Tuesdays Gone, A Blog Hop

Welcome to Tuesdays Gone, the blog hop to breathe new life into your old posts. It doesn't matter the age of the post, it could be from last week or last year. Just link it up! And, take a minute to check out some of the other great old posts.



  
So, here's the rules:
Just link up an old post, and help spread the word, so more people will link up. Visit some of the other posts and leave some comment love. Then come back, every Tuesday, and do it again! Happy Hopping!


Tuesdays gone with the wind♪ (Lynryd Skynrd)






Music Monday, Summer Songs

Memorial Day seems to announce the coming of Summer, so what better way to celebrate than with Summer songs?!

With the recent passing of Jeff Conaway, it only makes sense to play the classic, Summer Nights from Grease. Grease is my all time favorite movie, and Jeff Conaway's Character Kinickie was my first crush.



The next choice is more recent, but it is already a classic Summer melody. It's just a fun song that makes me dance and sing along, Kid Rock's All Summer Long.



Hope you enjoy Music Monday, have a happy Memorial Day and a great Summer!

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Aloha Friday, Summer


Wow! This is my second of 3 Fridays in a row off! Last Friday, I was hanging out in Miami with my fellow Bloggers at SheCon. Next Friday is #1's graduation, and today is just the start to a relaxing 4 day Weekend. In honor of Aloha Friday, I'm relaxing and letting you do the talking. Today's question is:

What are you most looking forward to this Summer?

Have a happy Friday and a great Memorial Day Weekend! Enjoy this classic summer song.

List of 10 Summer Don'ts

1. Don't lather yourself in butter, and think it will help you get a dark tan. That is unless you think a dark tan is a nice shade of red with blisters a plenty. Trust me on this, not pretty.  let me go on like a blister in the sun (Violent Femmes)

2. Don't climb to the top of a bus, trailer, van or building because you think you need to be closer to the sun to catch it's rays. you might as well be walking on the sun (Smash Mouth)

3. When that nasty bubbly sunburn peels, don't peel off the skin flakes to see how big of a piece you can get. Eew Gross!

4. Don't think you're fooling anyone. We know what you're doing...Don't pee in the pool! 

5. When you look like this
Don't complain to your friends about how much weight you need to lose!


6.  Just because you saw it on the Summer runway...don't mean it's fashionable! 

7. Keep the Summer party centerpiece on the table! Don't wear it.

8. If you're gonna roll around in the grass, don't complain about all the bug bites you got.

9. If the suit don't fit... don't wear it!

10. Finally, just because you can wear it, doesn't mean the rest of us want to see it. Don't...just don't!

She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini


Mama’s Losin’ It

The End of The World, as We Know It.

I never believed that the world was coming to an end on Saturday May 2, 2011, and I don't believe December 21 2012 will be our rapture or apocalypse, either. It's not that I think we are beyond destruction, I just don't think anyone can pin the end of the world down to one day.

Our world is surely ending, but it's from our own doing, not because some God has declared a judgement day. Our world is ever changing, and much of the destruction we are seeing from tornadoes in Missouri and Oklahoma to the Earthquakes in Japan and Haiti is just part of the natural cycle. It may seem like there is more natural disasters now than ever, but it's because we are a smaller world than ever.


Only 10 years ago, cell phones were not so prevalent, 5 years ago Twitter didn't exist, and most our news came from traditional sources. We waited for the morning paper to hear what had gone on in the world the day before, and a tornado hitting a town of 100 in Oklahoma, just wasn't sensational enough to take up space on the page. Natural Disasters are not happening more frequently, we are just receiving news more frequently.

If a so called "Judgement Day" is upon us, maybe it is us that needs to cast judgement on what we as a people are doing to destroy our planet and our people.

Make today your judgement day, the day you judge yourself, and decide to make small changes that bring happiness, peace and a better environment. Make it the end of the world as we know it (REM)


End of The World

I see skies of blue, clouds of white
the bright blessed day, dark sacred night
and I think to myself
What a wonderful world
(Louie Armstrong)

5 Fabulous Blogger Connections



Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

Picking 5 bloggers is hard because there are so many great ones. So, I tried to pick 5 fabulous bloggers that I feel a special connection to, because after all, isn't that what blogging is all about...making connections?!

Shell of Things I Can't Say-  is genuinely fabulous! When a family member criticized something innocent she said on her personal blog, Shell needed a new outlet for sharing so Things I Can't Say was born. She shares stories of past romances, raising 3 boys, and tales of everyday life, and does it all with humility and a great sense of humor. Thanks to her weekly BFF posts, I've found many great new blogs including one only 2 miles from home. I had the pleasure of rooming with Shell at Type-A Conference last year, and she is just as sweet and genuine in real life as she is on her blog.

Ian of The Daily Dose of Reality-  Last year, I tweeted a open plea for someone to read a speech I wrote and give me their opinion. Ian answered that call (although, he probably regretted it after seeing how long, and dry it was,) and it really meant a lot to me. What makes Ian so fabulous is how much he has given back to Blogland. He organized a fund raiser for a fellow blogger that raised thousands, he is supportive of others, and his humor can lift anyone's spirits.

Jen of Expressions By Jen- Jen has been around blogland for quite awhile, but after getting a little too personal on her blogs she felt it best to delete them. Expressions by Jen is latest, most fabulous blog of all. She blogs about raising teens, and going green, and has a great Etsy Feature Friday, (check out the latest, cake pops, yum!)  She was my road trip partner and roomie on my recent trip to SheCon in Miami. I don't think we had a single moment without things to talk about, or laugh about. Not only is she a great blogger, but she is also a fabulous photographer!

Jenna of Resonance- Frelle, for those of you on Twitter, is just one of those people that I felt an instant connection to when I met her at SheCon. We both sing and love music, and the color purple. Her energy just fills the room with joy. We could just talk for hours about our lives. She is a truly gifted writer and a women that inspires others with her courage to make positive changes in her life, and to share her experiences. Frelle is positively fabulous!

Megan of Sweet Sadie Marie I just adore this lady! I met her at Type-A when she organized a little cocktail party, and we stay in touch on Twitter. She crafts the cutest pins, and chalkboards, and she just radiates positivity. Her writings about her daughter Sadie will just melt your heart. She is adorably fabulous.

Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Tuesdays Gone, A Blog Hop

Welcome to Tuesdays Gone, the blog hop to breathe new life into your old posts. It doesn't matter the age of the post, it could be from last week or last year. Just link it up! And, take a minute to check out some of the other great old posts.



  
So, here's the rules:
Just link up an old post, and help spread the word, so more people will link up. Visit some of the other posts and leave some comment love. Then come back, every Tuesday, and do it again! Happy Hopping!


Tuesdays gone with the wind♪ (Lynryd Skynrd)





Music Monday, New 99 Problems

I only like remakes if someone can add something new to it, and Hugo certainly put his own twist on this one. Jay-Z's 99 Problems gets a rockin' new sound with a foot stompin' beat.

Warning, in case you don't know the lyrics: if you play it around the kids, I'm not responsible for them running around singing of female dogs. Just saying!




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Writer's Workshop, Talking to Granny

Today's prompt from Writer's Workshop is: Write a poem about the last person you spoke to on the phone, based on the conversation you had.


Granny, dear
it's nice to hear
how you are this time of year

Yes, of course the family is well
What's that? you say?
your hip hurts like hell?

Oh, Granny Dear
it's nice to hear
what you'll be doing later this year

of course I, miss you too
Yes, I know
I haven't called you

Oh, Granny Dear
it's sad to hear
of my cousin's problem year

Dinner's done, I have to go
I love you, too
I hope you know

Goodbye, Granny Dear
it was nice to hear
of all the things you hold so near.



I know Granny's getting old
but really the truth must be told

I really could skip the part
of Granny squeezing out a fart

and of her stomach issues so
that she couldn't wait, she had to go

and the description of her underwear?!
that wasn't a fart she did in there!


 
Mama’s Losin’ It

Wordless Wednesday: Florida Heat

Breaking News...Florida is HOT! I repeat...FLORIDA...IS...HOT! Chocolate mailed in a plain envelope and placed in a metal mailbox under the hot Florida sun will not survive! That is all.



Where'd you come from Baby? How'd you know I needed you? (Hot Chocolate)

Tuesdays Gone, A Blog Hop

Welcome to Tuesdays Gone, the blog hop to breathe new life into your old posts. It doesn't matter the age of the post, it could be from last week or last year. Just link it up! And, take a minute to check out some of the other great old posts.



  
So, here's the rules:
Just link up an old post, and help spread the word, so more people will link up. Visit some of the other posts and leave some comment love. Then come back, every Tuesday, and do it again! Happy Hopping!


Tuesdays gone with the wind♪ (Lynryd Skynrd)






Music Monday: He is We

I was given the opportunity to review the debut album from "He is We" entitled My Forever. The album from Universal Motown Records has a nice collection of feel good songs with an earthy pop sound.

"He is We" is an indie pop duo from Tacoma, WA that met while working at a record store in their hometown. They realized they each had talent, and got together to work on their own sound. I must say they've done a good job.

The album doesn't have a bad song on it. It even gained approval from my 2 teens when I played in the car. They often disagree on what they like, and we spend the car ride skipping songs, and finding new stations, but on this car ride, they didn't complain a bit. My youngest even said "it's pretty good" which is like a 4 star rating from her.

My favorites are "Everything you do" with it's catchy ♪doo doodoo doo doodoo doodoo do I'm loving everything you do♪ refrain, and Happily Ever After which is the video selection for today.

I hope you enjoy it, and if you're looking for some lighthearted music with sounds of innocence to fill your day. Check out the Album My Forever which is available on Amazon.

For more info on "He is We" including tour dates, and more, you can find them on Facebook








Disclosure: I was provided with a CD for my review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated in any other way.

Conversations in a Dressing Room

I've overheard some funny conversations while in dressing rooms at various stores, but this one tops them all.

My dear husband decided to take me to the mall to buy my own Mother's Day gifts. He knew he was getting me some new flip flops, but he wanted me to pick them out so off we went. On our way to the Flip Flop Shop, I saw that Lane Bryant was having a huge sale, so I batted my eyes with my best "I know you hate it, but please?!" look, and in the store we went.


Hubby doesn't enjoy clothes shopping for me at all, but I love his taste in fashion, so I like to get his opinion. I dragged him over to the dressing room, so he can be close by to see my "fashion show." While we're waiting for a room, a teen girl is also waiting with her mother for a room to open up.

The mother points to a mannequin with a sleeveless top on it, and tells her daughter, "What's that in here for, it's made for a size 3?!"

Teen: "Mom, this store is for sizes even bigger than me."

Mother: "Well, just cuz they have enough material doesn't mean it's made for that size!" she goes on, "I'm sick of seeing large women with all their skin hanging out! Really, people should cover themselves!"

I chuckle, and the conversation continues as I make my way into the dressing room.

While in the room, I can hear parts of the conversation, but I don't know what was really going on until hubby fills me in on the way out.

The mother and daughter were looking at the girl's Senior pictures, and hubby was just looking around trying to ignore the conversation, when suddenly he's dragged in.

"Sir, sir, look at this, what do you think of this picture?"

Hubby: "It's nice."

Mother: "Nice?! Look at that background! It's black, and she's black. You can't even see her! She looks like a spook!"

Daughter: "I'm sorry, sir." "Mom!"


I may never get him to go shopping again!


♪People are strange when you're a stranger♪(The Doors)

Wash Away Darkness, Let in Light

Wash away the old and focus on the new
Each day is a new spring
of Roses all in bloom.



Hold on, if you feel like letting go
Hold on, it gets better than you know
(Good Charlotte)


May is Mental Health Month. 1 out of every 4 Americans live with a treatable mental health condition.

Fact: Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. (NIMH)

Learn more at Mental Health America

Tuesdays Gone, A Blog Hop

Welcome to Tuesdays Gone, the blog hop to breathe new life into your old posts. It doesn't matter the age of the post, it could be from last week or last year. Just link it up! And, take a minute to check out some of the other great old posts.



  
So, here's the rules:
Just link up an old post, and help spread the word, so more people will link up. Visit some of the other posts and leave some comment love. Then come back, every Tuesday, and do it again! Happy Hopping!


Tuesdays gone with the wind♪ (Lynryd Skynrd)





Music Monday, Rolling in the Deep

It's Monday morning, and what's better on a Monday morning, than good music?! Well, besides being able to stay in bed and avoid the world, that of course is always better on a Monday morning! But with quitting work not an option...Music it is!

This Music Monday choice is from the soulful Adele. I just love the passion in her voice, and the pounding of the bass line in this song. It's Monday and this is the music that moves me.

Enjoy!




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Graduation Hopes

In 4 short weeks, my oldest daughter will put on her cap and gown, and walk across the stage to accept her diploma.

It was only 19 years ago that I was at my own graduation. I remember the excitement as the day grew near. It was the day we had all worked towards in all those years of school. This was it, our big day!

Under our purple robes, we were all dressed in our best "going to church clothes." The day started with a banquet and rehearsal. We made our way onto the football field where our families were watching from the stands. Speeches were given, music played, I cried; many of us did. My name was called, and thankfully, I didn't  fall across the stage. Then, the final speech and caps were flying in the air. It was all over. The moment we had worked so long for was gone in an instant.

I don't remember any of the words spoken on that day, but I remember an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I had completed 12 years of school, and with the last 5 months of them pregnant. I had fought to get away from my mother, endured a long 4 months at a new school, away from my fiance' and all of my old friends, in a new home with a father that I barely knew, and a Step Mom that I thought hated me, and I had made it through. I had my diploma and in less than a week I would say my vows to my husband and begin a new journey.

On Graduation day, my Speech teacher gave me a gift. It was "Hope for the Flowers," a book about a caterpillar and its journey to becoming a butterfly. On the title page he wrote:
"Dear, (Amethyst)
May this graduation day fill your heart with pride, for you have never given up on yourself! I am a better person for having known you, and I thank you for sharing part of your life with me.
Mr. B"


Every once in awhile, I take this book out and look at it to remind myself that you must struggle before you can spread your wings and fly, and along the way, you must stop to cherish every moment, and you never know who you might meet that may learn from you, just as you are learning from them.

As my daughter prepares for graduation, I hope she knows how proud I am of her and her accomplishments. I hope she stops to enjoy every moment in her journey.  I hope she spreads her wings and flies. And, mostly, I hope that her own heart is full of pride, that she never gives up on herself, and that she knows that I am truly a better person for having her in my life.

I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky (R Kelly)



Tiny Prints provides stylish, modern and unique graduation stationery including graduation announcements, graduation invitations,and thank you cards for teens. When graduation season has come and gone Tiny Prints will still be here to fill all your stationery needs with their exclusive designs from the nation's top designers. You'll find summer party invitations, personalized greeting cards, thank you cardsbusiness cards, and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself! With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!

This is a sponsored post but the opinions expressed are my own.

Dancing About Mega Swag


I thought this was the cutest little dancing Couple on Swagbucks blog, so I had to share. I hope they don't mind.

Don't forget today is MegaSwag Day. This is the day where you can earn more swagbucks just for searching. So dance your way on over to SwagBucks and get your freebies!

Aloha Friday, A Mom and Her Money

In Hawaii, Friday is a day for relaxing. I wish that were true here, but I just have way to much work to do today! so the closest I'll get is to celebrate Aloha Friday with Kailani at An Island Life.

I stole this question from a local news channel's wall because my own answer makes me laugh.

What would your mom do if you gave her cash for Mother's Day?


Well, I tell ya, mine would probably knock me over on her way to the Casino! Hahaha! No kidding, she would!

Luck be a lady tonight(Frank Sinatra)

Put your answer in the comments below, and then join in on more Aloha Friday fun, or check out some other Friday hops.

Stalk Hop Friday


Low Entry Giveaway Ending Today

This great Giveaway is ending today. Win $25 gift Card for a fabulous beauty store. Entries are super low, so make sure you get yours in!

SkinCareRx Giveaway


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Teen Mom, No Regrets

At 9, I had my first kiss
At 10, I got my first period.
At 11, I lost my virginity.
At 13, I had my first glass of whiskey.
At 14, I was sexually active.
At 16, I dated a married man.

At 17, I fell in love, got pregnant, and fought to keep my child. My mother wanted me to get an abortion and wait til I was "older" to have children. She threatened me with never seeing Bear again. She attacked me and accused me of doing "it" to hurt her, and couldn't understand why I would do this to embarrass her. So, I moved out and got married.

By 18, when my oldest daughter was born, I had lived plenty. I was young mother but I loved my daughter and my husband and was determined to make it work. Bear and I were ready to be parents and we made sacrifices to give our daughter everything she needed.

At 20, I had our second daughter and though it was difficult raising 2 babies, we did what we had to, to care for our children. We didn't leave them with our parents so we could go out partying. We didn't expect someone else to pay our bills. We paid for daycare so we could work. We bought new clothes for them, not us, and put them above anything else. It wasn't easy being young parents, but we made it work.

At times we were hungry, but our children never were. We took some jobs that were demeaning and embarrassing. We lost our car, and lived in a hotel far from home. We walked to work in the heat and in the cold, but of all these things our children do not know.

What they knew was love, and laughter, and joy and happiness. We may have been "too young" financially but our hearts were old enough to love. Our age didn't matter for giving our children what they needed most.

At 25, we tried to have more children.
At 30, I was told I was in pre-menopause.
At 36, I am fully menopausal. (yes, I did that young, too.)

If I had waited until I was "older" to have children, waited til I had more money saved, or had a career, or a nice home, if I had waited, I would never have known the love of my children. The feeling of holding a child that needs you. The joy that comes from giving them what they need and sometimes spoiling them with what they want. If I had waited, I would not have the 2 things I'm most proud of in my life; my 2 beautiful girls.

Teen pregnancy is not always the best thing, but sometimes it's the right thing. Don't assume that just because someone is young that they can't be a good parent. With Mother's Day approaching, I'm happy to say that I'll be enjoying it with my husband of 19 years, and my 2 amazing girls, and that's the only gift I need.

What some said was a mistake, I say is the greatest decision I ever made.

Living might mean taking chances but they're worth taking. lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth making(LeeAnn Womack)

Tuesdays Gone, A Blog Hop

Welcome to Tuesdays Gone, the blog hop to breathe new life into your old posts. It doesn't matter the age of the post, it could be from last week or last year. Just link it up! And, take a minute to check out some of the other great posts.


But first, Make sure to enter the $25 SkinCareRX Gift Card . It ends on 05/05 and has less than 100 entries. Someone will win,  it could be you.

Okay, now that that's done, Let's check out some great old posts!



  
So, here's the rules:
Just link up an old post, and help spread the word, so more people will link up. Visit some of the other posts and leave some comment love. Then come back, every Tuesday, and do it again! Happy Hopping!


Tuesdays gone with the wind♪ (Lynryd Skynrd)





Personal MicroDerm Review- Update 3 years later

Update: It has been 3 years since I did this review about the PMD for at home microdermabrasion. In that time, I have continued to use it, and it continues to work great. 3 years later! I will say that I have had to buy replacement discs a couple times and I prefer the blue ones for sensitive skin. The green ones seem to be a little too course for my face, but I have used them on my hands a couple times. Everyone is different, so it's nice that the original package includes both disc types, so you can see which one you prefer. After 3 years, I still think using the Personal MicroDerm is a great alternative to going to a salon for treatment!
 
 
I have huge pores!  And, as anyone who's ever looked at a fashion mag will tell you, pores are simply not in style.  So what's a girl to do?!   

I've heard of all the benefits of microdermabrasion, and I've wanted to go have it done, but I just don't have the time or money for such a luxury. I've tried "microdermabrasion" creams, but they just left my skin irritated and my finger tips numb from rubbing them into my skin. When I had the opportunity to review the Personal MicroDerm, (PMD) I was really excited because it's not another cream, but I had really low expectations because of my past experiences.

The PMD is a handheld tool with a rotating disc of aluminum oxide crystals,  that also provides vacuum suction. It is designed so you may do microdermabrasion at home. It's just like the professionals use. Only, I'm not a professional, so for all my excitement, I was equally as scared.

After reading the box, the brochure, and the website, I carefully watched the cheesy 8 minute step by step video. I then decided that it would be best to try this on my hand first. After all, pores may not be in style but neither are hickeys...on your face!

I used the larger disc designed for large portions of the body and carefully went over my hand. It didn't hurt, at all, the skin on my hand looked younger, fresher, and most importantly...no nasty purple marks! This would be safe for my face.

I switched to the smaller disc, and used it just as the video suggested. I could see the light pink fresh skin as the PMD took off my old dead skin cells. My skin felt smooth and tight, and already I could see my pores looked smaller.

As if the smooth look of my skin wasn't enough, the amount of dead skin in the filter when I was done with my face was absolutely proof that this works!



Disgusting! huh?! Just think, all that was on my face...even with my everyday face wash and exfoliating scrub! Yuck!

I've used the PMD once a week for a few weeks now, and I can't say enough about how great my skin looks. Obviously, we can't make pores go away, but it is nice to not have it be the first thing I notice about my skin. Now, I notice how radiant my skin looks and how great my makeup looks on it!
 
I was provided this product for my review. I was not compensated in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.All posts on this site may contain affiliate links.

Tuesday Hops

Along with hosting Tuesdays Gone for linking up your old posts, I'm also joining in some Tuesday Hops.




















Stumble Tumble Tuesday










To-the-TOP Tuesday

Obama Slays Osama!

Sunday night, as I got ready to shut off the light, I checked my Twitter one more time and saw tweets that President Obama would speak at 10:30 PM. The only thing the media knew was it was on a matter of National Security. As the media speculated that maybe it had to do with Libya, or no it didn't have to do with Libya, but was something much more important to break in on a Sunday night, I began speculations of my own.

I had just finished watching Battlefield L.A., an Alien Invasion movie, and I thought for sure that this was the moment seen in all the "world is ending" movies. The moment when the President tells you the dreadful news that our planet is being invaded by extra terrestrials, or an asteroid is heading straight for us, and... our fate rests on the shoulders of one man. One man must save us all!

I woke my daughters up to tell them that they may want to watch the news because something important was about to happen.

My oldest said "I hope he's gonna cancel school tomorrow."
my response, "Really, this is bigger than, no school tomorrow!"

The youngest said "I've got school tomorrow, just let me know what he says."

For 10 minutes I was on edge wondering what this could be.

The news then hit Twitter that Bin Laden was dead.

A few minutes later, the TV reporters confirmed Twitter news with the announcement: "Any minute now, The President of the United States will announce, "Osama Bin Laden is Dead."  Again and again they said it, "Bin Laden is dead, the President will announce it."

As "any minute now" turned into 45 minutes of the media telling us news that should have come from the mouth of the President, I was starting to agree with my daughters. This was important news but, if I still have to go to work in the morning, and we were not facing Armageddon, I really could have just read it on Twitter in the morning. "Obama Kills Osama!"

It's been a long time coming and the tables turned around, cause one of us is goin', one of us is goin' down (Sick Puppies)