Whooga Ugg Boots

I received an email today telling me about a giveaway for free Whooga Ugg Boots, that will be drawn at the end of September.  I am in the running for this giveaway because I have their button on my blog ... see it over there, near the bottom of the button list


If you want to get your own chance of winning, simply signup for their free VIP Newsletter

If you just can't wait to get your boots then don't despair.
1 in 10 people who buy a pair of Whooga boots from now until the end of September will also instantly win a free pair! Just visit their website Whooga to check it out.

True Friendship

I received this one this morning from one of the girls in the office - I almost spit my coffee on my screen as I was reading some of these, cause I really COULD see her doing all of these! Thanks Colleen.

True Friendship

1. When you are sad,

I will jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew !

2. When you are blue,

I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile,

I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

4. When you're scared,

We will high tail it out of here.

5. When you are worried,

I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby !

6. When you are confused,

I will use little words.

7. When you are sick,

Stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall,

I'll pick you up and dust you off -- After I laugh my butt off !

9. This is my oath. I pledge it to the end.

'Why ?' you may ask -- because you are my FRIEND !

Friendship is like peeing your pants, 

everyone can see it, 

but only YOU can feel the true warmth.

Brooks & Dunn

Saturday night, we went to a concert at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.  We were lucky enough to see Brooks and Dunn. in their final concert tour,

We have loved to hear Brooks and Dunn since the very beginning of their "reign" in Country Music.  Twenty years is a LONG time (ok better not be saying that too loud, since Jenn was born that same year) to be on the road but these guys have always put on a great show and of course we love their music.

This concert was no exception - it was FANTASTIC!!!!

Tyler Dickerson was part of the opening show.  I believe they said he was 16.  He really wasn't bad when he wasn't trying to mix country with hard rock.   And he seemed to have a good connection with "the boys".  Kept calling Ronnie Dunn "Daddy" and Kix Brooks "Uncle" - which had everyone laughing.

Then we got to hear the great Merle Haggard.  

 It was always something that Ronnie Dunn wanted to do ..... play with Merle Haggard (for years and years he said).  So for the final tour, it was finally arranged.  Now I don't know if he was at all the stops for the tour, but to be honest, I'm really glad he was at this one.  My father in law would have been so proud.

I had never seen Merle play before - and really felt it was a treat.         

 Then without any further waiting, in walked Brooks and Dunn                                           

Between my cell phone pictures and my camera (who's battery was dying to my horror) I think I got some pretty great pictures considering we weren't front and center!  They played many of the songs I love, but then I don't think there is one of their songs I don't like .  I will definitely miss them when they are gone ... hey they did that one too - with Tyler

When they did "Only in America" - we were treated to these few good men!  I'm not sure who we were all cheering and clapping for more - the "Boys" or the Marines.

To end the night ......... we got to hear BOOT SCOOTIN' BOOGIE ...... one last time.

I think it was a great night.  And I concert I won't forget for many many years .........

Thank you Brooks and Dunn for the BEST of the Best

Catch up and Getting back to "normal"

I know I was going to post some pics from vacation (the absolute most beautiful sunsets) while I was in Florida, but the internet connection was not the most "reliable" or "quick" so I decided I would forgo the frustration and just wait till I got home.

Now I'm trying to catch up with everyone's posts while I was gone, cause y'all really are a very prolific group.  Honest I was totally caught up before I left - even with the "new" bloggers I started to follow.  When I got home and was able to look at my computer - I have over 1000 new posts to read!  Like I said  -  y'all are very prolific!

I am also trying to clean up the house - I was gone for 10 days and it looked like someone had been living in my house while we were gone and not very neatly!  I'm also trying to deal with some issues relating to a friends death and another friend's cancer surgery and treatment - neither of which am I doing well with.

And of course I'm just so darned tired.  The trip back home was a rough one.  Now we left Florida around 6:30AM and drove the first day until 8PM and got to Selma, NC - and stayed at a very nice Hampton Inn.  If you need a place to stay, this was really nice - but then I think all the Hampton Inns we have stayed in have been nice (it seems to be our "go to" hotel).  We had eaten an early dinner at Cracker Barrel, which is one of our favorite restaurants when we travel.  I think our cars have Cracker Barrel "locators"  in the navigation feature - since I really can't think of any time we have driven for travel, that we haven't eaten at one of these.  The new Summer menu items were great, but I can say that I don't think we have ever had a bad meal there.

From Selma, we continued to drive north --- we left at about 6:30AM and decided that we would stop in at my parents on the way back up - since they were at the "half way" point mile wise.  We got there about 10:30 or so.  We sat and visited with my parents until about 12:30 (Bill took a nap and then we had lunch before we left) when we decided we had better get moving or we wouldn't get home until late.  Now at most it should take 6 hours to drive home (its about 300 miles).  Between the road construction that wasn't (cones and barriers but no machines or other evidence of work being done) and traffic (where the heck were all these people going?), especially going back INTO Washington DC (guess they were going back before Obama got back to the White House) ...... we didn't get home until almost 8:15PM, and of course hadn't eaten since mom's!  So it was pizza .... at almost 9 and a lump sitting in my stomach all night long, which was not the fault of the pizza, but it was there all the same.

Now it is Thursday and I'm still not caught up!  I will get my butt back in gear and get back to regular postings and get some of those pictures up as well. 

vacation

I am enjoying the most relaxing days here on vacation.  I will post some gorgeous pictures later tonight if I can

Miss me while Im gone .....

beauty

 beauty is in the eye of the beholder,
behold your beauty!

I think we put ourselves in a place where we think we can't ever win when we start comparing ourselves to others ..... stopnow.  There are enough places to be  compared ... work, school ... that is enough

Watching Glee in HD on Satellite TV

As I am trying to get ready for vacation, I have a guest post written by our friend Katie Callahan.

My favorite thing to watch on Satellite TV is that phenomenal new series "Glee". This has become my must watch weekly show and I am already eagerly anticipating the new fall season that should make its debut in just a few weeks. Somehow the producers made all of the right choices early on when they were selecting actors and actresses for all of the different roles. There is just not a bad apple in the bunch much to the delight of fans across the country.

I watch my television in HD on satellite TV which means that I get great reception in almost any weather and if the cable goes on the blink it really does not matter as far as my plans are concerned. A big group of my friends has helped me turn "Glee" night into a weekly party fest. We all take turns dressing up as our favorite characters which is always a hoot. I love the pretentious "Rachel" but who can pass up an opportunity to entertain the TV crowd by giving an inspired impersonation of track suit diva "Sue Sylvester"? The pregnancy issue on Glee is a done deal for now but I am sure that more Slurpee in the face madness will be upon us soon.

Thanks Katie.  I think I'm going to have to check out Glee .........

5 IMPORTANT LESSONS ... FROM A PENCIL MAKER

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 

5 IMPORTANT LESSONS 

JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX :

1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK.

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS, WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities.  Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are, is what's inside of you.

Splenda and A Few Short Cuts

A blogger I love at A Few Short Cuts, has hooked up with Splenda to do a great splenda giveaway.

The good people at Splenda are giving to Meals on Wheels $50,000 to give back to the community.  With this in mind, they are also allowing us to be part of this give back. 

If you go to the Splenda site and "create" a pie - I did cherry - and send it to 5 friends (so that they can do it too) and they get people to send a total of 25,000 (or more) they will add an additional $5,000.  Now I don't know if it's an additional $5,000 for each 25,000 that are sent or not ....... but heck I'm quite sure every little bit will help.

Ok I don't know what you are waiting for - hurry on over to a few short cuts and start helping out ..... how many pies can you create between now and Labor Day??

Crying Uncle on Weight Loss

Ok I'm crying uncle - I'm giving in.  I give up.

I am so tired of looking at that damn scale!  Ok its not the scale its the numbers ON that damn scale.  I'm getting ready to go on vacation and I feel like I am a complete failure - at least in the weight loss arena.

I don't know what I am going to do, but once we get back from this trip  -  I WILL figure something out.  I WILL find a way to get back into clothes that I ENJOY wearing again.  I REFUSE to buy anything new again.  I REFUSE to admit that I can't get back to a healthy weight.

Maybe its because I'm getting ready to turn 53, maybe its because the scale continues to go up instead of down - or even stay the same for a while, it don't know, but I'm just so disgusted I can't stand it anymore.

I admit defeat.  I admit that I can't do this alone.  I admit I NEED help in this battle to lose the weight.  But of course the kicker is ......... it can't cost an arm or a leg (although if I could lose that much weight .... ) because right now I do not have that much in "free" or "available" funds and I still have to be able to feed my hubby (who could also use to lose a few or more - but doesn't do "diet" food) and my daughter (who just needs to maintain her healthy weight, but if she lost a few she would be happy).

So I'm all ears here.  If anyone has any ideas - speak up please! 
Personally I can't stand it anymore.  I am so tired of losing a few then gaining them back, then losing a few and then gaining a few more back ...... the vicious circle MUST end.  I do not want to enter my "golden" years old, fat or ugly ....

Stages

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

 1) You believe in Santa Claus.
 2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
 3) You are Santa Claus..
 4) You look like Santa Claus. 

SUCCESS:

 At age 4 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.
 At age 12 success is . . . Having friends.
 At age 17 success is . . . Having a driver's license.
 At age 35 success is . . . Having money.
 At age 50 success is . . . Having money..
 At age 70 success is . . . Having a drivers license.
 At age 75 success is . . . Having friends.
 At age 80 success is . . . Not piddling in your pants. 



 Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way;
BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
 

Summary of Life

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, 
     you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, 
     don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. 
    They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap. 

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

 1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
 2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
 3) Families are like fudge...
      mostly sweet, with a few nuts
 4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
 5) Laughing is good exercise. 
      It's like jogging on the inside.
 6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, 
      not the toy..

 GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:  

 1) Growing old is mandatory; 
      growing up is optional...
 2) Forget the health food. 
      I need all the preservatives I can get.
 3) When you fall down, 
      you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
 4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
 5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers 
     but nobody bothers to ask you the questions...
 6) Time may be a great healer, 
      but it's a lousy beautician
 7) Wisdom comes with age, 
      but sometimes age comes alone.

 

Quote of the Day

Now I really like this one ....

Education is the ability

to listen to almost anything 

without losing your temper or 

your self-confidence. 

Robert Frost

Trip of a lifetime

Kohl's Department Store is having the sweepstakes trip of a lifetime - A Trip to Rome !

It is all revolving around the new Julia Roberts movie Eat, Pray, Love.  I hear that this move is suppose to be her best yet and should put her back on "top" of the earners ladder - its that good, even better than Pretty Woman - and I liked that one.

Check it out - the sweepstakes is open for the entire month of August ........ but don't wait until the last minute - do it now so you don't forget!

Now if you do win ........ remember me please since you get tickets for 4!  I mean I would take one of those tickets off your hands (or stuff myself in one of your bags - I'd even pay the extra baggage fee)

The Fresh Diet - could this be YOUR ticket to the slimmer you?

I was directed to this great website that had some great hints on  bad mood busters to help me in my ongoing trial to lose weight.  Losing weight and keeping it off is as much mental and emotional as it is physical and "calories".   I'm beginning to think mine will be a never ending trial - but that's whole 'nother problem.

The great place that pointed me in this direction was thefreshdiet.com.  

Even if you aren't a customer, you can join them on Facebook to follow along with some of the successful users as well as those on their journey.  I actually found them originally through a friend on Facebook, who started using their product and posting about how good it was.  I met Donna when we were both doing the Nutrisystem program.  Donna had fantastic results and is using The Fresh Diet to keep it off.  And it seems to be working - and working WELL.

There was also a review of The Fresh Diet here (diets in review) which was done before they opened their latest "route" in San Francisco, but that just started this past week.

Although it is a little expensive (but can you really put a price on good food and good health?), they are having all kinds of "contests" on Facebook ( TheFreshDiet ) to help you either try their product or if you are already a customer, give you a free week or two.  In other words - its a win win situation whether you already tried their product and love it or want to try their product.  Some contests are just for "non" customers and others are for anyone.  The current contest is a video contest - with the grand prize giving 2 MONTHS free, runner up gets 1 MONTH free - how awesome is that!

And they have a blog!  I really love bloggerland!  Check out their blog.thefreshdiet.com

Personally, I am trying to rearrange my expenses so that I can do this for a month or so (or more but hey I can dream).  I'm hoping that after we get back from vacation and Jenn goes back to school (thank God tuition is already paid this semester) I will have enough funds put aside to do this.  But I am still going to try to win one of their contests (I keep trying Jim, really I do - just in case you were to read this) but somehow I will figure out a way to do this program.

Check it out - you might decide that this program is for you too!

Bargain Shopping Online

Do you like to shop? 
Do you like to shop online?  (mmm no crowds, no pushing to get the best product on sale)
Do you like to recieve "bargains" when you shop?
Do you like to feel like you are getting a steal because you can get the same thing as your neighbor .... but at a lower price?

If these make you say "mmmmm" and "yes I do" - then you need to check out ebates.  There is a discount for so many stores (I'm still going through them all) that just seem to be unbelievable.    It just looks like you could get just about anything at a "discount" with the cash back %age they offer.  Many have free shipping with the cash back!  The stores in this list look like all the stores I shop at already or have thought about shopping at but haven't yet done so.  But I will say with the benefits offered, I may be shopping at these stores too, very very soon.

You really should check it out at ebates.com where you can set up an account (its free) and then start shopping with your cash back options.

I'll see you there!

The Chick Flick that Won My Heart

We have a guest poster today .....   Thanks for the post, Kathy Shelton.

The chick flick that has become my favorite is John Tucker Must Die. I went to see this movie with my mother and sister in 2004 and it was a better movie than I had been expecting.   The plot is one of the more unique plots that I have seen for a chick flick and it has a very creative meaning.

The most popular boy in school dates a different girl from each clique so that they will never find out about each other. But when two gym periods get put into one, they finally find out the truth. The three girls who were all dating John Tucker use the new girl in school to get even with him. They make him fall in love with her and then they break his heart. Finally, he learns that if he is going to have more than one girlfriend, he has to make sure that they all know about it. 

Jesse Metcalfe and Brittney Sow star in this chick flick and they do an incredible job. Brittney Snow plays the new girl Kate who is an innocent girl who has never had a boyfriend before. She makes the role really fun and comical to watch. So whenever I feel the need to watch my favorite chick flick, I turn on the new tv I got after I asked myself the question, how much is satellite tv and was amazed by the anwser!

Soda Stream Giveaway

I am Wicked Cheap is having a great giveaway right now - goes until August 5th - for what I think is the coolest machine.  Make your own soda!  How cool is that?  And cheap - well cheaper than buying soda at the store.

You really want to click on over to this really wicked cool give-away for  soda stream they have some really great flavors (and tonic for those summer time gin, or in my case vodka tonics).

Hurry on over and sign up and tell Alicia I sent you ........ that's not required but it would be nice if you did

Dolphin Bubbles

This is just so cool - who knew Dolphins could be so "fun" to watch.  dolphin bubbles

Summer's final hoorah

In some parts of the country, summer is just about over.  I say this because their kids go back to school (if not already) within 2 weeks.  If my kids were "small" they would still have another month of summer, since they wouldn't be going back to school until September.

There are some great ideas for parties to "finish out" the summer - or make it last just a little bit longer.  With my deck (and the new protective cover) I'm really liking the outdoor cocktail party section. 

Check out 6 great ideas for summer party to spark your "creative juices" for a final push to keeping summer alive or for those great memories when the winter doldrums kick in (you know sometime in January when the snow is piling high)

Conserving Water

Whether you are, like me, a well user (it was an interesting conversion from "city" water almost 30 years ago) or pay for your water each month or quarter, this is a good read.

I don't know about where you are living, but here in the North East, it has been very dry.  I think we are on week 3 since there was any "appreciable" rainfall.  Now I'm not asking for a downpour, since that would just run off and do no good, but a nice gentle rain for a few days would be nice.

I found this post on Family Balance Sheet - 6-ways-to-conserve-water-and-save-money and thought there were some good ideas that I don't do.  Check it out, and you too may find a way or two (or 6) to save a little water and money every day.

Be Thankful

This one is compliments of my cousin George, in sunny California, via Facebook.  I saw this one this morning and knew it just HAD to be part of my page.  In this  time of high stress (whether work or home, boss, spouse, kids, whatever), when we sometimes just want to pack it all in and shut out the world, here is a great way to be reminded of what is truly important. 

Thanks George, for reminding me how to find the most important things in life.

 

When I'm tired or worn out, 

I try to take a breath and then expect nothing of this world. 

Therefore, everything from that second is a gift I did not expect. 

Brings me back to being thankful for every breath 

and all the beautiful and interesting 

family, friends and things in this life.