Stocking Stuffer Idea for the Adults On Your List

The 411:
I have looked at this book at least 5 times in the past week. It is adorable and the corresponding stories sweet. My personal favorite include a grown man laying on the same blanket he laid on when he was a newborn. The same angle, the same sunlight streaming through.

My sisters and I are never all together but I would totally do this with them.

The book has been in my bag since I received it and everyone who looks through it, writes down the title and the website. It is truly a phenomenon.

We all love the effort everyone took in trying to get the exact same facial expressions and clothing. For more on this book, check out the Young Me, Now Me website. By the way, don't blame me if you find yourself spending way too much time there. I couldn't help it either!

Any idea which photo you would reenact?

Brave Irene by William Steig Read by Meryl Streep

The 411:
I had never heard of Brave Irene by William Steig when I received it. We are always looking for new family friendly books to read together. What drew me in instantly was that Meryl Streep was the reader on the audio book and that there was snow on the cover. We are entering winter so this seemed like the perfect book to settle down and read with my kids.

Handsome and I headed into his room for us to read. He looked at it and asked me to read it to him. I started and he settled into my lap. Next thing I know, Goddess comes in too and settles in to listen. Then he read it out loud to me. Lastly he read it along with the audio. The last two reads were on his own. I figured we would read together and than put the book on the shelf like so many others before it.

Honestly, this was confusing, what was it about Brave Irene that made him want to read it three times in a row? I don't know. Maybe it was the pictures. Or maybe it was because he, like Irene, tries very hard and always has. Being a child in therapy since he is two, his mannerisms, scholastic abilities and personality is always scrutinized. His perseverance, like Irene's is to just keep going.

In this book, Irene's mom makes a beautiful dress for a Duchess. Unfortunately she is sick and can't get it to the Duchess, so Irene, being the good girl she is does her best to get it there. She tucks her mother in and heads out into a storm to bring it to her.

No matter how hard the wind pushes Irene she must make it there. She doesn't want to let her mother or the Duchess down. Irene is a people pleaser like most of us. We don't want to be let down. She keep going and in the end, all roads led to something spectacular. If we don't give up.

Putting aside that no mother would allow her child to venture out into a storm to bring a dress to a duchess. And, that Irene could have potentially died by falling off a cliff or freezing to death. Or, the amount of stress put on a child to trudge through the wind, snow and bitter cold without letting anyone down borders on child abuse I think the book is a wonderful read of courage, love and never giving up!

Handsome loved the book so much that he is basing his first school book collage on it! We need to pick up some construction paper today!

Hickory Farms Makes The Holiday Better

First, let me start by saying, that my family has been ordering from Hickory Farms since I can remember in 1973 but they were probably ordering before that.  The catalogs would come in and my mom would dog ear the pages as she ordered gifts for grandparents, great grandparents, family friends and teachers.

The towers were always a favorite because you would get a box of nuts, sweets, savory things like mustards and then cheese and sausage. I am not a big cheese girl but as a carnivore I love meat. 

Recently I was able to revisit Hickory Farms when I had the opportunity to host a Hickory Farms Party. I invited 7 friends and with the use of Clary's home. Every party she comes to at my  house she says, "that was fun, I should have a party at my house" so since I know she always decorates for Thanksgiving I asked if she wanted to host. She being a great friend said yes and together we entertained 6 woman.  

I was surprised when I asked them if they had ever ordered or received a gift from Hickory Farms. None of them had. They all were familiar with the name because there is usually a Hickory Farm store or mostly a stand in the malls but none had shopped. 

Hickory Farms was being generous. We received enough food to feed a small village.  Choosing 1 of each of the boxes we cut up samples for everyone to try. It was the "best" party ever. 

Get woman together to sample food and it's all good. We had a great time, laughing, talking and eating.  Everyone had a favorite; I personally liked the Turkey Sausage and Cranberry Mustard. Who would think that Cranberry Mustard would taste so amazing. It went quickly. The jars are small but it taste good on everything and a few woman talked about how they would love to put it on top of their ham before they cook it for Thanksgiving dinner. Yummy!

Click to enlarge

The Smoked Gouda Cheese was a favorite. Every time we tried something new, someone would chime that "THIS" was their favorite. 

One of my favorite parts of the party was when I opened the basket containing cheese, meats and fresh fruit. I cut up a red pear and at first everyone was all "I'm not a pear person." Until they tried it! When one returned to the room after taking care of the only kid at the party, a little boy 14 months old, she was asked to try it and when she said, "I'm not a pear person" all of them told her she had to try it. She did! Annnnnddd she loved it too!

Anytime Hickory Farms needs someone to do taste tests, they can count on me and my girls, we are in!

Each woman was handed a box to take with them which completely floored them. I loved the Facebook messages about the party especially when one was telling me she was already cutting into her cheese and sausage. 

Looks like Hickory Farms made some new fans and I was able to give a box to my UPS guy who delivered them and many others every year. My grandparents and in-laws also received boxes. It was the best review ever. 

Click to Enlarge

DAY 1 of 12 Days of Christmas - Put Inkoos On Your Christmas List

That's right people, we are starting early, I am too excited to wait any longer. Plus, I always worry that people won't get their prizes before the holidays and that adds to my stress.  Soooooo to relive my stress and get this party started, let's goooooooo.........

The 411

We received our Inkoo and mini Inkoo last week and my, my was Goddess chopping at the bit to get her hands on them. 

I took this picture before the kids got home from school on Friday. She asked if she could play with them and I told her she would have to wait until tomorrow we had a busy night. The next day we did a leaf raking thing with the Cub Scouts and Daisy at a church near by and then I had to race Handsome back home to change for his soccer game. I knew it was killing her but told her when I got home we could open them.

When I got home, I was told her first tooth had fallen out.....aggghhh I missed it. She was so happy to pose with her newest friends.

See the missing tooth???

She got started on her Inkoo right away. She is such a good sharer and asked if she could draw on the big one today and than let Handsome draw on it tomorrow. Funny, I was going to give it to her since I know she likes art better than he does. We will let him do it too to see if it is something he likes!

The little one she decided should go to her good friend Ava. We owe her a Birthday Gift so this is perfect. Can't wait to see what Ava thinks!

Here is Goddess hard at work on her masterpiece.

We finally put our Inkoo into the wash and were amazed. The colors come off right away. The white Inkoo is still very white. Only his foot looks a little different as I suppose his little flat bottom foot insert slipped a little but the kids could care less. He he can't stand on his own but they never had him standing anyway.

In MY HONEST OPINION:

The colors aren't as dark as they make them out to be. The Inkoos come with 3 markers and they are quite light. We haven't tried different waterproof markers because honestly, the kids love it just the way it is. I am curious though. BUT, any toy that kids can use over and over again is so worth it to me.

Holiday Wishes Review

The 411:

I was a big Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan so seeing Amber Benson "Tara" in another role was exciting. Amber Benson plays Danni Hartford a party planner who spends her off time looking for a sister she hardly remembers having except for a photo of her and another little girl.

Britney is the daughter of Danni's clients. A spoiled rich girl who wants for nothing but a horse of her very own. Rachel is an orphan shuttled from house to house who only wants a family to love her.

After being mistreated by her foster siblings on a horse farm, Rachel makes a wish the same time Britney and Danni do while looking at a star on a Christmas tree. The girls bump into each other and Britney and Rachel switch bodies.

It's Freaky Friday turned into a holiday movie with an extra. The script is weak and the acting just OK but this is a Christmas Movie and in the end who doesn't love to watch movies about Christmas at Christmas time?

Ruby Tuesday - Clary Blooms

For some reason, I seem to take a few pictures of flowers when I am a Clary's house. It's funny because it's not like she has a ton of them but she does get flowers as gifts.

These were spotted during a Hickory Farm Party that I was hosting at her home for some friends. They are pretty cute with their reddish hues.

Click photo to enlarge. Head over to Ruby Tuesday for more red toned photos.

The Whip by Karen Kondazian

The 411: 

I finished this book last night after starting it just the night before. Who would have thought you could make a book about a stage coach riders back in the 1800s and make it interesting. Wow, it is not only interesting but any book that forces me to research deeper in the main topic of the book is at the top of my list.

The better part of my morning was spent researching more information on Charley Parkhurst the most famous stage coach driver. Upon her death when neighbors came to prepare "his" body, it was established that he was in fact a she and that she had given birth at one time. Born Mary, Charley ended up in an orphanage when her father remarried. She left when she was 12. She wore a patch over one eye and was refer as One Eyed Charley or according to another website, cockeyed Charley or Mountain Charley. 

In The Whip, author Karen Kondazian takes some liberties with the story and mixes in some fiction with the real story of Charley for a wonderful ride that actually feels very real.  Whether Charley had an accomplice at the orphanage who kills people she loves, I am unsure. If Charley loses her eye because of a horse accident, I don't know....what I can tell you is that The Whip, makes perfect sense. I can completely imagine that life as Charley Parkhurst was lonely however she was the first woman to vote! Well, it was as a man but whatever. You will love the story of Charley Parkhurst. Would love to see someone make this a movie which in my head, I have already cast Hilary Swank!

Great book!

For more information on The Whip, visit the website.

To Purchase: The Whip

Gracie's Gift by Andrea Trosclair REVIEW

The 411:

We received this book on Friday and have read it five times since than. As someone who lost her mom at 12, having a daughter was something I wanted in the worst way because I felt I missed out on a Mother/Daughter relationship. When I was pregnant and found it I was having a boy, I was so excited. The girl thing never came up. The love I felt for him was instantaneous. I loved him as soon as I knew he was coming. When I got pregnant again, I convinced myself that it was another boy. I would be the best mom of boys I could be. The excitement of giving my son a brother was strong.  When I heard the baby was going to be a girl. I cried, well sobbed is more like it. The reason, I always told myself and anyone who would listen that if there was a GOD, he would give me a girl. It was my validation! She is always told that I know there is a GOD because he gave me her.

Andrea wrote the most beautiful book about God's gifts. In this case, it was a girl. The bows I put in Goddess' hair was something I did without thought. I never realized I was dressing "my" gift. My beautiful gift.

Our children, boys and girls truly are gifts from God! Andrea put into words what millions of parents think every single day.

Moms, will love this book forever. What a beautiful gift to give to your daughter regardless of her age!  Gifts from God deserve a gift from Andrea, complete with adorable artwork by Sean Geautreaux. Goddess and I, love this book!

I just spent 10 minutes searching for a photo of baby Goddess with a bow. Unfortunately, I don't have time to plug in the External Hard Drive, this is the youngest picture I can find in the new computer archives.

There was always a bow. We still do them, only now she has a little more say and likes her hair down!

My Gift From GOD!

My Extremely Busy Life

Wow....where do I start?
Life is crazy busy.  In no particular order, just shooting from the cuff..

There is the kid's schedules:
School (get them ready, lunches, snacks, drop off, pick up)
Soccer (two times a week)
Cub Scouts (once a week
Daisys (once a week where I am a leader with another mother)
Maria's Space
4 Social Media Clients
Book Reviews
Christmas Shopping
Life
Husband
Friends
Family


Product reviews
Facebook
Twitter
Cleaning
Shopping
Laundry
Help in the Library at the School
Photography
and my journalist job for a neighboring village where I run their webzine as of August when they lost their newspaper (40% of my week).

All but the social media jobs are volunteer

There are times I can barely take a breath before I am flying to the next task. I know this is the life of most people but what bothers me the most is how much of life I am missing. There is barely time to take a breath and really see the world around me which at times is probably a good thing at times.

Thursday I headed out to do some prospecting. Finding more clients is time consuming and while I am getting more comfortable with it, it is still something I am unsure of. While prospecting, I headed to the Senior Center to take a photo for them of their collaborative moral that I forwarded to a local shop where it will eventually end up on t-shirts and sweatshirts to make money for the Senior Center. On my way to another prospect I received a Facebook message from someone telling me the location of the movie set for the day. (Yup, there is another movie being filmed close by). I headed there, parked and waited. I got myself on the set of the movie on their first day of filming two weeks ago and interviewed the Associate Producer! Got to watch five scenes being filmed. Very cool! This time, I was able to chat with the associate director. She was awesome! We hung for about 40 minutes talking about life, the movie, the area, her family....it was amazing.

Two and a half extra hours this week I helped out one of my clients by watching his office so he could go to an appointment.

Today we headed out as a family (with a little protesting from our largest male) to rake leaves for the sponsoring church of the Daisys and Cubs in the area. I was there as a mom, Daisy Leader and Photographer for the local webzine.

Next week I hope to get in touch with the town's mayor to see if there is any possibility of getting a stipend. Nothing major, enough to pay for the website.

Ahhhh....I am tired just writing about it.

ANNNNNDDDD...Goddess lost her first tooth while I was out today! She is so happppyyy.

Mostly this has been written for me and the kids in the future. If ever they wonder what I was up to, here it is in black and white. PEACE OUT!

Holiday Gift Idea - Nicktoons MLB for Xbox, Wii, and DS

The 411:

We are a house of big gamers. Handsome is at the top of that ladder and if he can ever find a job playing games for money, we will be very happy. He loves his games! We all enjoy sitting around and either playing together or cheering each other on. 

When we started up Nicktoons MBL I was excited to play because my daughter's 9 year old Jewel just got it for her DS and loves it. She enjoys baseball but says her favorite part of the game is picking her favorite characters.  Handsome said the same thing. When I asked him what he loved the most about it, he said, "I love picking the characters. It was funny seeing Sponge Bob and Fan Boy and Chum Chum." 

We have the game for XBox 360 and hear that with Kinnect which we don't have, it is really fun. Maybe one day.

First you choose your teams, then your starting pitchers. We mostly use Sponge Bob or Patrick because they are our favorites. Next you pick the rest of your team. My shortstop is always Ren from Ren and Stimpy! I love him!  Last, pick your stadium.

Handsome quotes:
The graphics are incredible. 
I felt like I was at a real ball game.  
It is fun picking the characters
I think I want to play baseball
The showdown is pretty cool
It is so much fun.

Handsome insisted on this video, it's kinda long but.....well, he insisted.

The Big Bang Theory And The Soft Kitty Song - Pop Culture Apparel!

The 411
We cannot get the Soft Kitty song out of our head. Goddess and I sing it all the time. When we first opened the box and I pressed the button, she was like, what is that???? After the 4th time she was like, "ugh, could you please stop that!?" Eventually we realized that we LOVE the song. It has become our go to song! The cat is really cute and since my nieces and I are fans of the show, I am thrilled to be able to get the cat and the shirt for the both of them. It makes a great gift even if you aren't a fan of The Big Bang Theory. If you aren't, you really should give it a try. It is a smart show!

Handsome asked that I use him on this review instead of his sister, I am happy to oblige.

---

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

The 411 By Maria:
Holly lost her boyfriend Rob in a car accident that almost took her life. Her mom works hard and is never home and she takes care of her younger sister. You would think with a near death experience, the loss of a boyfriend and play mom to her younger sister would be enough but nope, her mom moves her grandfather into the house because his Alzheimers is getting worse. Rob's best friend Jason takes in interest in Holly and eventually she starts leaning on him. He is from a well to do family and she isn't sure that his feeling are real, if she should be feeling something for him or if he is just taking care of his friend Rob's girlfriend.

Jason comes from a well to do family and misses his friend Rob.

Rob, can only be seen by poor Grandpa Aldo who everyone thinks is seeing things. Rob isn't sure why he is still here and is hoping Aldo can help him figure it out. He didn't see the light and isn't sure how he feels about his friend and Holly getting closer.

This story is an interesting concept and I enjoyed the way the story is told from three different perspectives; Holly, Jason and Rob. A different character takes the lead in each chapter. Nicely done!

The story of Rob watching life go on without him and wondering why he was left here was depressing at first. The scenes of him watching his parents go through his room to pack his things with his mother breaking down into his shirt was hard. As a mom it was something that hurt my heart.

Aldo, Rob and Holly were my favorite characters. Holly is a strong role model for girls and I liked when she finally stood up to her mother and left the house but not before telling her mother that everything was OK but she would have to come home because Holly was leaving Aldo and her sister sleeping. Her mother needed to smacked into reality and it helped her reinstate her relationship with her father Aldo. Aldo telling her he just wants her to "really see him" killed me.

The book ran the emotional mile (life, death, aging). We had a selfish mother, a selfless daughter, a fighting grandfather (he was a pistol when he was there), a "real" friend in Jason who was there for Holly when she had no support from anyone. He was someone she could lean on and poor Rob who had to come to terms with his life and the way he was living it in order to cross over.

Overall, well written.

Tuesday Takes - Home Reflection

Wish I could say that is my home but it is not, just a home I passed by one morning on my way somewhere else. The mist and the reflections made me stop the car and take a shot! It looks like glasses. I really love the naked trees creating all those lines in the water too.

Weekend Clean Up

This weekend we headed out with the kids for a community clean up. Cub Scouts and Daisys along with their parents, picked up garbage that had found its way onto some of our walking trails.

My sister and I are big with community service and I want to say that this is in part from watching our parents give even when they had none. It may also be from our moving so much as children that now that we have finally taken root in a community, we want to help however my husband this week just told me I have always been like this. He knows me for 20 years so I am happy to hear this because I was thinking it may be because I wanted my kids to learn about community.

Here are some shots from the day for Ruby Tuesday

And to sign off....the kids at the end of the day were smiling so I know dragging Handsome with us was the right move.

Sunday Photos

My seltzer with a lime and lemon twist. Ahhhh...refreshing.

Ventured upon a movie set last week. Always fun to see when you are driving by. This film is being shot by Ash Christian.

The simple things for me will always revolve around my little family of 4. Just being with the kids and my man make me so very happy. We don't have to do anything special, just being together is enough. This is what I remember as a kid too. The bad stuff is there but I have to remind myself of it. The stuff that really sticks around are the good things. My parents didn't have much but when we were together we had everything. This is exactly what I hope my kids bring away from their childhood.

It's So QUIET In The Fog

It is not the clear-sighted who rule the world. Great achievements are accomplished in a blessed, warm fog. - Joseph Conrad

The words of Joseph Conrad couldn't be more true. The other morning I headed out after the kids bus to take some photos. It was so QUIET walking through the fog just my breath and footsteps to keep me company. Truly a blessed moment.

All I see when I look at these pictures is QUIETUDE! Need another photo morning like this.

Mr. Popper's Penguins Waddles Onto DVD and Blu-ray Dec 6th

Just in time for the holiday Mr. Popper's Penguins staring Jim Carey hits shelves the first week of December.

This was such a fun movie. The second movie my kids have seen in a theater and I can't wait to watch it again since we ended up running into one of the young stars over the summer.

Here is a photo of Goddess with Madeline (Maddy) Carrol who played Jim's daughter, Janie. Totally made my summer.

Meme Trip Nov 7, 2011

Headed into town this morning after bringing the kids to the bus stop which they so beg for. I am going to go in the same direction as them but they insist on the bus. Thankfully they did or I would have missed so many awesome moments.

This pup was playing catch with his owner of 1 month. I am thinking he is a lucky dog to find such an owner who takes him to the beach in the fog and lets him run into the water to chase geese and this thrown sand bag (I am assuming).

Look at that face! Guess I caught him in mid blink.

That's right boy, go get them geese!

The fog was thick this morning in certain areas but by the time I left the beach, it was burning off.

Meme Kinda Monday

Oh what a beautiful morning!

Today is exactly the kind of day I wait for all year. Sunny and crisp, with a high of about 60.

Here is our school principal in all her Halloween glory. Great time and the kids love when adults dress up.

Putting my kids on the bus is something I never thought I would do. At the moment, I work from home and thought, why put them on if I am capable of driving them. Unfortunately for me, they LOVE going on the bus. Driving them would save them almost an extra 50 minutes home but they want to go, so, who am I to stop them?

Cold This Morning

Ugh, I am feeling so cold right now. Could be because it dropped below freezing last night and I have been up since 5 working. My feet are really what is cold but since I only have 10 more minutes I don't want to get socks.

The time changes has messed with the balance of the house. Goddess fell asleep last night about 7:00, usually she doesn't go to bed until 9:15. She is usually in her bed at 9:00 complaining about how she isn't tired. I took a nap yesterday which NEVER happens and was still able to fall asleep about 11:00.

Handsome who is usually up by 5:15 the latest, is still sleeping will be surprised to see his usually slumbering sister up and almost dressed. Hopefully, it doesn't take long to fall back into a happy balance but right now I think we may have a rough morning. Hope I am wrong.

Has the time change affected your house?

Attack of the Photo Memes - Nov 6, 2011

 
Goddess wasn't happy to take down our Halloween decorations. She LOVES Halloween and most of the decoration are up since the first week of September because we know how much she enjoys it all.

My public library holds a Collection Corner for anyone who wants to share their collection with the community. My kids have been on the list for a year and we finally were able to display Handsome's Wiggle Collection.

Because of his age (8) we decided to call it Handsome and Goddess' collection. Back in the day, Handsome was very into the Wiggles. Long time readers will remember that every photo of him included a Wiggle doll. They were never far away.

The collection will soon be heading to storage but I want to share the pictures of them standing in front of the display.

This past Friday the kids were able to wear their costumes to school because due to power outages, there was no school on Monday and Tuesday. So we redid Halloween. The town was torn, some feeling it was the never ending Halloween and some happy that the kids were able to hang with their friends for school Halloween parties.

The weather was awesome and the kids loved it so who am I to complain?!

That is Handsome in the Storm Trooper costume. I love the shadows behind him

I love this shot of The Teach and Handsome. We were sitting in a wagon with a bunch of hay after picking out a pumpkin a few weeks ago. No idea what Teach is saying, but Handsome found it really funny. It was probably about my big butt or hay sticking him in the tush.