New Year's Eve

Today is the last day to reach my goal of 2k visitors
for the blog for the year of 2011.
I am very close!

I had another goal that ended today as well.
I needed $400 in sales from my Thirty-One business
by noon today.
I did not make that goal unfortunately.
Although I was very close.
But I am proud of myself For what I did accomplish!
It was my first run and I did well.

I even have one possible party lined up
and a catalog party lined up!
Plus 2 girls who are thinking of signing up!
That would put me at promotion.

So the New Year looks promising from here.
I hope you can say the same.

Be safe tonight, Don't Drink and Drive,
And have a wonderful time ringing in the new Year!

Goodbye to Twenty Eleven!

Challenge

I found a letter to myself not too long ago.
Basically discussing with myself the things I
would like to change about myself.
The things I'd like to change about my life.

When I read it I was surprised to find the even though
I has completely forgotten that I had even written it,
I had accomplished most of the things.

I have a challenge for all of you.
As a sort of add on to your resolutions
for the new year,
Write a letter to yourself.
Tell your self where you would like your life to be next year.
What you hope to accomplish this year.

Is there anything you want to change?
How about some things you might like to add to your life?

If you are really brave you can come back here and comment.
Share what you would like.
If you are up for it, send me your letter to my email and I will post
it here as a guest blogger.

housewifeblog@live.com

..these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate...Rob Thomas, Little Wonders

Up To Date

Just a little end of the year update on my house life.
I have signed up to sell thirty-one gifts.
I am having my first party this week.
As of today I have cleaned and cleaned to get the
house back in shape after Christmas threw up everywhere.

I am excited and nervous too!
I have no idea how to conduct a party,
well the theory's.
But theory is one thing.
Actually doing it another.

In other news we are expecting more Dotson puppies.
Oh boy.
I had not yet recovered from the last batch.
But they are cute!

My son is very into Lego's as of now.
The good thing is that he does like to read as well.
At least he divides his time with good habits too.

The Hubby is happy with his job.
Union work took some getting used to.
But now he says he only wants to have a union job
from now on.


We are looking forward to the new year.

If you are interested here is the links for our
Photography page and my thirty-one link.
http://www.mythirtyone.com/crystalsj31/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/JohnsonProStudio

Have a safe and happy new year!

Hit count goal is currently at 47 hits to go!
Spread the word.

Merry Christmas!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
I know we sure did.

My son made out great!
I think that he got everything he asked for.

We even made a quick trip to Oklahoma
to visit.
My grandmother had a as good a Christmas as my son.
We got her a Kindle, I hope she really enjoys it.

I even got to show off our photography skillz.

I learned that my brother is addicted to coffee.
No way I could drink that much coffee.
I learned that people will line up outside WalMart
even in freezing weather just to get a deal.

I waited in my warm car.
I'm no dummy.

On Christmas Day we spent the day with my brothers
sister and parents and the kids.
My son and his cousin decided to chug Hot sauce.
Too funny.
They barley got it out of the neck of the bottle.
But the way they acted you would have thought
they drank the entire bottle.
After that My Mom and Niece competed to see
who could drink down jalapeno sauce the fastest.
My Mom won. lol
I even caught it on video.
Yes we do crazy things on Christmas.

We ended the holiday with a very early shopping trip
this morning.
Where I got to have a nice breakfast with just my
husband.
And he bought me a very pretty ring that is my birthstone.

Hope that your Christmas was as good as mine!

31 reasons to love Christmas

In honor of my new Thirty-One adventure
I am giving you 31 reasons to love Christmas time.
In no particular order.
What is Thirty-One?
Check it out.
http://www.mythirtyone.com/crystalsj31/

31 Egg Nog
30 Yummy treats!
29 pretty lights
28 Shopping fun
27 Candy Canes
26 Hot cocoa
25 Santa Claus
24 Christmas Movies
23 Saying You'll Shoot You Eye Out! (Over n over for no real reason)
22 Dirty Santa Games
21 Family Photos
20 Food and more Food!
19 Leaving Cookies for Santa
18 Grandparents
17 Reading Night Before Christmas
16 Wrapped under a blanket with loved ones
15 Warm fireplaces
14 Holiday themed jewelry
13 Family traditions
12 Getting to wear ugly sweaters
11 Christmas Parties!
10 Church Pageants
9 Giving to the Angel Tree
8 Giving to others
7 Young faces light up
6 Seeing those you haven't seen all year
5 Travel
4 Time off from work
3 Kids are out on break
2 Time with Family
1 Remembering what its all about the Birth of Jesus! 

Christmas for all

My gift from my G-ma

This weekend we attended our first Christmas event of the holiday's.
I think a lot of families got together this weekend.
All of the little traditions that each family has is what makes the time special.
My Mom and sister and I usually bake and make candy treats between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
That's just a little thing we like to do.

This weekends at our family get together we ate and exchanged gifts with my grandma.
I love my gifts from her each year because its always something she hand made.
This year I got wonderful kitchen towels and she made the hangers for them.

And afterwards the Adults always play Dirty Santa.
There is always a fight over something.
And this year was no different.
Its all fun though, not to worry.
No one gets elbowed in the eye or anything.

Some of my family back home had a family party too.
I was unable to attend but I did get to enjoy pictures that were posted.
One of the traditions they have is to play dirty Santa with Christmas ornaments.
What a precious keepsake to have each year.

Each family is different and new traditions get made every year.
A girl friend of mine had her first family party this year.
They prove that all families are not alike.
At the event held at her sisters house they watched videos made by each other,
the sisters died each others hair, and they played a entertaining game of "Jerry Springer"
Yes, Im seri...
No really, no lie.
They made up stories of their spouses cheating and having each other's babies.
All the while their 70 something year old father watched and laughed.

Whatever your hoilday traditions, Have a Merry Christmas!

Unhappy to the Death

You know I write about happiness a lot.
I see some around me who are not happy.
I see that a better life is within their reach.
Some are just too afraid to try.
Too afraid to hope possibly.
Maybe they are comfortable residing in the current state of which they are.
I have to question why.
I write to try and speak to my readers hearts and minds.
I am a problem solver by nature.
I am a fixer.
Sometimes it is hard for me to know I can not help.
I can not do my word-ly magic.

A few days ago Steve Harvey was the guest on the Dr Oz show.
He has written a couple books.
He is a comedian if you are unaware.
His books somehow came out to appear that he knows a lot about relationships.
Whether he does or does not.
He said He was just being honest, telling what he knows from his own past experiences.
His outlook is a different way of looking at things.
Possibly because he's a man, ladies you ever notice how foreign men can be?
Haha
The thing that struck me was what Dr Oz said.
If a man is not happy in his marriage/relationship, he will lose 4 years off his life.
Do you know how many a woman loses of she is unhappy?
12
Twelve
12 years off her life she loses If she is not happy with her life/relationship.
I was floored.
My guess was zero.

Sadness is too hard on us women.
An idea maybe I have known, that might explain my constant urges for your happiness.

Steve had some great thoughts.
His book is probably worth the read.
One tip he gave to "re-program your mans brain" was, no nagging.
Instead of complaint that your man has not taken out the trash,
Compliment him.
Tell him that he's so strong that you need him to take out the trash for you.

Hey it's worth a shot.
Check out the book.
Straight talk, no chaser
Find it hereStraighttalknochaserSteveHarvey

As always, it's just some food for thought!

Read a Movie, Save a Soap

2 things today.

I finally got to watch the Final

Harry Potter Film!

It was good.

Better than Part 1.

It progressed very fast.

It was  very close to the book.

Yet if you have not read the books you

may be lost in this one.

I actually read the entire series between the last two films.

And I loved them!

If you are a fan of the movies I recommend giving the books

a good read if you have yet to do so.

They are well worth it.

My son got the first 3 from a friend of his

for his birthday this year.
He started reading and was compelled to watch all of the movies again. haha

So secondly, If you read me regularly you know I am a Soaps fan.

One Life To Live has been soooooo great the past few days.

Its always good.

But this story line is great.

Fraternity Row is "their" soap.
Watching my soap stars in love with their own soap has been
so funny!
Then Roxy picks up a tabloid and screams!
Her soap has been canceled!!!!!

I love it! It was priceless.

Now Roxy is on a mission to save her soap.

I have found a Facebook page that is trying to do just that.

Word is that Prospect Park may be on the fence about bringing

Daytime to the online site, as promised.

Go here and like the page if you wish to help out.

DaytimeFansUnite

Thanks!

Dream big or go home!

I always dream bigger than life.
A dreamer I am to the core.
I imagine to be an artist dreaming is a requirement.
My whole life I have lived half in another world.
TV, books, or my own wiring but I think my fave place to hang, is in music.
Music has such a great power.
Different parts of one song can speak differently to each person.
I think clearly while music is on.
When I was in technical college I would plug in my head phones and listen to music. It helped me to focus oddly enough.
If you do not have dreams then what do you focus on?
What do you look forward too?
Some of my dreams scare me even.
For example I have always wanted to go on a cruise.
Yet thinking of being on the huge vast ocean without any sign of land terrifies me!
Did you hear my breath catch just then?
Another of my large dreams is a European trip.
I so love history.
I went to Canada in high school and loved it immensely.
I know that it would be 50 times greater to go to Paris, London, Italy, and a few places in between!
After 9-11 I am afraid to fly.
If you can not tell I have a few phobias.
And they can be paralyzing at times.
Yet I still dream.
I still want to do these things one day.
Set goals, yes be realistic.
But if you can not Dream big I don't think you are living true to your self.
And if your not true to yourself then who are you true too?

 What is bigger than the Eiffel tower?

Zodiac and You

It's official.
I finally made it to Z!
Yeah! Streamers are flying in the air!

I completed the A to Z challenge.
It only took 4 months.
haha That is not very good.
But as any housewife knows,
the house duties come first.

So does my other writing I guess
since some days that took my attention away as well.

Before I get into today's Letter Z.
I wanted to give you all an update.
November is officially over.
I failed my NaNoWriMo this year.
My word count only got above 7k.
I will continue to work on the MS.
It just is not a NaNo success story.
I will try again next year.

So I chose the Zodiac to blog on today.
If you do not know your sign here is a list:
Aquarius Jan 20-Feb 18
Pisces Feb 19-March 20
Aries March 21- April 19
Taurus April 20- May 20
Gemini May 21-June 20
Cancer June 21-July 22
Leo July 23-August 22
Virgo Aug 23-September 23
Libra Sept 24-October 23
Scorpio Oct 24-Nov22
Sagittarius Nov 23-Dec 21
Capricorn Dec 22- Jan 19

I really believe this has a lot to do with how we act.
How our personalities come out.
And the way we react to each other.
Any time I read my horoscope its very close to how my day went.

It is very interesting to read about your sign.
To hear how much you are that way.
If you are born on the date your sign starts or ends
you are cusp born which means you are both the sign before or
after. That will cause you to be like a bit of both.
I am cusp born Virgo and Libra for example.

I have a Twitter feed that I really enjoy following.
They post facts every day for each sign.
Here is the link.
https://twitter.com/#!/ZodiacFacts
Check them out the facts are great! 
I just seen that there is a blog from them as well,
here is that link.

http://zodiacfacts.blogspot.com/

 

A few things they post are like this:

#Pisces are thoughtful listeners who can empathize with any situation.

#Scorpios rarely lose they just keep on going, since they are stubborn and determined to succeed.

As a #Gemini no matter how much life throws at you, you always hold a belief that tomorrow will be a good day.

 

 

Year's end

So we are at the end of 2011 already.
We have seen the last of the Harry Potter movies.
(I have not yet. so shhh..)
We have the first part of Twilight's Breaking Dawn out, still
in theaters.

Thanksgiving has come and gone again.
The Shopping craze is in full swing.

So what is in store for next year?
I have a few crafty ideas in mind.
I have been researching and learning new things
to do.
I am hoping to find me a few more hobbies to keep me busy.
I have so many as it is.
I quilt, write, make jewelry, can build Websites,
Photography, Photo editing, reading, scarf making,
crocheting, painting, and I am sure I am forgetting a few.
My new things I am learning is how to make Tutu's, and hair bows.

They are lots of fun and who doesn't love that instant gratification?

I have had lots of hits on my blog this year.
But I have a goal.
By the end of the year I want to reach 2,000 hits.
So I am asking you all for a bit of help.
Can you click that little facebook button or twitter link
located below each post.
And share with your friends.

Total hits so far is 1,669.
331 to go!

x-mas is upon us

Little Danny enjoying our beautifully lit tree

Its that time again.
Time for crowded streets at any time of the day.
Rude people at every store.
Long lines, and even longer ones.

I ventured out again this year for black Friday.
Actually I was out all Thursday night starting at 10pm.

We got home around 4 Am and half my party was still raring to go!
Well that could have something to do with the 2 cups of coffee that she, who I wont name, had at 11 at a pit stop at the Ihop, Mom.

Yeah, she said we were all going home to sleep and would resume at 5, that didn't happen, haha.
But it was a very different experience from my other Black Friday excursions in the past.
I had never seen Walmart so crowded. I was in a line at Kohl's that wrapped around the store twice, waiting for hours.(Well My dear husband was. We put him in line shortly after arrival to be a place holder.)

But I'm getting off topic here.
My point is, that Yes people around us may be rude.
You may stand in line for a very long time.
You may not have any coffee to fuel you.
But the looks on the faces you bought for,
Well that makes it all worth it.

I did title this entry X-Mas.
But I am not one to use that wording.
I don't really like it at all.
For this purpose though I needed an X
Yes I am winding down my Alphabet challenge.
I am sure by the lack of regular posts you could tell
that I was having trouble.
Some letters I would have to ponder for a few days.
I did grow as a writer from it, so it served it's purpose.

I like to blog about my interest's.
Things that mean something to me, and so it took a bit of
thinking on a few of the letters in the Alphabet.
Its Christmas time and I wanted to write about that.
So I improvised. But Taking the CHRIST out of Christmas?
That is impossible.
Some may try, inserting an X here a Happy Holiday's there.
I have seen a few upset by the Holidays phrase.
But really its just that we have so many this time of year.
That one does not bother me.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our lord.
I don't think that can be changed do you?
It will always be the day of his birth.
And therefore it will remain CHRISTmas forevermore.

I have been told a time or two that I sound like I am preaching a bit in my blogging.
I am sorry if I offend you. No one is making you read me.
Although I do appreciate every single one who does.
As I said I write about what I am passionate about, I write what I know.
And I am passionate about the Lord.

This Christmas when you are on the road
and its taking you much longer to get anywhere.
When you are standing in lines and your feet hurt.
When someone is rude to you out and about.
Keep the smiling faces in your mind.
Think about the family time you will soon be having.
Sitting around a warm fireplace snuggled up to a lit tree,
with your hot cocoa in hand.

It will all be worth it in just a very short time.

What when where and just why not?

We all learned about the 4 W's
In school.
What
When
Where
And why

They are a big part of the everyday life
Of us all.
Each one begins a question.
I want to ask a few questions today

What would you do differently if you could change how you are living your life?
Why are you repeating the same patterns if you are still unhappy with the results?
Where is your life heading?
When are you going to act, and make a change?

What would that person who believed the most in you say if they knew you were not living the way you truly want to?
if you are not allowing your self to have what you deserve.
What is the number 1 most important thing in your life? Do you put it first before anything and everyone?
Is it the thing that really should be in that number 1 slot?

One thing to accept is that you and you alone are the only person who can take the first step to do what will get your life back on track.

If you do not know what you want from life are you really living one?
Or are you just in limbo?
Are you just waiting for the perfect life to fall into your lap?

Because i am here to say, that day will never come.
If you want a change, a better you, a better life for your self and your family, it's time to act.
The time is now.
There is no guarantee of a tomorrow.

Are these the memories you will be glad you made tomorrow?
Sound off I want to hear your answers to these questions.
Drop a comment or two below and share.

My date with Vampires

Where to start?
So many things to say.

OK so the last 2 movies in the Twilight Saga I have gone and waited for hours to see.

For New Moon I stood out in the rain a bit to get tickets then waited in the theater for 2 hours so that I could hold 7 seats.


Then for Eclipse my dear friend,
who happens to own the theater in my home town,
held tickets for us.
Thus letting us pull up in front, get out and go in.

Oops. Sorry to the long, long line of Twi-hards
that had been waiting for hours in line.
My little family just skipped right ahead and went inside.
Yeah, it may have been a faux pas. But hey, what can i say?
Probably not a thing to make any of them any happier.

So this year I got our tickets early because
we were not able to go back home to see Breaking Dawn part 1.
And I have to say. It was so peaceful.
In fact I did not have to wait in any lines.

As far as Twilight movies go. Wow.
There were a few laughs, a gasp once at a shirtless Jacob Black.
Possibly a sigh from myself, at a very cleaned up Rob P
on honeymoon, as the very suave Edward Cullen.

But there were not hoards of screaming giggling pre-teens.
No rude families that happened to pick that show,
that night of all places for family night.
Knowing not one thing of Twi-anything.

No one loudly talking through the whole thing.
No, it was perfect.
My only distractions were a few phone calls and texts
from some of my lady friends, who must have forgotten
where I would be at today.

My dear husband even went along,
and tolerated my love for the Twiverse.

OK so the movie,
the main event,
Breaking Dawn Part 1.
What was my number one favorite thing about it?
Edward was NOT wearing LIPSTICK!!!!!!!
Yeah! I was so happy.
I have been too distracted by the last 2
(NM, Eclipse) to look at anything but his red lips.

The wedding was very beautiful!
They did Alice justice, it lived up to the wedding
she would have created.

I absolutly loved that Charlie was on the brink of tears

through the entire wedding and reception that followed.

And leave it to Jessica to think that Bella might be "showing."

A few times there were awkward moments.
Where I was thinking, "Weird"
And the birth scenes were a bit graphic.
I was expecting this. I admit I did see some
of the leaked photos from a while back,
showing some of these scenes.

But the honey moon, what everyone was waiting for, was great.
I was waiting for Edward to shyly say, "I bit a pillow."
But oh well, the feathers and destroyed bed room was worth it.

I was a bit nervous about the bedroom stuff,
seeing as how my 10 year old son was in attendance.
But it turned out ok.



Rob, you most definitely clean up well.

The honeymoon was great, he looked so yummy!

insert a bit of OCD here.   ....



Obsessive Cullen Disorder



Wiping a bit of drool, I continue...

I liked it much better than New Moon or Eclipse.

But it still can't top the original, Twilight, for me.

It was a great day for Team Edward fans.

We were finally given a good looking Edward to look at.

Summit was not trying to up the Bella/Jacob ante by making Edward look bad.

All the wigs were changed again.

They did look better than the last.

I did miss the original Alice do though.

Rose had much better hair this go around, yet something was

off about her leading man, Emmett.

I love the Emmett character in the books, he is a big

ole teddy bear that cracks crude jokes.

The love between the Cullen family is such a wonderful, powerful

thing. Yet it does not comes across on the big screen.

And of course a movie isn't a movie without action.

According to Hollywood anyway.

So expect action between the wolves and Cullen's, beyond the book version.

I did hear that it made a whopping 30.25 million on the midnight showings.

Topping the record that Eclipse previously set. 

Oh and it was quite a welcomed surprise to see the woman that started it all,
Stephanie Meyer herself, attending the nuptials of the bride and groom!

Go Team Edward!!!

Understanding the hype

What is all the hype about?
I was asking my self this question the first time I watched Twilight.
I do not see why this guy is making girls every where go crazy.

But somewhere in the middle of the movie I was hooked!
I fell totally and irrevocably for Edward Cullen.
The entire Cullen family infact.
The love story, and the man behind Edward, Rob Patz.
I really can't tell you why.
My theory is maybe its just remembering first love.
Remembering the purity of it all.

I am awaiting for Friday when I will get to go see the latest in the saga, Breaking Dawn part 1.

The excitement is addicting!
I have waited in line and in the theater for 2 hours to see some of the films.

This year I got my tickets early.
I am also fighting sinuses and my voice is going out.
I really hope that I will feel better tomorrow than I do today.
It will not be fun to hear screams from giggly teens with a sinus headache.

So what is the hype? What is it that made a fandom as big or bigger than the trecky's?
Maybe it's the magic that is in the story and on the screen.

Hope you have a magical time at the theaters this weekend!

Time Matters, Even One Day!

Your life is not your own.

One big mistake I think that people make is living for only today.
Not thinking about what their actions will lead to tomorrow.
Or the next day, Or ten years from now.

With my son for example,
I always try to think about how I am raising him today,
To make him a happy fulfilled grown man later.

If I yell at him today,
Will he cower at a big life problem when he is an adult?
If I do not spend enough time playing with him,
Will he not be able to fully love someone as an adult?

I only have one child so I don't have to worry about
things like, what to do when they physically fight.
Or when one breaks everything one of the others ever gets.

To me, these are signs a child is calling out for help though.
Some parents just don't take the time to think about how the decisions
they make DO affect their Child.

It does, it just does.
The people you chose to let in your life influence the person that your
child will be when they grow up.
The neighbor kids will have a similar affect.
The school your child attends, the environment they are surrounded with.
Even your job has weight on the future of your child.
If you hate your job, or are too tired at the end of every day,
Are you going to be cranky? Will you feel like playing board games?

Time matters, it may seem like today is just one day in your long life.
What difference will one day make?
If I stay in a bad relationship for just one more day, one more week,
what harm can that do?
It is my life.
My spouse, My job, My time to spend how ever I want.

No its not. If you are a parent, its your child's life.
His mean step-parent, Her tired, cranky Mom/Dad, Their memories missed out on.

You show your children how to be an adult every day.
You are teaching them what is acceptable,
What is right and what is wrong.
Weather you believe it or not,
They are watching you, they will emulate you in their own life.

One sure way to know if you are living the way that you know is truly right,
Ask your self,
Would I want my son or Daughter to live this life?
Would I feel like I did a great job raising them if they were in my
exact situation?

I hope the answer is yes.
If it is not, Do not be afraid to make changes.
Would you be too scared to run on that Train track to pull your child out of the path of that thousand pound Choo Choo headed right for them?

Absolutely not!
So why would you be driving that Train right now?

Serious finger to key action!

One of the main reasons we love to read
is because it is nice to live in a fantasy world from
time to time.
It can be a wonderful escape.

Writing is the same. Only this way you get to decide
what happens to the characters.
Sometimes I just have to put finger to key,
you could say. (well, how many put pen to paper any more.) :)
Just to see what comes out.

That is what NaNoWriMo is really all about.
Just writing to see what the end result may be.

That was what my alphabet blogging was all about as well.
So here I am up to the Letter "S"
And I have to admit, it was a rough road.
Some days I just could not come up with a good idea that went with that letter.
And others I would think of a Brilliant idea.
But forget it when it was time to write.

I am having lots of fun with my 1st NaNo experience.
Even taking time to read the forums and the twitter chatter.
This is day 3 and I am over the 7k mark.
Only 43k more to go!

I challenge my brain with these fun writing events.
What do you do to challenge your self,
Mind or Body?

Ready set go!

So I have been preparing to try my hand at NaNoWriMo this year.
If you forgot what it is, it is National Novel Writing Month.
It comes around every November!
I am excited to spend the month on writing.
But there will be lots of temptation to stray my mind.
Why?
Well Breaking Dawn hits theaters in only 19 days!
But I will just have to keep focused.
I have my idea.
(what would you choose, Love or Money?)
My main characters have been named.
I even have a working title finally.
The rest will just come to me as my fingers hit the keys.

If you want to join in check out this website.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/dashboard
There are regional get together's if you need that for extra motivation!
I start at midnight tonight.
Ready
Set
Go!

Quite a difference

I was going to write about Query's for my letter Q.
Give tips and info I have learned lately through
my research.

But tonight I stumbled upon a letter I wrote myself,
probably a year and half ago.
It was just a letter to Me.
And I sat and read through it.
Feeling very proud of myself.

I was in a state of confusion and seemingly lost.
I was an angry person at that time.
And I knew that meant I needed a change in my life.
A Big One.

I did have lots of family and friends.
I enjoyed very much being a cub scout leader
and loved my 2 part time jobs.

Yet, I was not completely fulfilled and happy.
Upon discussing with my husband we learned
both of were feeling a change was a good idea.
So we took caution to the wind and made that leap.
We sacrificed and moved.
It took the better part of a year for us to be financially on our feet.

But we knew that we were better off.

I was needing creativity and motivation.
I feel that I have found it.
I do feel much happier.
I have finally wrote a manuscript that I am so proud of.
I am trying my hand at one of my other hobbies,
Photography, to see if I can build on it.

Those were things that I had on my check list.
Check
and
check

A thing that is hard for some to do
is to make that first blind step.
Pick up your foot and set it back down in unknown waters.
Once you do it though You may find that you are so glad you did.

So dream bigger, dream More,
and follow them to where ever they may take you.
You will find, it might just make
all the difference.

October Fun

October is here!
It is one of my favorite months.

One reason I like this month is because its my husband's birthday month!
Happy Birthday Babe.

a few of the pumpkins from last year

We have very much enjoyed Halloween the past few years.
Before moving here last year we did have a tradition.
We would attend the trunk-a-ween
then go home and hand out candy to most of the same kids
we had just seen.

Actual picture of our maze in town

Our family started a tradition 3 years ago that we all

now look forward to.

We have a pumpkin carvin party.

Even adding a costume contest last year.

This year we are not allowed to use the patterns

you can pick up at Walmart.

I am hoping to get to the corn maze soon.

Who wouldn't want to try to get lost in a giant corn maze?

The leaves are falling and harvest festivals abound!
Getting ready for a new year.

Speaking of new.
My husband and I are trying to start a photography business.
I am excited for this venture and hope we get to
help families make memories that will last them a lifetime.

Enjoy this beautiful fall season!

Poor me..

I get so annoyed  when people throw themselves a pity party.

Get off your butt and do something about it.
The longer you sit there in that chair and wine about it
the longer it will be before you are happy.


I have learned of Poor Me Syndrome.
Oh boy, is this for real?
It now has a title?

This way of thinking is so completely unhealthy.
It definitely leads to depression.
My thoughts on it and how to pull your self out are
as follows:

When someone offers advice and ideas.
The least you can do is check on it.
Try it out.
Come up with your own ideas as well.

But whatever you do,
DO NOT just say,
I can't.
NO.
No one will help me.

Help your self.
Give it a try.
Call and ask questions.
IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK.

It does how ever hurt to do nothing.
Who does it hurt?
It hurts YOU.

You and you alone.

Rise to the challenge.
Get out there and do your best.
You will feel great about your self afterwards.
Once you accomplished the feat,
even if you got a little help.
You will feel great.
You will have self worth.

But please give it a go,
before you jump on the
Can't train.

Because I refuse to ride CAN'T lines.
Can't goes no where.

I take the CAN DO trolley!

Never again

If today was your last day..

What would you do?
Would you be happy with what you have done?

Would you know you were the person you wanted to be?
Is there something you would change?

Did you do all that you wanted?

Would you call up old friends?
Would you pray?
Would you cry?
Would you be satisfied?

If knowing all these things you
could never do again what would you pick?

I would sing,
I would be proud of my son
and how I have raised him.
I think that I am happy with who I became.
If It was the last day there would be no time
to change anything. But I am satisfied and have made
my changes already.
No I did not do all that I wanted.
I want to travel.
I would not call up old friends because I
would play with my so and love my husband.
I would cry, because I always cry.
When I went to bed at night I would pray.
Just like I do every night before going to sleep.

I hope all of you know exactly what you would
do, if today was your last day.

Moving on.

We all have things in our life that sometimes we have to let go.
The question always is,  when is the right time
to move on?

Has your job been stressful for a while now?
Are you falling out with your friend?
Is that person you are dating really into you?
Does the town you live in have potential?

These are all very good questions.
And sometimes they float around in our heads.
For a while now, they might have been nagging at you.

Are you brave enough to answer them?
It does take an inner strength to be honest with ones self.


I have always been a strong willed person.
Which causes me to not be able to relate with those who aren't,
at times.

I just want to take a person and shake them.
Slap the wake up call right out of them.

I want to...But I didn't say that I do that.

When is the right time to move on?
Well I think everyone has to ask that and choose for them self.
But I would say for me the time would be when I no longer
feel that I am myself anymore.



If I could not recognize myself

then I need to fix that.
If I were very depressed and cried a lot.
That might be a good sign as well.

Personally when I decided that I needed a change
it was because I noticed a lot of anger in myself.
I would just yell out at someone for no reason.
*My poor dear husband, he had the brunt of it most the time.

But he bared with me, and we made a change.
Moving on doesn't mean moving away,
if you do not want that.
Move on from only the parts that is time for.

Do you have anything that needs to be left

on the road side while you happily walk away?

sometimes you have to put that burden down. 

Little things



Who says you can't go home?


Life takes us all places that we didn't know we would go.

We grow and change.
Leave home or stay,

Those who leave home
Hopefully can think fondly on it.

 My younger days were different
Simpler
Slower.

Dirty bare feet
Dirt roads
Cats and dogs



Sounds of dad working on an old beater
Mom hanging laundry on the line
Little brother or sister stealing your toys
Then running away as fast as their tiny feet can go.

Home still lives in songs and smells
Memories spring from even the littlest things

I went back home this weekend.
Its nice to see old friends and family.
It's also nice when even though I miss
everyone terribly,
I am still happy to come back to my new place.

There is a lot of poverty where we are from.
Which makes it hard to see.
But it feels good to grow and change.

If you have doubts I just would like to
encourage you.
It can be done.
You can enable a change in your life,
for the good.
For the betterment of your life.
Don't be scared.
With God all things are possible.

It is nice to have my memories too.

Has this happen to anyone else?

Karma

On occasion I watch a show called
My Name Is Earl.

Earl wholeheartedly believes in Karma.
Karma is the idea that what you put out there that is bad
will return to you in some form.
This is the New Age definition anyway.

I think it is probably a good philosophy to follow.
You know, if you don't do unto others,
they may do Bad things unto you.
So to speak.





Earl was a troubled man who was always doing what he wanted
even if it hurt others.
Until he was injured in a bad accident.
He realized his ways.
And now is on a quest to make up for all the wrong he did.

I believe if you do not live right,
that your life will not ever go the way it could.
You will have problem after problem arise.
You will maybe have "bad luck"

What do you believe?
Do you think Karma works this way?
 Or Do you believe Karma is who hash?

J is really Exercise in Disquise

Have you ever noticed how many things
that start with a J that are exercise related?

Well here's a few.



Jump

Get your best exercise on while Jumping.
I read that jumping on a re-bounder is the best thing
you can do.
It causes all of your muscles to tense and then relax.
So Rebound for 10 minuets 3 X a week and watch the fat
fade away!


Juggle

Let's learn a new hobby!
Juggling has to be a great way to get in shape.
Especially while you are still perfecting this one.
Think about all that sweating you will do
When you are chasing those balls that got away!



Jazz

Hey now that sounds like fun!
Get dressed up and got out dancing.
Loose some weight and feel great!
Jazz the night away
OR just sign up for some
Jazzercise!

Can you think of any more great ways
to get in shape with the letter J?
Or any of the other letters in the alphabet
would work  too!

This Instant!

I want it, and I want it NOW!

As most of you have noticed,
I think I have even mentioned it before,
The world has been completely spoiled!


From microwaves, to Keurig coffee makers,
we want everything to be instantaneous!


This is great,
and not so great.
We are pushing out the publishing world as we have known it.
Now with the addition of the E-book.


We want to sit lazily in our car and let a machine
wash the vehicle for us.


We hate sitting at car dealerships for hours.
Did I mention HOURS....


Instead of cooking a meal at home,
We go out.
It takes too long to cook?
Yes it does. When you are really hungry.


This past weekend as you all know I
celebrated my 30th birthday.
I had decided I wanted to make my cake.
And that it had to be fondant.


Anyone ever make a fondant cake?
Well believe me,
It's not instant.
It took My Mom, Sister, and Myself
working for around 4 hours in the kitchen.
Just to decorate it.


But it was worth the wait.
The double layer cake turned out beautifully!
So maybe Instant isn't always the best.

Not bad for our first cake made of fondant.
What do you think?

30 years young

I am taking a pause from the alphabet blogging today Because....
 I am turning 30!

 Me through the years.  Click the play button. 

Personalize a picture collage

I have had lots of  fun so far.
I have had a few not so fun moments as well.
All those moments though added up to make me,
ME. 

I have had at least 3 surgeries on my legs.
Gone to 2 different cities for visits to the Shriner's Hospital..
Worn several kinds of braces.
Sat in wheelchairs.
Walked with assistance from, (in order)
A rocking chair, walker, crutches, and now only one
hot pink crutch.

I have been pushed in a stroller at school.
Fallen out of a chair sideways and been left there
till the school called my parents to come pick me up.
Had other students walk over me, literally.
Made numerous friends.
Participated in the Special Olympics,
even placing 2nd in 2 categories.

No Granny, I still would not trade McDonald's
for the cold weather that day.
If I recall, I ate McDonald's on the way home anyway!
(I was in the 2nd grade and loved Micky D's)

I have stayed 4 weeks at the Shriner's Hospital in
Shreveport La. while getting therapy to recover from a major surgery.

I had the best physical therapist in the world.
I miss you Velma! See you in heaven one day,
and we will dance and dance.
I have been student council VP twice.
BPA President.
Got  to go to Canada with my French Club in high school.
Cruised on Friday nights.
Been a maid-of-honor 3 times, bridesmaid another.
Screamed at a horses butt on a Dark night driving through a field.
What? I thought it was a person..Haha!

I had a beautiful baby boy.
Who is not so baby anymore.
I have a great Husband.
Who has spoiled me rotten.

I ran the local Kiwanis Club Web-site.
I have been manager of a home health office.
Secretary for the Methodist Church.
Even made money selling various crafts.
Including Tote bags, Jewelry, Tee-shirts, Wedding Invitations and more.

  
Now days I love to sit on the Deck in my back yard, or
go for a swim with my family.
I love writing. From my blogs to manuscripts, even children's books.
I will always love shopping.
I am a sucker for Purses and shirts!

I have so far been a daughter,
Best Friend,
Wife,
Mother,
Cousin,
Auntie,
and a born leader.

I am looking forward to my Birthday bash
this weekend.
Thank you to each of you who have read my work.
To all of you who continue to support me!

Happy as Pie

Are you as happy as this cat?

Today I am asking you all to ask yourself,

Are you happy with your life?

Do you ask yourself on occasion if
You are happy or not?
Its a perfectly normal thing to do.
I think its required even.

If you never think about it ask yourself why not?

I have met some who just do not know

how to be happy.

They have never been in healthy families,

which resulted in un-healthy relationships.

That left them alone, and not knowing what it is even

like to be happy.

I am talking about fulfillment.

Not just your job.
Not just your home
Not just your town.

But your full rounded life.
Do you even have a full rounded life?

Make sure that you do

It is attainable.

Don't just have a great job.
Or a great house.

Its not living to only be happy with the car u drive.

Be happy! Period.

Know that you are 100% full and completely satisfied with your life.

If not what are you living for?
Are you living just for your job?

Do NOT settle.
You CAN have it all.

HOW?
Set goals
Aim high
Reach for the ultimate happy.

The best job, best house, best spouse,
Dependable car, funest town, and all the other things you want.

All those things may not be your ultimate happy.

Just DON"T settle.

I hope you find it all.
I hope you live out loud!

Goodbye Soaps

As some of you may know,
All My Children is going off the air next week.
After almost 42 Years.

I only found this site today But I love it!!!
It is the PineValley Bulletin.
http://thepinevalleybulletin.blogspot.com/

I turn 30 the last day the show will get air time
on the Alphabet network.
It is bitter-sweet that it will end on my
birthday.
I may be one of very few who are so young that love my
SOAPS so much.
I have told you all before that due to my physical disability
I grew up in front of the television.

One of the reason I enjoy them is because I also
love to read, and soaps are like a book series that
never ended...
Until now.

Right now the two Soaps are at thier best in my opnion.
So many beloved characters are returning.
They have heated up the canvas.
Story lines are great right now.
So why couldn't they have done this before
getting the ax?



One Life To Live is also soon to follow,
leaving in January.
A lot of the characters are leaving already.
A couple Weeks ago a long time favorite left.
Dorian Lord,(née Cramer; formerly Callison, Santi, Vickers, Hayes, and Laurence)
I loved the goodbye tribute she received.
Even getting locked in a room one more time
with her long time Frenemy Vikki.

http://youtu.be/EMP-jgsoqzw
here is the final scenes between them,
With great flash backs.

You can watch episodes online.
Abc.com, hulu.com, and on
YouTube channels.

Prospect Park Productions will be taking over the 2 shows.
Moving them online to a hulu-Esq type website.
All My Children will have a 3 months clif-hanger before
it will be up for viewing online.

Will you be watching?
I know I will....

Free Bird

Everyone knows the song Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I was listening to it yesterday while playing Rock Band with the family.
I decided that the term can be open to interpretation.
The way I hear it, its just a cop out.

Its a man saying in as few words as possible
that he refuses to settle down.
He just can not. Because he can not change that hes a "FREE Bird"

I think it means that he Will not change.
"My husband says, "All men change if they are married."
Which reminded me of one of my favorite quotes.

A woman marries a man, thinking he will change.
But he doesn't.
A man marries a woman, thinking she will never change.
And she does.

I think that married men might try to grow,
I don't think they change much about themselves.
But they do love, and they adapt, because of that love.

It it sad to continue to always live your life as a free bird.
You never let anyone truly love you.
I think its because the "Free Bird" knows not how to truly love.
They do not want to be married, for they think of it as "tied down"
Which can in turn hurt the children if they ever have any.

Children do not understand the thoughts behind,
I can not change...
They only know that you left them.
You ran from them.

To "I can not change."
I say, Change is the only constant.

E-book

On the bright side, look at
all that space your saving!

E-books are the books of the future.

I am afraid we wont have new books to hold and to read

in 10-20 years time.

This is only made more clear with the closing of

Borders Book Store, that has been announced.

I love E-books, but I also love traditional books.

I love feeling the paper, smelling the new binding,

It is a good thing for the environment though.
No more excess of trees being cut.

Even Schools one day may issue all the students
iPads in which to hold all the books they will need.

Newspapers will be fully online as well.
As of now you can get your subscription on line
or in E-form. Just not the entire content.

Are you ready for the new age?
Will you abandon reading for pleasure all together?
Or will you join in and get your own Kindle or other E-reader device.

Determination wears sneakers

Today I am up to the letter D.
I would like to show you Determination.
Determination can be present in many ways in your life.
It helps to use it wisely.
Put it to work for you in ways that will help you
to achieve all your goals.

To show you I want to talk about a very determined person.

I have told you once about my lovely cousin, Julie
who is running with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training.
She is running to raise money for the society.
She asked me if I would interview her for her Fundraising blog.
I of course said yes.
The link for it is here
Im-a-Runner

I love this cause, it touches home for me.
I lost my father to cancer when I was only 16.
It was the hardest thing I have ever gone through.
I think that says a lot being born with a physical handicap.

I have never let that slow me down, I still have limits though.
I wish I could join Julie in this endeavor that she has embarked on.
So I am showing my support by this blog.
I encourage you to donate and help with the fight.

We have all had family member and loved ones who
have fought this disease and Won or Lost.

Here is the link again to donate and Help Julie
Reach her Fundraising goal.
If you feel the tug to help please do so.
http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntxok/Whiterck11/jkimble

And I just want to add to Julie what an inspiration you are to those around you. Your light shines brightly to all who meet you. I hope the best for you in your goals both personal and in your fundraising.

Cowboys live 8 Seconds at a Time

I had a major thing for cowboys when I was in high school.
It all started with a certian one.
LANE FROST

Love this photo of Lane

I have been watching movies lately that I had not seen
In Years.
The latest I watched is 8 seconds.
Love that movie!

I was surprised that I still knew all the words
to the poems that Cody wrote.
(Cody is not a poet and did not write the poems that were in the movie)
Yes I knew most of the words to the rest of the movie too.

Although not as many as Dirty Dancing.
That is a movie I can quote word for word.

In my opinion Lane Frost had a huge impact on the world.
Wheather it was those who hearts he touched that loved him.
or the movie watchers who only knew his legacy.
He reached out and made a difference.

Here is a great site I found with lots of info on Lane and the movie
http://www.lanefrost.com/home.htm

8 Seconds Movie Poster

One of my favorite parts of the movie is the poem at the end.
It was titled Cowboy is his name for the movie.
I have learned that it is actually a shortened version of
"Legacy of a Rodeo Man" by Baxter Black.
You can go here to read the full Poem
http://www.cowboypoetry.com/bb.htm#Legacy

But I am going to put the movie version here.
I hope you love it as much as I do.

Cowboy Is His Name                                 

There's a hundred years of history
and a hundred before that
All gathered in the thinkin'
Goin' on beneath this hat.

The cold flame burns within him
'Til his skin's as cold as ice
And the dues he paid to get here
Are worth every sacrifice.

All the miles spend sleepy drivin'
All the money down the drain,
All the 'if I's' and 'nearly's,'
All the bandages and pain,

All the female tears left dryin',
All the fever and the fight
Are just a small down payment
On the ride he makes tonight.

It's guts and love and glory,
One mortal's chance at fame.
His legacy is rodeo
And cowboy is his name.
                                         ©Baxter Black