Friday Fill-Ins

It's that time again -- time for Friday Fill-Ins!  Whoop Whoop!  And...here we go!

1. Why is it that as soon as you get comfortable in bed with the covers up, the perfect position, ready to sleep... you ALWAYS have to pee?  Always! 

2. When will the proverbial "straw that breaks the camel's back" happen to make Americans take action, wake up and take their country back from our government -- that's what I want to know!

3. Hold on to your lug nuts, it's TIIIIIIIIIIIME for an overhaul!  (Quote from The Mask with Jim Carrey). 

4. To all our soldiers, please hurry home soon. 

5. Do you like the sound of the leaves hitting the ground as they slowly fall from the trees?  I do. 

6. People who truly know how to live, seem to always enjoy a good laugh, and truly appreciate all the love in their lives.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include helping out at my mom's chili cook-off as a volunteer and Sunday, I want to let Christmas throw up all over my house!

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 27

Three more to go!  Wow... it's getting exciting isn't it?  Ok, yeah, I know it's not...but it's fun.  So, shuddup!  As always, a recap for my friends and visitors:

Day 1: glow sticks

Day 2: Pampers

Day 3: cold weather

Day 4: Canton, TX

Day 5: Q-tips

Day 6: Inside jokes

Day 7: The inexistence of mind readers

Day 8: Wal-Martians

Day 9: Thongs

Day 10: Anti-Depressants

Day 11: China

Day 12: Pickles

Day 13: Spam

Day 14: Consumerism driven by superficial people

Day 15: Laughter

Day 16: Muffin Tops

Day 17: Laxatives

Day 18: Photoshopped Celebrities

Day 19: Red Necks

Day 20: Pet wearers

Day 21: For responsible people who step in to care for the kids of those who aren't

Day 22: For the ability to be thankful

Day 23: Black Friday

Day 24: Gamers

Day 25: Lady Gaga

Day 26: Batman

...and so that brings us to TODAY.  November 27.  Today I'm thankful for.... the absolute complete most amazing application/site/program ever invented that has the ability to suck more time from a woman's day than anything else -- 

Yes.  I'm a PINNER!

I'm Pinned.

I'm followed.

I'm following.

It's an addictive love affair I tell you! 


I truly believe that this is more powerful than all the meth out there!

Pinterest.  The one stop where you can search on how to style your house, head, child, dog, make an origami bird, fix your sink, cook an entire feast for a party of 20 -- in your crockpot, decorate cakes, make your own furniture, go green, plan a scrapbook, host a party, find something red, collect pictures of unicorns and research teaching plans on Christopher Columbus.

If you have never heard of Pinterest.... you've obviously been living under a rock.  Pinterest is an electronic visual filing corkboard, of sorts.  You create boards of whatever topic you choose.  I have boards for Christmas, Halloween, Style, Food, Crafts, Photography, Cards, Scrapbooking, etc.  Then, as you visit websites and find pictures of things you like or are interested in, you "pin" them to your various boards.  From your pin, others on Pinterest then get the opportunity to see what you have pinned and then possibly repin it themselves to one of their boards (or create a new one.)  It's the ultimate grapevine!  

The one problem with Pinterest, however, is becoming a pinner and never a doer.  The idea is to find great ideas and then DO THEM.  The problem lies in that so many people collect pins and do nothing with them.  What's the point if you're not doing anything with them.  At that point it's nothing more than visual clutter.  

But, like I said, Pinterest is a complete and total master in the art of time suckage.  But, I don't care.  I'm a Pin-addict!  Thanks to Pinterest!  

Oh, and if you want to follow me, there is a "follow me" button at the top of my blog. Join the revolution!

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 26

We're almost done with our month long journey of giving THANKS!  A recap please...

Day 1: glow sticks

Day 2: Pampers

Day 3: cold weather

Day 4: Canton, TX

Day 5: Q-tips

Day 6: Inside jokes

Day 7: The inexistence of mind readers

Day 8: Wal-Martians

Day 9: Thongs

Day 10: Anti-Depressants

Day 11: China

Day 12: Pickles

Day 13: Spam

Day 14: Consumerism driven by superficial people

Day 15: Laughter

Day 16: Muffin Tops

Day 17: Laxatives

Day 18: Photoshopped Celebrities

Day 19: Red Necks

Day 20: Pet wearers

Day 21: For responsible people who step in to care for the kids of those who aren't

Day 22: For the ability to be thankful

Day 23: Black Friday

Day 24: Gamers

Day 25: Lady Gaga

...and so that brings us to TODAY. Today I'm thankful for da na na na na na na na da na na na na na na na....BATMAN!

There is nothing so cool, so clever, so powerful, so awesome as... THE BATMAN.

I remember days as a kid RUNNING for the television when we heard this:



Although Batman has been played by many:

The original - Adam West

  And who can forget Michael Keaton (Jack Nicholson was a badass Joker, was he not?)

 My personal favorite, Val Kilmer.  Mrow!

  The infamous, George Clooney (not a fan).

  And lastly, Christian Bale (never seen him in a Batman movie).

I really can't explain my love affair with The Batman.  Perhaps it's the idea of a hero in disguise.  Someone willing to fight for what's right and good without needing the limelight in his personal life.  Letting some alter ego take front and center in the limelight.   

Besides how awesome is it to be SO ... AWESOME that they  make all this neat STUFF just FOR YOU?!?!

Every superhero needs a Bat bill clip! 
...or warm flannel pajamas
...or an apron
...or cufflinks
...or your own personal Batsignal (ok, it's a nightlight, but work with me!)
...or ice cubes 
... you know you've totally arrived when you have your own Mr. Potato Head 
... or for the BatGIRL that has everything... 
... earbuds 
...USB drive (truth be known, I totally want this!) 

... or a caped lunchbox:  

So, today... thankful for THE ONE...THE ONLY... My FAVORITE superhero:  BATMAN.  

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Day 25

There are many things which we should all be thankful for.... health (if you have it)

family (if you have it)

fortune (if you have it)

teeth (if you have them)

a job (if you have it)

forgiveness (if you receive it)

friendship (if you give it)

a home (if you have one)

food on the table (if you have some)

obedient children... (I want to kick you in the teeth... if you have them)

All that syrupy sweet sappy stuff ... bleh...lets look at the things you just have to dig a liiiittle deeper to realize that they're truly worthy of gratitude.  Like today's little nugget of thanks...

Lady Gaga!

OH yes, I went THERE!

She's SO far out there... she's something to talk about.  And sometimes, having that one thing to talk about can be the catalyst to build bridges... (work with me here... okay?).. and that is definitely something TO BE THANKFUL FOR!  Right?

She's been accused of being a man... that tucks...

She's been accused of being a hermaphrodite.

She's been accused of copying songs from Madonna.

She's been accused of an eating disorder.

She's been accused of being a bad influence after admitting she smoked weed when she was writing songs to help her relax and be creative.

She's been accused of wearing meat (well, that is true.)

She's been accused of being over-the-top.... (again, true)

but truly, how can you diss someone that brought the term "disco stick" into the public realm?  How dare you?!

She's known for wearing the most ridiculous of outfits.... and I do understand the idea of being unique and original because... you're an aaaaaartist..... but there is -- I believe -- a fine line between madness and artist.  She's crossed it time and time again.




And, unfortunately for her, the paparazzi follow her everywhere, so we don't miss a step... even when she does -- at the hand of her ridiculously over-the-top wardrobe choices



Lady Gaga, the performer that has changed wigs more than the sheets are changed at The Cat House.
 


She's worn more vinyl than the fettish shows in NYC...

She's had more items adhered to her face than the costumers for all the Cirque shows combined.  


She recently made quite the headline by packing on some 30ish pounds and still trying to squeeze her ass into her size 0 clothes.  I say... you market yourself in a bikini -- STAY BIKINI READY.... otherwise, cover that $hit up sister!



However, she is a lyrical genius... outstanding vocalist... amazing performer and she just seems pretty damn cool.

Lady Gaga... I'm thankful for this meat wearing, lace veil covering, wig wearing freakshow!  I am!

December ADVENTures -- in Books

Yep, I'm here with my second installment on how to get your December off to a grand start of memories and fun!  Today we're talking about books.  And, not just any books but Christmas books!  

In this post, you were told to:

1. Grab a December calendar online or make one or find one at home
2. Plug in the dates you already have plans for (school plays, sports, special gatherings)
3. Jot down the events that happen in your area that you hold an interest in participating in (Santa visits, tree lightings, parades, etc.)

Now that you have the base laid out for you, you know where you can plan for more time-intensive activities and/or ones that require quite a bit less effort.

Each day you will PLAN  to view a movie, complete an activity together, read a book, focus on a letter of the alphabet (for those with little ones like me), and address part of the 12 days of Christmas as it parallels to the Bible.  The important thing here is to PLAN.  You can always deviate from the plan but at least HAVE a plan. 

And, as a reminder, I'm here to help!  We've already addressed movies yesterday and today is another fun one --- books!

Like movies, I have a slew of Christmas books!  (If you don't know what a "slew" is, it's more than a lot and probably more along the lines of a Christmas book hoarder!) Again, if you don't own any, have no fear -- the library is your friend!  And, so are your friends!  In a bind?  Do a weekly Christmas book swap with your friends!  What a great way to experience new books for no cost!

So, what books should we read?  When should we schedule them?  That's entirely up to you.  I have a tradition in my home, however, that we read certain books on certain days.  Like movies -- I'm ridiculously anal like that.  For instance, Christmas Eve -- every year we read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.   And here are the books that make the cut at our house:

I will have to add that there are three books that every parent AND grandparent needs.  Period.  I don't care what your children's ages are:
 This book is such a treasured heirloom for me and my kids.  This has seven of Jan Brett's works in it:  The Mitten, The Wild Christmas Reindeer, Trouble with Trolls, The Twelve Days of Christmas, The Hat, Christmas Trolls, The Night Before Christmas.  The words are timeless.... the illustrations are so detailed, intricate and amazing.  This one book will take up a week's time on your list alone...and it is worth the time!  What's even BETTER is that you can really bring her characters to life because she has printable activities on her website

  The Crippled Lamb is a timeless story by Max Lucado that is read by someone in our family either ON Christmas or on Christmas eve at our family gathering.  It's the story about a little lamb who wants more than nothing to go with his friends to the pasture but being crippled, he can't keep up.  As such, he has to stay behind.  But then, in the night, visitors come to the stable...and he discovers his purpose was one of great importance.  If you can make it through this one with a dry eye -- you've got me beat.  It's a definite for every family in my book!

And, although Jan Brett has The Night Before Christmas in her treasury collection... and it is awesome... I simply LOVE the illustrations in this version as well.  So, sometimes we read this book more than once with different authors illustrators because the pictures are just THAT GOOD!

To me, one of the fun aspects of this tradition is that every year you'll discover something new... or think of another way to bring them to life.  

Another way to make the presentation of this tradition more fun is to actually WRAP each book so that it's a present to open each day leading up to Christmas.  Let's face it -- kids love to open stuff!  Treat them to a gift of books every single day!  How fun is that?

Tomorrow, we will address the 12 Days of Christmas Bible Study.  It's awesome to see the parallels brought to life this way.  I hope you enjoy it.

Continually getting in the spirit!  Yes, I am!