Does this woman have it all together or what?

I love these - but number 45 is the best!

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When i t comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26.. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Brain Training Review & Giveaway!

Need help learning? Have you ever felt "dumb" or heard your child say they can't learn something because they are "dumb"? Does your child have one of the many learning differences that EVERYONE seems to know at least 1 person that has been identified as having? ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia or one of so many others? This looks like a fantastic program - and 3 months will be free if you are the winner.

My daughter was finally (after years of my saying this to school "professionals") identified as being dyslexic during her Sophomore year in high school. Now of course they said she is not a "classic" dyslexic, which is one of the reasons it was so hard to identify. She just finished her freshman year at college - and by the grace of God and LOTS of hard work - with a 3.0 gpa. She has learned a lot of ways to cope - but I think this would be wonderful for her.

So I've entered into this wonderful giveaway. Check it out and see - could be a wonderful thing for you or someone you know.

Brain Training Review & Giveaway!

What to do with all those fresh fruit finds .......

Ok the other day I was asking for help on what to do with all this fruit (strawberries) that my MIL picked. Well she told me tonight she is going back again tomorrow - so guess I'll have even more to deal with.........but I think I am ready.

I found this great recipe/idea for a mixed berry sauce at Cooking during Stolen Moments here mixed-berry-sauce.

I am definitely going to try this one so that all these berries don't go bad - THAT would be a sin!

Check it out - lots of great recipes and ideas located here not just the berry sauce. I'm going to be visiting often I'm sure.

Strawberries Anyone?

HELP!!!!

I need some suggestions on what to do with a "mess"of strawberries. My MIL dropped off a flat box FULL of strawberries that she picked this afternoon.

I don't want to just freeze them - so I need some suggestions. Oh and to add to the difficulty - I still don't have my oven fixed (it was 1 month Monday) so all I have is my toaster oven.

Ok I'm up for any suggestion ....

Edited to note - I do have a stove - its the oven part that is "broken". I am hoping that the last part will be in sometime this week so it can be actually fixed next week.

I have been cooking this past month using the stove (burner part), my toaster oven and my outdoor gas grill. So I can cook - baking has to be small (toaster oven) though

Father's Day giveaway!

Have you figured out what to get for dad for Father's Day? Here's a great idea at Momstart. Not one but 4 different products in the giveaway.

A Keurig Coffee machine, a Peek, something from Boost Mobile and a briefcase from Lands End. I'm thinking this is a great giveaway - I'd LOVE the coffee machine (so would the hubster)

bit.ly/J1HBL

Check it out.

Baking Soda - 20 Uses

As you may know (I think I told you here) that I am going through all the magazines I have "accumulated" to cute out the stuff I want to save and recycle the rest. Anyway here's one I found that I love cause I ALWAYS have baking soda around

1) Puts out grease fires. Scatter baking soda over fire by the handfuls to extinguish flame.
2) Absorb Odors. Use in your refrigerator, freezer, basement, make a sachet for your car - a whole lot less expensive than some of those car air fresheners they sell.
3) Clean your dishwasher and coffeemaker by running an empty cycle with baking soda added
4) Home Spa Treatment. Add 1/2 cup to your bath.
5) Polish Jewelry. Make a paste with water and baking soda - safe for silver and gold
6) Add to kitty litter. Put baking soda in bottom of litter box, cover with litter - minimum smells
7) Bug bites, Sunburn & Poison Ivy. Instant relief - mix baking soda with water to make a paste and apply to sore.
8) Fluffier omelet - add 1/2 teaspoon for every 3 eggs
9) Unclog a drain. 1 cup baking soda poured into drain. Add 1 cup hot vinegar to quickly unclog drain.
10) Fight dandruff. Instead of shampoo for a few weeks, massage your wet scalp with a handful of baking soda. Rinse and let dry.
11) Gargle with baking soda and water or use it as a mouthwash.
12) Soak toothbrushes in 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup water. Let sit overnight.
13) Make your own kitty litter. Mix 1 small box of baking soda with 3 inches of sandy clay.
14) Brush your pets teeth (and yours - just don't use the same brush :D)
15) Scatter baking soda on icy sidewalks - its not as corrosive as salt
16) Discourage weeds - sprinkle baking soda into cracks in your driveway and sidewalks.
17) Surround dog food bowls with baking soda to keep pests away
18) Use baking soda to scrub the sink and tub.
19) Create your own antacid. Mix 1/2 teaspoon with 1/2 cup of water.
20) Clean the toilet. Add 1/4 cup baking soda to bowl, swirl and scrub.

Frugal Rhode Island Mama: Birthday Giveaway : Hoover Platinum Collection

Karen at Frugal RI Mama is celebrating her birthday by having a wonderful birthday giveaway. Today is the best item - EVERYONE needs this, EVERYONE will love to have it (even if they don't admit it).

Jump on over and wish Karen a happy birthday and join in on this giveaway.

Frugal Rhode Island Mama: Birthday Giveaway : Hoover Platinum Collection