The Shewbridges of Central Florida

Monday, January 30, 2012

Monday's Music Moves Me: 1/30/2012 ~ On Broadway

First things first this week... Wishing our very own Callie a very Happy Birthday!! HUGGLES....

Here is what you need to do to play along.....

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, mine is on my right sidebar, or off of any of the hosts' sites.

Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts (we will all follow you and try to comment each week), grab their buttons too when you visit (mine is on my right sidebar above the 4M button) and show them some love by leaving a comment.

Final step: Go visit the other Rockers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!

Today's theme is BROADWAY MUSICALS so pick whatever songs are on your mind, write up your post and share with us because we love music and we love you all. Here are the songs that I love from some musicals that I have seen or would LOVE to see......

Seasons of Love ~ RENT (This one I saw, LOVE this song!!)

Hello Dolly ~ Carol Channing
(I have seen this one with the GREAT Carol Channing, herself - it was AWESOME!!)

Wells Fargo Wagon ~ The Music Man (with a very little and totally adorable Ronny Howard)

Edelweiss - Sound of Music
(This one I saw off-Broadway with Christopher Plummer as Capn. Von Trapp many years later than 1965 when this was filmed, but he still sounded just as wonderful - I just couldn't find a clip.)

The next two songs are from a show that I would LOVE to see but haven't. Bill has bought me the DVD and I have watched it many times because the music is just fabulous.....

This Jesus Must Die - Jesus Christ Superstar

Superstar - Jesus Christ Superstar

This last song is my tribute to Elvis this week. I saw this show with the second generation Osmond Family and it was terrific.

Song of the King - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Hope you enjoyed all those songs, I could have listed many more. Bill and I used to go to the theater at least once a month when we lived up north and were both working. =) I really miss it, I just love the whole idea of getting dressed up and going and seeing the show and hearing the music. I usually ended up crying at every show I was so moved.

Once you write up your post, don't forget to sing the linky (on any of the host's blog - they are all connected) and you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple in our #1 and #2 linky spots.....

Rebecca of Let Them Eat Cake ~~ and ~~ Annie of Annie's Home

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Don't forget... if you are one of the lucky ones chosen for our spotlight dance, you get to grab the Spotlight Dancer Button from Dolly's right sidebar and proudly display it on your blog... WooHoo!

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 my friend Denise at Run DMT.

ROCK ON MY FRIENDS

I'm very sorry to say there are some people not playing along just using our linky to get traffic for their blogs! Unfortunately, these bloggers will be marked and ignored, you will not get any benefit from our linky, so don't bother. All we ask is that you leave a comment, grab our button, ad/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.

*** Just one more thing...

PLEASE, we are family friendly blogs

and while we really don't want to censor anyone,

but we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG13 or less.

If you find that you need to post songs of an explicit sexual nature or language, please find a different venue.

If your song does contain a small amount of questionable Language, please put disclaimer BEFORE the video.

Thank you very much!***

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Common Questions about Winter Skin

~ I’m using the ANTI-AGE Regimen as directed and my skin has recently become dry and a little flaky. Should I stop using the Daily Cleansing Mask?

~ Skin and skincare needs change over time. Dryness could be the results of a few things: changes in diet, hydration, weather or activity levels. The ANTI-AGE Regimen helps to increase cell turnover. As new cells push up toward the skin’s surface, the old cells are forced to fall off and unfortunately some cells won’t let go. As a result, skin appears dry and flaky. We suggest that you gently massage the ENHANCEMENTS Micro-Dermabrasion Paste (I myself, LOVE this, and Bill also uses it, too!!) on wet skin one to three times a week as tolerated in place of the ANTI-AGE Daily Cleansing Mask to lift off flaky skin.

If your skin still feels dry, we recommend applying ESSENTIALS Moisturize with Melaslow several times a day, as needed.

~ My sister told me to wear sunscreen in the winter but it’s snowing and cloudy—what’s the point?

~ The aging rays of the sun, UVA rays, are present 365 days a year, rain or shine, sunup to sundown. They are as strong at 7 a.m. as they are at noon and even 7 p.m. They are so powerful they can penetrate clouds, rain, snow, glass, some plastics and clothing (especially loose cotton weaves and wet fabrics).

UVA rays destroy our collagen and elastin, causing wrinkles and sagging over time. UVA rays also stimulate pigment-producing melanocytes to release brown melanin, resulting in “liver spots” on the face, hands and chest—a true hallmark of aged skin.

Take your sister’s advice and protect your skin year-round with a Rodan + Fields broad spectrum sunscreen that is designed for your skin type every morning before you leave the house, and reapply throughout the day.

Each skin regimen has a sunscreen for your face and decolletage - use our Solution Tool to find out which regimen is right for you. Plus we provide a wonderful SPF 30 body sunscreen that is lightweight, non-sticky and non-greasy and contains contains dimethicone to protect skin’s moisture barrier along with antioxidant vitamins C and E.

Thank you to Mary Radford, RN; Director of the RF Connection at Rodan + Fields Dermatologists for the answers to these questions this month.

Nurse Mary and her team of Nurses and trained product experts at the RF Connection stand ready to answer your product and skin related questions.

Disclosure: I am an independent skin care consultant with Rodan + Fields and I would love to help you discover what skin care regimen is right for you or how becoming a business partner with me can change your life. Please head on over to my website to see the products or to learn more about how this incredible opportunity is changing skin and changing lives, I'd love to have you join my business team! LJSBlog@aol.com (407) 433-2806

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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Tribute to Mai-Li Louise Shewbridge 06/05/05 - 01/13/2012

As most of you know, we lost our littlest Yorkie, Mai-Li, on Friday, January 13th. She was only 6 1/2 but had several health problems since she was little, or since she was young I should say since she only weighed a little over 4 pounds. She was lucky enough to have given birth to two litters, of which we have one baby each: Mumbo and Wiggles. Here they are all together.....

(L-R) Wiggles, Mumbo, Mai-Li

We adopted all three of them in June of 2010 when their original owner, who we also got Nano and Mia from, was no longer able to care for them. It was only supposed to be for a few weeks but it turned into a permanent thing and we fell in love with them just like they were our own children... I mean, how could you not? Look at those faces....

About the same time, we had adopted our Min-Pin/Chihuahua, Mandie (not knowing we would have 3 other permanent house guests) because she had been abused in her former home. Here is a group shop of them all when we first got them all.....

(L-R) Nano, Mia, Mandie, Mai-Li, Wiggles, Mumbo

And here is a photo from this past Halloween.....

(L-R) Pirate Mandie, Bumble Bee Mai-Li, Capn. Jack Nano, Angel Wiggles,
Hotdog Mumbo, and Princess Mia - who wouldn't wear her hat

And finally here is our Christmas photo from this past year (you may have seen it already, but I love it).....

(L-R, Top) Mai-Li, Wiggles in Polka Dots; (L-R, Bottom) Nano, Mia
Mandie, and Mumbo

Such sweet babies, who are so good and give as much, or even more, love as they get!

Mai-Li was my little snuggle bunny, she loved to sit next to me, on the arm of the chair, while I was working on my laptop. Then when she was sick of me working, she would climb down onto my lap and put her paws onto the keyboard so I couldn't type. She LOVED to watch TV, especially any kind of animal, and NEVER missed a dog on a show, movie, or commercial. She adored the piggie "Maxwell" from the Geico commercial and would get so excited and jump and bark her hoarse little bark (due to her esophageal problem) every time it was on TV. She also loved watching the Pug Screen Cleaner - she would give "Charlie," as we named him, kisses and then try to find him behind the computer when I closed the program... it drove her crazy. She would then jump on me and give me kisses.

There are SO many things that remind me of her, that I find myself crying a lot over the last couple of weeks, she was such a loving and friendly dog. When we took her out for a walk, she didn't wear a leash because of her breathing problem and she would visit everyone, most of whom loved her. When she couldn't walk anymore because he was too tired, she would ride in a pouch on my chest facing OUT so she could see everything that was going on, every once in a while giving me a kiss.

Then at bedtime, she would lay on my pillow right above my head, lying on my shoulder, giving me kisses every once in a while. Then she would fall asleep on my pillow above my head in a ball and snore softly.

Here are some of my favorite photos of Mai-Li during the time that we were so very lucky to love her and care for her in our home.....

Bill buried Mai-Li under the lemon tree in our back yard, where she loved to sit for shade, then he put a small plant on her grave - we are looking for a flowering plant to replace it.

The night after she passed, when I set out the food dishes, I only set out five, but not one of the doggies would touch the first dish, which was always Mai-Li's dish. I couldn't believe it, they shared the other four and left her dish alone.

The other dogs have slowly gotten used to Mai-Li being gone, poor Wiggles and Mumbo lost their mama, but they are doing well. Mumbo has become a bit more clingy to me and has now started loving to be help and cuddle with me - he also likes to be rocked like a baby while I hum. He has taken over the arm of the chair where Mai-Li used to sit. Slowly we are getting back to normal.

Thank you Mai-Li for bringing so much love and light into our lives. We love you and think of you often. Two dear friends sent us this beautiful poem based on a Norse Legend called the Rainbow Bridge that was truly meaningful and comforting. (Thank you Bette & Meryl!)

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Thank you all for being there with your comments on Facebook, Twitter, and your emails over the last week and a half during my very difficult time. They have all meant the world to me and have helped me start getting back on tract and back to my normal activities. HUGGLES ALL!!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Monday's Music Moves Me: 1/23/2012 ~ Are You Ready for Some Football?

Welcome to 2012's Monday's Music Moves Me!!! We are going to make this meme SPECTACULAR this year!! But of course, we cannot do that without all of you... so come on share your music with us and get your friends to share with us, too. Our fearless leader is none other that the sweetest and most wonderful Marie of XmasDolly. Helping her keep this train running are ME, my dear friend Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and the lovely Callie of Jamerican Spice. We will also have some helpers along the way when we need to because life is.... well, life!

Here is what you need to do to play along.....

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, mine is on my right sidebar, or off of any of the hosts' sites.

Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts (we will all follow you and try to comment each week), grab their buttons too when you visit them and show them some love by leaving a comment.. (mine is on my right sidebar above the 4M button)

Final step: Go visit the other Rockers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!

Today's theme is FREEBIE so pick whatever songs are on your mind, write up your post and share with us because we love music and we love you all. Due to the playoffs we watched this weekend and the Super Bowl in two weeks, I decided to showcase some football songs. Hope you enjoy.

This first one, I thing everybody knows, it is synonymous with football.....

(Monday Night Football Theme) Are You Ready for Some Football ~ Hank Williams, Jr.

Now, Sunday Night Football has their own theme too.....

SNF on NBC ~ Faith Hill

I found this one and thought it was just too funny not to post.....

Football Song Parody ~ Evan Salibi

And one more to honor my NY Giants who are HEADED TO THE SUPER BOWL!! WooHoo!!

We Are The Champions ~ Queen (featuring the incredible Freddie Mercury)

Once you write up your post, don't forget to sing the linky (on any of the host's blog - they are all connected) and you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple in our #1 and #2 linky spots.....

Lori of Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book

~~ and ~~

Rachel of Because I Have To

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Don't forget... if you are one of the lucky ones chosen for our spotlight dance, you get to grab the Spotlight Dancer Button from Dolly's right sidebar and proudly display it on your blog... WooHoo!

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 Lady Estrogen and my friend Denise at Run DMT.

ROCK ON MY FRIENDS

*** Just one more thing...

PLEASE, we are family friendly blogs and while we really don't want to censor anyone,

but we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG13 or less.

If you find that you need to post songs of an explicit sexual nature or language,

please find a different venue. If your song does contain a small amount of questionable Language, please put disclaimer BEFORE the video.

Thank you very much!***

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Clinical Depression - I Have Nothing to Be Ashamed Of.....

As some of you know, I suffer from clinical depression as part of PTSD, which my doctor and I have been treating with medication and therapy for several years pretty successfully. I have had a setback recently with the loss of my little doggie Mai-Li, but with the help of my wonderful husband and the many, many wonderful messages from several of you fabulous friends on Facebook and Twitter, I am slowly, day by day, getting better. I want to thank you so much for your love and friendship throughout this most difficult time.

I also wanted to explain just what clinical depression is to help you understand the symptoms and see that it is something that is truly a medical condition which people can't just "snap out of" but actually need medical attention. However, with the right help, there is hope and people can get better.

The following are a list of symptoms to help diagnose clinical depression:

Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day

Loss of interest or pleasure in most activities

Significant weight loss or gain

Sleeping too much or not being able to sleep nearly every day

Slowed thinking or movement that others can see

Fatigue or low energy nearly every day

Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt

Loss of concentration or indecisiveness

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must have five or more of the above symptoms over a two-week period with at least one of the symptoms must be either a depressed mood or a loss of interest or pleasure. It also causes noticeable disruptions in daily life, such as work, school or social activities. I have been through periods in my life when I didn't want to get out of bed, or leave the house. Fortunately symptoms, even severe ones, usually improve with psychological counseling, antidepressant medications or a combination of the two.

Depression is nothing to be ashamed about, remember that is is a medical disorder, just like an apendicitis, that needs treatment. There have been many influential people and celebrities who have recently talked about their struggles with depression in order to help take away the shame many people feel goes along with depression. People such as actress Brook Shields, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actors Harrison Ford and Hugh Laurie, as well as football player Terry Bradshaw, who is an advocate to remove the stigma of depression.

So, if you find yourself or any of your family or friends with these symptoms, DON'T be embarrassed or think they will just go away. PLEASE talk to your doctor, there is help for you, you can get better. Believe me, it is worth it!

And again, thank you all so much for all your wonderful thoughts, prayers and comments last week during such a terrible time for me.... Now you can understand HOW much it truly helped me.

{For further information see: Mayo Clinic Health Information}

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Monday, January 16, 2012

Monday's Music Moves Me: 1/16/2012 ~ Our Wedding Day 1997

Today's theme is Songs played at your wedding (or the year of your wedding). If not married your favorite song when you were 21 - so pick your songs, write up your post and share with us because we love music and we love you all.

Bill and I got married in 1997, and as you can see by the invitation above, (were you surprised by the Mickey and Minnie on it???) Nikolaus and Alexander gave me away...

Here are some songs from our wedding and our love story.

The first song we ever danced to and we played during our wedding.....

Wonderful Tonight ~ Eric Clapton

This is another song that means a lot to both of us and we danced to at our wedding.....

Because You Loved Me ~ Celine Dion

This song is "our song" - it says everything that Bill and I mean to each other and it is the first song that we danced to at our wedding.....

I'll Always Be Right There ~ Bryan Adams

Our first dance:

Then by the end of the night, we were partying to rock and roll (would you expect any less from me) with all our friends.....

You Shook Me All Night Long ~ AC/DC

Now, you know there were a couple Elvis songs during the wedding, too, but since I did a complete post to him last week, I decided not to post any this week. =)

What did you play at your wedding? What are your memories? Once you write up your post, don't forget to sing the linky (on any of the host's blog - they are all connected) and you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple in our #1 and #2 linky spots.....

Gillian of A Daft Scots Lass ~~ and ~~ Tom of Indroducing Mr. Cool

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Don't forget... if you are one of the lucky ones chosen for our spotlight dance, you get to grab the Spotlight Dancer Button from Dolly's right sidebar and proudly display it on your blog... WooHoo!

ROCK ON MY FRIENDS

*** Just one more thing...

PLEASE, we are family friendly blogs and while we really don't want to censor anyone,

but we do ask that you keep your songs rated PG13 or less.

If you find that you need to post songs of an explicit sexual nature or language,

please find a different venue. If your song does contain a small amount of questionable Language, please put disclaimer BEFORE the video.

Thank you very much!***

Sunday, January 15, 2012

I'm In a Funk

As most of you know, I lost one of my dear little doggies last Friday. I have been in a bit of a depression since then and have not felt much like blogging. I am working on a tribute post to her and will also get to visiting you all soon.

I want to thank you all so much for your kind words on Twitter and Facebook, your love and friendship has meant more than you can ever know.

Thank you so much, love and hugs from Lorie, Bill, Nano, Lady Mia, Mumbo, Wiggles, and Mandie

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Canine Freestyle Dancing - Incredible!

I found an article on AOL regarding exercise for you and your dogs and one of the recommendations was Canine Freestyle Dancing. I could never see our dogs doing this, but the following video is incredible. Hope you enjoy it.....

How adorable is that? Don't they look like they are having fun?

Monday, January 9, 2012

Monday's Music Moves Me: 1/9/2012 ~ In Honor of the King

Welcome to 2012's Monday's Music Moves Me!!! We are going to make this meme SPECTACULAR this year!! But of course, we cannot do that without all of you... so come on share your music with us and get your friends to share with us, too. Our fearless leader is none other that the sweetest and most wonderful Marie of XmasDolly. Helping her keep this train running are ME, my dear friend Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and the lovely Callie of Jamerican Spice. We will also have some helpers along the way when we need to because life is.... well, life!

Here is what you need to do to play along.....

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, mine is on my right sidebar, or off of any of the hosts' sites.

Third step: SIGN THE LINKY - Follow your hosts (we will all follow you and try to comment each week), grab their buttons too when you visit them and show them some love by leaving a comment.. (mine is on my right sidebar above the 4M button)

Final step: Go visit the other Rockers on our Linky and PLEASE show them some love by leaving them a comment, you know you like comments, they do too!

Today's theme is FREEBIE, you get to choose anything you've been groovin' to - so pick your songs, write up your post and share with us because we love music and we love you all.

Today, I am choosing to honor the King of Rock and Roll because yesterday would have been his 77th birthday (of course you know I did a post on that). So to the man who is my favorite singer of all time, a tribute... Rest in peace and know we will never forget you!

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

You Don't Have to Say You Love Me

She's Not You

..... and one of my favorites, plus he is wearing the black leather! {{{SWOON!!}}}

Can't Help Falling in Love

I hope you enjoyed my tribute to The King... Now, once you write up your post, don't forget to sing the linky (on any of the host's blog - they are all connected) and you may be chosen as our SPOTLIGHT DANCERS like this week's lucky couple in our #1 and #2 linky spots.....

Lucy of Lucy's Reality ~~ and ~~ Karen of If I Could Escape

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Don't forget... if you are one of the lucky ones chosen for our spotlight dance, you get to grab the Spotlight Dancer Button from Dolly's right sidebar and proudly display it on your blog... WooHoo!