Abandoning my Pets in the Meadow

The oddest things are happening to my pictures on Blogger. They are clear on my end but by the time it's uploaded and put on here, they are blurry. So, I'm sorry about that. Phooey.

Anyway, I wrote previously about my mice dilemma. I absolutely could not find a home for them where they wouldn't be snake food. Because of the heat and no answers we finally released them at a nearby park. The baby gray mice quickly started digging. Yay, they got the smart genes. However, mommy who is from the pet store was slowly wandering around. She probably thinks she's in heaven and there are no more dangers. I hope her "afterlife" experience doesn't end too quickly. She's stark white and really obvious to see.

We took them inside a bin and dropped them off by a tree.  I cried inside the van feeling like a BIG FAT JERK.  Some animal parent I am.  

I later asked Charles to throw away that blue dome he left sitting on the grass.  That might draw attention to where the mice were.  I cried all the way to my friends house where we were going for the day.  I tried to smile as I walked in their door and kept my sunglasses on so they wouldn't see my eyes.  She's my friend though so she knows when somethings up.  I just couldn't care for escapees anymore and there is still one loose in my house I have to catch.  

Sorry if you animal lovers out there think I'm a meanie.  Just didn't want to take them to the pet store for snake food.  Hopefully they are happily digging tunnels and playing house.  I don't know.  

How I Made Wood Beautiful Again

I have this wood piano sitting in my living room that likes to collect dust.  Recently I was thinking about selling it because we still don't have a bench for it and it wasn't looking all that beautiful.  Lucky me, Scott's Liquid Gold sent me some of their Wood Cleaner & Preservative and Wood Wash Concentrate.  One night while my kids were sleeping I thought I'd give it a try.

Here are the pics.  It's kind of embarrassing but I didn't realize how dusty it had become till I moved the plant and all the stuff off of it.  Yikes! 

I have dusted this many times but it needed more than that.

It was super easy because all I had to do is put some on the cloth and start wiping down the piano.  My husband was working on the computer, looked, over and said "Holy cow!  The piano looks beautiful!"

See for yourself.  :)  Here is a before and after.

Before

After

Whoa! It's beautiful. Then I started turning on other wood products around me. They also sent me their wood floor cleaner. Although I don't have wood floor, it says I could use it on tile too. I was sooo surprised how fast it cleaned my tile compared to my usual method. :) Loved it so I'm sharing about it!

Links:
Scotts Liquid Gold's
Website
Facebook
Twitter


*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

My Cup Spilleth Over

Zsuzsanna invited us for tea as a Mother's Day event.  I love it and really loved the message they had for 15 minutes before tea.  I'm extremely traditional and really do strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman.  Right now I'm more like a wanna be Proverbs 31 woman but I really try.  The only thing I'm not traditional about is having babies as they come.  I would have 50 kids probably.  Let me see.... I can calculate it.  If I started when I was married with no birth control and I'm 31 now.  Hmmm... That would be about 13 kids.  Do you think I'm joking?  I get pregnant EVEN when I nurse.  The doctor said I am one of the most fertile people she has ever met. That's how I had Chaz and Ryan at 12 months apart AND I was nursing Chaz.  

Don't get me wrong, I actually envy the families that have kids as they come.  I think it's FANTASTIC.  I think what scares me is that my kids have coffee running through their blood.  If they ever sit still for long it's because they are sick.  "Oh, honey, Kyle hasn't moved for 10 minutes.  We should check his temperature."  I have crazy hyper kids.  A lot like Cheaper by the Dozen movie.  Good kids.  Just tons of energy and pranks to go around.  Sigh.  I love my family like crazy. :D  I'm just afraid to make an army and be way outnumbered.

Back to the tea party.  We had so much fun and my girls loved sitting with the other little girls and drinking tea.  It was such a special day and I love Zsuzsanna and her family like crazy.  

It definitely was interesting with it being all girls.  Before the tea party I was trying to think about what to wear.  I figured I'd just go with something light and flowy.  Szuszanna doesn't know I'm a huge tea person and have visited many a tea places.  Never for big groups though where they serve you the whole time you're there so it was a treat.

I may not have kids as they come but that doesn't stop me from cuddling little ones I find around me.  Tee hee.... 

Is it just me or does it feel less naughty eating so many goodies when they are sliced into small amounts?  "Ohhhh, these are so little.  If I put 30 of them together, it'll probably equal a whole one"  Ahem.

All of us ladies.  We mainly had the kid table so we had the pleasure sipping tea with female munchkins and teach them about tea time.  I'd say we had the most fun at our table.  :D  

I would say My Cup Runneth Over but it just makes more sense to say it spilleth over since I don't have it all together.  Hence my favorite saying....

"We may not have it all together

but together we have it all"

Shocking Truth about Geico's Gecko

We found this lizard in a backyard and put him on Ivy's couch from her doll house. I figured I'd give a story with it. You can call me the Lizard Whisperer.

Geico Gecko in therapy

"Doctor, it all started when Geico hired me to be their spokesperson.  At first it sounded good.  After all, I came here to the big city to find food for my family back home.  Geico treated me good, even made me a bed in the boss' office.  I'm having these nightmares ever since the incident.  One night the janitor was making his rounds. (shudder) I guess he was never informed of me being hired on.  He took off his big, humongous shoe and raised it to squish me.  I tried to escape but was frozen in fear.  He missed me but got my tail.  In horror I looked back and saw my tail detached from my body.  I played dead, even when I was thrown in the trash.  Since then my tail has grown back (thank goodness) but now I have these nightmares.  A big shoe always over me... ready to squish me.  I wake up cradling my tail every time.  I love my work, the money is good, my family back home writes me.  I don't know.  I just feel like sometimes I'm living a lie.  I haven't climbed a tree in years.  I'm popular and the ladies love me.  I just feel empty inside.  Can you help me?

Who Knew Homemaking Could be so Dangerous?

Aghhh.... yesterday was just one of those days.  I woke up my boys for school and helped get them ready.  Kyle complained of his eyes burning but that's about it.  I thought it was allergies maybe.  As soon as they arrived on the school bus, the school called and said Kyle threw up in the hallway of the school and I need to come get him.  Oh man.  I had just sat down with my coffee and two of my little ones were still sleeping.  The school is not close so I was bummed about having to wake the kids up and get them ready.  After I picked up my poor Kyle, I figured we could go meet daddy at his work and see if he's off.  On the way to his job, Ashley throws up in the van and on Ivy.  Ivy's crying because she's got throw up on her.  I asked Ivy to remove her clothes but she said "Mommy, I forgot my underwear though".  Sigh.  Just recently I remember seeing girl panties in my purse so I gave them to her.  She had to go sit by Kyle because it was a dry spot. We picked up dad and he wanted us to take him somewhere for lunch but I said we couldn't because of Ivy having no clothes.  I ran into Goodwill to get her an outfit real fast before heading somewhere else.  It was the closet place near where we were. 

I told Charles what happened and how I had extra undies in my purse.  He said "Awwww.... that's cause you're such a good mom and you're always prepared."

I said, "No babe.  That was a complete accident.  I have no idea how clean underwear ended up in my purse."  So, that was no supermom move.

After dropping Charles off back at work and heading home, Kyle throws up again in the van.  By now the van is beginning to have a bad smell.  I got the kids out of the van and into the house.  Then Kyle throws up in the floor in the kitchen and then on the carpet in the living room.  I didn't see the throw up  on the tile and slipped in it and hit my elbow on a corner on the way down.  It was painful and I cried on the floor for a bit. After all I had to get up because my daughter just told me she found a dead reptile in the backyard. She was asking if she could play with him in the Barbie house.  I told her to please just let him rest in peace somewhere in the backyard (through gritted teeth because of the pain).  


Right then the school calls again and asks if I can come pick up Chaz.  I sighed and asked "What happened now?"  He was feeling nauseous and is in the nurse's office.  "Oh, that's it?  He hasn't thrown up yet?  Well, tell him to hang on for one more hour of school because I am NOT coming to get him.  Right now, just moving my body is hazardous to my own health because apparently I can't walk straight and need some ballet lessons.  If he's not throwing up yet I'm not coming to get him."  She probably thinks I'm a mean mom.  I was just feeling like bad luck was everywhere and it's be better if I just sat down in one spot.

This is why.....

I'm thinking about walking around in bubble wrap.  I just can't seem to protect my extremities.  A few months ago I broke one pinkie toe while running to answer the phone.  A couple weeks later broke my other pinkie to running it into my vacuum cleaner (to answer the phone).  There is nothing they can do for it so I'm just waiting for them to heal and although it's months later, the pain is just as bad.  A couple of days ago I was throwing clothes from the washer into the dryer when I rammed my pinkie finger (while it was straight) into it.  It's swollen and painful but think it's fine.  So now I'm protecting my toes, hand, and elbow.  You really don't realize how important these parts of your body are till you constantly bump them while they are trying to heal.  Do they have homemakers insurance?  You know for woman that consider their own home to be a place of risk?  Heh heh.

Gotta go.  Caleb just dumped a whole bottle of soy sauce out on the tile for someone LIKE ME to slip on.  

Something I'm Embarrassed to Admit

It's a true dilemma I am having and it's completely ridiculous.

It's even embarrassing....but apparently I love animals sooooo much I won't do a simple tiny think like finding a home for my rebellious teenage mice.  Not sure how to put that.  Actually, I CAN find a home for them.  But it's the type of home I'm worried about.  I've driven my mice around for an hour, in the heat of the car, trying to find a pet store that would sell them but not for snake food.  My 5 baby mice almost died through that trip just because I was trying to sell them to a store that wouldn't kill them.  When I brought them back home I actually sprayed them lightly with water and made sure they got hydrated again.  They are just mice I try to tell myself!

I can't believe I'm trying to keep mice safe when I know darn well that if wild mice got into my house I'd set traps for them.  Not the kind that kill but that just catch them at least. Now that I know I can't take them to a pet store  because they'll be snake food, now I'm looking elsewhere.  I thought about releasing them at a park but most likely they spray those places and try to keep mice away.  In the heat of our summer, most people aren't having picnics anymore which means no food for the mice.  These aren't just any mice. They are mine that I held in my hand after they were born, watched them cuddle their mom and nurse, loved watching them learn to walk.  Argh!

Okay, so then someone told me to take them to a garbage can behind a store, they'll get transferred and live happily ever after at the dump.  They'll be plenty of food.  But then won't they get dumped first into a truck that compacts trash?  Then they'd be killed on the way there!  

These are mice that jump very, very high so I had to find a container for them and keep them in my garage (with plenty of fun stuff) till I find somewhere to take them.  The problem is my garage is getting hot now so I need to take them somewhere quick.  Why don't I keep them?  Because these ones are escape artists and they keep trying to get loose.  We're keeping the mommies we originally had because they love us. They don't try to escape like their rebellious little children.

Besides me, who the heck deals with these issues?  Why do I care so much that they could be snake food?  Whyyyyyy????  I know I was the little girl once that rescued hurt birds before school and made a home for them in my room.  I would fix their broken legs, bandage them till they were better and could fly again.  That was so wonderful to nurse them to health.  That's why I can't sentence my mice to death.  


I'm such an animal nerd.  Someone help be now before I hold a funeral for an ant I accidentally step on.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

Kids say really, really funny stuff and even stuff that hurts our feelings unintentionally.  

"Mom, my farts hurt..... but I still have the joy of the Lord!" -Ivy (Posted HERE on Heard on the Playground's website.)

"Dad, I love you even though you are fluffy.  Even if you get fluffier later I will still love you." -Ivy

Remember this?

Boys are pretty obvious when they want to get into something. Not girls. When it gets too quiet in their room it always sends alarm bells in my head. So I thought I'd see how "sweetly" they were playing. Ivy knew she was caught so she started crying. We were laughing so hard that baby Ashley joined in.

Those are the times that it's just better to laugh rather than cry.  I knew I had a huge mess to clean up later and a bath to give late at night.  I was exhausted and just wanted to go to sleep.  After I walked in on the girls, at first I was shocked when I saw the Nesquik powder everywhere but then Charles and I just broke down laughing.  We laughed and laughed.  It was so funny.  It was a pain cleaning up but oh well.  Stuff happens.  Or "Girls happen".  

If you guys have something funny then please submit it to Heard on the Playground we can all enjoy it!  I love reading stuff kids say because you just can't make up good stuff like that.  Tee hee....

Where to find your Personalized T-Shirts

I'm a dress up kind of girl and rarely keep t-shirts in my closet.  However, since getting a gray version of one of these shirts I've been finding myself picking it out of the closet because of comfort.  :D

Product info:

T-Shirt Printing is a company that is a printing specialist and will personalize t-shirts, hooded tops, sweatshirts and workwear.  

Charles and I have been thinking about making family shirts for quite some time.  Like when we go to the zoo or other large park areas.  One time we went to an event with matching shirts and it was so neat to be able to spot each other quickly.  I saw the Gosselins once sporting shirts that had numbers on them.  Tee hee.. that's actually a really creative idea someone had.  You can get a free T-Shirt Printing catalog to see more of what they have HERE.

*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

When Will the World End?

First, see this.....

Sooo much talk was put into the subject about the the claims of the world ending.  We all knew it was false of course because of scriptures that were plainly and simply put.  NO ONE know the day or the hour.  Rather than focus on when the world is ending, why not just focus on the day and the hour God has gifted us here and now?  

Today is the day I'm going to tell my husband I love him.  I'm gonna look him in his eyes and tell him how much I truly appreciate his hard work for this family.  The roof over our head, food in our fridge, clothing on our body.  He gets up when it's still dark outside whether it's hot or cold, sick or not, or even when he's plain exhausted still.  With red eyes and no complaint on his lips, he whispers goodbye each morning so not to wake me and gives me a hug. I'm so thankful for him.

Today is the day I'm gonna give my kids a hug and tell each and every one of them that they are gifts from God.  That they rocked my world from day 1 of them coming into this earth.  My body may never be the same but my heart is bursting with pride and intense love. Each one is unique in their interest, struggles, strengths, personality and desires.  They're ALL mine and I will love each and very day they are with me.  Even with the thousands of diapers I've had to change and hundreds of dollars worth of batteries I've had to buy for their toys.  (Batteries now, cars later).  

Today is the day I'm gonna forgive a past wrong even if I don't feel it was deserved.  After all, I don't remember ever achieving perfection myself.  I would hope someone would forgive me the same.

Today is the day I'm gonna watch the sunset.  I never take the time to do that.  I'm gonna sit outside with my kids and just watch the sun slowly fall till it kisses the horizon.  While its left my sky, its lighting up my sister's sky in South Africa.  Enjoy the sunrise, Jodee.  :)

The question is not when will the world end,  When I lay my head down at night, I need to know in my heart that I didn't take God's gift of life for granted.  I'm not even guaranteed tomorrow.  Life begins for some and life ends for others each and every day.  

"This is the day that the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalms 118:24

BrytonPick -Floss Review

This is really interesting so I wanted to try it. You know when you're in a restaurant and that annoying thing is stuck in your tooth?  Well, no one wants to pull out a line of floss right in the middle of a restaurant and start flossing.  So then you make funny faces trying to lick it out of your tooth.  LOL.

I tried the BryonPick-Floss and it's discreet when using it and it's reusable for about a month.  It's flexible, flat and in a case where you can even carry it in your wallet.  Pretty darn cool and convenient. :D

Product Info:
String FREE, Reusable and Portable Dental Floss for people on-the-go or those who are unable to floss (or hate flossing). Great for people wearing braces or Invisalign. Credit card size carry-pouch included. .

*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

33 Ridiculous Toys of All Time

I found this list of The 33 Ridiculous Toys of All Time but the one I wanted to point out is the Barbie.  I know Barbies are so cute and fashionable.  You can put shoes on (that the kids will lose anyway) and comb their hair (before it becomes ratted).  You can even change their outfits!  Or..... not.  Heck, it seems they like to play nudist colony more often than not.

"Does Barbie represent bad gender role modeling?  I don't know, but I do know this: that girl likes to get naked.  No sooner than minutes after your daughter receives the gift of Barbie does this amoral little doll have her clothes off.  And it is in the sinful state of nature that Barbie will stay, most likely writhing in a pile of similarly clothing-shy Barbies.  It's not the 70's anymore, Barbie.  Get some undies." -

I have to agree that it's kind of annoying that they'd make these completely naked under their clothes.  Especially since I have sons around.  They are just way to close to making these like an (surgery enhanced) adult.  I get leery of them coming out of my girls' room because I don't like my boys to see them.  What is so hard about designing some permanent underwear and undershirt for them?  That way when my girl sneaks one into church and lifts it over her head, we don't have a naked Barbie being waved in the air.

Other weird toys are:

Heyyyy, at least we wouldn't have to pick up the poop after it.  No loud barking.  This is as simple as pets get, guys.


The Pet Rock

For those of you who travel all the time and miss going through the airport lines and can't wait get back. No need to wait!  Enjoy it with your family at home.  Might as well train our kids now.

Airport X-ray Security Machine

Actually, I could imagine getting this for my kids to have ONLY for waiting in quiet bank lines or sitting in a hushed waiting room somewhere.  A place where people are too uncomfortable to talk to each other.  It'd be the only entertaining thing to watch but annoying to hear over and over since it's made out of wood.

Ball and Cup

I have a bone to pick with the Pogo Stick.  I could never master it.  It was a major disappointment in my life.  I think at the most I could bounce 4 times. The kids who could do 50 must've been on steroids.

Pogo Stick

Color by Numbers Review and Giveaway! Contest Ended

Winner is Bonnie!!! :D

Color by Numbers let my daughter try their coloring fun online.  Color by Numbers is an application for Mac, Windows and Linux where you color in pictures according to numbers. The program helps children learn numbers while having fun.

Ivy really loves coloring all the princess pictures it and my boys also have animals and vehicles.  I love how she's learning her numbers and colors.  

I've always loved color by numbers when I was a kid so I thought it was pretty cool my kids loved it too.  I think you guys would love and it's so easy to download for your computer.

They are giving out a free copy to one of my winners!  All you have to do is leave a comment with your email address and it's an entry! (Contest ends May 27th, 2011 at 3pm)

(1st entry)

You can have extra entries by:

Following this blog through email or Google

(1 entry)

Following Yes, They're All Mine on Facebook

(1 entry)

If the World Ended Today

I'm sure you've heard all the talk about how the world is supposed to end on May 21, 2011 because someone studied the bible and determined a date like many before him have.... and of course we know it's not going to happen.  Disasters have happened all around the world and has come closer together than ever before.  The bible warns of it.  Like the birth pains of a mother in labor coming closer and closer.... yet no one knows the day or the hour of Christ coming.  Anyone giving a specific date is a false prophet.

View outside my kitchen window

Just for the sake of thinking about our life and what a gift it is.  

What IF today was our last day?

I woke up this morning and was grateful 

the son rose for one more day  

For the last brave flower that opened and reached up it's face to the sky

I'm grateful the clouds that still show their silver lining

I grateful that Mr. Bell invented a way for me to call my mom up

to say I love you again, just in case

I'm so happy I got to see my little kids come in the room

with sleepy eyes and a tired "Good morning" 

I quietly crept out of bed at 7am to watch the kids 

So my husband could sleep in on a Saturday

I still fed my chickens and check for their eggs

grateful they laid just one more time

I got to lay my little sweetie Caleb down for his last nap 

and watch his eyes slowly close

I'm so grateful for the 31 years 341 days 

God has graciously given me

Each and every day is a precious gift
Thank goodness for one more day

Thank you, Lord, for one more day

Sanity Held Hostage

Who would DO SUCH A THING?  

My daughter and I have been really sick the last couple of days and on antibiotics.  After visiting the Urgent Care I went to my friend's house to relax.  I was happy just to lay on her floor to try and feel better while my younger three enjoy running about and playing with their friends.  Regrettably I had to leave no matter how bad I felt so I could be home when my kids arrive from school.  Just as I'm pulling up the school bus arrives.  I opened the door to my own "Home Sweet Home".  Within 5 minutes I get an anonymous call to check my facebook.  See picture below with message attached.

"I am holding this binki hostage. The owner must clean my house from top to bottom or it curtains for the binki!"

This "friend" of mine, which I will not reveal (don't click on link), has held my (very loud) son's binky hostage.  Thankfully, she can't spell so that tells me I may be able to outsmart her.

When Husband Says So

My husband has tried for the last couple of years to have me go to bed earlier at night.  Since his career has changed and he's home early in the morning instead, he really wanted our hours to line up.  My whole life, because of all the ministries my parents led at church, we were late nighters.  We are usually 12am-8am sleepers. Charles has asked and asked for me to change it.  For the sake of him being my husband I thought it was about time to give it a shot.  This was his desire.  Not that he hits me over the head with the bible ever, but my conscience was hurting.

What's wrong with late night moms?  This was my favorite alone time to fold laundry, read a book, blog about something, mop the floors.  Just relax and have some quiet.  Even cleaning in the quiet without having to constantly stop can be relaxing.  Sigh.  This was his desire so I guess I just needed to try.  I'll be happy when he's back to his other career.  We used to be late nighters together.

Okay, so I tried laying in bed and staring at the ceiling for a looong time.  I tried waking up early, taking no naps...... still would lay for hours at night.  My body was trained to stay up late. 31 years of it is not easy to reverse.  It was even hard not to be resentful.  After unsuccessfully going to sleep by 10pm I looked for some help but didn't want drugs. My best friend offered to let me try her low dose all natural vitamin pills that help you sleep.  This is something you can buy in the vitamin aisle at Walmart.  So it's not strong stuff at all.  Like how Sleepytime Tea works.

The vitamin worked but only if I'm laying down.  Otherwise it doesn't work at all.  That's actually a very good thing.  Miraculously I now sleep from 10-6am and every day for over a week now.  It's soooo weird.  There are definitely plus and minuses about it though.

Positive: It doesn't matter how stinking hard you work ALL day as a mom and homemaker, you are consider lazy it seems if you don't get up with the sun.  Even if you folded clothes till 1am and near exhaustion, by golly, you're lazy!  Now I'm not considered lazy according to early risers.

Positive: My husband and I go to bed at the same exact time. He thinks that's pretty cool.

Positive: I can't think of any other positives AT ALL.


Negative: I now have zilch quiet and alone time. Totally stinks.

Negative: Now that I'm up earlier, my kids get up even earlier. I'm telling you my kids are SUCH light sleepers. I could get up at 4am and they'd be up with me.  So no quiet time in the morning either.

Negative: My amount of book reading is down very low since I would read while house was quiet and I could read more than a paragraph.


Goal met: A happy hubby.  If his career type (engineering) ever opens back up then I'll be happy to change my hours again.  Yes, I know it's weird to the modern world but I do sometimes have to slap my attitude since I do strive to be a Proverbs 31 wife.  STRIVE is the key word.

Toddler's Rules of Possession

Goodness, Ashley has been such a stinker lately and extremely sneaky.  Some days she comes in with my makeup all over her face.  Other days she's clean the floors with my last box of baby wipes.  She gets her feelings hurt real easy and when she cries it's very high pitch and sounds like a jet taking off.  It definitely gets people's attention if we're in public. She's very possessive like most toddlers.  Although, she is almost out of that phase of life, she's very much a little girl.  Man, if we didn't train up our kids in doing what's right and fighting selfishness, this world would be scary.  Wait a minute!  Maybe some never did learn to be kind, selfless, and giving.  People are running around like BIG TODDLERS.  Hmmm.....

She makes me think of this: 

Toddlers Rules of Possession


1. If I like it, it's mine.

2. If it's in my hand, it's mine. 

3. If I can take it from you, it's mine. 

4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine. 

5. If it's mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in anyway. 

6. If I'm doing or building something, all the pieces are mine. 

7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine. 

8. If I saw it first, it's mine. 

9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically
becomes mine. 

10. If it's broken, it's yours. 

Do Genes Play a Factor in Obesity?

Genes Take Charge, and Diets Fall by the Wayside -Article written on May 8, 2007



You know, I've thought about this many times. Why is it that someone next to me is overweight, eats the same amount I do but can't get any weight off?  I've had friends who exercise as much as me or more, eat as much as me or less yet have serious weight issues. This is why I get angry when I see an overweight person get taunted.  I really believe some of it is genetics and some people have to work harder than others to lose weight and keep it off.

Just because you see an overweight person doesn't mean they're a pig and eat everything in site. Or that they lay on their couch all day.  I'm sure some of that is a case that can be made.  But I've always believed since I was a kid that some were born naturally skinny and some battled weight all through childhood and beyond.

My dad can eat like there is no tomorrow and he'll stay the skinny guy he is.  In fact, most all the guys in that side of the family AND the girls are skinny.  Even after kids.  Does that mean that they are all health conscious?  Heck no.

For the most part I don't do anything to lose weight, I just like to stay healthy for the sake of being healthy but fall off the wagon many times.  BUT, it's always broke my heart to see overweight kids or adults taunted.  I really liked this article.

Of course some really do pig out and some are couch potatoes.  Kids sit and play video games and get fat.  But so do my kids and they are skinny rails.  This article proved what I've always thought.

A fat person does not always equal lazy or big eater.  Genes can be a factor also.  

Aerobie® Sprint Ring Review

I know with the age of movies, video games, and other distractions it's easy to let regular outside play go.  It is important and we can't forget that exercise through play can be LOTS of fun too!

Aerobie sent me their Sprint Ring to fly.  You throw it like you would a frisbee except it flies really, really far!  It's actually a lot easier to throw also.  Here is more info about it:

Aerobie® Sprint Ring

• Flies twice as far as conventional discs
• Patented high performance design
• Perfect for backpacking
• Thrilling games of catch
• Compact 10 inch diameter size
• Made in the U.S.A.
• More Information

We took it to our street to play out on so we'd have lots of room to throw.  My sons ages 7 and 9 loved playing with it and stayed out for a good hour playing.  Even with the wind blowing, they had some good throws and had to keep backing up since the ring would fly much farther than they thought.  It's soft so you don't have to worry about them hitting their fingers hard when they catch it.  

"Former US Surgeon General David Satcher observes that “children who are more physically fit do better academically.” Better grades are another good reason for moms to get kids to exercise."

I believe that one for sure.

Ryan throwing Aerobie Sprint Ring

If You Could Wish for a Trait, What Would it Be?

Charles and I have been sick this week which makes regular house maintenance hard.  However, while I'm cleaning every day I'm constantly looking for items to put in the donation boxes.  So rather than get upset, I'm glad the kids are dragging out stuff because it's making me see how much of it is junk rather than being tucked back away somewhere.  The Duggars said that when there is just too much stuff in the house, it makes it hard for the kids to keep up on it.  If everything doesn't have a place, they can get overwhelmed.  So I'm not doing a huge overhaul, just here and there as I can.  At least trying to donate 10 items a day.


I wish I was like my sis where she could just spot stuff and get rid of a truck full.  She's amazing, you should watch her in action.  If she were here she'd whip this place in shape like there was no tomorrow.  They live in South Africa so getting her advice is hard reaching.  (No pun intended, haha)

I just really got short changed on that organizational gene.  Sheesh.  Hopefully I can make up for it in other ways.  :)  We can't really have it all though can we?  Some may be good at organizing but not have the patience for kids. Or some are not that attractive but have the heart the size of Texas.  Or someone can be absolutely gorgeous on the outside but have an ugly heart.  Or someone that is rich but is lonely and has no one to share their life with. (At least real people that care).  Some would rather be thin, some taller, some shorter, etc.  The list goes on.  So I have to remind myself that.  We all wish something different about us and none of us really posses every single positive personality or physical trait out there.

When Charles and I were first married we took a counseling class. Well, it wasn't really a class but just us with the counselor.  He had a take a personality type quiz where the results would show who is more dominant or organized.  Well, the only part that REALLY stood out to me was the organizational part.

With 100 meaning the most organized.  I got a 4.  A FOUR!!!! 


Crud.

So I looked at the positive side.  At least it wasn't a 0.  There was still hope for me yet.  Haha.

DedeMed's Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Spices Review

I was able to make a delicious meal to try the Seven Spice sent to me.  I had never even heard of this spice so I had no idea where to begin making it and where to find the ingredients.  Because I was short on time I couldn't search to the specialty stores to find some ingredients a recipe called for.  Well, I went onto the website which is just amazing because not only does she give you tons of Mediterranean recipes, but she includes a video on how to make it.  Since I could not find  a couple of the ingredients this recipe called for, I had to do without. You'll be able to tell by my picture.  Here is the recipe I would be trying from her site.  I'll include my own pictures of it.

Dede's Mediterranean Kefta Burger Recipe

Serves: 4-6
Difficulty: easy
Prep and Cook time: 20 minutes

Flat leaf parsley

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef (or any meat you like)
1 cup flat leaf parsley (Store did not offer flat leaf which has a stronger taste so I had to use the curly parsley)
1 cup onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp 7 spices
Burger buns
Kabees and tomatoes for garnish (I had to do without the Kabees also)

Tahini Mayonnaise Sauce

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 clove minced garlic
1 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs tahini paste 
1/4 tsp paprika (optional)

Onion Parsley Garnish

1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup sliced onion
1 tbs sumac (Could not get Sumac either)
1/2 tsp salt

In a food processor blend the onion and parsley until well blended, then add the ground meat, salt and 7 spices and blend until well combined.  

Form meat into 4 or 6 burgers and cook on grill or in a pan for 7-8 minutes.  

For the tahini mayonnaise sauce in a bowl combine the mayonnaise, tahini, lemon juice, garlic and paprika and set aside for topping. 

For onion parsley garnish in a bowl combine the onions, parsley, salt and sumac.  To assemble the burgers, toast the buns and top both sides with tahini mayonnaise, add burger and top with onion/parsley then top with the other bun. Serve with kabeese and tomatoes.

Remember, I had to use regular parsley instead of flat leaf,

didn't have the Sumac needed for the garnish on top and

didn't use Kabees with tomatoes.

 Read more: http://www.dedemed.com/index.php/Mediterranean-Americana/Dede-s-Mediterranean-Kefta-Burger-Recipe.html#ixzz1McXqn8NN

Product Description 

DedeMed Spice blends are manufactured using the highest quality, premium spices sourced from all over the world.  They are expertly blended to provide a balanced, authentic flavor true to their heritage.  All of the spice material is fresh, vibrant; and has been cleaned and treated for microbiological contamination.  DedeMed Spice Blends are manufactured in a facility that uses Good Manufacturing Practices and currently has a “Superior” Food Safety Rating from the American Institute of Baking.

*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.