Socks

This is almost an announcement-for some odd reason, I almost feel proud to share this with the world!

Do you all remember the fascinating facts I shared about myself?  One being that I have a sock collection--under my pillow?

Well, before I go any further, I just want to say for the record that my house is usually only slightly messy.  I live with 4 other people, three of those being my children-of which 2 are sometimes like mini-tornados.  So with that many of us, and coming out of heavy coats and boots season, you'll see a little bit of messiness that can be cleaned up within a matter of minutes.  Our home is lived in. 

I needed to say all of that so that you won't think I'm just a slob when I make my great announcement!  I run the dishwasher daily, have tons of clean clothes, and run the vaccuum and dust every week.  So anyway, again, that is so you don't get the wrong impression when I tell you what I found!

Look!  Here's even a picture in my diningroom to prove it to ya!  Like my quilt?  My realtor gave this lovely, homemade quilt from California to us for our "new" home!   
Can you see my kitty next to the green plant on the floor?  She and her sister are the reason the green plant looks the way it does.  Fortunately, it is a fake plant-I reshape it occasionally.
And in case anyone wants to know, my walls are Dried Fava by Kilz.  :)

So anyway!  Finally!  The announcement!!!

I was cleaning my room yesterday, and knew that some of my sock collection had fallen between the headboard and mattress, onto the floor below.  I got Dan's handy grabbing stick(earned from his back or neck surgery to reach things), and used it to pull out all the socks I could reach.  Some tried to crawl away because I had to reach way over on Dan's side of the bed floor to get them.  The obviously weren't quick enough. 

So I decided to count them.  Guess how many I found?

Did you guess 6?

Or 9?

Maybe even 14?

NOPE!!! 

I found 23-that's TWENTY THREE- socks on the floor under the bed!!!

There was another pair-one at the foot of my mattress, and one of the floor down by the foot of the mattress-but I didn't count those.

Can you all believe it?  It did seem I was running out of socks!  And actually, I'm no respector of socks-I wear Dan's and Elissa's too, when I can't find mine.

So anyway!  If you weren't fascinated by my sock collection the first time I blogged about it, you ought to be now!  = P


Want to read a semi-true story written by me?  Check out the new page I added!  A Story By Josanne
It's actually a serious story I wrote for my website for the month of February-I would love for you to read it, and hope you enjoy it!

Last Night's Post-Update

Okay, I think my husband and son want a divorce from me.

The computer thing was a practical joke on sweet, little ol' me.

Long story short, they LIED!!!  Amber tried to tell me it was a joke, but Kota never admitted to it, and I ended up, as usual these days, CONFUSED!

How did it work?  There is a way to turn the computer on in safe mode.  It runs, but not quite right.

Two practical jokes in one week-the computer surgery, and the re-set clocks, are TOO much!

I went to bed half cranky, and Dan had a good laugh(Kota already fell asleep).  I equally had a bit of a chuckle when I told Dan I had already blogged about the incident-which made Dan look like an irresponsible father!

I'll get over it.....The roses and tulips Dan had sitting on the dining room table for me when I came home last night ease the pain.....I think......  :)

My Computer-Should I Be Happy, Or Angry?

Amber and I had a great day-we went shopping! 

Unfortunately, my day is not ending as well as the several hours of shopping had felt.

I am sitting here at my computer....that was broken.....and is now running......

I just typed an entire post, and accidentally deleted it. 

But the frustration actually began when Amber and I got home from shopping.  Elissa was working, and Dan and Dakota were together all day and evening after school.

I learned shortly after we got home that my computer was running.  Dakota, my 11 year old, fixed it!  The screen shows much larger, and there is no longer sound, but it does pull the internet up.

How did he fix it, you may wonder?  By taking it down to the basement, and exchanging parts with our old computer that Dan had saved from our house fire.  He even did some saudering of wires. 

Now the question is, HOW should I feel? 

Dakota stood over me, waiting for me to thank him, and I wasn't sure WHAT to say!  He said, "If you don't want to thank me, that's fine...."

Oh sure!  Go ahead and laugh!  Some of you are just HOWLING aren't you???  Well, to YOU I say, May you be blessed by sons, grandsons and little brothers who love to "fix" things!

But there are others out there that surely realize what I am facing next---the computer technician!  I can already see what our conversation would be like:

Tech:  What's wrong with your computer?

Me:  Well, the screen shows everything very large, and there is no sound.

Tech:  Do you know when this all started?  Did you do anything differently than you normally do?

Me:  Well, the original problem was that the computer was completely freezing before the desktop would load.

Tech:  Does it still freeze?

Me:  Uh...no.

Tech:  So it went from freezing, to no sound and everything being enlarged?  Sounds like some kind of virus....

Me:  Well.......(A loud, exasperated sigh fits in right about here, as the moment of truth arrives), while I was gone all day,(another long sigh, as I look to the ceiling because I am too EMBARRASSED to look the tech in the face) my 11 year old son took my computer downstairs and traded inside parts with our old computer.  He saudered some wired as well.

Tech:  (Wordless, with eyes as big as silver dollars)

Me:  (Loud, very long sigh) Yeah, I know.

Tech:  (Loud, very long sigh, longer than mine)  Well, we'll see what we can do.

Me:  Thank you.  (I am low enough to slither under the bottom of the un-opened door)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fortunately for me, it is very late, and I can go to bed.  Then I don't have to think anymore, until morning.

And I think it is only fair that since Dan WATCHED Dakota carry the computer downstairs to the basement, and allowed him to work on it(yes, he asked Kota what he was doing, and Kota answered that he was fixing the computer), that HE will be the one to take it to repair.

Please send well computer wishes my way......
 

   

My Controlling Husband

Sigh....I have it so rough...

Dan is a wonderful person, but he has one flaw....he's controlling.

Tuesday, he came home in the afternoon to announce that he wanted us to go out to dinner.  Sigh....I just wanted to stay home, but he had the nerve to bring up the coupon I gave him for Valentine's Day, which was for a night out with me....so I gave in.

We took our kiddos, and went out to eat at Ponderosa.

Dan wanted to get a pair of boots, so we had to go shoe shopping.  Sigh(rolling eyes)....I  found a pair of black shoes for my trip to Nashville next month, and they were really cute.  I also got to go to Staples and look at laptops, along with looking at the clearance items at Fashion Bug. 

Dan wanted to go to Tractor Supply, so he and Dakota went, and he actually let me make my own choice here-the girls and I walked to Walmart "next door", since it was such a nice night.  He met us there a little later.

I only wanted to look at laptops that night, but when Dan and Kota met us at Walmart, Dan called me over to the computer section and wanted me to pick one right then.  Sigh...at least I got my way by default---they were out of both computers we were looking at.

So there you have it-the things I put up with....eating out at a steakhouse, getting cute new shoes, and having to pick the laptop I wanted, all against my will.  

Is there any hope for women who are married to control freaks?  Well, if not, I think I can live with mine.  Thanks, Honey!  :)

Who Needs Santa Claus?

This might get some rotten tomatoes thrown at me, but according to blogging experts, you are supposed to write something controversial on occasion.

That being said, I've never taught my children that there is a Santa Claus.  Nope.

No big scary looking man in a bright red suit is getting the credit for the gifts I shopped long and hard for!  If his gift selections are as tacky as his fashion taste, our kids are doomed anyway!  And truthfully, we all know it isn't true that he comes down our chimneys, and I don't believe in lying to my children.  Not to mention the kids that are forced to sit on his lap in the mall for a picture, when they are truly terrified.

So anyway!  I've heard parents try to threaten their children when they are being bad, "I'm going to tell Santa..."  And you know what I started thinking?

Who needs Santa when you have a BLOG???

If you are going to threaten your children about someone watching, what could put terror in their eyes quicker than saying, "I'm going to tell my blog how you've been acting all morning!"

Kids have messy rooms?  Take a picture and stick in on your blog!

Throwing a temper tantrum with screaming, kicking and punching, while lying on the floor?  Video them and stick in on your blog!  Your 16 year old will never do that again!!!

Can't get junior to take out the trash?  Little Susie won't do the dishes?  Important note: add a sign to the trash heap or mound of dishes that tell your child's name and that this is his chore, so that when the entire world sees it on your blog, they will know that it is your child's fault things are so heaped up!

Did you know this can even work for training your husband?  It works for me!  Since I've begun blogging, he hasn't thrown ice on me in the shower a second time, and he will probably never call me a "bag" again either!

Need to "convince" your in-laws to be nicer to you?  No problem!  Blog, blog, blog!  I am blessed in this area, for I've only recently had to blog about my in-laws!  (It's amazing how good they've actually been to us, considering I'm married to their son, which I'm pretty sure is the reason they both have silver hair!)

Any other folks you're having trouble with?  Neighbors? Teachers?  BUS DRIVERS???(Don't ask!)  Well, I've just given you a cure-all that works better than Santa Claus!  Look out, Marty, here I come!(the locals will understand that comment!)

Blogging is not only therapeutic for you and I, but it is like a wonder-worker in the home and family!  Someone should have thought of this ages ago!  Either that, or I shouldn't have shared the idea with my blog friends, and wrote a book first, sold a million copies, and THEN blogged about it, for those who missed my sold-out book!

One last tip:  You and I probably ought to straighten up a bit ourselves, before our kids and hubby get their own blogs. But I'll do pretty good, as long as no one takes a picture and blogs about my ironing pile!   =P

 

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How MY Day Started

Well, Good Morning Everybody!

Did you all wake up nice and chipper today?  :)

I thought my blog post title was fitting, but another fitting title would be, "Never Let Little Boys Spend The Night".

This morning, I woke up before the alarm, and since Dan was going to the school to help today, he needed to get up too-leaving time is 7:45.  The clock read 7-ish, and since I have it set almost 20 minutes fast, we were doing great for time.  Dan and I even got to bed earlier than usual, so we both felt pretty well rested!

On days Dan helps out at school, the kiddos ride with him.  Our friends' children spent the night last night, so they would ride in with him too.

I headed down to the kitchen to get the coffee started, and while getting the water, I glanced at the stove clock.  7:33!!!  Oh NOOoooooooo!!!!!

I didn't even finish the coffee-I ran upstairs to tell Dan something happened to our alarm clock-I don't know what-and that it was much later than originally thought!  He rushed out of bed to get ready, while I started waking children up.  I told him to just get ready, and that I would bring all the kids to school as soon as they were ready.  He wasn't going to be able to wait for them-he had to unlock the school for the other students who would be there on time.

I do my best to make mornings pleasant for everyone, so I woke everyone up nicely, but hurriedly.  I let them know we'd overslept, and that I'd take them in, but they still needed to hustle.

Well, our 11 year old friend Bud and I crossed paths in the hallway upstairs.  As I'm trying to hurry, hurry, hurry, he begins to tell me that in the middle of the night, he woke up thirsty, and woke Dakota up to ask for a drink.  While they were in the kitchen.....

they got the bright idea to set the clocks ahead.  

I picked up our digital phone, and it said 7:38 or something like that, and so then I was thoroughly confused.  I woke Elissa up, and she grabbed her cell phone-it was 6:58.  Amber met me in the hall confused, and I ran down to check Dan's cell phone.  Yes, it was before 7 a.m.

Ya know, for those of us that are simple minded with Blon'd roots, that is just NOT funny!  I let Dan know that he didn't have to run right out the door after all.

Needless to say, we all were wide awake when we DID wake up(since panic mode set in immediately upon looking at the kitchen clocks), but I couldn't help thoughts of wringing the necks of two little boys.  You know it's bad when the 40 year old mother is thinking, "Oh, PAYBACKS!  PAYBACKS ARE COMING!!!!!"

Ah, the life of having pre-teen boys!  Just wait until Friday-when I wake Dakota up on my way to bed, and tell him it's Monday morning, and time to get up!  I better let Bud's mom in on it too, so she can do likewise!  (wink, wink!)

Do Kids EVER Grow Up?

I was looking thru my google reader the other day, and I came across this post on another blog.  As I looked at the thumbnail picture, I wondered about the people I could see-then I realized it was my VERY OWN DAUGHTER! 

Now, we're not talking about my 15 year old-we are talking about my 20 YEAR OLD and her 22 year old friend!!!

Oh the embarrassment!  Oh the humiliation!

Actually, I thought these pictures were hilarious, and I hope you will look also-this is my young friend's blog. 

http://lauramasiker.blogspot.com/2010/02/meet-sally-gertruda-ethel-brunhilda-and.html

Oh, by the way-my daughter is the one in the red shirt with the princess tiara on her head.  =D

As if this humiliation wasn't bad enough(lol), I went to church last night to find another source of great humble-ness. 

Another friend, Anita, (http://www.capturedreflectionz.blogspot.com/) came over before church, and I was telling her to make sure she looked at the bulletin board at the church when we got there.  We had received a dear email from a missionary, and I wanted to make sure she read it because it was an email that had to do with our youth group. 

So anyway!  I get to church, remind her to read the board, and she already had.  When I made my way to the bulletin board, I realized that more than the email from the missionary was up there.  Pictures of my very mature husband were up there too-one of the ones I shared here.

Okay, it's ONE THING if I share these pictures with the worldwide web for millions of people to see.  But to go and put these defamatory pictures up on our CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD-that's ANOTHER THING ALTOGETHER!!! 

Did I mention that the person that put the pics up was our pastor's wife?  And that the pastor told her to do it? 

Did I mention the pastor's wife is my mother-in-law?  (Mama, how could you DO this to me???)

And have I mentioned my husband is a preacher?  And that last night was probably a bad night to expose the truth of this man, since it was he who was preaching?

Okay, so everyone already knows that my husband is, and most likely, will always be young at heart, so I guess it was no big surprise.  :)  But still-where is the MERCY for the preacher's wife???

Okay, one more thing-I'd like to share an article written my my budding blogging daughter-my middle girl.  This is her take on having kitties.  :)

http://teenapproach.blogspot.com/2010/01/oh-joy-of-having-kittens.html

Well, I'll see you all next time, like when I have OTHER humiliating info to share with you about my ditziness, or this poor genetic disorder that was passed on to my poor children, or if Dan comes up with some brilliant photographs of himself doing the un-imaginable in one way or another!

Have a lovely day!

Lunch Really Weighs Him Down

I'm like my mother-if you ask me a question that requires a two sentence answer, three paragraphs later, you will have your answer! :)  That being said, I'll try to keep my cute little story about Dakota short!

You need to know that my children go to a school where they can use a microwave at lunch, so when they tire of sandwiches, they can take hot pockets or another warm lunch.

This morning, he and Amber were getting ready for school, and he asked me if Amber could put the lunch box in her book bag, instead of the usual of him putting it in his book bag.  He said that his book bag was too heavy.  As we were discussing the lunch box, he told me to feel how heavy his book bag was.  I lifted it, and sure enough, it was heavy.  I asked what he had in there!

Food!  Several cans of food!  I sat down, dug deep and pulled out one can of soup, one can of beef n mac, one can of mandarin oranges, two small cans of peaches, a pack of ramen nooodles, a single serving bag of rice cakes or something, a partial bag of doritos, and a spoon!

The three of us laughed, and Kota blamed it on his dad for the days Dan helps at the school.

All I had to say was, if Kota got stuck in a snow bank somewhere, he'd be able to survive for quite a while!  All I would have needed to do was add a can opener to the bag!  :)

Can My Marriage Be Saved?

Well, I know you all thought my marriage was perfect, but now for the truth.

Dan went from pure flattery.....to nearly having a fat lip!

When you are half asleep, you don't always remember the entire sequence of events. but I can tell you with pretty good accuracy the most important parts of our half-asleep dialogue from last night.

A little background:

We have a king size bed, but our quilt isn't quite big enough for the bed.  Dan and I both sleep with a pillow under our knee, and also, I have long hair, so when I turn over, I lift my head rather high to adjust my hair.

So!  Last night, or more like, 4 o'clock this morning, I woke up, and got up for a few minutes, and then came back to bed.  Originally, I was facing Dan, but flipped over to get more comfy. 

Okay-along with not being allowed to turn up the wall heater in the family room(why YES, I DO live with the heat patrol!), I also live with constant harping when I turn over in bed, letting cold air in between the sheets, since I haven't mastered staying completely FLAT when I take my knee pillow from one side of the bed to the other.  This has been an issue for months.

Now back to my marital woes.....

In the wee hours of the morning, Dan and I had a brief conversation, or should I say, an exchange of words.  I turned over and took my knee pillow with me, and I actually heard Dan gasp from what he perceived as a gust of cold air between the sheets.  I don't remember if he muttered anything, but I think he did.

The usual UN-mouthy me said loudly and clearly, DEAL WITH IT!!!

So, UN-compassionate Dan grabbed all of the covers and YANKED them to his side of the bed.  He would have yanked them clean off of me, but I grabbed and held on, so I was still covered up a little bit.

I then muttered something about our stinking king size bed not being big enough, and Dan just corrected my statement by reminding me the quilt is what isn't big enough. 

I said, "You need to sleep with a sleeping bag."

He said, "I already sleep with a bag!"

So of course I tried to KICK him, but the bed was too big and he was too far over for me to reach.  So I turned over and tickled him, which he claims I did with my sharp nails.

Help, folks!  My marriage is in trouble!  I think I'm married to a compulsive liar-now I'm confused and I don't know if I look like I'm 20 or 75!!!

Is there still hope for us???  Because if there isn't, I'm going to start being who I want to be, and start rebelling right now, and am going to turn the wall heater up to 5!!!  And then when he says something to me about turning over in bed again, I'm going to take my 40 pound memory foam pillow and knock him out!  How's THAT for COLD???  ;P

Scaring The Kitty

My friend Melinda came over earlier, and her 5 year old son Ben was with her.  Ben said something about not scaring our kitty, Chloe.  Dan said that she needed scared.  Of course, I let Ben know how sharp her claws are and that she sometimes hurts, since I didn't want him to get himself all scratched up.

While I was talking to Ben, telling him all of the details of Chloe's self defenses, he came into the dining room where his mother and I were sitting, and he stood there digging in his coat.  I wondered what he was doing, while he quietly muttered something about scaring the kitty, still! 

So guess how he scared her......I'll give you a hint.....it was with something in his coat pocket....

He put his Dracula teeth in, made his meanest face, and set off to find the kitty to scare her!

LOL!!!!  Loved it!!!

Dan, My Sweetheart!

Well, I've shown you all my new 'do, and think I'm going to start wearing my hair this way.

Guess what Dan told me?

He said that my new hairdo makes me look 10 years younger, like I'm 20!!!!! 

He probably knew in all of my glorious ditziness that it would take me a minute to figure that one out, but by golly, I did! 

I just turned 40, and he just wanted brownie points for telling me I look 30!  And then with the new 'do, I look like I'm married to a man who robbed the cradle!

HA!  How's THAT for FLATTERY??? 

Maybe I'll one up him, showing him how young HE looks by buying him a new bicycle, seeing as how he is using Kota's in this picture!  ;P  Puppets and stuff make you look younger too, don't they?!?!

If you look at my link to my last picture, you'll see my explanation of Dan and the puppet-we actually have two, one beige, and one red.  :)  Thanks to Alicia, I found these adorable little guys on ebay, in case you ever want one!





bicycle, brownies, hair, hairdo, updo, long hair, chocolate, bike

Our Beauties Chloe and Diamond

So anyway!  This is a picture of Chloe-our beautiful kitten.  She just takes beautiful pictures, don't you think?  Her sister doesn't take near as good of a picture as her, but I'll include one just so she don't feel left out!  She's a little bigger(Chloe must have been the runt), and has filled out more-she's beautiful as well.

I LOVE this picture!

Peek-a-boo!

Diamond-she and Chloe look quite a bit alike!

 

New Pics Of Me, and Blah, Blah, Blah--Explained!

Well, here they are-updated pictures of me! 

My blog and website have pics of me from our old house, which we haven't lived there in almost a year.

I fixed my hair a little different today, and Dan liked it.  You know what he liked best about it?  Well, I have my front section separated from the back section, which I poofed.  What Dan likes best in the gray streak on the back poof, that is visible in this photo.  Go figure, eh?  Well, that must mean he's A-O-K with being married to an older woman!  That's a good thing!  :)

Along with my new background for my blog, I discovered how to add extra pages to the blog, which I added a chocolate bouquet page, with links to my different bouquets.  I'm not sure yet what other new pages to add to this, or if I'll just categorize what I put up.  Hmm.....

And did anyone else see my blah, blah, blah post?

Let me just say...

Ooooppsssss!!!!!

I was trying to figure out how to post on my new page, and that was a test post!  My sis-in-law wrote in my comments and asked me where the post went, which brought it to my attention, since I had no idea!  And I responded to her comment that it was a good thing I didn't write something like, Dan is a dunderhead!  Or, I can't wait to rob Walmart tomorrow! lol

Let that be a lesson to all...

Whatever you put on the internet.....

Doesn't go away!.....

Even if you hit the edit button, after you've posted it!

Someone is sure to find you out!

A New Look!

Well, did you think you all reached the wrong page???

Nope, ya didn't! 

After a year, I decided to go with something lighter, a little more "airy".

What do you think?  :)

Got Snow?

Well, the 10 day forecast is only calling for EIGHT days of snow in our next 10 day future--a whole two days with no snow in sight!  Well, in the sky, anyway.  I think these pictures were taken last winter, but this is what it pretty much looks like here right now anyway.

I personally think these nighttime shots are very cool.  Doesn't it look like they're on the moon or something?  Of course, I did mention not too long ago that I think my kids are aliens.....hmmm.....

I'm trying something new on my blog-if you want to see other snow photos, the MckLinky blog hop has a list of other blogs you can visit-enjoy!

A Beautiful Valentine's Meal-almost

I hope everyone had a special Valentine's Day in one form or another-I'll share what I did with my family!

I gave them all little note cards, and put coupons in them for different things-my son has already used one of his coupons-the one for emptying all the trash for him for one day.  A free trip to the mall and a few other free trips went to my daughter, along with some other things.  Dan got a coupon for a free night out with ME!!!  The man couldn't be more blessed!!!  ;P

Now, as for the rest of my "gift" to my family, I made a nice dinner on Monday-sirloin steaks and my homemade stuffing that I only make about twice a year.  My family loves my stuffing!  Amber made the homemade mashed potatoes, and we used our cloth napkins and our nice serving bowls.

I set my hair in hot sticks since I had been home all day and hadn't curled my hair since my shower.  I wanted to look nice, since it was to be a bit of a special meal.

Elissa got home close to the last minute, and then had to leave again, so we hurried to get everyone sat down and eating after we gave our thanks to God. 

Amber turned on classical music, and it was really cool!  It really did turn out to be a nice, fancier meal!  And then I realized.....

In all my rush, I forgot to take the hot sticks out of my hair. 

Well, thankfully, we were at home--the family didn't even seem to notice! (Uh-oh!  Hope that doesn't say something about me for a regular day!) 

The next time we have a special dinner, I'll be sure I don't decorate my head with bright pink circular hair ornaments!  ;P

Speaking of embarrassing moments, have you read my short story, Impressing For Love, on my website?  It's my attempt at writing a fictional romance, sort of, almost.  :)  (Psstt!  The "embarrassing" comment should give you a hint about the story!  Hope you'll take a peek!)
http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/id97.html

Attention Walmart Shoppers!!!

Okay, who DOESN'T love a great bargain?  I do, that's for sure!  Which is why I did what I did just 2 short days ago. 

I went to Walmart with my short list, and of all places, they had a cereal sale in front of the vitamins/cold meds/etc.-the complete opposite side of the grocery section of the store!

A ten ounce bag of Malt-O-Meal cereal was a buck.  Just one dollar.  The boxes you buy only LOOK much bigger, but they're not!  So, with my cereal-loving husband, who eats a bowl of cereal like Lay's Chips-you can't eat just one!-I thought this to be a great opportunity to stock up. 

So, guess what I did?  Yep!  You guessed it!  I filled my cart with 34 bags of cereal.  I mean, really!  If you paid for the regular bags/boxes across the store, you would have spent that much on about 10 boxes of cereal!  I even went over to the regular cereal aisle and CHECKED to make sure I was getting a bargain!  And it's a good thing I had it right-I would have felt really stupid going back to the meds section and setting all the other goodies I found on top of one HUGE box of cereal, so that I could get to the cereal and RE-STOCK it in another one of their HUGE sale boxes, and then put my other goodies back in my cart.  If it wasn't a bargain, I wasn't getting it!

So anyway!  I must admit-I embarrassed myself just a little.  I did consider checking out first thing with just the cereal, putting it in my car, and then coming back in to buy my other groceries and things I needed.  But the Walmart man(the one with the very blond hair that works in sporting goods) convinced me it was A-O-K!

So I walked up and down the aisles of Walmart with my cart filled nearly to the top with cereal, and finally felt better once I explained to friends that I ran into that it was a really great deal, and told others about the great deal in front of the meds section, and then finally covering all of the cereal up with other foods.  Had I not done that, they all might start wondering if I'm expecting again, and having a TERRIBLE craving for Shredded Wheat and Cinnamon Toasters!  Either that, or I might be having the army over for breakfast!

So anyway!  Amber got over her embarrassment, and I laughed and made excuses to everyone while in the check-out line(yep, the two couples behind me DID change check-out aisles!), and we made our merry way home to hide the majority of the stuff.

I think I made one tiny mistake.  What was I thinking when I only grabbed one gallon of milk???

Can't Even B'lieve It!

I was reading the comments to my LAST post about my new hairstyle, and I must say, I cannot believe what I read!  What!?  You all think I'm some kind of MO-RON???  An ID-DEE-UT???  I mean, c'mon!  I thought you all were my FRIENDS!!!

Listen, here is a picture of me....

Now, just picture me with dreadlocks, and a similar poof, except with a layer of fuzzy wire hovering above!

I am NOT going to humiliate myself by showing you a picture of me looking like a total dork!  Like I said, can't even b'lieve it! 

Now I WON'T be too humiliated to show you a picture of Dan looking like a dork!

I can say this because he was TRYING to look like a dork!  I mean REALLY!!!  If my hubby had GREEN chest hair, I certainly wouldn't post it for the world!  THAT would humiliate ME!  And actually, he never wears his shirt unbuttoned like that!  This was for the purpose of impressing all of his preacher friends!  ; P

Do you all like his furry friend?  I actually got one of these for him and Dakota last year, after his back surgery.  We didn't know how long he would be laid up from the surgery, so I thought he might take interested in getting good with a puppet!  And he and Dakota could carry on a four-man conversation!  These furry guys are so cute!  Even the guy with the green fur in his shirt!  : )

My Newest Hairstyle, And Tips For You!

Have you ever wanted to try a new hairstyle, and you have the idea in your mind, and then you try it in your hair?  That is what I did yesterday, and I came away from the mirror with a new hairstyle and a few expert tips for my readers!

I was in a hurry, and decided to take sections of the front of my hair, twist them together until the twist was from top to bottom, and then roll them around a hot stick hair curler.  I pulled the back of my hair in a ponytail, and did the same with divided sections.

I took the hot sticks out after a little while, and, well, let's say the look definately wasn't a pleasant surprise.  Basically, the back of my hair looked like I brushed out some dreadlocks, and after I brushed out the front section and pulled it back, I sprayed it and thought it was good enough.  I had to get going-I had to run into town and pick up Dan.  When I came home and looked in the mirror again, it basically had that "just stuck my finger in a light socket" look, or another way of putting it is, I seemed to be wearing a halo of wirey fuzz above my hair. 

I walked away from this experience, having learned two things that I'd like to share with you:

1. If you would like to try this twist and roll hairstyle for yourself, DON'T.  Trust me, it's NOT worth it.
2. Don't try a new hairstyle 10 minutes before you need to leave your house.  Sure, you'll get over the embarrassment of say, having to stop by the bank on the way home(thanks for not mentioning my fuzz halo, Karen!), but it's much better to let everyone think of you as plain Jane, or your normal self, rather than thinking that you've decided to try to be under 40 again, thus trying new, hip-for-a-punk hair styles.  :)

Today Is My Big Day!!!

Happy Birthday, to MEeeee!!!

This is great!  I woke up before 4 am this morning, and I can say, I don't feel a day over 40!!!  This is great!

Okay, well I wasn't actually born 40 years ago yet-I have another 10 minutes to go!

Last night we took our kids to the Japanese restaurant for my birthday, but truthfully, because that particular experience is a treat for our family(a family of 5 eating out gets a bit costly, and the Japanese restaurant is NOT at the top of the to-do list when we need groceries), I really wanted to go for my children's sake-so they could enjoy this unique experience!

Have you ever been to a Japanese restaurant?  If not, it's a great treat!  You order your food, and the chef cooks it in front of you on a large grill, while doing tricks with the utinsels, and entertaining you with conversation, and giving you a chance to catch flying shrimp(they fling it with the spatula, you try to catch it with your mouth wide open)!  All 3 of the kids really enjoyed it.  :)

Oh!  I think I forgot to tell you all that Amber had a surprise birthday party for me on Saturday!  Dan, Dakota and I went to town for groceries, and due to a few small hints, I knew something was going on, but couldn't figure it out.  I thought Dan had bought something, and someone was bringing it to my house while we were gone, and putting it together.  I honestly did not expect to find a houseful of my closest friends here to celebrate with me!  It was a very nice surprise!

Well, I am NOW officially 40 years old, as it is now 6:16 am.  Dan is going to school with the kids, and Elissa is going to work, so guess what I am going to do to celebrate....

I am going to go back to bed!  I hope this waking up at 4 am doesn't become a habit-I have heard that older people have a harder time sleeping.  I hope it doesn't start the day you turn 40!

New Chocolate Bouquets Up!

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I added some chocolate bouquets and some chocolate gift ideas to my website.  I do have several people that stumble upon my site looking for chocolate bouquets, so I wanted to mention it for their benefit.  I'll be adding more in the next few days!  Some very affordable, simple and cute ideas just for you!  And use your imagination with what colors you would like to use, and the sky is the limit!

http://achocolatebouquet.com/id91.html

http://achocolatebouquet.com/id90.html

http://achocolatebouquet.com/id92.html

http://achocolatebouquet.com/id93.html

Even I Am Not THAT Blon-d!

This is what happened:

I was sitting on the floor in the bedroom wrapping Christmas presents, while Dan was also in there with me.

I heard someone approach the bedroom door(you know how mothers are-we have many senses past the 5th well known ones--one being sensing when someone is in your bedroom at 3 a.m., and one being when you sense someone coming to your bedroom door while wrapping gifts! 

I heard a very faint knock on the door, and about the same time, I tapped on the gift box I had in front of me.

I said, "Who is it?"

And Dan said, "That was you."

What Dan THOUGHT happened:

I was sitting on the floor wrapping gifts.  I tapped on the box in front of me.  I said, "Who is it?"

Okay, even I am not THAT ditzy!  I mean, come on!  Give me SOME credit!!!

Of course, if he really thinks I'm that Blon-d, I could probably get away with a lot of things, and he would not get angry, he would just look at me with pity and a very sympathetic mind!  Hmm....let me think of some good things I could come up with.....

How about running a load of whites in the washer, using up all the hot water while he showers? 

How about clipping my toenails on his side of the bed?

Or maybe using mustard in a recipe that calls for cheese since I'm out of cheese, and mustard is the same color?

Ya know, this could turn out to be a lot of fun!  Hmm.....

Coming Real Soon!

Hi Everyone!
Just a quick note while my computer is down, still being fixed at the shop...I'm using Dan's laptop right now, but haven't done any new posts yet.

Just a quick note to let you all know that I am putting up several new chocolate bouquet ideas on my website, http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/ ,by the end of this week!  I can't wait!  And I thought I would give you all a sneak preview of what to expect!  Check my website(toward the end of the week, or next week) if you'd like directions how to make any of them!  :)

Two More Weeks!

Ahh...two more weeks, and guess what? The BIG 4-0 will be upon me!!! AGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, let's get past the drama!

Have you all been thinking about my diet?  You'll all be so happy for me--I gained about 3 pounds!

What???  You thought I meant...NOOOOO................

I'm on a GAIN WEIGHT DIET!!!

(wink, wink!)

Actually, guess what?  Hubby is getting me an eliptical machine for my birthday-NOT because he thinks I need it-because he knows I'd like one!  Plus the whole family can use it!  If you've never used one, they're really cool!  MUCH easier on the knees than a stair stepper.

If any of you want to send me gifts, please send LOTS of ANTI-WRINKLE CREAMS!!!!  I might also like a few wigs---maybe I should request blonde wigs, for my mid-life crisis?  My hair is turning gray awfully fast!  It's like it overslept and is hurrying before the big 4-0 gets here!

If you all have any other great ideas for my 40th birthday, just send all my gifts to the "Getting Older and Not Sure I Can Handle It" Foundation, PA, c/o Josanne.

My computer is going to the---GASP!!!---computer doctor tomorrow.  I hope it's not a SERIOUS surgery, only minor sicknesses!  This little gadget has things to do for me, like, NOW!!!  I've got pics and videos that need to go up on my website for Valentine's Day!  The computer doctor says it will be about 4 or 5 days once I take it in.

So, if you don't hear from me for a week, you'll know why!  :)

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

This is for all of the cat lovers out there! Those of us who love cats know the points made in this video are true. For all others, you will get to see how fun it is to be a cat lover! :)

An Engineer s Guide to Cats @ Yahoo! Video

Just a Reminder

Just a reminder to all of us, as we are going thru our day...

Did you wake up this morning and "couldn't find a thing to wear"?

Did you go to the cupboard and complain to yourself that there is nothing to eat?

Did you get in your car and go where you needed to go, take care of what you needed to take care of?

Did your family return home today after school, work, errands, etc.?

Remember the victims in Haiti, whose smallest concern right now is a matching outfit for the day.

Remember the victims in Haiti, who are very poor, and are at the mercies of the world to help them with food and clean water-reporters have seen these people rubbing their stomachs because they are hungry.

Remember the victims in Haiti, who have many road that cannot be used, who cannot go where they want to go and take care of things that are even desperately calling for their attention-looking for their missing loved ones, or helping family members across town to look for their loved ones.

Remember the victims in Haiti, and ask the Lord to forgive us for our murmuring, and ask Him to help these people.

If you cannot donate money or other items that local businesses may be collecting to help this country, then please be sure to lift your voice to God and pray for this devestated country.  It may be your prayer that causes a millionaire to donate.  It may be your prayer that causes a grieving family to be comforted.  It may even be your prayer that causes a buried victim to be found.

Just a reminder to remember the people in Haiti, pray for them, and remember how blessed we are to be sleeping in our own beds at night, with our families safely tucked in, and a reminder to not take for granted food on our tables and clothes in our closets.

Genes, or Brainwashing?

I was glancing thru a catalog this morning when I came across this ad.  And it got me to thinking....see if you have an answer to the mystery.....

Look at this picture.  A mother and her daughter--both FEMALE.  Not a mother and her SON--a mother and her DAUGHTER. 

Both are smiling.  Mom is looking at the brownies while holding her daughter.  Smiling.

One again, Mom is looking at a pan of brownies.  BROWNIES equal.....

CHOCOLATE!!!

So here are the questions....

We already know why Mom is smiling at a pan of brownies-I mean LOOK!  It's just her and her LITTLE girl, who can't possibly eat much.  Chocolate equals bliss, and if Mom's daughter can only eat one brownie---one and a half TOPS---then there is A LOT of bliss left over for Mom.  Oh HAPPY DAY!!!

Next, I'm not sure if the daughter's smile is genuine....so.....is she really happy that she has a pan full of brownies in front of her, hoping she can scarf down the record-breaking(her own record, that is) one and a half brownies, or is Mom whispering in her ear..."Look Baby....chocolate.....a whole pan of chocolate brownies......mmmmm............chocolate........choc.........o..........late...........mmmmmmmmmm................"?

Now, let's imagine that this scene is being replayed all over the world.  I know it is in America, for sure!  Mothers cutting up brownies, daughters standing close by....

Now!!!  Help me come to a conclusion.....

Everybody knows that women have a reputation for loving chocolate, right?  What I want to know is.....

Is it in our genes, or are we brainwashed???

Fascinating Facts About Me! Part 3

I know you all are just...well...fascinated!!!  I mean, you all never dreamed I would have a sock collection(under my pillow) and a fascination with dirt, did you???

This will be the last of my Fascinating Facts series for now, and I know this one is really going to surprise you!

Are you ready?

I am bi tri quart--I am multi-lingual!!!  Are you surprised???

Of course I'm rusty on my Ohioan language, but have adapted to the Pennsylvania language pretty well, after 16 years of being here.  I know how to say agaaan--spelled "again", pronounced "uh-gaan".  I've noticed other subtle accent adaptions that have begun to come naturally as well. 

I understand Redneck very well, but don't speak it as fluently as I understand it.  I even understand the culture!  I was blessed to attend a wedding in this culture, so I was able to experience the whole effect of culture and language! 

I am fluent in sign language commands.  My children have become rather fluent as well.  When I spin my finger in a circle in the air, that means "turn around" in church.  When I shake my head no, that means "don't do that in public!".  When I put my finger across my lips vertically, that means, "Your dad is SLEEPING...how many times do I have to tell you to be QUIET?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?" 

And when I roll my eyes back into my head while throwing my head back, that means, "Amber, have you stopped talking for 30 seconds since you woke up this morning???"  I'll probably have to learn the next sign that goes hand in hand with that one--maybe rolling my eyes back into my head, and then putting my head in my hands, which will mean, "Thanks Amber, now your little brother is catching on!!!".  (Amber, you know I love you, Baby!)

So there you have it!  I am multi-lingual! 

My brother-in-law Tim married a beautiful lady from Kansas a little over a year ago, and in this small town we live in, she is actually employed as a FRENCH INTERPRETER!!!  No joke!

After Tim showed me a picture on his cell phone of the fancy holiday desserts she makes, and learning that this girl is extremely intelligent, and sews clothing fit for a queen, and always, always looks like a million bucks, I started to worry!  I'm thinking, Well, there goes my status as the favorite daughter-in-law!  I guess being a dingbat can only gain a person favor for so many years!  And then I'm thinking, Dan is going to think Tim got the better end of the deal when it came to finding a talented wife! 

But once I got to know this lovely lady, I was able to rest my worried little head.  She's so down to earth and is just a beautiful person!  I love her dearly, and she was the perfect addition to this family! 

And besides all that, I have to silently, quietly smile to myself....she might know French, but I understand  Redneck better than she ever will, so I have the secret pleasure of knowing I've one upped her!  But no need to tell her...we'll just keep this our little secret!  :)

Fascinating Facts About Me! Part 2

Well, now that you all know I'm fascinated with dirt, we can move on to the next fascinating fact about me!

I have a sock collection...

Under my pillow.  :)

You see, this girl right here has bad circulation in my feet, so I often go to bed with socks on.  If my feet aren't warm, then I can't warm up!  I'll rub my tootsies together over and over again, trying to get them warm, and if they won't warm up, I sleep horribly.  I'm sure others can relate!

We have a pad on our bed that somehow collects your body heat and then evenly distributes it, or something like that.  But when you first get in bed, you feel like you've just laid on a bed of ice cubes.  To remedy that, I bought a heating blanket!

So!  If you have a pad that evenly distributes your body heat, and you have a heating blanket to help warm up the bed pad, guess what happens! 

You drift off to sleep with sweet dreams swirling around your head, covered to your chin in warmth and coziness, and a smile on your face because your warm, cozy bed is the most wonderful place on earth!

And then...

You wake up about two hours later, shaking yourself from the dream that you are visiting the center of the earth!  Sometimes the dream changes-you think you are in a wet suit while walking on the surface of the sun(nothing like waking up soaked with sweat!), and other times, you're laying on a beach in Hawaii, when suddenly, the temperature raises 200 degrees, and you aren't enjoying your vacation anymore!!!

So anyway!  Once I come back to conciousness, and realize I'm not in the core of the earth, or walking on the sun, or vacationing in Hawaii, I wipe the sweat from my brow, and reach for my feet!  I take my socks off.

I drift back off to sleep, and sometimes wake back up a couple of hours later, only to realize that no, I'm not really in Alaska, sharing an igloo with an eskimo that SNORES REALLY LOUD!!!  Why, I'm home in my own bed!  And since I'm cold, I can just slip my socks back on!

I found that putting my socks under my pillow is much easier than groping in the dark on the floor next to the bed, hoping to find them.

Since I don't wake up twice every night, and don't always need to put my socks back on, I've found that I accumulate quite a collection under my pillow!  When we change the sheets, sometimes socks have even worked their way to Dan's side of the bed!

So there you have it-I collect socks.  :)

Fascinating Facts About Me! Part One

Reading my blog, you probably feel like you know me just a little bit.  I thought I would help you to get to know me a little better!  And maybe you should help me in getting to know you as well-comment on this post and tell me one or two fascinating facts about you!

Are you ready?  Hopefully I'll gain a reader or two, and not lose the faithful readers I have!  I mean, surely there is someone out there that shares my facsination with....

DIRT!  Ok, not just any dirt.  I mean, you won't see my sitting in my yard or driveway with a stick, digging holes in the ground-I try to catch my son before he does these things-I'm certainly not going to go out and join him!  Maybe more than a fascination with dirt, it is more of a fascination with things that suck up dirt!  I have a wind tunnel vaccuum cleaner-actually I have two!  And no, I don't have two because of my obsession with dirt-I have two because my house has three levels, and it's easier than always having to lug them up and down all three levels.

Anyway!  My fascination began when I first bought a wind-tunnel vaccuum.  This was at my old house, where we heated with a wood stove.  It seems that the wood smoke seeped into everything in the house, including the carpet-at least that is what I'm blaming all the dust on.  Everytime I used my vaccuum, I just couldn't believe all the dust I collected!

Since moving to our new home, I still have this fascination!  Yes, I am guilty of vaccuuming one room, emptying the dirt container, and then vaccuuming the next room.  You would probably think I'm either making contestants out of each of my rooms for who has the most dirt, or that I am trying to measure which one of my children brings in the most dirt so that I can convict them of their crime!

Vaccuums aren't the only thing that suck up dirt.  My other fascination is the carpet shampooer!  I am usually 10 pounds lighter when I finish cleaning my carpets-the shampooer and I both get quite a workout!  I will go over the same carpet over and over and over..and....over.......and........over.........again until my "dirty" water comes out clear.  We might need golashes every time we enter the dining room for a meal, but my carpets will be CLEAN, by golly!

Can you picture a vaccuum cleaner commercial coming out when the bagless vacs were a new thing?  I don't know if they actually had one on TV or not, but I can see it in my mind.  A woman vaccuums her carpet, and then stands in front of her suction monster, half bent over, with mouth wide open, staring at the full cup.  And here she thought her other vaccuum cleaner with the bag always did a great job!  Well, wasn't she surprised!  

My point in mentioning the commercial is because I could do that commercial, and I wouldn't even need acting lessons!  It would be real!  

We don't wear our shoes in the house, and I cleaned the carpets when we bought the house.  It doesn't matter how clean you are, you are still going to have a bagless vac that fills with dusty stuff....

.....fascinating!

     

Job Possibilities For 2010

Yahoo has a list of the top 10 jobs that are expecting a great future.

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-tomorrow_s_new_hottest_jobs-1075

The GREAT news is...I think I qualify for ALL but one of them!!! Wow! And here I was worried about what we are going to do in the future!

See if you don't agree with me!...

First up-a biomedical engineer:
I know how to use a spoon to get medicine down a child's throat! I also know trickery-isn't that what an engineer does-figures out ways to make things work? It's really not all that hard, and I'm amazed that this is going to actually be an up and coming career!

Next, a financial examiner:
I am a PRO at this one! I examine bills regularly, and I examine all receipts in hubby's wallet...."WHEN did you go to the Chinese Restaurant without me???" "You spent $6 on a half gallon of ice cream? Babe, we gotta talk!"... I also know how to examine my own receipts-whenever I hit the thrift stores, I backtrack in my mind over and over and over and over again what I spent, because it disappears WAY too fast!

Next, medical science:
I'm pretty good at this one too! Okay, Kota doesn't feel well and has a rash on his arm...I could probably give him Benedryl, and then mix antibiotic ointment and aloe vera on the rash. Surely the mixture will bring good results...

Next, a physician's assistant:
I can do this! I already do! When I take my kiddos to the doctor, I am more that willing to help assist the doctor with what I think my kids need! "Now Doc, SURELY you have SOMETHING that can make my kids desire to clean their rooms and do their homework without asking! Wait!!! I'm already experienced in medical science...why don't you just let me go back to your medicine cabinet and see what I might be able to mix together..."

Next, a biochemist/biopysicist:
Now really, how hard is it to study living things and their make-up, or how electrical energy affects living things? I mean, I study my kids regularly, notice their inability to make sense when it comes to chores and homework, and I have it all figured out--they're aliens. As far as electrical energy, most of us know someone who was struck by lightning, or accidentally touched an electric fence. All you have to do is ask them how it affected them! And these jobs are paying HOW MUCH??? What am I waiting for??? What are YOU waiting for???

Next, a skin care specialist:
Oh yeah, this one is a natural calling for me! Actually, what woman isn't a skin care specialist? We notice every little detail, every blemish, every fine line, every pore! While we're at it, let's be hair care specialists too! I specialize in noticing how gray I am going how fast!

And lastly, an athletic trainer:
This one, I'm sad to say, I could not do. I do know how to turn on a treadmill, or at least, I think I remember how to! Unless this includes.....oh.....never mind....well...is there such thing as gut muscles? That doesn't sound very lady like, and I try to be a lady! But if there IS such a thing, then I'm not sure why I sit down in my how-to videos to hide me from mid section and down! Hmm...maybe I'll look into it....

Well, don't think I'll have time for much blogging anymore--since I qualify for almost all of these job positions, I'm going to be in high demand, and will be spending my time flying around the country in my private jet, since apparently there must be a shortage in these areas....

Or maybe...maybe I'll let Dan explain these job titles to me a little better, before I go apply for the loan for my private jet. It may turn out that I am the one who needs to find a financial examiner.....

Make a floral/candy bouquet!

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it, so I wanted to give you an idea for a candy bouquet you can make at home. I've seen some beautiful chocolate bouquet arrangements advertised different places, but the downside of the bouquets is the cost. Using just a dozen chocolate candies in a bouquet with a little bit of greenery and tissue paper can cost you a small fortune-I saw one yesterday on a website that cost over $80!!!! That's 12-TWELVE- pieces of candy!!! Making your own makes it more personal, plus you get to use the colors you prefer, and the candies you like best. And you will most likely save around $60!!!

This is a little bouquet I made up with mini peanut butter cups and mini peppermint patties.

We will be posting more very soon, but this will get your started! You may have so much fun with this, that you want to make one for everyone you can think of--sisters, your female boss, your little brother's new girlfriend, your wonderful mother, or any candy addict you can think of! :)

Just Like Everyone Else

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to 2010!

I'm going do what I've seen other bloggers do in their most recent posts-I'm going to share some of my goals with you!

I have been very excited about 2010, and now that it's here, I'm starting the year off with my goal list in tact! They aren't resolutions-they are goals!

I have a notebook with my personal goals, my spiritual goals, my financial goals, and my family goals. I won't bore you with all the details-just a few!
1. I am going to lose an UN-DISCLOSED amount of weight! I've started this one already, and lost about 8 pounds! And then....well....then the holidays hit, and everyone and their BROTHER was out to sabatage my efforts, practically FORCING all that apple pie and chocolate cookies down my throat! (Just the mention of it makes me shudder all over again!) And so, I'm still down about 4 or 5 pounds. Sigh.
2. I'm going to read 3 books a month. Amelia Bedelia books don't count. I have this CRAZY addiction-filling my bookshelves! And why this is crazy is because, I never get around to reading the books I bring home! So! If I read 3 a month, I should be able to empty the bookshelf by the end of the year, or at least rotate the collection!
3. Dan and I work with the youth, and I want to devote much more of myself to this.
4. I'm going to work diligently on my website. We aren't sure the direction of our future, but I do know that we need to be figuring this out! We aren't starving, and we've been fine, but we have no real income at this point in time, so we need to make plans for our year. Dan's injuries from a fall have caused our lives to have some changes, including his inability to work for the past 8 months.
I do plan to make my website profitable, so it has to be worth visiting! But don't get me wrong-if you'd like to visit http://www.achocolatebouquet.com/, there are no membership fees or any of that-thankfully there are affiliate programs that I've added to my site, and my viewers are not obligated to do any purchasing in order to enjoy my entire site. There are lots of good articles, humorous articles and thoughts, and other things.
I have some additions that I am really excited about adding in the coming week and month, so we're working on that! I gave you a sneak peek at a video, and there are some great things coming up! (If I do humbly say so myself! :D) As you probably can already tell, how-to videos will be added to my site, and let me give you a small heads-up: we want our videos to be remembered, so each one will have a short touch of humor to help viewers remember us!
My website is an online magazine of sorts, but we are going to have our main focus and our videos on 4 main topics:

1. Chocolate bouquets
2. Floral bouquets
3. Decorating on a small budget(Why, yes, I AM the thrift store QUEEN!!!)
4. Hairstyle how-to's

Of COURSE this is the time my new camera would decide to function abnormally-after I told everyone that I would be uploading videos the first couple of weeks in January! If you watch the videos, you'll see where MY camera blurs in and out, while making a cranking noise all thru video-ing! But thank you, Mama, for lending me yours until I get mine back from repair! My viewers will also thank you, I'm sure! :)
In order to make the most of my time online, and making my blog and website the best I can, I am going to delete my other blogs shortly. When our home burned down, this is the blog I continued to post on, and the others have dwindled, as far as my efforts and posts. I'm adding many of the posts from those blogs to my website, so the content will still be there, just in a different place.
5. I plan to blog 3 times a week. I also plan to write 3 articles a week for ezine articles. (Is there REALLY that much knowledge packed in this graying little head of mine??? I guess we'll see!)
Boy, for someone who is home most days, I'm going to be one WORKING woman!!! But that's fine---it's fun when I see progress! Plus I get to stay in, in the warmth! This girl does not take for granted warmth---when you heat with wood for 10 years, and never could keep the house warm enough, you don't need to learn how to be thankful for a real, forced air heater! Thank you Lord! :)
I'll share one more short clip with you, and then the real ones are coming real soon(to my website)!
Thank you all for your time-I hope you will continue to come visit me! I still have to tell you about Bianca the rat, my children's "rescue" of the barn kitties, and more!
Wishing you all the very best in 2010!!!
Love,
Josanne

Can You Offer Comfort To A Soul In Need?

The series of photos I am sharing in the blog post have really touched my heart!

With the new year fast approaching(one more full day before 2010!), I just want to encourage everyone to open your hearts, and be willing to reach out to help someone!

There are times when we are all afraid, or feel lonely or alone, or just need someone to comfort us when we are hurting.

The poor little puppy is so afraid-you can see his tail completely tucked-and the cat is perfectly relaxed. This seems like it is possibly from a shelter. The cat makes moves a little closer to the pup, and it appears the pup moves closer to him/her. And when they meet, this poor little fellow hides his face, and the cat allows him to, and just stays there for him.

Lord, help us to be more compassionate this coming year, as we've all probably heard the saying, for each person is fighting a battle.

I've been completely touched by these photos, and I hope you are too. And let us be reminded that everyone can use a friend in 2010!
(Click on picture to get a larger image.)

Having Fun!

I promise you that my blog is not going to turn into a promotion for my website, although I may invite you all over to visit the website every now and then!

But this was too fun, and I wanted to share it with you all!

The below short video is a few bloopers from our first video that we will be uploading to my site in a week or so. We're going to be doing how-to videos for hairstyles, and also how-to videos for bouquets. Can't wait to add them!

But anyway! I hope you enjoy the video, my wheezing, Amber's blabbering at the end, and the interesting "motorized" noise that my NEW camera makes while filming! :(

Merry Christmas!!!

To my wonderful readers~ On behalf of my family, I would like to wish everyone a very, Merry Christmas, and a very blessed new year! I hope you enjoy this family slideshow I put together for my blog. :) Love, Josanne

This Is Too Cute!

Be sure to watch his expressions too-so cute!

O Holy Night

It's almost Christmas!

In step with one of my only yearly traditions, I have a song to share with you all....just in case you haven't heard it yet!

Get some tissue--this song is a real tear jerker! And be sure to listen to it to the very end.

And my disclaimer: I am a full time Christian, and I do believe God has a sense of humor. When Jesus walked on earth, there is a story in the Bible that tells of how He sat and ate dinner with the sinners, and those who were thought of as "low-life" folks. Althought the Lord is serious in most stories we read in the Bible, I personally don't believe that Jesus was completely serious when He was enjoying their company over a meal. People were drawn to Him--if He had acted high and pious, I don't believe the needy would have been drawn to Him. This story compares sinners to the sick who need a doctor, and God's word also states in Proverbs that laughter does good like a medicine. How fitting it would be for Jesus to provide moments of laughter, since He believes it is good. So! Here you have one of my favorite songs of all time:

Oh, Curses!

I enjoy a good story and love to laugh just as much as the next person. And I have come across a story or two that has made me laugh so hard that I've cried--such as "Toe" by Pat McManus.

Building my website has me searching across the world wide web looking for other great reads by authors that are hoping to get their work noticed, and I have found a few so far!

But nothing turns me away and disappoints me quite as fast as crude humor, and the topic at hand--cussing.

Since what I put on the web myself is meant to be family friendly, I do pass by articles that throw in the occasional swear word. I want to offer something that I would be comfortable with my own children seeing, along with other mothers and concerned adults across the world.

But this is not a sale ad!

No, not at all! I just got to thinking about it last night.....

Our world has tried to limit what young adults see and do with a minimum age limit on different things-rated R movies, or PG-13. Smokers have to show their ID until they are 27(the age minimum is 18, I think), and I think you have to be 21 to drink alcohol. These restrictions are meant to discourage the younger age group, even tho they show the smiling faces of a group full of young, smoking friends having a great time across the large billboards by the highways, or the football party with chips, pretzels and beer all over the coffee table, and guys and gals rooting for their favorite team.

But anyway, what if.....what if we tried to discourage cussing? Is it possible? Sure it is!

What if they took all of the cuss words, and made them at least 5 syllables long? My suggestions are:

Hooty-patooty

Hocker-doodle-maimy

Nose-pickin-cracker-cruncher-head

Sweatin-orangutan-face

Muffle-strigger-riggin

Uses for these words would be:

The car won't start AGAIN?? That thing is just a hooty-patooty piece of JUNK!

Who came up with THAT hocker-doodle-maimy idea, anyway?

The nose-pickin-cracker-cruncher-head washer overflowed this morning.

How DARE you call me names, you sweatin-orangutan-face PUNK!

I can't get the muffle-strigger-riggin door open-it's stuck!

Now, I think words like these would be great deterrents for two reasons:

1. These words would be much harder to say, so there would be fewer of them on the big screen, and also much harder to spell. Authors would not want to stop while feeling inspired, because they had to look up how to spell hocker-doodle-maimy.
2. The glamorous Hollywood star in all her painted perfection, and the big screen "hunk" in all of his masculinity would not say these words because it would make them sound very, very.......stupid. "I don't care if you pay me TWO million dollars for this movie-I'm not saying hooty-patooty!!!"

And the author of the romance novel would not write, "Beau Remington looked at Dynasty Dalton's velvety red dress, up-swept 'do, and dangling diamond earrings. He slipped her hand into his as he said, "You're looking muffle-strigger-riggin fine this evening, Dynasty." Kind of spoils the moment, don't you think? Good thing he didn't decide to use a different cuss word for that compliment, such as, "You're looking sweatin-orangutan-face fine this evening, Dynasty." THAT romance novel would stir some confusion for sure! Uh...was that a compliment, or is he trying to LOSE her because he's really in love with Chloe Wynchester? We'll never know.....unless there is a sequel. And then what if he uses the same line on Chloe Wynchester? Is he now trying to lose her because he realized what a good woman Dynasty Dalton is? We'll never know.....unless there is a series.....actually, with lines like that, we may never know.
So anyway! Stories are much better without all of the foul language that they throw in, and this fabulous idea I've come up with could change authors and writers all over the world! Of course, if they ever did implement my idea, all movies and books would probably be categorized as comedy. But I can't imagine the big screen actors and actresses plastered all over highway billboards with big smiles on their faces while saying "hocker-doodle-maimy". Everyone else seems to be smiling, why aren't they? And why are their cheeks all red?