Friday Fragments - March 12, 2010

Saw a friend this week that I haven't spoken to since December because of a misunderstanding. It wasn't weird at all but I do believe that we need to speak about what happened in order to go forward. If we are even going to go forward.

Ran into an old friend today whose daughter had an unfortunate accident two weeks ago. She hit a bridge while sledding, A lot of us who live around here have little streams running through our back yard. They have one too. She slid right into the bridge and crushed her throat right above her voice box. She is only about 8-10 years old and my heart has been in my stomach since hearing. She has been in ICU and hopefully will be moved to the children's floor very soon. Tried my hardest not to cry while listening to the story about the accident because the family has been so strong. As soon as the tears stared filling up my eyes, I made a conscience effort to make sure they didn't run over.

Received another box of movies from my Dad. He sent about 30 of his beloved Disney movies on VHS and now another 15 movies on DVD. Worried about the reason and hope it is only because he recently got a new TV not because of his health.

Attend a memorial for my neighbor yesterday. I only knew her name but knew that she was fighting cancer. I would see her walking her dogs around the block without hair and thought, "good for you! fight whatever it is you are fighting." Unfortunately according to her husband who I met formally yesterday, she had been very sick since the end of October. My heart broke for her husband and her two lovely dogs that I couldn't get enough of last night. It is so sad to wonder what animals think when they lose someone who has been with them since they were puppies. I just wanted to give them all my love and pet them as much as they let me. I bet they miss their Mommy.

Read to Handsome's class today. This was my second time and this time I brought treats. The kids are so cute the way they listen and hang on your every word. They make you feel so good and whenever I am there, I know I missed my calling to teach.

This is the book my son wanted me to read. His teacher said, it is one of his favorites. Looks like I have to buy it for him.

Damn it! Jury duty summons today. Why is it that in 43 years I have been called over 20 times yet I have friends who have never been called?!

Still some pendants left, selling them for $6.00 including shipping and a chain. Letter B & O are spoken for but the rest are still available.  To see the rest, head over here.

Zippity Doo Hair Products for Kids

Thanks to MomSelect I was able to participate in a review for Zippity Doo!

Every year when the kids are in school we receive memos stating that someone has lice. Then I spend the next week or two praying and checking that my kids are lice free.  It usually happens right at the beginning of the school year and then in the spring but it can happen anywhere in between.

Why the conversation about lice and hair products?

Well....

Here is what I can tell you: They all smell amazing! They all contain natural ingredients such as anise, rosemary, sage, tree oil, lavender, aloe, cinnamon.  My daughter loves the colors and the smells. She brings them over for me to open so that she can smell it. I do, but not before I take a whiff too! We have used each product and everyday I spray their hair with the leave-in detangler and their coats and backpacks with the shield spray so far no lice. Good, right!  The treatment of lice is nasty and the shampoos toxic. So,Why treat lice when you can prevent it.

What I can't tell you: If it protects against lice! Zippity Doo’s Shampoo for Children was created to help repel lice and other insects from the hair.

In A Nutshell: If in fact you never see lice, at least your hair will smell amazing. Nothing wrong with that.

Book Nook - Jamie and The Angel: Meeting Her Guardian Angel

In A Nutshell: While the cover may look like a child's book, this book is not for children only. I believe that Carol is writing for people everywhere who feel different than others. The message of the book is quite simple, "it is OK to be different." We are told as children and we tell our children that being different is what makes them special. The little girl in the book has a rare gift where she can speak and see Divine beings. If this is not something you believe in, the book is a great resource in self acceptance on an elementary level.

Memory Rewind - February 11, 2010

This week for Memory Rewind is a photo from a few years back.

This is what my family looked like before Handsome and Goddess made their stunning appearance.

My Man and I had two animals. The cat, Sandi (see her eyes on my shoulder, I was making sure she didn't block my baby belly. That is Handsome in there and it was important to have him in the picture too!) came into the relationship with me. It was her and I for many years before I met My Man. The dog, Zoe came into it later on. After a breakup with a real shit head, My Man (a really good friend) and I moved into a house with his Bass player friend Dan (one day I will talk about the band). One day I went to a pet shop and checked out this really cute dog. I talked to the dog for two days telling it I would be back after talking to my "roommates". On the day I had Ok'd it with them, I headed down to pick up the really cute dog. Unfortunately for that dog, "Zoe" was there in all her 1 pound glory. She was the smallest, cutest, fluffiest thing I had ever seen and I had to have her.

So, here we are...me and my little family in the last Christmas before Handsome's 1st. No other Christmas before his 1st compared but this was a great one because of the belly!

A Thousand Word Thursday - The Future and The Past

Have you ever watched older people when they are holding a baby? They are so focused! Yes, there is a tiny baby who was just baptized in the middle of that gray party. My niece was just baptized and like all good Italians a big, feast was held. Everyone took off their house wear and put on their Sunday best. Although it doesn't look like my grandma was wearing her church wear in this photo. What is up with the red and white stripe shirt with the anchor?

It looks like a heated discussion with my Uncle's friend and her hand in a determined position but I believe they were discussing location. Who knows. My aunt Mary in the black died a few years ago and my grandparents God love them are still around. I remember being worried that my grandfather would drop the precious package on the cold concrete floor and kept putting my hands out. It looks like my grandma felt the same way the way she has that I'm ready" look on her face.

They all look so cute with their knees almost touching.and my grandma with the napkin on my grandpa's knee. Cute.

I Was On The Radio Today!

If you missed it today, I joined R.C. Ryan and Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group on Blog Talk Radio. It was so weird and my cheeks were red for about 20 minutes. Calling into a radio show shouldn't be weird at all since no one is actually seeing you but for me it was. Go figure, since I have been on the radio before during Opie and Anthony's show quite a few years back.

Wordless Wednesday - Thinking I Was Fat in 2002 - Wishing I Still Looked Like That

Wordless Wednesday - Looking through some photos on disc yesterday and finding some from right before I started showing in my pregnancy. Thinking how silly it was to think I was fat. All the wasted time covering up and wearing "butt hiding" shirts when I should have been happy with myself. Hoping to now have the same regret about pictures I see of me now in 7-8 years.

ABC Wednesday - H

This week at Abc Wednesday, the letter is H.

H = Holding



This is a picture of me and my niece who is now 8 years old. I was thrilled to be baptising my sisters daughter and love her to pieces. I remember holding this beautiful baby girl and thinking how awesome it was that we had a girl in the family but wishing my mother was there to see how beautiful she was.

H = Hill



As in, look at the size of that hill of snow that my daughter has to climb on her hands and knees!

H = Hat


If he didn't have a hat on, we would lose sight of him in the snow. Always dress kids in bright colors outdoors, so there isn't that moment of panic before you spot them.

H = Hair



As Goddess invokes her inner Cher, I can't help but marvel at the beautiful hair. Damn I am a rhyming fool today. This is what happens when I get up before 6:00 a.m. and have the house to myself for a little while.

Lastly...

H = Hugging Handsome


I love his little fingers on my shoulder. Cuuute.

Book Nook Corner - Children's Activity Book for Ages 4-8

In A Nutshell: The book will hit the shelves today, March 10, 2010 and is a great workbook for ages 4-8. My son is 6 and loved it. The pages are large and the graphics, big and bold, perfect for kids. My son could easily work independently. This is the perfect workbook to engage, entertain and educate kids. The concepts are fun and easy. For instance one page had the heading "bugs and mugs on a rug". Then a little word bubble outside the rug directs the child to "Draw bugs! Draw a mug". Then the bottom of the page has blank places for the child to add missing letters. I love the graphics and so does my daughter who is dying to get her hands on this book.

I really need to get one for her. This one is for Handsome who doesn't get to participate in many reviews with me.

Take Me Back Tuesday

Here is a photo of me and my niece who is now going on 8. I was pregnant or just about pregnant with my son, I really can't recall right now. Holding a baby, there is nothing like it. I could hold them forever and believe me I did!

I know a lot of people do the whole "don't hold the baby so much you will spoil them" thing but I held and rocked both and before you know it, it's over. I knew that it would be fast so never worried about the whole spoil thing. Now, I can barely get them to sit in my lap for two seconds.

Enjoy your babies, you cannot spoil your child by holding them.

Maria's Book Nook - Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - Buzzworthy Book Review

In A Nutshell: I may be the only person of my generation to have not read or watched any of the Pride and Prejudice books and movies.  This book made me wish that I had. I am a BIG fan of Fan Fiction and read a lot of it, mostly online. It is so fun to take something you know like Twilight and read fan versions of it. Pride and Prejudiece and Zombies was funny for me. Picturing the sisters in their colonial dresses holding nunchucks just cracked me up.

The story starts with a funeral, a reanimation and Mr. Bennett asking his girls to slay a man. Wickedly fun! Obviously the Dreadfuls are back and Mr. Bennett needs his daughters to be ready! He summons his former "Master" to train the girls to be killing machines. My mental visions cracked me up more than the story at times. 


The descriptions of the Dreadfuls were detailed enough for this former horror fan to be enticed to pick up again. 

My husband kept turning the book over so that my 4 year old wouldn't see the cover which I love! The undead girl is just plain creepy.

Personally, I think taking a piece of such classic literature and tweaking it is genius.

This pop culture phenomenon of fan fiction is here to stay. So grab one of the books from Irreference and revisit one of the beloved classics with Zombies or in this case Dreadfuls because they mustn't mention the Zed word.  Also, read it now before the movie! Yes, there will be a movie starring Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Bennett. Awesome! I recommend Gerard Butler Mr. Darcy and Minnie Driver as Ms. Bennett (I wanted to ring her neck). There is no release date yet but I will keep you updated.

The View - A Message from Your Friendly Ambassador

I missed The View yesterday but today I am so excited to watch because Whoopi and Sheri are back.

Currently, they are discussing Hot Topics and the discussion is on The Bachelor wedding on ABC last night. I cannot believe that I wasted an hour of my life watching this rididulous mess. 

At the end, Molly said, "she still has butterflies when she sees Jason." Awww...really Molly, you have been together a year; tell me this in 5 years and I will be impressed!

Yuck, but I digress...

Are you a fan of The View? What do you like about it?

My favorite part of the show is usually Hot Topic but I still get annoyed by all the talk overs. I guess most women find this a normal part of their girlfriend gatherings but maybe that is why I choose to stay as far away from more than 2 women at a time. I don't do large, loud groups well.

BTW, this is the final week of my View Ambassadorship. While I am sad to see the title go, I am glad to not have a TV schedule to follow.

Me and My Boy!

Here is my Handsome and I from 2 years ago. This was when I could still grab him for a picture and he smiled. Now it takes a little more work.