Staying safe on Pinterest

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I've detailed my turbulent relationship with Pinterest at length on this blog. (Why Pinterest makes me sad) and (I'm thinking of reconciling with my (other) husband).

Pinterest is, in theory, a wonderful social network that capitalizes on the old adage--a picture is worth a thousand words.  Beautiful pictures and images grab your attention. Clever ideas, mouth watering food, and the why-didn't-I- think-of-that DIY projects can keep you happily pinning for hours.

Yet as my experience, and as I found, the experience of countless others shows, there is definitely a need to be careful of your activity on Pinterest.  

What frugal living means to me

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With the recent "Great Recession" that brought rampant job losses and foreclosures, there was a lot of talk about the need to live a more simple life.  I've learned that frugal living means very different things to people.

For me a frugal life means using cash more than credit.  It means saving for big purchases and splurges.  Simple living to me is striving to live at--but even better below--my means.  It means focusing first on the things I absolutely need to sustain my life and not demanding that even those things be extravagant.

Living frugally to me means not keeping-up-with-the-Joneses.  If others can afford a better house, car, vacations, clothing, or anything else better than I'm able to afford, I'm really happy for them.  It means learning to be content with the things I have.   It means recognizing that just because I can doesn't always mean I should.

What does frugal living mean to you?

I'm thinking of reconciling with my (other) husband

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A while ago I told you how hard and fast I fell for Pinterest--it was a love at first sight kind of relationship.  We spent a lot of time together and things just blossomed.  I never imagined me and Pin (that's my nickname for him) would ever fall out of love.

Then one day I found out that Pin was unfaithful to me. (Why Pinterest makes me sad.)  I was in shock! We hadn't been together long and already I can't trust you?  I searched for answers but couldn't find out where the kink in the chain was coming from.   I reached out to Pin but he basically apologized and told me to get over it.  

At that moment, I knew I had to do it.  I kicked Pinterest out.  I took everything that reminded me of him out of my home blog and told him never to come back.  It felt like the right thing to do.  A few weeks ago, though, I checked back in with Pin--just to see what was up.  It was then that I found the culprit:  A person posing as my follower, but who was really only interested in changing the links of my pins to redirect to spam websites!  I immediately let Pinterest know, and he responded by kicking the homewrecker out.

It was then that I remembered the fun times we used to share.  I kind of miss that.  I'm thinking of giving Pin another try. I know, though, that our relationship will never be the same.  I don't think I can ever fully trust Pin again.  I want to ease back into the relationship, maybe let Pin move a few things back in.  I know that I'll have to watch Pinterest carefully though.  I'm just not totally sure yet.  What would you do?

The long goodbye

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This night my children are being particularly rambunctious.  Bedtime is near but there is no sign that their energy is waning or slowing. 

I try to work on a project that requires concentration, but my focused mind is interrupted by the shrill sounds of laughter and unrestrained giggles, soon followed by the sound of one set of running little feet then another.

I began to get slightly annoyed.  It's too loud to hear myself think.  Perhaps the children need to settle down before bed.  After all I have work to do!  
 
I then remember a quote I once read that said something to the effect of "Motherhood is one long goodbye."  From the time they are born, our children begin a journey towards their independence.  

I imagine a future time when I am leaning against the doorframe staring into a vacant room that now only holds the memories of my children at play. I reflect on a time yet to come when my home will be quiet and still. 

I resolve now to give in to a sweet surrender,  to immerse myself in the sounds of their innocent childish giggles that resonate an unbridled joy.  For now I realize we have started our journey to goodbye.

Cartoons I love to hate

Anyone who has spent any time around children ages 7 and under have more than likely been force-fed more than their fair share of animated cartoons.  As an adult, there will come a point in which you will find that some cartoons or some elements within begin to puzzle or just annoy you entirely. Here are some cartoons that I have a few questions or concerns about:

Dora the Explorer:  I'm confuddled as to where this little girls' parents are.  I know they exist, because I've seen them once or  twice, but it seems they have a lot of "alone time" without their kid. While we're on the subject, why is Dora allowed to run around with a monkey who is smart enough to talk and problem solve but wears nothing besides a pair of red boots? So many questions!

Living well and eating healthy

This post is sponsored by: Medicare Supplemental Insurance

In the last couple months, I've decided to become a lot more proactive about my personal diet and fitness.  Like most moms and women I'm incredibly busy, and I started to rely far too much on fast and junk foods.

However I have concentrated my effort on both healthier eating and increased activity to, not only lose weight, but feel a sense of wellness.  Let's face it: We, and especially our parents or other loved ones,  are growing older--and in many cases living longer.  According to the CDC, the average life expectancy for Americans, as of 2009, was 78.5 years.  So it's important to adopt a healthy lifestyle--and to help our loved ones to do the same. 

Here are some tips to building a healthier lifestyle:

*Keep fresh fruit, such as apples, bananas, pears, etc on hand to grab for a quick breakfast or snack.  Consider packing celery sticks, carrots, or other veggies to take with you for something to munch on.

*Discuss a fitness plan with your doctor and get active! If you can try hiking, biking, or jogging.  Instead of watching TV all evening, go for a walk after dinner.

*Consider growing your own fruits and vegetables.  Many grow well in planters and pots, making it a great option if you have a small space or live in an apartment.

*Make better meal choice, opting for broiled or baked foods more often than fried.  When eating out try grilled or baked foods and salads and limit condiments such as ketchup, salad dressing, and mayo. 

Start by making even small changes and hopefully a healthier way of life will become a habit.

Help the seniors in your life to benefit from a better lifestyle!  For more information on health tips for seniors and much more visit the senior health resources.

How financial infidelity devastates a marriage

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My friend *Dina related her experience with financial infidelity.  It was so jarring that it forced the realization upon me that financial infidelity was in many ways just as devastating as sexual infidelity.  There are many similarities: secrecy, lies, and a double life.  Only in this case the "mistress" takes the form of credit cards and hidden bank accounts.  Dina recounts, "Before we married, my husband and I had only briefly and superficially discussed money matters.  We were young and a conversation about money was just not at the top of our list.  We both worked and had great credit so it did not seem like our financials were an issue in any way." 

Dina and her husband eventually bought a house and new car.  Everything seemed to be fine until, "The phone rang one day when I was home alone.  It was our electric company.  They told me our electric bill was quite delinquent and wanted to know when we would be making a payment."

Crock-pot Pepper Steak

With record breaking temps here, I've really been giving my Crock-pot a workout.  I've tired of grilled food and it's literally too hot to go back and forth to check the grill! 

I've turned to several of my old standby recipes for the slow cooker.  This pepper steak recipe was actually one that I found on Allrecipes, which is an ah-mazing place to find thousands of recipes!  

I have found that this is one recipe that needed little to no tweaking.  The only variation I made from the original recipe was to use 1/4 cup beef broth in place of the beef bouill0n.  I mix the cornstarch in the beef broth and add it all to the Crock-pot.  This is another easy family-pleaser. 

Here's the link to the recipe: Slow cooker pepper steak. I hope you love it!

I learned multitasking from a naked Barbie

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No, the naked Barbie and I did not have a convo.   The poor girl has been through enough already.  I mean, my daughter has already went all Mike Tyson on the doll with a pen and gave her a full facial tattoo.  She’s been stripped of her beautiful evening gown and even the sporty casual outfit she had as a backup.  Her silicone and girly bits are out for the world to see for crying out loud.

5 ways to stay safe in public places

The Tucson shooting, a theater shooting in Colorado, and a Sikh temple ambushed in Wisconsin. These violent incidents have all gained national and in some cases international notoriety. The crazy thing is, these are only the most recent of shootings that are happening in places where people have generally felt safe: churches, schools, movie theaters, malls, and places of employment to name a few. 

There was a time when people went about their day in the way that people have for years: In something of an oblivious state. You didn’t worry about being confronted with violence walking in the mall or going to see a movie. Things have definitely changed—it’s no longer a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but now rather, being in the right place at the wrong time.

Sunshine Blogger Award

I'm once again extremely honored to be the recipient of another blog award!!! I am always grateful when my fellow bloggers think enough of me and my work to bestow any award upon me. 

This award was given to me by Roshni from the blog Mom of big A little a. Roshni is a sweet and sassy lady, with a sharp wit and sense of humor. I truly love reading her blog and having her share on mine. Definitely check her blog out if you haven't heard of her--you've missed a lot!  Thanks for the award!

Here are the rules of this award:

Rosemary roasted chicken and vegetables

I concocted a version of this dish quite some time ago. I love to experiment with different flavors and spices, and one day I literally went through my spices and picked out the ones that I thought would go well together with poultry and had at it. 

After negotiating over a few takeout menus and options--just in case--my family and I were pleasantly surprised with the results.  

This time I decided to prepare this dish slightly differently.  I had a half bag of baby carrots that I didn't wish to go bad and get tossed and I needed to do something with a couple of russet potatoes, so I used them in this dish as well. I also used a few sprigs of fresh rosemary from my yard because my rosemary plants have done so well. 

As a side note, I normally use a whole uncut chicken. My husband did the shopping this time and bought a whole, cut up chicken.  Hey, I work with what I got.

Funny stuff my daughter says

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My daughter never fails to provide me with adequate humorous material for my blog and a good laugh right when I need it most.  I keep a running tab so that I can share them with you.  Here are some of her latest:

After asking me if I knew any jokes, I admitted I didn't know any good ones and shared the old standby--why did the chicken cross the road?  She laughed when I said "To get to the other side," and then  she put her own spin on the joke by saying "What did the chicken do when he saw the car?!" I asked "What?" thinking she'd say he ran or something civil like that. She replied "He got hit!" while collapsing in laughter at her own brilliant joke.

While fighting a cold, Bells complained that her ears were plugged up.  I told her not to worry, that her ears would open up on their own.  Bells had a curious look on her face. She then said, "Is there a door in there?"

After being allowed to stay up past her bedtime and eat a bowl of soup, we found that Bells was doing a lot of playing and little eating. We told her it was time for bed. She protested, saying she needed to finish her soup. We pointed out that she had spent quite a while playing with it, and her Dad volunteered to finish it for her. She then melted down with a tearful drama queen performance by dropping to her knees and saying: "I've been eating my whole life and now I can't eat in peace!" she wailed.  She looked over at the bowl of soup and said "Bye soup! I'm not going to let Daddy eat you!"

I realized I'd probably be better off not leaving the TV on those daytime medical lawyer commercials, after one came on discussing something about bladder cancer. You know how they end with the statement: "If you or anyone you know have died from...?" My daughter started laughing, and I asked what was so funny. She said, "He said died from bladal cancel!"

Let the renter beware!

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Across the U.S. it appears that rental frauds are on the increase. Fueling this trend may be the high amount of foreclosures. Many national newspapers are citing numerous cases of families and individuals that have been duped out of, in some cases, thousands of dollars in money that they thought was going toward the down payment and rental of a home. 

Worse than that, unscrupulous people are making off with personal and financial information, including social security and bank account numbers, that can be used to perpetuate identity theft.

Looking for a new sports car?

This is brought to you by the all new Scion FR-S.

When I saw pictures of the Scion FR-S , I began to remember the amazing thrill of driving a sports car, when we owned one years ago.

The Scion FR-S is a beauty of a car. With sleek lines, and 200 horsepower, this car is almost sure to turn heads.  I love the color choices available for this model and I'm torn between the colors hot lava, because I adore the color orange, and asphalt because it looks so sophisticated.

I like many of the standard features that this car offers: Bluetooth and HD radio technology, a USB port that also has iPod connectivity, and because I'm big on safety, Smart Stop technology and a first aid kit.

Another nice standard feature is the fact the rear seats fold flat, which is a life-saver when you have a lot of groceries,  packages, or equipment to fit into the car and need a bit of extra space.  

I can imagine date nights and long late night drives.  I would name my car.  I'd give it some sort of variation of the word Scion--maybe Noni--because I always name my cars.  I think this would be a really fun and grownup car to drive. 





Brought to you by the all new Scion FR-S

9 ways to know you are past the "new romance" stage

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Ah, there is hardly anything more exhilarating than a blooming romance.  Your heart races at the mere mention of that person's name.  You can hardly wait to spend time talking and being with this special person again. 

If the relationship progresses to a marriage, many things  you did while dating in the early stages might continue at the start: Making sure your appearance is on point, buying nice gifts for each other, etc.  Everything is wonderful, dreamy, a fairytale...and then the rose-colored glasses somehow get broken.  So how do you know that you are past the "new romance" stage?

(1.)  Belching/Passing Gas:  That new love feeling is gone when either of you have no problem belching and/or passing gas in front of the other.  In fact it might become amusing to see who can let out the most gnarly sounding one.  It's a done deal when you start sharing your stories with others. Like my friend, who revealed that her husband has noxious gas and not only toots under the bed covers, but finds it hilarious to then fan the covers to allow the "fragrance" to escape.  I wish I were kidding.