Weekend Fun

Photo via As You Like It from Shakespeare in the Park Dallas

Well it was a busy busy fun loving weekend.  Amazing to see the confidence level in College Girl.  She is standing tall and proud.  Well until the end of opening night of As You Like It and the cast party.  (BTW the play is well worth seeing.   We laughed our booties off.)  Polished off a big ol bottle of watermelon margaritas with me.  I was fine but sweet College Girl was beginning to feel the effects.  All is fine as she told me she woke up with no ill effects.

We also was able to see the Genghis Khan exhibit.  Such luck.  As we were driving to the metroplex Friday evening a tweet popped up that I had won 4 tickets from Frugal Teacher.  See!

frugalteacher Louise Morgan

Congratulations! @CrazedMind You are the winner of the 4 tickets to the Genghis Khan exhibit @Irvingarts #genghisdfw!

 We all went Saturday afternoon before the play.  It was a great exhibit and such fun to hang out with my girl once again.  Of course she was thrilled to see Dad aka my Dear Hubby as it has been a month for her to be with Dad.

Thankfully The Other Mom took care of things for us on the home front.  And also mentioned me in her blog post at Rants and Raves.  I was happy that I was able to help her out with the KidSwitch.  See what she had to say:

We also decided to remodel the Poo's bedroom and frame the walls and add insulation. Our home is very old and had no insulation at all and the walls are not exactly sturdy so we decided to start in her room since she has been asking for a pink room for over a year. Oh my it is so very pink and we are still not done. We still have one wall to move, one door to remove since we put a new entry door in and all new wiring to add. Then we have to finish the walls and floor. In the mean time the plywood floor is painted pink. We have added shelving and many other extras to make things easier for her to be independent. She so wants to be a big girl. Our dear friend Crazed Mind helped us out on a big one. Poo just couldn't reach the light switch without a stool and we were worried about her trying to climb up on a stool in the dark. She gave us this wonderful little thing called a Kid Switch. It is an extender lever that is about16 inches long to help her turn the lights on and off by herself. It was so easy to install and she is LOVING it! Now Crazed Mind was kind enough to give us ours but if you should want to buy one for yourself you can go to kidswitchshop.com  and enter Blog 10 in the coupon code at checkout to get 10% off. They have a good selection to choose from and it has saved me a thousand trips already. Did I mention it glows in the dark and she will turn the light on for a few minutes and then turn it back off to watch it glow. It is so great for her to be able to do things for herself and it just so happens to be entertaining for her too!
I think her room will be a work in progress for a while but she has been able to move in and sleep in there for over a week now. She is doing so great, I just wish she wasn't growing up so fast. Kindergarten starts before too long. Where does the time go?  Crazed Mind was given this item to review and recieved no other compensation. She was kind enough to share this with our family.

Getting Hip in the Bedroom

Well I have figured out some of how to help my sleeping around issues.  First off, do my best to stay in one place to sleep.  Have done that for two nights now.  Problem?  Well one night Dear Hubby slept in another bed.  Yeah we both was able to get some sleep but that is not the answer to the problem at all.

I do know that I have figured out that if I can sleep on an incline that I will rest better.  Some acid issues?  Yes.  But also I tend to breath easier and rest better.  I know we could put blocks under the top of our bed but I am not too sure of that.  And Dear Hubby loves to hog pillows so doing the 100 of pillows propping up is not really the answer.  Instead I am going for the sex toy solution.  Really!  Hey I said I have been sleeping around.....well the house here....only!

I ordered the Liberator Hipster to help me out.  Now I am sure it is great for the 'intended' uses.  But I also know that it is firm and wide.  It can handle my weight thus providing me support.  I love the curved design and imagine that it will work well to help me to sleep at an incline while being on my side.  (Just never been one who can sleep on my back.)  I found mine at EdenFantasys and went for the bold hot red color.  Tan would have matched the bedding better but it was sold out.  So guess I will let my inner wild woman come out in the color instead.

This should be arriving next week sometime.  So I will let you know how it works out.  Hey for sleeping purposes.  Any thing else is.....well.....private!  But?  I do want to thank EdenFantasys for helping me out.  They have sponsored many of my post.  With the coupons I received from them I have ordered this for me now.  Pretty sweet!   And this post too will be sponsored by EdenFantasys.  They are kind to give me a chance to order items from them in return for doing a post.  This is the first item I have ordered thus far.  We shall see how it all works out.

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Gifts to Share Giveaway

Well we are running away soon for a weekend of private times and family times both. I am so happy to get the time with my Dear Hubby. But I have to get all the things packed up. Since part of the trip will be family times I need to get the gifts I have for all ready. So as a bit of down time from packing I thought I would share them with you. (Really hot here and need to cool off for a bit!)

So first off, today is my Father in Law's birthday. He is 78 today and a retired Navy Pilot. I so love hearing him tell me about training young men to fly. Pretty hard work but well worth the time. So we have a book for him of "TopGun Days" by Dave "Bio" Baranek. Bio was one of the 451 med to become a Navy Flight Officer in 1980. (That was when Dear Hubby finished high school.) Bio became a Topgun instructor and the basis of the Topgun movie. This is his memoir of those days when he was the best fighter pilot along with being thrown into the mix of reality and movies. I am sure my Father in law will love reading this one!

Next we are off to Dallas to see College Girl and her work with Shakespeare in the Park.   They are having the opening night of "As You Like It" Saturday evening and we plan on being there.  I am carrying up the two Chicken Soup for the Soul books that I am currently giving away on My Dog's Life and My Cat's Life to share with her and my dear friend Julie.  I missed Julie's birthday and this is part of her gift along with some wonderful cooking bowls.  Make sure you pop over and enter to win copies for you too!

Sunday we are making our way to Waco then to see the Grandbabes, soon to be Grandbabe and other kiddos.  And of course we have a arm load of goodies to take that way also.  First off for the Grandbabe TK we have 'Beast Friends Forever: Book 2" with the "The Super Swap-O Surprise".  She started reading it on her visit here with me at the beginning of the month.  It is a cool chapter book that also have the illustrations of a comic book.  She was really digging it and I want to get it back to her.  It is going to be hitting the stores in August so make sure you look for it for you young ones from 7-10 years old.    And for my Grandbabe Landon I have the new Pocoyo Let's Party DVD.  This is one of his favorite shows on Nick Jr.  And his mom has been really under the weather.  I know having something to keep his attention while she rest will always help.  That it is both educational and entertaining is all a win win situation with this 90 minute DVD.  I love watching Landon when he is all excited and bouncing around  Pocoyo seems to always bring out those two reactions with him.  Can't wait to see his reaction.    Wonder if it is as good as yours?  Well you like Pocoyo right?

Well I have the new Pocoyo “Let’s Party” DVD for GIVEWAWAY.   Additionally, there are fun Pocoyo party activity pages for FREE at entertainmentthateducates.com, including party coasters, party invitations and party hats!  So we ask to enter the giveaway you first look at the:

· Pocoyo party activity pages: entertainmentthateducates.com

Leave me a comment telling me what you like the best there.  Make sure I have your email to contact you when you win too!

Extra entries can be had for any of the following.  Make sure I have a comment letting me know of each one  you do.  Add in any URL's needed and of course that ever needed email address.

· “Like” Pocoyo on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pocoyo

· Register at www.pocoyoworld.com

· Visit www.pocoyoworld.com

· Follow Pocoyo on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/pocoyo_us

· “Pocoyoize “yourself!: http://www.pocoyize.com/ (English and Spanish)

· Follow Three.Sixty Marketing + Communications on Twitter to learn the latest on Pocoyo. www.twitter.com/threesixtypr.

I will pick a winner soon!  Hope it is you.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copies of these items to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

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Sleeping Around

Yes I am married and I am sleeping around.  All around and all night long.  To tell you the truth it is quite exhausting.

We have (as many of you know) chosen not to run the a/c in our Texas home.  Quick run down.  We are not crazy we are poor.  97 year old house without insulation.  Without running a/c electric bills are around $100 a month.  With a/c running $600 a month.  Pretty easy to see decision making process.

So instead our home is open.  The doors and the windows.  Plenty of fans running too.  But in daily 100+ temperatures it is hot all day and most of the night too.  Many a night is in the high 90's at midnight still.  But we are resourceful poor folk.  Old houses have those big ol front porches and ours is no different.  With small walls and pillars and lattice work for the plants to climb.  So we put a full size bed out there to sleep on.  Hey it goes with the table that seats 8 for dinners and the small section of rocking chairs and regular chairs to relax in.  Big ol front porch....remember!

But as I was saying, we have a bed there too.  Plenty of fresh air and still privacy with the lattice work and plants hanging around.  Now this is all nice if I could just sleep.  No, not me.  Have to get up and down to run to the ladies room.  And disturb my Dear Hubby and the passel of dogs that keep watch over us.  Let me just give you a run down of how well I slept around last night.

First off I went to bed before Dear Hubby.  So I was sleeping next to the dining room windows on the porch.  All fine.  We actually had a lil rain storm and it was cooled off.  During the early night nature called.  So I pushed my pillows off the top of the bed and climbed out successfully not waking up Dear Hubby but alerting all the dogs.  Plodded off to the lil ladies room.  Well not wanting to bother the sleeping man I then moved to the rocking chair on the front porch with my feet propped up in another lil chair.  Sorta like a red-neck recliner.  That worked for a bit but had an ache in my neck.  Off I went back to the porch bed.  Climbed in, retrieved my pillows and off I went....out like a light.  Good so far.

Now of course nature calls me all night long so it was not long before I was back awake and needing to do the same thing once again.  Okay I have this routine down.  Knock off pillows, wake dogs, climb out.....wait no no no....no climbing out.  Instead massive leg cramps.  Wake Dear Hubby as I squirm in pain.  Finally he is now out of bed and I am limping to the lil ladies room.  (I am the poster child for the Vesicare Pipe Lady commercials.  Always gotta go!)  Seriously considering sleeping right in that lil room too!  But no.  I try again not to wake up the sleeping man and return to the red-neck recliner.  Crick in neck so I move to couch in the living room.  That room has finally cooled off so it should work out.  Dogs bark and cats play with my feet.  But sleep finally overtakes me once again.

Then Dear Hubby wakes and stumbles to the bedroom.  Falling across the bed there for a morning nap before work.  I try to join him as it seems a good idea to nap when sleep has not been so restful.  But no....no room.  But!  The porch bed is empty.  Off I scurry for my morning nap there.  Ten minutes later Granny M wakes and comes to the porch to wake me.  Wow how nice of her.  Now I get to start the day.

Have a plan for tonight though.  Prop open the dining room windows and when I have to get out of bed I can climb through into the house to run to the lil ladies room.  Gosh something wrong with sneaking in to my home at night.  Must be getting old.  As a teen we were trying to sneak out.  Someone help me.....I know I have lost my mind.

Smart Phone Savy

I do not normally put up public service announcements.  But if you are a smart phone user than you may very well wish to change your settings with your camera settings.  See here:

Gifts for my Family

With a weekend coming up and a new car to drive it seems we are off for a road trip.  During this time we are going to get some much needed time with just Dear Hubby and I.  But of course what is a new car for if not showing off.  So we are also going to go and see some family members too.

Now I never like to arrive empty handed so I have a few goodies to take with me.  I thought you would want to see what they are.  Never know, they might just be what you was looking for too.

First off I know I may have mentioned that my Step Daughter is not feeling too well.  She has a long term illness and it is running her down really bad.  Add that into the mix of two very active kiddos and summer vacation...well you see the problem don't you.  So I thought maybe I could help out with a lil bit of ideas on how to keep the kids entertained while not being to taking on mom.  Since she does not have internet or a computer for herself or the kids available.  I knew that "101 Offline Activities You Can Do with Your Child" was a perfect start.  We always did different projects when I was growing up.  Princess Emma is working on her sock puppets right now.  But I thought that the Grandbabes could use some direction.  Some of my favorites were Pin the Food on the Plate using magnets and paper plates.   Easy Abacus using a shoe box and uncooked noodles.  Or Two-Bit Tiddly Winks that makes me remember playing this game in our hallway when I was growing up.  I hope this will help spark their imagination and help out mom too.

I also have the brand new Pressman Toy's Dinosaur Train All Aboard! Game.  The Grandbabes love Dinosaur Train and they also adore playing games.  I feel that here is one that can work with both the 7 year old and the 4 year old.  In this game, players will choose a character – Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, Cory, Tank or Mr. Conductor – and try to move the fastest along the tracks. Speed through the three dinosaur eras: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous along the beautiful scenery. Special Stopwatch spaces will help you get closer to the nest, while Dinosaur Crossing spaces will send you back. The first player to reach the nest area in the center of the board wins.

After that we are going to get to see my Step Son, his lady and pat the belly to say hello to our future Grandbabe to be.  Not much more time and he will be here.  I can't wait!  Of course we have some items to share with this part of the family too.  First I want to make sure that my step son does not feel left out with all the attention on mom to be right now.  So I have a way for him and his dad to compete.  Yeah that always gets a guy's attention.  "The Man Test" is a a fun book with 100's of questions to test the knowledge of a real man.  Now we are not talking sports stats here.  No no no.  Instead fun trivia that will get both of them reved up.  There are questions like:
· What is the best day to negotiate a car purchase at a dealership?
· What should you do if a bear is about to attack you?
· What are the three things women lie most about online?

I also have a Chicken Soup for the Soul New Moms collection and The Miracle Ball Method for Pregnancy for the momma to be.  I know how much she loves to read.  And having the stories to lift her up as a New Mom will be perfect for her.  She is going to be so good....I just know it!  How lucky it is to be starting that journey.  I look back often on my days as a mom already.  Do you remember those first time feelings?  Some things never change for us do they?  Oh and of course to make delivery easier and get that pretty figure back into shape she can use the Miracle Ball Method.  We all know that exercise makes it so much easier to deliver.  And breast feeding alone does not make the pounds melt.  Yeah, raise your hand if 20 years later your still carrying around that 'baby fat'!  Don't we know that exercise is the key to having the figure.

Well what do you think?  Have I found the right gifts to take on my visits?  You know Nonnies have to come bearing gifts.  And I love being the gift giver!

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary items to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

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CSftS Dogs & Cats Giveaway

Good morning folks.  It is a nice cool morning here.  Yes, I said cool.  Of course it is 5 a.m. too.

Let the day begin.  I know I am late.  So many post behind.  Was just busy and tired and hot and busy still.  So time to get back in the swing of things and rock n' roll.  What to catch up on?  Humm.  

Hey!  You know what we used for bedtime stories when the Grandbabes where here?  Not the old tried n' true kiddie stories.  Nope!  We went for the Chicken Soup for the Soul books on My Cats Life and My Dogs Life (two different editions).  When College Girl was just a lil one, her favorite stories were from James Herriot's books on animals.  The "All Creatures Great and Small" set was her first series of books that we purchased.  Before it was the different story here and there.  But reading about the lives of people and how they were affected by their pets always seemed to make our day anchored.  Realizing that we are blessed so to have these creatures who love us without any reserve.  Well, the Grandbabes loved the same thing in reading the stories collected in the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.  Both of them so wanting to share their own stories of their pets.  I think we have found a winner here.  Always a new story available and many that bring a tear to your eye too. 

We can share them with you.  Yes!  You want to read with us?  Well great!  Let's do just that.  Of course the great Chicken Soup for the Soul giveaway that we are so famous for.  Ha Ha!  Leave me a comment.  YEAH, that is all you do.  Tell us what you love about your pets.  And do not forget the important parts.  What are they?  Well do you want the Dog or the Cat book first of all.  Oh and of course, how can we contact you once you win.  Come on now......I have books to share! 

Hot and Hot

Sorry I am so far behind around here. Why? Well because I am melting. It is 107 here today. YES 107! And we do not have a/c available to us in our home. How do I know it is 107? Well because it said so in my car.

My car....yes my brand new Ford Focus! Yippppeeee. We have a car. Our Dodge Durango went out and we was looking at having to replace the motor. Instead we replaced the Dodge all together. What luck. Now if only we could live in it!

Thank you to everyone at Stanley Auto Group, especially Scott Valdez!  Y'all they treated us like we were more than upstanding!

One of Those Days

I am sure you know what I mean.   Just one that all goes wrong.  Yesterday was horrid all the way around.

Image via Wikipedia
It started of hot of course.  And not using a/c really makes it unbearable in 105 degree temps.  Just way too expensive to do in my drafty old house.  Early in the day the heat had already knocked me on my hinney.  Trying to get the dishes washed was a massive chore.  Had chest pain and pain in my arm along with a blinding headache.  I had to just do a lil at a time but managed to get it all done.  Then it was time to go do some bill paying.  At least I was in a vehicle during that time. 

Yeah a/c!  Finally back at home and the grandbabes were ready for the lil pool.  Can't say I blame them.  What a great time for me to catch up on my blog since they had older ones out with them. 

Did I say catch up?  Nope.  Massive virus attack on my desk top.  Took til 12:30 AM to get it all taken care of.  In between was grandbabes crying.  Playing the Wii and controls flying into faces did not help.  Grandbabe boy teething and has many messy clothes from the side effects.  (Mom's you understand this.)  Grandbabe girl lost a tooth that was loose.  Laundry!  Dinner very late.  And heat, heat, heat. 


Image by TimOve via FlickrSo today I woke praying it would be a much better day.  Thus far I am on the fence about it all.  My 70+ yr old dad is going through some trying times.  He called this morning in tears.  Nothing I know of has broke my heart as bad as hearing his pain. 

I know I am unloading here.  And I know you will listen with gentle hearts.  That is why I am here.  Where I have online friends that understand.  Yes we all have bad days.  Just right now I am a lil overwhelmed. 

Summer Break

 So sorry folks that I have not been on much. Gosh with a trip to California and now Grandbabes are visiting. I have to get back to work here. I did not jump ship. Just jumped in the pool!

 I love the rubber duckie-a-thon going on here.  Had to get all of 'Coppies" aka Dear Hubby's collection.  What a great guy to have a rubber duckie collection. 

Encouragement

I have so much that I wish to say today. Image by kharied via Flickr

Instead I am going to ask if you will please take the time to read how this beginner runner is learning to reach for her goal....and how well she reaches past the 'wall'. 

Written with great attention to detail! 

Comments are helpful to those trying so hard.

http://techiesdoitinthedark.blogspot.com/2011/06/gone-running.html

Trip of a Lifetime

I have to finally try to share the wonderful trip I had this last weekend. I know I have hinted a lil and such. Well we all know that pictures speak louder than words do any day. I will try my best to show you the amazing time I had.

First I want to let you know that this would have never happened without the amazing invite from Shaklee Corporation. They were adoring host to 10 bloggers for a beautiful spa weekend. And of everything that happened the very best part was the way I was treated. Not the have to be nice to you. But the genuine respect given to me that I have only received from my closest family and friends.

So, I flew out of Dallas, Texas to San Francisco, California.  The first neat part was since another blogger and myself had early flights we were treated to a sight seeing tour of San Francisco.  

Granny M said I had to see China Town, so of course, I did.  You know we never tell her NO!  The color explosion was perfect for my out going personality.  I loved it!

Being the massive bread eater that I am, it was very dangerous when our driver dropped us off at Boudin Bakery for a quick bite to eat.  I resisted and resisted and finally had a cookie.  Yes, just a cookie.  Yeah me!

Thankfully I had not eaten.  That helped me not get queasy when we went down the crookedest street in the world.  Turn after turn after turn after.....whew!  Well after that it was on to Shaklee headquarters and lunch.  I have to tell you so much there....that I think it will be a story unto it self.  Will say three things though.

• 9 Strong Amazing Women Bloggers.
• A company that believes and follows through on commitment to the earth and all of it's creatures.
• Support staff that truly believe in helping each other.

We arrived at Solage Calistoga Spa that evening for dinner and to check in.  Oh my, we all need to move to a spa to live.  Beautiful is not the beginning of the description.  This was just the view from my private room.   Rooms that made you breath in relaxation.  Spa treatments (I had the mud bath!), wonderful meals and the most lush grounds ever.  Also I have to say there were good looking men everywhere.  Oh so easy on the eyes.  And if you paused at mud bath, dear heart, this was not a wallow around in the slop....it was a velvety smooth mud made from volcanic ash, natural spring waters and essential oils.  Better than the best lotions for your skin.  Top it off with a long soak in the tub and a musical massage.  Your body is humming contentment afterwards.

There were tons of amazing people we met.  Learned more in two days about blogging than I thought I could ever take in.  And was wined and dined til I felt like royalty.  A trip to Hall Winery was more than I ever bargained for.  Artwork all over the place.  I took tons of photos there.  Especially loved the sculpture of the two enjoying a glass of wine together.

This hall here with barrels of wine in the making leads to the tasting room deep into the wine cave.  Lined with nooks to show off some their art collection and built with ancient Austrian bricks.  I just expected a monk to come down the hall in his brown robes.

And then we tasted nectar of the gods.  Drops of love, poured into crystal and then touching our lips.  A religious experience to say the least.

Finally the grand finale.  Dinner at the Bottega restaurant ran by Chef Michael Chiarello.  You may have watched him on Top Chef Masters, the Food Network’s Easy Entertaining, Fine Living, and PBS.  Our meal consisted of some of the following.

• Insalata del Bosco Organic greens, balsamic vinaigrette, sliced pear, candied hazelnuts, Pecorino
• Organic Prosciutto "house cured," pasta fritta
• Crispy Potato Gnocchi, baby vegetables, English pea-meyer lemon fonduta, & 11 month Valley Ford Montasio
• Pan roasted halibut alla Barcaiola with creamy soft polenta & heirloom tomatoes
• Olive oil carrot torta, carrot golden raisin salad, mascarpone crema

To die for food. And you may think this is silly but the creamy soft polenta will beat the best Southern Mashed Tators anyone has ever made.  I am still smacking my lips.

An amazing once in a life time trip in my opinion.  Opportunity to have experiences that leave my head reeling once I figured out how unattainable the products were that went into the making of this experience.  Thankful beyond words.

Oh, and not to leave out, my very favorite token from the whole weekend, my Cloudscape tumbler.  Thank you Roger.  I treasure the thought behind this gift.  It is greatly appreciated.

And the Winners Are?

Image via WikipediaHello everyone. Miss me? Gosh was amazing weekend. And will share more later. But, having been away from home for about two weeks means I have to get the house cleaning caught up.

No, not the dishes, laundry and sweeping......well yeah, gotta do that.  But I need to tell you who has won all the goodies I have been giving away.  So....let's not put it off.  Oh and don't you wish it was all for just you?

This is Just Exactly Like You , a great debut novel, is awarded to:

Liza767 said...i would love a chance to win these books  Liza767 [at] rocketmail [dot] com  

 

The signed copy by Chef Richard Chamberlain on The Healthy Beef Cookbook, is awarded to:

candace said... visited texas beef council on line candace smilie gibbons 

 

The Big Bag Texas Beef Giveaway with Nolan Ryan Beef Gift Certificate is awarded to:

kristyemac said... Whew...Hope I'm doing all this right! I'm always following you, may even be a stalker! Registering for the Big Bag Texas Beef Giveaway...and my favorite beef dish is a big fat medium rare ribeye steak! 

 

Veggie Tales Live! DVD with 18 silly songs is awarded to: 

amweeks said... I hope it's not too late to enter! We all love the Pirates who don't do anything song! And Larry's Hairbrush song (i gave it to the peach...cuz he's got hair! LOL!) 

 

Gnomes Are Here Giveaway of Gnomeo &   Juliet DVD or Blu-Ray is awarded to:

Stephanie said... I follow via GFC (thegrants)

Congrats to all of these winners. I will be contacting you through email today. If I do not have a response in 24 hours then I will redo the drawing to a new winner. So check out your email folks!

Success meets Amazing

Is there anyway I can begin to share my day with you?  I am not really sure.  You know when so much has happened around you that there is just more than can soak in.  Well I am there, but in a good way.  First off if you could see my smile shinning....lighting me up all over.  Than you would know that today has been amazing. 

The spa.  Yes beautiful even in the drizzle and rain.

The other ladies?  Phenomenal.  Strong.  Out spoken.  Supportive.  And on fire to share the amazing ways they have all succeeded in their lives. 

The company?  Well let's say....not your average glut of let's see how we can get the most return for our money and sock it to you too.  NO!  A company that knows that the quality of life is what we are all striving for.  A company that shares the profits with those who helped acquire it.  But the best (honestly), a company that has a big heart to only be successful by improving the world in which we live.  That is amazing to me. 

So who are these people and company.  Personally.  They are Shane from Environmental Booty, Sommer of Green and Clean Mom, Christine chairing OMG I so need a glass of wine or I'm gonna sell my kids, Carla sharing Momeo Magazine, Louise Edington, Janet the Social Media Queen, Brandy Mychals, Nika The Laptop Mom and Adryenn giving us Wow is Me.  Nine women that are successful in their expertise.  And more so, nine women who get it.  You can have your cake and eat it too.......if your willing to share it with others. 

Now here is the revel.  Shaklee is the company behind our great pleasurable weekend.  this is a company that has made a major impact on this earth.  And been pretty quiet about it.  They have NO, yes No carbon footprint left on this earth.  Green is not a word or color.  It is their life that they share with others.  Best of all, really looking at how they can share their products and profits with others to help both become successful.  Pretty amazing in this day and age of all me lifestyles. 

So much more to tell you.......alas......almost midnight....on the west coast.  Dang, bed calling me.  Thankfully it is a big ol soft one.  Cause here I come!

I Have Made the Escape

Okay, I am officially running away from home.  It is beautiful here in Calistoga, California at the Solage Spa.  Even with the drizzle of the rain.  I can handle that.  It has been so long since we have had a long nice drizzle at home.  The earth is parched and needs a good drink just like this. 

This is the view of the lil courtyard from my private room.  Everyone here has done so to make me feel comfortable.  Relaxed and stress free.  And oh, ladies, the guys here are devine to look at.  Whew!  Don't go telling Dear Hubby, but oh my eyes are drinking it all in.  More so I am meeting other bloggers who have been so amazing.  Running their homes, businesses and blogs with a deft hand.  I am the country clod who has come to town to sample the wares.  So nice of them to accept my down home ways and let me just be me. 

I really am ready for today.  After a nice meal with the best conversation from Shane last night.  This lady is on the mark to help you decide just how you can help make those lil one by one changes to help your home be more earth friendly.  Check out Environmental Booty, no no not that kinda booty guys, but a site with wonderful ideas that we can all adapt to.    Then I was off to my room and the BIG OL tub to soak in.  You bet I was just like a pig in mud....wait that is tomorrow....no honest.  I will almost sell my big toe for a good ol soak.  And I promise I did soak every care away.

By the way, anyone wanna sponsor a lazy ol happy housewife?  I sure could run away if it was like this.  Come on girls, join me in a mental happy 5 minute run away.  Where would you go?

Earlier Today

Well folks, I am high up in the clouds. Flying to California right now. I am surprised that this is really happening. Lucky to have a window seat which is my preference. To look out at the clouds and marvel the ability that this big ol tin can is soaring through the air.

I use to do this often. In my previous life, abet when I was much younger, I was a business woman. And travel to and from was quite common. Of course I mostly saw airports, hotels and meeting rooms. I will see several of those items once again this weekend. But there is more. Lucky as can be there is extra time to sight-see in San Francisco this morning. Arriving earlier than most so a car and driver has been made available to me and one other blogger from Canada. I wonder what we will see. The Golden Gate Bridge? China Town? The Painted Ladies? Love having time to do the tourist thing even if it is just for a few hours. Tonight I will be at the Solage Spa. Beautiful I am sure. I can’t wait to see the place. Pools, hot tubs, places to work out and walk about. They even have bicycles for us to use to travel into town. Tomorrow there is a wine tasting and dinner in Napa Valley. And Sunday morning is my mud bath from the spa. I chose it as it would be something I would never get to do. And there is a big ol tub to sit in and relax when cleaning up. That alone will make me happy.

Of course there are meetings all through out the whole process. And I get to learn much. I can’t wait to be able to share it all with you here. I am nervous. Excited! And a bit pensive. Time away from home, Dear Hubby and just general control of my surroundings. This is a step back in time for me. But also an amazing chance to see different places, meet different people and more so, learn different things. Wish me luck.

My Airline Trip Giveaway

Well today I am off in the wild blue yonder. Yeppers, flying to California as we speak. So excited about my trip. But I have been doing all I could to be prepared. Not having flown since before 9-11 I was not use to the new security check points. Had to make sure I had my lil bottles of soap and all that could not be confused as dangerous materials. Oh and my meds are a bag unto themselves I think. Gosh getting old is not an easy task.

But I did have my ol standby. A good book in my purse. Thankfully I have a pretty good size purse as my book of choice is "Johnny One-Eye" by Jerome Charyn. Yes that is the same Jerome who wrote about Emily Dickenson and Babe Ruth.  This time we are visiting the American Revolution through a interesting tale of intrigue and spics that are not quite spies.  Oh and let's not forget the ever present 'nunnery' aka the local whore house where everyone gathers.  Hey, you have to be able to entertain the troops some how.  Actually, I am enjoying this story even if it is a lil on the far fetched side for me.  Not sure life would happen this way but if your wanting to have all the interesting ins and outs of the 1700's then here it is.  The cast of characters from the great George Washington to Benedict Arnold on to the British Howe brothers officers and free slaves twirled around a cast of very strong women roles, not a bad combination.  I am in the last third of the book and hope to finish it on my plane ride today.  Really wondering where it will end up as the main character Johnny has experienced the highs and lows of war time.  From losing his eye in a battle where he was the scribe to Benedict Arnold to currently being on a British prison ship.  He has served as a double agent for both sides, swooned over a whore he will never have, narrowly escaped death yet survived being tarred and feathered to even being at some of the most interesting private meetings of the time.

I am so lucky to also offer you a FREE hardcover copy of Johnny One-Eye .  It is not light reading but a book that will keep you rivited to the story line.  All you need to do is leave me a comment here (include your email please).  That will be your first entry.  If you would like extras then please like the following two facebook pages.  Tell them Crazed Mind sent you and leave comments here for both.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/jerome.charyn
http://www.facebook.com/JohnnyOneEyeBook
And an extra would be to leave a post with twitter letting them know @CrazedMind sent you over at:
http://twitter.com/jeromecharyn
Remember to comment back here to have it as an entry in the giveaway.   Good luck. 



And as always, any item I review is not a paid review. But my thoughts on that item are all my own. I may be provided with the item to have it to review but that is all.

Time to Fly

Daddy Day Care

As your well aware I am playing hooky from home.  Getting to hang out with my girlfriend and College Girl before I do my own my own trip to California.    I am so excited about that!  But I have left the house in control by Dear Hubby.  And of course as any well knowing wife would tell you, that is SCARY!  Well, not scary scary but on no what will happen scary.  Of course he is being monitored by his youngest daughter, the Wee One.  Had to leave a lady in control of him.  Granny M is doing much of the cooking and overseeing too. 

Now this all leaves me to think of what does Dear Hubby know about his home.  And the more I think of it the more I realize it is not the home he knows about.  It is his daughters.  He is a lucky man to have 3 beautiful girls.  And they each have set his heart on fire to look out for them the best he can.  More so, I am thrilled that he also has the great ability to listen to each one.   He has complied much knowledge this way.  Learning from the logical College Girl, to the happy go lucky Wee One and on to the mature out look of his beautiful Grandbabe's Momma.  I do not think he needs to be told what his girls think as much as be reminded of the wisdom he has gained from them.  So for Father's day this year he is going to get just such a book.

"In Search of Fatherhood: A Mother Lode of Wisdom from the World of Daughterhood" is a book that is just like this.  Author Kevin Renner woke up one day with one glaring realization: he didn¹t know his daughters very well.  When he asked himself 'What does a good father look like?' and no answer came to mind, he decided to find out. He interviewed 50 women from around the world for In Search of Fatherhood. The book is the first step toward his goal of having a lasting influence around the world on fathers, daughters, and their relationships. The process taught him the importance of tough love, and how everything that he does as a father, and that every father does, communicates in subtle yet lasting ways. He learned the many ways in which their fathers—good, bad, and in-between—had affected their lives. Young and old, rich and poor, well known and anonymous, these women became guides on the author’s journey into fatherhood.




And as always, any item I review is not a paid review. But my thoughts on that item are all my own. I may be provided with the item to have it to review but that is all.