Hemmed Jeans Tutorial

I hate hemming pants. I always, always, always mess the hem up something fierce so I was completely thrilled to find this tutorial on hemming! I love that when you hem jeans this way you don't lose the yellow thread because you are keeping the original hem! I also like that this will save us some money too...I hate having to pay someone to hem pants when I know that it's probably not that hard, ya know?

Repurposing a Garden Hose

I love to come across good repurposing ideas! This one is for an old garden hose...well, I think the idea is actually for a new garden hose, but of course, you can always use an old one. Basically, you take the garden hose and cut equal lengths, fold them and then clamp them together. The cut edges point upward giving you several skinny vases for flowers! Completely neat!!

I think I'll give this garden hose vase a try this spring...when it's a little warmer!

Does Matt Roloff Have This Watch??

I'm watching Little People, Big World right now. It's the episode where the whole family has gone on a trip to the Bahamas...really, makes me want to be there now! I love visiting islands and I think I could live there no problem. In fact, when Pete becomes a nurse, we're thinking about taking a short assignment in the Virgin Islands!

Anyway, I wonder if Matt Roloff has a neat Technomarine watch to wear when he is in the water?? I swear, the man has everything so it wouldn't surprise me! lol! Cool!


*Discussing the possibility of Matt Roloff owning this watch is helping me buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*

Make-A-Flake

Fun, fun, fun!!! I've been over at Make-a-Flake making snowflakes instead of doing laundry! Really, it's much more fun than housecleaning and maybe I can figure out how to print them out and hang them from the ceiling. Wait...maybe not a good idea because that would just give the dust another surface to land on....hmmm....and these flakes turn out blue when you save them anyway. Anybody know how to make these snowflakes white??

Snowflake Pendant

Honestly, I usually don't wear necklaces. I'm not sure why because I do like them. I think it may be because I need some longer chains...yep, I think that would make a huge difference.

If I had a long silver chain, I would love to have this snowflake pendant. It reminds me of a pair of earrings my MIL gave me several years ago. It would be a nice set to wear.
There are other diamond pendants that I like also. Those circle pendants are always nice and a pendant shaped like a crown would certainly be appropriate, right?! lol!!

*All this talk of diamonds is helping me buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*

Eight Years

I saw this neat video over at neatorama and just had to share. We've seen these kinds of videos before, but this one spans eight years...I think that's the longest span I've seen. What about you?


Living My Life Faster - 8 years of JK's Daily Photo Project from c71123 on Vimeo.

Really, I think I like this guy with longer hair, glasses and no facial hair. What say you??

Giant Rat Discovered!

How could I pass up the opportunity to blog about the discovery of a giant rat?? I mean really, this is very exciting for many different reasons. I think the most exciting thing though is that Heather Mills may have found a rat big enough to milk!! Wooo Stinkin' Hooo!!! Life is good!!

Solar Lighting

There is a house on our street that I always envy. It's just a plain ol' house like the rest of them, but it has those spotlights aimed at it and it looks so lovely and inviting. To make myself feel better I've been focusing on how much energy those spotlights are eating and how expensive they probably are to maintain. Ha! There is always a price for beauty, right!?

Well, maybe not since I've just read about these solar spotlights! Gee whiz...sometimes I feel like I know nothing since solar lighting has been around for awhile. Really, it doesn't take a lot to amaze me! Apparently, I'm living a few years behind everyone else! lol!!

Anyway, I'm going to check this out this spring when we're getting our yard cleaned back up. Or maybe I'll look into them sooner since it's so stinkin' warm around here right now...where's the snow!! Sheesh!

I also like these lanterns but I'm not sure where we would use them.....

Creep Me Out!

Have you seen the glow in the dark cloned kitty?? Scientist in South Korea have inserted fluorescent genes into cat skin cells and then implanted them into eggs.

I have never been in favor of cloning animals and I will forever think it is thoroughly creepy! I don't care if there are supposed medical advances because of the clonings....it's still creepy. Besides, South Korea doesn't really have a great reputation when it comes to cloning so how can we be gauranteed these cloned animals won't be like those animals from Pet Cemetary....really....it creeps me out!

Creeps me out!!

Dying Costs Too Much!

Anyone who has buried a loved one knows that all the arrangements can be expensive. I still have a hard time processing how much is charged for certain funeral details…like the obituary fee, guest books, memorial cards and such. It is all charged individually and not in packages like in the past.

Some people think it’s a good idea to have a burial policy to help cover all the expenses. May not be such a bad idea because, like I said, funerals are horribly expensive. Really, I think it’s shameful to charge so much for this kind of service…..

*Writing about the expense of funerals is helping me buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*

The Evil Eye

This video absolutely cracks me up! I swear, babies seem to do the funniest things and this kiddo is no exception. I think the adults cackling in the background are hilarious too! If I had been there for the taping of this, I would have probably snorted or something (peed in my pants!) Completely funny...we need more of these videos around, ya know? Neat!

Welcome to the Jungle

Did you hear about the teacher who was working late in the afternoon when someone came over the loudspeaker singing "Welcome the the Jungle" by Guns N Roses? Do you know what happened?? The teacher locked herself into a classroom and called the police! I think this is absolutely hilarious....but also, I can see where it would be quite disturbing...especially if you think you are there alone. Besides, don't the strangest things happen in schools nowadays??

Great...now I'm going to be singing that song for the next two days...sheesh! Egads...I just went and watched the video and I can't believe that I ever had a crush on Axl Rose....ack! He is just beyond nasty looking...bleh!!

I Need an Elf to Interview

Oh wow! I had no earthly idea that elves don’t enjoy being tossed around until I saw this video. I mean, thank goodness for YouTube, ya know? Lol

Apparently, there was an elf prank call to American Greetings that brought all this to light. People say it was a prank call, but I really think that this elf is real….and he is certainly not enjoying all the mistreatment! Come on folks, he’s an elf…sheesh…he makes your toys and helps Santa load the sleigh and all. Give the elves a break…and I don’t mean you should toss them around until you break their arms or legs! Not that kind of break…gee whiz!



Want to know how this all started?? Check out this fun winter elf tossing game ecard where an elf is tossed over the frozen pond. Seriously, he looks happy and all so I can understand why people would think that all elves liked to be tossed. Maybe some do, but the one in the video doesn’t….or maybe, the elf in the video has issues and maybe elves really do like to be tossed….how in the world will we ever know? Anyone know an elf to interview???


*All this poking fun at elves is helping buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*

It's Nice to Make New Friends!

Lately, I've been visiting Leena's blog, Conceptis Addict. I can't believe I actually have been sucked into a blog written by a gal who says that she loves math! I loathe math....but love Leena's blog! lol!! Maybe, just maybe, she will convert me and convince me to try out one of those Conceptis puzzles...oh my goodness...did I just say that??!! Ack! Well...I do think it's a good idea to exercise our brains...

Thank you for this friendship badge, Leena! I'm glad we're friends...even if you do like math! lol!


I'd like to share this with the following!

• Sonya over at My Thousand Loves because she loves me even when I have a hard biscuit behind my tv!
  
• Momma over at Momma's Mind Sweep because she was brave and became my friend at time when most people were afraid to be my friend! (Momma and I became friends right after my son Gus had died)
  
• Donna over at My Nesting Place because she is just so incredibly nice and I hope that by giving her this friendship badge that she will pick my name in one of her awesome giveaways! lol!

Birthplace of the Shrimping Industry

Do you know where the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry is?? Neither did I until I did a little bit of research about Amelia Island which is located on the northeast coast of Florida near Jacksonville. I’m thinking that if this is the birthplace of the shrimping industry then there are surely some good shrimp eatin’ places in the area! Yum!

I’ve heard of Amelia Island before and have even suggested that we travel there for vacation. What I didn’t know was how rich in history the place is! I know, I know, all places have “history”, but there are just some places that have really neat history! Lol!! I mean really, the birthplace of the shrimping industry, home of fort clinch and just the fact that it is a seaport means that there is probably lots of history! And because I am always look for learning opportunities for my family, I was pleased to see that there is a lot to see nature-wise. Things like sea turtles, birds and of course the tidal pools and shells are wonderful things to observe. Really, I think we just need to go ahead and plan our trip to this neat little island!

Of course, we are pretty much tied down to this area until Pete finishes nursing school, but for those who can travel right now, you may want to check out this Lodging Special I found out about. Basically, you reserve two nights at a participating hotel or bed and breakfast on Amelia Island and the the third night free. I think that’s a great deal and we would certainly be at least checking it out if we were going to be traveling soon!

Oh….how I would love to do some traveling right now!

My Mom Will Be Thrilled!

My mom will be thrilled to hear that Alex Trebek will still be able to tape Jeopardy even though he has suffered a minor heart attack. ( are heart attacks ever minor??) You see, she is an extreme Jeopary addict and probably needs some help with her addiction! lol!!

Anyway, back to Alex. So, I've watched him for years, but I know nothing about him so I thought I would gather up a few "quick facts".

• Born as Giorgi Suka-Alex Trebek in 1940
• He has a Philosophy degree
• He is married and has two children
• Became an American citizen in 1998
• He is the spokesperson for World Vision...I think I knew that one but had forgotten!
• 67 years old

Rest up, Alex! My mom's sanity depends on you!!

Photo source: Reuters

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What's Up With Phil?

Want to stay on top of criminal law in California?

A good place to start is over at the Los Angeles Criminal Defense Blog | California Criminal Attorneys Law Blog which is a blog that discusses different court proceedings, strategies and analysis of celebrity cases.

I think I’ll head over there to see if there’s any discussion going on about Phil Spector and his new attorney for his retrial. Really, what’s the deal with his hair…it’s killing me! Lol!

*This post is helping buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*

Chef Vinny's Parmesan Puffs

I saw this link to Chef Vinny's Parmesan Puffs over at Bits of Dust and I just had to share! Anything "Parmesan" has to be good, ya know?

I'm a little jealous because Chef Vinny has some pretty cool kitchen tools he uses. That triangular grater would be a nice gift for someone like me! Hint, hint....

Enjoy!


Easy Parmesan Puffs from vincenzof on Vimeo.

Hippie Barista...Gone!

Did I ever tell you all that our favorite hippie barista has moved on and is no longer making great coffee for Smokey Mountain Java?? I didn’t even get a photo of him to show you…I’m very disappointed! In fact, we’ve started going to Powers Coffee now because we just can’t go back to SMJ and have our coffee handed to us by someone else..*sigh*.

Maybe it’s time for Pete and I to get our own Rancilio Silvia cappuccino and espresso machine and jump into the coffee business. Of course, I’d have to have all pink barista tools to make really great coffee, right?

This whole plan sounds much better than hitting the road with the “Carnies” and selling funnel cakes! What say you, Pete…can we change our plans??

Reward Him With the "Ultimate Gift"!

Have you all seen this eBay auction?? Pete has been looking for a second car and he came across this listing for this Power Wagon Ram Charger. The description is completely hilarious!! Really, you gotta love all those clever eBay sellers out there that create all those funny descriptions....

Posh Condos

Beach House...future construction in Miami

I have never quite understood why people who are older want to move to smaller homes. I know that a lot of the reason is because the space is smaller and the lawn maintenance is not so much, but I think I would want to live in a regular size house so my family could come and visit.

However, after seeing these condos for sale I may just have to change my mind because these places are so posh and I would have access to a pool plus much more!

So forget it, children and future grandchildren! Your Dad and I are going to be checking out these nifty condos when we’re ready to move! Of course, you can still come and visit us…we’ll even take you down to the pool! Lol!!

*This post is helping buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*

Levon Helm's "Dirt Farmer"

Isn't it just incredibly neat that a person can get his voice back after having throat cancer, radiation and surgery? That's exactly what has happened to Levon Helm! He has recorded a new album titled "Dirt Farmer". I've been listening to some of the tracks on Dirt Farmer and I like what I've heard so far...I bet Pete would like this too! Neat!

Photo source: CNN

Yellow Metal Boot Camp! Cool!!

I had no idea that there were actual schools where you can learn to operate heavy equipment. I just thought that you were hired by a construction company and that you would be trained on whatever equipment the company uses. After a bit of research, I’ve found out that there are a lot of places that do train operators like this, but really, wouldn’t it be better to actually go to a school so you could learn all about the machine? I would think that you would have more job opportunities and increased job security if you had received certification through an actual school. If one of my children were planning on going into construction, I would certainly have them check out one of the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

After spending some time at the NAHETS site, I’m pretty impressed. I appreciate the use of videos, especially the ones where the student is telling about his experience at the school. There are actually two different students that share their story. I also like the demonstration videos of the different types of heavy equipment. Really, I’m almost tempted to sign up for the Yellow Metal Boot Camp myself ! You think I’m kidding…the only thing holding me back is that I hate to work in the cold! Lol!

You can read more about NAHETS and how their schools can help many different people learn how to operate heavy machinery by visiting their website. Of course, there is more info about NAHETS in the press release below!

PRESS RELEASE:

When people talk about going to Hawaii it usually is associated with vacations, luaus, snorkeling, sight seeing, surfing, and so on. It is the ultimate tropical paradise. But just like any other state in the U.S., more goes on there than just vacations and having fun. One important event that took place in Honolulu is the annual National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Convention. The NIEA was founded in 1969 to support traditional Native cultures and values, and also to enable Natives to improve their communities through educational opportunities and resources. The NIEA works with Native Americans throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

38th Annual NIEA Convention: Return to Cultural Honor and Caring

The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS) was an educational exhibitor at this year’s convention. Over 3,400 Indian education advocates attended the convention and participated in over 220 workshops. Each advocate expressed concrete, statistical information on Indian education.

Native American Liaison, Sharla Patterson, represented NAHETS and instructed the educators about the educational opportunities available through NAHETS’ heavy equipment operating programs. She showed the attendees that NAHETS education and training curriculum can help the NIEA mission become a reality; i.e., provide Native Americans throughout the U.S. a real and lasting education in construction equipment operating that will improve both the society in which they live and also their own lives.

The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools is an entity focused solely on heavy equipment operator training and education. There are member schools and colleges across the United States.

Contact

Sharla Patterson, Native American Liaison
National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools
2920 N. Green Valley Pkwy Ste 811
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 480-248-0731

How to Fold a Towel Elephant

Thanks to BB over at BB-Blog, I know have the instructions for how to fold an elephant towel! Now really, wouldn't my kids think I'm the greatest mom ever if I left them elephant towels in the bathroom? It's the little things that matter, folks. It really is...I'm not joking!

Update: I just went to see what size towels I would need to create these elephant towels and if you scroll down the page a bit you'll see links to a monkey towel, lobster towel and more.....this is going to be so much fun! It will feel like a cruise ship but without all the feasts!~

Fat Blobs and Black Chunks

So, really...have you ever wondered what your processed meat looks like...up close?? I have a very hard time eating meats and the Mystery Meat Macrophotography tour has not made it any easier. In fact, seeing this photo tour of lunch meat, sausage links and hot dogs may have completely sent me back to those vegetarian times! You'll see fat blobs with lots of stringiness, black mystery chunks and so much more...ack!

Thanks to Miniature Brainwave for the link...and for making me throw up in my mouth. That's always a good way to start your day!

A Bowl and a Cakestand

I love to find beautiful pieces of art and that’s exactly what these fusion ceramic bowls are that are being sold at JacarandaStyle. The colors, I think, are just stunning and they make me happy! There are several different pieces that I like but I absolutely love this round bowl and cake stand. I think even my lopsided cakes would look good on that cake stand! Lol!!

JacarandaStyle is a neat online store where you can purchase incredibly unique serving pieces, jewelry, ostrich eggs and ceramics that are all handmade in South Africa. What is special about this online store is that they donate a portion of their sales to the Ethembeni School there in South Africa. This particular South African school educates three hundred disabled and visually impaired children.

JacarandaStyle is being featured in several national publications because of the wonderful items they carry and also because of their charitable donations to the Ethembeni School. You can read about them in such magazines as Traditional Home, Marie Claire and Food and Wine.

Right now you can receive a 10% discount on any item in the store from now until December14^th. All you have to do is enter the coupon code “JSTYLE” when you are checking out.

My Best Friend Is a Python

Have you seen this?? I originally saw the video on CNN and I wanted to embed it here but was unable to...however, today I saw it over at The NewsRoom! This is completely disturbing to me. I loathe snakes and just watching this video will probably send me into therapy...yet I still had to share!

Aren't pythons the squeezy type snakes??? Aren't this kids parents just a wee bit concerned about their little guy getting squeezed to death...Yowsie!!

Now I'm leaving to go puke from the shear trauma of seeing this big honkin' slithering snake...ack!

Calico...The Cat Cafe

Have you heard of Calico? It's a cat cafe in Japan where you can go and hang out (for $7 an hour) with the 14 in-house cats. Supposedly, this is a very relaxing experience. It wouldn't be for those people who are afraid of cats though! lol!!

At first I thought this idea was nuts...really, who in the world wants to go to a place where you can hang out with well-groomed cats and just relax? The more I think about it though, the more I think this idea is kinda neat! I mean really, animals are used all the time in therapy....interesting!

photo source: reuters

Microsoft Student...Help Has Arrived!

I recently had the opportunity to review Microsoft Student and I was very pleased with what I found! I had heard about Microsoft Student before, but I figured that it wasn’t really worth the money since we could probably find everything we need online. I stand corrected because I now feel it is worth every single penny! If I had known about the different features and tools available, I would have bought this software a long time ago. Seriously folks, I think this is a great addition to any household who has school aged children.

Microsoft Student basically consists of four different sections: Encarta for Kids 2008, Encarta Dictionaries, Microsoft Math and Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium.

I first started digging into this software by going to the Encarta for Kids section. I loved the graphics and the easy to navigate tabs for the different sections. Instead of being pages that are filled with a ton of words about the subject, these pages are very kid friendly. The passages of information are short and manageable. Jake, my child who loathes to read, will have no problem whatsoever “making it through” these pages. In fact, I think the graphics will add so much more to his learning experience and I think that’s a definite plus! I also liked that there were “learning games” to play that reinforce what they have learned. Those games are always fun…and I love that the kids are learning without knowing it! Lol!! I like to feel sneaky sometimes, ya know?

Of course, since I have no idea where our actual bound dictionary is, I was excited to check out the Encarta Dictionaries. Not only can you look up words, but you can also access a thesaurus! All right there at the same spot…all you have to do is click the tabs at the top to navigate around. Again, super easy navigation here and that’s fantastic!

Now folks, I’ll have to be honest here. I didn’t really dive into the Microsoft Math section, but I think it will be a HUGE help in a couple of months when Nik starts his high school courses. There were sections on Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Trigonometry and more. I did also check out a section on fractions that I may have Jake work through. Over all, I felt that this section was aimed toward the older student and I am certainly going to be using it soon!

And I’ve saved the best for last! If you had the ability to be a fly on the wall at my house, lately you would have been hearing me complain about how I feel I lack the expertise to teach my children how to write research papers. I love to research and write, but when it comes to actually “teaching” that, I go blank! Really, it’s nuts, but I just fail in this area…and bad! When I opened up the Encarta Premium section and saw that there was an area for “Papers and Reports” I was ecstatic! I clicked on the link and went straight to an area that had options for all sorts of different papers: essays, book reports, science reports and more. I clicked on “essay reports” and was taken to a section where I could pick the type of essay I wanted to write! At this point, I had to stop and breathe! Can it be??? My help has arrived!! I also noticed that there were writing tutorials below these options. Really, it’s all here folks! I did have to download Learning Essentials to see the tutorials and, in all honesty, I haven’t seen those tutorials yet because I have a hard time following instructions and I have not installed it correctly which is my fault not the programs! Lol!

So, once I processed the fact that my help had arrived, I started looking at the other sections. There is an encyclopedia here too, but this one is more in-depth. Foreign Language, College and Career, Presentations and of course Math were the other areas listed. Nik, my one getting ready for high school, will be using this often….and I really think he won’t mind!

I really am glad that I got the opportunity to review this program and I really think our school will benefit from owning it. Over all, I think it is very easy to navigate and is very inviting. Microsoft Math seemed a tad bit daunting to me, but I’m not a math person at all so no one should expect me to get really excited about that anyway! Lol! Of course, my favorite part is the writing section in Encarta Premium! Completely cool program!!

One Step Over The Border

What a great book! Jenny gave me One Step Over the Border by Stephen Bly to read while I was out of school on fall break. Anything that wasn’t a text book would probably have been a good read, but I loved this book. It’s about two modern day cowboys. They are everything a cowboy should be brave, loyal, adventurous, trustworthy, honest and very funny. They meet under questionable circumstances, but their trust and brotherly love for one another quickly grows and suddenly, we are ten years after they meet and they are still riding and working together. Hap, one of the cowboys, had a chance encounter with a girl named Juanita when he was only twelve and believes that she is his soul mate. The books underlying story is his search for this girl. Laramie, his partner, is not really looking for love but it finds him anyway. Along the way the cowboys find themselves in one comic adventure after another: cattle rustling, coming up against a crooked park ranger, battling marijuana growers, and facing down one very bad tempered bull. They always demonstrate how loyalty and honesty is the best policy. This is a great read and with nothing unsavory for any age group. Even if you don’t love westerns you’ll like this book.

If you want to read an excerpt from this great book click here!

Overstock.com's Cool Contest!

Overstock.com is having the neatest contest this Christmas season. All you have to do is register and then pick out an item that you would love to get for Christmas. The item can be anything on the site up to $1000. I was all over the furniture department because we would like to replace some of our furniture before it collapses onto the ground. Its’ a goal we’ve been working on for awhile! Lol! Anyway, for my first entry, I chose this two drawer espresso armoire for our tv.

Now, I say that I chose the armoire for the first day because you can go back to the All I want for Christmas Giveaway each day and enter the giveaway again! I’m not sure if I will enter the same item daily but who knows. Another completely cool thing about this giveaway is that I can invite friends to register and if they do so and I win then they win also!! Everyone has to hurry though because this giveaway is over on December 7^th.

Here’s some bloggers I am referring:

Sonya over at My Thousand Loves

Judi over at Momma’s Mind Sweep

Donna over at My Nesting Place

Jo over at Life With Heathens

Really, I think this is a fantastic contest and I hope that I win so these gals can win too!!

Alexis Goggins...Hero

photo source: The Detroit News

I was just reading about this precious little girl, Alexis Goggins, who was shot seven times while trying to protect her mother. What kind of dirtbag person would shot a little girl?? Obviously someone with a lot of issues....all I can do is shake my head.

Currently, Alexis is in stable condition. My prayers are with her, her mother and the family friend who was also part of this horrible event. I swear, there are some terribly ugly things in this ol' world....

I was hoping that the Childrens Hospital of Michigan (in Detroit) would have e-cards that you can send to patients in the hospital...but they don't. Come on CHoM...get with the times!! Sheesh!

A Room For the Holiday

I know a lot of you who are traveling have probably already made your plans, but if you haven’t, you might want to check out HotelReservations.com. Not only can you find hotel rooms and rates, but you can also check rates on flights and car rentals.

I just checked Hotel Reservations for Gatlinburg, TN and I got a nice range of rooms and rates. Of course, where I want to stay (the Lodge at Buckberry Creek) is way out of our budget so we’ll have to reserve a room at a regular ol’ hotel. That’s fine though…just getting away on a mini-trip is nice! Besides, in our family, plans change all the time so who knows what we’re really doing this Christmas! Lol!

*This post is helping buy a laptop for Up the Hill Academy!*