Mingle Mangle

Wake up America

2010-09-24T15:12:00.001-04:00

Great grandfathers watched as their friends died in the Civil War.

My father watched as his friends died in WW II.

And my brothers watched as their friends died in Vietnam.

None of them died for the Mexican Flag. Everyone died for the American flag.

Texas high school students raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole, other students took it down. Guess who was expelled...the students who took it down.

California high school students were sent home on Cinco de Mayo, because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.

Enough is enough.

This message needs to be viewed by every American; and every American needs to stand up for America.

We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough. I'm taking a stand.

I'm standing up because the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in wars for this country, and for the American flag.

And shame on anyone who tries to make this message racist.

AMERICANS, stop giving away Your RIGHTS!

Let me make this clear! THIS IS MY COUNTRY!

This statement DOES NOT mean I'm against immigration! My grandparents immigrated to this country

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY, welcome to come legally:

1. Get a sponsor!

2. Learn the LANGUAGE, as immigrants have in the past!

3. Live by OUR rules!

4. Get a job!

5. Pay YOUR Taxes!

6. No Social Security until you have earned it and paid for it!

7. NOW find a place to lay your head!

We've gone so far the other way . . . bent over backwards not to offend anyone.

Only AMERICANS seems to care when American Citizens are being offended!

WAKE UP America ! ! !

If you are 35 or older, you might think this is hilarious!

2010-06-14T17:33:00.000-04:00

If you are 35 or older, you might think this is hilarious! Under? you may not get it... LOL

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; having to walk twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot... BOTH ways… yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it! But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick my ass! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3's or Napster or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and jack it all up! There were no CD players! We had a tape decks in the car.. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!

There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOD !!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!!

And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances!

We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little brats!

And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!

And car seats - oh, please! Daddy threw your ass in the back seat and you hung on. Or if you were lucky, your Mom gave you the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!

See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or any time before!

Regards,
The Over 35 Crowd

The Mayonnaise Jar

2010-05-14T11:19:00.000-04:00

I received this in an email and thought I would share:

The Mayonnaise Jar
When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family,
children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions �
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.
So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented...

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Thomas Jefferson Quote

2010-03-21T15:13:00.002-04:00

"Unless the mass retains sufficient control over those intrusted with the powers of their government, these will be perverted to their own oppression, and to the perpetuation of wealth and power in the individuals and their families selected for the trust" (Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Van Der Kemp; The Jeffersonian cyclopedia)

Post Office

2010-03-12T20:42:00.001-05:00

A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery
Store. As he waited, he was approached by a man who asked, "Son, can you tell me where the Post Office is?"

The little boy replied, "Sure! Just go straight down this street a
coupla blocks and turn to your right."

The man thanked the boy kindly and said, "I'm the new pastor in town.
I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday. I'll show you how to get
to Heaven."

The little boy replied with a chuckle. "Awww, come on... You don't
even know the way to the Post Office."

Two Little Boys

2009-04-16T19:36:00.000-04:00

I read this and thought others would enjoy it!

Two Little Boys

After a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddles through her kitchen window. The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his head and shoved his face into the water hole.

As the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother ran to the yard in a panic. "Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!"
she asked as she shook the older boy in anger.

"We were just playing 'church' mommy,"
he said.
"I was just baptizing him.....in the name of the Father,
the Son and in...the hole-he-goes. "

Something to remember at Christmas

2008-12-02T19:48:00.001-05:00

Below is a partial list of stores that you need to be cautious about.

Circuit City (filed Chapter 11)
Ann Taylor 117 stores nationwide closing
Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug ,and Catherine's to close 150 stores nationwide
Eddie Bauer to close stores 27 stores and more after January
Cache will close all stores
Talbots closing down specialty stores
J. Jill closing all stores (owned by Talbots) Pacific Sunwear (also owned by Talbots)
GAP closing 85 stores
Footlocker closing 140 stores more to close after January
Wickes Furniture closing down
Levitz closing down remaining stores
Bombay closing remaining stores
Zales closing down 82 stores and 105 after January
Whitehall closing all stores
Piercing Pagoda closing all stores
Disney closing 98 stores and will close more after January.
Home Depot closing 15 stores 1 in NJ ( New Brunswick )
Macys to close 9 stores after January
Linens and Things closing all stores
Movie Galley Closing all stores
Pep Boys Closing 33 stores
Sprint/Nextel closing 133 stores
JC Penney closing a number of stores after January
Ethan Allen closing down 12 stores.
Wilson Leather closing down all stores
Sharper Image closing down all stores
K B Toys closing 356 stores
Lowes to close down some stores
Dillard's to close some stores

Marines Coming Home

2008-05-05T20:28:00.002-04:00

I sat in my seat of the Boeing 767 waiting for everyone to hurry and stow their carry-ons and grab a seat so we could start what I was sure to be a long, uneventful flight home.

With the huge capacity and slow moving people taking their time to stuff luggage far too big for the overhead and never paying much attention to holding up the growing line behind them, I simply shook my head knowing that this flight was not starting out very well. I was anxious to get home to see my loved ones so I was focused on my issues and just felt like standing up and yelling for some of these clowns to get their act together.
I knew I couldn't say a word so I just thumbed thru the 'Sky Mall' magazine from the seat pocket in front of me. You know it's really getting rough when you resort to the over priced, useless sky mall crap to break the monotony. With everyone finally seated, we just sat there with the cabin door open and no one in any hurry to get us going although we were well past the scheduled take off time. No wonder the airline industry is in trouble I told myself.
Just then, the attendant came on the intercom to inform us all that we were being delayed.
The entire plane let out a collective groan. She resumed speaking to say 'We are holding the aircraft for some very special people who are on their way to the plane and the delay shouldn't be more than 5 minutes.
The word came after waiting six times as long as we were promised that I was finally going to be on my way home. Why the hoopla over 'these' folks?
I was expecting some celebrity or sport figure to be the reason for the hold up
Just get their butts in a seat and let's hit the gas I thought.
The attendant came back on the speaker to announce in a loud andexcited voice that we were being joined by several U.S. Marines returning home from Iraq !
Just as they walked on board, the entire plane erupted into applause.
The men were a bit taken by surprise by the 340 people cheering for them as they searched for their seats.

They were having their hands shook and touched by almost everyone who was within an arm's distance of them as they passed down the aisle. One elderly woman kissed the hand of one of the Marines as he passed by her.

The applause, whistles and cheering didn't stop for a long time.

When we were finally airborne, I was not the only civilian checking his conscience as to the delays in 'me' getting home, finding my easy chair, a cold beverage and the remote in my hand.
These men had done for all of us and I had been complaining silently about 'me' and 'my' issues I took for granted the everyday freedoms I enjoy and the conveniences of the American way of life.

I took for granted that others had paid the price for my ability to moan and complain about a few minutes delay to 'me' while those Heroes were going home to their loved ones.

I attempted to get my selfish outlook back in order and minutes before we landed, I suggested to the attendant that she announce over the speaker a request for everyone to remain in their seats until our heroes were allowed to gather their things and be first off the plane.
The cheers and applause continued until the last Marine stepped off and we all rose to go about our too often taken for granted everyday freedoms.
I felt proud of them.
I felt it an honor and a privilege to be among the first to welcome them home and say 'Thank You for a job well done.' I vowed that I will never forget that flight nor the lesson learned. I can't say it enough, THANK YOU to those Veterans and active servicemen and women who may read this and a prayer for those who cannot because they are no longer with us.

I received this in an email today and I had to share it with everyone! I don't know if it really happened or not, but it is how we should be treating out troops. They are the reason we are able to do the things we do. Most of my family has been in the military along with me and my husband and the military holds a special place in my heart.

Do-it-yourself Yule gift ideas

2007-12-15T09:29:00.001-05:00

Every year Christmas was always a big deal in our house. We would decorate the tree together as a family and make the annual Christmas cookies from the secret fudge recipe to simple sugar cookies. One of the other things we always did was to make something for the holidays. It wasn’t required but it was encouraged. We were encouraged to use our imagination to come up with unique ideas so we could out do our brothers and sisters. Here are a few of the ideas that we came up with over the years and how to create them for your and your family.

FAMILY COOKBOOK
This is one of the easiest gifts to make and its loved by almost everyone because the entire family contributes to it. You get with each member of your family and have them contribute their favorite recipe or recipes depending on how large you want to make the cookbook. Then your job is to compile it all whether on recipe cards and put them into individual recipe card holders or blank cookbooks or you can compile them on the computer and create elaborate designs complete with pictures of the items. This will be a gift that will keep on giving for the entire year and beyond and you can always update it every couple of years.

GIFT BAGS
When you think of gift bags you think of the simple paper ones that you can buy at the store, but the ones I am illustrating here are the ones made out of cloth. The easiest way I have found to create them is to buy quilt panels at a craft or fabric store. Two panels side by side can easily turn into one gift bag and they don’t take that long to make. You can use cord or binding tape for the handle or anything that takes your fancy. You take the two panels that are still connected and sew up the side and bottom of the bag, then you fold the top of the bag over to make a hem and sew it down and while you are sewing it down you attach the handles. You will also want to sew an edge stitch across the top of the bag as this will help secure the handle and not pull up the sides. Then you can add anything to the bag or just give the bag as a gift. I normally add a small gift to the bag, i.e. if someone likes crafts, I put some craft kits into the bag and then they already have a place to put them.

NAME PLAQUES
Name plaques can be as simple or as elaborate as you want them. You can create them with paint or decals or even wood burning. If you go to a craft store and buy simple pieces of wood, then you can choose the design you want to put on them along with the phrase “The XXXX’s”. It is a great personalized gift that will touch the hearts of most people.

Gifts you make yourself are a great and inexpensive way to create a unique gift that no one else will give them. You will make them feel special because you took your time to create them something instead of just running to the store or in today’s age, buying something online. If you have a large family, you are going to want to think of a gift idea early in the year to give yourself enough time to complete your project, but most of all have fun and enjoy the pleasure of giving a homemade gift from your heart.

How to Impress your In-Laws

2007-08-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

Your goal in your marriage shouldn’t be to impress your in-laws because then you will feel like they are looking at you as if you only entered into the marriage to impress them when in actuality you entered into the marriage because of the feelings you have for their child. If you actually focus on your marriage and don’t worry about the way your in-laws feel about you it will help you relax and enjoy your marriage. This will help your in-law to see you for like you are and come to enjoy being around you. They will get to know the real you and not the image you think they want to see. Here are a few tips to help you impress your in-laws:

1. Be yourself – this is the most important tip because if you don’t then they will think you are someone else and not get to know you. This will be difficult for all of you and can go on to cause tension between you and your spouse also.

2. Treat them with Respect – if you force yourself to treat them with respect then you will find that they might actually enjoy spending time with you and won’t interfere as much in your relationship with your spouse.

3. Create Boundaries – this is important because once they know the boundaries then they won’t frustrate you as much without even realizing it. It would be smart to talk over the boundaries with your spouse to ensure they don’t have a problem with them. An example of a boundary is that unless there is an emergency, there aren’t any phone calls after a certain time at night, or something can’t be given to the children with discussing it with you first. My mother-in-law and I have an agreement. If there is something that normally falls into a age limit, i.e. makeup, then it is discussed first before the child is taken out to shop for makeup or whatever the item may be. This eliminates the frustration you can have and stops the hard feelings they can have.

4. Be Honest – if you don’t like the way something is handled, then be honest with them. Let them politely know how you feel and discuss alternatives to what happened. This will stop it from happening again.

If all else fails and you have a difficult time getting along with your in-laws then discuss it with your spouse and see if you can find out some ideas that will help you handle them in a dignified and respectful manner, because even if you don’t care for them, they are still your spouse’s parents and he/she has to get along with all of you. So try and make it easier on your spouse and quit trying to impress them and be yourself.

How to Rent a Container for Home Remodeling Demolition

2007-08-03T17:40:00.000-04:00

You have decided to renovate your home and as you start to plan out the steps you need to take you realize you will need to get a container to remove the parts of the room that you are going to remodel. There is a simple method to find a container to rent, look through your yellow pages or online for any local trash pickup companies. They will rent containers for construction trash. You will need to make sure you let them know what you are using it for because construction debris uses a different container than if you were just cleaning excess items out of your house. There is a fee for this service, but they will drop off the container and schedule a time with you to pick it up. Normally you can rent it for a couple of days to a week. If you need to go longer than this they will work with you on an individual basis, but the costs can become expensive.

You also might want to do some research on what size container you will need because they do come in different sizes and you don’t want one that is too small because you are allowed to fill it past a certain spot. You also don’t want one that is too large as it is wasted money.

Another thing you will want to research is the pricing for the different companies. Don’t just stay with the company that picks up your trash, but call around and find out the pricing for different companies, you might find one that is cheaper and easier to use.

The company will very likely want you to sign a contract agreeing to pay the price and for the duration of the use of the container. This is standard procedure, but make sure you look through the contract before signing it. Some companies add large fines into their contracts if you go over a certain weight or need it for a longer period of time.

As with anything, you need to do your research and find the company that will fit your needs the best. Renting a container is relatively simple; the hard part will come when you have to start your remodeling project.

Tips for Masking a Room before Painting

2007-08-03T16:18:00.000-04:00

Before giving any tips on masking a room, first you need to know what masking means. It means to tape off the edges of the room to keep them from getting paint where you don’t want it. Masking a room before painting is relatively easy, but time consuming. It is still essential to do it, because it will end up saving you time in the end.

The first step to masking a room is to clear the room out as much as possible. If you don’t have room or any place to put the items in the room then you can move them to the center of the room and cover them with a tarp or blankets.

Then you need to remove the items from the walls, i.e. pictures, shelves, stickers (children), and posters and then repair any holes you have in the walls. A good product to use is wood putty, but if you don’t have any or can’t afford to buy any plain toothpaste will work. If you are going to use toothpaste then make sure it is the paste kind not the one with gel in it.

After you have filled all the holes, your next step is to wash the walls with a simple solution of soap and water. It doesn’t have to be an in depth cleaning, but enough to remove any grease from the walls. The walls may not look greasy but the oils from your hands can get on the walls and it could hinder how your paint adheres to the walls.

The final step to masking the room is to actually tape it. You will need to make sure you take around the windows, door frames, base boards and remove the light and plug plates and tape round them also. If you are painting the ceiling a different color you will also need to tape the ceiling off so you don’t get any of the wall paint on the ceiling. You will want to use a colored masking tape to mask off the room to help you find it after you paint the wall, to make sure you remove all of it. There are also special taping sets to help you roll the tape on the edge, but I have found these are just messy and are more difficult to use then plain masking tape. A good idea when you are taping off baseboards and frames is to extend the tape over the edge because inevitably you will paint over top of the tape and if you have extended the tape you are less likely to make a mess.

The most important tip of masking a room is to not think of it as the worst part of painting, but something you will do to keep the room from becoming a headache. If you put the work into the front end, the back end will be much easier. The job will actually be quicker than if you don’t mask the room, because you won’t have as much of a cleanup. Enjoy painting, it can be fun.

Tips for doing the family wash

2007-06-15T09:05:00.000-04:00

I will admit it, my least favorite chore to do around the house is laundry. I don’t mind the washing or even the drying, but I absolutely do not like to fold clothes. This doesn’t mean that I can get away with never folding clothes, because unfortunately it has to be done. I have found ways, though, to improve the process when I am washing clothes.

The first step in washing clothes is organization. I created a system for my children to make it easy for them to separate their own clothes to make washing them easier. I took three laundry baskets and placed them on top of my washer and dryer. On each basket I put a label, one for darks, one for lights and one for whites. The children know which basket is which and separate their clothes before I even start laundry. This makes it easier and quicker to start the laundry without having to separate it first.

The next step is to make sure your products are within easy reach. If you have them, utilize the cupboards you have in your laundry room to store the products you use to wash your clothes, i.e. soap, bleach, softener.

The final step is to make sure you put the clothes away as you go, because if they get piled up then you will be less inclined to make sure they are put away later. Remember out of sight out of mind.

I have also found that it helps to have an extra laundry basket near by to carry the clothes upstairs when they are clean. I also make sure I have hangers in the laundry room to hang up the clothes immediately because it helps to keep them from getting wrinkled.

The most important part of doing laundry when you have children, is to teach them the general rules of organization and then it will become second nature to them to keep it organized. It will make your job easier and eventually when you start teaching them to do laundry, it will make their job easier.

What to do if your brakes fail

2007-05-27T10:37:00.000-04:00

There are a few easy steps to take care of if your brakes fail, so don’t panic. Just remember these few easy steps and you will be able to stop without too much hassle.
DOWNSHIFT
Most people forget this easy step. They are panicking and don’t realize this will help them slow down significantly. If you don’t have a stick shift vehicle you still have the ability to downshift with an automatic. It is the D1 and D2 spots that allow you to downshift the engine.

EMERGENCY BRAKE
Now that you have slowed down with the downshifting then you can apply the emergency brake. It might jerk the steering wheel a little bit so be prepared to hold it steady. Steer over to the side of the road and call a tow truck to come pick up your vehicle.

OTHER OPTIONS
If either of the two options above fail then look for a hill to help slow you down. It will slow down your vehicle enough that you can pull over to the side of the road. You can also look for a pile of sand or embankment to drive the vehicle into as a last resort, because this is much better than hitting another vehicle or a tree.

But the most important part of anytime you are in an accident, don’t panic. It is when people panic that they start having problems, because they forget to think. Another good idea would be to start praying, God will help you through the accident. Good Luck and remember to get your brakes checked periodically.

My Favorite Professional Chef: Alessandro Stratta

2007-04-26T11:56:00.000-04:00

My favorite professional chef would have to be Alex Stratta. He is the executive chef at Alex, located in the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Alex has worked at many 4 star restaurants and after he went to Renoir at Mirage he was able to achieve the coveted Mobile 5 Star status after only 6 months. His restaurant Alex, is currently rated Mobil Five-star and AAA Five Diamond awards. It isn’t just the food he creates, which is phenomenal, but it is the whole experience of his restaurant. His staff is knowledgeable and friendly, they don’t mind if you linger over your dinner.

Alex’s signature dish, Braised Short Rib with Horseradish Potatoes, is the best meal I have ever eaten. My husband and I had gone to his restaurant for a nice dinner out and my husband was upset that they didn’t have steak (he is a steak and potatoes person) until he took my recommendation and tried the Braised Short Rib. The meat wasn’t tough at all, it fell off the bone and the flavor was rich and succulent. The Horseradish Potatoes were an excellent compliment to the meat.

Having worked with Alex for two years, I feel that he is a down to earth person. He enjoys spending time with his family and maintains a relaxed atmosphere not only in the office but also in the kitchen. You can walk into his kitchen and it is organized and neat, everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing and takes care of it. Alex doesn’t have to yell in his kitchen because his staff is some of the best in the industry. Alex is an overall great person and I have enjoyed meeting him and tasting his wonderful creations.

Toy reviews: American Girl dolls

2007-04-18T17:24:00.001-04:00

American Girl dolls are the type of toy that can become an heirloom for a child that she can pass down to her daughter. You can either buy a doll with its history already created or you can create a doll that looks like the person you are buying it for. They are on the expensive side, costing almost $100 for the doll not counting the different outfits and accessories you can get her.

THE DOLLS:
ADDY. Addy is a little girl that is enslaved on a plantation in 1864. She and her mother work on escaping to Philadelphia but have to leave Addy’s baby sister behind because she could cause too much noise. Her father and brother have already been sold and it is hard for her to leave her sister behind. Her goal is to reunite her family.

FELICITY and ELIZABETH. Felicity and Elizabeth are best friends that live during the time of the American Revolution. It starts in 1774 and Felicity believes that the colonies should be free of English rule. Elizabeth and Felicity’s grandfather believe that the colonies should stay under the king’s rule. Each story builds on the friendship between these two girls.

JOSEFINA. Josefina lives in New Mexico in 1824 and has lost her mama. Her mama’s sister Tia Dolores moves in with them to help with Josefina. Tia Dolores wants to teach Josefina how to read and wants to start a business but Josefina worries that is will make her forget her mother.

KAYA. Kaya is a Nez Perce girl that grows up during 1764 and hates her nickname Magpie. She is trying to improve herself by working with Swan Circling, a bold warrior woman. She needs to prove she is trustworthy after her twin brothers wandered off while in her care.

KIRSTEN. Kirsten leaves everything she knows to come to the new world in 1854. They settle in the Minnesota frontier to live. The people are so different to her. They speak a different language, wear different clothes and don’t understand the traditions that mean so much to her.

KIT. Kit is growing up in 1934 during the Great Depression. Her father lost his business overnight and she is worried that the family will lose their home next. Kit’s favorite thing to do is write and she will sit in front of her typewriting and fight the Great Depression with words.

MOLLY and EMILY. Molly is growing up during World War II and she is tired of the war and just wants her dad home. She opens her home to a war-torn girl, Emily, to help her out. She learns to work on pulling together to survive the war.

SAMANTHA and NELLIE. Samantha is an orphan being raised by her wealthy grandmother in 1904. Samantha’s best friend in Nellie, a servant girl. While Samantha tries to become a proper lady, she sees that not everyone has it as easy as her and she is trying to figure out how everything works.

American Girl dolls are a way for young girls to connect with the history of our country and to learn more about the past in a fun way. They have a wide range of items to choose from and they even have clothes that match the dolls for the young girls who own them. Even though expensive it is a quality gift for any young girl.

Best ways to do chores

2007-04-14T10:41:00.001-04:00

Many households do chores differently and I don't think there is a correct way to do them. I have found some tips that have helped me over the years and I will relay them here for you.

It is helpful to start at the top of the house and work your way down. This is two-fold. The first being that if you are dusting and vacuuming upstairs then any dust will fall downstairs. The second part is if you have clothes or dishes upstairs and you take them down to your clean kitchen you are going to have to clean the kitchen again.

It will help to dust the house on a daily basis and polish once a week. This will keep down on the dust in the house and help to stop sneezing and allergies. A hint for this one, get one of those feather dusters and have your kids do it, small kids especially like to play with it.

The same applies to vacuuming and sweeping on a daily basis and mopping once a week. It will help cut down on the dust and if you have pets, the hair.

I clean my kitchen twice a day. First in the morning after everyone leaves and then again after dinner. This is helpful to keep down the effects of germs in the house. I have found those bleach wipes to be fantastic in the kitchen. After I wash my counters and appliances down, I then take these and wipe them down again.
I empty the trash in the bathrooms once a week and I wipe down the toilet with the bleach wipes once a week. I found that putting comet into the toilet cleans it better than any other product I have tried.

There are many different things you can do to keep yourself organized and on track with doing chores. If you don't have a lot of time during the day because you work outside the house, then do one chore a night. It will help cut down on the large cleaning to do on the weekends. If you have children, get them to help you. They helped make the mess, teach them how to clean it up. It will help them in the long run. Cleaning a house is about keeping it organized and if you set yourself up on a schedule then it won't be as hard. Make a large list of everything you have to do on a weekly basis to clean the house and then figure out what you can do each day. Don't overwhelm yourself because then you will be less likely to do it. After you do one deep cleaning then it will be easier to keep up with the rest of the chores on a daily basis.

Should you Follow your Boss to a New Job

2007-04-12T21:01:00.001-04:00

Following your boss to a new job is not an easy decision. It should be something that you think long and hard about before you make your decision. There are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you decide you would like to follow him. Is he moving to another position within the same company? Is he doing well in his chosen career? Do you enjoy working for him?

Is he moving to another position within the same company? This is an important question because you need to determine if the benefits and vacation you have accumulated are worth giving up if he is leaving the company and will you be compensated for the loss of those benefits if you do leave with him. If he is moving within the same company, how will you job change? Are you qualified to handle the new work that you will be receiving? Will you receive a pay raise or is it a lateral move? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before you commit to a move.

Is he doing well in his chosen career? Is he moving because he was about to get fired? Does he want you to go with him because he can’t do his job well on his own and wants you there to help him with his job? Is he recognized for the work he does and is the recognition good report? If the company was getting ready to fire him, then it is probably not a good idea to follow him to a new job. If he wants you to follow him because he can’t do the job on his own then very likely he will have you do his job and he will get the credit. You need to consider all aspects of the job offer and try and figure out his motivation in wanting you to go with him to be able to make a good decision.

Do you enjoy working for him? This is the most important question of moving with him to a new job. If you don’t like working for him then switching jobs with him will not improve your work environment. If you do enjoy working for him, then that is a positive reason to move with him. But remember if you don’t like working for him, just because he has a new job doesn’t mean his personality will change or his work ethic.

Choosing to follow your boss when he is starting a new job is not an easy decision. It is something you need to think about and if you are married, you need to discuss the situation with your spouse or significant other. It is a decision that can change your life. If you make the wrong decision you could be looking for a new job in a short period of time. If you know the person who will be replacing him then you need to take into consideration if you would like working for that person also. If you do decide to follow your boss, remember that you will be going into a new position and even if it has the same title you will very likely have different responsibilities. Most of all relax and think it out. You will know if you have made the right decision.

Reflections: Remembering the 2006 World Series

2007-04-11T12:43:00.001-04:00

We watched all season with anticipation. They had been the worst team a few years ago with the worst record of any team ever in the history of baseball, but now they were at the World Series. The television was on and we were watching it because we lived across the country but we still had high hopes that the Detroit Tigers were going to win the World Series. They had twelve straight losing seasons but finally some young talent was filling the Tigers with enthusiasm.

They lost the first game to the Yankees and came back to win the rest and moved onto Oakland and swept them away but now they were fighting against the St. Louis Cardinals. They made it into 5 games against the Cardinals but then they folded like a stack of cards. The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series.

While we didn’t walk away from the television that day jumping up and down for joy and high-fiving our friends and neighbors we also didn’t walk away with our heads hung low or our lips pouting in sadness. The Detroit Tigers had made it to the World Series against all odds and we were proud of them. And as all baseball and all sport fans know, there is always next year. When the Tigers make the World Series in 2007, I will be sitting either in front of the television watching the game or just maybe at Comerica Park rooting in my Tigers.

Tips for Unclogging a Sink

2007-04-11T12:25:00.000-04:00

The first thing you need to decide when unclogging a sink is if you are going to use chemicals to handle it or try to handle it without the use of chemicals. If it is a normal clog, like hair , then a chemical will work to remove the clog, but if it is something else stuck down the drain then you will need use a different method to remove the clog.

If you are going to use a chemical and the sink is clogged then you can more the bottle into the sink and follow the directions on the bottle. If it is a slow drain then fill the sink up with water, do not close the drain and then pour in the chemical. Follow the direction on the bottle and wait to see if the clog is cleared. If it is, congratulations, if it is not then we will go to the next step.

If chemicals didn’t work to unclog your sink or you opted not to use them, then we are on the next step. Depending on what type of drain you have, underneath the sink the drain is hooked up to a latch to close the sink. You need to disconnect this latch and lift the drain plug out of the sink. This will allow you to get into the sink to clean it out. You will need to have a plastic bag handy to throw your mess away into. Look down the drain and see if there is anything you can pull out. Just a reminder you also might want to wear plastic gloves to clean out the drain. You can then take a snake (a tool you can buy at your local hardware store that goes down drains and pushes the debris out in front of it) and push it down the drain. Normally this will take care of your problem, but be careful that you don’t push too hard when you are using the snake as you could break a pipe. If you hit a spot where the snake doesn’t want to continue then you might have to take the pipe apart to clean out the debris.

When you have to take pipes apart, you will need an old bowl to catch any water drippage so that you don’t soak your floor. Place the bowl underneath the pipe you are going to take apart, then undo the piece holding the pipes together. Remember it is righty tighty and lefty loosy. Once you have loosened the pipe slowly take it out over the bowl and set it into the bowl. You will have water coming out. Look into the pipe and clean out any debris you find. If it is clear make sure you look in the other direction and make sure it is clear. Then put the pipe back together, tightening the connection. Once you have determined the pipe is back together securely then turn the water on to see if it flows freely.

If it works then congratulations on a job well done, but if it doesn’t I would recommend you call a plumber because the clog could be further along in the pipes under the house. Also don’t forget to reconnect the drain plug to the hook under the sink. Otherwise your drain will not work.

How Good Leaders Listen

2007-04-11T12:24:00.002-04:00

Good leaders are effective listeners and to be an effective listener you need to give your full attention to the person talking. This means that you need to shut your office door, if you have a secretary let him or her know that you aren’t available, send your phone to voice mail and most important shut off your computer monitor. By doing these things you are able to give the person you are listening to your full attention and won’t be distracted by outside interference. It will make the person feel like they matter and aren’t just someone collecting a paycheck but someone who is a vital part of a team.

By shutting your office door you are stopping people from dropping in on you for a moment. Many people do not understand that when someone is in your office it might not be the best time to find out if you are available for lunch or for a quick question. The person in your office deserves your attention and shouldn’t have your attention divided between them and the person who just stops in for a moment.

If you let you secretary know that you aren’t available, he or she will be able to stop anyone from interrupting you. A good secretary will intercept people who want to stop in for a second. They will be able to redirect people to someone else who may be able to help them.

When you forward your phone to voice mail, they won’t even ring in your office so you won’t have to wonder who is calling. If you have a secretary you can forward the phones to her so that she can interrupt you if it is an emergency.

The most important part of eliminating distractions is to shut off your monitor, that way you won’t be distracted by incoming messages. If you leave your monitor on it is very easy to take a quick peek to see if it is important and this is distracting to the person who is trying to talk to you. You are in a meeting with them not your computer and email.

When you do sit down and listen to the person you are having a meeting with then you also need to make sure you maintain eye contact, be an active participant in the conversation so that the person knows you are listening, take notes if you need to and most of all actually listen to the person. One of the most important aspects of being a good leader is the ability to listen. If you don’t listen then you aren’t able to find out what is going on with different projects or problems that have arisen which will make you an ineffective manager and won’t even be classified as a leader.

Body Lotions that Soften the Skin without feeling Sticky or Greasy

2007-04-11T12:24:00.001-04:00

Many people suffer from dried skin and they try different products that are available, but the problem with most products on the market is that they are petroleum based. The reason that these types of products don’t work well is because the molecules that make up petroleum are larger than the molecules of our bodies. So the lotion when applied stays on top of the skin instead of soaking into the skin to heal the dryness. This means that when you apply lotion to your hands, it is sitting on the surface of your skin, and when you wash your hands the lotion is removed.

There are products available that will help with softening your skin while not feeling sticky or greasy. One of these is called Melt. It is sugar based instead of petroleum based, which means the molecules of our skin and the lotion are similar and it can be absorbed into the skin instead of sitting on the surface. Once you apply the lotion, you don’t wash your hands for 15 minutes and then you don’t have to apply lotion for the rest of the day. It is important to note that you won’t need as much lotion with sugar based products as you do with petroleum based products.

There are lotions on the market that will help you to soften your skin, but it is up to you to find a product that will work well with your skin. Just because a product works well with your friend doesn’t mean it will work well with you. The best thing you can do is to try different products and find one that works well for you.

Big Savings can start with Small Investments

2007-04-11T12:23:00.001-04:00

You can’t imagine how setting aside five dollars a week will help you to prepare for retirement, but it does. You review your budget trying to find the 10% that the experts tell you that you are supposed to put aside for investments but you can’t find it. No matter how hard you look it is elusive. This is the time that you have to determine if you have the discipline and self-control to save money. You might think that it is impossible to take aside a couple of dollars a week or even a month but it is worth it for you to try.

Most of the self-help books will tell you that you need to put aside ten percent each pay day to your retirement account, but some people do not have the money to put aside one percent let alone ten percent. But you need to take what ever amount you can afford and set it aside, if you do this you will be able to retire in comfort. Once you make a habit of setting aside the money then it will become easier. Once it becomes easier then it will be a habit that you will have for life and the earlier you start this habit the better off you will be.

Even if you are only able to set aside five dollars a week, that still amounts to $260 a year, which when you add interest to it becomes a nice nest egg for you when you retire. You should look for an account that offers a nice percentage rate and look at the interest rate a bank offers before you choose to put your money into their account. Many banks now offer less than one percent interest on your money, but if you are diligent and research into the different options you have available you should be able to find a bank with a savings account that has an acceptable interest rate for your money.

If you are able to afford more than five dollars a week then you will be able to have a large nest age, but the important thing to remember is that you need to start saving. The later you start the harder it is and the money you have lost from not investing will be gone for good. So even if you can only afford five dollars a week, set it aside and put it to work for you, instead of you working for money.

Why Businesses seem to slow down in the Spring and Summer months

2007-04-11T12:21:00.000-04:00

It’s a beautiful spring or summer day and the sun is shining and you just don’t want to stay inside. You want to be out in this beautiful weather and enjoy it as much as you can. You think about having to do your grocery shopping or having to go buy a new suit for work, but just can build up any enthusiasm to go to the store. You don’t want to be inside a stuffy building, without windows to the outside world. You want to be able to enjoy the warm spring day and let the sun heat your skin on a nice summer day.

This is one of the reasons that business slow down during the spring and summer months. People don’t want to be inside, they want to go for a hike or spend the day at the beach. They look at spring and summer and a brief reprieve from the cold of winter and don’t want to waste the time they have by shopping. Open air markets will do better than closed in stores because the person gets to stay outside and enjoy the warm air, but even then they would prefer to be out doing something versus being cooped up inside.

Another reason is that during the summer when it is at its warmest, many people do not like to venture out of their air conditioned home. They don’t like the feeling of sweating and decide that the shopping they need to do can wait until it cools off a little bit. They will rationalize why they don’t need to go out like it would take too much energy or they could get sick going from cold to hot and back to cold again. Even with all the excuses they can think up, the main reason is that they don’t want to go out into the heat to just go to a store. This is when more people will order items online so they don’t have to go to the store.

The businesses that cater to the outdoor enthusiast will not slow down as much as other stores because the people will be frequenting the stores that will help them to be able to stay outside longer. They will visit the nurseries, sporting good stores, and services that offer outdoor recreation like canoeing and hiking. Spring and summer are the times of warming up your soul. It will help you reenergize yourself to get through the next winter so that you can start again. Enjoy the spring and summer and don’t worry about shopping, it will be there when summer is over.

Finding Happiness in a slow Career Path

2007-04-11T12:20:00.002-04:00

When I first started out in the work force, I believed I needed to work hard to be able to succeed in anything I did. I thought that I had to push and push to get where I thought I needed to be. As I moved forward in my career I realized that this type of mentality wasn’t for me. There are people out in the work force that can do well in a nose to the grindstone type of career, always striving to do better than the next person, but I realized I wasn’t this type of person. I enjoy working and having a challenging job, but I am not the type to push other people out of my way just to get to the top.

For people who choose a slow career path, they have to have self-confidence and not feel intimidated by other people. They have to understand their place in the work force and know in their ability to do their job. Otherwise, they will start to feel dissatisfied and believe that they aren’t being noticed so they aren’t getting the promotion they think they deserve.

I worked as a secretary for many years and enjoyed working with my boss and received one promotion while I was working for the company. This doesn’t mean I wasn’t good at my job; I helped out the president of the company and the CFO. I had been offered other positions within the company, but I enjoyed the work I did and I did it very well and because of this I chose not to be promoted. I enjoyed my slow career path. I received my promotion and if I would have stayed in the town, I would have stayed with my boss. To be able to handle the lack of promotions I had to have confidence in my abilities to do not only the job, but others work as well.

This is something you have to think of if you are going to take the slow career path; you have to understand your place in the company and why you are on the path you are on. Is it because of your choice or the companies? Either one doesn’t matter, it just matters that you understand the dynamics of the company and how their promotion system works. If you can understand that and don’t want to be on the slow career path, then learn how it works so that you can apply it to your career. But if it is the path you want to be on, enjoy your job and do it to the best of your ability, because until you enjoy your job, you will not be happy in any job you have.

Natural Remedies for Springtime Allergies

2007-04-11T12:20:00.001-04:00

Spring is in the air, the birds are chirping and the winds of March blowing, which means the flowers are starting to bloom, the trees are budding and your allergies are playing havoc with your life. You want to be able to go work in your garden or even just sit on your deck and enjoy the day, but how can you do this with your allergies bothering you?

You can wear a mask when you go outside, but then how will you enjoy the smell that means it is spring. This method does work if you want to be outside and enjoy the warm breeze and watch the birds flying around and building their nests. Unfortunately, this takes away from the smell of fresh cut grass, the heady smell of roses blooming and the clean smell that arrives with spring.

Another thing you can do is stay inside during the worst of it and go outside for limited periods of time. This will help you to cut down on the symptoms you are having but you won’t be able to enjoy spring to its fullest.

One of the best remedies I have found for allergies that are caused by pollen in the air is to find a beekeeper in your area and buy some of the honey that is made from local bees. If you eat the honey that is produced in your local area, your body will develop a natural immunity to the pollens and irritants that cause your allergies. The first year you start eating the honey your allergies will lessen but not completely disappear, but the following years, as long as you continue to eat the honey, will almost completely be eliminated. This is because your body will develop a natural immunity which will help you to enjoy your nice spring day without sneezing.

Spring is a time of renewal and it is one of the most important seasons for people. It helps them to be revitalized, get the creative juices flowing and feel reborn. There is something about smelling the air on a warm spring morning that will wake you up faster than any caffeinated drink ever could. Enjoy spring, it only comes once a year and there is nothing like sitting on your deck while the birds are flying and chirping overhead and the wildflowers are gently swaying in the breeze.

How to Caulk a Bathtub

2007-04-11T12:19:00.001-04:00

There are a few different reasons why you would need to caulk a bathtub from installing a new unit to having to replace the old unit. There could be mildew and mold buildup that you can’t remove or it could be separating from the wall or becoming discolored. Whatever the reason there are times you will need to caulk a bathtub and as we all know the easiest way to do this is to hire someone else to handle the situation, but if that isn’t feasible here are a few steps to help you with your endeavor.

If you are installing a new unit, then caulking is easy. You will need to go to a hardware store and buy caulking and a caulk gun, but you need to ensure that you buy caulk that is specific for bathtubs because it needs to be waterproof. If you aren’t sure of the product you need then talk to one of the people at the hardware store and they will be able to assist you. The local hardware store might also offer classes in how to caulk and looking into this could make the job easier for you.

If you aren’t replacing the unit in your bathroom or installing a new unit then you will need to take care of the caulk currently there before replacing it. You will need to wear rubber gloves especially if you are removing moldy or mildewed caulk. If it is in this condition then you might also want to wear a mask so that you don’t inhale any of the mold or mildew. If the caulking has started to pull up you can start pulling it up, but if it hasn’t then you can use a razor blade to help you remove it from the bathtub. Once you have removed it and thrown it away, you might want to clean your bathtub before you caulk it to ensure that there isn’t any dust or grime where you are going to put the new caulk. This will help make the new caulking not become discolored.

You are now home with your caulk and caulking gun but don’t have any idea what to do next. You load the caulk into the caulking gun and you can follow the directions on the bottle of caulking. Once you have opened the caulk then with a steady hand place an even bead around the tub replacing where the old caulk was located. Make sure you have gotten a good layer around the tub to ensure it is waterproof so that you don’t have any leaking which could cause dry rot. Let the caulk dry per the directions on the container which is normally at least 24 hours. Then you may enjoy your tub to your heart’s content.

Essential Furniture for your Media Room

2007-04-11T12:18:00.002-04:00

A media room is a place to go and enjoy media like movies, television, games and music. As such you need to decide in what aspect you are going to enjoy your media room. Is it going to be strictly for movies or are you going to allow television and games to be played also. Once you have determined what type of media you are going to allow in the room then you need to decide what type of room you are going to create. Are you going to create a dedicated room that is only for media or are you going to use your existing family room? Once you have decided on the space for the room then you can determine what you need to put in it which includes seating, video equipment, audio equipment, and accessories.

SEATING
The seating will depend on what type of room you decided on. If you are going to do a dedicated room then it would probably work best with theater chairs. These come in a wide range of styles from love seats to individual recliners. They can be the traditional upright chairs that are like the ones at a movie theater or they can be deluxe recliners that move with different aspects of the movie. If you are going with your existing family room then you will want seating that create a warmer environment like couches and love seats with a couple of chairs. This will help you have a room that can be used for more than just media; a place where you can entertain guests and family.

VIDEO EQUIPMENT
You have a couple of options for your video equipment. If you want to do a full fledged media room then you will need to buy a screen and a projector, but if you prefer you can buy a television and install it instead. Another product you can buy for your media room is a computer to hold all of your movies and music, that way you can select the movie or music by the touch of a button and don’t have to worry about the children losing or scratching the DVDs or CDs.

AUDIO EQUIPMENT
The audio equipment you are going to need will be speakers, a receiver, subwoofer and possibly an amplifier. For the speakers you will need to decide if you are going to go with surround sound or just front speakers. If you are going to go with surround sound then you need to determine how much surround sound you want from 5:1 to 7:2 and depending on which one you choose will help you determine which receiver you choose because it has to support your surround sound. You might also like to purchase a CD holder so you can put all of your CDs together and not have to worry about losing them.
ACCESSORIES
With the accessories you have quite a few options open from a touch screen to a popcorn machine. The accessories is where you will have to determine what type of lighting you would like, which could include simple table lamps or elaborate sconces for the walls. If you decide to go with a touch screen then you will need to research how elaborate of a touch screen you would like because it can control everything from your movie collection to the lights and security system. You will also need to decide if you are going to allow food into your media room and if you are then you can look at popcorn machines to give it a more authentic look. Another product you can buy for your room are movie posters to frame and light to accentuate your room.

Media rooms are a fun and fascinating room to design. It can be a simple and low budget project or an elaborate and expensive one; it is up to you to decide. The best part of them is to have fun, it will provide hours of entertainment for your family, friends and even your children’s friends. The best thing you can do is figure out your budget and design your room around the budget. Have Fun!

Buying a Birdbath

2007-04-11T12:18:00.001-04:00

The first thing you want to do is run out and buy a beautiful elaborate birdbath, but the problem comes when you look at your yard. There are a few things to consider before buying a birdbath. It isn’t an accent for your yard that you need to concern yourself with, but the way it will look in your yard.

Climate. Does the climate that you live in support having a birdbath? If you live in a desert climate then it probably isn’t a good idea to have one. The water will evaporate quickly and you will have to refill it continually. IT will also get filled with dust from the air which will make it so you have to change the water out frequently.

Bugs. Ever region has different insects, but you need to find out how they react around a water source. One of the problems you could have would be mosquitoes and the West Nile virus that has become prevalent in the last few years. The water from birdbaths also attracts bees and depending on what area of the world you live in some of the bees can be extremely harmful.

Lot size. Some lots are not conducive to a birdbath. If you have a small lot then the birdbath could completely overwhelm your space and it would detract from the beauty of your yard. Also if you have a large yard and put in a small birdbath, it will make the birdbath look even smaller.

There are many things to consider before you rush out and by your birdbath. You need to measure you yard and determine what size if any would work best for you. Birdbaths can be a beautiful accent to your yard or it can be an ugly eyesore. It is up to you how you want your yard portrayed. Find a birdbath that will fit in with your lifestyle and yard and it will satisfy you for many years.