Blessed Rain

Friday Five ~ Jan 27th

2012-01-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning and LINK UP! (click photo to go to the FQF blog)

Oh, and remember (pay close attention...this is the important one)...HAVE FUN!

1. Do you swim in the winter?

NOPE ~ Although I do love watching the polar club ~ while drinking hot cocoa

2. Do you love or hate winter?

LOVE ~ I love that I live in a state that has ALL 4 seasons. I love each and everyone one of them. After living in Arizona for a year I grew to appreciate the changing of the seasons!

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family?

Hahahaha I barely put makeup on EVER! on really cold days where I just have to drive the kids to school I will stay in my nice warm pj pants!

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage?

I think I was 19 ~ it was wine with dinner ~ trust me I was never a drinker. In fact my hubby laughs that he married such a feather weight!

5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable?

As I am a stay at home mama - I can have as many as I want! At the same time though, I also don't get the luxury of staying IN BED. I have to cook, clean and care for the kids no matter what. I only get to put off a few of my other chores and take mini naps when I am sick - so its both better and worse then other people get.

Kids, snow and fun

2012-01-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

The other day we saw some of that fluffy white wet stuff. The kids had a ball running around and playing.
So did I - with my camera of course. Finding a good outdoor setting for snow & children is proving a little bit more of a challenge, but I will get the hang of it!

An Ending and a Begining - W.W.W4

2012-01-26T13:52:00.002-07:00

So W.W.W4 = Weekly Workshop Week 4 - in case you were wondering.
Also this is the last of the Extreme Self care Workshop next up from Hope-filled living is making a prayer journal.

To value yourself ~ and to find your outlet & passion. Find your inner secret talent, skill, love, or "voice".
For me its writing. My first draft never conveys what I want it to say.
Before my mother passed I would scrap it, move on and try again with a new idea. Never finishing a story.
After she passed away I needed a place to hide - mentally - I started a story.
From the first several chapters came people, a story, a way to bring a vision about. However, if you read the "original" chapters I started with 5 years ago you would not find much similar to the opening chapters now.

I needed to find new ways to write it, to hear it, to start it. The people and the vision stayed the same. The story may seemed to have changed but in truth it didn't. I started at a different place, with different people and a different time period. Taking the other start and moving in into the story in better pieces allowing for a better pull, build and read.
I needed to rewrite and have feedback by several key people over the years to help bring out the best my story had to offer. Finally book one is beginning to really shine!

To get started on finding and achieving more set some goals:
A good idea or example is to write three goals in the following categories. Remember to make your goal statements bite size enough that you can achieve them, yet big enough that you have to work toward accomplishing them!

Family Goals:
1. Get the house clean
2. Maintain it
3. Add in 30 min of exercise everyday
(Good concrete examples are: Spend 30 minutes per day quality time with each person. Schedule a 7-day vacation. Etc.)

Educational Goals:
1. Help Prissy catch up
2. Help motivate Littleman
3. Get hubby back into school

Work/Career Goals:
1. Finish book one! (very close)
2. Work with my new editor (will start in a few weeks)
3. Start searching for an Agent

Personal Goals:
1. Lose some weight (ok LOTS of weight)
2. Work on books
3. Work on work (trust me I know what this means even if you don't)

As far as the last part of the exercise Holding a self care retreat. I can not. I have spent the last 6 years retreating from life, pain, family, friends and so much more. Now is not the time for me to retreat but to finally come out. When I get overwhelmed or need to hide away I will finish this, but for now I have work to do.

Speaking of that ~ my kitchen is clean, living room bearable and bathroom almost all clean (will be done by days end.) After that I finish the bedroom and then amazingly enough I start tomorrow on the downstairs - which is much easier to clean now that we have done some work on it.

My shoulder hurts from all the work I have been doing this week but hopefully keeping it up will hurt less than an angry attack on my slothfulness.
Ps. for those that don't know me I clean when I'm angry. I am trying to learn and practice cleaning when I am happy, calm, blah, ect.

Weekly Workshop Week 3

2012-01-22T15:37:00.001-07:00

This week's work shop covers ~ Appearance, Daily Rituals & Quality of Life

To join please click on Weekly Workshop Week 3
What I have posted below are only part of the workshop if you really wish to understand, join in or be apart please click the link above.

Appearance:

How do you see yourself?

When did you last purge your closet of clothing that does not make you look and feel great? I would have to say I purge my closet when my cloths fall apart. Lately though I have lost some weight and had fun buying some new items
When was the last time you went to the hairdresser and had your hair done in a way that makes you feel beautiful? Thankfully I can say that right before Thanksgiving my BFF took me to a nice salon and cut my hair. I will confess though that this is the first time in almost 12 years that my hair was cut by a professional.
Have you ever had your nails professionally manicured or had a pedicure? Again - my BFF and weddings have blessed me with this indulgence. However I am very good at caring for my own nails.
Do you know what colors flatter your skin tone? Yes, although I don't favor wearing them all of the time.
Do you know what style clothing best suits your body type? Yes, though unfortunately its not easy finding them in our current markets.
If you need facial hair removed, have you gone to see someone to help you with it? Most salons today have hair removal experts and it is virtually painless. No I tend to my ownself
When was the last time you gave yourself an at home facial? years... daily facial care but not a long treatment
Are you confident with your smile....your teeth? Very
Have you kept up with dental work? My dentist says my teeth & roots are beautiful
When you look in the mirror, how do you feel about your body? First that you can't slow time & Second
Do you exercise regularly? No I need to start again

Who Calls You Beautiful? My hubby, children, friends and some various family. Also about 6 months ago a man almost fell at me feet telling my I was the most beautiful woman he had seen in years. He of course was in his 80's.

Daily Rituals:

Do you stretch? (Aside from trying to get something off the top shelf)...lol
What is your pre-bedtime routine? Do you have one? Perhaps you should think about developing some sort of pre-bedtime routine in order to unwind and prepare your body for sleep.
Do you floss your teeth daily?
Do you lose touch with yourself during the day?
What do you look forward to each evening? If you cannot answer this, perhaps you need to develop a routine that gives you something to look forward to doing each evening....
Are your days spent doing those things you most want to do?
Are you physically active each day?
Do you schedule time just for yourself and your own interests?
Do you feel like you are constantly playing catch up?

Your answers to these questions will be an indicator of how you are doing in this area of self-care. Rituals/Routines help us take better care of ourselves.

Quality of Life

Some suggestions to improve your quality of life:

Understand how you personally measure success.
Understand that there is no such thing as perfect. Abolish perfectionism.
Work on those things that you want to make better.
Invest in yourself...learn new skills.
Understand that it's ok to reduce your expectations but raise your standards with regard to your accomplishments. Start right where you are, be ok with that and make it the best. Then you can move up to the next level.
Respond to those things that tug at your heart.
When we shop for a new home, we usually choose a home that is a vision of how we desire to live. Cultivate friendships that inspire you to better yourself. I have met people in my life who inspired me to be all I could be...I just wanted to sit at their feet and learn. Those kind of friendships are an important part of improving the quality of our lives because we learn new skill sets.
Perfect your self-care routines.
Each day is a masterpiece with fresh canvas....create it in a way that makes you feel fulfilled and whole.
Understand the meaning of the words Grace and Love. Do your best to live your life this way.
Have a vision.
Be genuine.

Yes today I only answered the top half - the other questions are more inner thought or not really a fun read - yes/no/of course.
This has been a great workshop ~ if you go through and read them then wonder when you had advised someone else to do that or done it for someone else... it brings along a whole new depth.

Birthday Parties & Good Friends

2012-01-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

January is always a HUGE birthday month at my BFF's (TiredMom) first come's her son's and then a few day's later both her and her daughters birthday.

Outside looked like this

and inside looked like this

6 kids - all had a ball!

It was so wonderful to see and hear six happy children

Oh yeah!

The girls!

Not only did the kids have a ball but so did the girls!

I'm the chubby one in the green in case you were wondering - I know I don't add my own photos here often BUT

SLC Madden is headed to Cambodia for 5 YEARS.

I have to say quite the blogging group as well my BFF Tired Mom, Evelyn @ Betteronabudget

Amy has a private blog and then of course you're here reading mine!

The group shot of 4 women are the old swing group

Where most of us met!

Almost 12 years ago, still in touch, still friends.

I think its amazing that someone (even more amazing that its a GROUP)

still TALK to me!

I know I am late with my Hope-filled living week three - will post it tomorrow!

Gosh Darn it!

2012-01-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make.
I hate darning
Ironically though
I'm good at it.

See first it's there and then its gone!

Now today I have been YUCKY. I am run down, tired, and I have a migraine. That being the case I set up a small area for me to do some sitting projects.

See? Everything that a person like me needs! Computer, book, coffee and my darning... (yuck)

Now not all socks can be darned, all of my hubbies black ones were to thread bare to darn.

So instead I decided to Recycle, Reduce and ReUSE! Or in this case Re-purpose!

Pulling inspiration from the toy above

I made my own

Already he loves grabbing it at "the neck" and shaking it!

Click to enlarge - that way you can see each photo and read the step by step instructions ;)

That's it for the day! I was going to get started on the kid's V-day cards but I don't have anything left in me!

A Fond Farewell to Etta James

2012-01-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Etta James

Born Jan 25th 1938 - Jan 20th 2012

(4 days shy of what would have been her 74th birthday)

Etta James will forever be known for her dynamic version of "At Last".
However, there was so much more to the singer.

She was full of life - wanting to experience every part to the fullest.

Some live their lives afraid of stepping out and going against the flow - not Etta - she lived for it.

The thing is too live your dream life is to be unafraid.

That means to be unafraid of success, love, rejection, consequences and other peoples judgements.

Whenever I hear about Etta James I think of the movie, "Auntie Mame"
“Live! Live! Live! Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
― Rosalind Russell

To read about Etta's life click HERE

To read about her passing click HERE

To click to one of her music CD's click HERE

Etta was an amazing woman, she will be missed, but she made the world better and left her light behind for the rest of us to remember her.

S.O.P.A & other various rants

2012-01-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we (the anti SOPA ~ non military government people) will be observing internet silence.

Jan 18th 2012 from 8am-8pm (est)

This is going to be painful for me!

Worth it though

If S.O.P.A goes through we all may be singing "This will be the day that I die".

So obviously I won't be posting on any of my blogs tomorrow

so that means I need to get it all out there today!

(before they censor me & all of my content - because you know they would!)
As for PIPA ~ really you think that's going to stop all the music videos & game shares?
You do know that the majority of the ones sharing are the people who WRITE computer programs...
so they can also HACK them if they want...

Two stay at home mama's side by side

This link goes through how much the average stay at home mama is worth - Click HERE

They average about 96,000 a year.

I deducted all of the things I don't normally do, as well as the ones I do badly and I am amazing enough still worth about 70,000 a year!

Woot! Woot!
Yes
In case you were wondering I did add in a ~~HUGE~~ nice tidy sum under the category of NURSE.
allergist & asthma/air expert.

~

~
Being Green in the "Old" days
Some say that its all our parents and the older generations fault for our issues with enviroment
and some of it is

Nuclear power plants - coal power plants
strip mining & not caring about any form of eco balance thus endangering thousands of animals and plants like the rain forest.
However they were BIG things - things that could be seen and addressed.
In the little things, well life was simpler back then and a lot less Instant Gratification.
~

The next bit is very odd to me and I really don't understand why anyone would do this

However, I do like to post warnings SO

If (for whatever asinine reason) you use Bath Salt Injections

you need to STOP

Duh...

As for the medical reason (I know I don't need a medical reason why not to do this either)

people who have taken said LEGAL injections have also developed Flesh Eating Disease.

AND

The funniest post I have read this year!

(so far)

Goes to Stark. Raving. Mad. Mommy

Its titled "Not enough Ketchup in the World"

I agree

It sights lists of "hit new food trends" for 2012.

I commented on her blog saying that IF I was interviewing those people I would say

"YOU FIRST"

Really yes our foodies like new and exotic

Yes we are in a budget conscious age

I don't think we are that desperate

we do have cheap foods like Mac N' Cheese and Spaghetti to live off of if we are really desperate.

Beans... A diet of only beans would be better!

Also run by and visit my Writing blog

Free Advice Vol. 6 Survivor & Budgeting

2012-01-16T12:42:00.001-07:00

A few months ago I wrote a blog titled: Free Advice Vol. 5 Survivor President

Before that was Reform & Cuts

Today I am following them up.

Fixing the budget is actually very easy - if we could get a president and the entire hill to commit to doing it.

What needs to be done is simple.

1. Stop lending money to other countries - our BANK is EMPTY. We OWE Billions and billions of dollars - how dare we give money away BEFORE paying off our own debt?!

2. The countries that we have loaned money too in the past need to start repaying the debt. Personally even 100.00 a month is good for me. Its shows effort, good faith and it will be a PLUS instead of a negative.

3. We continually listen to banter, arguments on budget cuts, budget reforms and all things Budget related and completely miss the issue.

The issues isn't agreeing on what to budget and where.

It's OVERSPENDING.

Before we can even begin to worry about what is being budgeted and where the money is going we need to stop the areas and people that continually run over budget.

This HAS to be addressed. I don't care if they are threatened with Jail time, paying it back, getting fired... no company in the world would continue to allow someone to go over budget by MILLIONS and at times BILLIONS.

4. At this moment unless a country is our ally - a good solid ally - we don't step in and go to war to protect anyone from any other thing.

I, a tax payer, do not need to pay for a pointless war because they want to keep OIL safe. Not people - OIL. ~ Lets support more green ideas and green energy that we can create HERE in our own country, paying our own people.

The next major problem is Presidential campaigning and BUYING the white house.

I started this idea last year and I have decided that I really like it.

Its called Survivor President.

How it works is simple - we are all getting bored of traditional survivor - random people and celebrities on an island doing the same challenges....

We are also bored with Politicking, back stabbing, double talking and hidden agendas.

This is what I think needs to happen. Each man running for office picks his immediate cabinet at the beginning of the race. - maybe a ten person team, made up of people named for particular offices.

Each team is sent to the same island. They are given small bungalows with apprentice like area's (internet, computers and maybe one professional researcher).

They will each be able to have ONE campaign slogan ~ they will not be allowed to change it.

Each week they will be given hard tasks and asked how they would handle them - budgeting, wars, terrorism, treaties, healthcare, debt, marriage rights, abortion, Green energy Vs. Oil, Job markets, Housing costs, the economy.

Each month one team will get voted off - each person will call in and use their S.S as a pin number to vote once.

Why?

Lets face it - we all are sick of the backstabbing. I don't care who did what 20 years ago. I care about who they are NOW and what they plan on doing for our country.

I want a smaller party to have the SAME chances of getting elected as the large multi million dollar parties.

After watching survivor, apprentice, big brother house ect. and several years of Presidential campaigning I regret to say that I know more about the people on reality tv then the people running for office.

Another bonus - instead of hearing a presidential candidate say one thing to one group of people and another thing to another group - we would ALL hear the same words at the same time.

I say every 4 years we do Presidential Survivor on an island, so we can really get to know the man and the team he would bring to the office.

LittleMan grows up

2012-01-15T15:46:00.001-07:00

One moment he's hanging on mama

wanting juice, hugs and mama time

the next

he's laying down chillin' playing video games

I about cried last night when I saw him do this!

He is no longer my little boy!

Now onto my dog

I love my little guy

even his quirks

like how he loves to walk along and sit on the top of the couch

like a cat.

That snores!

Today we are all feeling very blah... Littleman has a cold

I have something that is making me want to sleep and Prissy is whiny.

Praying tomorrow is better or we will have to cancel our playdate with Tired Mom.

Also: with all the new changes to my page I will be adding in line breaks - this mean that instead of the whole post showing only the top part will be visible allowing easier scrolling, and seeing more of my blog in one glance. I, however, have lots of Facebook readers, thus I will go behind and add the page break in the DAY AFTER I posted it.

Allowing the first post in the blog to be whole and easy to read before getting cut.

How to view the whole blog you just need to click - read more ;)

Crafty Feelings and Eye Masks

2012-01-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Now I know you are all wondering just what I was up to yesterday ~ I have changed all 3 of my blog looks (again) and have been somewhat hyper lately what with cleaning and all...add to that this post title and you may be wondering if I have knocked over a bank.

To End the suspense - I will confess - I was feeling very crafty the other day (yesterday) I didn't want to clean anymore.
My blogs and book had been worked on but my eyes hurt.
The kids were home early from school and very hyper as they are now off track for the next three weeks. I needed something that would occupy me in the same room as the kids.

So after much digging around in my mothers old sewing supplies I found one of the two ideas I had formed on how to fix my favorite eye mask.

Now eye masks in stores are fairly common. I, in fact, own 5.
That said my first one is my favorite. I bought it from Eco Tools through Target several years ago.
Target's here still carry the line just not the mask. While I do love to order things online I also like to order more than one thing at a time from a store to make the shipping worth it.

Now from the first photo you can tell that the elastic has had it. Not very surprising as its 4-5 years old (possibly older I was shopping with my sister at the time and I think she still lived here)
The second photo is after I had cut the old elastic off and was first attaching the new elastic on.
Third is one side full attached.

Now came the dilemma should I reattach it the way it had been? Sew onto both sides with Velcro in the middle?
I didn't really like that on one of the other eye masks I owned as it always pulled my hair.
So I dug through my mothers sewing supplies looking for inspiration - my first idea was a tri-fold hook - like on purses, overalls and other easy adjustable things.
However I found that my mother had an eyelet machine and several eyelets!
Voila! One hour of searching, cutting and sewing and I have my favorite eye mask working again!

When the mask itself finally wears out I will buy another one directly from them! Seriously the best ever eye mask!
Washes well, soft, comfort fit & you can cry while you sleep! (yes I do do that)

New Look - Round Two

2012-01-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

So far it looks like everyone really likes the useability of the old rather than the flash and pretty of the newer.

I have found and added the linkwithin feature so that my older posts will show up - directing new readers to old blogs.
I do like the style of the new - however, I already sent off a message to Google stating that I would much prefer to have the new "Dynamic" look if they kept a small side bar allowing for the follow me, past links and friend blog posts.

I most likely will go with the Dynamic style on my food blog (I only have 9 followers after 2 years not really worried about losing what I don't have)
This way at least it will LOOK pretty if not useable ;) and yes to answer your ~~unspoken~~ unheard thought - yes I am insane. Its rather fun you know!

Thank you everyone for you great feedback!

New "Dynamic" look

2012-01-13T20:28:00.001-07:00

Alright - looking for feedback out there!

I am trying out the new Dynamic layouts by Google and right now I like it...... That said I do want to know what my readers think!

Please leave me a comment voting for New style or Old style

Would you rather I stick with the "newer" style but pick a different color? Go back to blue?

Do you miss my sidebars - friend links - large family photo... let me know I need honest feedback!

Thanks!

update: after a resounding UNLIKE for the new dynamic look (despite the fact that I had over 500 views that day alone) I went back to the older style - until they fix the biggest issues with Dynamic - like a SIDEBAR!

The 13th, Friday and Me

2012-01-13T09:54:00.001-07:00

Maybe people make their own "luck" or if you believe something will happen it will.

~~~~

Here is a small story to illustrate ~

Upon coming home from school Littleman rushes for the TV. Following quickly on his heels comes his sister "It's my turn!" She cries, "No my turn!"
"You had a turn before I got home!"
"Mama said I could finish my movie."
At this point they both start screaming, yelling and running for Mama. I roll my eyes awaiting the oncoming storm - the same storm I listen to almost everyday!
"Prissy do you have homework?" I ask, she groans, "I have SO much homework and its all due tomorrow!"
"Fine then you need to sit down and get started on it."
She glares at her brother, stomps off toward her back pack crying the whole way, "Why don't I get a break? I want a break first."
At this point Littleman gleefully runs toward the TV.

Now I want to interject in here that my kids don't watch TV like other children.
They pick out a movie watch a little bit going running for toys that fit with the movie then they start acting out the movie, singing, dancing, sword fighting... you get the point right?
I'm lucky if my children will sit down for 30 minutes of a movie (sit down, pay attention, not talking or moving).
In our current day and age where parents are trying to find new ways of getting their children active ~ I am still trying to find ways to calm mine down.

Now on to my point IF this had happened today instead of yesterday on FRIDAY the 13th both of my children might have said the following:

"This is a bad day - I have a ton of homework and I can't play on the computer or watch tv. I hate Friday the 13th!" (Prissy) how the night started

"I love Friday the 13th! I get the TV and no homework!" (Littleman)

Why? Because you pay attention to what you THINK will happen. In this case I am putting Prissy in the negative set and Littleman in the positive.

However it can easily be turned around ~

"Mama this is so much fun! I love coloring! This puzzle was Fun! I'm gonna get an A on this for sure!" Prissy in positive terms (which is how the night ended)

"Mama this is no fun! I want to play with Prissy! No one will play with me!" Littleman in the negative.

~~~~

Nothing changed in the story. Both kids could see, feel and think positively or negatively about the situation. It was their mentality that brought about HOW they saw what was going on around them.

Now I have always looked on Friday the 13th as a good day.
At first it started out that I just wanted to be different from the other kids - kids hyped up on the thought of one day being scary for no good reason.
Then I noticed that in a world of bad things - good things did happen to me on that day.

What I have learned in the years since my early childhood is that The Power of Positive Thinking is not a myth!
If you perceive things as bad they will be - because you are focusing on them!
The same as if you are a positive thinker - you will focus on the good, happy, blessings, joy and the beauty that surrounds you.
Because you look for it.

My advice enjoy everyday with Positive thinking!
Happy Friday the 13th!

Workshop Week Two

2012-01-12T19:53:00.001-07:00

Again to start the series Please head over to Hope-Filled Living Magazine Workshop Week One
To read all of Today's advice - help - care and the full (beautifully written) Workshop please visit Hope-Filled Living Magazine Workshop Week Two.

The title for lesson two is: Extreme Self Care

She speaks of her dark valley of failed business, failed self and her self depression. We all have had those moments, dark moments that threaten to pull us under.

Mine started the day my mother died OR rather I should say, It should have started that day.
Due to many things going on, weddings, moving, good-byes, pregnancy ect.
I ended up putting my feelings and grief on hold.
1. Yes, you can do that
2. No, its a really bad thing to do!

The main problem is, if you are a super self control freak like I am - you can have the self control to put off a major emotional meltdown. However, (you knew there was a however coming didn't you?) those emotions will leak slowly out of your control.
Like a pressure value that has a very tiny leak - it starts out siphoning very small amounts out and soon the tank is empty.
The main problem with this is that by the time you notice that your emotions once nicely bottled up are out, normally by then you are numb to them.
That's what happened with me ~ instead of grieving and moving on ~ I froze and became apathetic.
After several years of BLAH I realized that Grief can become a habit!

In the workshop we are asked to find a life verse ~ something that you can hold onto ~ something that always speaks to you.
I have several, but I am going to go with Matthew 19:26 "With God all things are possible."
Next after you have found your verse (and followed her instructions again read her week lesson) condense it into one word ~ sum it up if you will.
Mine word and what the verse I chose means to me is: Hope

What things seem out of balance in your life? (mostly a financial question)
Can you list a few?
1. My creative side is awake and wants to FIX everything
2. I have really ~~expensive~~ great taste
3. It's fun to find sales then come home and put things away

What feelings do you have when thinking about these areas of imbalance?
I am trying to make up TOO much of lost time and ambition too fast, too soon and too out of budget. I need to pace myself.

How do YOU eliminate stress? 5 activities I do (or need) to help eliminate or reduce stress in your daily living:

1. Breathing - relaxing exercise
2. Writing (book, blog, journal)
3. Tai Chi
4. Cleaning/ organizing
5. Cooking

Don't forget the most important thing you can do is make a positive choice! One step at a time, with realistic goals, you can choose to leave the dark and reclaim your life!

Again this is my worksheet filled out - my "cliff notes & take" on the workshop. To fully understand my answers, the questions please click the top links and join us!
Also you don't have to blog all your answers personally like I choose to do, what can I say? I have no shame. I am who I am - the good and the bad.

Topics for next week:

Appearance
Daily Rituals
Quality of Life

Getting Organized

2012-01-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time keeping things tidy, clean, looking nice and neat.

With two very active children, who really can keep up without losing any personal time? If I cleaned every second of the day I might be able to keep up with my children's destructive wake!

Luckily they are starting to learn how to help. They both know how to keep their rooms nice (they don't unless forced but they do know HOW).
Prissy is learning how to clean the bathroom and fold her laundry. Littleman is also learning to put his laundry away and is helping clean up the living room.

The more they can help the more A. They will try to keep things cleaner and thus have less work to do & B. Help lighten my load of work around the house allowing us more joint family time.

That said it is much easier to keep areas clean if you use the space wisely.

Like under our bathroom sink.

Before I had no shelves so all things had to be mushed into one low level area.

Now however, with the aid of the storage boxes from Target

(all the white were sold out I am really not that much of a pink person)

Under my sink is much easier to KEEP clean and neat.

I also added a small things aid to the top most drawer of the bathroom vanity

again in the hopes of keeping things neater, easier to find and easier to use.

(also from target)

These dark brown baskets were very hard to find as my home is around 65 years old and does not follow modern box sizes.

I finally found these at Micheal's and yes they stick out about 1 inch.

After being here over a year I am finally beginning to feel at home!

We still have a lot of work to do on the house - walls to redo

cabinets, floors, appliances ect.

One step at a time though and thankfully these are easy!

Tomorrow I need to put all my Christmas items away in my Christmas storage!

I love my home!

I love that I have special storage areas!

Tomorrow hopefully I will have another Weekly Wednesday thing for you - running over there now to check!

Art & Free Advice!

2012-01-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

My little girl (Prissy) is an artist - very much like her papa and auntie. So today we bought her a new art set.

My son (LittleMan) seems to have acquired my artistic talent - meaning I am GREAT painting ceramic Christmas houses - coloring in between the lines.... and writing, did I mention I am a really good writer?

So far he is taking after me - as in the can not draw my minds eye for ANYTHING! Praying that he will grow into more of his fathers talents as he ages!

So far the best part is that just like me - he doesn't care. Painting in and of itself is fun! Love the heart and the joy he brings to his art work!

This is the new art work gracing the walls of the kids down stairs living room. Why the previous owners used dark paneling in a dimly lit basement is beyond me, however, we are trying to lighten it up until the time we can afford to re-panel. (not very high on our to do fix it list)

Anything and everything we can do to bring some brightness and cheer to their area we will do - we want them to WANT to be down there!

Tomorrow I will post pictures of my newest obsession - organizing!!!

Did I mention that finally after several years I feel awake? Oh yeah - I am cleaning (amazing I know) don't get you hopes up though my bedroom is still a disaster!! (working on it tomorrow - or just crying thinking about working on it) I am organizing, cooking, helping with homework and keeping pace with life in general!

So glad that I took time - real time - for me and my problems this summer. Its funny but I kept putting it off because my family needed other things - "they" were more important ect ect ect....
Now, however, that I am ME again and my mind and body are fully awake, I can tell you that putting off taking care of me hurt them far more then it helped them.
They needed me - not the zombie drone barely awake, barley functioning me - the real me.
After I took a small amount of time I knew I should have taken care of my issues so many years ago. I can never make up to my family the years my putting "me" off cost them.
If you have depression, exhaustion, no motivation, lack of caring - please seek help!

Blessings

2012-01-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

Good days, Great moments!

My dastardly duo made a small camp under the kitchen table.

They set up Prissy's laptop (my hubby's very old one) and are watching movies while snacking.

It is always the little things in life that bring the happiest moments.

I thank God everyday for my blessings!

My girl goes in the end of next month to start her first round of allergy testing.

Now I know for fact several of her allergies - others are more broad.

Now, however, it will be official.

Due to the extremeness of some of her allergies she will need to wear an allergy bracelet for the rest of her life.

Right now I like the above the best as it will wear well without itching, chaffing and fits her personality.

I also need to go back to wearing one - I stopped for a long time - but I really do need one.

Right now I am thinking of getting a small one like this and adding to a bracelet I already wear.

I have a few allergies that need to be I.D'd, but nowhere near how many my girl has!

Prissy and I will also need to carry Emergency Cards on us.

When we finally get them I will take photos and post them!

Winters Breath

2012-01-07T14:30:00.001-07:00

Today winter finally arrived in Utah. This has been a very strange year - bitter cold with no snow.

In fact today in less then a 12 hour period we have received more snow then the whole of the winter so far! To celebrate I, of course, went running around the yard with my camera!

My little gnome under the snow, part of my flower bed and then part of my tree. ;)
I love my new camera - all the features, settings and how crisp and clear everything comes out!

I have been working on my new resolutions - while I am busy caring for my sick little girl - I am no longer neglecting my own needs. A good life has balance.

Click photo to travel to my food blog! ;)

Just remember life is what YOU make it.

It can be fun, active, busy, full or it could be bitter, unhappy, boring and lonely.

You make your own choices as to how you handle what comes into your life.

I have learned how to trust God - for our everything - food, house, car, money & health.

I have learned how to laugh in the hard times.

To enjoy those around me, to feel their love, even when I don't understand why they love me.

Love, hope, joy & peace are treasures - but you have to find them - they don't just appear!

New Year - New You!

2012-01-05T21:59:00.001-07:00

My friend Falling Off a High-Heeled Life recommended this weekly Wednesday Workshop (please click link to join)

This is for all the women who have put off taking care of themselves - allowing themselves to be worn down, worn out and frazzled (sounds familiar? Yeah me too).
Most likely I will read it on Wednesday - think about it - and post it on Thursday. Allowing myself time to REALLY think about it, not just off the top of my head, quick fix, quick answer, fast track mode that I normally do in life.

Week One: List 3 changes in each of the following categories that you would like to work toward in 2012

Physical
1. Lose weight (I have been working on this for quite some time)
2. Fix hair more often
3. Care for my nails and skin more

Emotional
1. Calm down - Stop stressing!
2. Find a happy zone
3. Let go of anger and hurt

Spiritual
1. Read my bible more
2. Pray more
3. Listen more

Just recognizing the things you want to change is a huge step.

For those that have been following my blog for some time - you are familiar with "My Path to Me". Where this summer I finally started taking care of me.
After years of caring for my husband (and his many illnesses), my daughter with her Asthma and many allergies and my son with his mama issues.
This summer I started taking care of me. No longer putting off my issues "waiting until I had more time, money" or the ever popular, "when things calm down".

If you don't take time now you, your family and your friends are ALL losing out! I put off taking care of my needs FAR too long!
I have dim memories of dirty rooms, dirty children, piled up dishes and extreme tiredness.
This Christmas was the Best EVER!!!
Or at least ever since my Mama died.

My children didn't get a ton of toys, lots of candy or huge parties. However, this year they got mama, awake, happy and energetic!
I had the energy to put up Christmas decorations and make cookies with my kids.
We had cuddle times, laughter and hugs.
My memories are no longer dim and foggy. I took the time this summer - only a few months - and I am already so much better then I have been for almost 7 years!

Each woman deserves to find her own Path to Me. You can join this one and be apart of a group - or go it alone - just don't stop walking!

Wordless Wednesday 1/4/12

2012-01-04T16:07:00.000-07:00

2012 Eclectic Fun News

2012-01-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

This will not be one of my "normal" blogs. I have found many little wisps of fun things I want to keep, share and drool over.

One of the coolest photos I have found in a very long time is of the Crab Nebula


http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111225.html

Next up is really the engine of the future! I can't even imagine the possibilities if they can get the "test" - large car sized model - working the way they think it will, cars will weigh 1,000 pds less and need less gas to move the lower weight!
A 20 gallon gas tank really could take you a month of driving before running out - or even more! This engine really can redefine the world!

GE 30 in. 5 gas range burner I can't even begin to tell you how badly I want this stove!

We are still remodeling the kitchen and I am not sure how long it will be until we get this stove (or one like it) but this is the model I am looking at - at the moment!

Now on to Salt Lake City, Utah - What is happening in 2012? I'll tell you - copy & posted from the previous new link - the whole article is worth reading though!

In March, the LDS Church opens City Creek Center, a $2 billion retail, restaurant and residential mega-development, destined to recharge Utah’s metropolitan heart.

Construction also will be visible next year on a Sugar House streetcar, a North Temple makeover — bisected by a TRAX train to the international airport — two new libraries, a federal courthouse, a $125 million public-safety headquarters, downtown housing projects and a $110 million touring Broadway theater.

Urban planners say the level of private and public investment is remarkable, especially given the limping economy.

Extra drama over the 2012 doomsday stems from the stars. On 12/21/12 — the winter solstice — the sun aligns with the center of the Milky Way for the first time in about 26,000 years. Scientists say that will disrupt the energy streaming to Earth.

Downtown window shopping is about to get a lot richer — from Brooks Brothers suits to Tiffany diamonds to Cheesecake Factory desserts.

Boasting 80 specialty stores and restaurants, hundreds of housing units in four towers and a Harmons grocery, City Creek Center spans 700,000 square feet on the two city blocks that once housed Crossroads Mall and ZCMI Center. Connected by a sky bridge over Main Street, it has 18-foot waterfalls, retractable glass roofs and a stream — re-creating City Creek — running through it.

Anchored by Nordstrom and Macy’s, City Creek should reshape and reboot Salt Lake City’s sometimes-sleepy downtown.

"It will place Salt Lake City in the cross hairs as one of the finest developing cities in the country." - end of copying.

Salt Lake City - is still very 1940's - 1950's when big buildings came into fashion and construction was made easier. (several different inventions helped)
This make's driving through downtown feel like a blast from the past, but really it's an OLD town. For being the 32nd most populated city in the entire USA - its really old and dying.

Thankfully having the Olympics here in 2002 we have lots of new hotels, pavilions, skate parks and event centers. Now onward to reviving our downtown!

Now when the rest of the country is saving money, watching their spending and economizing - Salt Lake is going to become THE newest - modern city. I can't wait for it all to be done!

Up that's it for today! Yesterday we deep cleaned the living room - today my hubby cleaned the kitchen with the kids and I organized the bathroom. (I also went shopping with my BFF and out to lunch! What a great day!)

How Astute is Prissy?

2011-12-31T17:29:00.002-07:00

I love my kids - really but sometimes I wonder if I think they are much smarter and much more observant then I thought and then other times I really really wonder about them!

Like today.

Hubby comes home early from work today

I send the kids and hubby off to get treats and snacks for our family party tonight.

While they are gone I run around the whole house

ripping down Christmas decorations.

When they arrive home both kids run for the TV fighting over who gets a turn first.

(a battle between Hannah Montana & Phineas & Ferb)

Hubby takes one hinted look into the livingroom and remarks

"You took them all down?"

Later (25 minutes later)

We are sitting watching Hannah

(obviously Prissy won)

Hubby looks at me - "They moved? Does Lily live with them now?"

I shrug my shoulders I tend to block out annoying sounds and shows.

Prissy looks up, "I don't know."

"You just watched it didn't you pay attention?" Papa (aka Hubby) asks

I glare, "Obviously she doesn't pay attention" - waving my arms wildly at the now bare walls around the room.

He laughs, "Prissy can you look around and tell me what has changed in the room?"

Prissy jumps up, glances all around the room GASPS!

"Shoot! My boots! Sorry papa! LM (littleman) pick up your boots quick! Hurry we forgot to put them away!"

At this point Hubby and I lose it!

We are laughing so hard, watching our children run to get the boots, run past the empty spot the tree stood 2 hours ago, run back to the couches and immediately start watching Phineas & Ferb.

Half an hour later and still they have not noticed!

Paul, former Avenger Rep & Jersey Girl

2011-12-28T15:17:00.000-07:00

So yesterday's drama - read here Nerd Battle: Pax vs. OceanMarketing. Where a customer service rep named Paul went off on a customer.

In all the letters (from Paul to Dave, Mike K. and now a news reporter) he always mentions how RUDE Dave was. I've read the letters (Epic Letter Here) (Whining Here) and all I see is honest genuine concern, which starts to get pressed when Paul keeps giving him ridiculous answers.

A much better way to have handled the thousands of angry customers over the delay of the product would have been to send them all a mass email detailing what was going on with the product and what the company was attempting to do about it - then take the responses one at a time - RATHER - then waiting for each and every customer to get angry, impatient and annoyed.

So first the company did make a mistake - they allowed their customer base to get riled, with no information or reaching out - then dumped them all on their Reps - who I must say seem to have been poorly trained. Side note: it is believed at this time that Paul owned in part the company to make the Avenger Controllers and was the founder and CEO of OceanMarketing. The company of the Avenger controllers has parted ways with Paul (before this event happened) and Ocean Marketing seems to have crashed due to this incident.

Does that excuse Paul from his ridiculous response? Heck NO!
I'm just saying he isn't the only one at fault here.

Today he was interviewed by MSNBC Here between whining that his life is awful and everybody needs to stop picking on him - he also kept bragging on how none of his other clients have dropped him and how he hopes the negative feedback will turn positive in a few months time.
Sorry dude - wishful thinking won't help you.
Maybe you should rent - buy, at least watch Jersey Girl.

After he is done watching Ben Affleck pull a "Paul" 7 yrs ago, hopefully he will realize quickly - much quicker then the idiot in Jersey Girl - that he should find a new career path.

He seems to misunderstand Nerds, Geeks and Gamers - They don't forgive being bullied. Why? Because too much of their life and childhood was filled with bullies - the bullies never had any remorse, never stopped and apologized - not until someone stood up and said NO.
If the bully has no compassion - should the one being bullied have compassion? And if he does, does that mean he is ALLOWING and Enabling the bully to continue?

Obviously this is not disappearing any time soon, my advice to Paul - the less you say the better - because each time you open your mouth you come across as insane (at best) and an idiot (at worst).

ps. Yes I love gaming, my gamers and my nerd hubby. So yes I will continue to follow this - honestly its better than TV!
Mikes latest respons here: I wwebsite as on the-

Nerd Battle! PAX vs. OceanMarketing

2011-12-27T14:32:00.003-07:00

Click photo to buy the shirt!

Now there is a TON of information on this - in fact I am surprised its not trending on Twitter yet - however, by nightfall, it most likely will be.

I am going to add a LOT of links to this blog as the WHOLE story would read like a book - seriously!
However, I know many of my readers and I KNOW you don't like clinking a lot of links so I will tell you the Epic letter link is a MUST READ. From then on all the links will just be proving my point and laughing hysterically at the idiot at Ocean-Marketing.

P.S if you are a smart mouthed, idiot, know-it-all with a super bad attitude and equally bad spelling - here's some of my famous Free Advice: Don't Piss Off A Nerd.
Why? Well for 1. They aren't stupid 2. They aren't alone 3. They now rule the cyber world. ;)

Alright so here is the run down a normal every day (seemingly nice guy named Dave). He ordered two avenger controllers (my link is to a reliable seller ThinkGeek)- after several weeks of nothing - he wrote the company asking what was going on with the product.
Here is the letter, response, and the ensuing battle that has now became EPIC! (Seriously must read) and NO I didn't make this up and neither did they - I like Mike (creator of penny arcade) and he is a genius and all, but really this stuff just can't be made up!

How did I find out about a Nerd battle while my husband is a work? Well... I follow Wil Wheaton on Twitter as well as Felicia Day and several other fabulously famous Nerds!

Now following Mike's cue to research him - I did ;) Here is his Wiki page Mike Krahulik, here is a link - linking Penny Arcade and Pax East, here is a link of Mike K being interviewed concerning PaxEast2011.

As many of you know, I am very fair. So I researched Ocean-Marketing. What I found was he really, REALLY likes to plagiarize. Here it is all laid out in typical nerd form!
This is why you really should not ANGER the Nerd Community - they not only have a ton of free time, also they know how to research things QUICKLY! LOL so far all of my research on Ocean-Marketing continues to show what a half @$$ed! site and company it really is - even it's "official twitter" site only has TWO posts.

Best part of the whole thing? Pax is having an event in 2012 in SEATTLE!!! Aug 26-28! Now I want to go! LOL
Pax East 2012 will be in Boston.

Bring it Rude Dude at Ocean-Marketing I can tell you who will have the last laugh - guys like Dave who are championed by men like Mike & Wil Wheaton!

ps. One site is claiming that they started this and it was a hoax - from all the research I did, including finding this story ON penny arcade I'm going with Real.
And yes its NOW trending on Twitter!

Update: Paul (jerk from OceanMarketing) wrote Mike - saying sorry and to please tell everyone to stop being mean to him. Now I'm with Mike on this one, if you have sympathy for Paul please re-read the Epic Letter. Paul is the one yelling, screaming, swearing and bulling and NOW that he has found out how tiny he really is in the universe he's sorry.
Here is the newest of the between Mike and Paul
and yes I will continue to follow this story!

To follow every single bit of this story, links, replies, spam comments, ect you can find it all Here at Reddit.

Also the apology to Dave -

Hey Dave,
I just wanted to apologize for the way our emails progressed from beginning to end , You caught me on an extremely bad day and I had been dealing with 100’s and hundreds of emails trying to explain the situation to everyone on where the product was and you just pushed me a little too much and I should have just apologized and tried to explain things better. Also I had a really bad day losing a friend to an overdose and the stress of my newborn baby and the Holiday ,missing my family and just stressing on getting product out to everyone and why it was held up in customs wore me out.
I am deeply sorry for any disrespect , aggravation or lack of information on the delivery date. We knew when product was leaving china and we were trying to adhere to a strict deadline but due to port issues and air freight issues. The units are domestic now and awaiting pick up at customs . So we missed the 17th deadline and I apologize for that but it was out of my control and besides me no one else was helping me handle the situation so imagine the weight on my shoulders.
I’m not asking for any sympathy just for some understanding and forgiveness , I’m human just like everyone else and made a mistake. I underestimated you and its cost me a lot of trouble thousands of spam emails , a lot of personal bashing , and internet spam and trouble and just overall stress with my wife and newborn. I ask that you please accept my apology as a peace offering I will refund your money and give you your 2 units/Avengers free of charge please help me to get some of this negativity removed or at least my personal name although its already all over the internet and the calls and emails will not stop but any help will be appreciated especially with penny arcade as Mike and edit his own website I owe him an apology too which I will write next.

For the most recent update Click Here: Paul, former Avenger Rep & Jersey Girl