What A Letdown! But With A Bright Side!

I hope all of my wonderful readers had a lovely Christmas! 

I'm thankful for my readers, I truly am.  But I admit-you all let me down for Christmas.

I did not receive my EZ Cracker.  Guess I'll have to smash my eggs all over the countertops by hand for eternity.

I did not receive a Point n Paint.  Rollers and brushes will have to do.

I did not receive a Perfect Brownie Pan.  The kids will not be standing around me cheering when I bake.

And my greatest disappointment~Anthony Sullivan did not knock on my door holding several rolls of his fabulous tape to fix all of my stuff.  So much for my kitchen drain being permanently sealed.  So much for a cheap fix if I ever have a leaky roof.

Sigh.

I hope you can all feel my disappointment.  Next year I won't depend on my readers to fill my empty spaces in the back of my cupboards.  I'll have to ask family instead.

But on the bright side!.....

Jesus is the greatest Gift that I celebrate year round.

I also received a wonderful earthly gift, given to me by the Lord.

My family went to brother-in-law's for Christmas.  His wife prepared a lovely meal, and Dan's parents came also.

What I am so thankful for is the gift of a family that loves each other and has a great time together.  My brother-in-law Tim is a newlywed, married two years, and his wife Niki is the perfect addition to the family.  She is a perfectly beautiful human being.

My husband's parents have been wonderful for the entire 17 years of our marriage.  (Sorry I don't have a picture of them to share!)

I have no complaints!  I am truly, truly blessed!

I still cannot share my secret on my blog just yet, but let me give a couple of hints!

First of all, NO!  I'm not expecting!

And the hint is...in a sense, my family may be expanding very soon.  Not in my own home, but close enough!  Blood doesn't always matter, and I believe when it comes to family, the more, the merrier!  And sometimes friends are more than just friends.  They are people you love with your entire heart, and you love them and their children as your own family.

Well, if that isn't a hint and a half, I don't know what it!  Maybe you'll figure it out, or at least more of a guess, if you read my past posts!  =)

Everyone have a lovely day!

Wanna See My Business Card?

If you all are professionals like me, *ahem*, you might like to add business cards to your career.  I just wanted to share my business card, along with advertising for VistaPrint, and the fine job they do!

This is for my website~what do you think?  I was very pleased, and VistaPrint has decent prices too.  If you are in the market for business cards, you may like to check out VistaPrint.

All I Want For Christmas.....Part 4 (The Final Post Of The Series)

Well folks, Christmas is 2 days away, and I better get this up if I am going to have any hopes of getting my final gift on my Christmas list!

This product is AMAZING!  I can't believe they even offer it to the general public!



I love my husband.  He's good at changing the trash if Dakota doesn't get to it, he rinses his dishes, and he even sweeps the floor for me occasionally-PLUS he took over paying the bills!

If the house has a problem, he'll get around to fixing it before too much damage is done.  Only a few weeks of nagging, begging, pleading, and finally tears, and TA-DA!  My problem is fixed!

But this guy, Anthony Sullivan, is incredible!  He has his own little tool kit-that colorful tape that's prettier than duct tape, and he comes right to your door to take care of your problems!  This man actually walks around LOOKING for things to fix, inside AND outside of your home!

Leaking pipes?  No problem!  Anthony will fix it!

Is your microwave ready to explode and burn down your house?  Relax!  Anthony will fix it!

Have a problem dropping your cell phone in the toilet?  Contact Anthony-he'll help you to never have THAT problem again!

Cracked engine cradle under your car, making it unsafe to drive?  I'd be willing to bet he'll even get under the car for you and wrap that baby up! 

Leaky roof?  Anthony's probably not even afraid of heights!  A single layer of his special tape, and you'll save $4,000 since you won't need a new roof!

I want him!  PLEASE, people!  Get him for me for Christmas! 

Didn't you hear him?  He's Anthony Sullivan, with Mighty Fixit tape! 

What I can't believe is that he's not completely booked from now until 2250!  And you cannot beat the price-plumbers charge $80 an hour!!!

Am I the only one who has seen this commercial?

I do get a little confused at the end tho-does he only come with three rolls of tape?  Do I have to pay extra when his tape runs out?  And it doesn't clarify how long I get to keep him-maybe you can ask when you call to order him for me.

(In case the commercial caught your attention, as far as the actual product, I have read that the tape really works!  Just thought I'd let you know!)  

All I Want For Christmas.....Part 3 (A Series)

Thanks to everyone who voted on my Chocolate Fall Garden!  I didn't win, but it's ok-I came in second for this week, and I'm fine with that!

Now!  Onto my Christmas list!

So far, you all know I want the EZ Cracker and the Point n Paint.  Next on my list is this Perfect Brownie Pan!



I can't tell you how many times I have just fallen over in exhaustion, trying to cut those crazy brownies out of the pan-not to mention the damage it leaves from the knife! 

All I really want in life is to be able to have perfect brownies that, as soon as they come out of oven, my children gather around and cheer! 

While we're at it, what would be greater than that is to have a SPOTLESS KITCHEN after making an entire table full of desserts, and not having a single drop of food on my clothes!  No flour, batter, or EGGS!!!

If this pan will guarantee that the second my tasty treats are added to any potluck or dessert table, the pan will be surrounded by grabbing hands, while everyone else's desserts are overlooked, then I want one!  Not that I need all the extra attention, really.  I mean, I'll smirk quietly to myself when this happens.

Thank you, thank you all for making my Christmas wish list come true!

Can You Help?

Hello, my beloved Chocolate Bouquet readers!

In case you haven't run out to buy my EZ Cracker for my eggs yet, or my Point n Paint, I have a real request to ask of you, and it won't cost you anything but a moment of your time.  =)  (hopefully you all know my Christmas wants are just a joke-the commercials they use to get you to buy the product are sometimes just too funny to let slip into oblivion!!!)

Do you remember this?

Well, I've entered this chocolate garden in a contest, and your vote would be a great help!  The prize for winning is $1,000. 
To coax you a little more, I want to let you know that the money, if I win, will be going to a very good cause.  It will be going to help a dear family in need.  So many of us want for nothing, really.  But there are families that are struggling, and this would be my way of showing thankfulness for my own blessings.
So will you please vote for me?  I will be sure to let you know if I win!  =)
This is the link:
http://photos.bhg.com/fall-centerpieces/49/2010
Please feel free, if you feel it is for a worthy cause, to share this link with your friends, or on your own blog and fb page.  Thanks so much!

All I Want For Christmas.....Part 2 (A Series)

Well, I'm sure one of you has already ran out and purchased the EZ Cracker for me-THANK YOU, whoever you are!  You're just a DOLL!!!

In case someone else beat you to the EZ Cracker, there are more things on my list, so just keep reading!

Today's item on my wish list is.....

The Point n Paint!



I'm still painting my bathroom, so I NEED one of these!  And I'll wait to finish the bathroom until you get me one-NOT because I'm procrastinating! 

Anyway!  I just HATE when I'm blinded by all that paint I drip off my roller when I hold it over my head!  And the tape is so incredibly unruly!  I was stuck to the wall in the bathroom for 3 hours when I was painting the walls SCREAMING YELLOW~because of the tape!  And trying to work around the ladder-ugh-don't ask! 

So this is next on my wish list!  It makes me feel so special that you all are reading my Christmas wants!  I can tell this is going to be a GREAT year for gifts!  (wink! wink!)

All I Want For Christmas.....(A Series)

Christmas time is upon us! And it's that time of year when homes are bombarded with catalogs, hoping to get your attention, and your order!


Well, this is MY Christmas list, and you can just browse your local CVS for most of these because these are in the "As Seen On TV" section! Please send my gifts to Josanne, c/o That Empty Space in the Very Back of The Cupboard That Needs Filled With Useless Stuff Until The Next Garage Sale, PA. Thanks! You folks are great!

First on my list:

The EZ Cracker for eggs! Just put your egg in this handy little contraption, squeeze, and VOILA! You have your eggs ready for preparation, any way you choose! Making eggs over easy for breakfast? Need help peeling the shell off your hard boiled egg? Making an egg whites omelet? No problem! This thing can do it all!
 

Yes!  After you find the EZ Cracker in your utensil drawer, or...was it in the cupboard, or did it actually get thrown away after it was accidentally put it in the dishwasher, not knowing it wasn't dishwasher safe?  Anyway, after you find it, it is easier than just using your two hands to crack an egg!

HOW did I ever make it to 40 years old without one of these???  AND!  Horror of horrors--my three children had to learn how to crack eggs without one too!  I can now let out a great sigh of relief!  My grandchildren's lives will be so much easier!  After you watch this video, you will see why EVERY household should own one!




Aren't you sick of bashing your eggs with full force against a marble countertop, only to have the egg go everywhere?  Or to smack your egg with a fork so hard, it scrambles before you ever hit the bowl?  Or, after you have one egg perfectly cracked and sitting in the bowl waiting to be scrambled, you go to crack the second one, and you somehow lose all control, and don't know what happened, when you hit the bowl and the egg smears all over the counter?  Surely you need one of these too! 

I'm just so tired of being 40 years old, married 17 years, and still making faces like these ladies because of the mess and the missed shells in my eggs and muffins.  And when the whole family is sitting around eating omelets, and everyone looks like they just bit into a bullet, well, it just gets to me.  Are you with me???

Come back soon for the next part in the series!  There's more!

My Chocolate Candy Winter Wonderland!

I hope you all have a nice Thanksgiving!  We all have so much to be thankful for, don't we? 

This is my latest creation, which I gave you a sneak peek at earlier in my blog.  If you would like to know how to make it, here is where to go!

http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/id173.html

ROAD CLOSED, Part 3

Part 3, The Rest Of The Story

Just then, I heard a horn blow, and it was my friend Missy. I turned and ran....well, not really-the water was still up to my knees. I said, "Girl, do you see that man laughing at me??" She looked....I looked....the kids looked....there was no man there. He had conveniently disappeared!


I got in the truck with Missy, and we called another tow truck. They said they would be right out, but Missy's kids had to go to the bathroom, so we left to find the closest restroom.

When we returned, there were two police cruisers sitting at the beginning and end of the road.

One officer came up to Missy's truck and said, "Can I help you ladies?" And then Missy spills the beans! "Um, yeah. That's my friend's car so I hope you're not calling a tow truck because we already have one coming. It's not her fault-she was just trying to get to work, and there were a ton of other cars going right through it, so I hope you're not going to give her a ticket, blah blah blah." All I really heard was, "Tell your friend to give me her driver's license." I'm sure I was white as a ghost at this point.

Just then, we heard, "Calling all cars! Calling all cars in the area of ----! Please get into route. There is a domestic violence going on at blah blah blah." The officer immediately got into his cruiser and sped off.

That was WAY to close!

After that, the tow truck pulled up, looked at the water and proceded to phone to base to tell them the water was too high! "Sorry!", he said, and pulled off!!!

We couldn't believe it! We just looked at each other for a moment.

And from the back seat, we hear, "Mom, I gotta go to the bathroom again!"

"AGAIN??? Can't you hold it?"

"No."

We called the towing company again. They said that what their driver did was wrong, and they would send someone else out.

I decided to wait with the car while Missy took her kiddos to the restroom again. I decided to wade out to the car and push it myself. It was getting late, and I was afraid the police would come back soon. I made it to the car, put it in neutral and started pushing.

"Hey, I see you're stuck! I'm pretty sure I can pull you out of there!" I look up, and there was a guy in a black jeep. He didn't want to get wet, so he had me do the hooking up part. In two minutes, I was out-me and my car were on dry land once again. I thanked him, and he was on his way.

Three tow trucks later, my car was back home.

ROAD CLOSED, Part 2

Part 2

Next to arrive to my aide was a huge white truck. I thought, surely he can get me out-that's a new truck! The truck pulled up to me, and the man rolled down his window. I quickly reached over to roll my window down, allowing an undisclosed amount of water in. The truck driver says, "Hey, you want me to get you out of there?" Oh, finally! I said, "Boy, would I!" We lock eyes and stare for a moment. My eyes searched for some movement on his part. After an awkward silence, the truck driver says, "Well, climb on over and get in!" Ooohhhh.....you mean me climb on over and get in-NOT you hook a thingy up to my car and use your big, beautiful shiny new truck to do what it was designed for-to pull my little Escort our of the lake! Nooo....that would be too much like a solution!


I climbed out the passenger window, which was not a pretty sight! It was very uncomfortable-nothing like the Dukes of Hazzard use to do it-not to mention the fact that my pant leg got caught on the lock. I almost did a split-one leg out of the car and the other jammed up on the lock! Once I gained my balance, I waddled over and jumped in his truck. He immediately proceeded to call a tow truck company that he was familiar with. I wasn't used to men calling other men to do something that they could very well have done themselves. His truck went throught the water like it wasn't even there! He dropped me off at the closest gas station to wait for a tow truck.

As I stood outside waiting for the tow truck, I became saturated with stares and glares from the people making their morning commute. I felt exposed, needy, even helpless.

Just then, the biggest tow truck I had ever seen appeared. I read the name on the door, and it was my tow truck. I immediately started to run toward it, waving my arms in the air because he looked right at me and kept going!!! The people who thought I was crazy before were sure of it now. I began to walk down the road, just to escape the looks.....

About 10 minutes later, down the same road, the tow truck comes to me. The driver says, "Hey, are you the one whose car is stuck in the lake? Oh, I'm sorry, I mean, in the middle of 303 that was flooded?" I said, "Yes, that would be me!" He said, "Hop in! We'll get your car outta there." So we came to the road where my car was sitting, and the driver begins to go into the water. Let me remind you that this tow truck was HUGE! It had a flatbed that could fit two mid-size cars on it. I remember thinking, Oh man, I bet it cost extra for this tow truck. There goes my paycheck!

As we move through the murky waters, he opens the door and looks out at the water under us. We got to my car, and he kept going. He said, "Yup, that water's too deep. I'm afraid if I stop, the truck'll stall out, and there aint nobody that can come and tow this out. So I'm gonna have to drop you off at the end of the road. And you give me a call once the water recedes."

I got out of the truck, still in shock, thinking, Did that really just happen? I watched the tow truck disappear, and began to gaze out into the lakes and the trees. It was kind of peaceful. I could hear birds chirping, frogs bellowing, the sound of rain drops hitting the leaves of the trees, and the water surrounding me.....WAIT!!! IT'S RAINING!!! NO!!! NOOOO!!!!! I was thinking, The water will never recede! Lord! Why is it raining?

Just when I was waiting for a response from my Lord, Who I was certain had been with me the entire time of my ordeal, I heard out from the distance....laughter. Is that laughter? I searched and searched, and at the top of the road, there was a man pacing back and forth, laughing and pointing at me-I mean the kind of laugh that you hear from Santa Claus, maybe.

I started into the water. I was going to go right up to him and find out what he thought was so funny!!! I mean, the nerve of this guy-he must have laughed for 5 minutes at me!

To be continued.....

ROAD CLOSED

I'm going to share a story in two or three parts with you all-written by my dear friend, Michelle.  This is just another sneak peek of one of the new stories that will be up on my website in just a few short days!  Please be sure to stop by and visit http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/ !


Part One

Well, this recession has gotten people willing to do just about anything to get to work...especially me!


One morning, I was on my way to work at a new job that I really loved. It was clean, , easy, and I didn't go home sore everyday.

I got on the highway 303 and proceeded until I saw a "ROAD CLOSED" sign blocking my lane. I followed the cars ahead of me, which were all turning right and following the detour signs.

After about 15 to 20 minutes of driving, I began to realize that I could have been to work by now, and this detour seemed to be taking me further and further out of the direction I needed to go. Worse yet, I was going to be late!

I had to think of something quick, so I decided to turn around and double back after remembering the last time they had the road closed-there wasn't anything wrong with the road in the first place!

I finally came to the "ROAD CLOSED" sign again, and I was happy! I normally turn the corner here, and there is a tiny hill to go up-after going down the other side there is a set of railroad tracks that I slow down for. This time, as soon as I turned the corner, I put the pedle to the metal and raced up the hill. Being that I was already behind in time, instead of slowing down, I decided I would just go with the flow. I shouldn't have said that because when I hit the top of that hill, WHOOOSH!!! I sailed right into a lake! Apparently the road was closed for a reason this time! We had a significant rain fall during the previous night, and apparently the lakes on both sides of the road had overflowed.

I thought I was dreaming! Water was coming inside my car at an alarming rate! When the steam disappeared and the waves subsided, I could see a tiny silver Toyota Corrola barrelling ahead. I thought, "Wait! That car is smaller than mine!" I tried to start my car again-yes, even though water was covering the hood. I was panicking!

Just then I saw a little red pickup truck approaching me. In my mind I thought, he's driving through this lake-how is he doing that? I'm sure he's going to offer to assist me!

I stared. I glared! I got nothing! He never even looked over at me!

I prayed, "Jesus, help! Please! You know I need this job. Lord, you know I need this car!! Blah, blah, blah..."-all those things we say when we need God to get us out of the calamity we put ourselves in-going down the wrong road(if you will).

Just then, a nice shining red Jeep Cherokee pulled up beside me. Oh, thank you Jesus! You were listening to me! You do know how bad I need this job and car! The driver said, "Sooo, what happened? Didn't you see the "ROAD CLOSED" sign?" I said, "Um, well kinda. You know how that sign was there the other day and there wasn't anything wrong with the road that day?" The driver says, "Sooo, your car won't start, or did it stasll out or what? I said, "Um, yeah, both." The driver says, "Well, that's really to bad, but once you get it out of the water it should be fine. Good luck!" And then, the red Cherokee drove off, making waves that hit my car and actually rocked in back and forth like a boat.

Well, back to calling on Jesus!

I'm Having A Problem.....

.....with my toe.  First of all, if you read the answers to my 5QF post, you will get to see my funky shaped toe nail on my big toe.  See how it is slightly sideways, and thinner than most big toe nails?  It's from my surgery.  =)

But we aren't talking about my big toe today.  We are talking about my baby toe.  Let's take a look....

Before we go any further, let me answer the question you are all dying to ask!  No, I don't believe in evolution, so therefore, no, I am not evolving from a lizard.

So anyway!  The toe of concern-my baby toe.  I think it's broke, or something!  And I know what ELSE you are thinking!  "Well no WONDER it hurts-it's SMASHED!!!"  Nope, folks, that's the normal shape.  As you can see, I'd never make it as a foot model.

Back to the toe.  When I roll over in bed, and my toe lays against the bed, it BURNS!  Can anyone help me???  Am I gonna need a doctor? 

I can see it now.... 

"Doc, my baby toe hurts!"

"Let me take a look......Well no WONDER it hurts-it's SMASHED!!!" 

"No Doc, that's the normal shape."

"Hate to break it to you, Mrs. A, but you'd never make it as a foot model."

If there is a doctor visiting my blog, please speak up and let me know why my baby toe hurts!!!  Mommy doctors can speak up too!

And for the rest of you....I just thought you'd like to know.  Plus, I LOVE sympathy!  So....if you feel sorry for me, please leave a comment for me!  =)

Sneak Peek And 5QF!

Here is a sneak peek for you of what is to come next week on my website, http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/ !

If you want to make a fun chocolate candy project for Christmas, stop by, and invite your friends too!  Look for the directions next week!

And NOW!  On to the 5QF!!!  I love this meme! 

1. What Christmas song do you loathe?  Well, personally, this is my favorite Christmas song, but THIS particular version, well, you just have to hear it to understand-please hit the play button while reading the rest of my meme answers.  It's actually become my tradition to share this with all of my beloved readers!  Those on my email list are blessed with it as well.  =)

**For those of you that frown upon Christian humor of this sort, my own personal belief is that God has a sense of humor-and the Bible does say that we are made in His likeness.  He made many with great senses of humor, and I do not believe this offends Him at all.  When the Bible talks about the time He sat with the sinners and publicans as the Pharisees looked on in disgust, I do not believe He won over those that were looked down on in society by being so serious that the people just couldn't relate.  I believe that He laughed and enjoyed their company.  However He related to the people, they apparently were drawn to Him-it does not say He ate alone, nor that the sinners and publicans left Him when He tried to join them.  The Bible teaches that laughter is good like a medicine-I believe God agrees with His word.  =) **

2. Do you and your significant other cuddle at night or sleep on opposite sides of the bed? He sleeps alone and  I don't sleep-read last week's meme.


3. Have you ever had surgery?  Yes!  On my big toes-on both feet-at the same time.  Not a pretty sight!  Especially when the only color slippers I could find(the doctor LIED when he told me I should just buy shoes that were a little bigger-big toes that are wrapped up to look bigger than ping pong balls do NOT fit in a shoe that is "just a little bigger") we banana yellow-at the mall-that I had to walk thru, or should I say, hobble thru.  I looked like two banana boats were tagging along with me everywhere I went.


4. When do you typically have your holiday shopping done?  Wellllll.......the plan is to be done early, every year.  I am not really sure the actual time I finish tho-probably when the money runs out, and I have to decide if I want to buy more presents, or if I want to have a the lights on so that we can see the presents when we open them!


5. If money were not an issue (and you HAD to pick something), what would your ultimate luxury item be?  Hmm.....let me think.......probably my own massage therapist with her own built-in apartment suite, connected to my house, and who would be on call 24/7.  But since money IS an issue, I will settle for comments.  =D

Have a great day, everyone!

Some Pretty Cool Stuff!

Hello Everyone!

Well, we're just a little more than a week away from Thanksgiving, and I've been so excited about it!  This year, my friend Michelle is coming up with her children to be with us!  Yay!  I'm especially thrilled about this because Michelle and I were friends in high school, and we lost touch for about 18 years.  I happen to run into her at a store last year in my hometown, and we've been able to become re-acquainted!

If you've read my blog, and have seen my pictures, you know that I, Josanne, am the one on the left.  Not the most flattering picture, I know, but Michelle looks beautiful, as always, and there is a reason I am sharing this particular picture!  It's because Michelle and I are sitting next to each other, okay?  NOW!  While we were sitting together in this restaurant months ago, Michelle says, "I really need to work on my tan."  NOW you probably know why I posted this picture.  Yeah, you go ahead, Michelle-you are looking a little pale!  =)

This is one sweet young lady!  Michelle has done a great job raising this beautiful and growing girl!  (Yep!  That's a milkshake!  Caramel flavored!  Did you notice they even have holders for the shakes?)

And this is a very nice young man-he even thought Dan and I were okay folks, so that makes him ever GREATER in our book!  (You know, the whole young person thinking us older folks are so un-cool!)  Dan talked him into this milkshake-his was marshmallow.

How about the rest of you?  Do you all have any special plans?  Just being able to be with loved ones is so nice-to just spend the day visiting(my sis-in-law and her hubby will also be up from Indiana), playing games, and relaxing-AFTER we get everything prepared!  Surely I'm not the only one who can't take a breath until dinner is finished!  =)

Part 2

I guess I am trying this out on my blog, and PLEASE!  If you are one of my faithful readers, and this bothers you, I would like to know!  I don't want to lose any of my readers-you all do make me happy when you swing by to visit me on the world wide web, with millions of choices. 

That being said, I've signed up with some advertising companies to do some advertising on my blog.  I am NOT going to turn my blog into an advertising campaign!  I am not going to advertise every product that is offered to me.  I want to share what looks interesting to me, or what I can share and feel good about.  I may earn revenue, which is a very important part of living!  But again, please let me know what you think, and please tell me kindly if you don't care for it-my feelings hurt easily.  =) 

I still want my blog to be a place you enjoy visiting, and when I do write a blog post for a company that wishes to advertise, I want to make it an enjoyable read.  If it somehow fits into some of my ditzy, true life stories, you might not even notice! 

That being said, I would like to share with you a neat little site that I just learned about.  This is the time of year when so many of us will be looking for unique and wonderful gifts for friends, family members, and co-workers.

http://www.become.com/ is a site that does comparison shopping for you, bringing similar products together in one spot.

Looking at bedding, this page shows you a lot of beautiful sets, along with their prices, and where they are available.  Take a look if you are thinking of something like this for your mother or your daughter!  Lots of pretties!

And do you need something to put those pretties on???  Well then!  Look at the beauties on this page-you might just find what you are looking for!

And last, but not least, this page I like the best-lots of fun wire photo frames!  I like the snowflakes ones, how about you?

Well, along with broken down cars (heading to Ohio to pick my baby up at the end of the week), making chocolate candy arrangements, cyber schooling, and preparing for Thanksgiving, it is promised to be a busy couple of weeks!  I still have so many stories to tell you all, so I hope you and I will BOTH check back soon!  I try to always have time for 5QF, so be sure to check in then-and leave a comment!  =)



In Case You Can't Get Enough Of Me...

In case you all just LOVE learning all about me, and LEAVING COMMENTS, I have a new Saturday 9 meme up here.  I just don't want to put too many memes on my home page, so I have another page for this one.  But the 5QF, well, usually those questions and answers are something that NEED to be on my home page!  I mean, look at the last one I put there-I got LOTS of COMMENTS!!!  =P

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!  Remember to thank God for His goodness!

My Name Is Josanne, And I'm An Addict

Hello World(hanging my head in shame)

I have a confession to make(looking at my shoes-well, I'm not wearing any shoes actually, but this is how I feel in my heart!)

See, I was reading another blog group site, and one of the commenters posted the longings of my own heart, even tho she was talking about herself.  She said, "I had little traffic and was getting no comments."

After someone actually brought it out into broad daylight, my very own secret in their own life, it gave me the courage to come clean with my readers. 

Friends, my name is Josanne, and I'm a commentaholic(still staring at my shoes, figuratively).

That being said, this week's Five question Friday questions are perfect and fitting for my confession.

1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?  My heart!  The physical pain I feel because I get little traffic and few comments-oh the pain!  I know it has to feel just like Mama M's heart attack!  Oh the agony!


2. How much sleep do you get at night?  None!  I am up all night trying to figure out ways to get my readers to comment!  On a good night, I may get 6--after so many nights of tossing and turning, trying to gain your comment love, it finally catches up to me, and I collapse.


3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? How did you find out that he does not exist?  I believed in Santa Claus until I was 39.  My entire life, I always received everything I asked for, until I was 39, when I asked for more traffic and comments.  Double Whammy!  Santa Claus isn't real, AND I don't have more traffic and comments.  What a letdown!

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?  "I Get No Respect" by Rodney Dangerfield.  Kind of reminds me of my current plight.


5. What do you wear to bed?  Aren't you paying attention?  I already told you I don't sleep!  See question and answer #2.

But folks, there IS hope!  That same blogger that comments on her little traffic and no comments continued on to say, "I sat down on my 3rd anniversary and dumped out my frustrations in a post. Then the heavens opened up and rained grace on me such as I never expected."

She, the kindred soul to my own, broke free from that awful curse, the drought of comment-less-ness!

What's that I hear???  Are the heavens being opened (hint hint!!! grovel, grovel!!! plead plead!!!) ???  =D

Surprise!!!

First of all, let me show you a cake my sister-in-law Niki made(sorry the camera quality isn't better):

This is the story behind the cake:

Stef is our friend at church-she is our choir director, and is very musically talented.  Stef's one glitch in life is that she never remembers how old she is.

So!

Since her birthday is at the end of October, friends decided to throw a 40th birthday party for Stef after our church service.  Stef just turned 38.

She caught on, and informed us, "I don't know how old I am, but I am NOT 40!"  I think she will probably remember her age now.  =)

The musical notes spell out the first line of the song Happy Birthday to You....

The balls you see are Truffles, which Stef loves.  Niki even made the musical note circles out of Truffles.

Isn't it adorable???

Anyway!

On to MY "Surprise" post!

Amber's birthday was October 23rd, and if you read my FAIL post, I forgot my dear daughter's 16th birthday.  Can you say HEEL!!!  ???

I felt terrible about this, and wanted to make it up to her-she was SO looking forward to turning 16.  Please don't ask-I don't know where my mind is half the time anymore!

So!  Aunt Niki had Amber come over and help with some things yesterday, and I decorated the house with balloons and streamers, and invited lots of friends over for a surprise party for Amber.  Amber accidentally saw a text on my phone about the party, but that's ok-she didn't know it was last night, and it was still all good.

Lots of friends showed up, and we had a nice time!  Amber had a very nice evening, and it made up for my previous FAIL as a mother.

I made monster hot dogs and sloppy joes, and I made two cakes.  This is the important part of the post!

I started out with three cake mixes, and I'm telling you, it wasn't my fault that I accidentally added 1 and 1/3 cups of oil instead of 1 and 1/3 cups of water!  The faucet and oil bottle played some horrible trick on me!  It was making me half sick just THINKING about eating all that oil!  That batch of batter went in the trash.

I made the other two cakes, one chocolate, one yellow, and they turned out fine.

I don't want to intimidate my sweet sister-in-law Niki by showing pictures of my two cakes.  I mean, she does a pretty good job with her stuff, but, well, I've decided to just be modest about my own creations and tell you about the cakes I decorated.

First of all, if you were AT the party, I need to make sure you know the FACTS!

1. I had chocolate crumbs all through the white frosting on the chocolate cake BECAUSE I wanted everyone to know that cake was chocolate!
2. I did NOT have to add that glorious vanilla/chocolate marbled design to the vanilla cake because I ran out of vanilla frosting.  I wanted those "Well, that's actually kinda cool" comments!
3. I don't care if you DID glance in the dining room while I was dividing up the cake-when I took the saran wrap off, half the icing topping was SUPPOSED to stay on the wrap-I didn't want the plastic wrap to harm the cake!  The icing did it's job!
4. The cake did NOT crumble while I was cutting it with my big knife, and I was NOT too lazy to go get something smaller to cut it with!  The cake was just so moist that it could be described as "melt in your mouth" yummy, even tho it hadn't made it to your mouth yet.

So please!  No need to spread rumors about my cake fail-and FOR SURE don't tell Niki!  =)

Anyway!  For those of you who weren't at the party, when the guests viewed my cakes-the marbled effect on the vanilla cake, and the speckled design in the vanilla frosting on the chocolate cake-the room was enveloped in a silent, reverant awe.

(And by the way, friends--I don't hold it against you that you didn't drown me with compliments at the party.  I realize my skills are so far out of this world that they often render people speechless.)  =)

My Final Fall Chocolate Bouquet Wreath

If you haven't yet read my post from this morning, be sure to scroll down to read it!  All the excitement I faced at the beginning of the week just wore me out!!!

This is my final Fall arrangement-hope you like it!
If you would like the directions, please go here:
http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/id150.html

I do not put all of the directions on my blog for two reasons:

1.  Not everyone wants to see an entire post on how to make a decorative arrangement.

2.  Loading all of the pictures will probably slow down my blog page, which I don't want to do to you.  On my website, I can break them up into two pages, to help them load quicker.

So anyway!  Here it is!  Talk to you all soon!

Up, Down, Up, Down.....

Ahh...what a week!  Actually, it is the beginning of the week that was such a roller coaster! (this post is half serious, half lighthearted, just so you know!)

The First Up

I just posted a very serious post about my friend who even the nurses did not expect to live thru the weekend, and guess what?  She is still with us, and she is looking and talking wonderfully!  Whether the good Lord takes her now, or she stays with us a little longer, I am warmed to see a life that has been touched by those who have come to show her love.  It also appears that some fences are being mended, and for that I am very, very grateful.

During my visit, I saw the new addition to my friend's bedroom-the video recorder.  Fancy stuff!  This belongs to her grandson, and the recordings taken were for the family to keep.

Well, I sat on the bed with my friend, and somehow mentioned I sing in church, and so guess what?  She told me to SING!  Uh.......I know I sing in church, but I'm actually quite shy about singing without a bunch of music drowning me out!  Umm....you want me to sing??? 

Okay, I could have declined, but remember, this is my friend who is very, very ill, and who I love so very much, so.....I sang part of a song.  Here are the words for you:

Consider the lilies
They don't toil or spin
But there's not a king
With more splendor than them
Consider the sparrow
He don't plant or so
But he serves the master
Who watches him grow

For we have a heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy
And a heart full of love
He really cares when your head is bowed low
Consider the lilies
And then you will know

Well folks, I had my first debut on camera!  I wonder if I looked heavy---hope I had my chin high enough so that no one can tell I have more than one!  I'm sure laying on the bed didn't show my most slender side!  Sigh....oh well.....the things you do for the ones you love!  =)  Hopefully any future viewing audience won't notice the parts where I hit the wrong key.....

The First Down

That evening, I stopped at a couple of thrift stores, ran into my pastor's wife from my former church in Ohio, and found some great deals!!!  I stopped by Taco Bell and called my hubby to tell him I was on my way home.

Fifteen miles out of Akron, with another 105 miles to go, my car decided to go from 65 down to 40-on the highway, and on the highway where construction work was going on, which means it was one open lane instead of two.  Oh no......

I pulled to the side of the road, and called my hubby to let him know.  He was in disbelief.  My car has been great!  How could she do this to me, on the HIGHWAY????  I told him I'd call him back--of course I hoped stopping on the side of the highway and giving her a break for a moment would cure her, but it was not to be.

I got a little further down the road, going 20 miles an hour now, and pulled over again because my girl just wasn't going to get better.  So if any of you were driving down highway 76 east around 10 pm on Monday, for your information, it wasn't a 90 year old grandma that the travelling turtles and snails were passing-it was me.  Sorry if I held you up!

Fortunately for me, the construction crew was just finishing up for the night, and one of the men saw that I was having trouble.  He came over to me and told me he would feel better if I would pull to the side of the road where they were working.  I moved to safety, and he checked to see if I needed a phone or anything.  Thank you, Mr. Construction Worker!

Folks, I know how to reach the Lord, so I was praying for my girl!  Okay, I wasn't praying-I was BEGGING the Lord to touch her!  If I had some oil, I would have even annointed her with oil!  For the Bible says,
 "14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."
Okay, so we didn't really call on the elders....and I didn't have any oil.  But I did pray, so at least my car is forgiven, if she has committed sins (like STRANDING me on the side of the highway!....)

Anyway!
I called my brother in Akron, and the dear soul came and got me.  We had to drive up to the next exit, get gas in his truck and turn back around, which was a good thing, because of all things, I forgot my purse in my car!

As we spotted my car on our return on the opposite side of the highway, we pulled over, just as a state trooper was pulling up behind my car.  Another very helpful man!  He just wanted me to pull further off the road, and gave us his card in case we needed anything.  He let me know my car could sit there for 48 hours, but we were heading to my brother's to call a tow truck that night.

Well, I called a few places, but my car was out of their area, and since I didn't know where I was having it towed to, we waiting til morning.

I had a warm place to sleep, got to visit with my wonderful nieces and brother and sweet sister-in-law, but oh the trauma that my memory foam pillow was at home!  And oh the double tragedy that the trash man's LOUD truck woke me up at 6 a.m.!

The Second Up

I called my beloved in the morning, and he turned into my second knight in shining armor(my brother being the first, since he rescued me off the highway in the dark of the night!)!  After a little coaxing, and reminding him that I would drive to the MOON for him if he asked me to, my honey decided to come get me!

We went to my car and he drove it a little further, but it finally got completely stuck in second gear.  So we had to have it towed.  But before the tow, Dan wanted it a little further off the road, and since it would drive, guess what my hubby did?  He had me steer while he pushed it several yards further down the side of the highway until we were past the guardrail, so that I could park in the grass.  THIS was SUCH a bummer to me since my knight has two major surgeries and his back and neck last year.  The good news is that he fared ok with it, and didn't end up in bed for two days over it.

The Second Down

We had my car towed to a garage in Ohio that has a very good reputation for their work, and left her there.  That's the good news-she is in good hands and may be fixed by tomorrow!

The not-so-good news is that it looks like it is my transmission, which is not a cheap fix.  So long, savings account!  Adios, Chinese restaurant and Burger King!  I'll be missing you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it, folks!  My eventful week in a nutshell!  And the LAST of the up and down events was a good one!  I came home to a beautifully cleaned house!  Amber cleaned the entire first floor, and it was a wonderful way to be welcomed back home!  Thanks Sweetie!

Check back real soon~I will be putting up my last Fall candy arrangement today or tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Take Time to Evaluate

Well folks, I hope you don't mind, but this will be one of my sober posts.  It's been a week of  sadness, remembering, and comforting.  My dear friend will be closing her earthly eyes for the final time very soon.

She was my babysitter when I was just a girl, and her family was my family.  I have many fond memories from across the road where she lived. 

I made a trip to Ohio this week to be with her, and got to see all of her children, who have given me some fun and funny childhood memories.  I walked thru the rooms that I had walked thru thousands of times during my years as a girl. 

It is sad to say goodbye, and I think one of the best ways to comfort one's self is to know that your dear friends know you love them.  I know my friend knows I love her. 

When I was 18, she gave me a beautiful sweater for Christmas one year.  It was green and black, and had shiny yarn throughout.  I wore it many, many times.  When I stopped wearing it, after several years, I kept it, and kept it in storage because it was given to me by my friend.  I had it until a year ago when my house burned down.  This trip to Ohio sent me home with a few of her coats.  I don't need a coat, but I welcome a piece of her.

I just want to remind everybody that there does come a day when we part from this world.  Most importantly, we need to have our hearts right with Jesus.  (If you would like to know more about Him, please ask!)

Secondly, life happens, misunderstandings and hurt feelings surface, and some fences appear impossible to mend. 

Please take time to evaluate your situations, and make every effort to mend broken fences. 

When a loved one departs, please don't allow pride to cause you to miss an opportunity that will be therapy to your own soul, and to those around you who also need healing in their spirits.  And please don't wait too long.  Just remember, a soft answer turns away wrath, and when people can come together and speak to each other softly, even tho they are hurting, great things can be accomplished.

If you can't talk, send a card-speak softly with your words.  Don't accuse-instead, tell how you feel.  "I feel like my feelings don't matter..." or whatever the case may be.

I do believe some broken fences are really misunderstandings that got out of hand.  And a person can express how they feel without making the hole in the fence larger.  Maybe not every fence can be mended, but I do believe many can be.

I do hope someone will be helped by this post.

I've felt some sadness this week, and it is just a good reminder to all of us to love, help and encourage one another.  Love is a feeling that is not forgotten-I'm glad my friend knows I love her.

10 Reasons I Think I'm Gonna Eat Worms

I guess I'll take my ball and go home.  And then I'm gonna eat worms.  Why, you may ask?  And what exactly does this mean?

Well, for the what does this mean question, it is what I accuse kids of saying when they don't get their way!  Or how they feel when they are blue. 

As for why?  This is my list!

1. I'm a FAIL mother!  I forgot to wish my daughter a happy 16th birthday! (Wanna help me remedy this?  Stop by http://www.teenapproach.blogspot.com/ and leave her a comment!) 
2. I had a rough time of sleeping, having horrible dreams!  Which is what caused me to forget my daughter's 16th birthday!
3. I cheated on my diet-for 2 days!  This is just WRONG, folks!  My daughters BOTH made desserts-cherry delight pie, and then a crackers and chocolate dessert that tastes just like a candy bar.  How could they DO this to me???
4. I procrastinated on finishing my SCREAMING YELLOW bathroom all the way, so now I'll be rushed this week, since I'm having a baby shower here next Saturday!  PLUS I'll be out of town at least on Monday! 
5. I'm still not as cute as Connie from Smockity Frocks.
6. I'm still not as popular as Julie from Hooked on Houses.
7. And I'm still not as popular as Darren Rowse or Chris Brogan.  Sigh....
8. I STILL live with the thermostat Gestapo.  This is so unfair when I am cold!  WHO CARES if I have socks on???  Why should I have to worry every time he goes to look at the thermostat???
9. I'm out of Claritan.  Need I say more about this one?  ahh....aaahhhhhh.....aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh-choooooooooooooo!!!!!
10. My Join The Challenge group blog is so quiet-which means there is no one there to encourage me!!!  Where are they all AT????

So there you have it, folks!  Wanna get your ball, come over and eat worms with me?  Might as well make mud pies while we're at it...    =P

A Poem

Want to know more about me?  My Saturday meme answers are here:
http://achocolatebouquet.blogspot.com/p/saturday-9-meme.html

Longing

I sit by the window
Longing for you
I cannot reach you
I cry softly
I see you on the other side of the glass
My heart cannot bear it
I leave the window
I cry more vocally now
I wander from room to room
Not knowing how to soothe my aching heart
If I could just get free
Escape this prison of loneliness
To be with you
I would cherish every moment of freedom
I would run
I would play
I would give you such close companionship
But alas, it is not to be so
Please leave, my love!
No longer come near
You tease my breaking heart
As I see you thru the window
How I long to taste freedom.....

.....because Meow Mix doesn't come in mole, mice, birdie or rabbit flavor.

by Chloe, the indoor kitten

My New Tag Line and Five Question Friday

Guess what I'm doing?

I am doing a 31 day "workshop"-actually it's an ebook with 31 days worth of exercises for building a better blog.

Today was my first day, and the exercise talked about your tag line.  If someone asks you about your blog, you should have an answer that explains what your blog is about.  Your tag line should also tell this message.

So!  It says to ask your friends and family to describe your blog in a sentence, and so I asked my friends on Facebook.  I got one response(so far), and it has STUCK with me!

So here's my SHOUT OUT to Melinda!  Thanks, Girlfriend!  I think my blog has forever been changed in the eyes of my readers! 

Do you know what it is?  Did you see it up under the title of my blog at the top of the page?  In case you can't find it, it is this:

A Chocolate Bouquet

A diabetic COMA waiting to HAPPEN!

or

Chocolate candy crafts and humorous, personal life stories

I had to put the second part in, so that first time visitors wouldn't be totally confused, like I was when I first read her response! 

Yeah, you know me---those pesky Blon roots of mine!  I didn't link "chocolate" with "diabetic"....I linked "my blog" to "coma"!  I thought, what?  Am I really that boring?  (sniff sniff--think I'll take my ball and go home....and eat worms....)

So there you have it!  My new tag line!  If you like my blog, please tell your friends, and when they ask what it is about, tell them it's a diabetic coma waiting to happen!

This is also Five Question Friday, which I think I'm going to try to participate in regularly.  After all, you all DO want to know more about me, right?

Let us begin!

1. What is your favorite Halloween candy?  What does Halloween have to do with anything????  And since this is a blog called A Chocolate Bouquet, you probably can tell that chocolate has something to do with my answer.  Not that I'm a chocoholic, but making chocolate candy crafts tends to usher in a lot of chocolates into my home, and unfortunately, into my stomach.  We gotta get this stuff back out of the house SOMEHOW, don't we???

2. Do you fold your socks?  This is a two fold question!  (No pun intended!)  I wear ankle socks, so no, I don't fold my socks when I take them out of the dryer.  I lay them flat up against each other.
The other side of this is, I still don't fold my socks, but DO crumple them up when I shove them under my pillow during the night.  For more information on this particular habit of mine, CLICK HERE.

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?  I wish I would have been warned that house fires make you gain weight!  I would have put new pots and pans and dishes and lots of lettuce on my first shopping list!  Twenty five pounds later, I am now the wiser!  I wish I would have also been warned that gaining weight at 40 is very bad--it doesn't come off near as fast as when you are 20, and you may not have the energy to do anything about it anyway!  Sigh.....(rolling eyes...)

4. What is the most significant difference between you and your significant other?  He is the thermostat Gestapo, and I am the Frigidaire queen!  We are completely incompatible when it comes to temperature!  He won't let me turn the heater up past 3 in our family room(it goes to 5---what a WASTE of two perfectly good numbers!!!), and he's always asking me, when I mention I'm chilly, if I have socks on!

Well of COURSE I don't have socks on!  Every last pair I own is hiding under my pillow!  And half of his socks are under there too!

What a goofy question!

I will admit tho--I am rebellious when he isn't looking, or if I'm up and he's still in bed. (Heehee!)

5. What are three words you would use to describe yourself? (And, just for fun...if your significant other is around, ask him/her what 3 words they would use to describe you!!)
Compassionate, mellow, warped(slightly)

Dan would say themoststunninglybeautifulwomaninI'veevermet, themostintelligentwomanI'veever met, and thegreatestthingthateverhappenedtome.

I already knew what he would say, so I didn't bother asking him.

=D

A Super Cute Chocolate Bouquet Fall Garden to make!

I made a fall chocolate candy garden last night, and it is one of my favorites!  What do you think?

If you would like to make this yourself, please click on the link-it will take you to my website with the supplies and directions!

Feel free to leave a comment (hint hint!)...I LOVE comments!  =D

http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/id145.html

YELLOW-And Yet, Another Announcement!

Okay, I am painting the bathroom.  My light yellow cupboards are really pretty!  But the walls.....so far the walls are YELLOW.  Not yellow, but YELLOW!!!  Kind of rhymes with HELLOW!!!, which is quite fitting when you walk in the room.  In fact, if you visit me, you might want to bring your sunglasses.

I can't disclose the shower curtain design right now, but I am really hoping it tones down the walls!  My girls and I are keeping it a secret from Dan and Dakota until I get it hung up.

But if it doesn't tone down the walls, it will just make me live up to the motto that I've been sharing with folks for the last year--life is too short to have too serious of a house!

So that is what is new with me, among other things!

I do have a little "announcement" to share with you all! 

If you have followed me very long, you know that this is my lighthearted blog.  This is where I share all of my ditziness and chocolate bouquets and candy arrangements.  Once in a while I'll show my serious side, but I have made it my unspoken promise to keep my blog family friendly.  I am who you see-I'm a Christian woman who tries to write a good blog.

Have you ever wondered what the deeper side of me is like?  If there even IS a deeper side of me, seeing as how I steal grocery carts from elderly men, and never have a lightbulb moment about changing around two door knobs for the purpose of easier access into my home?  Well, that is my announcement! 

I have started yet another blog! lol  But this one is my serious side, my ornery side against the goofiness of the world, and my side that talks about the heavier things in life that really don't fit with the theme of my lighthearted blog.  Yes, I do have a brain!  =D

Won't you please stop by and visit me?  It's an honor to have my faithful readers, and I do mean that.  I hope you will like what you see on my newest blog, www.justjosanne.com

And can I ask a favor?  Could you  please leave me a comment and let me know that you've stopped by?  It always does my heart good to see that someone has left a comment for me-it encourages me to keep on writing!

Fall Chocolate Centerpiece The Children Can Help Make!

This is a fun little chocolate centerpiece I made, and it is perfect for little fingers!  No hot or cold glue mess-just double sided tape!  (A few corsage pins were used to hold leaves in place-you may not need them.)

Please visit my website to get the instructions!  CLICK HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

New Chocolate Ball for A Lovely Fall Centerpiece!

Hey there, Everyone!

I've been busy putting together a fall centerpiece this evening, and I hope you all like it!

Because I upload so many pictures for my how-to instructions, instead of bogging down the blog, I just like to share the link to my website.  Please go to http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/id143.html for the instructions! 

Also, as mentioned on my how-to page, you'll notice my little boo-boo of using a white foam ball instead of green.  Just picture this with a green foam ball!  =)

For more fall decorations, visit Julia's Hooked on Houses blog party!

More to come soon!

Stay Tuned!!!

Just a quick little update to let you know I just bought a BOATLOAD of candy to make some new chocolate bouquets!  Along with some fall bowls and plates, these arrangements will be perfect for your fall decor! 

Look for updates in the next few days!

May I Have Your Attention Please!!!

Now that I have your attention, I would like to introduce my daughter's blog to you!

Introducing "Picture Perfect" at http://www.elissaanthony.blogspot.com/

Her intro story is cute, and she has posted a few pictures of a wedding she took the pictures for. 

She did a beautiful job! 

This is her first blog, so please stop by, give her some blog love, and leave a comment!  Thanks!

Five Question Friday

I decided to answer a few questions that other bloggers are answering-you will get to know my just a tad bit better by this post!  =D

1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)?  Probably.....Southern Belle!  That way I would always sound cute and sweet!!!  I could be screaming at my kids and Dan, and I'd sound so sweet to all the neighbors that they wouldn't even notice I was livid!!!  They'd look our way and say, "Isn't she so cute?  And she always sounds so sweet!"  =D


2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck)
No-even when I'm tired, I have a hard time falling asleep in my own bed!  I need MY pillow and my SOCKS!  And after I lay in bed for 30-60 minutes, I will fall asleep.

3. THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN DELETED BECAUSE IT IS NOT A QUESTION I WANT ON MY BLOG-SEEMED A BIT CRUDE FOR THIS BLOG-NO OFFENSE, QUESTION MAKERS!

4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with?
Tricia Goyer!  She is an author, and I'm connected to her on Twitter!  She responded to me TWICE!!!  She writes Christian novels and other books, and one of her books was/is 2nd place on Amazon's Kindle list!  She's a mother about my age, and she just seems so nice!  Did I mention she responded to me TWICE on Twitter???  =D

5. Where did you & your significant other go on your 1st date
In his home town, which is now my home town too, we went with the church group to Perkin's restaurant!
In MY hometown of Akron, Ohio, we went to the Waterloo(can I have a shout out for the Waterloo???) restaurant.  He gave me baby roses, and made me laugh til I cried.  What a guy!  I had my roses in the same little gift box they came in until my house burned down!

So there you have it!  Four questions answered on Five Questions Friday! 
Feel free to leave your link below so others can see your Five Question Fridays answers on your blog!  And please feel free to leave me compliments-I MEAN comments!!!  =D

Twelve Year Olds Carrying Machine Guns

Amber, my 15 year old daughter, was talking to a friend the other day-a boy who lives in Phoenix, Arizona.  They were talking about food, and Amber mentioned that she doesn't eat lamb(she feels bad for those innocent little guys), but she thinks deer steaks are pretty good.

Her friend, whose name I won't reveal in case he stumbles across my blog and is terribly embarrassed, then asks Amber something along the lines of,

"You guys hunt up there?  What do you use-machine guns?"

This was TOO funny-can you imagine a few little boys walking thru the woods, and their chests are all stuck out because they're carrying MACHINE GUNS???  Any deer they would see would be DEAD, thus leaving out the right to call it "game".

Can you imagine one of those 12 year olds when his venison is being served for dinner?  "Sorry there's not much meat, Ma.  I really think they should allow more deer tags per hunter."  And OH, the hunting stories that could probably come from carrying MACHINE GUNS!  Knowing little boys, they'd definitely try to out-do each other.  "Oh yeah?  Well I put 47 shots in mine!"  "Well my 24 shots made a perfect smiley face, and I didn't even TRY!"

Ahh....such is the vast difference in understanding between the big city life, and the small city life.

I think I know why they are trying to outlaw guns now.

Share
|

A Sad Farewell, My Summer Love!

(no worries-I'm not talking about another man!)

The affair may be over, or we may have a few last chances to meet before October 31st.

When I drive by your house after church, I can feel you calling me...

Sometimes I'm able to stop for a few minutes, and try to hide the evidence that we visited.  This isn't always easy to do because you live on a main road, and friends and family have to drive by your place on their way home!  What if they've seen my car at your place?  Well, if they have, they haven't said anything to  me.

I'm totally at bliss when I'm with you!  Nothing is as cool as you are! 

When winter comes along, I'll still drive by your place almost daily, but it will be with a saddened heart because you aren't there.  You haven't given me the details, but I suspect you are in Florida, or Hawaii, meeting other women who fall in love with you.

Sigh....

You aren't good for me anyway, so I really should just get over you, and not anticipate your return next summer.  But so far, I can't. 

Who cares if you just want my money?  I'm not a tightwad-I like to share!

Why should I worry if you hate my clothes-you still want ME, right?  I'll find bigger, better ones!

And last but not least, why should it bother me if you like to melt faster than I can consume you, dripping chocolate and ice cream all over my clothes repeatedly, nearly every time I visit you?

I LOVE you, small vanilla cone dipped in chocolate!  I will miss you!!! 

Are you trying to end our summer fling early?  I stopped to see you today and you weren't ready, so they made me take blue raspberry dip instead!

Do you think we can get together at least one last time?  I might not be able to visit with you next summer-what if I reform and change my ways???

In case we don't meet again this summer, I just want to say, it is with great sadness that I tell you, Goodbye, My Summer Love!  Goodbye little ice cream stand!!!

=)

What will you miss about summer?

I'm A Wannabee

I have a secret--it's a BIGGIE!!!  And I'm gonna let you in on it!

My secret is.....

I'm a Wannabee!!! 

Blogging is something I've enjoyed doing, and am reading some books on how to move my blog up to the next level.  Wanna help me?

I ADMIT IT!!!  I want to be the next Chris Brogan, the next Darren Rowse, as cute as Smockity Frocks, as popular as Julia from Hooked On Houses!  But there are a few problems:

1:  I don't have the time to put in 27 hours a day like Chris and Darren, and I am totally html illiterate-just read my last post on trying to upload a "do it for you" blog design!  These men are the masters of the blogosphere, and I'm just gonna be stuck in envy mode.

2.  I'm not cute.  Conni from Smockity is SOOoooo cute!  I wish I were cute! 

3.  I'm not as popular as Julia-she just posted about her 10 millionth view! 

Solutions:

Thank you all, my faithful followers-I do appreciate you!  Would you like to see me reach my wannabee goals?  Here's a few things you can do to help!

Could you all just click on my site about 100 times a day?  That would make me feel much better.  Thanks!

Can you tell me how cute I am?  If you REALLY want to make me feel good, tell me I'm cuter than Conni!

Can you give my blog name to any famous folks you happen to know, and ask them to put in a good word for me on Twitter or Facebook?

I KNOW you don't want me to put up a video of me begging and pleading for readers, now do you??? 

Wow!  You guys are the greatest!  Thanks!

Now!  To be a little more serious, I really do have a desire to excell in blogging.  If you'd like to help me out, please share my blog or web address with your friends and family.

Many of you know that my husband is limited to how much he can work because of being seriously injured a year ago.  I would LOVE to be able to grow my readership, which will eventually bring in some revenue from my many hours of blogging.

I am not asking anyone for money, just that you might share my blog with others.  And I really do appreciate your help-thank you!  =)