HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and to all those people who are unable to spend today with the ones they love. Whether it is because of distance, work, sickness, not having the funds, or because you are fighting in a war....you are in my thoughts on this, a day full of love and thanks.

In the words of Linus: In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast. They invited the great Indian chief Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food. Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests. Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this: 'We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land. We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."

Oh that Linus...always a smart cookie he is!

And on a side note: remember to keep the holiday spirit in mind when you are out tomorrow shopping!

Did You Know....

Leave it to Terry to be full of crazy amounts of random knowledge.

For instance, we were watching TV when out of no where Terry tells me the following piece of information:

T: "Did you know that a Rhinoceros's horn is not bone?"
M: "No, what is it then?"
T: "Just a large ingrown hair. Well it is really just the same material that makes up hair."
M: Just laughing at the randomness
T: "Yeah, fish scales are made of the same stuff. Alot of animals have stuff made out of Keratin."

So I googled and yes he is right (like flipp'n always).

The horns of a rhinoceros are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails.

I just felt I should not be the only person who hears this random piece of information today.

Steamed Milk, Greek Villa, White Flour, Alabaster, Eggshell, Pure White, Aracade....What Happened to Just White?!

Why are there SO many different choices of white?!?!

I just want a nice, not too bright, white color but I seem to be having trouble just finding a plain white!

This decision is hurting my head.

Reason # 268 Why I Love My Sister...

.....she still lets me play dress up with her!

Since Kristen has decided that school is FAR more important then blogging (as if) I decided to share a bonding moment we had together last week...plus I am sure you all miss her, so hope this helps :) She went out last Monday for 80's night and I got to dress her up. I am not ashamed to admit that I provided her with about 90% of her outfit straight from my closet, informed her what "pegging" your pants is, and did her hair and make-up...80's style! Like totally awesome! Here are some pictures. Yes, I made her pose for about 15 pictures.

Pegging & Jellies - heck yeah

Lists, Lists, & More Lists

So I think pretty much everyone knows my love for lists, but this time of year my list making reaches all-time highs and is crucial for me to function on a daily basis. Right about now (especially after the craziness of the past few months) my brain is just fried. I forget to do things like my laundry or buy food regularly, I forget where I put things, and I forget all I want to do over the course of a week or even a day! If I don’t have these lists it is like I can not function at all…..I just come home and things are a mental blur.

My current lists are as follows (these are not mental lists but actual physical lists I keep with me):

- A general list….this is an ongoing list that I add things to as I think of them and remove things as I complete them. It is sort of like a general reminder list that helps me move things to their appropriate lists.
- Christmas gift list. One stress this year is the lack of shopping we have done for people. I like to be done and wrapped by thanksgiving…ain’t happening this year. Currently this list consists of everyone’s names and a bunch of blank spaces next to them.
- Christmas card list. (if we have time this year – boo)
- Christmas party invite list.
- Christmas party menu & ingredient list.
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day events…..this is currently just a brainstorming list.
- Christmas Cookie list & ingredient list.
- To do around the house before December 12, 2008, list.
- Bills to Pay list
- A list of all my lists, list (kidding)

I LOVE this time of year but I also try to not get caught up in the hullabaloo of the holidays and forget what this time of year is really about. These lists sound like a lot, but really do keep me sane.

What keeps you sane during the holidays?

Me: Lists, Hot Chocolate and Christmas music keep me sane (er).

I Heart Music

So as I mentioned I went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll honors concert for Les Paul this weekend in Cleveland.

All I have to say is that the concert was AWESOME! I loved it. (See who played here.) Just so many fantastic guitarists and of course to be able to see Les Paul himself, at 93 years young, playing his guitar, sharing stories and making jokes was a once and a lifetime experience that I am SO happy I got to see. I love that I was brought up in a house that loves music as much as ours.

Also, it was announced that this years Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will actually be in Cleveland – about time! It has always been in New York or some place OTHER then Cleveland…you know the place where the Hall of Fame IS! I want tickets.

updated: This is from many years ago...but I just LOVE the way Les Paul plays Somewhere over the Rainbow. He actually played it at the concert this weekend and it just made me smile!!!

Attention Holiday Shoppers....

I posted something about this last year, but as a reminder if you are one of those crazy...I mean brave (I kid) day after Thanksgiving shoppers, this is the website for you!

Click here.

It has tons of ads for what will be going on sale for Black Friday shopping and sales that stores may have leading up to the big shopping day.

Totally Awesome Moment of The Day

Todays Totally Awesome Moment of The Day goes to ....

My Parents!!

Reason:
Today I got a voicemail from my dad informing me that they were the proud owners of a Nintendo Wii! Yep, my parents got their very own Wii - AWESOME.

Mom & Dad, I would like to say that there are a few rules you need to keep in mind:

1. All work must be done before you play Wii.
2. No Wii during dinner time. (sub rule: you must finish your dinner if you want to play Wii)
3. All chores must be done for the day before you play with your game.
4. You can take your Wii games to your friends house but do not let them borrow your games because if they brake it or lose it, it is gone forever.
5. This game is for fun and a privilege...do not abuse this and spend all your time on it.
6. Play nice with each other, no fighting....if you do NO Wii.
7. When playing Wii make sure you wear the remote tightly around your wrist. If it flys off and you brake that TV you are buying a new one - with your own money.
8. When it is time to put the Wii away - put it away. No "Just 5 more minutes" will be allowed.


This Totally Awesome Moment of The Day was brought to you by Nintendo Wii - A play system for people of ALL ages! :)

Really HIMYM....You Couldn't Get Anyone Else? I Mean, Really.

So T & I just started watching How I Met Your Mother the end of last season. We actually really enjoy the show, and the fact that Terry enjoys it is saying something because he isn't typically a fan of shows like this. (Never liked Friends, Seinfeld, etc..)

So anywho, I have yet to tell him the news of who the latest guest (not-star) additions are to the show. Click Here. Kim Kardashian, Heidi Montag, and that small-minded asshole who thinks he is better then everyone else and thinks he is actually someone important... guy (I refuse to mention him by name on my blog). Yep, the show is bringing them on.

WHY, HIMYM....WHYYYYYYY?!?!

I mean, you are a cool show. I bet there are tons of cool people that would love to be on your show, and yet you went with those 3 people. I don't want to tell Terry, he may ban this show forever because of this!

The only redeeming quality with this episode is that the reason these 3 tools are on the show is because Marshall feels as though he can't poop at work (thus his magazine covers coming to life I guess). Poop is always funny. So maybe it will be funny because it is about poop, though I am thinking an episode about poop without these extra poopheads in it would be much better.

(I am really not a mean person, but come on!)

Friendly Dave Matthews Band PSA

Because I feel it is important for me to share DMB information.....

In case you didn’t know and are interested, DMB will be releasing a new live CD on December 16, 2008. Live at Mile High Music Festival. Also, starting tomorrow you can purchase some live tracks from itunes. If you just happen to be one of those lucky people who went to a concert of theirs this summer, you can get the itunes songs for free!

Live Trax 2008 from itunes:

1. Eh Hee
2. So Damn Lucky
3. Crush
4. The Dreaming Tree
5. Pay For What You Get
6. Proudest Monkey
7. Bartender
8. Tripping Billies

Live at Mile High Music Festival track listing:

CD 1
1. Don't Drink the Water
2. You Might Die Trying
3. Eh Hee
4. Two Step
5. Proudest Monkey
6. Satellite
7. Corn Bread

CD 2
1. Sledgehammer
2. Stay (Wasting Time)
3. Old Dirt Hill (Bring That Beat Back)
4. Jimi Thing
5. #41
6. Tripping Billies
7. So Damn Lucky

CD 3
1. So Much To Say
2. Anyone Seen The Bridge?
3. Too Much
4. Ants Marching
5. Gravedigger
6. Louisiana Bayou
7. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)

bareMinerals – I Can Not Say NO To You Any Longer

So it has happened…I will soon be the owner of my own set of bareMinerals products. I have been persuaded to buy them…..of course this sweet deal also had a lot to do with it!




Click here for the special deal. (It said I saved over $145 when I checked out – um, awesome!)

Only 2 payments of $29.99(plus S&H)


Your bareMinerals Get Started Kit includes:
2 shades of bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation
Mineral Veil finishing powder
Warmth All-Over Face Color
Flawless Application Face Brush
Handy Buki Brush
Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush
In-depth How-To Guide that details every product and how to best apply your bareMinerals

4 FREE Special Bonus Gifts:
Limited edition refillable Mirror Compact with cover
bareMinerals Bisque for concealing imperfections
Precision Concealer Brush
Leslie's Get Started DVD

As a person who likes make-up but does not like the feel of things on my face or spending a lot of time putting make up on, I have been told by a very reliable source that this is for me! I can’t wait to try it…should be arriving in the next couple weeks!

Talk To Me....

How do I get rid of and/or treat dark circles under my eyes?

I have bad dark circles under my eyes. Over the years they just keep getting worse and I have no idea what works, what doesn't work, and if it is even possible to at least, minimize the circles I have under my eyes. I also very rarely wear any make-up, which I am sure if I did it could cover them a bit...but really I am looking for something I could use to reduce them.

So any suggestions? Home remedies, skin care products, under eyes treatments?

I would prefer to not look like a walking zombie who just got beat up every day.

The Sky Is Falling, The Sky Is Falling…Sort Of

This morning as I left my house I noticed the ground was covered with beautiful fall leaves that were falling at a rather fast and frequent pace down on me as I made my way outside. It instantly reminded me of the scene below from Edward Scissorhands where he is cutting that ice sculpture so it snows down on a blonde, pre shoplifting, Winona Ryder.

Well except for the fact that leaves were falling on me - not snow, and the leaves were coming from a tree - not a giant hunk of ice, and it wasn’t a scar faced leather clad Johnny Depp with scissors for hands making the leaves fall – just the wind blowing the leaves off the tree, and I wasn’t in a white dress spinning in circles under the snow – I was in my work clothes spinning in circles under the leaves. But still, it was almost exactly the same.

It made me happy, I love the fall.

Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut….

(…and sometimes you are a nut.)

So I had a bit of self-discovery last night. Something that I believe has truly changed me as a human being.

I like cashews! I know, it surprised me too.

Though I do enjoy peanuts and the occasional slivered or chocolate covered almond, I really have no interest in any of the other nuts out there. I don’t even want to give these nuts a chance; I refuse to even try to like them. Yes, I believe I have a bit nut intolerance.

I never was interested in cashews because, well, I don’t like the way they look and I don’t like their name. Cash-EW. Their name implies they will not be good. And cashew is also very close to the sound I make when I sneeze, so how can this nut be any good? I also had concerns about this nut because it is one of those nuts that may taste good, but it has a limited amount of anything else going for it. I mean you don’t put it in a pie, or make cookies with it, or make into a caramel candy delight – it is just a plain old cashew, what’s up with that?

I have to say though, after trying this nut I was pleasantly surprised, and dare I say wrong about the cashew. I moved pass my ideals of what makes a good nut and gave this nut a chance and I am glad I did. It was very enjoyable! For me to hate this nut all this time just because of how it looked, its name, without knowing anything about the nut, or my predetermined feelings of what this nut was all about was WAY wrong of me. So I have decided that I am going to put my idea of what makes a tasty nut aside and try to be more open to all the nuts out there. Well, except for pecans….those things look like a rotten piece of wood or something (ok, I need a little more work on being fair to ALL nuts.) Though I may still not be 100% convinced at this time that this nut is my favorite nut ever I cannot deny the admiration I have for its nutty goodness and I am sure over time I will learn to love this nut for its own unique qualities as well as it’s taste.

Thank you cashew – for opening my eyes and changing the way I feel about you. Maybe other people who are unsure about you will just give you a try and learn what I learned - that you are a good nut we can all learn to love.

(No I was not at all implying anything other then liking a cashew in this post.)

Election Results (Widget Style)

Oh that Google...

...They are some clever and funny folks over there! I always love their special Google Homepage designs! Thank you Google for keeping me smiling.






GO VOTE!

Let Us Lighten Up All This Election Stuff a Bit (This is NOT Political at all)

So tonight as I was verifying my voting location I read the back of my voter registration card. I found this very humorous so I thought that I would share. I have bolded my favorite parts!


"Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid photo identification, a military identification, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than this reminder or a voter registration notification, that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not provide one of these documents will STILL be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot. Voters who do not have ANY of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will STILL be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot."

I mean couldn't they have just shortened it up and said something like:

"We prefer you bring identification that shows you are really a legal citizen of the United States, but hey if you are lazy or are not a legal citizen we don't really care and will let you vote no matter what."

This made me smile :)

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday, a day late, to my brother Alec! He turned 16 yesterday and boy do I feel old!

Here are my brothers, Matt (who will be turning 19 this month and is on the left) and Alec (on the right). They moved from Ohio over 10 years ago and currently live in Tennessee. The last time I saw them was 2 years ago at my wedding :( I miss them dearly and it breaks my heart that I do not get to see them often and be a part of their lives as regularly as I would like. But i love them to death and wish Alec a FANTASTIC birthday. P.S. I asked him what he got and he said the instinct. I then asked him what the heck that was! For those like me who are not up on the technology, it is the new Sprint touch phone. (aw)

So anyways - happy Birthday brother!! I love you and miss you!