Wordless Wednesday: The Man I Love

                                               

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday... hope you are all enjoying your week and staying cool.

Here is my submission for today.... "The Man I Love....."

Don't forget to head over to the WW Hub to link up your post and visit the other bloggers.

Until next time..... Lorie

How Hot IS it in Florida.....

This guy says it all.....

Thanks to my hubby for forwarding this via email from a friend of his.  Hope you are all dealing with the heat where you are (if you have it).

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - Advantages???? of Telephone Technology

Sometimes technology can really be a pain in the butt!  I know that when we had a house phone, there were days at our house that were just like this:

Hope you all had a great week, sorry I haven't been visiting and haven't posted much, but my whole week has been like that cartoon - I just can't seem to get organized.  I'm going to try and do better next week.

Until next time..... Lorie

Self Portrait Sunday: At My Favorite Place on Earth

Welcome to Self Portrait Sunday, started by my friend Maria of Maria's Space. According to Maria, here are the reasons for playing: Come on, admit it, you look through your photo albums or computer folders and see very few photos of yourself. Maybe it is because, like me, you are usually behind the camera. Or maybe, it's because you never feel you look good in photos so you tell everyone, "don't take any of me."

Well, take it...in the future you will wonder why you thought you didn't look good! You look good, be proud and show your smiling face!
So here is my entry for today... this is a photo from the last time Bill and I went to EPCOT for the Flower and Garden festival and we saw Davy Jones. The weather was perfect!!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit Maria's blog to see her gorgeous photos, link up your picture and visit the other participants.

Until next time..... Lorie

Happy Father's Day

You could call Sonora Smart Dodd the "Mother of Father's Day." After all, the holiday, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, was inspired by her.


Dodd's mother died in 1898 during childbirth, leaving her father, William Jackson Smart, to raise Dodd and her five younger brothers (including the newborn baby) on a remote farm near Spokane, Wash. While attending a Mother's Day sermon in 1909, Dodd decided that fathers deserve the same recognition.

Within a year, she -- along with some help from her pastor, the Rev. Conrad Bluhm, the Spokane YMCA and the Ministerial Alliance -- did it: June 19, 1910, was designated as the first Father's Day. Throughout Spokane that day, Sunday sermons were themed around the importance of fatherhood.




By 1924, the holiday had gained some national prominence. President Calvin Coolidge that year recognized Father's Day and made it known that he wanted more states to get involved.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed an order proclaiming the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. He even requested that flags on all government buildings be flown that day.  In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation permanently observing Father's Day on the third Sunday in June. All because of a young girl who appreciated her dad's love and wanted to see his efforts acknowledged. William Jackson Smart died in 1919, so he got to celebrate 10 Father's Days with his grateful daughter.*


To all the fathers, grandfathers, and step-fathers... wishing you the most wonderful day spent with those you love and who love you.  Please also remember the fathers who are away from their families serving our country here and abroad and pray that they are able to return home soon.

To my darling husband, the most wonderful man in the world... Thank you so much for being such a terrific dad to not only your own children, but to mine as well.  We all love you so much and are so glad that you came into our lives 14 years ago.

Until next time..... Lorie

{*Information from Aol News}

Snuggles With Ma

A good hug from mommy always makes you feel terrific!



{Photo Courtesy: Daily Squee}

Until next time..... Lorie

Silly Joke From My Hubby

There was a snail who wanted to be a Formula One racing driver. He went to the track and asked if he could drive. The racing team manager said, "Yes, but you can't have a number on your car, you can only have an 'S' because you are a snail."


 





The snail was ok with this, so he entered the race. The race started and the snail's car was at the back, but suddenly he sped to the front, overtaking all the cars to win! As the spectators saw the snail speed past them, they yelled, "Wow! Look at that s-car go!"



   

Until next time..... Lorie

'Nuff Said.....

To borrow a saying from my friend Erin of Slice o' Heaven..... 'nuff said:

{Photo courtesy Oddly Specific}

Until next time..... Lorie

Beautiful White Tiger

Here is another gorgeous animal I have found on Cute Overload that I wanted to share with you all. My favorite thing about this cutie is his eyes.... enjoy:

Until next time..... Lorie

Happy 50th Anniversary to Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho"

Alfred Hitchcock is my favorite director because I adore suspense movies... NOT horror movies (that's Bill's forte) but the kind of movie that has you sitting on the edge of your seat and holding your breath.  Alfred Hitchcock was the MASTER.  Fifty years ago today, the movie Psycho was released in theaters.  It was something truly unique to its time because before that movie, people used to come into the theater at any time during the movie and then stay for the beginning of the next to "catch up" on what they had missed.  For the movie Psycho, Hitchcock refused to allow anyone to  be seated late, lest they miss any of the film's surprises and horrors, and urged audiences not to spoil the ending for other viewers.  He also bought the rights to Robert Bloch's source novel really cheap, then bought as many copies of the book as he could to keep the plot twists hidden from potential moviegoers.

I remember the first time I saw the movie, I was so afraid to take a shower when I was home alone, but at the time, I was living in a small two room apartment with my first husband that only had a shower (no tub).  But I told myself that I was locked in the apartment on the second floor and the door downstairs was locked and my inlaws were in the apartment downstairs, so I was perfectly safe!  So, anyway, my (now ex-)husband came home from work while I was in the shower and snuck in the bathroom and scared the snot out of me - yeah, really funny!!  I used my inlaws bathtub for the next week because I was too scared to use the shower after that.

Hitchcock was such a master showman that he released a six and a half minute "teaser-trailer" for the movie Psycho in which he took viewers on a tour of the Bates Motel and the Bates House, pretending to be about to spoil the plot while keeping crucial details hidden.  You really have to watch it... Hitchcock is amazing, enjoy:







So happy anniversary to Psycho... I think I'll find it on TV this weekend and watch it again (I now have a really big Jacuzzi tub) just to celebrate.

Until next time..... Lorie

Free Hugs in Italy

This touched me and I wanted to share it with you... enjoy.





How about we all give someone a hug today?

Until next time..... Lorie

Help me Puppy Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope

I found this little love on The Daily Squee.  I think I have found Nano and Mia's next Halloween costumes.





Until next time..... Lorie

Happy Flag Day

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress proposed that the United States have a national flag instead of the British Union Jack. The 13 stars of the flag represented the 13 new states. There were few public ceremonies honoring the Stars and Stripes until 1877, when on, June 14, it was flown from every government building in honor of the centennial of the adoption of a national flag. Schools had unfurled American flags over their doors or outside the buildings long before this; but in 1890, North Dakota and New Jersey made a law that required their schools to fly the flag daily. The first official Flag Day was observed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1893. New York also proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day 1897. In August 1949, President Harry S. Truman proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day. Since then the President proclaims the commemoration yearly, and encourages all Americans in the country to display the Stars and Stripes outside their homes and businesses.


Please remember to fly your flag today..... Until next time..... Lorie

Information taken from About.com

The Critters of Celebration, Florida

During our walks here in Celebration, we see lots of different kinds of wildlife and I love photographing everything that I see.  So today I've decided to share some of my photos.  Please enjoy.....

Until next time..... Lorie

Sheltie is Baby’s Favorite Comedian

To me, there is no sound greater than that of a child's laughter, enjoy.....






Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - Excitement for a Stay at Home Mom

I remember when my kids were little and I was just SO happy to get out of the house, it didn't matter WHERE I went.

Until next time..... Lorie

Hosted by Krystyn

Welcome to Mommy and Me Monday hosted by my friend Krystyn over at Really, Are You Serious?

Here are the photos of me and my "babies" I am showcasing this week..... aren't they just the cutest little ones?  They aren't spoiled in the least.  {Cough, Cough}

Want to join in with Mommy and Me Monday? Head on over to Krystyn's blog, grab the button, write your post and put up your pictures, then add your post to her linky list so everyone can see your beautiful face.

Until next time..... Lorie

A New Look at Our National Anthem

I wanted to share this video with you all because it moved me to tears.  Although the man in the video says it is the second verse of our National Anthem, it is actually the final verse, but it is still a truly wonderful moment.  I really wish I knew all the words to "The Star Spangled Banner" and I think I am going to try to learn them by the end of this year.  Please enjoy.....






Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day - Why, Mommy, Why???

Sometimes you just have to say, "Because I said so!"

Until next time.... Lorie

Happy First Blogiversary to Me

 

   

I couldn't believe it when I looked back on my blog and saw that this week marked the one year anniversary of my regularly blogging.  I cannot believe how quickly it has gone by and how much has changed - for the good! 

I first started blogging quite sporadically in 2005 and really just let it fall by the wayside.  Then in 2009 after my spinal surgery while I was recuperating on the couch and couldn't do much of anything but watch TV, my darling husband {who is the most wonderful man in the world, by the way} suggested I try entering some giveaways on blogs that he saw on a sweepstakes site that he was entering other giveaways.  He told me I had a "flare for that kind of thing," and it might keep me from being bored for the next 3 months.  So, I started to enter the giveaways and then I won a few... but more than that, I started to read other posts on the blogs.  I started to learn about the incredible women (and a few men), some who where a lot like me, some who where nothing like me, but had these interesting lives and these great families with whom I started to become friends.

Then I thought, maybe, I could start to write about what we were doing and start posting photos of us and even post things that others might find interesting.  So, I started posting, first about my doggie, Nano - my little baby and love of my life, and then some info about nutritional supplements I learned from other sites and then a Father's Day post.  Interspersed with posts about other people's giveaways, I did my posts about what we were doing and uploading photos of our daily life here in beautiful central Florida.

I remember how excited I was to get my very first follower and my very first commenter - they were both the same person ~~ Crystal from Simply Being Mommy.  Crystal has been there for me since then as a follower, commenter and most especially as my friend.  I was so lucky to meet her at the Disney Social Media Moms Conference this past February.

I continued to make new friends and read other people's blogs with their wonderful reviews and enter their giveaways... then I was offered MY very first review.  I was so excited and I gave it my all, as I continue to do with each and every review I do to this date.  Then came my first giveaway and I felt like a giddy school girl with my first crush... I still get this way each time I'm fortunate to represent a company and giveaway one of their products.

Now as I continue to write and upload my photographs, which have gotten better thanks to the most wonderful man in the world for getting me a MUCH better camera, I want to thank all of you for your support and for continuing to visit my blog and reading what I write - for reasons I still don't understand!!  I am so lucky to have you all as my friends and look forward to continuing this relationship and growing it for a very long time into the future.  Hugs to you all!!

Until next time..... Lorie

A Trip to the Magic Kingdom

On May 16th Bill and I were lucky enough to meet one of my Twitter friends Barb S. (@winterbabe98) and her family at The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World for an afternoon of sunshine, laughter, and lots of fun sprinkled with Disney Magic!

Here is Barb with Wendy and Peter Pan... she was so excited to see them, she was just like a little kid.  Kind of like I get when I see Mickey Mouse.  I so love that Disney World can turn adults into little kids at the drop of a hat, it is definitely "The Happiest Place on Earth."   {Check out the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World For Grown-Ups (Unofficial Guides) if your not sure what to do at Disney World if you don't have children.}

We of course, rode The Pirates of the Caribbean {I mean, come on, a chance for me to see Johnny Depp - even in animatronics!}; and we went to the Haunted Mansion and the Jungle Cruise {corny jokes and all} because it is still a great ride and a chance to sit down and get a cool breeze.  We also went into Mickey's Philharmagic ~ everybody has to love those 3-D plus shows, they are really amazing.  Barb's son Steven went on Space Mountain, but Barb and I didn't due to our similar spinal issues.

And we did LOTS of talking and laughing... it was like Barb and I had known each other forever, and Barb's husband Steve and Bill got along really great!  Not to mention that their son Steven is an absolute joy!  That is my FAVORITE thing about social networking, the people you meet online you really get to know and become just like family {sometimes even closer}.  You learn all about them, their spouses, children, etc., and you start to care very deeply about them and what happens to each and every one of them.  So, thank you Barb for the terrific afternoon we got to spend together - and both Bill & I are looking forward to doing it again soon. 

I also hope that those of you whom I have met online through Facebook, Twitter and blogging who come down to central Florida and are headed near Disney World, please, let me know, I would love to spend a day with you and your family, because isn't that what Social Networking is all about?  Connecting!

{L to R: Steven, Bill, me and Barb}

Until next time..... Lorie