Virtual Friends Are Just As True

There are so many wonderful bloggers across the internet. It’s this wonderful medium of self-expression that has truly revolutionized our society.

And I wish I could visit them all.

I have a special virtual friend though. Shirley from Behind the Lens and I both have a photographer’s disposition and I’m pretty sure we are both tech geeks.

She also has become my facebook friend and encouraged me in my new found commitment to getting into shape. In a moment of temporary insanity, I signed up for a “Hellish” 5k in the spring. It’s an obstacle course, with repelling walls and fire pits. I still am not quite sure why I did it – but there it is. It’s playing havoc with my emotional stability. I’m really worried about it. So now I’m running outside in the cold and the snow. Thank goodness for virtual encouragement.

I digress.

Shirley just awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award. I’m so honored.

In return I am to tell 8 things about myself and pass along the award to 8 other bloggers.

I won’t do the former but I will pass this award to a few other bloggers.

Mrs E. of Easy Street – I “met” Mrs. E a few years ago and I enjoy visiting her. Her school was just rebuilt after a natural disaster leveled her town. Her daughter just got married and she’s got a dog named Baxter. Do you find it odd that I know so much about her?

Katie of Can’t Get There From Here – Katie is a wonderful writer. Good writers are also readers and Katie loves all kinds of books. And she loves football too:)

Artemis Clover of A Real LA Love Story – another kindred spirit of sorts. She’s also a very compelling writer and I want to take this opportunity to say – Marry him Artemis! Marry him!

Austin-Lee of Bunches of Barrons – she’s got a great photographic eye. And her kids are just adorable.

I visit a plethora of photographers and they are all fantastic, from the wonderful Marcie Scudder to the irrepressible Bob Towery as well as all of the wonderful ladies at Vision and Verb. There are so many great photographers out there. Thank goodness for this miracle of the internet.

Update: How can I miss the wonderful Char at ramblings . . . ? Sometimes I want to just get in her head.

Alright I’ll tell you ONE thing about myself.

I like violent shoot-em-up movies. It’s all I watch when the husband is away on his trips because he will change the channel while he’s home.

There you go!

Today Is Love Thursday, Love146

Today is Love Thursday.

My co-worker Miss Jackie sent me this link and I cannot stop looking at it and thinking about it.

It is Love146 and it’s pure heart break.

Their mission? The abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation. Nothing less.

It’s an incredible mission for your life, yes?

I have poured over their site and it leaves me feeling somewhat raw and helpless. I admire their courage. I think that all I can do is this.

I will purchase these love cards today.

And then I’ll go home and hug my children.

How about you?

And The Results Are . . .

I asked the husband to choose a number between 1 and 3. It took him a long time to answer me. I could tell he was fighting the urge to ask me why and I wasn’t forthcoming. It was an easy question.

It was actually quite funny to watch.

He finally chose – 1! So the Beautiful Ann who looks 20 years younger than her chronological age wins the Mary Kay make-up remover! Thanks for the donation Lonnie. I think Maryland is as cold as the North Pole right now.

And guess who won the coveted horse’s butt trophy for the best soup last weekend? I obviously need to eat more soup and less spaghetti . . .

Now I just have to find a place to put it so as to showcase its true meaning. I now have the honor of coming up with the next food challenge as well as hosting it as my house.

The boy wants a mac-n-cheese challenge. I may just take a poll . . .

My Mary Kay Lady Lives In The North Pole ~ Giveaway

I have a friend who sells Mary Kay. She lives in North Pole, Alaska. I live in Maryland. We met in Arizona about 14 years ago.

Because I have a friend who sells Mary Kay and lives in the North Pole, I’m giving away this Mary Kay eye makeup remover.

You can consider the rest of this post a disclaimer:

Because I have a friend who sells Mary Kay and lives in the North Pole, I will occasionally use Mary Kay. I am not a Mary Kay distributor and I am not an exclusive user of Mary Kay products. I do not receive any compensation, rectification, or reciprocity from Mary Kay. I do not know Mary Kay and I do not have a pink Mary Kay car.

However, when I find a great product, I crow about it. And this eye makeup remover is just plain great.

When I placed my latest order (which happens about twice a year) with Lonnie, my Mary Kay lady who lives in the North Pole, I asked if she would give me a free eye makeup remover in place of the bonus gift to give away on this blog.

She agreed, she’s a doll.

I have tried many different types of makeup remover products, including Clinique, Neutrogena, CVS and a variety of others and hands down, this is the best. It’s not greasy, like baby oil. It doesn’t sting and unlike some makeup removers, your makeup will come off in one application. It leaves my eyes soft like I just moisturized them, which is wonderful because too much tugging at the eyes equals wrinkles.

I don’t always get makeup readily (because Lonnie lives in the North Pole) and I’m loyal to her and no other Mary Kay lady, so I will run out of some things because I’m a bad makeup planner. I am intimidated by the ladies at the makeup counter at Macy’s – I feel like a fish out of water.  I travel to Walmart and I stand and stare at the myriad of cosmetic offers and I start to shake. Oh the pressure.

So I fall back on the old standby.

If you would like me to send this makeup remover to you, tell me what kind of makeup you use in the comments and it may be yours. I don’t have any other interest other than I’m just curious. Maybe some of you will have a great makeup tip for me. Or if there is something that you use that you really like, please share it. I want to know!

And of course, if I pick your name, this fantastic makeup remover is yours:) Giveaway ends next Monday.

Leave me a comment please!

Thoughts On The Winter Classic

The Winter Classic is a yearly hockey game between two teams in the National Hockey League that takes place on New Year’s Day. We watched it as a family yesterday. LCAT Daniel was over to watch as well but I’m not sure if he’s a hockey fan. He slept through most of it.

We started following hockey over the last several years because our darling neighbor, Neighbor Doug, is the equipment manager for the Anaheim Ducks. Before that, I had no idea what hockey was.

We attended two hockey games in two weeks in December. The girl has developed an affinity for Sydney Crosby, the star player for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ever since her field hockey experience last fall, she has been a hockey fanatic. I guess Jason Dunn of Hawk Nelson is merely a memory.

That looks like it hurt!

Last Wednesday, we took the trip to my Alma Mater for the boy’s first ever college tour and it just so happens that the feeder team for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Wilkes-Barre Penguins, were playing that same day. We had to go of course.

Ouch! Over the wall he goes!

I know all this talk of hockey can be boring. Are you still awake? Hello? Stay with me, I have a point.

That’s not very nice…

So we’re watching the Winter Classic and of course a fight broke out.

I’m starting to think that this Festerline guy is a bully.

Intermission.

I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.

Play nicely now!

Hockey has a reputation for fighting and I started wondering why. Why would such barbarism be condoned? The referees seem to turn the other cheek and only intervene when it gets out of hand.

I don’t understand it.

So of course we looked it up on Wikipedia. It actually has a posting for “Fighting in Hockey.” Here’s the link.

Intermission.

It was explained to me like this. Hockey is fast paced and highly physical. Players must maintain control over their actions but since they are on the ice, momentum can sometimes take over.

Which explains the checks into the wall. I actually don’t mind that. I see that it’s difficult to stop in skates.

Since it’s so exhausting, the line changes quite often to give players a rest. And since it’s so intense, the players can get really angry when they are checked or pushed.

And they fight.

Fighting is condoned to release their aggression so that they don’t suppress their anger and cause more damage to each other later on. In a strange way, it’s a deterrence.

Makes sense to me. Sort of.

I am becoming a hockey fan too. I think the sport is beautiful. It takes such skill, such finesse, such mastery. I can watch it without the fights and I would be perfectly alright. I don’t like watching two guys take their gloves and helmets off and hit each other while the referees watch. Even the girl was yelling “Fight, Fight!” I feel like we’re in a Roman coliseum. It’s barbaric. I was literally squirming in my seat.

But I think I’m in the minority.

These photos were taken at the Wilkes-Barre Penguins/Syracuse Crunch game on December 29th. It was a great game and so much fun. We were up close and personal, ten rows up. It was a blast.

There was legal checking and some emotion but no gratuitous fighting. It’s the way it should be. I read that most hockey fans do not want fighting to be banned. I thought as much.

Last night hockey. Today football. I think I may have to read an Oprah magazine when it’s all over and done with.

P.S. The Penguins fell to the Washington Capitals last night, 3 – 1. The girl is devastated.

Sometimes You Win – Sometimes You Don’t, A Shoe Story

I don’t know what has come over me this past holiday season. I am by no means a fashionista, and one look in my closet will attest to that. Which probably explains why I have so many fashion misses. But I keep trying, hoping to get lucky sometime.

Take these shoes for example. I wanted a new pair of shoes to wear for Christmas Eve. I was going to spend the evening at church so I’m not sure why I was obsessing so much. We planned on going to a Christmas party afterward but never made it. It was because my feet were killing me.

Only half kidding.

This tale of the Christmas Eve-shoes-gone-bad started with this shopping trip a week ago. Look at my poor boy, shopping’s not his favorite thing. And on top of that, he’s holding Miss Alicia’s Victoria Secrets shopping bag.

Miss Jackie, who by the way has incredible fashion sense, found the shoes I bought. She really liked them. And she reminded me that we wear the same size. I can’t in good conscience torture her by giving them to her though.

The shoes are gorgeous. They have a little ruffle on the front. They are a beautiful suede and the heel was not too high. They also had a really sexy silhouette. They looked great in the store. And they were $40. Sold!

Fast forward to Christmas Eve night at church. I had black tights on with my sparkly mini-skirt (yes, it’s true), my foot kept slipping out of the shoe. As I came off of carpet (like in the store) and started walking on stone or cement – well forgettabout it. I couldn’t keep them on for anything. I looked like a penguin walking down the hall.

I was at a Christmas party the week before and for some reason the conversation kept going to shoes. Everyone wanted to show me theirs. Neighbor Beth bought these the same day as the party

These shoes belong to Neighbor Kiaishia and I wish I had these on Christmas Eve. They look like they would actually stay on. And they are pretty sweet looking.

These are my shoes that I wore to the party but Neighbor Theresa’s absconded them. I didn’t want to wear these on Christmas Eve because I thought they were too high. I would have looked a little too glittery with my sparkly mini and these five inch sparkly heels. God may not have approved.

So another year of fashion misses. Oh well. I’m taking the Christmas Eve shoes back. Does anyone know if the mall is open on New Year’s day?

Now That’s A Positive Outlook!

It’s 2011.

And I am happy for a new beginning!

This new year is full of potential. And always hope that no matter how blessed you were the previous year, the expectation is more for the next.

So let’s have a roll in the grass to celebrate.

Or let’s not.

But Ella is certainly excited about this year! So am I.

Happy New Year!

Photos courtesy of the girl.

All About Santa

I shopped on Black Friday like millions of other Americans but I didn’t get up at 4 am to go. If I did, the husband and boy would not have gone with me. Instead, I went shopping at the late hour of 8:30 am. By then most people were already done and back in bed. I admit I was not feeling particularly festive. I was in a ho hum mood and it wasn’t until I came upon these Santas on display that I started feeling ho ho ho.

I was able to lose myself in the history of Santa Claus and it was such a fun display that I thought I’d share.

The above is the Russian Santa . . .

“Combining the elements of religion, history and folklore, the Ukrainian people gave us this special version of St. Nicholas. With the acceptance of Christianity in Kievan Rus in 988AD under the rule of Vladimir the Great, along came the customs and pageantry of all the holidays, including Christmas.

Through the centuries, Christianity spread north and eastward, into the surrounding lands which would eventually become Russia. By the 1800’s the Russian St Nicholas was a figure carrying the punishment of birch switches (yikes) as well as gifts, symbolized by a Christmas tree. We can see both punishment and reward are retained in this elegant figure.”

The Civil War Santa . . .

“In late 1863 and throughout 1864 the red, white, and blue motif was used in many unusual places in an effort to boost the moral and patriotic spirit in the war weary North. Both North and South used Santa to visit the troops and pass out propaganda material.”

St. Nicholas . . .

“In many lands, Santa Claus is also known as St. Nicholas. Over 1650 years ago, St. Nicholas was Bishop of Myra, a town in Asia Minor which is now a part of Turkey. He was called the “Boy Bishop” because he was so young for having such an important position. St. Nicholas because so famous for his kindness and goodness in helping others that people made statues of him and painted his picture on church windows all over Europe. Now he is remembered in many countries by lots of names, including Sankt Nikolaus, Father Christmas, Pere Noel, Kriss Kringle, Santa Klass and Santa Claus.”

Kris Kringle . . .

“Kris Kringle means “Christ Child” in German and was originally applied to the Holy Infant who was thought to bring gifts on Christmas Eve. Gradually, it evolved into an angelic helper who brought the presents.

The figure carries a tiny Christmas tree. The household knew he had been there by the ringing of the bell when the presents were all in place under the Christmas tree. He is expected each year the by people of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and by the Pennsylvania Dutch in America.”

“Today’s Santa looks like a happy granddad. He lives in the North Pole and has lots of elf helpers who work in his toy factory. He keeps a check on whether or not children have been naughty or good so he can keep track of what to do when they ask him for presents. On Christmas Eve, Santa fills his sleigh with presents and, pulled by tiny reindeer, he delivers presents around the world. On Christmas morning he enjoys a well-earned rest while Mrs. Claus takes care of him. And then, he starts working on the next year.”

Then . . . I spied the real Santa.

He saw me too and he waved! This must mean I must have been a good girl and will get lots and lots of presents this year!

You Guessed It! And The Winner Is . . .

Lisa of goodknits.com! The answer of course is Mt. Shasta.  Congratulations Lisa! You not only knit like a professional but your photos, oh my goodness gracious they are beautiful.

Since there were only six entries, I asked the boy to pick a number between 1 and 6 and he said 7. I should have expected nothing less. Anyway, you won on the redo.

Congratulations on winning this beautiful Martha Stewart chick dish from my basement.You can put gravy in it and put it in the oven. What can be better? I hope you enjoy it.

I’m going to revisit my knitting this winter. If it’s not too uncomfortable, send me an email and let me know what your snail mail is and I’ll send it tout suite!

What’s Out Your Window #4 ~ Giveaway

I am so remiss in posting this giveaway. I impulsively posted the above photo last Wednesday and asked that you guess what it was. Well you can still guess on this post.

Some hints:
1. It’s a mountain.
2. It’s not Mount St. Helen.
3. It’s not Mount Hood (sorry Charlane.)
4. It’s not Munt McKinley (sorry Barb.)
5. It’s a big mountain.
6. It’s in California.
7. It starts with “Sh.”

If you guess correctly, you will be entered to win this . . .

A Martha Stewart Chicken Dish.

I think it’s really cute.

Though I didn’t take a photo of it with it open, you can put jelly beans etc inside of it. The real beauty is that you can also put it in the oven and cook something in it.

That Martha is so smart. Imagine serving your favorite side dish in this for Thanksgiving dinner! Your family will be impressed.

I am a big Martha fan. I really admire her. She is much more than just a Diva of the Home. She’s a business woman, a creative woman, and an accomplished woman.

It was a travesty that all that energy and resources were put into jailing her for her insider trading indictment. Compared to all the other egregious trading practices out there, I say it was an injustice.

This dish was never used and you guessed it; it’s from my basement. Anyway, you can win the chicken if you guess correctly. Just leave a comment, a guess or whatever.

Here’s a few more hints.

8. Its name starts with “Sh” and ends with “a.”
9. Don’t feel badly if you don’t know off the top of your head. I never heard of it until the husband told me.

I’ll leave this up for a week or so. As I’m cleaning out my basement, your comments here may be my only fun for the next six months.

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