A Few Christmas Shots

We Are Animals

This past Saturday I was out in front of the abortion clinic “working the sidewalk”. This entails praying the 15 decades of the Rosary, holding a sign that usually says “Life is Important” or “You can’t kill people to solve your problems” and keeping a pro life booklet handy with all sorts of free resources. These days, I find myself with maybe six other people who are praying, preaching, or holding signs. As each vehicle drives in or out- I offer a booklet with the resources for them to take and read through before entering the abortion clinic. Often, I am calling out to them across the parking lot (making sure not to pass the property line-especially with up to three cop cars parked across the street watching- not to mention the video recordings from all angles) asking, begging them to choose life over death.

Not exactly a pretty picture and, as one can imagine, it is often an emotional day with not much hope. Still, there is good with the bad these days and I wanted to share my experience this particular Saturday.

I had managed to give out a few booklets that Saturday morning and was walking up and down the street when a male pulled out of the parking lot and rolled down the window to speak with me.

Here is our conversation:

Me: “May I give you this information? It contains a list of different organizations that can help you and it is all for free. I also have family who can adopt the baby if you aren’t able to care for the child.”

Male: “I don’t want any of that. I just want to know where I can go to eat. Do you know a place?”

Me: “No, but I know how you can save your baby’s life.”

Male: “ I don’t care about that-just tell me where to go to eat.”

Me: “ You’re worried about eating when your child is about to be killed.”

With that, the man rolled his window and took off… he eventually came back with a bag of food and ate out in the parking lot of the clinic.

A man brought down to the most basic animalistic tendencies of worrying about eating and nothing else. Self gratification and selfishness were working in tandem with each other and not a smidgen of a conscience anywhere.

What a sad state of affairs we encounter when sin runs rampant. My spirit was shaken, but not for too long. One hour later two women came out of the clinic and simply said to us,“ You have a save, she isn’t going to have the abortion.”

Pray hard my friends and pray outside of the clinic whenever you can… pray always.

Our Lady of Guadalupe- pray for us.

When You Can't Make Bows....

Make circle thing-ys?

I gave up making bows after many failed attempts and decided to attempt a more unusual style of wrapping. All of these "designs" were made with recycled bows from last year's gifts/sales and miscellaneous wrapping paper that I cut and curled.

What do you think? Should I leave as is or re-wrap this mess?

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

THANK YOU

Thanks to everyone who thought of me during my concert!

TRAVEL BAG TUESDAY: Autumn Jewels

I know, small.... but if you know me then you know I have two more bags to supplement the size of this handbag. Isn't it lovely? Antonio Melani brand which, I believe, is a brand for Dillards.

MUSICALLY MANIC MONDAY: LESS THAN A WEEK TO THE CONCERT

This week I will have my dress rehearsal before my first concert in the choral group I joined. I don't think I have mentioned the group too often but it has helped me heal and deal with the loss of my choir group. Sad that I still can't quite get over that but at least I am trying!

I think it was providential that the theme for the concert would be all Marian hymns. What a consolation to my heart and soul!

I will be singing alto one for the majority of the pieces which is completely new to me.

Pray for me on that night! If you know me then you know I am scared to perform in public!

TIRED

Friday was a very hectic day. I had back to back to back to back appointments to keep me busy the entire day. As pointed out in a previous post, we lost the use of our dryer and our stove was also on it's last leg. Topple that mess with a furnace inspection, loads of laundry, Christmas shopping, and a scratched floor!

Without going into too much detail, the first delivery ended with a damaged floor and a confrontational delivery man. We will skip over our exchange of words, the tension, the call to the supervisor, the insurance claim, the issue with the new stove, and move onto the dryer delivery which was much smoother. Well, smooth until the delivery man said we didn't have the right duct hook up...whatever that means. During that delivery- I dealt with the furnace inspections and the repair work for that. Thankfully, we don't have to buy a new furnace which would have been an extensive cost to our already shattered budget. Laundry has overtaken my living room while I wash and dry about two week's worth of clothing.

Day Thirty-Last Day

Well, I broke the lunch promise two times during the thirty day period.. Not a perfect run, but better than my normal routine. The last week was the hardest for me... and my schedule had a few hiccups.

Should I do another thirty day run? I'm thinking I maybe should and just perfect it even more......tell me!

Day Twenty Six

Food List

Turkey
Bacon
Ground beef with rice and cheese



Exercise
Lots of yard work

Summary

It was an odd day.. I woke up and had this feeling that I needed to stay home and be with my husband. Odd?

Day Twenty Five

Food List

Left over coconut flour cake bites
Salad with shrimp
Popcorn


Exercise

We did go for a walk on Thanksgiving, but I was tied to my desk most of the day.

Summary

I broke down and bought my lunch today .

VATICAN II

Day Twenty Four

Turkey with mashed cauliflower and sauteed green beans with onions and bacon.


Check out the desserts here!

Day Twenty-One and Day Twenty-Two

Sorry guys- I didn't get a chance to write everything down!

Day Twenty:

Food List

Coffee with cream
2 beef burgers
1 hot dog (no bun)
1 pickle
3 apples with organic/natural peanut butter


Exercise

None

Summary

Migraines plagued me today-enough said

Day Nineteen: Bad Moves

Food List

Coffee with cream
Leftover chicken stir fry
Sauteed mushrooms and steak

Exercise

We were handling household adventures with lots of cost

Summary

Today was a bad day. Hubby and I ate at 2:00 P.M. and didn't eat again until the next day. We didn't mean for it to happen, but there were time issues wrapped around lots of errands.

Sometimes.....

It has been a week.... our dryer broke again and I don't think it is worth repairing. The stove is partially broken and let's not even talk about the downstairs furnace....We already replaced our fence and the roof this past year. We also mustn't forget the auto accident and the need to purchase another vehicle.

Does this kind of stuff wear you out? Have you had a year like me? Should I be stressed? Me, not so much. I always have it in my mind that I am still a blessed person with a blessed life. These are the little trials we need to face each and every day. Yes, these have been expensive and put a wrench in our plans to move back to my home state. I just can't help thinking that it is all in His hands.


Follow up........we can't forget to mention the water leak in my garage....Did I mention that my blow dryer broke?

Day EIghteen: I Rosed Up

Food List

2 egg yolks
Some weird baked potato chip thingy
Luncheon at work from Olive Garden....part of it I lost later... I decided to not say vomit and have interchanged that to rose.
fish


Summary

This has been a weird week and I imagine it won't clear up soon.

DAY SEVENTEEN

Two apples
Peanut butter
Chicken stir fry
Rice
Cheese with a few chips/pork rinds….

Weird food for sure

Classes for Women at THE ADULT LEARNING CENTER

REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED
By 21 DECEMBER 2011
Note: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM .

Class 1
Up in Winter, Down in Summer - How to Adjust a Thermostat Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hrs beginning at 7:00 PM..

Class 2
Which Takes More Energy - Putting the Toilet Seat Down, Or Bitching About It for 3 Hours?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3
Is It Possible To Drive Past a Target Without Stopping?--Group Debate.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between a Purse and a Suitcase--
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5
Curling Irons--Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Bathroom Cabinet?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
At 7:00 PM

Class 6
How to Ask Questions During Commercials and Be Quiet During the Program
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM

Class 7
Can a Bath Be Taken Without 14 Different Kinds of Soaps and Shampoos?
Open Forum .
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8
Health Watch--They Make Medicine for PMS - USE IT!
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9
I Was Wrong and He Was Right!--Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

Class 10
How to Parallel Park In Less Than 20 Minutes Without an Insurance Claim.
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live--How to Apply Brakes Without Throwing Passengers Through the Windshield.
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined

Class 12
How to Shop by Yourself.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Day Sixteen: Rough

Food List

3 hot dogs
Apple
Heaping loads of salad with the goat cheese, walnuts, and homemade dressing.. I think I overdosed on lettuce
Pumpkin seeds
½ serving of M&Ms……. BAD!
Ground beef with marinara sauce, mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, and a bit of cheese

Exercise

It has been raining today so no mid afternoon walk during my lunch break.

Summary

I woke up with a very bad headache and can only assume that it was a combination of not enough food or sleep. Working ten hours and then heading to choral practice equals a long day. As odd as it sounds.. I ate 3 hot dogs and amped up my water intake to help rid myself of the pain.

DAY FIFTEEN

FOOD LIST
Coffee with cream
3 Apples
2 hardboiled eggs
2 servings of salad with walnuts, goat cheese,1 can of tuna, and my husband’s homemade dressing
Popcorn with hot sauce and butter



EXERCISE


SUMMARY

Last night I noticed some definition in my face which is a good sign. I notice that I generally start losing weight in my face and then it starts to trickle down to the rest of my cushioned body. Weigh myself? Well, I am on the fence with that…. I weighed myself early on and noticed a weight loss, but I think I want to wait until November 30th. At that time, I will decide if this will continue into the month of December. Course, we know this is much better for my health and pocketbook! Hubby and I are working on a healthy Thanksgiving dinner and dessert to ensure we keep on track. I will post the recipe for the dessert and the finished product (good or bad) when I test it next Thursday. Scared? Yep! I really don’t enjoy baking, but I am interested in this so we shall see!

Day Fourteen.....

FOOD LIST

Coffee with cream
2 hardboiled eggs
Sunflower seeds
Leftover roasted chicken,vegatebales, and rice
1 banana
2 granola bars

EXERCISE

20 minute walk

SUMMARY

YAWN

DAY THIRTEEN

FOOD LIST

Roasted chicken and vegetables and rice
Popcorn



EXERCISE

Are you kidding me?

SUMMARY
It was so good to get back onto a regular menu that doesn’t upset my tummy!

DAY TWELVE: REGRETS

FOOD LIST

Eggs
Toast
Sausage
Juice
Burger
Chips
Carrots


EXERCISE


NONE

SUMMARY

I regretted this day....I compromised while I was visiting someone and it really bit me in the "end".....no more!

DAY ELEVEN: ROAD TRIP

FOOD LIST

hash browns
2 burritos
tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich and a pickle.



EXERCISE

None but lots of driving!

SUMMARY

We are visiting family so keeping control of our food has been difficult.

DAY TEN

FOOD LIST


Banana
Salad with chicken and goat cheese
Cup of rice




EXERCISE

None


SUMMARY
Another hectic day!

DAY NINE

Food List

Granola bar
1 banana
1 serving of baked chips (I needed it!)
Heaping salad with roasted chicken, goat cheese and salad dressing-pretty yummy!
1 piece of candy


Exercise

Too busy to get in a walk at work today… we are buried alive right now.


Summary

Last night was a choral practice so I didn’t have anything prepped for today’s lunch. Overall, today wasn’t the best day for me. I was tired and craving all sorts of food.

Day Eight: Busy!

FOOD LIST

2 hardboiled eggs 160
4 small apples 200
1 serving of rice and veggies (about 230 calories) 250
2 hot dogs 300
½ sandwich 300
Frozen Dinner 230



EXERCISE

20 minute walk

SUMMARY
Um? I was busy :-)

DAY SEVEN: HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF

FOOD LIST
Cup of coffee with half and half
2 servings of chips
2 bananas
2 apples
1 serving of pumpkin seeds (yummy)
Salad with homemade dressing, walnuts, and goat cheese
Tea mints
1 granola bar
Serving of chicken drumsticks
Hot dogs with sauteed onions, jalapeno peppers, cheese, saur kraut and pickles.


EXERCISE

20 minute walk during my lunch break

SUMMARY

I was hungry today and we are very behind at work! We will pull through peeps!

20 CARS EQUAL 20 DEATHS

I spanned the parking lot as I prayed my Rosary in between attempts to speak with each woman walking into the clinic. 20 cars in the parking lot represented 20 deaths . 20 babies that were unwanted by their mothers and fathers. 20 babies with grandparents who, in many cases, were witnesses to the grandchild's death. 20 deaths sanctioned by the government. 20 deaths and who mourns the loss?

DAY SIX: A SUNNY WALK

Food List

Beef jerky
Salad with goat cheese, walnuts, dressing, steak, and a bit of beef bacon bits
Serving of ground beef with cheese


Exercise

Hubby and I took in some sun during a good 30 minute walk.


Summary

The weather has definitely changed to a cooler tune and I have pulled out sweaters for the Autumn and Winter seasons.
The cooler weather also makes me want to exercise more and I hope to jump on the band wagon of 15 minute walks during my work day.

DAY FIVE: SLIM PICKINGS

Food List

Beef jerky
Pumpkin seeds
Salad with chicken, goat cheese, and homemade salad dressing
Small frozen dinner thingy of some sort....


Exercise

Nothing to mention!


Summary

Exercise seems to have been hard to come by this week with the extracurricular activities so let us hope next week is better!

DAY FOUR: No Meat For Me!

Food List

1 cup of coffee with cream
2 hardboiled eggs
4 carrots
Popcorn
Peanuts
2 bananas
Tea mints
2 apples
pumpkin seeds and some special chips


Exercise
This was another late night coupled with a cold and rainy day. No exercise for me!

Summary
As you can see- I was hungry today and seemed to need more food than the previous day! My energy remains high!

DAY THREE: YUMMY IN MY TUMMY

Food List (in the order I consumed)
1 Apple
2 Hardboiled eggs
1 Bowl of soup
2 Bananas
2 Tablespoons of peanut butter
Some beef jerky


Exercise
I squeezed in a quick 15 minute walk.

Summary

Today was a busy day with a ten hour work day coupled with a two hour choral practice. I had hoped to walk this evening, but it is still raining as I type. :-)

Huh?

Last Saturday morning I awoke before my husband made coffee and then made a mess. Before the clock had struck nine- I had moved beds from one room to another. Why? Who knows? I just wanted to and finally finished the move today. Enjoy the pictures!

DAY TWO

Today was my scheduled day off and All Souls' Day which was lovely for me. Hubby and I attended Mass for All Saints" Day the evening of 11-1 and today I was able to attend the triple Mass for the souls of the departed. After Mass, I ran errands and did not eat anything until 11:00 A.M..

I don't know if I can remember everything that I ate, but here goes!


2 beef jerky
1 small frozen meal
homemade chicken soup with a fabulous base from the tomato sauce I canned this past summer
popcorn


Most of the day I kept busy organizing our two guest bedrooms and working the laundry system. The cravings were there, but I resisted sneaking out for a fast food mess. I already feel more energetic with more money!

Wheelin' Wednesday: JC Penney

You just have to love those $10.00 off $10.00 deals JC Penney will send your way. I was able to pick up two pairs of sunglasses at $5.97 each and then slammed that total with my $10.00 coupon. SNAP! Awesome deal! These puppies were originally $30.00 each!

Day One

Day One was successful as I slowly grooved myself into a routine.

My Food List isn't perfect, but it is honest!

In the order it was consumed:

Hardboiled egg
apple
hardboiled egg
some weird beef, onion, mushroom and cheese concotion
apple
handful of cashews
bowl of popcorn
two tea cookies

Exercise was not existent this day just due to my schedule.

My fast food junky days are over peeps!

30 Day Challenge

So, today starts my 30 day health challenge. The intent is two fold because I want to eat healthier and spend less money on those pesky lunch runs when I am my place of employment. I did not post about it, but for the month of September- I brought a lunch to work to help cut down on our costs.

Last year, Hubby and I had more of a low carb diet going, but this time, I want to try caloric intake monitoring.

Each day I will post my food intake and if I exercised...maybe I will just keep a daily journal so you have a full scope of what is going on in my little world.

Stay tuned for Day One!!!


P.S. If I fail, I have promised to post about that too....this could get ugly....

FRUSTRINGO

We have been fairly busy at my place of employment. I think most of us know that, with increased work comes increased frustration. Anything from a poor telephone conversation, difficult file, issues with co workers can germinate a "vent- fest'".

Well, a fellow co worker and I decided that we would put a fun spin on a frustrating day and decrease time spent complaining that really tends to be fruitless.

Bingo+ Frustration = Frustringo

The premise is that a letter/number combination is called any time a person within our department needs to vent about an issue. Email will be the communication tool which allows for the work day to be minimally interrupted with the game while allowing everyone to mark their own Bingo card.

Prizes? We all decided that each of us could bring in a prize here and there, but with no obligation to do so. I actually picked up the first prize which is simply green tea mints.

What do you think?

It's Okay To Kill A Baby In The Womb When......

By Plane and By Auto- We Made It To Charleston!

I stole my mother from her peaceful home and took her on a wild trip to Charleston, South Carolina! Who would have thought these two home bodies would venture out on their own to a place unknown to their innocent minds!

Plane flights from one major city into another and then a long drive into the wilderness! Wilderness I say! Okay, it was really four different interstates with a stop for gas going and coming back, but that can be scary!

I think the carriage ride throughout the city was my favorite followed by the swings on the pier and the jail house tour.

Our hotel was right in the thick of it and gave us the "opportunity" to walk to many sites. I think it went relatively well except for a very bad tempered concierge. Mom was thinking he was having a bad day...might be true, but it partially dampened the memory of the trip. Luckily, the assistant manager saved the day with an apology and refunded one of the nights we stayed. I thought that was a wonderful gesture on her part.

One sad sight was during a tour of the Calhoun Mansion. The home was extravagantly decorated with the owner's extensive collection of various pieces of artwork. In the drawing room, was an altar to a Catholic church, with a tabernacle, chalices, and monstrances with a buddhas sitting right on top. How sad that this man didn't understand the importance of those items....much more than artwork. They contained Our Lord and should be in a church and not in a private collection amongst pagan objects. I am wondering if I could call and see if we could buy these items.

Wheelin' Wednesday! $2.99!!!

Yes indeedy, Archimedes! I picked up this gorgeous scarf for $2.99- reduced from $38.00!

I will now be fancy AND fantastic!

P.S. I have your mother.....

My Desk

I work very well when I do not have lots of clutter about me and it shows in this picture of my work station.

I thought you might get a kick out of this picture and a step into my little world!

Happy Birthday sister dear!

Monthly Mobile Phone Alternative

Hubby and I did not own a cellular telephone for over four years. We owned one, but I lost my job and so we decided this was a corner we could cut for the time being. Well, we just plain became used to no cell phone.

Recently, my husband made the executive decision (he's hot when he gets all manly) to have a cellular telephone become a part of my handbag ensemble.

We researched and found a deal under the name of NET10. The telephone is much nicer than anything I have owned in the past and one can purchase minutes under a monthly plan or in one fell swoop at a time. The telephone itself cost $27.54 through Wal-Mart.

I purchased 1500 minutes at roughly $.15 per minute which I think is a great deal. I also don't have to worry about a two year contract of any kind which is great for those of us who are paranoid and non trusting of any company.

Easy Chicken Soup

Easy Chicken Soup If you have been reading my blog for any length of time- you know I don’t care for extravagant recipes. I arrive at home close to 7:00 p.m. and don’t want to be serving dinner past 8:00 p.m. This past week, Hubby has been under the weather and requested soup to soothe his aching throat. Like a superhero, I was able to whip out a chicken soup in no time at all! It was so fantastic, that I thought I would throw out a recipe for your cuisine infested eyes. Ingredients 32 ounces of chicken broth 3-5 skinless/ de-boned chicken breasts cut into the size of your choice 1-2 cups carrots-cut in funky shapes and sizes 1 onion- sliced.. I don’t like diced onions… they aren’t as pretty looking as slices A bunch of celery- chopped 1 head of garlic-minced, chopped- whatever you fancy 1 cup of hot sauce… I am sure this is optional in some homes…just not in ours. If your butt ain’t burned-it ain’t good Salt and pepper to taste Sautee the garlic,onions, carrots, and celery with olive oil in a Dutch oven. Why? Because, that is how I did it- so there. Once the vegetables have softened- throw in the chicken broth. Kick up the heat to a boil or almost a boil In another pan, cook the cubed chicken until completely cooked. Throw the chicken in the Dutch oven and add salt, pepper, and the cup of hot sauce and bring to a boil. Cover for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Throw some cheese in the bottom of your bowl and ladle the soup on top. Voila! Super hero soup for your fantastic little world! My total prep/cook time was under one hour. We sat down and ate this at 7:52 p.m…..fantastic. This gave us four bowls of yummy soup, but that’s because I have no self control.

What Would You Wear?

Let's set a scenario:

You and your family are hosting a party. Let's say that the party will include friends and family in a casual setting. Maybe there is a sprinkler or pool of some sort to cool you down

What are you wearing?

Bikini?

Shorts?

Tube top?

Tank top?

Tight jeans?

Low cut blouse?

Maxi dress?

Regular shirt?

Skirt?

Do you have your outfit picked out? Great!

The guests are now arriving....men, boys, woman, girls ......and a surprise guest.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is your guest! What a wonderful blessing!

Now, is the outfit you have picked out going to offend Our Lady? Why will it offend Our Lady?

If it will offend Our Lady when she is in your home, what makes you think it doesn't offend God who is everywhere? What makes you think there is a different standard of modesty in front of Our Lady versus when you aren't in front of her?

What about church? True, we should always present ourselves well when attending Mass, but that has nothing to do with modesty. One can be dressed well or casual and still be modest.

Modesty doesn't stop when one leaves the church. Modesty should be a part of your life 100% of the time.

Remember:

There is never a reason to wear a bikini in public or home.

There is never a reason for me to see your cleavage.

There is never a reason for me to see the outline of your body (male or female) in any outfit. If I can- your clothes are too tight.

There is never a reason for me to see more skin than clothing upon your body.

Immodest dress is often a mortal sin- how important is your soul? Is it worth it to sacrifice your soul for a halter top? Is it worth it to sacrifice the soul of a friend or family member through provocative dress?

Where are your priorities? Are you striving to love God more and more each day?

Promise this day to imitate Our Lady and Our Lord and move forward towards the glory of God.

Stocking Up

I know you know what toilet paper looks like....so no picture!

I used the CVS deal of $10.00 in ECB's to purchase toilet paper.

I had $10.00 in ECB's

spent $21.27 OOP with tax

I received $10.00 in ECB's

Each roll of toilet paper averaged to $.24 1/2 cents which is pretty good.

In the meantime, I am low again on dish washing detergent and could use a back up for my laundry soap. Luckily, I have all the ingredients on hand for homemade detergent so no worries!

The Beauty of a Sunday Morning

The calm of a Sunday morning as you prepare yourself for the holy sacrifice of the Mass was captured this morning How befitting on the eve of the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

How blessed I was today to hear a beautiful sermon about Our Lady who is the key to purity!

What a resonating statement to hear the priest refer to purity as respect and within the noblest of men and woman.

Planned Parenthood Stops Abortions at Seven Arizona Locations

Thanks to a comprehensive pro-life law a court recently upheld, the Planned Parenthood abortion business will be stopping abortion at seven locations throughout the state, the abortion agency announced today.

As LifeNews.com reported earlier this month, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued a decision upholding a pro-life law that protects the health and safety of women and their unborn children by giving them information they don’t normally receive.

The Arizona Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in June in Planned Parenthood Arizona v. Horne, a case the abortion business filed which challenges key aspects of the 2009 Abortion Consent Act. The law is a pro-life measure Governor Jan Brewer signed which tells women of the risks associated with and alternatives to abortion. Planned Parenthood sued the state soon after its signing and a Superior Court judge blocked the law from taking effect while the case moves forward.

The law will now go into effect and it makes it so Arizona will require a notarized parental signature before an abortion can be performed on a minor child, women will be provided with full and accurate information by a doctor in person at least 24 hours before an abortion, medical professionals cannot be forced to perform abortions if it contradicts their sincerely held religious or moral beliefs and non-doctors will not be permitted by law to perform surgical abortions.

***Read the full article here****

Coconut Progress

I was hoping this picture would post better, but such is not the case. Anyway- there are drawings that were done for the coconut lotion labels I am working on these days.

In Front of the Abortion Clinic

I think the mainstream give an impression that pro life people counseling outside the clinic are hostile. Fortunately, that is not the case. The pro death representatives are very hostile with their language, videos, and even writing down everything we say. They often video record public and private conversations. This particular day, I was recorded from head to my non-pedicured toes.

Tomatoes!

Our three tomato plants have gone crazy this season! After making loads of salsa- I thought it best to can a tomato sauce base for the rest of the year!

TUESDAY'S TIP: EFFECTIVE CLEANING PRODUCT

Aside from mild soap and water, which you can use on most surfaces, another all-purpose cleanser that works great for kitchen counters, cutting boards and bathrooms is 3% hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Simply put each liquid into a separate spray bottle, then spray the surface with one, followed by the other. In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateUniversity, pairing the two mists killed virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces when used in this fashion, making this spray combination more effective at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any commercially available kitchen cleaner.

The best results came from using one mist right after the other – it's 10 times more effective than using either spray by itself and more effective than mixing the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in one sprayer. As an added bonus aside from the health benefits, using this type of natural homemade cleanser is much less expensive than commercial varieties.

Tasteful Tuesdays: From Our Garden to Our Table

We have been blessed with a plethora of tomatoes which prompted me to attempt a new recipe. Today, I made tomato sauce for the first time!

The preparatory time was about 90 minutes and the overall cooking time was definitely five hours. Taste? It was very good and the great part was using the zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, and basil from our garden.

FRIDAY’S FAVORITES: WHITENING KIT

CVS has a whitening kit that I picked up with my gift card. I must tell you that this has been the best drugstore whitening kit I have ever used.

The trays are made from a wax like substance that allows you to bite into them and really keep a good grip.

The results are fantastic! My teeth have whitened so quickly and without the usual discomfort one often encounters with such contraptions.

Wheelin’ and Dealin’- toothpaste, hairspray, and vaseline?

The CVS near my place of employment had a basket of goodies right at the entrance of the store. The items were 75% off which is fantastic. I picked up the BIOLUXE hair spray for $2.07 and it originally retailed for $8.29. The Ponds was $2.00 (no coupon to couple with the deal) and a product my mother in law uses each day. Finally, the sulfate free shampoo for color treated hair for $1.25.
Bi-Lo sent me a coupon for $.50 (doubled) off Colgate toothpaste. I coupled that with a fantastic $1.50 off coupon and their BOGO deal. Ended up paying $.25 for each tube.

Women Having Abortions Up Premature Birth Risk 34% Next Time

Women Having Abortions Up Premature Birth Risk 34% Next Time

by Steven Ertelt | LifeNews.com | 7/6/11 10:29 AM

A new study conducted in the United Kingdom finds women who have abortions are 34 percent more likely to deliver a baby prematurely when they become pregnant the next time and to suffer from other pregnancy complications.

Sohinee Bhattacharya, who led the research at the University of Aberdeen, examined more than 1 million pregnancies in Scotland over 26 years and he found that women who have one abortion increase their risk of premature birth in a subsequent pregnancy 34 percent. Women who have a historic risk of giving birth prematurely up that risk another 73 percent when they have an abortion.

The risk is increased enough, because of the abortion, that 10 percent of all women who have an abortion will give birth prematurely in their subsequent pregnancy that they carry to term, the researchers found.

The results, first reported Tuesday in the London Times, show the risk of premature birth in a pregnancy following an abortion increases substantially when women have more than one abortion. For the hundreds of British women who have four abortions or more, 20 percent of all women seeing to give birth will deliver prematurely, and premature births lead to an increase in the risk of newborn children having physical or mental disabilities.

According to the Times, the study also found that, when it comes to premature birth, surgical abortions are more troublesome for women than abortions using the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug (which has killed dozens of women and injured more than 1,100 in the United States alone). The results indicate women having surgical abortions are 27 percent more likely to have give birth prematurely.

Because of the previous abortion, the study also found women, in a next pregnancy, suffer from higher risks of stillbirth and pre-eclampsia, the blood pressure disorder that can further increase the risk of premature birth and occasionally threaten the lives of mothers and children.

Bhattacharya told the Times that the risk of premature birth associated with an abortion is “something that should be brought to the notice of women.” She presented the results of the study with Professor Siladitya Bhattacharya at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Stockholm, Sweden on Monday.

According to the newspaper the study involved Scottish women aged 15-55 who had two pregnancies between 1981 and 2007, with 171,208 women having a second pregnancy following an abortion, 458,337 who had a second pregnancy after giving birth, and 458,339 women pregnant for the first time.

Josephine Quintavalle, of the ProLife Alliance responded to the study, and told the newspaper, “This is the most compelling evidence to date of the health impact of abortion on future pregnancies. Whatever one’s position on the ethics of abortion, it is more than obvious that alerting patients to the very real and incremental risks of future miscarriage should now be an essential part of informed consent protocols.”

Peter Saunders, the head of the Christian Medical Fellowship, a UK-based organization with 4,500 UK doctors and 1,000 medical students as members, also commented on the results.

“There are actually at least 119 articles in the world literature already attesting to an association between abortion and premature birth, and very few indeed that contest the association (see below). So why is this new study a news story?” he says. “What makes it news is the fact that this is the first major British study on the subject – as it is virtually impossible to do research on the health consequences of abortion in this country because abortion authorization forms do not carry NHS patient numbers (a story in itself!)”

“I wonder how long it will be before the first mother with a prior abortion brings a case against a doctor or health authority for not being told that she was at increased risk of having a premature baby in a subsequent pregnancy. Especially if that baby suffers one of the more severe and expensive complications of prematurity,” he adds.

According to the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “One of the most egregious educational omissions from current medical education/residency program, or just plain from the American medical literature in general, is the association of induced abortion with subsequent preterm birth. It is a kind of ‘denial by silence.”

“There are at least 119 articles in the world literature attesting to this association, and very few indeed that contest the association,” AAPLOG says of the abortion-premature birth link.

In a paper published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2009, a Canadian research team examined data from 37 studies and found that having a prior abortion increased the risk of subsequent preterm birth by 35 percent, while having more than one prior abortion increased the risk by 93 percent.

Another paper published in 2009 found that found that having a previous abortion raised a woman’s relative odds of having a subsequent birth at less than 32 weeks by 64 percent.

Further, as far back as 2006 the Institute of Medicine included “prior first trimester abortion” on a list of risk factors associated with premature birth. However, as Brent Rooney, Director of Research for the Reduce Preterm Birth Coalition, has pointed out, abortions continue to be performed despite the strong evidence of risks—and in the absence of any evidence showing the procedure to be harmless.

Watermelons!!!

Making meals at home and utilizing our garden has certainly helped with our budget! Thought you might enjoy a few pics of the watermelons ripening on the vine!

Pecans In The Cemetery

Just A Little Fun!

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.

"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.

Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me."

He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along.

"Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."

The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk."

When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..."

The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord." Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.

At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."

They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK THOSE REWARDS!

I had recently switched to another credit card because of the perks and completely forgot about a rewards program with my usual card.
Sifting through e-mails, I came across an e-mail talking about the program, made a quick call, and found out I was due for gift cards totally $110.00! Needless to say I was quite excited and immediately ordered a CVS gift card which will come in handy for toilet paper replenishing.

The moral of the story is to not be a dummy like me and forget about those credit card reward programs.


Just a side note, that Hubby and I pay off the balances every month- nothing is ever carried over to the next month.

Just Another Manic Monday

This week I am back to my ten hour work days which I don't mind when one knows there is a day off during the week. I can't tell you enough how much this has been a blessing in our little household. I mean, heck, I cleaned my kitchen floor with a toothbrush! Yes indeedy Archimedes! I scrubbed that grout until it returned to it's original colour. Course, this may be the effects of watching too many episodes of HOARDERS. Every time I watch an episode-something is thrown away or cleaned!

Anywho...

We are keeping it simple-here is the breakdown.

House: I want to finish scrubbing the grout. I also need to put away laundry, and clean "Hubby's Room".

Garden: The tomatoes are coming in and I have finally been able to make salsa! It is wonderful to know that we grew the jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, and garlic in our own garden. The onions didn't fair so well, but maybe next year. We have also sold some of the garlic which goes straight to Hubby's new television fund. He is determined to get that fancy new television! It will be so odd having a television that actually works....

Yard: I procrastinate with the landscaping and really need to tackle this mess.

Pro Life: I will be out at the clinic on Saturday praying for all of these lost souls.

Church: I don't think there are an events taking place in our parish until August with the Redemptorist (sp?) Mission... stay tuned!

Music: Aw.. my love....we will talk about this another day.

Anywho- what is going on in your world this week?

I Don't Trust You

Maybe it is from my younger days, but I cringe when my doorbell rings. I just totally hate when someone comes to my door- don't you?
Maybe your neighbor stops by your home just to chaffer, but that isn't happening in Hunieland. People come to the door and they want to sell you something or they are looking for work...or maybe it is a scam. Listen, people, I just don't trust you!

So....this young guy comes to the door and says to me, " You must be the mom of the house!"
What? Huh? Who are you? Why in the world would you ASSUME I was the mamma of this house? Was it my pajama ensemble or the wrinkle (not plural yet) next to my eye? Could this be a dig and that you know we don't have children?
Anywho, I told him I wasn't the mother of the house... he went on some sort of rant about teaching children and the conversation pretty much ended when I told him only old people lived on this street-including me and my wrinkle-thank you very much.


That's my story.

Thoughtul Thursday: I don't want to alarm you.....but

There's a dress in my freezer. Is this odd? What do you think?

Well, the truth is that someone dropped gum on my dress AT church. I KNOW! I was just as upset! Anyway.... I have been trying to take it off through the old freezer trick.


Then I started to think that I should freeze all my dresses just before throwing them on and heading out into the heat. What do you think?

Budget Updates

Just an FYI, that Hubby and I have saved half our goal for the year.
I need to assess everything again since we had to purchase a new car and now we are paying our insurance deductible for a new roof!


Life has been a bit expensive this year! Hubby has been wanting to purchase a new television. We had the money saved and ready to go, but the wrenches in our plan caused us to rethink things.

We decided (I actually decided and he threw a fit or something) that the television fund would need to be built up through extra money making adventures.

So far, I have been selling things on Craigslist and Hubby has been putting in a bit of overtime.


That's about it really...there isn't an ending right now...calm down, turbo!

Tasteful Tuesday: Conversations....

So....... hubby and I had an email conversation that went something like this:


Hubby: "What are we having for dinner? Don't say chicken... I need to know the details here."

mE: "All I know is that I am making chicken and salsa...maybe mushrooms? Onions? With cheese... yep- that's right-cheese and maybe,,,, ah,,,who knows?"

Hubby: " Well I am very hungry."

mE: "You shall eat like a KING!"

Now, we know that he isn't really going to eat like a king. We also know that I add cheese to everything because everything tastes better with cheese.

You ask why I would combine such ingredients? The answer should be that I am an artist and these are my wonderful ideas. The truth is that those items were in the fridge the longest and needed to be used stat. One pot cooking, baby, one pot cooking.

She Looks So Innocent.....

Then she opens her mouth and filth explodes! This poor woman is a feminist and very proud of it! She is part of what I call the "summer crew". You know, the college gals who are out from school for the summer and want to run around with their fancy signs.

Their conversations are so very deep and often leave me in complete fits of jealousy! Why can't I make degrading jokes about Our Lord on the cross?
Why can't I dance around to music while waving a feministic sign?
Why can't I sing "Three Blind Mice" as the local priest leads faithful followers in hymns to Our Lord and Our Lady?
Why can't I talk about how I flash truck drivers in the evening hours?

Yes! She is the representative of a feminist!