Mommy and Me Monday: Mommy and Mumbo Watching TV

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Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?  Welcome to another edition of Mommy & Me Monday.....

When I sit in my chair in the family room, at least 4 of our doggies sit with me on the chair (right now there are 5 with me because Nano is on the ottoman), either behind me on the back of the chair or on the arms.  Here is a picture of me and Mumbo as we are watching TV {of course my ever present laptop is with me, too}, he made sure I knew he was there by putting his paw on my shoulder and giving me a kiss on the ear. :)



Isn't he just the cutest?



If you'd like to participate in Mommy & Me Monday, here is all you need to do Per Krystyn's blog:

"Pop out from behind that camera and capture yourself in action with your kids. Grab the button and link up.  Make some new friends and visit some old ones, too. There really is only one requirement here, a picture of you and your baby or babies; your children, your “baby” (i.e. significant other) or even your fur babies."

So head on over, link up, visit the other participants, and don't forget to LEAVE A COMMENT, you love them so you know that other people will too!

Happy Monday, y'all.... :)


 
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Specials Savings for Valentine's Day All this Week and Next

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Valentine's Day isn't just chocolate and roses. Daily deal sites will be offering a variety of gifts in the coming weeks. Treat your significant other to a dinner out, a new haircut, or a massage. Create a memory together! Many daily deal sites will also feature products from online retailers. There's still plenty of time to ship a gift to a friend or a loved one.


For today however there IS a wonderful offer of chocolate, my favorite in fact...

Tempting Truffle Today's Save:Give the gift of gourmet goodies with $30 of premium chocolates from TemptingTruffle.com Expires 11:59 PM - Feb 02, 2011

{Disclosure: I am an Eversave Affiliate}



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Monday's Music Moves Me - Favorite Group

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Welcome to Monday's Music Moves Me... the rockin' meme hosted by me, Marie of XmasDolly, Larry of Cakeblast and Collette of Jamerican Spice that showcases YOUR music choices! We want to know what kind of music gets you movin and groovin! Here is what you need to do to join us:



First step: Head on over to You Tube, or anywhere you get your music videos and post them on your blog! Upcoming themes are to you LOWER RIGHT of XmasDolly's blog.

Second Step: Grab our "Monday's Music Moves Me" Button, below or off of any of the hosts' sites.



<br /><a href="http://thenewxmasdolly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/xmasdolly/Decorated%20images/th_retromusic1-1.gif" /></a><br /><br />


Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts, grab their buttons too when you visit them and show them some love by leaving a comment.. (mine is on my right sidebar)


Final step: Venture Out by clicking on Fellow Rockin' bloggers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love to by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!


This weeks theme is songs by your favorite group. I've posted a few songs by this group before because I really do love them. This song however really holds a special memory for me because the first time I heard it was live in concert with the love of my life, Bill. I was concentrating on the music and the words and all of a sudden I felt Bill's had on mine and then he kissed my hand. When I looked over at him, he told me he loved me. This was in 1997, we had been together for about 2 years and we had recently gotten married. I will never forget that night and I love him more now that I did then.  Please enjoy.....


Paradise by STYX



Styx - Return to Paradise
Return to Paradise


Hope you liked my song by my favorite group... who is your fave? Let me know, write a post and join us, you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple..... Drum roll, please:

Amanda from Self Sagacity ~~ and ~~ Karen from If I Could Escape

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Now, don't forget to sign the linky, visit the participants, and leave a comment - you know you like them, so does everyone else. For more Monday music fun, visit Amanda and Run DMT.


Keep on rocking, my friends!!

We're very sorry to say there has been some people not playing along, and just signing our linky so other people will stop by their blogs for giveaways or whatever! Unfortunately, these bloggers will have to be deleted from our linky. Leave a comment, grab our button, or follow us. If you don't want to post a video, you can post a link to a video, or post some lyrics, but please - at least attempt to make it music related. Thank you for your understanding.

*** Just one thing to note... We are family friendly blogs and while we don't want to censor anyone, we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG or less.

Thanks very much!***

365 Project - January 29, 30 and 31: Catching Up Again :)

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As you can see, I'm a little behind in my 365 Project, but I've been doing pretty good. I only missed a couple of days, it's hard for me because I don't get on the computer every day. Some days I'm just not up to doing everything, and Saturday I cooked instead of doing computer work. TeeHee

So, to  catch up, here are my three photos:




Suppertime at the Shewbridges





Bissell SpotBot Pet that the babies got Bill for Christmas
(I love how you can see the soap & water being sucked up)





Our baby Nano Bytes Shewbridge
(He's our #1 - just don't tell the other puppies, shhh)



To learn about or join the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page or to view all my photos or any other participant's submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.

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Monday Mingle: Non-Vlogging Style

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My dear friend Jennifer (aka Speedy) over at Eighty MPH Mom has been hosting this meme since August 2009 now and I love seeing everyone's post, but I haven't been able to participate because I don't have a webcam or a video camera so don't post vlogs. Well a couple of weeks ago Jennifer announced on her blog that she was opening up Monday Mingle to us non-vloggers... WooHoo!!! So today I am participating in my very first Monday Mingle... I hope you enjoy and think about joining and certainly visiting Jennifer and all the other minglers, they are a fantastic bunch of bloggers!!

Here is what you have to do: 

"Each week three questions are asked, and you can answer via a written post, or a vlog post. If you have always wanted to try vlogging, Monday Mingle vlog meme is a fun way to try vlogging. If you’d like to join in the fun, answer the 3 weekly questions in short vlog on your blog, or a written blog post, then link up {on Jennifer's blog} in the linky. Please post the above button within your post and link to Eighty MPH Mom, so readers can easily find other participants. Visit the other participants, learn about them and have fun! It’s not too late you can link up anytime during the week."



Easy peasy, right? So, here are the questions for this week:

1. What is one food or drink you cannot live without?  I originally thought I was going to say chocolate, but when I really put my mind to it, I have to say it's bread.  I ADORE bread, I could make a meal out of a fresh loaf of French bread and butter... or if I have some Brie cheese....OOOOO, I'm in heaven!

2. Are you a foodie? Do you like to cook or are you a food blogger?  I do like to cook, I don't have a food blog. But because of my disability, I can't do as much cooking as I'd like to. I wasn't much of a cook when I first started dating Bill, but he married me anyway... I got better over the years, then got hurt. If I find that I'm having a better day, I will do a lot of cooking that day, of course then I usually pay for it the next couple of days. HaHa.

3. What is your one easy family friendly recipe, or amazing supersecret recipe that you are known for?  I make a chicken/pasta dish that we call "Chicken Alexander" that is a Mediterranean type dish with tomatoes and olives. I have entered it into a contest and I can't publish it here right now, when the contest is over - I'll share it then. Wish me luck.  I also make an AWESOME French-vanilla buttercream frosting that was my grandmother's recipe... it is a family secret, but you can probably find something like it called a 7-Minute Frosting in a Betty Crocker cookbook - it's similar.


And that completes my very first Monday Mingle... I hope you enjoyed it. I hope someday to get a Flip cam to do real vlogs and participate fully. Please remember to join in link up with Eighty MPH Mom and visit the other participants!



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Bloggy Event: Hearts of Love at Kidsumers and My Little Review Corner

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Maggie                                Sam  



I want to let you know about a FANTABULISTIC event going on over at two of my friends' blogs. Sam at Kidsummers and Maggie at My Little Review Corner have a terrific event that starts tomorrow January 31st and runs all the way through February 14th with over $1400 in prizes available to be won on both sites - and the good news.... prizes will be available for both Americans and Canadians {did you hear that Freda???}!!


You can get to Sam's site by clicking on her button here or the event button above and by following her on Twitter @kidsumers.

Follow Maggie on Twitter @ReviewCorner or click on her buttons.

I've already got the buttons on my sidebar... I don't want to miss a thing.


Don't forget to follow theTwitter hashtag #heartsoflove all throughout the event.... I know I will be.  Good luck to you all, and let me know if you win anything, I'd love to feature you on my blog.



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365 Project - January 28th: Old Glory

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I love taking photos of the flag and this is one of my favorites. It is from Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont where we are trying to move to.

To join the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page or to view other participants submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.


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25 Years Later - Remembering the Challenger Explosion

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{Image Credit}

 On January 28, 1986 the shuttle Challenger exploded 73 after take-off as all of America, and the world,watched killing all 7 crew members including the first member of the "Teacher in Space Program," Christa McAuliffe.

Below is a video of the explosion as it happen (it is graphic, so you may not want your children to see it):

As I watched this video, I remember how devastated I felt that day, especially for Crista McAuliffe's children, Scott (age 9) and Caroline (age 6) and her husband Steven along with her students at Concord High School who were watching. I also remember how many school age children were watching that year as it was such a special occasion because a "regular" person was going up in space and that meant that any of us might have the opportunity to do so. I don't think I'll ever forget the sight and sound of the explosion, or the collective gasp when it happened.

As you go about your day today, please take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for exploration.  

{Image Credit}

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365 Project - January 27th: My Refrigerator

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I was looking at the side of my refrigerator and noticed all the colorful things on it and decided to take a photograph to share with all of you.

To join the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page or to view other participants submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.



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My Review of Bear’s Stairs™ Five-Step Mini Value Line Pet Stairs in Beige

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Pet steps are fast becoming an indispensable aid for concerned owners who value the independence of their pets. Pet stairs are useful not only for elderly or infirm dogs and cats but for little creatures that cannot reach their favorite places without jumping or human assistance.

Bear’s Stairs™ Five-Step Mini Value Line Pet Stairs in Beige

Perfect for our Doggies

By Mom to Many Pups from Central Florida on 1/27/2011

4out of 5

We purchased this for our 5 Yorkies and 1 Min-Pin/Chihuahua to get up and down off the bed. We put it at the bottom of the bed and they started using it right away, the 2 little ones who are only 6 pounds and have 3 inch legs LOVE it and took to it right away. They love having the freedom of getting up & down during the night and I love that I don't have to keep picking them up each time they get down. It is very well made and very sturdy. Because it is carpeted, the dogs have no problem going up and down, they don't slip at all.
The only two problems that I have with it is that it isn't really portable as advertised because it is pretty heavy. Also, you can see the nail heads in the sides where the stairs have been nailed into the sides because I purchased a light color. I'm sure they wouldn't be as visable in the darker colors.
Overall a wonderful purchase that we are very happy with.

(legalese)

365 Project & Wordless Wednesday - January 26th: Mandie Kathryn Shewbridge

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WORDLESS

To join the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page or to view other participants submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.




For more Wordless Wednesday posts, check out the WW Hub, leave your link, check out the other participants, and don't forget to leave a nice comment - you know you like comments, they do too!!

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365 Project - Catch Up: Boy Has It Been Crazy Around Here

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OK, so I know that I am SO  far behind in posting my daily photos... It has been really busy and I had a migraine one day last week. Then on Friday we helped out our friend who owns the dry cleaner and worked there for him all day on Friday, 7:30am - 6:00pm, talk about a long day.

I took a lot of photos, just didn't get a chance to upload them or post them. We even took Nano, Lady Mia and Mandie to the dry cleaners with us and they had a lot of fun. I also got some great photos. Some will be here, but more will be saved for later posts.

So without further adieu, here are my photos.....


January 20th - Sunset in Celebration

January 21st - Bill's new Bissell Carpet Cleaner

January 22nd - Clementines

January 23rd - Self Portrait

January 24th - Lady Mia, Nano and Mandie at the Dry Cleaners (I did NOT pose them)

January 25th - Matches from my inlaws wedding from May 15, 1938

To see all about the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page; or to view all my photos or the other participants submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.

Monday's Music Moves Me: More Songs from High School

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Welcome to Monday's Music Moves Me... the rockin' meme hosted by me, Marie of XmasDolly, Larry of Cakeblast and Collette of Jamerican Spice that showcases YOUR music choices! We want to know what kind of music gets you movin and groovin! Here is what you need to do to join us:





First step: Head on over to You Tube, or anywhere you get your music videos and post them on your blog! Upcoming themes are to you LOWER RIGHT of XmasDolly's blog.




Second Step: Grab our "Monday's Music Moves Me" Button, below or off of any of the hosts' sites.






<br /><a href="http://thenewxmasdolly.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/xmasdolly/Decorated%20images/th_retromusic1-1.gif" /></a><br /><br />



Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts, grab their buttons too when you visit them and show them some love by leaving a comment.. (mine is on my right sidebar)



Final step: Venture Out by clicking on Fellow Rockin' bloggers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love to by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!



This week's theme is Freebie, but after last week's trip down memory lane, I've been really thinking about all the great music from my high school years, so I wanted to post a few more songs from that time period. Hope you don't mind... and if you do, too bad, I'm one of the hosts and this is freebie week, I get to post whatever I want AND SO DO YOU!! HaHa... so here goes.



The first two songs are from a band that I almost got to see back then, but my parents wouldn't let me go because they found out that the guy I liked at the time was going to be going to the concert, too. DAMN!! I finally did get to see them this past spring at EPCOT.




I'm All Out of Love by Air Supply

 



.... and  Two Less Lonely People in the World by Air Supply






The next song is by another group I loved but again didn't get to see until I became an adult. I also adore this video because it includes those adorable Winchester boys from Supernatural, one of my favorite TV shows.


Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore by REO Speedwagon





Hope you enjoyed my additional flashback to high school, music is the only thing I really liked about high school... HaHa! What kind of music have you been listening to this week, write a post and let us know, you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple..... Drum roll, please:

Kirsty of Gone Bananas ~~ and ~~ Stacy of Stacy Uncorked

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Now, don't forget to sign the linky, visit the participants, and leave a comment - you know you like them, so does everyone else. For more Monday music fun, visit Amanda and Run DMT.




Keep on rocking, my friends!!

We're very sorry to say there has been some people not playing along, and just signing our linky so other people will stop by their blogs for giveaways or whatever! Unfortunately, these bloggers will have to be deleted from our linky. Leave a comment, grab our button, or follow us. If you don't want to post a video, you can post a link to a video, or post some lyrics, but please - at least attempt to make it music related. Thank you for your understanding.

*** Just one thing to note... We are family friendly blogs and while we don't want to censor anyone, we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG or less.

Thanks very much!***

An Important Message from Life is a Sandcastle

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A fellow blogger has posted this and I wanted to pass it on.....

Life is a Sandcastle: Important!!: "Here is the real deal, anyone one of us could wake up to find their child has cancer tomorrow. I know a scary fear right, and for other mom's it is the nightmare that came true. A child has it right now, Coupon Mommy of 3 daughter. I can only imagine the shock and pain the family is under right now."

Please head over to Life is a Sandcastle to find out what everyone can do to help this devestated family.

Thank you for your taking the time to read this post...

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Stylish Blogger Award ~ Aw, Shucks, You Shouldn't Have.....

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I have been blessed by two of my dear friends, Joanie of Joanie's Random Ramblings and the wonderful Marie of XmasDolly to be given the Stylish Blogger Award.  I am so grateful to both of these women because I find them both to be so sweet and generous and loving that I am beyond words in how to say thank you. 

Joanie is the mother of 3 grown children and in a relationship with the love of her life who she says "can absolutely curl her toes." I just love that about her!! The other amazing thing about her is that she is the caregiver for that wonderful man as he is battling lymphoma. However, she is always upbeat and encouraging with her posts and her comments and emails. She is truly a remarkable woman. Please head on over to her blog so you can see what an incredible person Joanie is.

As for Marie from XmasDolly, you probably all know her really well because I talk about her all the time... We have become really good friends through blogging and emails and phone calls. She and I co-host Monday's Music Moves Me {shameless plug noted} and are always trying to help each other promote things on our blogs.  Marie aka Dolly, is the mother of 4 and grandmother or 9 - though you would never know it to look at her. She is also married to a marvelous man who is a superb musician and loves her dearly, as well he should. Dolly also has some of the same medical problems that I do, so we spend time complaining to each other when we are in pain and then helping each other when we need a boost. I am very lucky to have found such a wonderful friend in Dolly.


So... onto the award. The rules of the award are:

1. I am to thank the people who awarded me (Done) and link back to their blogs (Done).

2. Share 7 things about myself. (OK, listed below, but promise you'll keep them a secret).

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers and let them know they have been awarded. - Well, I am really not one to pass on awards, so I'd like to offer this to my last 15 followers. If that is you, please take the award and write a post please and let me know who you are. I will come on over and leave you a wonderful comment. (Don't forget to leave an email.)


So here are seven things about me:

1. I started getting gray hair at age 22 but refused to let it show and colored my hair until I was 40 and it got too expensive to have it done professionally and too painful for me to do it myself.

2. My husband is 24 years older than I am... Yes, people, I am a trophy wife... NOT! I'm a kept woman. No, seriously, Bill and I met and became friends but refused to fall in love... then we refused to get involved... then we refused to move in together.... then we refused to get married. March 15th with be our 14th wedding anniversary. Oh, well..what can I say, he's a sweetheart.

3. My immediate family (mother, sisters and brothers-in-law) have nothing to do with me because of religious differences.

4. I am disabled due to spinal stenosis and spinal arthritis along with nerve damage and have had two spinal surgeries. I have 8 screws, 4 bars and cadaver bone in my lower and cervical spine.

5. I drink my coffee with one Equal and no milk.

6. My favorite thing to drink over everything is just plain water - pretty boring, huh?

7. I LOVE the fact that I have met so many wonderful people through blogging, it has become my lifesaver so many times over the last year and a half.


So, thank you so much to Joanie and Dolly for giving me this award, you are both such amazing women and I want to be like you both when I grow up. HUGGLES!!

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365 Project - January 18th & 19th and Wordless Wednesday

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WORDLESS



Peek-a-Boo Nano



Silly Bill Trying to Make Me Smile



To join the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page or to view other participants submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.



For more Wordless Wednesday posts, check out the WW Hub, leave your link, check out the other participants, and don't forget to leave a nice comment - you know you like comments, they do too!!


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Cartoon of the Day: Social Anxiety

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I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, so when I saw this cartoon, it really made me crack up.  It's good to be able to laugh at yourself, it helps you get through the day.....

Hope you're having a great day... what are you up to?

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365 Project - January 17th: Sweet Tea

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Down here in Florida, when you order iced tea, you have to specify whether you want sweet tea or unsweetened.... since we are really in the south and sweet tea is the best down here in the south.

To join the 365 Project head on over to their Facebook page or to view other participants submissions head to the "Browse Latest" page.