madameblogalot

The Brave Little Tailor: I actually saw this show at the end of July and forgot to list it last month! It was performed by kids at a local community theater. It is the first show my own children performed in. I had really wanted my daughter to be in it, just for old times’ sake. While she was unable to, we both enjoyed the show. It was a HIT for us.

The Mousetrap: As this is the first play my husband was in, I wanted our kids to see it. We all enjoyed the adaptation we saw. I thought it was weird the way they played up the humor, making it a much less intense show, but that made it more family friendly in a way. The audience laughed a lot throughout the show. Although I did not remember the humor in it, I still rate it as a HIT.

Night at the Museum 2: It seemed as if this show tried a little too hard to be funny/silly for little kids. There were some pretty insipid parts. But I did find myself laughing out loud a couple of times. I thought the girl who played Amelia Earhart did a great job (maybe better than the actress who played her in the recent movie!) I did enjoy watching the show with my daughter. I would rate it as neither a HIT nor a MISS.

Catch Me If You Can: I have seen this show a number of times, mostly on tv. Since my daughter had not seen it, I agreed to rent it and let her see it. She was fascinated by the “smarts” Frank Abagnale Jr had in outsmarting, well, everyone. While I did not like seeing the sex scenes with my daughter, we just fast forwarded through them, and enjoyed the rest of the show. I am glad it ends with Abagnale’s turn around to help the FBI and designing secure checks. This show is still a HIT with me. I really need to find the book!

Endurance News (July): This publication put out by Hammer Nutrition has some interesting articles and good education, though much of it is “advertising” for their products. As I already use the products, it’s ok. The magazine was all right, being neither a HIT nor a MISS for me.

Reader’s Digest (June): While I don’t read every article of this magazine, I always enjoy what I read from it and always learn something. Even though I am no longer a subscriber, this magazine is still a HIT with me.

“Words of Delight”: The Bible as Literature by Leland Ryken: While interested in the subject I was prepared for this paper to be boring. But instead I found myself engaged in the subject and able to understand most of it! I learned some interesting approaches and thought there was some good insight as well. While not a HIT in one sense of the word, I will still rate it so for me and the purpose for which I was reading.

Some Suggestions for Teaching the Bible as Literature by Alicia D. Lloyd: This piece also falls under the same idea as the previous one. I will rate it as a HIT in that sense as well.

Fear of Ducks: We went to see a comedy theater act that we have not seen in a while. It is one we have enjoyed for years and they will be retiring in the spring. While we have seen this show before, we stilled had lots of laughs and enjoyed how they have updated and kept it current. We love how they “make fun” of the city and the personalities in it.

I have been officially released to start trying things again, following my surgery earlier this summer!! I was happy to hear it! The doctor made sure to stress that I can START trying things, and not all at once. I can start walking without shoes, wearing my cycling shoes, wearing other shoes, jogging and triathlon! The only thing he specifically stated to stay away from were wearing high heels and running stands/bleachers!! NOT A PROBLEM!!!!

Tomorrow is a big family surprise. My daughter and my oldest nephew have been working all summer on a special surprise for the whole family. And tomorrow will be the culmination of all the hard work. I hope it all goes over well for them! I know everyone will love it!

There are some words and phrases that just grate on me when they are said or spelled wrong. One of the biggest irritants for me is when somebody says “Calvary” when what they actually mean is “cavalry”. So when I came across this list to help people say what they mean and mean what they say, I was happy to help spread the word(s)!

It’s my husband’s birthday this weekend. We have been in “need” (want) of a new tv for a while now. We have looked at several different ones to see which kind and size we would like. Of course the 22 inch lcd tv are too small for my husband. What he really wants is the 32 inch lcd tv (well, the minimum he wants). The biggest problem for me (besides the fact that there is no money in the budget for a new tv right now) is that in order for this size to fit, he will have to make some cuts to the entertainment center he built nearly twenty years ago! Televisions have changed over the last twenty years, so he is ready and willing to change the shelving unit to fit the newer tvs. I don’t know. I think that my husband has decided to wait until Thanksgiving to see if he can get the very best deal on a new tv. I am sure that at least come “Black Friday” we will have a new TV in the old entertainment center.

The senior year of high school *should* be “the perfect year”. It is the culmination of all the previous years you have put into your education. As my son started his senior year this year, my husband and I sat down with him and talked with him about this “transition” year. We want things to be moving toward more independence, toward more decision making/real life consequences, more toward the adult world.

What has followed for us is my son’s decision to homeschool and take dual credit classes at a local community college. He has also bought himself a car. He is looking for a suitable part time job. He has the privilege and responsibility of being a high school student and college student all at once. I think that the way this is working out for him, it could in fact turn out to be a perfect year for him.

I love coupons! I am not ashamed to admit it. Once when my daughter was in a community college play, we were sitting around listening to the college kids talking. A girl won a free item with a game piece on her soda. One boy said he would not use the coupon from a soft drink for a free item at the fast food restaurant. He said he was too embarrassed to use coupons!! I think he’s crazy!

I try to use coupons anytime I shop, even when I shop online. When I am looking for a certain item or am shopping a particular online store, I will search for Savings.com coupons, and any site that offers coupon codes, to see what I can save on what I am going to buy anyway. Earlier this summer, I bought some Crocs online for $15 using an online coupon I had found. And I recently purchased some textbooks for my son. I knew it was going to cost a bit and wanted to get whatever savings I could. I found a coupon for free shipping, which is always good. In fact, when I received the order, the company had even inserted another coupon for free shipping on my next order! Yes, I LOVE coupons!

It is quiet. Very quiet here. This summer has brought changes our way again. It seems we have been living a topsy-turvey life for several years now.

Today my daughter started her first day of public school. High school. I can’t say that I am particularly happy about it, but we let it be her choice. She will be gone all day for classes and volleyball. On the flip side of that, my son has decided after three years to return to homeschooling for his senior year of high school! He is taking outside classes three days a week, one day at a homeschool co-op and two days at a community college. The other two days will be for classes at home and homework. He is also planning on playing basketball.

So while it is quiet right now, we have plenty of craziness to keep us busy for the next school year!

No matter what time of year it is, it seems as if people are always looking for the best diet for fast weight loss. I know that everywhere I read, watch and listen, there are commercials for weight loss plans, diets, gadgets, ideas and fads. It seems though that the best ideas are the mainstays of health and nutrition. This is really the only true way to get and stay fit.

In trying to teach kids about healthy habits, I try to use the word “diet” in the proper context. Not that I am “on a diet” (which I have had my share of time with) but realizing that “diet” when used as a noun is simply one’s selection of food. So we are all “on a diet”, it is just a matter of whether we are on a healthy diet or not. I particularly like a post I read today about some of the best foods for a “hard body.” The list included many of my favorites and my stomach even started growling while I read through the list! The matter of fact approach to sharing healthy tips is just right. I like the points made about proper diets not being “restrictive” but about eating healthy foods for life and making it a lifestyle.

With good foods and good habits, weight control will be a by-product. Learning this has been an eye opening experience for me.

I found this excerpt in my file and thought it was pretty interesting. I know I am often “deceiving myself”. Usually though, in those cases, I am the only one deceived. How can we so often “see through” others and just can’t see it in ourselves? I think when we deceive ourselves, we are not the only ones hurt by the deception…

By Seth Czarnecki,
QualityHealth News

“Dr. Seuss once said to “be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” In our favorite childhood fables, from The Ugly Duckling to The Wizard of Oz, there is a prevalent theme: be happy with the person that you are. Even though we’ve been bombarded with this sentiment since we were young, it becomes increasingly difficult to be satisfied with our lives as we age. Life becomes more complicated with heightened stress from work, family, and friends. And inevitably, as stress increases, so does the challenge of being content with the lives we lead.

As sad as it may sound, the truth remains that many relationships—careers, friendships, and marriages alike—are maintained by self-deception. Whether it’s subconscious or purposeful, self-deception works as a mean to an end. As Austin Cline points out in his book Sometimes We Mislead Even Ourselves, the deception of others is often viewed as a moral flaw while self-deception is rarely pointed out. By and large, self-deception, on the surface, has its perks and is rarely revealed as a bad thing.”