Thursday Thirteen--Erma Bombeck

There's an email floating around that includes some thoughts by Erma Bombeck, entitled "If I Had My Life to Live Over." It was supposedly written after she found out she was dying from cancer. There are so many legends and myths floating around via email and cyberspace, you never know what is true and what isn't. That is my disclaimer of sorts, I suppose. Whether it's true that Erma Bombeck wrote these or not, I don't care. I like to think she did because I think she was a funny and wise woman. At any rate...there are some good insights in her list of things she'd do if she had to live life over. Here are 13 of my faves.

1. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.


2. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.


3. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa was faded.


4. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.


5. There would have been more "I love you's" and more "I'm sorry's".


6. Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.


7. I would have talked less and listened more.


8. I would have eaten the popcorn in the "good" living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.


9. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.


10. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.


11. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment & realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.


12. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."


13. But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it & really SEE it, LIVE it...& NEVER give it back!!!

To find out more about Thursday Thirteen, visit their official site. May you blessed by Erma's nuggets of wisdom!

WFMW--helping kids sleep

I have struggled with my kids sleep habits for years. I've blocked out those early days and middle of the night feedings, but up until recently, my 12 year old son could not go to sleep at night. He would often be up for an hour or more not able to go to sleep. My daughter was going to sleep, rather quickly, but she would wake up EVERY single night. Sometimes I would wake up and attempt to lay her back down. She almost always went to Dad's side of the bed, in which he may or may not lay her down. But more often than not, she would somehow end up in between us. We sometimes neither one remembered HOW she got there. Thing is, she ended up in our bed almost every night and she was about to turn 10. We tried to come up with some ideas, because it was getting crowded in our bed. Does Hubs go sleep on the couch the rest of the night? We even pulled in a cot and let her climb into her own separate bed in our room...how long could that last? I found this book on the Internet and bought it.




I was desperate and actually bought 3 books (it was one of those nights that my son couldn't go to sleep and I knew that my daughter was going to wake up...I was at my wit's end and tired so I pulled up the web for help). The other books were not that helpful, but Floppy Sleep Game, by Patti Teel, showed some promise. It had a 4 week plan in it and lots of very helpful suggestions. I wanted to follow that plan and see....I will admit I was so very skeptical. But, short of having my daughter still sleeping in bed with me when was 26, I wanted to give it a fair try. I waited until the right "timing" so that I could dedicate a FULL 4 weeks to plan. Right after my daughter's 10th birthday, the plan began. I really noticed a difference within a couple weeks. Here we are 8 months later and my daughter not only stays in her bed all night, she was listing some things she does well (bless her heart, her mom is a social worker) and included sleeping all night as one of her strengths. The book comes with a CD (but it also tells you how you can make your own sleep tape for your child) and my sweet girl wanted me to tell you all that she listens to it every night (when I told her that I was sharing this for WFMW). I would also like to add that my son goes to sleep better now, and I believe one of the biggest factors for that was our "No technology after 7 p.m." rule (translated, that means no TV, video games, or computer at least an hour before bedtime) which we implemented due to suggestions in this book. We got a little slack on that rule in the summer and....surprise! he had trouble going to sleep. I cannot tell you what a huge blessing this book has been for me and my house. My daughter went from waking EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to since then waking only a couple of times in the past 8 months(once she was sick and the other times she had a bad dream).



For more Works for Me Wednesday ideas, head on over to Rocks in My Dryer!

Weigh-in Tuesday

Is this the longest, slowest journey EVER or what? I gained 1/2 a pound this week. My body must really like being right around this weight and doesn't want to let go... Well, I will keep moving forward and try to become more vigilant about staying on program! I've had good days and bad days this week and it pretty much equals out, I suppose! Have a great week!

Have you tried these?

As a Weight Watcher, I am a big fan of Applebee's since they have the points calculated for you. But occasionally, I will deviate and try other restaurants. And Chili's is a yummy choice. They don't have very many low point options, even with their guiltless grill you can end up getting 10 to 14 point meals. So, what I am about to tell you...only "indulge" once in a while. Have you ever wanted something sweet at the end of the meal and order something that comes out HUGE and you either waste half of it or make yourself sick? Let me tell you about these Sweet Shots at Chili's. They are pretty small. They come out in shot glasses and is just enough to hit the sweet spot you are craving...and they are YUM-O! (The Dutch Apple Caramel and Strawberry Vanilla Cheesecake come out to 5 points each and the Seven Layers of Chocolate is 7 points). You don't have to ruin your diet to eat here, just use some of your extra points and be careful with your meal selection...until Chili's comes out with some slightly lower calorie (i.e. point) selections! If you aren't counting calories or points, try these babies anyway. They aren't a diet food at all and oh, so good!

SHS--Water

This week, I want to add to my list of SMART habits, drinking water. Just yesterday I was discussing with a friend of mine the many benefits of water. Did you know that if you aren't hydrated, you are prone to depression? I've posted a water tip in the past about how you make sure you get enough water. It worked for me when I was "religious" with my weight loss. Over the past year or so I have gotten more slack with the water drinking and not really knowing how much I drank. I have about 3 of these 64 ounce mugs and I want to be more deliberate with my water drinking. Here's a photo of my mug:


That is a lot of water, but I need it! This particular mug has a few water benefits that I thought I would pass on...

• a mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory trouble with basic math problems and difficulty focusing
• water regulates the temp of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes wastes.
• the body is 80% water
• we need to drink 1/2 of our body weight in ounces of water
• water removes harmful toxins from the body
• dehydration slows down the body's metaboolism
• lack of water causes daytime fatigue
• water plays a role in every bodily function
• 75% of the US population are chronically dehydrated
• 37% of the US population mistake thirst for hunger
• 98% of dieters use water to deter hunger pangs

So get you a glass of water and have a happy Saturday :) If you want to see more folks becoming SMARTer, go visit Lara's site.

13 Things That Make You Go Hmmmm

1. Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?
2. Why does the sun lighten our hair, yet darken our skin?
3. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
4. Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
5. Why is abbreviated such a long word?
6. Why is a boxing ring square?
7. Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?
8. Why is it that when you're driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?
9. Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
10. Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
11. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
12. Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?
13. Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

For more Thursday Thirteeners, visit this site. Have a great Thursday!!

WFMW-Sunburn Relief

My 12 year old son came up with this Works-For-Me Wednesday tip. He has his own blog, but I supposed this kind of thing is more up his mom's alley than his....his blog is quite unique!



My family went to a waterpark this past Saturday, and although we doused ourselves with sunscreen, by the time we were leaving my kids were convinced they had 2nd degree burns (although they only had mild 1st degree, but OH THE DRAMA). As we were leaving my son took a drink at a water fountain and the water was quite cold. He believed it to help the pain, so he had his little sister try and she agreed. I looked it up online, to see if this had some research behind it or anything but all I could find was the suggestion to drink lots of water because the sun dehydrates you. So....enter this WFMW tip: drinking ice cold water will relieve some of the pain of your sunburn! Pleeeeeease let me know if you try this and it works. I so want to know!


--added to post later--
Turns out he did put a little something on his blog....give it a gander yourself. I love that kid!

I'll Take It :-)

--I stepped on the scale a few days ago and it hadn't moved. I was afraid to step on it this morning, but turns out...I lost 2 pounds. YAY! I feel like maybe, just maybe this will continue. Key is to have more good days "on program" than bad. Key is to pray. Key is to plan. Key is not to obsess over the scale and weigh yourself all the time (yeah, right)!

--Just for fun, I added a weight loss ticker to my blog. I had seen this on other blogs I've visited and decided to display to the world. You can see that I've lost 3.5 pounds from starting weight (lest we get too high on the horse...my original starting weight was 3 pounds lower...hee, hee).

--For more weight loss inspiration, visit Tales from the Scales where many of us are weighing in and sharing our successes and our bumps in the road!

In praise of the TACO

This is my 3rd post of the day, but I just had to share. I was out and about at 3 p.m. this afternoon and I was hungry. I was headed back to my office and was looking for a snack. Good weight watchin' folks keep low points snacks in their purse and desk. But I knew that I didn't have any "emergency" munchies available. What's a girl to do? I am scanning and thinking of all the fast food joints I would pass in the meantime. Frankly, I couldn't think of anything at the ones in my path that would fit my "requirement" of being 2 to 3 points...after all, this was a SNACK!! Could I just drive through and get a drink (unsweet tea for this gal)? NO.....I was hungry. If I didn't think hard, I would drive through and get something to eat and blow my points budget to smithereens. I see Taco Bell in my sights and somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered that Jack in the Box had tacos that were only 3 points each. (I had no reference points available either....had to go by my memory....ick). I drove through and got the one cruncy taco and a medium unsweet tea. Boy did that taco hit the spot for me! It had crunch, flavor....and a little bit of protein to curb those munchies. I got back to the office and learned that the taco was 4 points (if I had ordered it fresco style, it would have been 3). Considering how it really curbed my hunger....it was WELL WORTH those 4 points. I just wanted to share with my blogging buddies who may be out there needing a munchy. Have a great Monday!

I Won!! I Won!!

I know you all are going to be jealous, but look what I have won!! YAY for me!!! I entered a

Name That Business contest, with the help of my kiddos and I won. Turns out she hasn't decided on a name yet and just randomly picked my entry as the winner. My kids and I came up with a few names and when I told them we had won, they were so excited and wanted to know which name. When I explained that she still hasn't decided, I think they were a tad disappointed...wanting to know which name she liked best. The business yet to be named is bookmarks and jewelry with beautiful beads. I like this bracelet and earrings because it is close to my birthstone in color, but I would like any bling-bling!! Head over to her site and see some of her creations for yourself: Overwhelmed with Joy (and....I am!)

What's on the Menu?~Aug 20

This has definitely been a challenge for me to write my menu plan up. For one thing, I am not used to cooking every day. Honestly, I've never been a great homemaker. And once I started working, it was just free for all at dinner time. I've gleaned all kinds of things from the wonderful internet...but when push comes to shove...I would rather throw in a frozen pizza or go through the drive-thru (gasp!). Well, my hubby has a new job and the budget is going to tighten a bit. I do enjoy cooking when I do it (although it is so difficult when everyone is hungry). I have been trying to think ahead and do a great deal of prep earlier the day before or when I go home at lunch. Still....that is hard work for little ole me! I had been using a lovely menu plan and recipe e-booklet sent to me by a friend. It is cool recipes that I am just loving! And it has the lovely WW points included, which I need. However, my kids have really gotten to be picky! ARGH!! Not only are they hungry, but they have doubled the work for me because I have to come up with something for them to eat as well. So, now you know why I haven't done this is a while. But, I went shopping yesterday and bought some ingredients for a few dishes. And if the kids don't eat them, that just means more leftovers for me and dear old hubby! So...the moment we have all been waiting for (drum roll, please)...my menu for this week :)

MONDAY--Chicken Saute with White Beans (5 points), steamed minute rice (1 cup=4 points), and sliced tomatoes/cucumbers sprinkled with basil (0 points)
TUESDAY--Grilled Chicken (3 points)--marinated in Lawry's Mesquite marinade (couldn't find the Tequila Lime :-( ), Hash Brown Casserole (double portion-6 points), garden salad (0 points)
WEDNESDAY--Shrimp in Lime Butter Sauce (4 points), Lemon Basil Bean Bowl (2 points)
THURSDAY--Baked Potato (3 points), topped with Promise Fat Free Butter and Salsa (0 points), leftover Lemon Basil Bean Bowl (2 points)
FRIDAY--leftovers

For more menus, head on over to the Organized Junkie and visit the over 100 bloggers sharing their menus with the world!

SHS--5 Hours of TV

This week, I am taking on a harder habit. I want to commit to watching 5 hours or less of television each week. I have figured it up and don't have that much that I really ENJOY watching, which would make it easy normally. Thing is, I tend to turn it on for background noise or just to "zone" out for a while. I need to not do that. Music will work just fine for this. The harder part will be when my family wants to watch something together, like we have several "Growing Up" shows recorded from Animal Planet. Still, I believe it can be done if we limit these to one a week. We also watch "Monk" as a family. Since the Fall Season hasn't started yet, and I am not watching "Boston Legal" or "The New Adventures of Old Christine," maybe it will even out. At any rate, this is so do-able if I just avoid watching TV as "nothing" and put more purpose into it (like there is any purpose behind the shows I watch--HA!). Here's an update on the more recent habits that I've taken on:

• More Fruit - could be better
• 5 minute showers - very good
• Daily Quiet Time & 26 miles of exercise per month - quiet times are going well (and making a HUGE difference in my day) and exercise is OK...I have 12 miles down, not sure if I'll get in the full 26 but I keep plugging (progress...not perfection, right?)
• Menu Planning - I need to jump back in and do this again
• Journal More - not as good as I'd like, but I have journalled some
• Walk Every Other Day & Learn from Scripture Candy - I'm not really focusing as much on these earlier habits (not just because I stunk at them) since I replaced them with the Daily Quiet Time and the Monthly Marathon

For more ideas and inspiration about Smart Habit Saturday, visit Lara at The Lazy Organizer!!

Friday? Already?

Here it is Friday...already. What a fast week this was. Week, nothing. The month is half over. And the summer...don't get me started on the summer. It has gone so quickly!!! And my kids are 12 and 10...seems like they were just born. How is it that time passes so quickly? Back in high school, I watched Dead Poet's Society and am still trying to learn to Carpe Diem...you know...Seize the Day. It seems so difficult to do this. But as I stopped this moment to blog, I want to remember to stop and smell the roses. Life is short, let's enjoy it one moment at a time. Have a great Friday...that day we are always saying, "It's almost Friday"! Don't be in such a hurry. Enjoy your Fridays, but enjoy your Tuesdays and Sundays and every other day of the week!

13 Proud Moments of this 35 Year Old

Having turned 35 this past Monday, and milking my birthday moment for all it is worth. I thought I would take this time to brag on myself for some proud moments that have occurred within the last little bit (some within a couple days, some within the past 6 months).

1. I just went to the dentist. I haven't been in 3 years. Why have I waited? I don't know. I have insurance and don't have to pay a penny for a cleaning and check up. I get a free toothbrush. I love the feeling of my clean teeth. So why have I waited? I just haven't taken that time "for myself." So, I am taking care of me. He said my teeth were "spectacular."
2. While I was taking care of things, I got my oil changed. This may seem silly to be "proud" of, but again I was putting it off. My car needs to be taken care of, so that it performs well for me.
3. I have taken my kiddos to the dentist. Again, I was putting this off for some reason. I didn't take the time to make the appointment. And they are getting sealant on their teeth to prevent cavitites...and we learned little sister needs to go to the orthodontist. To quote the dentist, "she and the orthodontist will become good friends." Poor baby girl :(
4. I got my LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker). This was a scary test as I had two friends (whom I considered pretty smart folks) to take it and fail it. I passed it--YAY!!! And I it was scary hard...I think lots of prayer is how I did it :)
5. I gave up Diet Coke. This was a HUGE deal for me...you can read more in this post.
6. I have been exercising more. I have been swimming a bunch with my family, as well as trying to walk more. I have "recruited" others by starting another blog to hopefully get in a Monthly Marathon.
7. I started this blog. I can't imagine what I did before this. I feel so Techno Savvy. Plus, I feel like I am organizing myself more. It is helping to make a difference in my life, believe it or not.
8. I am "resurrecting" some friendships. A couple of them had just fizzled out, one was stolen from me. Either way, within the last couple of weeks, I have made contact with some friends I hadn't talked to in a while. My hope is to nurture these friendships more, as they are each blessings to me.
9. I am eating more fiber. I'm trying not to see this as a "getting old" thing, but a getting healthy thing. I start each morning with a bowl of Fiber One (yields 13 or 14 grams of fiber) and a splash of Almond Milk (another gram of fiber I believe). Most of us don't get more than 10 or 15 per day...I get that each morning!!! I try to find other food items that have good amounts of fiber in them. I am going for a mango today. It has 4 grams, YAY, and it also leads into the next proud moment...
10. I am eating more fruit. I said this past Saturday that I am adding more fruit into my diet so that I will eat LESS sugar.
11. I have had a GREAT SUMMER with my kids! They went to camp, they visited their aunt for a week, we went to Six Flags, to a Ranger Game, to Kentucky to see their Great Grandma, to VBS, bowling,... And the fun isn't over yet. We are taking a trip to one water park this Saturday and another special event at another water park next Thursday!

I'm saving the best two for last...

12. My hubby and I participated in VOW, which is a local program designed to enrich your marriage. We took a pre-test and a post-test. And although we didn't have any unusual "need" to enrich our marriage, we enjoyed learning some things. We went from a "Traditional Marriage" which means normal, no serious issues...to a "Vitalized Marriage." How cool is that?

13. I've regained a deeper relationship with God. I started following my hubby's lead in having a quiet time each morning, and it has been such a huge blessing. This 15 minutes or so each morning makes an incredible difference in my day and in my life. I find myself thinking about Him more, praying more, and just loving seeing His Presence in my day. God is so good!!!

12 Days of Christmas

Okay, I know it is August! Yes, I know that there are some people that are done with their Christmas shopping by Labor Day and I am NOT one of those people. But, I want to share this idea with you because it takes some thought and planning...and amidst all the other shopping you will be doing, getting started now will definitely make it easier. A friend of mine gave me this idea a couple years ago, and I've implemented it for two Christmases and I love this tradition. Instead of buying a big gift for my hubby (and he for me), we buy 12 gifts BUT they have to cost $5.00 or less each. This takes some shopping and some knowing your sweetie. I know my hubby loves Snickers with Almonds, so one of his gifts might be 3 of those lovelies, wrapped up. He knows I love penguins (as well as ladybugs), so he might find me some dish towels that have penguins on them. Do you see how this works? It doesn't have to cost $5.00 but it CANNOT cost more. This is so much fun, and I started yesterday when I found a book I could get for him. The true gift comes in that you must be thinking of your sweetie pretty much constantly, and he is thinking of you. Of course, this eliminates most jewelry from showing up under the tree, but I figure there are other times of the year when the focus is all about you (birthday, anniversary, etcetera) in which these bigger purchases can take place. It is a fun atmosphere, too, as my hubby gets so frustrated finding things under $5.00 and wants to cheat or wants to raise that amount to $10.00 or whatever. I just smile and say "Rules are rules!" Once you get these 12 goodies (and I wrap and label as I go--makes it much easier), you start opening one gift per day up until Christmas. The kids really get into this part, so it is an Advent of sorts for them. Anyway, I wanted to share this idea with others.

This works for me, and if you want to see what works for others, go visit Shannon's blog and get ready to read, as there are already 90 of them and I'm sure more will be added. BUT it is so worth it!!!

Grrrrrrr......

I have had ups and downs this week...I was out of town a couple days...then yesterday was my birthday (I tried to eat right, but was taken out to eat and well, you know). Still, I have been walking and swimming, even started a walking blog (update: I later got so frustrated with myself that I compulsively deleted my walking blog) (to get others to join in with me). I had some good days and really thought that I would stand on the scale to AT THE LEAST see that I hadn't gained, but I did. I gained a pound. Grrrr......

Birthday Memory Revisited

Three years ago for my birthday, I received this:

He is a sweet little miniature dachshund named Schnitzel, and let me tell you the rest of the story! He was MY birthday gift, but out of the 4 folks who live in this house, I would say he belongs to ME the least. He loves my hubby the most, for some reason. And the one who loves him the most is my daughter (she is crazy nuts over this and just about all dogs). And this puppy dog will go to his kids before he goes to me. But over the last couple of months, some interesting bonding has occurred between me and this pooch. I was here by myself about 3 months ago and talking on the phone and very upset. I was crying and sad (almost hysterical). I had been home alone for a while and Schnitzel just "stayed out of my way." And during a time when I would have been afraid of me, he shows up. He came to comfort me, I believe.

A few weeks ago, while my kiddos were away at their aunt's, Schnitzel was poisoned by some flea medicine. You can read more about this in a post on my husband's blog. While hubby went to the store to buy some Benadryl, I was left to bathe this pup. I shampooed him twice and threw his collar away, and over the next several days we worried about this dog. I don't know why I hadn't bonded with him before...maybe some traumatic pet experience as a child...I don't know. But these two events within a couple months of each other have really led me into a more loving relationship with this dog. He is not the brightest of dogs...he probably won't ever even learn to fetch...but he is our family dog and his loyalty and "compassion" were very endearing during a time when I didn't expect it. So, he deserves a little more loyalty from me. I found this story to be rather fitting on my birthday, since he was a birthday gift to me. And just so you know, he is a great watchdog. He will bark and save us from the squirrels and birds in our backyard....they are, after all, trying to take over the world, right?

Top Momma...again

Several weeks ago, I signed up at Top Momma and didn't last long once I was up there. But somehow, I've gotten on there again, maybe because today is MY BIRTHDAY!!! Anyway, help me stay on Top Momma by clicking on this referral: http://www.topmomma.com/mommas/referal/807

AND...I should say the one to click on is the ladybug at the computer--that is me!!

Have a happy day!!!

Home MEME

Amanda had this fun meme and didn't want to tag, and I'm with her. If you want it, copy and paste it.

1. What kind of soap is in your bathtub right now? Bath & Body Cherry Blossom Body Wash & oatmeal bar soap
2. Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator? No
3. Is there anything moldy in your refrigerator? No
4. Are there any dirty dishes in your sink? a couple
5. What would you change about your living room? just about everything!! I need a new couch and love seat, an area rug and more decorations on the wall as well as some decorative items around!
6. Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty? clean
7. Do you have a can of mushrooms in your pantry? sure do
8. White or wheat bread? Wheat
9. What is on top of your refrigerator? some tupperware with sugar and flour, some tea bags, and some other organizer items
10. What color is your sofa? Cream colored with woven tapestry (brown, lavendar, etc.)
11. What color or design is on your shower curtain? Kids bathroom has flowers, Master bath has glass door
12. How many plants are in your home? Real? Just one, and her name is Junie B.
13. How many candles are in your home? about a dozen
14. Is your bed made right now? no...it is Sunday so I took the day off :-)
15. If you have a coffee pot, what color is it? Silver
16. Electric or standard can opener? standard
27. Comet or Soft Scrub? Soft Scrub
28. Is your closet organized? a bit, could be more organized
29. What color is the flashlight that you use the most? lavendar
30. What kinds of things are in your junk drawer? gadgets, some school supplies, straws
31. Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home? plastic
32. Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now? No
33. If you have a garage, is it cluttered? not so much
34. Curtains or blinds? both
35. How many pillows do you sleep with? one (and one for hubby)
36. Do you sleep with any lights on at night? no but my son does and I can see it when I wake up
37. How many ceiling fans are in your home? 7
38. How often do you vacuum? when I need to, in addition to the cleaning lady who cleans every other week
39. Standard toothbrush or electric? standard
40. What color is your toothbrush? yellow and green
41. Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch? no
42. What is in your oven right now? nothing
43. Is your microwave clean or dirty? pretty clean
44. Is there anything under your bed? a couple of things...not much
45. Chore you hate doing the most? cleaning tubs and showers
46. What retro items are in your home? some music and maybe some Scooby Doo things, but not much really
47. Do you have a separate room that you use as an office? We use a corner of the living room.
48. If you have a yard, who mows it? hubby usually
49. Is there anything on your kitchen floor right now? a mat and a pair of shoes
50. How many mirrors are in your home? 9 (including small, decorative ones)
51. Do you have any hidden emergency money around your home? not in the home, in a savings account
52. What color are your walls? very pale grey in the living room
53. Which rooms in your house have wallpaper? master bath and kitchen and part of the dining room
54. Do you have a peephole in your front door? no
55. Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home? no
56. What does your home smell like right now? the leftovers we just warmed up for supper
57. Fave candle scent? Creme Brule
58. What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now? hamburger dill and sweet gherkins
59. Who are in the pictures you displayed? family
61. Do you have plenty of cabinet space in your kitchen? pretty much--could use more pantry space
62. Ever been on your roof? not me
62. Do you own a stereo? Yes
63. How many TVs do you have? 3
64. How many house phones? 3
65. Do you have a housekeeper? absolutely!!!!
66. What style do you decorate in? I am decorating challenged
67. Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints? both
68. Is there a smoke detector in your home? yes (daughter said "duh")
68. In case of fire, what are the items you would grab if you only could make one quick trip? kids, dog, and scrapbooks
69. Do you know how to work your electrical box? yeah
70. What temperature in your home is most comfortable to you? 74

Fruity, Fruity Female

First, I want to explain that the title "Fruity, Fruity Female" is a song from when I went to Texas Girl's State back in high school. It is sung to the tune of Scooby Doo. Now....doesn't that make more sense? Yeah...something like that :)


It is time once again for the Saturday edition of my blog when I consider new habits. This week, I want to make more of an effort to eat fruit. I have a mouth FULL of sweet teeth, and my hope is to eat fruit when I desire something sweet. I think it is impossible to overeat fruit, for some reason, so hopefully it will speak to my sweet teeth and keep me from overindulging in the cookies and sweets. Please note, I am adding the fruit and not subtracting the sugar. That would be a super-crazy-hard habit to try to follow, but my hope is that this will help should I ever decide to dive into that one.

My other habits are going fairly well. The "revamping" that I did a couple weeks ago was more of a success for me. To read more about SMART habits and get ideas and inspiration, visit Lara, The Lazy Organizer.

Life's To Do List--part 2

In a previous edition of Thursday Thirteen, I posted 13 of my "to dos" from 43 things (which I still only have 29 things) but I have 13 more to post today...

1. Simplify
2. Journal more
3. Learn sign language
4. Take ballroom dancing lessons
5. Take a wine tasting class
6. Walk more
7. Identify 100 things that make me happy
8. Go on a cruise
9. Do Yoga
10. Clean my house and keep it clean
11. Pay off my student loan
12. Act in a play
13. Finish my scrapbooks

Interestingly, as I read this I am reminded that this blog may be helping me out with some of these. For instance, # 2 and # 6. Blogging is such a great way to get stuff out of my your mind and into action!

For more about Thursday Thirteen, visit this site! Happy Day!!

WFMW--Grocery Game

This week I want to share a way to save an incredible amount of money on groceries, as well as toiletries and even school supplies. I first heard about The Grocery Game advertised in an email newsletter that I receive. It is sometimes called, "Teri's List." I clicked over to it and read about it briefly and saw that it combined coupons and sales (oh and it was for a fee). I was leery. I had tried to combine coupons and sales and even keep up with a price book. It was a lot of work and in the end, I thought I was better off at Walmart anway! Not to mention, that I wasn't too excited about paying a fee for this service.

A few weeks later, I was visiting with a friend. The topic of hobbies came up and she felt she didn't have any, but then later she asked me if I "grocery gamed." I looked at her funny and she decided it was a bit of a hobby of hers as well. After a moment of her talking, I realized she was talking about that list that I had looked up already. But as she talked, I "got it" more. So before you decide against this, listen a bit longer. Most stores have a sales cycle, generally a 12 week cycle. The inventor of the Grocery Game, Teri Gault, has tracked the sales cycles (and now has a team of folks all over tracking the local stores). They have a database that tells them when an item has hit a rock-bottom price. Sidenote: some items are on sale at one time but will have an even lower price later on--this is called a "phantom sale." When an item is at it's rock-bottom price, you as a shopper are to stock up, try to buy 12 weeks worth of that item, so that you will have all you need till it hits that rock-bottom price again. They also have a database of coupons that come in the Sunday paper, combine those coupons with those rock-bottom prices and you get AMAZING savings--sometimes you even get stuff for free!!! My friend said she kept up with her expenses and saved an AVERAGE of 65%. Wow!! She also said that she started spreading the wealth. Her church did not have a food pantry, so she started one with her surplus. She had gotten so many things beyond what she needed, she turned it into a mission to share with those who needed it. She showed me her stockpile and started telling me some of the prices she had paid for things, like a quarter for a tube of toothpaste that most people pay 2 or 3 dollars for. And things she had gotten for free, including pet food when she didn't have a pet--she just gave it away to a friend.

I left her house with my mind whirling. I wanted to try it, and I was going to keep up with the savings. She had also given me some pointers and ideas on how to "organize" the game. The price of the list is generally $10 for one store for 8 weeks (so it is $5 a month, just billed every two months), plus an additional $5 for each store after that. BUT....the first month is your trial month and is only $1 for as many store lists as you want!!!! I had decided to try this for 12 weeks, since that is the sales cycle. She had told me that it could be a little slow starting, so I didn't really expect to see great deals right away. I was going to give it the full 12 weeks. I don't know if I got lucky with where I was in the sales cycle for my family, but I saw amazing savings the first couple weeks!! I got some free soft soap, some air freshener (Neutra Air) for 9 cents each, toothpaste for 25 cents, free cat treats, and deodorant for 45 cents. That was just in the first couple of weeks. The list comes out once a week and is really organized. Black items are fairly good prices but not rock-bottom, so if you NEED something that is black, go ahead and get it. Blue items are rock-bottom, so stockpile these items. And Green are items that are free--how fun is that!! During my first 12 weeks, while I was stockpiling (and including the cost of extra Sunday papers and the cost of the list), I saved 60%. Now that I am no longer stockpiling (Grocery Gamers call this the "cherry picking" stage), I save EVEN MORE!!! Last week, I saved 77%. I am so sold on this Grocery Game, that I think it is so worth it to buy the list. Remember I was skeptical before I talked to my friend. I "shop" in my own home now. And I am set on some items for well over 12 weeks, just because I didn't want to pass up very low prices or free stuff. I am ready to start giving some of stockpile away, and my attitude has changed so much. My son left his toothpaste and toothbrush at camp last month...no big deal!! And one more thing, you are getting name brand stuff and good stuff for these low prices. I want to leave you with some tips and pictures of my stockpile. If you decide to give it a try, go to http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ and enter your zip code to see what stores are available in your area. Try the one month trial for only $1 and see what you think, keeping in mind that 12 weeks is really the better "trial." Here are my tips and my stockpile pics follow:

1. It might be good to get extra Sunday papers. Where I am, you can get double Sunday packs for 2 dollars (making the paper 1 dollar each). My friend said a good rule of thumb on the number of papers to get is one for each member of my family...so I get 2 double packs since there are 4 in my family. (Although there are MANY who believe you only need one paper a week to be successful.)
2. MAKE SURE there are coupons coming out that week before buying extra papers. There are a few weeks (usually holiday times, like Memorial Day) that have no coupons.
3. If you are getting multiple papers, try to come up with a way to organize that works for you--you have many options. The list includes the date the coupon comes out, so you could organize by dates. Then there is the cancelled check file that works for some. Or lots of folks file them in pocket pages (like for photos or baseball cards) in notebooks. If you cut them out, staple like coupons together so you they stay together.
4. Don't try to do all stores in your area (at least not forever), you will go nuts!! My friend recommended one grocery store and one drug store. You may choose by what is closest to you. Or check which stores double or triple coupons. In my area, Kroger will double up to 50 cents and triple up to 35 cents. And they often have a 10 for $10 sale on items (and you don't have to get 10). If I have a 50 cent coupon that is doubled, that item is FREE. And if I have a 30 cent coupon that is tripled, it is only a dime. Again, if you don't have a store that doubles or triples coupons, don't sweat it. You can still be successful at this game.
5. If you have a CVS and a Walgreens to choose from, good luck!! This is a hard choice. Many really love CVS because you get instant rebate coupons printed with your receipt that you can come back and use next store visit. Walgreens you have to mail in for the rebate. Still you can get good deals at either store!
6. Have fun with this, but if you are on a strapped budget, be careful. Make a general list of what you need, then check out what's on sale. So if you know you need meat (rather than specifically chicken) for a couple meals that week, go with the pork chops that are on sale. Or if you need snacks for your kids (rather than specifically yogurt), go with the cheese sticks that are sale. Hope this one makes sense!

And finally, I share with you my cabinets and shelves of my lovely stockpile. If you check out the website, there are message boards where you can get all kinds of tips and advice as well as see other folks stockpiles.
Above: this is my bathroom cabinet--you will see shampoo, body wash, deodorant, razors, air fresheners, shaving cream, etc. Above: More of that same bathroom cabinet. The basket has toothbrushes, dental floss, and make-up
Above: This is in the same bathroom, just a different cabinet, with medicine, cleaners, toothpaste galor, feminine products, etc.
Above: this is some of the food that is stockpiled (not in my regular pantry), lots of cereal, fruit cups, pop-tarts, gum (in the basket--all free), pudding, etc.

Hope you enjoyed this extra long post!! Have a great week and happy shopping!! I would love to hear if you try this!! For more fabulous tips, head on over to Rocks in my Dryer and read what works for others!!

Note:  I no longer subscribe to this service.  I just could no longer keep up with the coupons and it became so stressful.  It was a good run while it lasted :)

I have a secret....

Finally, I have some good news! I lost weight this week! I lost 3 pounds actually! I figured out a secret! I instituted a couple new habits that have helped me immensely. One of my habits was a quiet time each morning which I didn't really intend to use to help me lose weight...but I started praying that God would help me with my eating. On the days that I prayed for this, I seemed to eat better! I've been trying to walk/exercise more as well. I believe this has helped me to lose this weight! I hope to continue this practice and see how it goes. So, if you haven't prayed...give it a try and let me know how it works for you! He never ceases to amaze me! He is such a good and faithful God, and He cares about all the details of my life...including my eating and weight loss! So...I lost 3 pounds since last week, which puts me right back where I started....but I think I figured out the secret....so lets' see how this works with the rest of my weight loss journey!

Beat the Timer

Happy Saturday! Last week, I posted a longer post, so I'll try to keep it short this week. I'm also gonna make it a little less intense, considering the intensity of last week's post. The short version of my new habit is to take a 5 minute shower. A little background: I tend to take really long showers. I almost fall asleep in there or something (if you can sleep standing up with your eyes open). It is fairly meditative, and granted I really enjoy long showers. But I want to save those for special occasions to save time, money, and....well...water.

I plan on using this more often:

My kids sometimes go to Home Depot where they have a kid's project and about a year or so ago, they gave these 5 minute timers away as just an extra. It has been in my shower but I rarely use it. I am going to start using it. Five minutes is really enough time if you stay focused in the shower.

Head on over to Lara's blog for more ideas, inspiration, and to learn more about Smart Habit Saturday!

Just For Fun This Friday

This website posts five questions each Friday, just for fun. I've been meaning to join in but just haven't made the time on Friday...until now: this will be my debut!!

1. What are five TV shows that you love to watch?

• The New Adventures of Old Christine -- this show just makes me laugh! Julia Louis Dreyfus has been one of my favorites since the Seinfeld days. And Wanda Sykes is one of the funniest people alive!
• Boston Legal -- this show is a bit of a guilty indulgence. It is horrible on one level--with some of the stuff that goes on that is just immoral--but it is satirical and usually has a very thought provoking story line and/or court case.
• Scott Baio is 45 and Single -- what little girl didn't have a crush on Chachi? Well, I did. Then I learned that he was a bit of a womanizer and kinda lost any spark I ever had for the guy. Really, I wasn't expecting this show to be as good as it is. I started watching it because nothing else was on that I was interested in. It turns out that Scott is on a journey to figure out why he's been such a playboy and a cheat. He wants to better himself, and he wants to do this so he does his most recent relationship of about a year and a half right. He knows he has had some issues. It is actually really a pretty good show...at least so far.
• Monk -- this is one we watch as a family. Monk helps the OCD in this household not seem so bad :) Also the mystery is always fun to see how it is solved!
• Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? -- another one we watch as a family. One thing I know for sure...I will NEVER go on this show because I already know I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader!! But it is fun to see what my family knows that I (ahem) do not!

2. What are the last five books you have read?

• Dear Mrs. LaRue--Letters from Obedience School -- read this to my daughter before bed!
• Curious George -- also read this one to my daughter on another night recently!
• Dream Dinners -- can you read a cookbook? This is my attempt at trying to revise the cooking in my household!
• Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom -- this is a really thick book and I probably didn't read EVERY word, but it has some good info in it!
• Love Your Handwriting -- this is a really cool book that also has a workbook to develop your own style of writing!!

3. Name five friends from your childhood.

• Nicki
• Sandra
• Lisa
• Davina
• Michelle

4. What are your favorite five bath & beauty products?

• Coconut Lime Verbena Body Wash
• Aussie Shampoo
• Aussie Conditioner
• Facial Scrub
• Mineral Face Powder

5. Name five things about you or that you have done in your life that might surprise other people.

• I can make some balloon animals
• I've lost 50 pounds (although I have gained 20+ of it back and am currently working on that)
• I have a tattoo of a Christian fish on my left ankle
• I drive a standard (VW New Beetle)
• I was a forensic interviewer for 6 years (meaning I interviewed children for the police and Child Protective Services)...was actually pretty good at and kinda miss it (although I love, love, love my current job)

Wow! learned some things about myself! I struggled with #5--either I haven't done that much or just can't think of anything. That was a bit of a stretch on some of those. And I need to read some more books of "substance." But this was a fun post to write, nonetheless. Have a great Friday everyone!!

13 of My Favorite Smells

Since I did favorite foods last week, I thought I would change senses and make a list of some of my favorite smells. Although they are in no particular order, my #1 is probably my ALL -TIME favorite smell!

1. A newborn baby's head
2. A Creme Brule candle
3. Play-doh
4. Rain
5. (ahem) My clean hubby
6. Cookies baking
7. Earl Grey tea
8. Subway--especially when you first walk in!
9. A freshly mowed lawn
10. Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena body wash and lotion
11. Freshly washed laundry
12. Pumpkin pie spices
13. A new car

WFMW--Car Games

Before I begin, I just have to tell you how much I truly ENJOY Works-For-Me-Wednesday. Last week, the host site took a break from it (with very good reason) and I just felt empty :) I was looking forward to reading all the wonderful ideas from so many great folks out there in the blogosphere willing to share. Thanks for stopping by my blog, but do go visit Shannon's blog. This may sound crazy, but I told my hubby that WFMW may change my life. I can't even tell you how many great ideas I've tried to implement already and am looking forward to even more.

This week, it is a parenting advice theme. Here's something kinda fun I came up with. It is a bit early to be thinking of the drive to school, but I know that I wanted my kids to have some kind of joy before I send them off to school. It is so easy in the mornings to get frustrated and "bark" at the kiddos. So in that short drive to drop them off at school, I had a short little game I played depending on the day of the week. Here they are:

• MILLION DOLLAR MONDAY--If you had a million dollars, what would you buy? Be silly--buy everyone in the family a Volkswagon Bug--what color do you want? Have a bowling alley inside our home.
• TOODLE TUESDAY--take turns humming a tune and see who can name it.
• WUBBA WEDNESDAY--take turns saying "I wubba you more than ___________"--can be chocolate, rainbows, newborn puppies,almost anything--make it fun!! This day when I get close to the school, I say, "I wubba you more than anything....except God, Jesus, and Daddy!"
• THINK THURSDAY--Think of something purple. Think of something funny. Think of something that tastes good. Just whatever...everyone takes turns thinking of something in whatever category.
• FREAKY FRIDAY--Wouldn't it be freaky if ______________? Your noses were in the middle of your forehead. You wore your underwear on the outside of your pants. Again, have fun with it!

With these games, I know that they had a little bit of fun, even on mornings that got hectic. We've been doing this for a few years, and even though my kiddos are a little older (they are now 10 and 12), they still seem to enjoy this.