I Have Been Labeled

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I recently tried to take a look at my blog while I was at work. I know, bad me! But the funny thing is our Web Filters banned me from looking at my blog. It labeled me a Militant Extremist.  Me?  Seriously?  Makes me worry about what will happen if the Government begins to censure our websites.  I'll probably end up in jail!  Yeah I'm THAT bad!

Click here to go sign the petition being sponsored by Google to tell congress to stop Internet Censorship.

 

Where the FETCH did my tickets go?

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Today I am going to the Brad Paisley concert here in Idaho. Yep, Brad Paisley. Last time I went I was able to go for FREE. I won tickets from the radio station WOW104.3.  Do you like FREE?  Yeah, me too.  Well, this time I charged $350 worth of tickets.  I'm taking Ladybug, KT and going with a couple of friends who have already paid me.  I purchased these floor tickets before Christmas and they were e-mailed to my account.  I decided they were far safer in  my e-mail than printing them out and losing them over all the chaos that is Christmas. 

Several weeks ago, I decided to print out those lovely tickets.  And guess what?  They were no where to be found.  I had NO tickets!  Zilch, NADA, disappeared from my e-mail, and I was FREAKING OUT!!!  Luckily, I didn't freak out too long.  I called the Idaho Center who informed me that they keep records of all transactions and they quickly put the tickets in the mail to me.  They were  my favorite people that day, yep...Now I have them in my grubby little hands. 

WHAT KIND OF MORON DELETES $350

WORTH OF CONCERT TICKETS?

Ummmm, that would be ME

"Organized Simplicity"

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In keeping with my theme for the year...living my life with more Simplicity by Simplifying, I downloaded the book called Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider here for my Kindle. AND, it was FREE. How much more simple than that can you get? So far so good...Hoping to find some tips for accomplishing my New Years goal.  Just a heads up in the event you want to grab your own free copy...And you can follow her blog here

Happy Simplifying!

 

Alas, the Police Again...

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When you have teenage boys, run in's with the police are like a usual occurance. I don't know what it is, but people are naturally distrusting of teenage boys.  You might as well consider them all guilty...

TJ set off the house alarm at the home across the street

And Miguel just plain pissed off the neighbors 

who later called the cops on us...

And let's not forget when Miguel was drinking and driving...

Well, we have yet another occurrence with the cops, the fuzz, the pigs...And if anyone knows why they are called by these slang names, please enlighten me...

Miguel was driving home from work at the Little Caesars in our area. It was dark, and late...A policeman passes him going the other direction then flips around and throws on his lights. That is like the worst feeling isn't it?

Policeman walks up to his window shining a light in his eyes, so he is squinting and can't see. The officer asks him to get out of the car. Miguel is freaking out, because in his defense he swears to me he did nothing wrong.

Then get this, the policeman starts laughing and says "Hey Miguel! Haven't seen you in a while...Just messin' with you..." It was a friend from high school's Dad. Don't you just love a cop with a sense of humor?

Love At Home

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Because life is miserable if there's not...

Goodbye Facebook

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Today, I Unfriended Facebook as promised. I have been deactivated. That almost sounds robotic, doesn't it? Deactivated? It is all part of my word of the year: Simplify. While fun, Facebook was a time suck. Sitting at the computer....playing with the app on my phone.....I have just regained precious moments of my life: Simplify. There were certain people of my acquaintance on Facebook, albeit familial, who were just not uplifting and positive in my life...They liked to bring me down. Oh the drama:  Simplify. By Simplifying my life, I will make room for more things that truly matter.  Like Jesus Christ, my children, my husband, and health.

 What have you done to Simplify your life today?

 

Days like today

Source:  ME

It's days like today, that I just want to pull on some warm sweats, 

drink cocoa and curl up with a book.

It's days like today that I want to bake spicey warm pumpkin breads 

that fill the air of my home with its fragrant smells. 

It's days like today, that I want to lie on the couch 

and watch a good movie with a bowl of popcorn and a blanket.

It's days like today that I'd rather stay home and do nothing, 

have no responsibility and just live in the moment.

Dreaming of a Snow Day

Source:  ME

Sitting at home, listening to uplifting beautiful music and I am grateful for the warmth of my abode. Out the window the trees bend and groan and leaves swirl about as if caught in a whirl pool with what promises to be the first real storm of the season. Thoughts of snow days and jolly snowmen fill my mind. Mugs of warm hot chocolate and books snuggled up under warm blankets.

 Fireplace aglow, curled up cat, and a pajama day.

 

The Great Unfriending

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Since when did Facebook begin to hold such power over us in our lives? It is a website, a phone app, yet it has the power to crush and humiliate.  I speak from personal experience.  In the last week, I have been unfriended by my dear sister in law for who knows what reason...We haven't shared a word on there for a few weeks.  I only noticed that I hadn't seen pictures of my niece in a while, so I went to her wall.  Guess what?  She was gone...No wall.  It makes me sad how easily people can dispose of you on Facebook.  Squishing you under their feet like a used cigarette.  I've been unfriended before by my husband's brother.  TWICE.  He just doesn't like me.  And when he decided he wanted to be my friend again, my husband councils me to just accept his friendship to avoid confrontation and trouble.  So there I am floating on the tides of other people moods.  And you know what?

I DON'T LIKE IT!

Recently I was involved in a Football discussion which turned personal.  What the crap?  I was supporting a decent Christian player who was being dogged because he was a Christian.  In another discussion, I was lambasted as a bigot and told I was full of hatred because I defended the sanctity and sacredness of a marriage between a husband and wife.  Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a pure heart and that I RARELY jump into conversations that would be deemed controversial. I am very sensitive to criticism, drama and negativity.  I just felt passionately about what was going down. At this point, I regret my involvement because my self esteem has been crushed.

When did something that was such a positive thing in my life become so negative?  

So I am hereto unfriending Facebook and flipping it the bird effective the end of this week.  I want to be able to pass on contact information to those that truly matter first.

Facebook has become a thorn in my side.  

 

Am I a Woman of God?

I really like this reminder.

 I definitely see some things I could work on. 

But, If I am tough, does that mean I'm not tender?  I don't think so.  I'd like to be able to hold my own.  Be strong, not a push over, but that doesn't mean that I can't be tender hearted.  No, I can be an independent and strong woman who is still tender, kind, virtuous and faithful.  Just because I want to be tough doesn't mean that I don't like my husband to open my doors and look at me with tenderness.  I think the correct terminology for me here is strength.  Not to be tough.  By definition Strong is "of great moral power, firmness or courage; strong under temptation."

Now THAT is a Woman of God

I totally get where this woman is coming from, 

and I like it...

 

Am I Tough Enough?

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Recently, as in November, I under went a medical procedure. KT was there with me to comfort me through this delicate ordeal. I really wanted to prove to him that I was tough.  I mean, I was a Marine Wife who was denied an epidural while giving birth to Miguel.  You'd think THAT would prove I was tough.  I'm also admittedly emotionally constipated.  No weepy wife for KT!

Later, after my procedure, I asked him if I took it like a man to which he replied, "No, because a man wouldn't have to go through that."  So, I rephrased the question and asked if I took it like a tough a$$ed biatch.  (yes, I did say that...at times I have a potty mouth).  After laughing at me, this time he replied, "No, even though you didn't make a sound, you made a squishy face."

What do I have to do to prove I am tough, 

hmmm, KT?

 

Bring Back Pretty

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I read this article recently called The Death of Pretty it is an amazing article, very insightful and I totally concur.  It is about girls not aspiring to be pretty and innocent anymore, but worldly and hot. And as the author states, It is time to bring back pretty. It reminds me of a post I did over a year ago called "Our Image of Self Worth"

  What do you think?

 

Drunk Driving

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My son was pulled over for drunk driving. It's true. He is 18 and preparing for a mission and had just come from a party put on by the LDS church. I am ashamed to admit that he was caught red handed by the cops drinking cocoa in his car and driving. The audacity! Crimminey what kind of crap is that kid going to get into next?

Funny story...Miguel was driving home from a Mormon party with his girlfriend. They stopped at McDonald's for Hot Chocolate. Miguel's girlfriend spilled her's in the car and on Miguel who then swerved over the line when it happened cuz, well, he was distracted and it was HOT. Here comes the cops again...just waiting for a drunk like him....He was asked if he had been drinkin'. "No officer, just hot chocolate." "Are you sure, son..." "Yes, sir, see my girlfriend spilled it all over." After I think sniffing his breath and assessing the situation, and not being ticketed as it was just that HOT Chocolate, he was free to go.

A magnet I tell you a magnet for trouble, that one...

Lead Me, Guide Me

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Blog Following

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Slowly the blogs I follow have been falling off the Earth. I mean they are still out there floating around in the cyber world, but no one is posting anymore. People are slowly losing interest or running out of things to say, which by the way is one of my biggest fears. What if I run out of things to say? Will I sit comatose on the couch? Will anyone miss me? Either way, I am beseeching you my fellow bloggers and friends. Please share with me some of your favorite bloggers you are following. I need some insight and direction...

Pinterest

This post/picture was recently pinned on Pinterest by multiple people. I'm not sure whether to feel flattered or violated.

What are your thoughts on Pinterest?

Word of the Year

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It seems a popular thing to come up with your own personal "word of the year". So here it goes, my word of the year is "Simplicity" In an often busy and noisy world, it is hard to slow down and enjoy the simple things that life has to offer. So here is to becoming more unscheduled and filling life with that which is more meaningful.  By Simplifying I will be able to attain that Simplicity I so desire...Simplify...

Audrey #2

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The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode 

but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. 

It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. 

The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

~Audrey Hepburn~

One of the Most Admired Men...

A gallup poll recently name the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Thomas S. Monson as one of the most Admired Men of 2011.  You know, the Mormons?  And, I think that is fetchin' cool!!  He is a reverent man with a lot of insight and wisdom,

"The past is behind, learn from it.

The future is ahead, prepare for it.

The present is here, live it."

and would you believe he has a sense of humor, too?

Yeah, he can drop it like it's hot like some of us other Mormons....Just sayin'