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Friday, November 27, 2009

Any Guy's Need An Excuse Not to Help Out?

Yes, I know I'm on a break but when I found this Thanksgiving story, just had to share the link so you can all have a good chuckle!

You guys out there looking for an excuse not to help out with the cooking during the holidays, send your wives over to Carl's Place  and see what happened when he decided to help out Lol!

Enjoy!!

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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of Thanksgiving,  I will be taking a short break returning on Monday, November 30.
Hope you all have a Wonderful Holiday!



Pssst:  What I really want to say is, "Take notes", can't wait to read your blogs after the family has finally gone back home!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Wordless Wednesday

Again my version of Wordless Wednesday and just like last time, there will be words!!

From this:




To this:




No longer an excuse for any reporter or camera crew to show up at my door unannounced looking for an interview!  If you missed that post, you can check it out Here.


Happy Wednesday!

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Bedtime and Baby Games


Getting our 3 1/2 year old to bed was a nightmare until my husband and I stumbled upon a game that we now play only at bedtime that has her running up the stairs and jumping into bed while laughing hysterically.

It all started one evening as I was carrying her off to bed. For a change, her father decided that he was going to be the one to take her up but when he came towards us, I pretended that I wanted to keep her all to myself.  With me running away while carrying her and him hot on our heels grabbing for her, we raced up the stairs while she squealed and giggled all the way.

Once upstairs, she scrambled to get under the covers and away from her father.  A few minutes later, he said his "good nights" and left while I stayed behind to tell her a story and settle her down. After about half an hour, she was fast asleep and I was able to slip out of her room.

At the time, I remember thinking that this was the easiest bedtime I could remember.  We would definitely be trying this again.

Right on cue the next evening, as I scooped her up to take her to bed my husband jumped from his chair and came toward us. Just like before, she started to giggle and couldn't wait for the chase. Up the stairs we ran together where she jumped right into her bed and snuggled up under the blankets.

Six months later and she still loves this bedtime game so much, she is the one who wants to play it most nights. Okay, so I'm behind on potty training but at least I have bedtime figured out.

And yes, I know that our days of getting away with this are numbered but in the meantime, I can't help but wonder what the neighbors are thinking when they see us running by the windows every night yelling "My baby!"

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Where The Hell Is My Camera!

There is nothing like tying up the garbage, puttering outside in your pajamas on the way to the garbage bin at the curb and then witnessing a ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT!!!

No camera, no nothing, just this stunned momma with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, looking like Hell, jaw hanging open while a jogger all dressed in silvery white sprints down the street towards her house carrying the OLYMPIC TORCH!!

For f@#$ sake!  It wasn't even 8:15 in the morning! Yes, I know the Olympics are being held in Western Canada and this torch is making its way across the county, Yes, I knew the torch was in town but any reasonable person would have expected that torch to be taking the main street out of town, not via our out-of-the-way road along the harbor and not at this hour in the morning! Of all the times to be caught in my pj's and especially without a camera!

I didn't really care that I looked like a train wreck, that's kinda the look I go for these days but there was no way I was going to be able to run into the house, grab my camera, get the thing fired up and take a photo before that torch was out of sight. Maybe if buddy had been walking but these guys are moving!

Okay, I admit it. I let out a shriek, threw the trash bag into the air, went flying into the house at full speed while nearly ripping the back door off its hinges, grabbed my camera and whipped back the curtains to at least try to get a shot out the window. I Managed to snap two pictures before that torch was past my neighbor's house and out of sight.  Don't you just love that automatic focus! Look at how the outside screen on my window is was what my camera  thought I wanted photographed instead of the torch going past!

If you look closely though, you will see just the smallest blurry hint of yellow glowing near the center of the first photo at the end of my neighbor's driveway. He was almost in front of my neighbors front porch in the second photo, just the slightest glow past the big tree. I bet these are the two worst photos ever taken of that torch!








Thought you guys would get a laugh out of my poor, pathetic attempt.  Sorry guys, I guess if I spent less time on the computer and more time keeping up with the local news, I'd have been at the ready when that little gem of a torch went sailing by! Who knows, I might have even gotten dressed and combed my hair!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Let's Get The Party Started!

Another great couple of weeks blogging and oh I love it when awards come my way.  There is nothing better in bloggyland than receiving recognition from fellow bloggers.  Puts a big smile on my face every time I get that thumbs up.

Just like the last award show I hosted, the same rules apply here.

All of tonight's recipients will receive their awards with NO STRINGS attached.  Do with them what you like, flaunt them on your blog, pass them on, tell us about yourself, whatever you want.  Now that I'm in menopause, I get to make my own rules and after all it's my show!

I was tickled when Erin from The Mother Load honored me with the 2009 Friendly Blogger Award.  If you haven't visited Erin's blog yet, go and check it out! Erin is the mother of twin girls and I guarantee you, there is never a dull moment at her place!



I would like to pass this lovely award on to Kalynn of Kacklin' with KaLynn.  Check out her blog the minute you get the chance,  always something interesting and KaLynn is full of surprises!


I get a real kick out of Zenmom and was tickled to receive the From Me To You Award from her.  Who doesn't appreciate a pretty bouquet of flowers and I can tell you, I never get them from hubby!  If you aren't already following Zenmom, here is her link,  Zen and the Art of Motherhood.  She is funny and clever and worth the visit!






I can't think of anyone I would rather give a bouquet of flowers to than my sister Bev at Theological Musings.  If you love New Age and exploring your Spiritual side, Bev has a very thought provoking blog. Always on my list to check out the minute I see a new post.  Sure hope this bouquet makes up for at least a little of the trauma you have endured for being my sister!

Bev has a fantastic sense of humor and I hope I can convince her to let loose some of it by doing a few guest posts for me!  I'll let you know if I can talk her into it, might take a bottle of wine or two but well worth it if I can get her to play along!


Tara at The Life of a Newly Wife thought I deserved to be recognized with the Kreative Blogger Award, I love the pretty roses on this one, thanks Tara and I hope everyone will take a few minutes to visit Tara and see what she's been up to!






This lovely award will be passed on to Anita of Beyond the Diapers and Spills.  I love her thoughtful posts and she gives the best comments.  Make sure to check her out and don't be shy about pressing that follow button while you are there or while visiting any of the gals mentioned today!

It was so cool to receive the Lemonade Award three times!  F 8 Has It,  Noelle of Elastic Waistbands and Comfortable Shoes and Lisaloo at One Step at a Time all honored me with this award and I hope if you are not already following these gals that you'll jump over and check out their blogs!






This lovely little gem will be passed on to Respectfully Yours of  Here Is What I Think.  I'm proud to say that she is a fellow Canadian and so hilarious.  Definitely someone who has learned to make lemonade from lemons!  Witty, charming, clever and oh so funny.  Please check her out, I promise you will be laughing out loud!

Another cool award I received is the Kacklin' with KaLynn and if you haven't discovered KaLynn, go check her out.  Want to Kackle?  Don't let those leggings and broom scare you off, go on over! By the way KaLynn, I'm loving the boots!






And lastly, Maureen of Island Roar honored me with the Best Blog Award! BTW, if you haven't been over to Maureen's place, be sure to click on the link and check out what's shaking!

Who wouldn't blush when receiving this little beauty!  Love the recognition and like I said before, nothing better than getting that thumbs up from my blogging buddies!



Lee, I know you have this a gazillion times but you really do have the best blog!  Love reading your posts and I check for them the minute I get that morning cup of java poured!  How else could I manage to get near the top of your comment page on a regular basis?  I want you to accept this award and just do whatever you want with it. After all, you are the Queen and here is one more jewel for your crown!  BTW, if any of you don't know Lee, check out her blog Hormones Headaches and Hot Flashes and be sure to click that follow button.  I promise you will thank me!!!

And that wraps up another terrific award show.

Turn down the lights, pour yourselves a drink, crank up the tunes and let's dance!

Friday, November 20, 2009

WTF Friday


I've decided that I need to come up with a theme that gives me a place to bitch on a regular basis so without further ado, let me introduce you to:

WTF Friday


Might be one long bitch session or rant, could be a break down of several annoyances that have accumulated all week or an injustice or rip off.  Like the idea?  Then join in and let the bitching begin!

So here is my first official post for WTF Friday!

Bursting That Orange Juice Bubble

With all the talk of H1N1 and the cold season approaching, parents are flocking to the grocery stores stocking up on Vitamin C packed cartons of 100% Pure Orange juice.  But before you dig out your wallet and fork over your hard-earned money, do yourself and your budget a favor and read on.

Have you ever wondered how "fresh" orange juice can be available during all 12 months of the year when the popular Florida Valencia oranges are only in their prime during the months of March until June?

If you read from the cartoons of brands like Tropicana and Minute Maid, you will see the words "Natural, Pure and Squeezed from Oranges" just to name a few.  If you watch their television commercials, you will see that refrigerator door open up into a grove of pristine looking orange trees where the farmer will pass through a carton of his finest, fresh orange juice. Problem is, they leave out what happens between that grove and refrigerator.

Now for a little Orange Juice Storage 101

When you compare prices at the supermarket, many of us believe that by spending that extra $2 or $3 for pasteurized juice over the frozen tube you add water to, you are getting a better product. Right?... Wrong!  The truth is that this cost difference is not in the making of the product but rather in the cost to store it. Right now, the popular storage method of pasteurized orange juice, ie that refrigerated carton, is Aseptic Storage. This process involves stripping the juice of oxygen so it doesn't oxidize while sloshing around in those huge storage vats where it can be stored for a full year. The "from concentrate" on the other hand, is a real space saver during storage.

Ever wonder how they manage to keep the flavor consistent from one carton to the next as well as all year round?

Here's where it gets really interesting. When pasteurized orange juice is stripped of that pesky oxygen before being stored, it also loses all of its flavor. So guess what the juice companies did? They hired flavor and fragrance companies just like the ones who develop those $100 perfumes, to "engineer" flavor packs to add to this sugary and tasteless "juice".  These flavor packs not only make the juice taste fresh, but also make it taste how we "expect" fresh orange juice to taste.

The reason we don't see Flavor packs listed on the label is because they fall just under that thin line of being an ingredient. Technically, they are derived from orange essence and oil, sounds "natural", doesn't it. These flavor packs, whether made for reconstituted or pasteurized orange juice do not resemble anything found in nature. As a matter of fact, the packets used in the production of most orange juice being marketed in North America usually contain high amounts of ethyl butyrate, a chemical in the fragrance of fresh squeezed orange juice. Each market, be it American, Mexican, or wherever has a different palate so each flavor pack is designed to appeal to the specific country where the juice is to be sold.

These individual formulas give each brand their trademark taste which is why it remains consistent regardless of when the oranges were at their peak of freshness. For the most part, all flavor packs share the same source of inspiration, that perfect Florida Valencia orange in spring.

So next time you are in the grocery store picking up that expensive carton of pasteurized orange juice, don't be fooled by the picture of that straw sticking out of a perfect orange on the label. Take a minute, close your eyes and then picture that straw sticking out of a bottle of Chanel No. 5.

There, now that's more like it!



Thursday, November 19, 2009

Going My Way?

I was doing a little online research the other day and somehow ended up on a page with lots of lame pick-up lines. I couldn't help but laugh when reading them and thought you might get a kick out them too.

Of course, it got me thinking about my own dating days and two incidents that still make me laugh twenty some years later.

The first was back in the early 1980's, I was at my favorite club dancing to all the New Wave tunes while wearing my pointed spike heels. After four or five songs in a row, I had to give my poor aching feet a break so I went to sit down and have a drink. While I was sitting there, this guy comes up to me and asks me to dance. With my feet aching and my shoes off under the table I politely declined by saying "No Thank You." But before I could tell him my feet were aching and I would love to dance after a short break,  he said to me

"Don't thank me, thank God someone asked you to dance"

He then turned on his heel and left. Okay, not really a pick-up line but a statement that got me laughing and within a few weeks, Mike and I were good friends and dance buddies.

The second was in the late 1980's, I was at a bar walking through the crowds when I felt a hand on my butt. I turned around and this guy says to me with the biggest smile I've ever seen

"That was me, I just put my phone number in your back pocket, you've got until Friday to use it."

Who could keep a straight face after that.  It wasn't long before Marco and I became great dance buddies but I never did use that infamous number.

Just for fun, here are some of the lines I found that night while surfing the net:

I've heard sex is a killer. Want to die happy?
Excuse me, but I'm new in town, can I have directions to your place?
Can I buy you a drink or would you just prefer the five bucks?
Am I cute enough yet or do you need more to drink?
You know what would look great on you? Me!
Can I read your T-Shirt in brail?
Do you believe in the hereafter? Well, then I guess you know what I'm here after.
The body is made up of 90% water and I'm thirsty.
Baby, you must be tired because you've been running through my mind all night!
That's a nice shirt.  Can I talk you out of it?

Sure makes me glad I'm out of the bars!

What are the funniest lines you've heard or used?  Care to share? Leave a comment!


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows by now that I have far too much mouth to ever be "wordless" (let's just blame it on the menopause).  Just the same, thought it would be neat to share a photo with as few words as I can manage.

The other morning, it was so gorgeous outside, I grabbed my camera and took a photo of how lovely the white caps were on the water.  This is looking straight out from our front porch, I love to sit out here in the warm weather and drink my coffee just taking in this incredible view.





When I feel like going for a walk, there is a wooden boardwalk that goes along the harbor just across the street and the park shown.  Perfect place to be on a warm Summer evening although that seems like a long way off now with the onset of Fall.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Kicking Bad Habits Two At A Time

With all the stop-smoking aids on the market these days, it's a wonder anyone still feels compelled to light up. I nearly fell over when I was told that the price of a pack of cigarettes is now over $9!!! My God!  Where do people get the money to buy these things and then just set them on fire?!

Many years ago when I smoked, they had just gone up to $1 per pack when I decided to draw the line in the sand. My six years of smoking had turned into a one and a half pack daily habit and now $1.50 per day at that rate.  Comical now 25 years later but at the time, that $1.50 had meaning!

Nicorette gum had just hit the market and I can tell you from experience, the taste of it could be compared to licking a dirty ashtray. It was disgusting and I knew this was not going to work for me. No way I'd put another stick of that rancid gum in my mouth, a cigarette? Now that was not a problem!  So I kept smoking and then the next increase hit. Wow! Up to a whole $1.10 per pack!

At the time of that increase, I was going out with an unemployed drunk. He smoked too and got his nicotine in the form of bumming cigarettes from me. After all, I was the one who dragged my ass out of bed each day to go to work and earn the money that paid the rent, the car, the groceries and bills. He laid around the apartment and anyone he could find while I was at work.

When I told him that this increase to $1.10 was my breaking point and I would not be smoking any longer, he went into overdrive trying to prevent me from quitting. After all, if I wasn't smoking, who was he going to bum off of? So the next month turned into a power struggle with him trying everything he could think of to get me to smoke and me being too stubborn to give in to him.

With a lot of determination, I managed to kick both habits, him probably being the worse of the two.  When anyone asks how I quit smoking 25 years ago before all of the modern-day aids, I can tell them with complete honesty "For Spite!".

Worked like a charm and I don't think there is such a thing as a bad reason to quit smoking!


Saturday, November 14, 2009

English Muffin Survey

With all the things that a couple can agree not to agree on, you wouldn't think that how to open an English Muffin would be one of them.

I'm hoping that by doing a survey, you guys will be just the right mix to help settle the score for us.  I won't tell you who does it which way but here are the two methods used in our home.






A.  Carefully slice it with a sharp knife into two equal halves.

B.  Take a fork and pierce it all the way around the outside and then open it up creating two equal halves.

I know that I could just as easily put a stop to the ongoing debate by buying pre-sliced ones but thought it would be more fun to see how the rest of you open them.

If it turns out I've been doing this wrong my entire life, I'd rather admit it to you guys than my hubby any day!

So tell me, how do you open an English Muffin? With a knife or a fork?

Murphy's Law 101

Don't you wonder sometimes about Murphy's Law, the way it manages to throw every obstacle possible in your path to hold you up when you are in a hurry?

Yesterday afternoon, my hubby arrived home early from work so once he took over watching our 3 1/2 year old, I was out the door for a little "Me Time" and to do a little shopping. Nothing unusual about that is there?

So I get most of my chores done and while picking up a few groceries notice that ice cream and popsicles are both on sale.  Really good sale too so I plunk down two cartons of ice cream (my hubby's favorite, I don't eat it) and 3 boxes of popsicles into my shopping cart.

While I'm puttering around the grocery store, I notice that there is hardly anyone around and when I get to the cash, I can see why.  Only about 6 cashes out of a possible 15 are open and the line ups are ridiculous.  Where is the manager when this happens?  On break?  Certainly not rounding up people to get their cash registers buzzing!

So I wait in line looking at the ice cream and popsicles hoping I can at least get through this long line before they start to melt.  After what seems like 30 minutes, it's finally my turn. Well, no wonder it took 30 minutes.  This cashier is examining everything she scans and then fumbling like crazy trying to fit everything like a tetris game into my cloth grocery bags (yes, I'm environmentally conscious but this is nuts!)

I finally get out of the grocery store with my ice cream and popsicles still intact. On my way home, I see our Dollar Store and think to myself, they are never busy, I'll just run in quickly and pick up some sketch pads for my daughter who draws endlessly.

I get a great parking spot, run in, it's not busy, I hurry down the stationery isle, grab 8 pads and run to the cash where they have 1 cashier working out of a possible 4 and there must be 12 people ahead of me. Where in Hell did they all come from?? The cash was empty I swear just 15 seconds ago!!

So I wait patiently all the while thinking of that ice cream and those popsicles out in the car. Finally an employee opens another cash and half of the people in front of me hurry over to her.  Good, well, not really.  I should have run over myself, they had all gone through and new people were lining up by the time I finally got to the front of my line. Instead of ringing me through though, she decides to total up her cash and make a deposit adding even more time to my wait. So I finally get out of there after what seems like a good half hour, jump into my truck feeling relieved that I can now get these frozen goodies home when I spot the gridlock ahead.

I swear, some idiot was parked in a non-parking space holding everyone up while still sitting behind the wheel acting totally oblivious to those of us who couldn't get by. I'm embarrassed to admit she was a woman. She sat there just as unconcerned as could be while the rest of were idling unable to go forward or back up because she was blocking the lanes. Finally someone crept through the blocked lane with probably less than 2" on either side and we were able to get out but she just sat there I'm sure wondering what all the fuss was about.

Thankfully that was my last hold up but after getting those groceries into the freezer, I had to laugh to myself at how so many things had held me up. You never know though, maybe it was just the Universe's way of making sure I didn't end up in the wrong place at the wrong time or maybe it just wanted a good laugh!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

What Would You Have Done?

Picture if you can, this Menopausal New Mom sitting at her computer enjoying her morning coffee while reading your blogs. Her 3 1/2 year old daughter is eating cereal and Dora is playing in the background. It's around 10:00 in the morning and the only grooming I have done so far is brush my teeth (I know, I'm lazy).  Yes, I'm sitting here in big old ugly unmatched PJ's, hair uncombed, face unwashed, eyes crusty, with my husband's heavy, gray flannel shirt over those ugly PJ's (did I mention there is actually a small hole in the arse of the bottoms?).

I am minding my own business when there is a knock at the door. After swearing under my breath that some outsider would dare interrupt my precious blog reading time, I get up and go the the door. There standing on my back doorstep along with his camera man (no, it's not Oprah) is a reporter from our local news station. Yes, I'm serious! They had been out driving around looking for some slob who has a pile of chopped up wood in their driveway and because my husband is too lazy busy to actually pile ours up, they picked us.






After regaining my balance (did I mention I nearly fell over?), as stupid as it sounds, I asked the reporter for ID because he doesn't look familiar to me. While he is digging it out, I look around the corner of my home and there in the driveway sporting huge letters advertising their television channel is the van. ID presented.

They ask for my permission to film the messy pile of wood in the driveway so I say "Okay", then they ask if they can film our wood stove where the wood is burned.  I say "No problem but let me clean it up first." (we had used it the night before so there were wood crumbs on the tile and the glass was a bit smoked up). They wait, I clean, then they ask, "How about you light it for us so we can get a shot of that for our story?" Okay, I'll light it.  "How about a picture of you lighting it?" That's where I started to draw the line.

"Wait a minute, how much of me are you going to shoot?" After going back and forth with them, I make them promise to film only my dried out, chapped hands. They agree. So they get that shot. While we are doing all of this, we are chatting and it turns out there have been complaints in our one-horse town about people burning garbage and plastic in their fireplaces. This story was being done in the hopes of educating those birdbrains on safe burning practices.

To this I can take a bow because we are the poster-couple for safe burning, we use only dry, seasoned wood, we light with birch bark, we have purchased the most efficient wood stove on the market to create the least amount of smoke blah, blah, blah.  While we are chatting, the reporter is telling me that these are exactly the points they want to make in their story so would I agree to an on-camera interview.

Okay, wait a minute. Not only have I not combed my hair this morning, I haven't been to the hairdresser to have it colored or cut since last January. I know, I have already made an appointment for tomorrow but this is today! I'm serious, they tried every trick and every lie in the book in the hopes I would throw my vanity out the window and agree to be interviewed.

So you know what I did? I waited for my husband to come home for lunch which he thankfully did around 11:00 and got him to do the interview. After all, he's the one who was actually showered and dressed and he's the reason they stopped at our house in the first place, ie that messy pile of wood.

So be honest, what would you have done? Would you have blown off you own vanity for the opportunity to be on TV even if you looked like shit on a stick crap???

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

A Theta Mom Moment

In keeping with the theme of what makes us all Theta Moms , I thought it would be fun to share this photo with you.

Only a Theta Mom (The True, Authentic Mom) would hand over her $20 make-up brush when her 3 1/2 year old misplaced her paintbrush!



Can't wait to see what color I get next time I line my eyes with it!

If you capture a Theta Mom moment, why not do a post and share it with us.  Don't have a camera handy? Leave a comment and tell us about it. And don't forget to check out all the posts on what makes each of us a Theta Mom and be sure to link up with Heather, grab a tag and do a Theta Mom post yourself!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Top Three List





A couple of years ago, I watched an Oprah show where she talked about the benefits of keeping a Gratitude Journal. With the chaos of a new baby around, I didn't give it much thought but now that I'm keeping a blog, I'm going to record my Top Three Best Moments three or four times a month (hopefully I'll have that many!).

By having it here where I can find it (menopause brain), I can read it when I'm having one of those "Days From HELL" to remind me of some great moments.

So here's my first post with last week's picks:

#3 - Took my 3 1/2 year old daughter shopping for her Winter Boots and found them at the first store we went to ON SALE  (made in North America too!)

#2 - Hubby hugged me and told me the yoga must be working, I looked like I had lost some weight! (okay so I know this was probably just a lame attempt to butter me up for later but it's still nice to hear)

Coming in at #1, My Favorite Moment from the past 7 days:

My daughter climbed up on to my lap, threw her arms around my neck and said "I love you mommy!"
Nothing could have topped this :))

Hope you all had a great week, want to share?  Leave a comment!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Let the Show Begin!

It's been another great blogging week for this Menopausal New Mom and I have to say that I was tickled to receive three more awards.  Time to take my bow and then pass them on but this time, with a twist - All awards presented tonight are being given WITHOUT strings (Hey, I'm menopausal which earns me the right to do what I like!).

Take them, leave them, answer the questions or not, do what you like with them but you all deserve to be recognized for how much you contribute to this great blogging community of ours.

I want to thank Martha from  The Daily Grind  for presenting me with the Your Blog is Over The Top Award.  I love following Martha and it feels like I have gone on many a road trip with her and Tara.  If you haven't had the pleasure, take a few minutes and see what Martha's been up to.









If you want to follow the rules of this award, they are as follows:
Answer the questions below using only one word
Thank the blogger who gave it to you
Pass it on to 6 of your favorite bloggers

First, let me answer the questions:

1. Where is your cell phone?....Purse
2. Your hair? ......Brown
3. Your mother? ......Resilient
4. Your father?.....So-So
5. Your favorite food? ......Thai
6. Your dream last night?.....None
7. Your favorite drink?....Wine
8. Your dream/goal? ..... 95
9. What room are you in? ......Family
10. Your hobby? ...... Vintage Jewelry
11. Your fear? ..... Flying
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?......Home
13. Where were you last night?.....Home
14. Something you aren't?.....Dishonest
15. Muffins? ..... Chocolate
16. Wish list item? ......Jaguar
17. Where did you grow up?...... New Brunswick
18. Last thing you did?......Eat
19. What are you wearing? ......PJ's
20. Your TV? .....On
21. Your pets? ......... deceased
22. Your friends? ...... comical
23. Your life?...... changing
24. Your mood? ......content
25. Missing someone? ..... YES
26. Vehicle? ...... SUV
27. Something you're not wearing? ...... Bra
28. Your favorite store? ......Paderno
29. Your favorite color? ...... Blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? ......Today
31. Last time you cried? .....??
32. Your best friend?...... Karen
33. One place that I go over and over? ...... Cottage
34. One person who emails me regularly?....... Sister
35. Favorite place to eat? ....... Restaurant

Now, on with the presentations!

Traditionally, this prestigious award should be passed on to six people although I have selected four blogs whose writers I think are definitely Over The Top.

So everyone, please stand while  Lee The Hot Flash Queen  enters the auditorium and takes center stage to accept the Over The Top Award.

For those of you who are not familiar with the protocol required when in the presence of royalty, please note the following:

Stand when the queen is entering the room.  While it is not expected or required, men may bow their heads and women may perform a small curtsy.  If Queen Lee extends her gloved hand to you, simply touch it briefly noting that a firm handshake is discouraged.

Chewing gum is not permitted nor is turning your back when leaving her presence.  Please back away slowly regardless of how hot your butt looks in those jeans (unless she asks to see it!).

Lastly, if you are not already following Hormones Headaches and Hot Flashes, you are required to do so IMMEDIATELY!

Once Queen Lee has left the stage with her award and been properly escorted back to her throne, would the following three bloggers please take the stage in order to receive the three remaining Over-the-Top Blog Awards:


Modern Mom
Pearl, Why You Little...
Kys of Stir-Fry Awesomeness

I love following all of these blogs and many a post has been way OVER THE TOP!  I promise they are worth following!

Moving on to the second award, I want to thank Sandra at Real Life In A Minute for honoring me with the Superior Scribbler Award and if you haven't taken a peek at her blog, please check it out!





For those who want to follow the rules of this award, they are as follows:

Pass the Award on to 5 Bloggy Friends (I've chosen 3)
Link to the author and name the blog from whom he/she has received the award
Display the Award on your blog
Post the rules of this Award on your blog

So, would the following 3 blog authors please take a bow while being honored with the Superior Scribblers Award:

Blue Violet of A Nut In A Nutshell
Buckeroomama
Heather of Theta Mom

I love following these gals and they each have their own unique twist on writing their posts.  If you're not already following them, get to it!

The final award I received was the Best Blog Award so I would like to thank Tami of Hearts Make Families for presenting it to me.  Tami has a great writing style so if you haven't checked out her blog yet, please do and don't forget to follow her.  Never a dull moment!





In passing on this award, I have selected One Special Recipient.

So would Jacki of Jacki's Bento Blog please come forward. Jacki's blog is loaded with fun bento lunch ideas and darling little cupcakes.  Her blog photos are so cute and so original, they were recently published in a brand new cookbook.  If you're looking for unique lunch ideas or some great cupcake recipes and decorating ideas, check her blog out and don't be shy about pressing that follow button once you're there!

And that concludes the presentation portion of our award ceremony this evening.

Everyone, please lift your glass and give a toast to these terrific gals.

APPLAUSE PLEASE!

Again ladies, these awards are bestowed upon you WITHOUT strings.  You may follow the tradition of passing them on or answering the questions but only if you want to. They have been presented here so they can be displayed on your blogs if you can find the space!

You are all so deserving regardless of what you choose to do with them or how many times you have already received them!





































Thursday, November 5, 2009

Hair Secrets?

A couple of weeks ago, I caught an Oprah show featuring Chris Rock who was promoting his latest movie.  Because I think he is just about the funniest guy on the planet, I decided to tune it.  Leave it to Chris Rock to find a way to make women and our hair traumas a comedy!

After watching that show, I got to thinking about my own crowning glory. I have spent years fighting with it, trying everything available on the market in the hopes of forcing it to act in a way that Nature had never intended. Years of trying to coax it to curl with old 1980's perms that left my scalp feeling like there were flames shooting out of my head, coloring it crazy shades when I was in my late teens.  BTW, I did this back when it was cool and there were no hair salons that could do this professionally.

We had to find our own colorants and my choice was dark green liquid food coloring which turned my natural dark brown hair a sickening olive green shade. I still remember showing up for work sporting what was considered at the time outrageous hair and having my boss ask what had happened to it.  I loved having this rebellious shade and kept it like that until it eventually faded out.

Years later when I was in my mid 30's, my stylist decided it was time to do a much needed intervention.  My addiction? Perms.  She was happy to continue the coloring for me but the combination of both processes was ruining my super fine hair.  Man that was a toughy for me.  How would I get any body in my hair without a perm?!  Well, after much persuasion, I caved in and passed on the perm.  That's when I discovered foils and highlights!

Right up until my daughter was born, I had kept up the routine of cut, color and foils every six to eight weeks after finally allowing my stick-straight hair to be just that.  So when I heard Chris Rock exclaim with surprise that he had discovered that no white woman has her own natural color, I wanted to stand up and shout, "Look over here.  This IS my natural color!"  Am I the only one out here who hasn't been to the hair salon for months?

It was January when I had my last semi-perm color and foils which would have washed down the drain months ago.  Yes, there are a few gray stands poking through my dark brown hair and it has grown so long, I have to wear it in a ponytail.

No Cut. No Color. No Foils. No Anything except me hacking at my bangs with dull scissors since January.  But guess what!?  I have made my appointment and I'm back in the salon chair next Thursday night!

Hold that Perm, but Cut, Color and Foils, HERE I COME!

So is anyone else brave enough to comment on their own hair secrets and traumas?

Monday, November 2, 2009

Dim the Lights And Let the Show Begin!

Last week was a terrific week for me!  I was so surprised to receive three great awards and I'm so tickled to have been chosen at all being so new to all this.  If you read my post on Blogging for Dummies, you know that I'm a bit (or should I say VERY) computer challenged.  If I don't link properly or mess this post up BIG TIME, please cut me a little slack.  I'm learning!

So now it's time for me to pass (or should I say, TRY to pass) along these fabulous awards.

First one received was the Best Blog Award from Kimi at So Many Kids So Little Time .  By the way, if you haven't checked out her blog, stop right now and go check it out! And if anyone knows of the "Sweet as Sugar Pie Award", Kimi deserves it for being such a sweetheart to help me with the technical mumbo jumbo so I can attempt to pass these awards along to other deserving gals.  I promise Kimi, if I manage to figure out how to create an award, this one is at the top of my list just for you!

I know there are rules but I've selected five recipients instead of the traditional 15 for this one, hope no one minds, I'm still learning my way around here and these are the five blogs that I think are absolutely terrific:

Gals, do what you like with them but this award goes out to:








The traditional rules are:

*post this award on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

*Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you have recently discovered and think are great.  Remember to contact those bloggers you have awarded to let them know they have been chosen to receive the award.

The second award I received this past week was the Honest Scrap Award and it was received from both Modern Mom and Kimi.  Again check out Kimi's blog and be sure to stop by and see what Modern Mom is up to!





The Honest Scrap Award comes with some rules too.  In order to accept it you must list 10 honest things about yourself and then pass the award along to seven other bloggers.

So here is my list of 10 things:

#1  I am almost completely computer illiterate (which will explain any errors you note in this post);
#2  I dated every loser within a 200 mile radius before settling down with one of the nicest guys I've ever met (BTW, this process of elimination took me nearly 30 years!);
#3  We had our wedding in Napier New Zealand which may not sound exotic but for a white-trash gal from Eastern Canada, it was a Big Deal (no step kids there to ruin it either!);
#4  I am a white-knuckle flyer who looks perfectly calm on the outside while practically wetting my pants (did I mention I flew all the way to New Zealand and back to get married?);
#5  I love anything 1950's except maybe the greaser hair;
#6  I watch Coronation Street every week night alone after everyone has gone to bed;
#7  I have worn my hair in a ponytail every day since my daughter was born;
#8  I love popsicles and always have a box ahead in the freezer, even in Winter;
#9  I love my daughter more than anything even though I have been spotted smiling ear to ear while dropping her off at Early Learning School;
#10 I have a huge crush on Steven Tyler of Aerosmith (yes Steven, sadly you have been around so long that a lot of your fans are now in menopause);

So would the following terrific blog writers please step forward and take a bow while receiving both the Honest Scrap Award and the Lemonade Stand Award that follows:


I received the Lemonade Stand Award from 2 Toddlers and Me which is a terrific blog so be sure to check it out!



This awards comes with a set of rules too:

Put the lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
Nominate at least 10 blogs (I've chosen the same 7 as the Honest Scarp) with great attitude (I think this is why I received it) or gratitude
Link the nominees within your post
let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
link to the person from whom you received this award


Whew, think that about does it!  Raise your glass to these great gals and congratulations everyone!!

Deb



Sunday, November 1, 2009

So Now What?

With Halloween behind us for another year, I'm sitting here staring at two full, unopened boxes of chocolate treats. Why don't I learn NOT to buy the chocolates that I like? The kiddies are gone, some of the 100's of treats I purchased are gone with them, but what am I supposed to do with these leftover goodies?

I really should have opened these two boxes first and given them out. I know that I can't walk by Peanut Butter Cups without reaching for one and here I have a box that probably has, oh, about 15 or 20 in it!  Okay, so I can pass on the Smarties. I don't know what it is about them but they just don't taste as good as they did when I was a kid. The Kit Kats? I happen to be eating one right now while I'm typing this so just like my waistline, they will be disappearing soon.




And did any of the rest of you notice how stingy the bar companies have become this year?  These Halloween packs now hold treats that are about the size of a Pot of Gold chocolate. Not only are the treats smaller, but the boxes hold less of them.  Instead of 100, its 70 and instead of 75, it's 50. Worst of all, the price of these boxed treats is up from last year!

So I wonder if I can learn my lesson once and for all so that next Halloween, I buy only the candy that I DON'T like and not nearly as much!