Archives for November 2009

One Less Holiday Tradition

November 30, 2009 by

I took this picture before I took my tree down last year. I vowed that it would be the last year for a real tree in my house. The holidays have arrived and I’m not sure if I can follow through with my decision to purchase an artificial tree this year. The thought of not having a real tree is torturing me.

As I was decorating the tree last year I decided the pros of an artificial tree outweighed the pros of a real tree. I love the smell of a pine tree, but that was the only pro that I could come up with. I hate the mess when taking it down. Clean up is a little easier now that I have hardwood floors, but those needles stick and prick when the tree starts to dry out. I used to think that real trees looked better than the artificial trees, but they have great looking artificial trees on the market now. I have room to store an artificial tree and it would be easier pulling it out of storage than browsing tree farms in the freezing cold looking for a tree, tying it down and lugging it home only to find that a damn branch is keeping it from going into the tree stand or the trunk is too large for the stand that we have. Out the door we go with the tree to trim off the branch or the trunk while arguing like two crazy people on why we don’t buy an artificial tree.

If the pros of an artificial tree outweigh a real tree, why don’t I just switch you ask? After 30 years of having a real tree, I’m having difficulty parting with tradition. Here’s what I will be missing:

  • No more bundling up in layers so I won’t freeze to death searching for a tree.
  • No more arguing with my significant other over the size of the tree.
  • No more 5 mile per hour drives for miles so we don’t loose the tree from the trunk or it won’t go flying off the back of the truck.
  • No more arguing over tree trunks or tree stands.
  • No more watching the tree fall to the floor after its been decorated because it has shifted in the stand or someone didn’t turn the screws tight enough.
  • No more tying the tree to the wall to support it and having to fill in the holes once we take it down.
  • No more cutting off the tip because I can’t get the star on the top.
  • No more arguing over taking the tree to the dump because I missed the only day the garbage man will take it.
  • No more arguing over whose turn it is to crawl underneath the tree so it can be watered.
  • No more arguing over why I surrounded the damn tree with gifts and now nobody can get to the stand to pour water in it.
  • No more streams running down the hardwood floor or soaked tree skirts because somebody poured too much water into the stand.
  • No more pine needles in the fake snow under the tree.
  • No more holes in the tree because the branches hadn’t dropped in the cold so we could see the tree’s true shape.
  • No more turning the tree around and around to find the best side and deciding where you had it originally is where it should be.
  • No more scratched up arms or hands from the needles.
  • No more arguing over my significant other’s left or my left.
  • No more browsing 10 different lots/tree farms and than heading back to the first one for the first tree that I saw.

This has been tradition in my household with a real tree. Who in the hell am I going to argue with now? How much fun is it going to be dragging a cardboard box out of storage rather than dragging the tree across a parking lot or tree farm while praying that I don’t turn into an icicle. I feel like a kid having to give up a security blanket or their favorite toy. I had no idea it would have this kind of affect on me. I have until the week-end to embrace the fact that the tradition of having a live Christmas tree is No More. Pray for me bloggy friends!

Filed Under: artifical trees, Christmas trees, holiday decorating, holiday traditions, Uncategorized

Kate Landers Party Hat Give Away

November 27, 2009 by

Will you be planning a child’s birthday party soon? If so, you should check out Kate Landers Events. We found the cutest children’s party hats there, and we thought you would want to know about them. These hats are quite unique, they are made from felt and are designed to be an heirloom. They offer an adorable lion, which would be perfect for the birthday boy or birthday girl at a jungle, safari or circus themed party.  Not into the jungle, they have other birthday party ideas such as farm animal, flowers, turtles and sailboats. If none of these will do, Kate Landers Events will custom design a hat that will meet your needs.

Kate Landers Events can coordinate your hat and table accessories too. They offer fabric hats as well as paper. The tablecloth, hat and napkins can be coordinated. If you want to go all out, check out the melamine plates and cups. They have fabulicious colors, green, yellow, pink, purple and many more, that will fit any child’s party decor. If you’re into one stop shopping, they can design your invitations too.

I love the cake and hat set shown. It’s perfect for a little girl. The colors are soft and the design adorable. You won’t find these hats at your everyday party or party store. If you want original for your next party, shop at Kate Landers Events. It’s one stop shopping.

Thanks to Kate, we’re giving a party hat to one of our readers. It could be you, but you must enter to win. Visit Kate Landers Events and browse her site. Leave us a comment and let us know what felt party hat you would like to win. A winner will be selected from the posts, so please leave a valid email address. This give away is open to US Resident 18+ only. It will end December 25 at mid-night. Your party hat will be shipped to winner directly from the sponsor.

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Good Luck!

Filed Under: birthday parties, children's birthday party, children's parties, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Favorite Holiday Movies

November 26, 2009 by

The holidays are here. I love the family feasts, decorating the house for Christmas, and watching great holiday movies. It kicks off my holiday spirit. I like to curl up on the sofa with a big bowl of popcorn and one of my favorite drinks and gear up for a good laugh or two. I’ve seen good and bad holiday movies. I just don’t watch the bad, but here’s my list of 10 Favorite Holiday Movies:

  1. A Christmas Story
  2. Deck The Halls
  3. Smokey Mountain Christmas
  4. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
  5. Bad Santa
  6. It’s A Wonderful Life
  7. Home Alone
  8. Miracle on 34th Street
  9. Christmas With The Kranks
  10. Four Christmases
I would say that A Christmas Story is my favorite holiday movie. I would sit for hours wrapping gifts, sipping eggnog and rum, and LMAO. Oh that Red Rdyer BB Gun will live in my memory forever. I also loved Danny Devito in Deck The Halls. Who would want so many lights on their house you could see it from space? I must admit, I did enjoy the lights and music in the movie.
I enjoyed Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.  He was so adorable in that movie.  I could go on and on, but I’ll leave it here.  Let us know what your favorite holiday movie is and what you enjoyed about it. 
We hope that your holidays will be safe, happy and blessed.
Filed Under: Christmas movies, favorite movies, holiday movies, Uncategorized

Wordless Wednesday: Parking Lots

November 25, 2009 by
    Look, Daddy’s a Parking Lot!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Cook’s Ham Give Away

November 24, 2009 by

The holidays are approaching and delicious meals will grace tables around the country. There’s nothing better than a yummy ham surrounded with all the trimmings. I was thrilled when a representative from Cook’s offered Mother 2 Mother a tasty ham. I browsed their site and I found so many helpful tips on hams. They have information on How To Purchase A Ham, How to Cut The Ham, How To Garnish A Ham, and the list goes on.

Cook’s Site explains the benefits and advantages of Bone In Hams, Spiral Hams, and Boneless Hams. Not only can you find delicious hams, you can find ideas on setting the table, activities to do with the kids and tips on wrapping gifts on Cook’s site too. I love the Spiral Hams. They make great sandwiches and are wonderful in casseroles.
Would you like one of Cook’s delicious hams for your Christmas dinner? You can win one here. Just leave us a post and tell us about a Dinner Disaster that you’ve experienced or witnessed while you were a guest.
I have a Dinner Disaster. I ruined my stuffing last year at Christmas dinner. I fry my turkey, so I make my stuffing as a side dish. I purchased Seasoned Salt that I normally use, and they had changed the top on the bottle. I didn’t realize they had incorporated the shaker portion of the bottle into the cap. Instead of taking the cap off and shaking the seasoning, you now have to lift the top on the cap and shake the seasoning from there. I took the cap off as I normally do, and I poured way too much seasoning into the stuffing. It was ruined. It was too late to make a store run and there was no way I could salvage the stuffing and the ingredients. Have you ever served turkey with no stuffing? Not good at a holiday meal. My family still talks about me and the fact that they couldn’t pour gravy over their mashed potatoes and stuffing.
Tell us your story and we will randomly select a winner from the posts. We will send you a coupon for a Free Cook’s Ham up to $30.00. Don’t have a Dinner Disaster, visit Cook’s and tell us which ham you will purchase if you’re the winner. Cook’s also list the stores in your area that sell their hams. Check it out.
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This give away will end December 15, 2009 at mid-night. It is open to US Residents 18+ only. Winner will have 2 days to respond to notification. Failure to respond will result in disqualification and another winner will be selected. We would like the recipient to receive the coupon so they can purchase the ham for Christmas or New Years dinner.
Good luck!
Filed Under: ham recipe, hams, holiday meals, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Children’s Shoes Give Away

November 24, 2009 by
Looking for an adorable pair of shoes for your little one? We have found the most adorable shoes at 5 Lil Monkeys. I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review a pair of their shoes. I choose these blue suede shoes by Kai for my grandson. I’m glad I did, he loves them. My grandson couldn’t wait for me to get them out the box. He immediately take off the ones he was wearing, and put these on.

These blue suede shoes are so cute. Elvis would have loved them too. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. As you can see they have a white stitching, which really draws your eyes to the shoes. They are so soft and have a box toe so there’s plenty of wiggle room for those little tootsies. I also love the thick, rubber sole. You know that you have a sturdy and quality shoe. What I love most about the shoe is the velcro closure. They are so easy to get off and on. As a mother or father, you know what it is like when you have a 2 year old that’s ready to jump off your lap so they can play with a toy or run. This velcro closure is heavenly. No strings to tie over and over. My grandson will get plenty of wear out of them this winter. They look great with jeans. This is my first encounter with Kai shoes, I’m sold.

5 Lil Monkeys has a diverse selection of shoes to choose from. They carry Pediped, Rileyroos, Squeaker and Wee Squeaks. I’m quite pleased with their selection of shoes for little boys. The black and white shoes above would be so cute for Sundays or any occassion requiring formal wear. You can always find adorable shoes for girls, but boys are a different story. I’ll be visiting the 5 Lil Monkeys often. They carry as many adorable shoes for boys as they do for girls. I have my eye on a pair of sandals for my little sweetie for the summer. This site has been Bookmarked!

Too bad I don’t have a little girl. Look at these cupcake shoes. You can find then at 5 Lil Monkeys. Don’t you love the colors. These would look great with jeans, skirts and tights or shorts. They are made by Squeaker Sneaker. In addition to the cupcake, you can find them with ladybugs, sunflowers, strawberries, apples and balloons. This is a fun shoe for any little girl to wear, and they are Pediatrician recommended.
Susana Castaneda, co-owner, of 5 Lil Monkeys wants one of our readers to enjoy a pair of shoes from their store. The winner chooses. You could be that lucky person. Just visit 5 Lil Monkeys and let us know what pair of shoes you would like to win and the size. (Please select from the inventory on their site). Leave us a comment with a valid email address and we will randomly select a winner from the posts.
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This give away will end at mid-night on December 19, 2009. It is open to US Residents 18+ only. Winner will have 3 days to respond to our notification. Failure to respond in that timeframe will result in disqualification. Good luck!
Filed Under: infant shoes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Mattel’s Burqa Barbie Controversy

November 23, 2009 by

Barbie is involved in another controversy, i.e. Burqa Barbie. It seems that Mattel has offended some Islamic women, and they’re demanding that Mattel take note. Mattel has produced 500 Barbies in a Burqa for auction in Italy. The auction is part of Barbie’s 50th anniversary. Proceeds will go to the Rewrite the Future, a charity, which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict.

A representative from Mattel has stated, “I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them”.

Muslim women are offended because the Burqa is not a true representation of Islamic dress, so where is Mattel coming from? Islamic women are fighting to not have to wear a Burqa. The Burqa is believed by Muslim women to be a garment forced on them during the Taliban, it is not mentioned in the Quran; therefore, it should not be seen as a part of their traditional dress. The Quran is our Bible. They see the Burqa as a means to oppress women. Muslim women are required to wear Hijabs, a scarf, to cover their heads and to dress modestly only. The Burqa is worn over a woman’s normal dress when she is outside the home in some Islamic countries. It is made to cover them from head to toe. Because of political instability, it was seen as a way of protecting women so they were forced to wear them.

I normally don’t post on religious or cultural issues, but I believe this concern was important enough to bring to light. Especially since it involved a toy maker. I am somewhat knowledgeable of Islam and I am aware that Islamic women are fighting for rights as women. Rights that we take for granted in this country. Muslim women believe that Mattel should have taken the time to understand the Islamic culture and what it represents before they produced a doll that supposedly represents traditional Islamic dress. Especially, a Barbie doll that little girls will be playing with. Burqas are currently the center of a big controversy in Western Europe. They are being banned because they are not a part of the traditional Islamic dress.I posted on the Burqa Barbie because so many problems are created simply because statements and opinions are formed without having all the facts. What’s funny is Mattel’s Barbie has been banned in most Islamic countries. They see her as being too westernized for their little girls. She has been replaced with the Fulla doll (shown above). This doll is more culturally correct as far as Islamic dress than the Burqa Barbie produced by Mattel.

I patronize Mattel and I will continue; however, a little research will go a long way when it comes to cultural and religious issues. Do you think Mattel should have done their homework before they produced a culturally incorrect Barbie? Do you think the focus was on money rather than the fight of Islamic women for their rights? Would love to hear your thoughts on the Burqa Barbie.

Filed Under: Barbie, Barbie dolls, Burka, Islam, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Don’t Air Your Laundry In This Neighborhood

November 19, 2009 by

I remember the day when sheets, towels, jeans and shirts would have been hanging from these clothes pins. Few people hang their laundry outside these days. I for one don’t, but both of my neighbors hang their laundry out. I have often thought about purchasing a clothes line, but only for a brief moment.

Watching my neighbors hang their laundry has brought back memories of wringer washes, wash tubs, scrub boards, and spray starch. My mother had a wringer washer and clothes line for years. She starched more shirts and doilies than I care to count. I remember getting my fingers caught in that damn wringer on many occasions too. I did love the smell of my sheets when I was growing up. They always smelled so fresh. On the other hand, I also have memories of frozen jeans, stiff towels and cold fingers from being out in the cold and taking the laundry down. It’s those memories that make me run thankfully to my dryer where I can open it to find nice, warm, wrinkle free laundry.

Did you know there’s a fight going on in America over laundry? Women want the right to air their laundry, but local ordinances are keeping laundry out of backyards. It seems that most developers place this restriction in their covenants, but 5 states have made it a law that you can hang your laundry in your yard. These state include: Florida, Utah, Maine, Vermont, Colorado, and Hawaii. Additional states are thinking about lifting the ban on airing laundry. It seems that in most states neighbors aren’t interested in seeing other neighbor’s sheets and/or unmentionables blowing in the wind. Many believe it trashes the neighborhood. Gone are the days of wringer washers and wash tubs on the back porch, but shouldn’t a home owner have the right to hang boxers, bras and booty shorts out if they wish?

I don’t find either of my neighbor’s laundry embarrassing or trashy. I must admit I have glanced at the undies and wondered if my ass was big as the briefs they had hanging on their line, and vowed to hit the treadmill more often. Other than that, it’s just laundry.

Laundry blowing in the wind used to be a common sight in the neighborhood when I was growing up, but we didn’t live in a neighborhood of $200,00, $300,000 or $400,000 homes either. People seem to be focused more on looks rather than saving energy and having fresh smelling sheets these days. Seeing laundry in the backyards of homes of this caliber is most unusual, but Project Laundry List may end the ban on sheets blowing in the wind in the swankiest of neighborhoods. They are fighting for the rights of home owners everywhere to air their laundry.

It’s doubtful that I will join in the fight to air my dainties. Although I do miss the smell of fresh sheets, I love my dryer and the delicate cycle too much. I do wish those who want to hang their laundry in their yard the best.

Will you be joining the fight? Leave us a comment and let us know if you or your neighbors hang your laundry out and your thoughts.

Filed Under: airing dirty laundry, clotheslines, dryers, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Wordless Wednesday

November 18, 2009 by
Chocolate, you’re the bestest Mama!
Filed Under: Captain Georges, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

I Won’t Leave My Child To Fight In A War

November 17, 2009 by

Meet Army Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, 21. Spc. Hutchinson refused deployment to Afghanistan because she didn’t have anyone to care for her child. Here’s her story, she initially thought her mother would be able to care for her 10 month old son during her year deployment; however, her mother changed her mind at the last minute. You see her mother is currently caring for her elderly mother, her sister and a special needs daughter. In addition to caring for 3 family members, she runs a daycare with 14 children during the day. Her mother stated that the baby would need more care than she would be able to provide with her current responsibilities, so she reneged.

Spc. Hutchinson requested additional time to make arrangements for the baby, but instead of receiving additional time she was ordered to place her child in foster care and deploy as scheduled. She was unable to make other arrangements and refused to place her baby in foster care. She was arrested for not deploying as ordered. Although no criminal charges have been filed against her, she has been confined to her base in Savannah, GA. This soldier is a single mom who is no longer connected to her baby’s daddy. She had no where to turn, and she made the choice that any true mother would make. She refused to leave her 10-month old baby in the care of a stranger while she entered a combat zone. I say you go momma.
Now according to an Army spokesman, the Army would not deploy a soldier who had no one to care for their child. According to Spc. Hutchinson, she was denied additional time to find someone to care for her baby. The Army has vowed to get to the bottom of it what exactly took place with this mother and her superiors. In the meantime, her mother has retrieved the infant since her daughter’s arrest and is caring for him in spite of the burden that it has placed on her.
I will leave my personal views on the wars that we are currently engaged in out of this post, but I applaud this young mother for refusing to leave her child to go to war. I hope that serious actions are taken against the superior who ordered this young lady into a combat zone at the expense of her child. You have to be a pretty heartless person to give that command.
 
Would you have deployed or placed out your hands for the bracelet? I would have been arrested, there’s no way I would have placed my child in foster care especially if I was placing my life on the line. This young mother would have had no peace of mind while she was there. How could she, she would have no idea where her child was or who was caring for him. How could she focus in a war zone not knowing? I would love to hear your opinion on this young mother and what you would have done had you been in her shoes. Please leave us a comment.
Filed Under: Afghanistan, Army, child welfare, foster homes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,