Monday, December 28, 2009

I Was A Girl Once Too...


The other day my two daughters and I were talking - talking about anything..... everything.. I just love those kinds of talks.. don't you... We talked about school, dating (scary), God, vacations, make up, and boys..... We talked about what it was like for me growing up.... They were both pretty shocked when they discovered that I did not have a cell phone (they were not invented yet), a computer, or an ipod... Technology has improved quite a bit since I was a kid - the clothes have gotten much better too - but - the feelings, emotions, and insecurities of the "teenager" is the same... Listening to my girls talk about what they feel today could have been me thirty (30) years ago....

It is very difficult for the girls to imagine me being a teen or a kid - On more than one occasion one of them has said that I wouldn't understand because I was a grown up... It's hard for them to imagine me dating - having sleep overs with friends - getting in trouble with my parents - having a crush on a boy - being rejected by the same boy (s) - dreaming of the future.. To my kids, I'm mom - not a girl... not a woman....sometimes not a person - I'm just mom - and that's okay..... and it makes me laugh.... especially when they ask me for permission to marry when they are thirty (30)....

My dream for the future is to have a relationship similar to the one my sister Debbie has with her daughters.. To always be close... To always know there is love... To enjoy each other... and when my niece called my sister her hero - that just about made me ball like a baby.... This is my dream to be the mom that my kids can always count on through thick and thin..... and one day they might even discover that I was a girl once too.....

Friday, December 25, 2009

Saying "hi" on Christmas

This year we broke from tradition and opened presents on Christmas Eve- mostly because this year I was hosting the lunch/dinner and secondly I was hoping to sleep in a little this morning... As luck would have it - I was able to sleep into about 7 am - the girls were anxious to see what was in their stockings and to play on their new laptops that they had opened the night before - they were happy to find another present under the Christmas tree and now at 6:30 pm they are playing their new wii - tennis to be exact. The bummer of the day was that one of the laptops decided to not work - I will be at Best Buy in the am with the other millions of crazies... My heart just about broke for my kid this morning when the on button would not turn her computer on... I will leave it to the geek squad to figure it out.

I have a lot to be thankful this holiday - my sister is here and is recovering very nicely from brain surgery and she looks great - my kids are healthy and happy - my husband is working and healthy - and I am doing very well.... I am extra thankful that the husband decided to clean the kitchen without my assistance - I think that in itself is a great Christmas present....


So I will close this Christmas "hello" by saying I pray that all of you had a very joyous and Merry Christmas with your family and loved ones...

For unto us a child was born - thank you, Jesus - Happy Birthday


Thursday, December 24, 2009

A Christmas Story


One of my favorite traditions at Christmas time is watching the movie A Christmas Story about a little boy's quest for a red ryder bb gun... It's a classic - that makes me a laugh out loud every year - my husband, the kids, and I have watched this classic so many times we can recite the dialog along with the characters.....



Monday, December 21, 2009

I Cannot Do It All - Can You?


One of the most difficult things about owning a business from home is ignoring the dishes in the sink, the unmade beds, the messy bathrooms, and the list goes on... When I first started my business from home about thirteen (13) years ago - I was under the delusion that I would be able to handle it all - keep the house clean, the laundry done, the kids entertained, and earn a good living... Well, I was in la la land... There is no way I can do it all.... There is no way I can convince my husband that I cannot do it all.... I'm not sure what he thinks I'm doing from 7 am until 9-10 pm every night....

I wonder why the husband's role has not changed in the past four (4) decades..... The man goes to work - he brings home the "bacon" but he's not frying it up in the pan..... he's sitting in front of the TV watching football.... The wife now needs to work outside (or in my case inside but in my office) of the home - she also brings home the "bacon" - not only that she is frying it up in a pan - cleaning the pan - feeding the kids - doing home work - bathrooms, beds, laundry, and the list never ends.... then finally she makes it to bed exhausted beyond belief...

I blame the Donna Reed show, Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, and all those stupid stupid shows that have led our husbands to believe that a woman can do it all.... except for the fact those moms did not have a business to run or an office to go to every flippin day.... Okay, I'm done with the rant.... anybody else have a stressful day?? anyone???

Sunday, December 20, 2009

When Parents Don't Get It...


When I was a child - there were expectations of me.... I was to be respectful to adults.. I was to say "please" and "thank you".... I was to behave myself... I remember my mom pinching me during church service when I was getting a little too wiggly or in my case a lot of wiggly... That's just the way it was back then - Parents controlled their kids - If you went to a restaurant and a child started to act up - one or both of the parents would take that child out of the room - they would not continue to eat their food and not care about others.... that just wasn't done... We as children learned at a very young age to "not touch" what wasn't ours... We knew not to run around a home that was not ours - we just knew because our parents took it upon themselves to parent us..... they sacrificed their wants and needs to make sure they we were presentable to others... That others would not be burdened by our bad behavior...

My husband and I were pretty much on the same page when it came to parenting. We believed in creating an environment that was both happy and healthy but also had boundaries... Kids need boundaries... I believe they want boundaries. Right from the beginning they were both on a sleeping schedule - maybe I was lucky that both girls were good sleepers... maybe - I know that a schedule helped me to be a better parent and the girls knew what to expect... We took them to restaurants from the time they were newborns and when they got older they would quietly color -we never had to leave - not once. We took them to friends' homes - we brought our own snacks and toys to entertain them and if they started to get cranky then we knew it was time to go.. One of my favorite things to do was take the double stroller and we would go to the mall and window shop and afterward we would go to the food court where they would get a happy meal.. I can honestly say that I enjoyed my kids... others did too. It is such a compliment when a stranger comes up to you and says "thank you for having good girls" that has happened more than once.... I think the only time my kids acted up was when they visited their grandparents because with Nana and Papa - there were no boundaries but there was a lot of candy, ice cream, games, and constant attention.. constant stimulation which caused a few melt downs...

I'm not saying we are perfect parents - so very far from it but I will say that being a parent who actually parents was and is a priority to us.... That is why I have such a hard time understanding why some parents just don't get it.... They complain how difficult it is to bring their kids places and when they do - they allow the kids to run around a restaurant or a friends' home. They allow the kids to get into things and when something breaks they tell the friend "You should have put it away or up" That just irks me... No, it's not the friend's responsibility to "kid proof" their home - it's the parents' responsibility to train their children...



Friday, December 18, 2009

A Day At The Beach


Okay, I know everyone thinks their kids are gorgeous - but mine really are... lol You have got to see these pictures.... A photographer and very dear friend took my girls to the beach last Sunday and they played.. For more on my friend, Zaida -visit her at Tower 3 Designs .

There were over 300 pictures to choose from which made it quite difficult.. I had the idea of having Zaida take the pictures so I could frame one for my inlaws and my mom for Christmas - and now I can't decide which to choose - so I'm thinking a calendar... mugs... mouse pads... Tee shirts.. - commemorative plates... the ideas are endless...





Looking at these pictures reminds me on how quickly they are growing up and to enjoy every moment.... I'm truly blessed..





Thursday, December 10, 2009

My List Of Important Stuff


This is what I think is important...

To be be a good neighbor.. a good friend
To be trustworthy..do what you say you'll do - excuses are lame..
To laugh out loud
To kiss your husband/wife in front of your kids.....
To listen to others' stories even if you heard it a million times - and smile like you mean it
To pray as a family
To pray alone
To reach out to others
To praise your children over and over and over again...never ceasing..
To be vulnerable..
To love others more..
To smile at strangers
To teach your children to respect everyone.
To set boundaries for your children so others will enjoy them too.
To forgive fast
To forget faster
To listen to your kids
To realize that there is so much to be thankful for.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Patagonia - Real Clothes For Real Weather


The cold weather has finally hit Southern California this week. When I woke up this morning the thermostat read 62 degrees inside and 42 degrees outside... brrr. It rained on all day on Monday. On Tuesday, I could see the mountains covered in snow..... You know what that means? It's time to go to the mountains and play.... It is suppose rain and snow some more the next couple of days...

My kids have developed a fondness for snowboarding and living in So. Cal. it's very difficult to find "real" cold weather clothes. One of my favorite places to go looking for weather resistant clothing, shoes, and accessories is Patagonia
. It's easy to find just about everything you need for men, women, girls, and boys. Patagonia was founded on the basic premise of enjoying the outdoors regardless of the weather. The design of the clothing is to keep you warm and comfortable in any kind of weather... I do know that when my kids are snowboarding - they are not uncomfortable because of the cold....

Another thing I truly appreciate is the selection and reviews on their products. When you click on an individual product - not only do you get a very detailed description - you get to read customer reviews on the product.... the great... the good.. the not so good... and the bad...

If you are looking for environmental friendly products - Patagonia uses organic cotton and recycled polyester in their products... In addition - Patagonia sends 1% of their sales to hundreds of grassroots environmental groups.... Check them out - I'm sure you'll be happy you did....

Saturday, December 5, 2009

The Alpha Teenage Girl...


The other day I received a phone call from my teen.. She had half day at school because of finals and asked if she could go to the mall with a group of friends.... friends I did not know.. She assured me that a mom of one the girls was going with them... I told her I would go to the the school and meet the mom and girls and get the specifics - Where? How long? and Do I pick up? or Do they drop off? When I arrived at the school... the girls were gone....

My daughter sees me and walks to my car alone.. She has tears welling up in her eyes... I asked her what happened.. She said that a group of girls that she hangs out with from school was going to the mall - she asked if she could go... one of the girls said sure... I'm not sure exactly what really happened except one of the girls in the group (I call her the alpha girl) does not like Nikki (my kid) and convinced the others to go without her...

Nikki has no idea why this particular girl dislikes her so much - This particular girl isn't a nice girl.. but for whatever reason the other girls want to be her friend... they do what she says.. they take her abuse and come back for more.. My kid wants to be her friend... I asked her why.. and Nikki did not have an answer...

Thinking back to the days of old when I was a young teen - I remember there were kids that just had that personality that people gravitated too. There was no rhyme or reason... we just did. We looked up to those kids... their perfect lives.. their perfect everything and who cared if they were meaner than a rattle snake? We just wanted to be a part of their world...

Nikki finds it difficult to believe that I understand how she feels.. I've been in her shoes.... I think all teens at one point in their lives have walked in her shoes... It's the power struggle that happens when kids come into their own... It's the testing of boundaries and friendship... It's just plain hormones....

My advice to her was to put herself out there and invite friends over to our home... or a movie.... or shopping. Nikki is probably the kindest soul I know... She loves.. she loves completely... she gives herself.. She doesn't play the games that so many teens do.. She doesn't know how and I am thankful for that... But because she has a moral compass of right and wrong... it has prevented some teen friendships....

I know that Nikki will have a happy life just because she is an incredible person... She will have real friendships.. deep friendships.... While writing this post and thinking about my eldest.. I am reminded that I have been so lucky to be blessed by this kid.. She is always willing to lend a helping hand... give a hug and a kiss... watch a silly movie... and she was willing to dance the twist with me - to my dancing Santa music ornament... You got to love that....


Friday, November 27, 2009

The Quest For The Door Buster Laptop


This morning I did something that I said I would Never do - I got up at 4:00 AM and went to Walmart on Black Friday. It was crazy to see the line of people lining up to get in the store... The deals this year were too good to turn away from - laptop computers for $149... Well - I stood in line - there was over 3000 people in front of me... Forty minutes to walk into the store after the doors opened - only to find out that all the laptops were already sold out.... So I hoped in the car.

I drove up to Office Depot because they too were offering laptops for $199 - again a line but not so bad but - bad enough for all the laptops to be sold out.... Now my back is killing me - it went out about 2 weeks ago - I am on the healing end but standing in line for over a hour was awful... I got in my car and thought about giving up but decided to give Best Buy a chance...

Arrived at Best Buy - there was a line to check out that wrapped around the store and weaved in and out of the aisles... I went to the laptop area - tried to squeeze between all the other deal seekers - there I saw it.... two boxes - side by side (not where they were supposed to be) - I picked them up and yes - I found them - the low priced laptops that would be perfect for my two girls... The price wasn't as low as Walmart or Office Depot but the laptops were a slightly better computer.. Three (3) GB instead of one (1) GB - I paid $100 more than anticipated but you know what? The computers have become a need more than a want... School has changed a lot since I was a kid..

I happily picked up my two (2) laptops - proceeded into line... Half way through the line a Best Buy employee said that there was a computer only line and it would take half the time - so I changed lines... Big mistake... Huge mistake... Two hours later and the line had barely moved.... The line as it turned out was for the people who got to Best Buy early enough for the "Golden Ticket - Door Buster" sales - those computers were on will call... As I was painfully pushing my cart - I walked by a cashier - I jokingly asked him if he could ring me up - he said "You Bet!" Crazy....

Thursday, November 26, 2009

When Your Child's Sport Becomes A Job...


When my youngest daughter, Kara was seven (7) she went to her first gymnastics class - I thought it would be a fun thing to do on Saturday mornings..... Within two (2) months - one of the coaches came up to me and asked if she could have my Kara in her Tuesday and Thursday class - she thought Kara had a natural talent... So I asked Kara if she would like to do it and she did... Within six (6) months - the owner of the gym came to me and said Kara had a lot of talent and would she be interested in going to a level 4 gymnastics team... So I asked Kara and she did - now Kara was at the gym - Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings - six hours a week...

Kara's first competition was on her eighth birthday - She placed 2nd All around.... The following four competitions - she placed 1st. Right after her level 4 season - she was moved up to level 5 - again she was a star - she was also one of the youngest in her level... She did great.. She had fun until.... She got the coach from hell - this coach was a lunatic and sucked out all the joy and confidence Kara had - Gymnastics became a job and not a sport - that she enjoyed.... Around this time a new gym was looking for young gymnasts with Kara's talent - we spoke to the head coach and immediately was invited to join... He was a coach that had brought several girls to the Olympics -
There were other coaches that worked with the girls as well - each coach was different and more difficult.... Now the training was in upwards of 16 hours a week - sometimes more.. The joy had left Kara - she knew she could quit at anytime - this was for her and not for me.... Finally in the middle of one classes - she jumped off the beam - walked over to me and said "I'm done" The coaches were upset - one tried in vain to talk her into staying... several times.. but Kara has a strong will - stronger than anyone I know - She held onto what she did and did not want.... She quit at the ripe old age of nine (9) and today almost 3 years later -she has no regrets...

I think it is important as parents to allow our children to try different sports. To allow them to find that perfect fit if there is one.... That is not to say we should allow our kids to try something and give up right away - They need to at least make the effort... I also think it's very important to step back - let our kids make the decision to stay or go.. Step back to allow them to fight their own battles... demons if need be - I'm not saying leave them hanging - but give them the opportunity to make wise decisions and/or mistakes and learn from them...






Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Shop on Line With Shopwiki.com


With Christmas fast approaching... working 12 hour days.... and just too little time on my hands to fight the holiday crowds - I do most of my shopping on line - Shopwiki.com is a great way to shop - not only do they have a ton of choices - they help you find the best deals for what you are looking for. Shopwiki.com crawls the web - similar to the way google and yahoo do - searching the net in a quest for the best products.... the best prices.... the most choices.....

Both of my daughters are young teens now and I am not in touch with the happening toys and products for babies and toddlers - shopwiki.com is a great source of information for the newest products - not only do they tell us what is most popular - they give us great descriptions and links to the companies selling them...

I have two nieces that are 2 and 4 and I have used this site for many of my purchases - I love looking at the different activity sets. I am very much into educational toys and children's books - I believe that they help to get children ready for school in a very fun way. When you find the item you are looking for - Shopwiki highlights the best price and gives you a list of the stores that carry that item... Easy shopping at your fingertips. You can also get games galore - name it - you can find it. Monopoly - 9336 hits - different kinds - different prices - there's even one for over $30,000 - crazy.. Hand held Battleship - different prices.. different stores. The games go on and on and on....

Not only does Shopwiki help you find toys and games they help you locate almost anything you can think of - boys, girls , and infant clothing - everything from everyday wear to snow and beach attire - I love the selections. There are adult items as well - designer bags, clothes, shoes, and many other great finds.

Take a suggestion from me - before you hit the malls give Shopwiki.com a try - if you still want to fight the mad Christmas rush - Shopwikicom can let you know the price ranges and stores that carry what you are looking for. Now go out there stimulate our economy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Jagger or Boyle - Wild Horses...


I have always been a Mick Jagger and Rolling Stones fan - my favorite song is 'Wild Horses' there is something about this song that just settles my soul and my mind. I know it's really a sad song but there is just something...

Recently I have heard Susan Boyle the over night "British has talent" sensation sing this song - who do you think sings it better?

The Rolling Stones


Susan Boyle


Lyrics
Childhood living is easy to do The things you wanted I bought them for you Graceless lady you know who I am You know I can't let you slide through my hands Wild horses, couldn't drag me away Wild wild horses couldn't drag me away I watched you suffer a dull aching pain Now you decided to show me the same No sweeping exits or off stage lines Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind Wild horses, couldn't drag me away Wild wild horses couldn't drag me away I know I've dreamed you a sin and a lie I have my freedom but I don't have much time Faith has been broken tears must be cried Let's do some living after we die Wild horses, couldn't drag me away Wild wild horses we'll ride them someday Wild horses, couldn't drag me away Wild wild horses we'll ride them someday

Thursday, November 19, 2009

God Showed Up And Showed Off

What a day it has been!!! My sister Debbie had her brain surgery - she is doing great! God showed up and started showing off. I love and serve an amazing Lord and Savior!

1. The tumor was much smaller than originally thought
2. The surgery lasted less than half the time
3. A few hours after the surgery she was up and watching 'Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader'

Thank you - Thank you - for praying for her... and all your kind thoughts and words of encouragement.

This is my sister 5 hours after brain surgery... Yep I took a picture (with her permission of course.)


Sunday, November 15, 2009

Your Stupid Ugly Good For Nothing Pride


There is something that is on my heart and mind.... I feel that it is important to say... It's important to hear... Don't let your stupid ugly good for nothing pride prevent you from telling someone that you love them.... that you are sorry... that you hope and pray things are going to be okay.. You have to show you love... you care.... that the other person matters because life is so unsure..... You cannot take your own sweet time to forgive.... to love... to just say "I'm thinking of you".... You have to stop hiding behind your "I'm a victim" facade..... You have to get over yourself... You have to show you care... You just have too.....

Lately - I have come to realize that in life there are no guarantees - I have come to realize that you are in control of your thoughts... your emotions... you ability to love.... to forget... to forgive... You need to make a difference.... You need to not be lazy and resentful by holding onto your perceived anger... your I'm right... your wrong... You were mean... I was nice... Because in the end - who really gives a damn who was right... who was wrong.... The end is the end.... What good memories you make are up to you.. If you choose to hold onto your bitter jealousy then this will only cause you to have a life that will be filled with regret.. Do you really want that? You may have convinced yourself that you have a right to the way you are feeling..... You may have convinced yourself that you don't need anyone.... But in the end you will know that is wrong.... God created us to love.... and to love is to let go..... to love is to humble yourself.... to love is to let go of your stupid ugly good for nothing pride.... Let go - do you hear me? Let go... Woman up... Man up... Stop hating.... and start loving...

There are people in our lives that need to hear we care... that we love.. We may have had cross words or just grown apart - regardless of the reason... You have to make that effort... because if you don't... it just might be too late....

Friday, November 13, 2009

Get On-Line Math Help With TutorVista


I am one of those parents that expect my kids to pull in excellent grades... I know they are completely capable of maintaining an "A" average and they do..... But there are times that a subject and/or concept is difficult to master... For my eldest daughter that is math... She has had a love/hate relationship with math her entire life - what's funny is that she has tested at college level in math and she is in the 8th grade.. So we all know that she can do it... with the right tools.

She used to go to a tutoring club a few times a week for a couple of hours each time when she was in the 5th grade - what I did not like about this was that they did not help her on her existing classwork - they had books that needed to be completed to progress to the next level.... I was told that was the way to go - but unfortunately - it was not the way for my kids to go... Next we tried a tutor that came to our home once a week - this worked out pretty good - they were able to work on key elements of her math work and my daughter was maintaining an "A" average in math with much more ease - this was in the 6th grade....

In junior high - math has become a completely new territory with changing formulas and directions each week and a once a week tutor is just not enough. My kid needs help when she needs it and does not have the luxury to wait until tutor time..... That is when we discovered TutorVista.com With TutorVista.com she can get math help
right when she needs it. Having an online math tutor whenever she needs one makes homework so much easier...

Getting online math tutoring with TutorVista is so easy. They offer online math help for every math subject your student/child needs. You simply go to the site and type in a question and there you go. You can get free online math tutoring and free online math help - by going onto TutorVista's website - they provide a free demo for first time users so that they can try the service for free - you have nothing to lose..

TutorVista offers a unlimited tutoring package for $99.99 a month for all subjects - not just math. The tutoring is available whenever my kid needs it - which makes it nice because I really don't like math...

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Loving The Holidays...

My favorite time of the year is fast approaching... I love the Christmas season. I love the chilly air - yes 60 degrees in the evening is quite chilly - thank you very much... The Christmas music playing through the shops - yesterday I heard Silent Night in Cold Stone's.... The decorations..... the colorful lights... and the goodwill towards man kind of feeling.... Sometimes while walking down the street - I just feel like giving a stranger a hug... don't you?

One of the great things about my neighborhood during Christmas time are the homes.. Our neighbors really go all out... One house has a ski lift carrying its passengers around their 2nd story chimney... Another house has dancing santa bears and trains taking their riders around the yard in the North Pole Express... and the lights are spectacular - I bet you could see the lights from the moon - Our neighborhood has become a Christmas tradition for many families to come and enjoy - we have hundreds... thousands... of visitors each year - they come in by foot, bike, car, and tour buses...





We of course decorate our home every year as well - so while browsing around Michael's the other day I ran across some great new decorations and you know I just had to buy them.







I have also been known to decorate the kid and husband..... Have a Merry Christmas and fun decorating!!!


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Seeing A Doctor When You Need Too


It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time can go by when you're busy... My last post was on Halloween and today is Veteran's Day - November 11th. Since Halloween there has been 3 cases of Swine Flu in my home - my 11 year old, my 13 year old, and me.... yes - at 44 years old I had my very first flu - thankfully it was very mild... no fever - just body aches and the coughing.... The coughing is awful... My 11 year old had a case similar to me but my 13 year old had it pretty bad - by bad I mean she had a fever up to 103.5 - but thankfully the fever only lasted 2 days and today 11 days later we are almost fully recovered... In addition to the Swine - I celebrated my 44th birthday... Celebrate or mourn not quite sure on that one.. hmm - had a very nice day...

During the time that the girls and I were sick - I started to think about how lucky I was that I had immediate access to my doctor.. any doctor for that matter. We have a PPO plan - I have no idea what that initials mean but I know with this plan I have never had to wait for an authorization for any treatment..... for any doctor.... I just go... I seriously believe that if I had a HMO several years ago - I would not be alive today.....

In 1994 - I developed pregnancy induced hyper-tension... then it escalated to preeclampsia - then the loss of our daughter.... During the preeclampsia - I was in the hospital for three (3) weeks that time... Less than a year later - I had a fever of unknown origin which turned into kidney failure - During this time - I was able to see my doctor right away - I was put in the hospital right away.... and there was never.. not once any red tape.... any authorizations to worry about....

As you know - my sister Debbie is going to have brain surgery on November 19th... My sister has a HMO and for over twenty (20) years she has been jumping through hoop after hoop after hoop in hopes of finding out what has been making her pass out.... Making her lose time.... I cannot count the times that she has had to wait months for an authorization to go through and then the day finally comes when she can see the medical professional that is suppose to help her only to come home disappointed.... needing more authorizations.. for more tests.. different doctors.. By the time the authorization came through and the tests were done.. so much time had passed that not one doctor knew what the other one was doing.... they each had a different opinion... they each were over worked... and my sister had been juggled around through the HMO system... with no answers and no results.... by the grace of God - a wise doctor in the emergency room (after she had passed out on a public golf course) thought it would be a good idea to do a MRI of her brain..... the MRI showed several lesions that are believed to a product of MS.... of course in the HMO system the doctors have not 100% diagnosed her with MS.... well you know there are about 1543 authorizations - tests and doctors to see.... but because of the MRI tests they found the tumor... I want to personally thank that ER doctor.... for making a "Big Boy" no authorization required decision.... If the ER doctor had not had the MRI done - you know what - I just don't want to think about the what if...... too scary to even contemplate...

I am so very fearful of Obama's health care reform.... It feels to me that the government is trying to take away another freedom..... of course that is not the way it is presented..... I picture the new health care reform being much worse than an HMO...... I picture it being long wait times... wrong over worked doctors..... I picture it being like the DMW - long lines - going no where.... government employees who really don't give a hoot about you..... Have you ever met someone nice at the DMV??? Have you ever been helped immediately at the DMV with an appointment???

What do you think?








Saturday, October 31, 2009

My Kid Caught The Swine....


I have never once in my entire life had the flu or if I did I don't remember. I have had a few colds - this year I've had three (3) which is highly unusual.. My kids are almost never sick - my oldest would have had a perfect attendance record if we had not taken her out of school a couple of times for vacations and/or Disneyland....

On Thursday my youngest developed a pretty nasty cough - I kept her home because of the cough and she sounded congested..... No fever... she had a great mood and attitude... On Thursday night my oldest started coughing and not feeling well. On Friday morning - I had both girls stay home from school - my youngest probably could have gone to school but I felt it best to be safe rather than sorry later... The cough seemed to be worse for my oldest (she's 13) so I just kept an eye on her - she did not feel warm to the touch.....

Last night around midnight as I was going to bed - I checked on the girls. The youngest was sleeping peaceful and her forehead
was nice and cool when I kissed it. The oldest was tossing and turning - I kissed her forehead and she was very warm. I gave her an Advil and checked on her throughout the night (I'm tired).... This morning - she was downstairs shivering - we're in Southern California and today is very warm... I touched her forehead and she was burning up. I searched high and low for a thermometer and could not find one. I went to a neighbors and thankfully they had one.... I had to confirm my suspensions that I wasn't just a paranoid mom but that my kid actually had a fever - the husband an hour before said she felt cool... Well her temperature read on one of the those ear thingies 101.8. Took her to Urgent Care...

The doctor's office was a madhouse - and here is my poor kid burning up, shivering, and trying her best not to cry - I wanted to cry for her... While we waited - there was a toddler running around the waiting room - jumping on chairs - screaming - eating Cheerios and spilling them on the floor - He proceeded to grab his stroller and started running it into people... The mom of this spoiled brat just watched her son and laughed... Here we are in a doctor's office on a Saturday morning - everyone is feeling like crap - and here's this "head up her butt mom" thinking that we all want to watch her kid terrorize everyone and all I really wanted to do was kick her for being so clueless... I always wondered how some parents just don't get it -Just in case one of those moms or dads so happen to read this post - I have something to say....People do not think your kid is as cute as you do - really we don't... So please please please control your kid if they are running around in a waiting room when there are sick people around.. thank you.

Finally it was our turn to go back - her temperature reading hit over 103 degrees.... After waiting in the treatment room for about 30 minutes - the doctor walked in - after describing her symptoms - the doctor concluded she had Swine Flu - the nose swab confirmed it... Got the prescription for the meds - dropped my poor baby off at home - went to the pharmacy to pick up the drugs and with our insurance discount the total came up to $98.99 for 10 pills!!! Crazy..

So today - my kid has the Swine Flu..... Never thought it would happen.. Stocked up on Gatorade, tissue, and comfort food. I bought my own thermometer... Poor thing she looks so pitiful... Have you been hit by the Swine?

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The "Lady" Who Freaked At Target


As parents we often tell our children to be nice. Play nicely with your neighbor - share your toys... Don't say bad words... Show respect to your elders... Say thank you and please... Don't double dip...

The other day I was doing my weekly grocery shopping at Target with my girls.. I was in line to pay for my groceries and this lady (I say this very loosely) in front of me had two (2) beautiful young children with her..... She was yelling at the cashier because an item that she saw on Target's web site was not in the store.. I am very serious.. The cashier offered to track the item and discovered the item can only be bought through the Target web site...

The F bombs - the S bombs - the every bad word you can imagine bombs just started exploding out of this mother of two beautiful kids.... In addition to yelling - the "lady" started throwing her coins at the cashier.... What I found really sad is that her kids seem oblivious to this over the top lunatic rant.... My kids stood there with their mouths just about hitting the floor...

The "lady" was causing such a stir... all 12 lines that were open stopped to watch... All the customers and fellow cashiers just stood there as this poor cashier is getting pelted with quarters.. No security coming to her rescue - no managers walking our way.... So I'm thinking something has to be done.... (I'm lucky I didn't get pelted or belted).. As the lady was taking more change to throw - I grabbed her elbow.... I said, "Throw another quarter and I will personally see you arrested".... my eyes were angry... my voice was deep and shaky.. The "lady" looked at me - angry at first..... then reality must have hit her - her eyes did a 180.... As I saw the transformation in her appear - I said, " I feel sorry for your beautiful children to have a mother that can't even control herself... shame on you"... Right about this time - security came.. The woman was escorted from the store....

It amazes me how grown adults can act like this.... Throwing temper tantrums in a public forum because they can't get what they want.... I feel so very sorry for those children.... Growing up with an abusive parent. We as parents set the example for behavior...... What example was this "lady" setting for her children???

Have you ever seen something like this?

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Auto Repair At Your Fingertips


Two summers ago I took my girls on a road trip - we had the best time. We drove from California to Utah to Colorado and back - putting over 2000 miles on the car... Before our trip - I dropped my car off at the local gas station to have everything looked at and update whatever needed to be updated.... We left the house early on a Sunday morning... As I was approaching the freeway on ramp - 2 blocks from my home... the check engine light came on..... I still proceeded to go on my trip and the next morning I called the station and they said don't worry about it - the car is fine and we'll turn the light off when you get back...... When I got home two weeks later - I went to the station and they turned it off - only for the light to come on again.... it stayed on until I brought my car to a station that specialized in my type of car.....

How do you find a shop that can give you what you need? Unless you have a mechanic in the family it is hard to find the right place... until now.... There's a site that I recently discovered called Repairpal
. It's great - you can go onto the site and find useful information about your car. It helps you find a shop that specializes in your car needs..

Let's say you needed to find a Los Angeles auto repair shop - for your Ford Explorer because you need to replace your head gasket.... You can go onto http://repairpal.com and search for whatever service you need.. I loved that you could preview several different shops - compare prices - the site even has a map for you that pinpoints the locations of all the shops in the area you need to be in.... There is so much information about your car that you'll come off the site feeling like a pro...... at least more knowledgeable about your car.

So if you are looking for information on your car from an independent company - then try out RepairPal and let me know what you think...

Friday, October 23, 2009

Reality TV Parents - Shame On You!


One of my biggest peeves is reality TV - especially when it exploits children.... TV stations no longer care about people... all they care about is rating and advertising dollars... Parents like Jon and Kate (plus 8) do not care about their children as much as they care about themselves - just watch any tabloid news show and you'll see Jon and Kate tearing each other apart.... I truly feel sorry for the kids especially when they get old enough to see what their parents did for "fame and "fortune" Jon and Kate say they do the show for the kids... yeah right.. They do it for themselves.. In my opinion parents who truly love their kids and have their kids' best interest at heart don't exploit them for money... gimme a break..

Last week one of one my clients called me and said for me to turn on the TV - there was a balloon in the air and a little boy was stuck in it.... Every news station was covering this. I watched the balloon with a million other people - praying that the child will be okay... I remember thinking in the back of mind - I bet this is a hoax... It just didn't ring right. The balloon landed and no boy - then people became fearful that he fell out and there was a mad search for him - but thankfully the little boy was fine - he was hiding in a box in the attic.. When the father asked him on a morning TV show - why he stayed in the box - the little slipped and said "I stayed in the box because you told me too"..... the father ignored that comment and proceeded to talk about something else..... the poor little boy was so traumatized he vomited right in the middle of the interview...

As the details of this story unravel - we have come to learn that the parents are reality TV junkies - they were on Wife Swap a couple of times and have been trying to be on TV any way they can... We need to have some laws to prevent these things from happening.. You see it all over TV - people getting paid - famous for doing the wrong thing... it is so very sad to me...

What do you think should be done?




Thursday, October 22, 2009

I Got My Prize!!!!


Yesterday in the mail I received a prize!!! I never win anything - so this is a big deal... huge deal.. Thanks to Kat at Heart2Heart I can now say I am a winner...

Kat had a give a way for a book called Seaside Letters - A Nantucket Love Story by Denise Hunter.. I can't wait to start it.... Publishers weekly says "A good kiss goes a long way..."

Thank you, Kat! And for my friends that have not met Kat yet - Please visit her amazing and loving blog - Heart2Heart - you'll be happy you did!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Real Beauty?


I am the parent of two beautiful and amazing girls... As they enter their teenage years - their appearance has become more important to them.... My thirteen year old constantly asks me the following questions: How does my hair look? How about this style? Do these pants make me look fat? thin? Is this shirt in style? Do I look like a dork? Do I look pretty? Do I look hot? Do these shoes match with what I'm wearing? Does this necklace match my pants? And the questions continue..... I remember as teen asking many of the same questions.... But the standards for beauty was much different in my day... at least my memory of it....

This video below - I first saw on my friend Tom's Face book and I stole it.... Thank you, Tom.... Watching it - got me to really think about the expectations of today's society for beauty.. You can't be too thin?? really... You can't be too beautiful??? by who's definition? This video goes to show that "real" beauty really isn't that real after all.....


We need to let our daughters and sons know that beauty starts from the inside and works its way outward.... The sign of true beauty is in the heart....

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Jesus In Sports....


I am a fan of Tim Tebow - the University of Florida Gators' star quarterback... I am not a fan of football - I have no idea what a first down is and what the heck is a conversion.... but I do like the man and this is why..

He was the first college football player to both rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a season and was the first sophomore to win the Heisman trophy.... Okay this is great - but this is not why I admire him.... I admire him because in all things he gives thanks and praise to God. He is not shy about his faith - just ask him...

Tim is a person that is living the life that Christ wants us to live.... He is active in the missionary field - going to the Philippines and working in orphanages. He is not afraid to say that he is waiting until he gets married - he is saving himself for his future wife.... When you listen to him speak he is humble... he is thankful. Broadcasters, coaches, and fans cannot say enough about him. He is a born leader.... he's a Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion. he spends his time when not in school or on the field spreading the "Good News".. Of course, Tim is not a saint - he is simply a man who loves God...

The other day - I was reading an article in USA Today - the article was written by a guy that believes that God should be taken out of sports... This is a direct quote: "In big-time sports, God often gets a prominent place on the field of play. A shout-out here, a prayer there. But this faith surge is being powered by a brand conservative Christianity that is - like two teams competing on the field - very 'us' vs. 'them'" Tom Krattenmaker. In his article, he was basically saying that Christians who believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven are judges... That they are not good for the sports world.... or any world...

A few more quotes: "I am impressed by the good that's done by sports-world Christians. Jesus-professing athletes are among the best citizens in their sector, and they commit good deeds daily in communities across the county. I know these evangelical players are not out to harm - they are fulfilling the Bible's Great Commission "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit - Matt 28:19. In this sense, their mission is pure altruism: They seek to share the gift of eternal life.... But there's a shadow side to this. If their take on God and truth is the ONLY right one - which their creed boldly states - everyone else is wrong....." Tom Krattenmaker

It is strange to me how today's society wants the world and God's acceptance to be under their terms... Not God's terms.... John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." You have heard people say that all roads lead to God... Well, that is not true.... Not in any form.... The Bible clearly states - no exceptions.. no bending the rules... The only way is through Jesus Christ...
Acts 4:10,12 Then know this, you and all people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raise from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

In this article I read - the writer is basically saying this - okay the Jesus loving athletes are good people.. they do a lot of good things... but..... what about the people that don't believe in Jesus? What about the people who don't believe in God? Christians are not being fair.. Christians are promoting a belief that makes non-believers feel bad.... Even though Tim Tebow is a great guy - great athletic - great volunteer - great hearted - God loving man - he's not really all that good.. because "Tebow espouses a far-right theology. It's bottom line: Only those who assent to its version of Christianity will avoid eternal punishment" another direct quote...

My final thought is this: God gave us free will - free will to decide to accept His Son or not... I pray that the seeds of Christ and His love are planted in the non-believers.... Jesus is an Equal Opportunity Savior - you just have to accept Him......


Monday, October 19, 2009

My Kids Are Night and Day...



It is funny to me how my children can be so different from each other..... They are both raised in the same home.. the same parents... the same values... the same rules.... the same love - but they are as different as night and day...

One loves anything chocolate - the other is NOT a chocolate fan.

One loves to run and play and has a lot of energy - the other would rather watch TV

One loves to spend time with me.. all the time - the other rather be alone.

One is a joyful helper - the other rather be helped...

One has a great attitude - the other has a storm brewing overhead...

Today - I had to take a privilege away - a privilege that my troubled one claims to love.... But because of her horrible attitude and disrespect to her coach she can no longer play tennis... There has been months of warnings... months of second and third and fourth time chances to make it right.... Today - I had to discipline.... and I hate it...... Being a parent is tough - Not knowing if you are making the right decisions can be heart breaking.....

Today, I am praying for the knowledge and words to enter the heart of my negative one... I see she is lonely..... I see that her negative attitude has prevented her from having a lot of happiness and friends... She has so many wonderful gifts - she is smart... she is funny..... she has a giving and loving heart.... I wish she knew what a treasure she is......

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

I Failed Mom 101


Have you ever been so angry at your kid that you lifted your voice so loud that the neighborhood could probably hear you with their doors and windows closed? Have you ever dropped your kid off at school and you're so angry that you can't even say "goodbye - love you".... Today - I did that.... Today - I was awful... Yes, kids will be kids.... and they will run late... they will have teenage attitudes.... they will talk back... But they learn from my examples ..... and today... this morning.. I failed MOM 101 - and I feel like crap!

After I dropped off said child - I pulled out of the parking lot.... and then I turned around. I went to her class and asked her to come out... I could see the redness of her eyes (she was so close to tears) - I told her I was sorry.. She said she was too... I said I was wrong... She said she was too.. I told her I love her more than one million peanut M & Ms and she told me she loved me more than 200 million peanut M & Ms.... I asked her to forgive me.... She asked me to forgive her... We both cried... we both hugged....

So I said - I guess I should take you to lunch today.... she said yes you should...... We had a special moment of forgiveness and understanding..... I am humbled by my daughter.....

Monday, October 12, 2009

Lie To Me


One of my new favorite shows is 'Lie To Me'. It started last year and it hooked me on the first show... It's about a business that specializes in reading people to determine if they are telling the truth or not... I love the way they will show a body gesture of someone they are interrogating and compare it with a body gesture of a well known liar - I would love to have that talent with my kids.. or maybe not.. Maybe sometimes ignorance is bliss... I haven't decided on that one yet.

As most shows do eventually it tries to draw you into the personal lives of the characters. A show is never happy just presenting the fun stuff - like finding the truth tellers and the liars... The show wants you to connect with the people in it too. The main character is a divorced dad - he also is the owner of the business and the King of the reading people... He has a young teenage daughter and an ex wife that he still loves on occasion..

Last week's episode kind of made me mad - I would love to hear your opinion too.

The story line was a member of a fraternity was accused of raping a minor. The minor was a girl in the same clique as the owner's daughter. The owner/dad was asking his daughter if she knew these girls and she pretended to not really know them.... He could read that she was lying.. He walked into her bedroom - where her body language showed that she was hiding something... He opened the drawer and found two fake identification cards and birth control pills... The daughter is mad and yelling at her dad... The ex-wife comes in and says he should have left the pills alone - at least she hasn't started taking them yet......

As it turns out the girl that was "raped" set up the entire seduction - posing as a college girl and to add insult to injury she tapes it - the camera is found and some knuckle head posts it on the Internet. When the owner/father looks at the camera - he finds his daughter's picture posing with the rest of the seduction posse at her school.. Granted the daughter was not part of the seduction thing... But she did use the fake ID's to get into clubs.... and the pills were just in case.... The end of the show.. the father returns the pills to his daughter and hugs her..... show over.. That really got my goat!

As parents - I believe it is our duty to try our best to have our kids not grow up too fast.. There is a reason the legal age to drink is 21... I would not allow my 15/16 year old kid to have a fake ID... and go on the pill... I hope that my kids will wait until they are older.... I am not blind and ignorant to the fact there is a possibility that my kid may go on the pill without my knowledge.... (I did) but I would not drive her to the clinic... I would not hug her and say it's great you're on the pill..... or that I am so proud of you for thinking of safety... I would be saying "What the heck (I believe my words would be a little more colorful) are you thinking - You're 15 years old... You're 16 years old.. Getting pregnant would be least of your problems, Missy!" I don't believe we should condone under age drinking and pre-martial sex - I think we need to make it as difficult as possible for them to attend a "drinking party" or have alone time with their boyfriend or any other guy for that matter... I am not going to let it be easy for them to do any of these things.... and if my kid decides to have sex - I really don't want to know about it..... because if I do - I have no idea how I would handle it... I would love to say - I would handle it with love and understanding.... but until it (and I hope it won't) happens - I'm just going to have to wonder....


Sunday, October 11, 2009

My Big "HUH?" Of The Week


This is my Big "huh?" of the week....

President Barrack Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009
"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"

Are they serious? Really? He was in office only 12 days when the deadline for submissions was up. This has got to be a mistake..... Yes, the man can talk.... yes he is very charismatic - but he has NOT done anything yet.... He is trying to push through a health care plan that does NOT make sense. He has been caught in many non-truths... He is spending money faster than former President George Bush and every president before him.. He has made a mockery on what our country was founded on - Our Belief in God..... He has gone out of his way to shoot down our military... He has gone out of his way to apologize to the Muslim countries for our belief in Jesus Christ...

The decision of the 5 person committee to award President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize was based on his potential... Was based on the fact that Obama persuades Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to shake hands during a trilateral meeting in New York... I make my kids shake hands after a fight sometimes and five (5) minutes later they are back at it....

This award even surprised one of the president's top aides - his comment to the media when told was "It's not April 1st, is it?" seriously...

The Taliban mocked the award - calling President Obama not a peaceful man but a man of violence.. Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said it was absurd to give a peace award to a man who had just sent 21,000 extra troops to Afghanistan to escalate a war... A senior leader in Pakistan called the award "an embarrassing joke"

"In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself" Nobel director Geir Lundestand

Former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate, declared: "So Soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act"

Why are so many people so eager to prove that President Obama is something special before he has really done anything? Do they think by awarding the award that he will meet the challenge? I personally have to guess that majority of the people in the world are dumbfounded - supporters and non-supporters.. This award has made a huge uproar - so much so - that the popular social network Twitter crashed shortly after the news - people were going nuts....

President Obama has not earned this award yet... I do hope that one day he will meet the challenge and do something worthy of it... but as for now - he doesn't even come close......

Obama's Spending Road Trip



The Day Obamacare Died


Obama saying we are NOT a Christian Nation

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