Wii-dicted

Christmas was great! I'm sure the kids wanted more, but they did get the hot ticket item, Nintendo Wii! I was just as excited, if not more. I bought a few extra amenities, an extra remote, motion plus for both, as well as two additional games.

I only played Wii a little on Christmas day, but Saturday, the day after... I got my Wii on! I bowled, wake boarded, cycled, played frisbee and sword play! To say I was having a ball, is an understatement. Later that evening, my son challenged me to bowling. I laughed in his face. I was hotter than hot!

Okay... he beat me. Moving on.

I finished the night off with sword play. Games one through six were pretty easy. I knocked my opponent into the water waiting below. No problem. About game 7, a worthy opponent showed up. The game system must have increased the skill level, she WAS NOT beginner!

At start she hit me first. Hitting her back, she wouldn't move. I had to put in real work. Finally, like the others before her, Miss Missy met her demise, and the water. That was a rap, I worked up a sweat, and was drained!

Sunday, morning came... and my shoulder hurt so bad. Okay, my shoulder had been sore previously. I was starting to think I'd torn my rotator cup, or had developed arthritis. I couldn't raise my arm.

Getting ready for church, I had to laugh at myself, using my left hand to raise my right arm. It took me a long time to put on my bra, shirt... I just left my right arm out of my coat. It was difficult trying not to yelp everytime I moved. As Mr. Husband would say, I was next door to pitiful.

Over the course of the day, with the help of Excedrin, Bio Freeze, and a heat pack, I was ready to get back to it. I have something to prove!

Merry Christmas

Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Runnining Over

With seven people in our house, so far, I've washed a lot of laundry in my lifetime. There is no time to complain about it, like Nike, I just do it!

Instead of having a 'Laundry Day,' and trying to finish, (because that would never happen). I just wash an average of three loads a day. In a year's time, 365 days, that's 1,095 loads of laundry a year. Whoa! I'd never did the math before. In the 19 years I've been married, that's a whopping 27,375 loads of laundry!

Recently, the laundry seems to have to bottom. Each piece of clothing I remove from the 'Black Closet,' another replaces it. Sorta like a starfish growing another leg.

Like I said, there is no use in complaining about it. I've adopted the attitude... If we have dirty clothes, we are blessed to have clothes to wear, and a variety.

If having an ever over-flowing laundry was a sign of wealth, I'd be richer than Bill Gates. Booyah! How ya like me now! On to another 27,375 loads. Catch me if you can (or want).

Not For Hands!

For as long as I can remember, my hands have been rough. I've never had soft feminine hands. With the recent cold weather, along with the hundreds of times a day I wash my hands, they've gotten worse. My hands were not only dry, but cracky, peeling and scratching every thing I touch!

I had this great idea! I have them from time to time, and some times... they really are great ideas. Other times not so much. Any who.

Dr. Oz said, exfoliating and moisturizing is the key to younger looking skin. While in the mirror doing my morning ritual, thanks to Dr. Oz, I saw Mr. Husband's Ped Egg. This is when the light bulb moment hit me. Why not Ped Egg my hands?!

Wow!!! I was amazed at what was coming off my hands. And I continued. But... I was careful not to over do it. I didn't want my hands sore and all. Finally finished, I washed my hands and moisturized. Soft, and feminine. Mr. Husband even said so. Then...

I started dinner. While in the kitchen preparing dinner, I washed my hands a few times, without moisturizing. Soft, and feminine quickly turned to prickly, and scratchy. And my thumb was sore!

Since then I've used the sand paper bottom of the Ped Egg, and have gone through an entire travel tube of Cocoa Butter lotion. It's not easy keeping your hands moisturized when you're next door to being a germ-a-phob, and wash your hands a lot. Not obsessive, but a lot.

There should be a warning on Ped Eggs. NOT FOR HANDS!

Christmas Wish List

Christmas is right around the corner, and I made list for the children, so that I know what to buy for them. I even started another list of what to get Mr. Husband, my parents, as well as G-G. Hey, there is no list for me!

The thoughtful person that I am, I took the liberty to make my Christmas Wish List. If any of you know Mr. Husband, or The Five Degrees, (my children) pass it on.

1. Permissions Slips (book) by Sherri Shepard

I took a peek while in the book store. It is FUNNY!

2. EA Sports for Wii

This game/workout is AWESOME! This should actually be number one on my list! I bought a Wii for the kids, last month. And they don't have a clue! Middle daughter and I were in Wal-Mart a few days ago, when she asked them how many Wii's were in stock. She came running to me, "Mama. They're all out of Wii's." She had the most pitiful look on her face. OMG, I wanted to laugh, but I contained myself.

3. MP3 player

4. Pedicure

I haven't had one since Mother's Day. Mama's in need!

5. Ralph Lauren Warm (perfume)

My daughter has Cool, and I use it all the time. If I had Warm, we could share.

Okay, that's the short list in a nutshell. And if I get none of these things, I'm good. I have so much to be thankful for. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Randomness (Is That A Word?)

Okay, I needed to post something today. I've been so busy catching up on grading papers, making and giving finals this week, I just didn't have time to prepare a post. I'm feeling a little scattered, and thought I'd share those scattered thoughts with you. Even my picture is random, something I took, and thought it was nice. Here goes...

Baby girl is in the Christmas play tonight, she's one of the 'Hot Chocolate Dancers.' My son says they sound like strippers!

I finally found The Smell of Christmas, potpourri. Now that my house smells like Christmas, I have to put the tree, and decorations up! Last week was the week to do it, OMG, I'm so behind. Life happens, and there is only so much I can do! I forgot, I had a migraine three days last week.

Yes! I'm done with finals. Oh wait... I have to grade them all. May I have an easy button?!

Tomorrow is Fall Commencement! I pray we don't have a boring speaker. Dang, where is my cap, gown, and hood? I should have gotten it cleaned. No one will notice if it's a little dusty... and if they do, oh well!

It's so cold. I just have to hold on, Spring Break is around the corner. It's 14 weeks, and counting!

Hmmm, New Years Resolutions. Do I really want to torture myself?

See, I told you I was scattered. All over the place!

Christmas Candy/Cookie Swap

For a few years now, I've wanted to host a Christmas candy/cookie swap. Due to scheduling problems, it's never happened, life in general it never happened. Then I had this GREAT idea, I'll host a cookie swap from my blog.

Get in on the fun. Post a recipe of your candy or cookie on your blog, come back and link it here (way at the bottom of this post). Don't forget to visit others who link their recipes. Try as many recipes as you can stand to make. Please comment later on how your candy, and/or cookies turn out.

Candy and cookies are great gifts, and are fun family projects. The following are two recipes my family will make this holiday season. Will they be a gift? We'll just have to see.

Toffee Butter Crunch

1 cup butter
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
3 tablespoons water
1 cup coarsely chopped blanched almonds, toasted
4 4-1/2-ounce bars milk chocolate, melted
1 cup finely chopped blanched almonds, toasted
Melt butter in a large saucepan.

Add sugar, corn syrup, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring now and then, to hard-crack stage (300 F on your candy thermometer) - watch carefully after temperature reaches 280 F. Quickly stir in coarsely chopped nuts; spread in well-greased 13x9 inch pan. Cool thoroughly. Turn out on waxed paper; spread top with half the melted chocolate; sprinkle with half the finely chopped nuts. Cover with waxed paper; invert; spread again with remaining chocolate. Sprinkle top with remaining nuts. If necessary, chill to firm chocolate. Break into pieces.


Gingerbread Cookies in a Jar

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 gingerbread boy-shaped cookie cutter

Use a clean 1 quart jar and press each layer down firmly. Put in half of the flour along with the baking powder and baking soda. Add the spices and the remaining flour. Add the brown sugar last. Tie a ribbon around the top of the jar and attach the cookie cutter and the directions below.Attach these directions to the jar:Gingerbread Cookies Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly. Mix in 1/2 cup softened butter, 3/4 cup molasses and 1 egg. Mix until completely blended. Cover and refrigerate 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes. Place cookies on lightly greased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake 10 to 15 minutes. Decorate with icing.

Recipes were taken from www.christmas-cookies.com

Skin Rejuvenation

I love watching The Dr. Oz show. It's full of information, the everyday person can take away, and actually use. Last month I decided to take him at face value, literally.

Dr. Oz claimed it took only nine days to get younger looking skin. At 41-years-old, I would like to look as young as I possibly can, for as long as I can. The process is simple, use an exfoliating cleanser to remove dead skin cells, and moisturize.

I've said before, I look much younger than 41. In my mind, I'm more like 26. Again, I'd like to remain as young looking as I can! Actually, I've been fortunate to have great genes.

Background:
My ritual, until recently has been washing my face with Dove soap, and using my body lotion on my face. That's it. There's no method to my madness, just chasing away dry patches. The area between the eyebrows that tend to flake up, is the worst. Anywho... Dr. Oz says, by removing dead skin cells, our skin looks brighter, and reflects light better. It also allows the regeneration of new skin cells.

Method:
I kept it simple! Armed with an Olay coupon, I purchased their Regenerist, daily regenerating cleaner. In plain sight it read exfoliates, that's what I needed. For the moisturizer, I picked up Wal-Mart's version of Oil of Olay, Equate Beauty Lotion, with an SPF of 15.

Results:
I know it's now more than nine days, more like a month. No one I see on a day to day basis, my students, children, or Mr. Husband, has stopped me to say I look younger. But I have taken notice of some changes of my own. My skin is softer, and those dry patches at my eyebrows, haven't been as dry. The pores on either side of my nose that were getting bigger, and bigger, at least in my eyes, have gotten smaller.

For the record, I do think I look younger, maybe 24ish. That's knocking off two years. Will I continue this process? You bet! By the time I turn 50, who knows, I might look like a teenager again.

I like to call this, my skin rejuvenation experiment. I didn't have to go to a pricey spa, or spend a lot of money on ground breaking serums. And I'm thankful, my skin rejuvenation process didn't end like Sammy Sosa's! Oh, MY!

Photo Credit: msnbc.com

My First Career Choice

Photo credit: Reuters

Recently, while watching 'Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,' reality show, my memory was pleasantly jogged. As a child, I wanted to be a DCC.

The very first time I saw, and come to know about Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders was in an episode of 'The Love Boat.' Yeah, I know that was a loooong time ago. They boarded the cruise ship, with their signature skip/walk, and I was hooked. I must have skipped around, for weeks or longer.

Although, I'm slightly older than the current DCC, don't laugh, and weigh about five pounds more, with more junk in my trunk, that's really not funny, I look good. Because I'm more mature, I'd have to wear a different type of uniform, and the splits are out of the question. The last time (20 years ago), I tried to do a split, my knee went out. All of that aside, I still have the dance moves.

If they were to have auditions for a mature DCC, wearing more clothes, and less splitting... I'd be so there!

Who would I have to call to make that happen?