glamorous part of Manhattan, New York.
They were going to vacation there over the holidays and her hubby got her a gift certificate for the Red and White Day Spa, so she would have something to do while he had to attend a meeting one of the days of their vacation, to make sure she enjoyed herself.
Well, let me tell you, she came back home and I almost did not recognize her...WOW what a difference in her appearance and her attitude.
She had a skin treatment done that infused special serums and compressed atomized O2, she looks absolutely 5 years younger and she had her consult with the board certified doctor and they match a HRT just for her personal body needs. It is a process called biodentical HRT and it is not just and OTC or everyone take this amount of estrogen per body weight, the consult included testing HER body for Her individual needs.
She decided to get a little Restylane injection just as a little perk until she does more holistic things for herself for appearances.
At the spa she was totally relaxed and serene and said she knows her blood pressure went down.
This is an anti aging process that she actually will stick with, as it already has done so much for her ego and looks.
She says she actually feels younger already and she is doing more to make herself as strong internally as she looks on the outside.
I wish her well in her new life venture, she looks so great, I am going to see about going to the Red and White spa.
She has so much energy, enthusiasm and a go getter out look now from this spa experience, she used to be tired all the time, grumpy and beastly attitude wise.
I think she is 10 years younger for that visit. She is going back again soon and you better bet I am going with her this time.
I am going to be younger looking and healthier too.
I want to feel pretty, no, I want to be beautiful.

Christmas and Birthdays

Christmas is past that takes one load off my mind, but now all I have to worry about is THREE in a ROW Birthdays and mine ! Gee that makes FOUR !
All of our birthdays follow right after December.
So the presents don't really stop on December 25th around here.
it is a bit tricky to balance out what the kids get for Christmas and then make it a special gift fr their Birthdays.
Just can't catch a break.
One thing that does help some is the after Christmas sales, it cuts the cost of the gifts down a lot.
Now all I have to do is figure out what to get.
Wish me luck and HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

Hangin' Ten

SURF'S UP ! Hang ten...ah the memories of summer fun.
The sounds that the cool waves make beating on your surf board is like music to your toes, all ten of them.
The warm summer sun warming you up after you ride that wild wave, and make it breathlessly back to the hot sandy beaches to await the next "SURF'S UP call of the wild.
Or maybe its the last wave of the day and you are ready to pack it up and go get ready for the night entertainment and bon fire on the beach with your friends.
Your board is an important and expensive piece of equipment so you will want to dry it off, wax it down and put it in one of those special surfboard bags that fits your board, be it a shortboard, a longboard or a stand up and paddle one.
You need to protect it so it is in top shape for the next run at the waves.
You should make sure the bag is good shape so your board does not get damaged and if you are on vacation and travel say by airplane you might want to check into getting a travel bag and not depend on just a day bag for shipping it.
If you go online you can find some great deals often.
Sometimes it will be end of the season clearances or maybe a manufacturer is just clearing out this years colors or patterns getting ready for the new styles and colors for next season.
At any rate, you have to make sure you look good when your HANGIN' TEN.

Zeitgeist Report

Ever hear of the Zeitgeist Report ?
It means In the spirit of the times, trends, what is going on now the most and in the past the most.
Google shows the SPIRIT through the sorting and analyzing of such info out of millions of searches and queries each day.
It gives them - Google - insight into the regional and global trends.
PR figures into this equation somehow.

Reality TV

There is a new breed of TV shows coming out now...Reality TV and Tru TV.
actual sights of trial , tribulations and stresses of everyday living.
I watch people sit there and watch this stuff and I see the stress and anger and disbelief on their faces.
Yes, This is going on all day long, all night long, all year long. The crime, the disrespect for each other, all the bad things that you read about the next day in the newspapers. All the things you say or think would never happen to you.
You have to start watching more "REAL" shows to get a grip on "YOUR" life.
Make your day more functional and find the things that make your life more calm and less stressful for you and those around you.
You have to stop trying to mend what went on yesterday and live in the moment. If the now, present time is good and on target then tomorrow should follow much the same pattern.
The Mindful Living Network is one of the new reality tv shows that helps guide you on the path of a better today.
To show you what reality should be.
It give you info on how to get your blood pressure lower, be more focused and lead a healthier mindful lifestyle.
They do not teach you the violence they teach you nonviolence.
They teach you how to recognize when you are overworked, over stressed and ready to jump overboard, how to regain a feeling of serenity and calm.
Good programing.

Steroids Cause Eye Problems

Oral, Inhaled or Topical steroids can cause serious eye problems.
If you take steroids like in an inhaler for asthma and Flovent and Advair was specifically mentioned but I am sure there are others, can cause cataracts and or glaucoma.
So when this drug is prescribed for you, use it only as the doctor orders and get check up as the doctor says to do...it can save your eyes.
Steroids are usually are used on short term basis for a reason, so do not use less or more than the doctor ordered and if you notice any side effects, do call your doctor and let them know.
Steroids can also cause weakened bones, fluid retention, HBP, mood swings and confusion.
So take this as a serious drug and remember it is not just an aspirin...which by the way you should take only as prescribed.
Drugs are supposed to be used as medicine not recreation !

Scrapbooking to the Max

My daughter-in-law is so artsy-craftsy and she is always creating new cards and craft ideas.
She is so talented, she probably should start her own business.
When I get Birthday Cards that are supposed to represent the celebration of the occasion, believe you me, it screams Happy Birthday !
She and her family do this type of crafting together as a family project and they have created some of the most beautiful photo albums you have ever seen. The little accents and do-dads she adds to the pics is so awesome. She know just what to put together to make it look so special.
The color choices of papers and ribbons and little 3-D notions and textures she chooses makes each one a piece of art.
I wouldn't be surprised if some day she became famous for her workings.
She even creates her own little sayings for inside the lovely keepsakes she makes and gives.
You could not find this type of card on a store shelf or if you did I am sure it would cost a bunch !
Of course you can not put a price on something this special.
One of our relatives had a baby shower and soon after, the expectant mom received a gorgeous scrape book that had all the highlights of the shower, pictures, little keepsakes that could be added from the shower, like ribbons, little baby booties and a piece that was part of a table decoration was even incorporated into the theme of this keepsake book.
Christmas, Birthdays, Mother's Day, just about any special occasion around our family and we are always looking forward to getting one of her projects.
She puts the SPECIAL in special.

Holiday Travel Part 2

I am not the most relaxed person to begin with, but traveling tends to stress me out. Being on the road for long periods of time, especially during the holidays is exhausting. I rarely even do any of the driving. I take care of the snacks and the bottles, the question answering ( what's that? Are we there yet? etc). I am the honey, hand me this, Momma can you I have that, department.
What really wears my nerves out is the other drivers. Everybody is in such a rush, you can not even leave clear distance to try and drive safely. If you do not ride close to the bumper in front of you, soon there will be a new bumper in front of yours, and possible ON yours. We were in rush our traffic the other day and my hubby could tell people ahead were slamming on brakes so he reacted accordingly and did not hit anyone. I knew before I looked back, but I glanced backward and said, "We are going to be hit!", and BOOM! I was right. The person right behind us did a great job of not hitting us, at first, then the car behind him pushed him into us.
Luckily we had just bought a hitch and a hitch rack before this trip, so the rack took the brunt of the hit, and no one in the van was hurt. Then the really scary part was still being in that rush hour mob until the police came to get us moved over to the other side of the road. Big rigs, cars, school buses, vroooming by at warp speed. I was totally frazzled by the time we got moving again.
But like I said no one was hurt and there was minimal damage, so we are lucky. I told my hubby that even if we do not have extra stuff to carry we should put that carrier on the van every time we go on a trip LOL!

As Friends Move Away

Why is it when you acquire a new friend and just get comfortable, the decide to move away ?
A very nice friend of mine has made a career choice and her new job will be taking her to Washington and that is like half way around the globe from us in the east here.
I will miss her and our coffee chats, but it is a great experience for her.
She told me that she is going to contact a couple of Seattle Realtors to see who could find her the best deal, the fastest, so she could make the transition as quickly as possible.
She doesn't really know any one out there yet, the the company she works for is real anxious to get her started as son as possible in her new position so they emailed her with some names of Realtors in Seattle area that she might approve of using.
Her company seems to be very caring and supportive of her relocating for them.
I already miss her and she has not even left yet.
Think I will put on a pot of coffee and give her a call.

Holiday Travel Part 1

I think I wrote before about how we were getting ready for a holiday road trip to visit family. I had been researching different portable DVD players and was trying to decide which one to get if any. After a 4 hour trip I was really thinking there was no way we would get through a longer trip, but we ran out of time and left on the big trip without buying ANY DVD player.



We lasted all of 6- 7 hours before we stopped at the next Walmart we could find and bought a portable DVD player. LOL, I am serious. We would not have made the rest of the trip without one. We had brought some DVD's with us just in case we did get a player, or for the kids to watch when they got places. We also bought a couple new ones, cheap ones. I am telling you it is a life saver!



We ended up selecting an RCA brand DVD Player, and so far I am liking it just fine. I had read so many bad reviews of different players not working, or only working for like 6 hours then dying, but so far so good. I still want my kids to see the sights while we are traveling, so I turn it off at times but I am definitely glad we got one!

You're Going To Move To Planet What ?

You're going to move to planet what ? WOW ! Nicaragua ! Because ?...
Oh, I see, the beaches, the weather, the beautiful views, Island style living, volcanoes, and the what ?, Indian Markets...well, OK then.
You say it is about 80 degrees all the time ? No snow huh ?
I think it is a wonderful place to retire to. What made you think of there ?
Oh, you have friends that are already established there? That is nice.
This is wild ! This is the conversation I had with a very good friend of mine the other day.
She and her husband are what you might call trekies. They travel every chance they get.
When they were traveling last year they went to Nicaragua and fell absolutely in love with it.
The areas they visited, the people, the foods, it was heaven to them.
So since then they had been actively checking out the real estate for sale in the areas they would like to live in. Then yesterday they received a call from a real estate company they were working with and think they have found their casa, as she said.
I asked her how many Cordoba is that going to cost. She just laughed.
Hmmm, guess she isn't going to tell me.
So I got on the net and started looking around the area she was talking about and it is gorgeous !
absolutely breath taking. I would never have thought to retire to Nicaragua.
I guess I should be more open minded and see the world for what it is...more than I know.
It would be Island living, relaxed, calm, serene beach setting, beautiful scenery, many sites to see. What more could you want?

Broken candy canes

Why is it when a child wants to eat a candy cane it has to be all in one piece ?

As soon as they break the hook part in it it is like the world came to a halt, they don't know how to hold on to the candy and they insist on having a new one.

And then it starts all over again.

What's the deal ?

Buy - Give - Save

Everyone wants to save a buck or two whenever possible, but they do not want to give up quality. Whether it is something you are buying for yourself or a gift for someone.
If you own a small business you are always looking for ways to save money, not to cut corners, but to maybe help make things run more economical. These savings can be passed on to customers which could make your prices more competitive and help you gain more customers, so you want more bang for your buck.
You need to comparative shop to make this happen and don't forget there could be a special promotion or rebate going on for that big $$ item you might want to purchase, such as office furniture or equipment.
One place you may want to check out is Walmart online specials . Never underestimate online shopping.
It can save you gas and a ton of time. No long lines, no sorry we just ran out or we only had 2 of those in stock. You can see the item, color, size, quantity, etc., immediately and usually it is delivered to you. If you catch the right sales you could possibly get free shipping...that would be an added bonus.
I am just shopping for a new printer, as a consumer, no business, but you can bet I will be on the look out for sales, discounts, rebates and special promo codes to save money, yet get the best that I can afford.
Shopping online has been the way to do it for me.
I got a great deal on a computer 2 months ago online, top of the line, name brand, warrantied and delivered to my door. Sure glad I didn't have to carry it myself. Right one, right color, size, just what I wanted.
Also while shopping online for the printer, I want to keep my eyes open for a new chair for my computer desk. My old one is about shot.
So I will see you all later, I am going online shopping !

Is It On Sale Or NOT ?

A friend of mine bought her hubby a GPS for Christmas and got a great deal on it.
I went on line and saw it was also on sale there too.
BUT when I put it in my online cart..it came up full price cost and then I thought well maybe it will take it off at the end total...IT DID NOT.
So be very careful when ordering online...watch the totals.
Read everything extra careful this time of year.

If The Shoe Fits

I just hated to think of buying a pair of new boots let alone breaking them in.
We do a lot of hiking and out of door activities so we probably buy more shoes and boots than the average family does.
So when it comes time for new boots, we are not talking just for one person, it is usually two or three out of the five of us. So we are looking for the best deal and good quality that we can get.
An acquaintance of ours told us about Rocky Boots last fall on a hike we went on together.
I am so glad he did. This place we order our footwear from is fantastic to deal with.
We browse the online catalog, select the style, color and sizes we want and it is delivered really fast right to my door step.
The quality of the goods is great too, I have never felt like boots fit right before until I got these.
They are correct sized for me. you know how some times you order stuff online and it's just a bit snug, well these aren't...they actually run almost true to size. And my husband takes a fairly hard to get size shoe even at town in the shoe stores, but they always seem to have his in stock.
No hassles getting what we want, fast and just what we thought we would get.
They do have a phone number to call and talk to an actual person if you have any problems, Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM CST, but to date, we haven't needed to call them.
So hiking gear is not a problem for us anymore.
Happy hiking everyone

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope you and yours are having a safe and wonderful Holiday!

I am looking forward to the New Year and hope it brings changes for the better for my family and for anyone else that needs some good things in their life. I am grateful for my family and friends, but I hope for more peace in my personal world and the world in general. Family is the most important thing there is, and I hope to do better for mine this year and every year after.....

God Bless!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Paper is so Much Fun

I was looking around for some nice paper and envelopes to send our holiday thank you cards on. I found an awesome sight called Paper-Papers.com. Not only did I find the stationary and envelopes I wanted, but I found plenty of ideas for future projects as well.

My two oldest kids LOVE crafts of any kind, but they especially love making cards and collages. There are so many lovely papers on this site it boggles my imagination! They have also started being interested in origami, but they are a little young, which means I have to learn to do it and do the things for them LOL, but I do not mind of course because it makes them so happy.

I think I might buy an assortment for their upcoming birthdays. Maybe they will want to make some scrapbook pages from our family adventures. We might get them one of those kids' digital cameras, so that would go nicely together. It would be interesting to let them do their own scrapbook pages from start to finish including the photos and see what they come up with. My one daughter even makes pop up cards. I think I will get her some of the velum to use on her projects, I know she will love it. If you are doing any holiday crafting or like to scrapbook, etc check that site out!

S.O.S. is spelled M.O.M.

I do not know what I would do without my mom. She has always been my best friend on top of being there for me as my mother. Now that I am married and have kids of my own, I depend on her even more. She helps me in so many ways I can not even begin to keep track or repay her.


I have not gotten this parenting thing down perfectly by any means, but I know what good things I have learned are from her. I mean I learned good things from dad too, but it is usually your mom that gives you the nurturing, loving stuff that you need to raise your children. I still can not believe it when my kids call me Mama. I feel like it is a dream since I still feel like a kid myself most of the time.


I never really thought I would be a mom, but I can not imagine my life without my kids. I hope through all the stress of day to day life that some of the good stuff trickles through and sticks with my kids like the things my mom has given me.

I love you mom, today and forever. B G and O ( she will know what that means :o) )

The Gifts That Say Love

Have you ever noticed that when it comes to selecting thoughtful Valentines Day Gifts, gentlemen have a little difficulty ?
I found a unique web site that has wonderful gift ideas that would mean a lot, yet are very reasonable in price.
They have gift sets already nicely packaged and ready to send out.
The names alone are romantic, for example how would you like to receive a gift that is called Celebration of Love or Thinking of You or Love Unlimited.
If those don't put you in the mood, maybe the contents will.
The one set, Thinking of You contains Max Brenner chocolate covered strawberries, Lindt truffles and a bottle of Henkell Champagne.
Or what stirs in the imagination when you hear Love Unlimited ? Moet and Chandon French Champagne and more Max Brenner chocolates, like praline and truffles covered with rich, dark, whipped chocolate...yum.
Oh, not in the mood for champagne ? Then how about a tea set called, Love Potion ?
It has a little tea pot, 2 cups and a special blend of tea to warm any mood.
Imagine curled up by a crackling. cozy fire with your honey, sipping on a LOVE POTION tea made up pf Ginkgo, Siberian Ginseng, Passion Flower and Hibiscus blended to savor the moment.
Wrap your hands around that special little tea cup to feel the warmth on the outside and as you sip the tea, feel the warmth of the love that was mixed in the potion.
I can hardly wait to get anyone of these special I LOVE YOU gifts.
So what I did was I left the web site up on my computer and then when my special guy went to the computer to check his email...he had to read this site before he could go to his web areas.
I hope he got the hint about the Gifts of Love or the other gift packages they carry for all sorts of occasions, you know birthdays, baby gifts, oh gee, just all kinds.
I think I will go put another log on the fire, see you later.

Are You Ready For The Holidays?

I am so not ready for the holidays, are you? Right now I still have to buy a gift for one nephew, and wrap the gifts I bought for everyone else. I decided to take a blogging break instead and come type to you all instead of doing what I "need" to get done. It may seem counter-productive , but I find that taking a break from a long list of "have tos" and doing some "want tos" can make you feel better. You will often get more done in the long run.

Every year I keep trying to talk my family into not buy ANY presents. I love giving things to friends and family and of course getting something is fun but think about how much less stress there would be if we did not have to be rushing around with all the last minute buying, wrapping, etc? I want to just get together, ideally in a cabin in the woods somewhere, but just get together. I don't think I even want to cook anything elaborate, just munch on easy stuff so that there is no stress there either.

Maybe open the big box of pictures that we have and go through them and remember old times, and funny things that happened when the pictures were taken. You know you guys all have at least a shoebox full somewhere...bust is out and have fun with your family instead of stressing out.

More Thoughts on Debt Consolidation

My husband and I have still been doing research on different debt consolidation companies for help with credit card consolidation and general debt counseling. With this company I found called FastDebtFreedomNow.com we don't even have to own a home to get help with our debt. We are trying to sell our house right now, and we are going to be lucky to break even so I am glad we do not need equity to get help.

Debt can be such a vicious cycle. We have been trying hard to get out of the hole we have dug for ourselves, but it is so hard to get ahead. I have probably said most of this before, but I know many of you out there are in the same boat with me. I am just looking for a paddle.

I want to find a company like this so that I can less payments, make more head way on our principle and avoid bankruptcy. This company also says there are no credit checks. That could be a plus, because at this point I have no idea where our credit score is at. I imagine we will keep looking around for a few more months since it is a very important decision. I want to get this settled and really make a difference in our debt situation this coming year.

Acupuncture For Women

I was reading on Bottom Line's Daily Health News about acupuncture for women with menstrual cycle problems, fertility issues, uterine fibroids and hot flashes.
While the acupuncture does not cure the main problem as that still needs surgery, it does help sooth the pain associated with these conditions.
there was also mentioned about "cooling foods" for hot flashes...like watermelon, mung beans, bitter melon and grass jelly.
I has heard of watermelon, but not the other 3 items.
Any opinions out there ?

And the Beat Goes On

And the beat goes on...or does it ?
Many people are at risk for a heart attack or a stroke and don't even know it.
Some think they are too young or too healthy or too in denial to imagine getting heart problems.
A warning signal could be heart palpitations or pains.
I was surfing the internet earlier today and hit a very interesting and informative web site about the heart and what can happen to YOU and ME !
It is scary to think about it but in a moments notice your heart can just stop.
The videos I watch along with these doctors explanations was so clear, that it all made too much sense.
Everything the doctors were saying was in such a manner that I understood it. There was none of that high tech talk, for a change...they spoke my language.
The videos were so real, I felt it was my heart beating.
I find that if I drink too much coffee that I get palpitations...this is not a good thing.
It is worse for me than I thought. It could actually short circuit my heart.
Cutting down on caffeine NOW ! No, not giving it up, just cutting down.
Your heart is like a little battery and works on electrical impulses.
Sometimes your heart can beat too fast and they can shock you with the defibrillator paddles to slow it back to a normal rhythm. I thought they just used those when a heart stopped.
I learn a bunch from this web area.
It is amazing what info is out there just waiting to be found.
Happy surfing

My Trash Guys

My trash pick up guys are the BEST !
I did not get a chance to take my trash to the curb the other day and it was sssssooooooo
very coooolllldddd outside, I really did not care if it got put out or not.
The next day I got up and they had taken my cans out for me.
NEVER have I lived anywhere that this had been done for me...EVER>
HOW SWEET WAS THAT !
God Bless The Trash Guys !

She Was No Rapunzel

I have this friend who is in her mid sixties who was complaining about the thinning of her hair.
She was very distressed about it and I was getting stressed from her stress.
She didn't have what is known as alopecia, but she was fretting about so much that she had even brought up the subject of transplants.
I did some research on that for her and found out that she didn't really need to go that route for her problem.
As we get old our hair does tend to thin out a bit, but she would not go bald either, just thinner than she would like, she had very fine hair to begin with.
We made it a quest, if you will, to find a way or method to make her hair thicker and more manageable.
She was a professional and had to keep up appearances as such for her job. She had to go to exec meetings and such, so she had to dress and look appropriately.
Surgical approaches were not the remedy so we started checking into products.
There was a hair product system called nioxin that sounded promising, so she said, "hey, for that low of cost I can at least try it".
First she ordered the System 1 kit and it contained a 3 step system which included BioAMP that made the hair shaft at the cuticle appear thicker, Actv Renewal that makes your scalp's complexion younger looking, and Transactive Delivery System, which is a combination of vitamins and moisturizers are are on a time release application.
This product has helped her hair problem so much and she loves the aroma from it that she has ordered other products from this particular hair care product line.
Her hair is much, much nice, thicker and she feels better about herself and her appearance.
I told her maybe she will turn into a Rapunzel the way her hair is growing.
I am so very glad she found her cure 'cause she was driving me crazy !

Secret Shopping

Finally my chance to go shopping for my Mom and Dad and Hubby without them with me,
I actually can get the last of my Christmas shopping done without the ones I have to buy for with me.
My Mother-in-law and I got a few hours away from the hubbies and the kids.
How nice this is.
I can hear my own thoughts for a while...no kids, no TV, no...nothing. We can go to lunch and shopping.
Now all I have to do is figure out what I want to purchase, what's that ? What did you say ?
OH ! Wait a sec ! That was me with a thought in my head...lol.
OK. so now I am off to shop. See you when I get back and i will tell you if I find any fab sales.

How Fast Was It ?

Men ! Or should I say, "Boys and Their Toys" !!!
Did you ever here one of those conversations with guys...mine's bigger than yours, well mine's faster than yours...etc.
I hear those all the time between my hubby and his brother and I mean ALL the time.
They are both great fans of the out of doors from fast cars to hunting and everything in between !
The other day they were talking about bullets and which would go further the fastest.
So they asked me to go online and see if there was a radargun that could measure that type of speed.
I said I would check it out. Couldn't take too much time. Yeah, right.
I hit on this one site radargunsales.com and I could not imagine that there were so many kinds ands types of radar guns stuff...unreal!!!
They had Stalkers, Bushnell, Decatur, Zelocity, oh and I liked this name...BatMaxx 5500, it even sounds wicked. And lots more brand names for sale for immediate shipping.
The site even had a sale going on.
There were radar guns to measure wind, rain, all kinds of sport balls, like baseball and golf etc.,
and they had little gray boxes called Speed Spy that is so inconspicuous that it can be hid like in a stop sign or on a phone pole and it collects traffic info such as speed and how many things go by it and gosh other stuff that can be analyzed by police and other authorities, guess I will be looking for those little gray boxes from now on...lol.
Speed cages for golf and hockey are available too.
Gee, they have so many different radar devices I just don't know which one to order for the guys, cause you know they will want the biggest, baddest, best one.
I tell you another time which one they got and how fast is the fastest bullet they have.
Ah yes, boys and their toys.

HOT and COLD

I am on vacation here in sunny Florida. The sun is shining, the warm breezes are blowing...how nice, so why do I feel guilty ?
Because my mom stayed in cold, cold weather and she hates cold.
I did call her and tell her "WE WISH SHE WAS HERE"!
AND WE REALLY MEANT IT !
So hope all you other snow bunnies enjoy the snow.

Does That Come In Adult Sizes ?

OK let's face it. I am not a petite in clothing, I wear Plus Size Clothing .
But I sick and tired of looking like I just picked up the latest grain sack or potato sack in that latest color of beige !
I am not a fashion hound either and I don't have to have the most elite label on my clothing.
But I am sick and tired of "NO STYLE" clothing in my size.
I like to go swimming and bike riding and to work and an occasional elegant night out for dinner . I want fashion and color in my life ans I want something attractive to wear when I go to bed, not some flannel, hide me, caftan crap !
And then a friend told me about Sara Fashions.
FINALLY !!! Style, all occasion clothing and lingerie...for MY size.
They have a great selection of stuff...just for me !

Now I feel pretty, oh so pretty.

What Is Going To kill Me Next ?

First it's too many pollutants in the air, then it's the aluminum in my underarm deodorant, next it is the charred part of the beautiful steak i so carefully picked out at the store.


I went through ll those packs of meat, picked this one especially for the cut and marbling in it and the right thickness...just for me !


Got the grill all fired up with the best oak and mesquite woods for flavor, now all I have to do is wait for the fire to get to the right burn and I can throw my slab of beef on...yummmmm !


Think I will sit down, sip a beer, which by the way is supposed to prevent stomach gas and help with IBS, so it's medicinal...lol, and read a magazine.


Hold on ! What is this ? Meat cooked on an out door grill will cause me what ?


Cancer?!


Don't eat the charred parts ? What the heck is left !


Well as I live and breathe...or should it be as I should not live and breathe ?


No good air, don't use deodorant, don't eat.


What is this world coming to ?


We all have to do our part to help save the planet, NOW !


But I am still going to eat this big, thick, juicy steak and I am still going to go on breathing, but OK I can start doing my part, I will give up the deodorant for now.


Help save your planet.

Time To Change Careers

Recently my hubby's back got worse and he is in more pain than ever.
Most all of his work has been in construction and it is gruelling on the body, especially the back.
He does not want to give up this type of job as he is a real out door kind of guy.
We have talked about it from time to time as a what if, well "IF" is here.
He was talking with some of the guys and they came up with a great idea... Why not go to
heavy equipment operator training schools and you would still be out here with us, but just in a different capacity.
This was a great idea !
NCCER, National Certification is in Gainsville, Florida so, he could be close to his family for a while as he is training too.
The training he will get there is a standardized method and once he gets his credentials, they will be recognized and respected by all the large construction companies on a national not just local level.
He will get performance and book education. Hands on is the best way to learn that type of heavy equipment. You can't just read about it and go out and run the cranes, trucks and dozers without actually physically being trained. It would be way to dangerous for all concerned.
He is anticipating a great new career change.
I was kidding with him about it and told him it would be like a big kid playing with big tonka trucks like when he was a little boy.
He said that he felt like he already knew how to operate the equipment and I said that he was going to school anyhow !
We are looking forward to a bright future and a lot less back pain.

Christmas Crunch

I am so behind this year for my Christmas baking it is unreal.
Actually it appears that I might have to buy my baked goods this year UNLESS...you all take pity on me and send me some of yours.
I haven't even had time to tear apart the oven since last Thanksgiving when our oven caught on fire.
It has been really crazy busy around here.
Seems like there is not a day goes by that we don't get a phone call that doesn't mess up our already hectic schedule.
It is hard to say no because it is usually something urgent that we end up putting our lives on hold.
Darned if you do and darned if you don't.
So the cookies are put on the back burner so to speak.
But I still have the Christmas spirit...no ghosts are going to visit me ! LOL !

There was and old woman who lived in a shoe

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, but my hubby lives in his Work Boots .
Honestly he does.
My hubby works in the construction field and believe you me, his boots are more important to him sometimes than I am.
His boots have to be made of a certain type of leather...for his own comfort, and they must be durable and have the steel toe thingy in them and geeez ! I don't plan that much when I go to pick out the food for dinner for crying out loud !
He has this place he gets his work boots and shoes at and that is it and heaven forbid they change one little style number. He goes nuts !
Oh me ! Oh my ! What am I going to do ?!
"Just Call them, they have real people to answer your questions 5 days a week".
He didn't remember that, but I sure did.
Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm CST I am off the hook because they are there to cater to his every request, thank goodness.
I know tools and equipment are majorly important, but I am getting a whole new education on work boots and shoes.
I did not know there were so many.

Christmas Shopping Tempers 2008

I was out today doing some minor Christmas shopping and found it to be surprisingly calm nature of people this holiday season.
I just wanted to go out and pick up one or two items that I thought the kids might like and figured I would see what else was on sale or of interest.
I was a bit cautious due to the fact that it is getting closer to December 25th and it has been my experience that people tend to get a little testy the closer it gets to Christmas.
That was not the case today.
Everyone was pleasant, courteous and helpful at times.
the traffic was a bit heavy, but drivers seemed to go with the flow and I did not get one single brake test today.
Even when I stopped to grab a bite to eat, the waitress was extremely pleasant and I got a warm up on my coffee with a smile. She got a nice Christmas size tip too !
I think I might survive this holiday season.
No bah humbugs here.

I must Have Hinted A Hundred Times...

And it finally worked ! Yes!
I know I shouldn't have, but I just couldn't resist peeking.
After all those years of, "Gee honey, what would you like for Christmas"?, I figured out what I wanted and hinted ALL year long...AND HE GOT THE HINT !
I need a new watch this year and I found the perfect one after looking at what must have been some 60 different watches and manufacturers.
I was surfing the net and ran across the web site for Seiko Watches when it hit me, that was the brand that a friend of mine was wearing last year at the Christmas party and I had really admired it.
This was exciting because now I could have one of those gorgeous watches.
They have such a wide selection it was very hard to choose which one I wanted hint for all year.
There was the style SZZ706 gold tone, bracelet band, rectangle face and then I spotted the SZZB80.
Instantly I felt that that was the one I had to have and it was on sale, big time on sale.
I am giggling by now because I know for fact he can afford this one for me.
It has the polished gold tone stainless steel finish, rectangle face that has a yummy champagne face with gold hands, quartz movement, 3 year warranty, if I need it sized the say 2nd day shipping other wise the could send it same day, uh huh this is wonderful.
I like the sleek face of it the way it blends so nice with the band. It is dressy, yet I am sure I can still wear it for casual.
Oh my, I just had another great idea...they are so reasonable I wondered if I could have hinted for two styles and got both !
Just kidding. One is plenty nice enough.
And it is mine, all mine.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !
Happy Holidays Everyone !

Talk about recycling !

I just had a thought the other day..HAM ! Ham has got to be on the top ten list of recyclable foods.
When you stop and think about it, it is.
You buy a whole ham for a nice ham dinner.
Then you have ham sandwiches with the left over dinner ham.
Next you have ham and eggs for breakfast.
Now comes the Beans & Ham &fried potatoes supper.
and last but no least, the ham bone...once the meat is all of it...The Bone Belongs To The DOG !
I think this is recycling at its finest don't you ?
How many other things do we not think of when thinking about recycling ?
Think about it and see what you come up with.

Peek-a-boo, I found You

I have days when I can remember the phone everybody I know.
And then there are days when I can't even remember what I had for breakfast.
It is harder today to recall phone numbers for me because of all the new exchanges for phones and also there are different exchanges foe land line phones and cell phones.
It used to be when you heard a phone number, you could almost tell what area of town the person lived in. Not anymore, especially with cell phones.
And did you ever find that you had written a phone number on a scrap of paper or the back of your card and for the life of you, you can't figure out who the heck it is ?
There is a web site I found that I can enter the persons name and other info and access there phone number. At this web site, besides Phone Listings, I can do what is called a reverse search where I enter the phone number instead of the name and they will tell me who owns it and if it is listed or unlisted.
As an added search item you can order a background check on people too.
It's like having your very own private detective online. No one can hide from you.
It's kind of like playing Peek-a-boo.
It sure beats the heck out of tearing my house apart looking for the phone book.
You should try this type of web site and see just what it can do for you.

Vacation Packing

Why is it when you go to pack to go on a vacation, you can never find that matching top or pair of slacks that you thought you knew exactly where you put them.
It never fails.
Oh and if you happen to find that skirt you wanted to match the new top you just bought in case you go some place nice for dinner besides BK or McD's, you put them side by side and find that not only did the skirt fade and does not match that new top, but the dryer shrank the skirt !
NO, no way ! I did not gain weight ! The dryer shrank it !
And socks, yes socks...where does the washer and dryer send them when I put 5 pairs in and only get 3 1/2 pairs back ?
The last straw, you have a great luggage set and you can't find all the pieces to the set.
You run around like a chicken with their head cut off looking for them and/or trying to figure out if you lent them to a friend.
5 wasted hours later you find that you were such a neat freak, you stacked them in proper size order inside each other...UGHHHH !
So they were there ALL the time !
I like the idea of a vacation, but I do not like the getting ready for them.

Bus Driver Move That Bus !

Bus driver move that bus !
Well, that is not quite the case here, just trying to revamp my very over used dining room.
You know when it gets to the point that when you wash the walls and they still look dingy, it is time to repaint or wall paper the room.
Same goes with the carpet. If you get it cleaned or you are a do-it-yourselfer, which I am, and the color does not resemble anything else in the room, you know it is time to re carpet.
Now for the furniture, time to replace it clues are #1. Chewing gum doesn't hold the chair rugs together anymore, #2. you do not have enough crayola crayons to color match the scratches on the table top and chair legs, #3. none of your chairs match anymore and there are only 5 chairs not 6.
So now that the walls are repainted and I even added a chair rail thing around the room, got new drapery, new carpet and a couple throw rugs, it is time to pick out brand, spanking, new but inexpensive, quality Dining Room Furniture .
I want as nice as I can get with in reason because there are still small children in the house.
I want them to learn and respect property and values of belongings, but at the same time I wouldn't want them to be so stressed out at eating times at the table, that they couldn't eat.
Children spill stuff and hey, so do adults.
So my new dining table and chairs should probably not be covered with light cloth or have a glass top. A discount price would help.
This will be fun and new to us all.
I think we will all pick out the new furniture, might be fun.
So in all actuality, it is not a major remake with the bus driver and all, but it is quite a venture for our family.
Stop on by and I will have the tea pot on.

Shoes

There are tennis shoe, tap shoes, walking shoes, running shoes, high heel shoes, snow shoes, horse shoes, brake shoes, golf shoes and lots of shoes I haven't mentioned or can't remember.
Now these are all useful shoes that I know of and my Mom said in her days they used to take old shoes and tie them on the back of the car on people who just got married for good luck.
Today I look in the newspaper and I find times have changed...shoes are bad ? They are used as an insult.
What is going on in this world.
Maybe tomorrow I will get up and underwear will have to be worn on my head so I will be able to cross the street !
Sounds kind of far fetched doesn't it ?
Well so does the "insult shoe" gesture !
Stranger things have happened, just ask Ripley !

So You Thought You Didn't Need Homeowners Insurance

Why on earth would a homeowner not want or get insurance ?
There are so many people out there that try to cut corners on their budget and not purchase one of the most important investments they will probably ever really need in life ?
I just can't understand why someone would buy a house and then not get house insurance !
When you buy a car you get auto insurance don't you ? So when you buy a house you absolutely need to protect it AND yourself .
If you have bought a brand new house, you may think everything is structurally safe and sound, but it could be quite the contrary.
You can't see through the walls and if maybe an electrical malfunction could occur due to workmanship or just a fluke, you will not know until it is too late...the smoke and fire will already be coming out of the walls and that is one of the hardest types of fire to extinguish.
And then if you have no insurance...HOW would you be able to financially replace the damages or worse yet, your entire house ?
How about the nice new furniture ad appliances and big TV or computer, what if they burn down with the house or get stolen or if you have an electrical storm and lightning hits your house and zaps your electrical appliances. How could you financially replace them without insurance ?
Do people come to visit you ? You say you have a lot of friends ? What if one of them falls and injures them self very badly ? Think you won't need homeowners insurance ?
Think again pal !
I have not had it happen yet, but my sister was at her daughter's home and had a slip and fall on her front steps.
Darned good thing they had insurance...my sister sued her own daughter !
So don't think for a minute your friends wouldn't sue you .
We had an ice storm 5 years ago and the awning on our patio and spouting collapsed...yes sir we had insurance. They took good care of it very quickly too. We were so glad we carried insurance.
I did some volunteer work for the Red Cross and I have seen my share of fire victims who have lost everything and had no way to replace anything.
It is devastating to not only the victims, but to their friends and families also.
Where are theses victims going to go in an emergency situation and who is going to be able to help them through their recovery stages ? You ?
Think about it for a few minutes and then you tell me if you thought you didn't need homeowners insurance.
Everyone needs some kind of insurance, be it renters, auto, life, health or house insurance.
They are available for a reason and some insurances are mandatory.
Must be that time of year that I got to thinking of house fires again...you know...cold weather and space heaters and light up holiday decorations and all.

3 Sick Kids

Why is when one kid gets sick...they ALL get sick.
They have the runny noses, raspy little voices and the grumps.
You know how kids are when they get out of sorts and can't go play.
They are bored to smithereens and there is not a whole lot I can do about it it.
I am too busy trying to make foods that will make their tummies feel better, sterilizing everything, making a chart of who gets what medicine and when and trying to keep up on normal everyday household stuff.
Just about when I think I got it handled...HUBBY gets the blahs !
Just what I needed...NOT !
I this what is known as the trickle down theory ?

Debt Service

Credit Card Debt can be a night mare.
You charge items you normally can't afford to pay straight out cash for, thinking that you could be able to pay it off in payments.
One thing leads to another,a birthday, a special party dress, set of tires for the car or maybe the muffler decided to fall apart. These are all the types of things that come up and you think, oh it is OK I can make payments.
The next thing you know, you are over your credit limit and more charges are added on to already high payments.
You do not want to do the bankruptcy thing or lose your house or business.
so you have to be smart and instead of dealing with the card holders yourself, go to a debt settlement service and let them do what they do best.
They talk to your creditors for you and negotiate 30 - 60 % off for you and get you monthly payments instead if just a discount if you pay it all at one time.
I never have figured out what it is they say to the creditors that I haven't said to make them come up with a better deal.
Of course by the time you get to this point with your creditors, you will probably not want to talk to them anymore anyway.
So when the debt settlement service intervenes on your behalf it is better for all parties concerned.
I know it was much better for me. My nerves aren't shot anymore.

Stevia and Coke

I read today that Coca cola is thinking of releasing a juice drink that is sweetened with the natural sweetener STEVIA even though it is not approved by the FDA. I did not know things could be released without the FDA's OK, but I personally don't have a problem with Stevia.

Stevia is a plant, and unless they do something to it that I do not know about, it is just a sweet tasting plant that they dry and grind up or some such. I have read that is is not suppose to have any effect on the body more than any other green leafy vegetable does. It is not suppose to spike your blood sugar or anything.

I have wondered if people on blood thinners can consume it though. My dad can not eat too many green veggies because he takes coumadin ( a blood thinner), and I guess green vegetables don't get a long with blood thinners in some way, so that would be MY only concern.

I don't think it can be any worse for us that saccharin which they later decided could give us cancer, or NutraSweet ( aspartame) that can mess with your brain cells and give you MS symptoms. I was all excited when Splenda came out because it was "made from sugar", but what they did not tell us, is that it was made from sugar using chlorine ( yes like bleach).

I say give it a try, as long as they are not doing anything chemical or goofy with the stevia I would welcome it. We need to get back to natural stuff. All these chemicals and processing is what is making us so sick. I usually just eat sugar or honey because I know it can make you gain weight, but in moderation it won't and I don't have to worry about weird side effects.

I guess we will see how it works out?

Insurance in California

I was talking to my friend who lives in California the other day, or Cali as she likes to call it. She was telling me she was looking around for California Auto Insurance Quotes. I love to tease her since I live on the east coast things are often cheaper here just because of the cost of living, or however that stuff is decided. I will ask how she likes the gas prices, or housing prices, and when I say oh it is only half of that here LOL, she wants to smack me I am sure.


California Auto Insurance Coverage is liable to be more just because she is in Cali as suppose to Ohio or Kansas or somewhere like that. So she really wants to take her time and research her California Auto Insurance Policy options. I know shopping for insurance is important where ever you live. She suggested I check out QuoteScout.com the next time I want to update my coverage.

When ever I get on her about things being cheaper out here, she starts in with things like " Yeah well I will be driving to the beach and the warm water today, you have a nice time thinking about me while you shovel all that snow!" LOL You have to love friends right?

A Nutty Problem

Naturalists and others all over the east coast are trying to figure out why there is such a small crop of acorns this year. They said there are some areas where there are NONE at all! They think it might be a reverse response to the bumper crop of last year, but they do not really know why yet.

This worries me some. We have already been having a honey bee shortage in the world, now acorns? What about the fact that frogs are dying off too? I hope the acorns are a fluke and not a sign of a greater environmental issue.

Art from Photobucket.com

Some people on the east coast have also been reporting aggressive, skinny, squirrels as a result of the shortage. I can see it now, ATTACKING SQUIRRELS lol! I guess there was a blight of the chestnut trees in recent years too that has made a big impact on the food resources of squirrels, deer, and other foragers.

Hopefully it works out. Have you seen less acorns this year?

Give Green This Christmas

I love the idea of "being green" whenever possible. I don't think I will ever be perfect at it, but every little bit helps.

Have you ever heard of carbon offsets ? There are kind of credit if you will that you an purchase to help balance out carbon emissions that are created by a particular activity. I have heard of big corporations buying them, but I did not know that individuals could as well. Whats more, you can give them as gifts for Christmas or any occasion.

My hubby and I are going to be driving quite a ways visiting family this holiday season, and that produces a certain amount of carbon right? Well we could purchase to make up for the effects of our trip. Isn't that awesome?!

This cool idea comes from a site called NativeEnergy.com. They have a calculator on the site so that you can figure out your family's carbon impact on the globe, as well as other cool gifts that are earth friendly, like reusable shopping bags. I think reusing shopping bags alone can be a big help to the environment.

You can go to NativeEnergy.com and buy some items yourself to use, or you can give a thoughtful , unique gift to someone on your list this year. What could be more special that something a friend or loved one will enjoy, that protects our planet as well?

I want to go back when I have more time and check out their line of greeting cards as well. I saw one that said "Happy Moo Year" that carbon offsets would be perfect for me LOL

Sharing Holiday Cheer

My hubby, our three children and Memaw were out riding around a little tonight.
We were going to take the kids and look at the Christmas displays that people had put up this year.
Then we all were going to grab a bite of dinner.
This is our annual holiday thing we all do together that we all love to do.
This year there seems to be so many more people decorating. The Bah Humbug must be gone !
How nice to see this again.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those families who took the time to illuminate their houses with holiday cheer to share with everyone...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

*HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON EVERYONE *

Lookin' Good !

I started blogging a couple of years ago and knew absolutely nothing about backgrounds and pics and links and all that jargon that bloggers talked about.
I tried reading online and doing a whole bunch of surfing to find out how to do this layout stuff and what web sites to go to in order to get an even decent looking template for my web area.
I had no idea there was so much info out there and so many online sites to go to.
But most had too complicated info on how to do for me, until I ran across the web site called ...Top Wordpress Themes .
They had all kinds of themes and ideas for me to select and so very user friendly.
Also I found out that some of my online buddies already were using this site and if I did have a question, they already knew the answer and I was up and running in no time.
So here I am and I hope you stop by from time to time just to say hello.

Casey Anthony, First Degree Mother

They think they might have found the remains of poor little Caylee Anthony. In one way I hope it is, because then maybe authorities can figure out exactly what went on. If it is not Caylee then there is a whole other tragedy unfolding, I doubt it is someone else since it is in her neighborhood.



Waiting for DNA results is always such a frustrating, nail biting experience. Can't some one invent a speedier DNA test, like a microwave dinner? 15 minutes on high and ding, you have your criminal, or father, or long lost relative identified!



There is some talk that maybe Casey "accidentally" over dosed her daughter with chloroform. Accidentally?! Are you serious!? I have accidentally forgotten or goofed up small things for my kids before,,,chloroforming them is NOT one of them. They said if it was an accidental overdose then maybe it was not first degree murder, but some lesser variety. Unless I missed that parenting class there isn't an acceptable level of chloroform for kids.



I also have never heard of duct taping some one's mouth by mistake either.

Vegas Baby !

I absolutely love going to Las Vegas !
I have been there several times.
Each time there are new attractions, casinos, shows and one way streets.
I still can't figure out how the taxi driver gets us to the casino doors so fast through all those turns and between all those other casinos.
I have stayed at the Mirage, Four Queens, Fitzgerald's, Rio, Harrah's and Imperial.
See I told you I had been to Vegas Baby !
Oh yeah, I forgot once I stayed at the Stratosphere.
So many casinos, so little time.
I am such a sight seer. I have to jamb as much as I can in 24 hours.
I wear everyone out that goes with me.
I like to get to the hotel, get checked in and then walk the strip and go to EVERY casino I can and first get the free and discount stuff and find out what are the best shows for the time I am there.
I have seen Cirque du Soleil, several versions actually, the one with magic, story line, musical one about the bands and their aquatic and aerial maneuvers are so spectacular. The shows take my breath away !
Wayne Newton and Debbie Reynolds had show I have seen in the past. They were good.
Ahh, Bette Midler, now there is a lady I would like to see her show, she has such a voice, I just can't imagine hearing her in person...WOW and she can be funny too.
I get so excited when I have to pick a las vegas show to go to.
I am usually only allowed one per visit and this time is a little difficult because Elton John and the Red Piano is playing and Blue Man group...they are hilarious, totally too awesome ! AND if that isn't enough greatness to pick from there is Andrew Lloyd Webber's version of Phantom of the Opera.
I wanted to see that sometime back in another city but bad weather kept me from going to see it.
And since we are going to stay at the Imperial again, The Legends in Concert is playing there.
That would be nice too. It would be like seeing 20 of your favorite singers all at one time.
But I am always a little hesitant because if they impersonate one of my favorites and don't do justice to them, I get a little cranky.
There are so many shows to go see, something for everyone from Musical to Fights.
I f you have any idea that you want to take in a show, you should probably try to search online before you go and avoid possibly not being able to see your choice.
I love ALL the shows I have seen so far and it amazes me how spectacular they all are in their own right.
I hope you have as much fun as I do in VEGAS BABY !

What Is Going On With Gas Prices ?

What the heck? I pulled in the gas station, paid $1.55 a gallon for my gas.
I proceeded to pump the gas and by the time I gave the cashier my money...BAM !
gas costs went up to $1.69 a gallon.
Now today, only one day later, gas cost is 30-40 cents MORE a gallon !
What is going on now ?
Does this have anything to do with THE BAIL OUT ?
Hmmm, I wonder.
I figure the tax payers are going to foot the bill anyway, I just wish "THEY" would have waited til after Christmas.
I wanted to do a little bit of shopping for Christmas for my family.
HEY ! I don't even get a car outta this deal ! Did You ?!
What do you thin about all of this bail out and gas cost stuff ?
This is not a case of How Now,,,It Is WHAT NOW !

Austin Texas Here We Come !

We want to relocate to warmer weather and Texas was one of our choices of states.
We lucked out and ran across a company called HomeCity that is a Austin Real Estate brokerage firm.
Dallas and Austin are the main areas of interest to us as they are business hub cities.
Austin TX Real Estate seems to be the best prospect so far.
I can't believe we got such great information from this broker company.
They worked with us to see what we wanted, then what we could have and afford.
We saw aerial photos and slide shows and virtual tours, it was just like being there in person.
We didn't even have to leave our home.
They have a mortgage center that ran the numbers for us and we could even apply online.
It did not get any more convenient if they came to me.
So now we have to make our decision of a house, or town house we are considering.
I am really excited about the move.

Recycled Wreaths

I was watching TV this morning and they had a great little segment on using things like wine bottle corks and painted gourds and ca,t remember the other thing, but they glued them on a form to shape a wreath and added like bows and small Christmasy things to make a holiday decoration.
It was really interesting and a great idea for recycling.
In the fall we have gourds in our garden that we used to use for bird houses or compost, now we have another use for them and while we are gluing our gourds into place...we can start our collection of wine corks.
Have a happy holiday all.
I know we will...lol.

My Home Is My Castle

final expense insurance...Ever heard of this or just ignored this type of insurance because you are going to live forever ?
life insurance is one type of insurance you look at later down the road in your financial possibilities of maybe being able to afford ?
With the economy of today it is very hard and almost impossible to make ends meet let alone buy other insurances.
We have several small children and just putting food on the table and a roof over our heads is a real struggle.
We talk often about the "What If" theory.
What if I could not work any more, what if I lost my job, what if...the inevitable happened ?
What would my family do ?
mortgage insurance andmortgage protection insurance is available, but you have to decide which is best suited for your needs.
This is all a very emotional topic and when you finally do decide to invest in your future, make sure you choose the correct insurance company and agent for your needs.
an insurance company and agent is comparable to selecting the right hospital and doctor.
They have to be affordable, Know and learn YOUR specific needs and wants and they must explain things so you can actually understand what is gong on.
There is nothing worse than thinking you got all your bases covered in case of catastrophe, only to find out you should of had something else.
Make them tell you and show you in a language understandable to you...and get it in writing !
You would not go to a surgeon and not get a clear explanation of what part of you they were going to cut, why would you go get insurance and not know what part of you and your family is covered ?
We had a policy once and found out we had like next to nothing covered for the premiums we were paying out each month...scared us so bad we did major research on our current policies.
So this is a definite case of "Buyer Beware".
Pay attention.
My home is my castle but my family is irreplaceable.

Christmas is getting too close !

Well, so far the tree is half up, the ornament boxes are laying all around, my front room looks like an explosion happened.
Why is it every time you try to make the house look extra special nice, it has to look like world war three went on first ?
And why do you always left over things that you have no idea where they came from so where the heck do you put them to get them out of the way for the holiday ?
I have no lights up outside yet and it is so cold already I am not sure if any will go up outdoors this year.
I say every year at Thanksgiving I will have the lights up and ready for Christmas...IT HAS NOT HAPPENED TO DATE !
Again, chaos rules .
Hop you all have a happy and healthy holiday season.

Does Your Bed Like You ?

Papa bed, Mama bed, Baby bed...Ahhhh, just right bed.
Going shopping for a bed is sort of like a Goldilocks shopping story...
There are big beds, little beds, medium beds.
There are wide beds, skinny beds, water beds, goose down beds, king beds, queen beds, twin beds, trundle beds.
Did you ever realize there were so many different kinds and styles and sizes of beds ?
And next there is the construction of the beds.
Wooden, metal, padded, painted, rattan and lord only knows what else.
All these choices to make over a bed.
And all I really wanted was a good night of sleep.
I am one of those people that have very irregular sleep habits, so I really need a bed that makes me comfortable.
If it is too soft it seems to make me achy when I try to get up and if it is too hard it hurts my skin, if that makes any sense.
I like a kind of medium hard mattress and I also tend to be more attracted to the wood frames.
I like my bedroom to be neat and orderly and yet cozy at the same time.
When I walk into the bedroom, it should look like a place that is calming and serene and I think the furniture adds a lot to the ambiance.
So in order for you to get the correct bed for you, you have to look at all kinds and try all types and when you think you are just about finished and got it all figured out...Hey ! How about that pillow !
Ha ha ha...let's do more shopping...bed linen...YES !
I think I am tired enough now to go to bed.
Good night all.

Finishing Touch of Light

I mentioned to you before that my mom and dad remodeled their kitchen, and how my brothers and I are going to get them a cool wall clock for the one wall. Well now I have found some awesome lighting fixtures. My mo has always been a fan of the Victorian style, like fine art lamps and lighting fixtures.

Check out these beautiful lighting options from Quoizel. There is one in particular called the Jules Verne collection that caught my eye. I am not sure if it is specifically Victorian, but it is old looking and neat. Mom is kind of eclectic so there it is kind of hard to put any official title on her style. I think she would like this though.

I know she wants to really do every detail in the kitchen to a tee. Good lighting is more important in a kitchen that any room in the house I think. Not only from the decorative aspects, but for task purposes. I want mom to really be happy with this remodel, she deserves a room that is exactly how she wants it to be. The kitchen is often the heart of the home, and so is mom!

Snow On Bourbon Street

I guess folks in Lousiana got a winter treat that they were not expecting. A rare snow storm hit the area blanketing it in about 8 inches of snow. There were school closings, car wrecks and power outages. I live on the East Coast so snow is nothing new to us here.

At least 8 inches is a decent amount. It kills me when somewhere that is normally warm gets and inch or 2 of snow and everybody freaks out. Call in the National Guard,,,close the schools! aaaaakk the sky is falling! LOL

It is a totally different experience driving in the snow though. Every year, even around here, there are a few fender benders after the first bit of snow. They have been debating if kids should get their driver's license until they have driven in bad weather. I think all kids should learn all types of driving. Now days they have those special tracks and vehicles that can simulate adverse driving conditions. Why not make drivers training more in depth. How many lives would it save each year? It is such an important responsibility, that so many take for granted.

I see nothing wrong with a probationary license until they drive in the snow if they live in snowy climates at the minimum. What do you think?

Costumes For More Than Halloween

The next couple of months are going to be so crazy for our family. WE have Christmas, New Year's and then at least one birthday in January, February, and March right in a row. We get a small break in April lol.

Our kids enjoy Halloween and any kids of dress up so much I am thinking of having one big costume party in the middle of all their birthdays. So I started surfing the net for deals on costumes. I came across savings.com and through that site I found BuyCostumes coupons. I figured this time of year would kind of be the off season for costumes but this BuyCostumes coupon code, certainly helps. What I did not know was that BuyCostumes.com also has party supplies for other occasions. I am going to get some Christmas party plates and decorations while I am there as well.

On that Savings.com site they have free online coupons, and promotion codes for so many sites and there are codes for free shipping on some of them as well. I love free shipping. Then it is the best of both worlds. I get stuff sent right to my house, and I do not have to pay extra to get it there...gotta love that.

Keep that in mind though when you want to save money. If you can do something in the off season it is usually cheaper. Pair that with a coupon or savings code and you are way ahead of the game.

What Would A Doctor's House Call Cost Today ?

Ever stop to think what a house call from a doctor would cost today ?
No ? That is probably because they are almost unheard of any more.
There have been time, not too many, but times, when all the kids were sick at one time and I was running on empty and prayed that the doctor could make a house call and save me the trouble of dressing all three snot noses and me and loading them up and driving there, oh forgot their list of meds and diaper bag, back home, back in van, at office, unload kids.
Go into office, 30 to 40 minutes to get my crying babies in to see doctor.
Get scripts, stop at drug store on way home, cause I ain't going out again !
I heard tales of yeeeeaaaars ago, that when the doctor came to the house, you could just go out back grab a chicken or some eggs and or goat cheese and the doctor was paid in full.
Now you have to have cash, visa gold and your first born to pay the cost...Unless you have some fantastic insurance that pays for it.
Hmmm, almost makes me want to live on a farm.
What do you think people ?

Why Is Autonet The Best ?

There are a whole lot of insurance companies that try to tout the reputation as being the one or the best.
You have to search out the one you find best suits your needs.
Some insurance companies are set up for house insurance, auto insurance or business insurance, as if one might need insurance in a doctor's office or maybe a jewelry store or restaurant.
Other insurance companies are set up for auto insurances, plus some have legal assist clause and breakdown added bonus.
And some companies give yo multi car discounts. If you have your car AND home owner's policy with them And there is a couple that really like to have your house, cars, boats, and life insurances ALL with them.
Can you imagine the premiums ?
There is a company I was reading about in UK region that has the reputation as being the best.
It is the hgv insurance people.
They Guarantee you the lowest prices or your money back.
They offer coverage for EVERYTHING one could possibly think of from your car to your pet.
They offer online quotes and you get to talk with real people not just cold, button pushing, robot numbers.
HGV even offers an area in their web site for careers...imagine ! A job opening in this day and age...online.
Offering special discounts, truck, fleet insurance, van, courier, car, bike, boats, travel, goods, business insurances...everything a business could use from theft to liability and much much more.
I don't remember seeing coverage like this from any one company I have check out here state side.
I did not know there was so much to look for.
If you are looking for insurance(s) for you, go to the hgv web site and see what they offer there to see what you might be forgetting.
You might be surprised.

Send A Free Post Card To Military

Xerox is sponsoring a program to send Military personnel overseas, Christmas Cards.
The cards are mad and submitted by US children, Xerox prints them and you go online and you can send a message on a free card, but it has to be to a non particular person.
It is not where you could go online and send to a friend or relative.
It would make some one's Christmas to thought of during this holiday season.
Do go to the link and check it out...
www.LetsSayThanks.com
This is no joke. It is by Xerox and remember it is FREE!
Share some good spirit with our Service people.

Is Surgery An Option ?

There may come a time when you find breast surgery is a possibility.
There are times in peoples' lives that they might consider some type of surgery to reshape or improve either the person's physical or mental outlook.
This is true for both men and women.
If I were to have something surgically changed it would have to be my tummy first.
I would love to have a tummy tuck.
Ah, but then that would lead to a breast uplift, I think at this time.
There is a place in UK called MYA where they have a great bunch of trained professionals and they have a site online you can call to make an appointment for a FREE consult.
They also have a 0% finance plan available and a I am sure other plans to fit your budget.
There is also a discount item you can get sometimes called "Late Space" that gives you a good amount off of your surgery if some of the appointments are open or no one to take the time slot.
After you get your initial consult to see if you are able to have the surgeries you might be considering, you get the cost evaluations and then you get the operation(s).
You will be staying at least over night in a suite with 24 hour menu, TV, and just in case...a 24 hour manned emergency phone number you can call for anything that might occur.
It is manned 24/7/365 with professional nurses to assist you.
There are established offices for MYA in 16 different cities, like London,Leeds. Bristol, Southampton and Sheffield.
They are restricted by the health commission since 2004. It is reassuring to know this.
It is not just a fly by night clinic.
The doctors have over 25 years of experience between them and have done thousands of surgeries to date.
The surgeries the do can include breast uplift, reduction, enlargement, noses, arm uplift or reductions...that is not done just any where.
Men have the choice of male breast implants or pectoral implants.
The doctors also can smooth skin lines, derma fillers and microdermabrasion.
I was surprised when I was talking to friend and she knew someone personally that had had some facial surgery done a couple of years ago.
She said she heal great and looks wonderful.
I think Mya Cosmetic Surgery is going to get a call from me.
I can at least check it out and see what they can do for me.

Hallmark Movies

Ok, I think I watch way to much of the Hallmark channel. I can not help it though. It may be "girly" but they have some really great TV movies, especially this time of year. They have a ton of new holiday movies and there are sweepstakes you can win too.

I keep missing the times to call in or get on the web or whatever, but I hope to get it right one evening. You can go to hallmarkchannel.com and check it out. I think I mentioned it before, but I love contests. I just sent in a entry form from a poplar tabloid mag. If I win it they will give me 3600.00 towards my mortgage. Our payment is relatively low, so that would make several payments for hubby and I. What a great holiday gift that would be!

They are suppose to decide in January...my birthday is in January...hint, hint. Contest gods,,,are you paying attention?

Have you ever won anything? The best I ever did was a nintendo from a contest, but I was happy to get it.

Fun Shoes For All of Us

OK, I have been looking around for some fun, sparkly shoes to wear for the holidays. There are not many times during the year that I get to dress up. There are even fewer times in the year when adults can get away with being "sparkly". I want a pair of shoes that make me feel like I did when I was a little girls playing dress up. I want to feel like a princess.

The trouble is, when I go looking for shoes I have a hard time finding pretty ones in my size. It seems like the shoe makers thinks if you have a foot that is bigger than a size 7 that you couldn't possibly want to wear pretty shoes. Granted, some styles do not flatter a bigger foot, but we all want to have options when we get dressed, even if you wear Size 12 Womens Shoes.

I found an awesome site that has shoes that go up to size 13.....yes 13 ! Woohoo! If I can not find a shoe here, I better give up. Oh man did I find some pretty shoes here. There is once called the Veronica that is even on sale. I think it would be the perfect New Year's Eve party shoe. It has gold and silver tones to it, so I can wear any jewelry I want, and it is ON SALE! On sale is my second favorite saying after "free" lol!

Cool, now I have to go buy a dress to go with the shoes. It is always harder for me to find the shoes, or it use to be, so I start with them when building an outfit. More shopping..YEAH!

We Survived

Well, we made it back from our practice trip. Our kids' sleeping schedules, what crazy ones they had, are really screwed up now LOL. The youngest caught a cold on the way back as a souvenir, and hubby and I are exhausted.

I am kind of an old fashioned mom, and I really do not like the thought of the kids being glued to a dvd player or game the whole time on a road trip. I really want them to SEE where we are going. Enjoy the view and spy things like the farms and houses and little towns we pass. I want them to interact, think, and ask questions. "what's that mamma?" is music to my ears.

Then it breaks down to a repeating chorus of "she touched me, no I did not, yes you did!" and "Are we there yet?". Since our youngest can not talk yet, when he gets board he simply yells at the top of his lungs. It will be perfectly quiet, except for the hum of the road or maybe the radio playing, then WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! It is enough to make you wreck.

This was only a 4 hour trip, our next one will be around 16 hours. Ahahaa, did I day 16 hours? OMG, what are we thinking?! forget the 8 inch dvd player, I wonder if I can fit a 22 in LCD in the van?

Pray for us ! lol

Information on Cancer

My aunt has been going through treatment for breast cancer this year. We are so glad that the doctors caught it early enough for her to get treatment, but the chemotherapy is so rough on her she is really sick right now. My mom had a cancer scare once and so have a couple of my friends and other family members. It makes you really think about cancer in general. I worry about my parents getting lung cancer. My dad stopped smoking several years ago, but even none smokers can get a lung cancer diagnosis. Any surgery can be scary,let alone lung cancer surgery.



Hopefully if you are getting regular check ups like we all should your doctor would catch any lung cancer symptoms or other bad symptoms before they were too severe. If you do end up needing lung cancer treatment, it has helped my aunt to do research on her specific type of cancer. She wanted to know all she could about her treatment options, the outlook for success, what to expect as far as treatment side effects. I am like that too, if I am facing something new, I want to know all I can about it.



I feel better dealing with what I know than with what I can imagine. Knowledge is power. Diagnosing cancer early is the key. Go to your doctor for check ups and encourage your loved ones to do so too. It can mean the difference in survival!

Practice Trip

Here we go ! We want to take a trip to Florida soon but do we want to take all the kids.
Testing...Testing...testing...1...2...3...Testing !
What we are going to do is take an over nighter trip and see how the kids do, or should I say how we, the parents do.
Can we have a good time and keep our sanity ?
Or am I crazy for even thinking this could work ?
We will soon find out as we will leave in just a little while for oh, maybe the Twilight Zone...do -do-do-do-do-do-do-waaaaaaaaaaaaa!
This should be veeeeeery interesting to say the least.
If you don't hear from me in the next 7 days...PLEASE...do not pay the ransom, I have escaped...from reality..lol.
See you with full report when we get back.
Thank you for reading this, now I have witnesses. lol lol lol

What I Did Not Know About Webhosting

webhosting is totally another world of Computer Land.

I thought it was a challenge to master what I have just doing everyday computer tasks, when I checked into other web things I was amazed. I needed a domain, a name, a host, unreal ! How to choose the correct host for what my needs are was a bit overwhelming, but thanks to the website I visited, they were very helpful and had the top ones listed already for me. I did not have to guess at which ones were good or not and which companies had package deals that were available. It was all there in front of me !

Let me see, 24/7 tech support...very important to me...always need a little help. There are hosts for blogs, forums, domains, ecommerce and some have reselling features involved. Data back up is major item, individual firewalls that are customized, full Cpanel...hmm, have to check that out. So much info, so little time. Raid 5 fault tolerant storage, names, marketing bonuses.

Of course the price you pay for webhosting service is important, but you have to make sure you don't cut any corners just to save a buck. And that's probably all you are talking about.

You can check out this site, WebHostingGeeks.com. for yourself and see what I mean. Choosing a service like this can be such a mind boggling thing, but I think with all the best to pick from right here, I should be able to figure this out. I suppose I could ask a couple of my blogging friends what service they use or if what I am looking to opt for may be better.

OK, will check back another time and let you know what I decided.

UGH Packing

I love, love, love visiting family and/ or going on vacation. I DREAD packing! I have spent the better part of the evening packing for a 2 day visit. Do you know how much stuff it takes to provide, clothing, medicines, food, toiletries, and clothing for two adults, 2 kids and a baby? Well so far it takes most of my dinning room table full of stuff.

Getting all the stuff washed, located and together isn't even the worst part of it. Then you have to switch into psychic mode and predict how many of each piece of clothing each person is going to need. You start weighing the odds of how many times the baby is going to spit up, or pee through their diaper, or how many times the older kids with slop on themselves during the trip etc.

Don't even get me started on guessing what my husband will get into. He takes more clothes and accessories usually than me and the kids combined. The biggest fear is always that you will forget something important. So I always start with things like formula/food, medicine, and diapers. Once you have those, everything else is pretty much gravy in my book lol.

If I get to our destination with all the kids, the hubby, and a spare pair of undies I am a queen! LOL

Present "Time"

I was thinking of getting my mom and dad a grandfather clock for Christmas. My brothers and I usually pitch in and get them one big gift together so that we can get them something nice. I found a site that I can get a gorgeous grandfather clock at, but now I can not decide because they also have a wonderful collection of wall and mantle clocks as well.

The site is called 1-800-4clocks.com and there is this one clock called a Seth Thomas Tiffany Wall Clock. I think it would look awesome in my mom and dads kitchen. They just remodeled it and my mom was looking for a peace of art or something nice for the one wall. I think this would be perfect, it is a combination of beauty and function. Mom loves it when I am practical so that will make her happy too!

I am going to have to get with my brothers and see what they think. They usually leave the actual picking out of the gift to me, but I will make them decide at least what type of clock we should get them.

OH, I did not know that Movado made clocks as well as watches. Well I know which one my one brother will pick since he is a Movado fan. They are pretty though...too many choices lol. Maybe one for the kitchen AND one for the mantle?