Another Try At Fix-it Friday

Okay, back again. Now I don't have time to do what I was going to, so I will save it for next week. Today instead will be a public service announcement. As you know from my whiny Thursday post, overheating and dehydration are things we worry about for our youngest. Even if you are not on the medications Little Man is on, YOU still need to be careful in the heat.

First Up, Heat Exhaustion:
Heat exhaustion is one of the heat-related syndromes, which range in severity from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion to potentially life-threatening heatstroke.

This post will get too long if I post every word, so I will give you the links and hope you click and learn. The life you save, may be yours!
Heat Exhaustion

Next, Heatstroke is the most severe of the heat-related problems, often resulting from exercise or heavy work in hot environments combined with inadequate fluid intake. Heat Stroke

And a couple of chemical heads up, because I know some of the peeps who read my blog have some kids on the same kinds of meds as Little Man.
Lithium: (This is why we are careful about making sure Little Man has plenty of water and Gatorade in the summer) Taking this medication can make it easier for you to become dehydrated, especially if you have any vomiting or diarrhea, if you are outdoors in the sun, or if you exercise vigorously or sweat more than usual. Dehydration can increase some of the side effects of lithium.
Drink extra fluids each day to keep from getting dehydrated while you are taking lithium. Lithium
side effects to be concerned about(these can mean the Lithium level has gotten too high):
extreme thirst,
urinating more or less than usual;
weakness, fever,
feeling restless or confused,
mild tremor of the hands;
weakness, lack of coordination;
mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or upset;
eye pain and vision problems;

And the last one we worry about. Little Man is on a benzodiazepine. This class of drugs include Xanax, Valium, Ativan, etc. We use Little Man's to help treat his seizures, but they are also used for anti anxiety, sleeping, etc. With the summer, once more dehydration can cause problems. Because "benzos" depress the central nervous system, they can cause you to not be able to breathe and depress other important body functions like blood pressure and heart rate. Here are the symptoms we would watch for with benzodiazepine toxicity:
Decreased respiratory rate
Hypotension
Decreased oxygen saturation level
Hallucinations
Slurred speech
Ataxia
Coma
Impairment of cognition
Hypotonia
Weakness
Respiratory depression

I hope all of you are scared straight! Be careful with the heat, drink water and if you are out in the heat for hours, an electolyte replacement fluid of your choice. If you start feeling sick, please don't shrug it off, take care of yourself so we can all enjoy many summers in the future!

Post Number 400!

Happy 400th post to us, happy 400th post to us! Happy 400th, happy 400th, happy 400th post to us! And many more!
Wow! Who ever knew I had so much to say? Ha ha, that was a joke. It just seems like such a big number and some of you have been along for the ride the whole way! Hugs and kisses to all of you.

Stupid Gatorade company. I think they are not making this particular type of sports bottle gatorade anymore because I am having a tough time finding them:


Let me tell you why discontinuing this particular bottle is a problem.
1. Little Man is on a medication where getting dehydrated even a little is life threatening. We don't worry about it much because he is always thirsty and even while he isn't a good eater, he is a great drinker. He drinks water and Gatorade, and when the weather gets warm, he drinks more.
2.He is used to these bottles.
3.He prefers these bottles.
And while I understand the whole plastic is not good thing, I won't send a different kind of metal bottle with him, because he won't use it and we couldn't afford to replace it if it got lost too many times.
Stupid Gatorade! Don't they know the hell that is yawning before us if we can't find these bottles? We re use them until they are unusable. I went to THREE different stores before I found some. I bought 20! We are good for this summer. I refuse to think about next summer.
Don't forget, tomorrow is Fix-it Friday and boy oh boy do I have something in store for you! If you wish to participate in some way, a linky, an idea, a craft, a recipe, anything you think is valuable, please drop me an email (lakotajo2 at msn dot com) or a comment and I will be sure to link to you!

We Will See

If I have any other takers, I will do Fix-it Friday. Otherwise I will tell you a story!
I am slowly moving through my posts and labeling them. It is going to take a while.

It Is Friday!

My dearest bloggies, and Fix-it is the name of the game.
Holly from Walking In My Shoes humored me after I begged shamelessly asked nicely for her to do a Fix-it for me. She has got the BEST ideas for any covert sweet cravers. You will never be found out! Unless the other people in your house have good senses of smell, but by then the evidence will be gone and well...
My own Fix-it shall be up in a bit, I have some things to get done first, but I didn't want to leave Holly hanging, considering how I had begged and all that!
You all go on over and give her some bloggy attentions and most of all, try her recipes!
Sadly, the next one is only available to subscribers of Foster Abba's blog. But if you can, go read and find out how she fixed something broken!

Fix-it Friday!

My contribution to Fix-it Friday is finding out more about yourself. This is NOT an effort to fix you, because you need no fixing. But in understanding yourself better, you improve your interactions with other people and have an opportunity to perceive why you do things and why you might react a certain way. In my college studies, especially in psych classes you learn a lot about "instruments" which are the way you measure things that might seem unmeasurable. Quizzes, tests and surveys are all instruments. In understanding personality, the
Myers-Briggs has not only a popular fan base, but also some respect as a decent personality instrument. The best ones you actually have to pay for, so if you are intrigued you can either go buy a book at the bookstore, or pay a company online to do the test with you. I have a decent free one that I am going to give you the link for. And if you are honest, before you read my results, you will go take this test first, and then read my results. I would LOVE it if you either put your results in the comments or linked to a post you write about the test. Either way, I am showing you MINE, so show me YOURS!
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I am an ENFP!
"Like the other Idealists, Champions are rather rare, say two or three percent of the population, but even more than the others they consider intense emotional experiences as being vital to a full life. Champions have a wide range and variety of emotions, and a great passion for novelty. They see life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities for both good and evil, and they want to experience all the meaningful events and fascinating people in the world. The most outgoing of the Idealists, Champions often can't wait to tell others of their extraordinary experiences. Champions can be tireless in talking with others, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their own words to get it all out. And usually this is not simple storytelling; Champions often speak (or write) in the hope of revealing some truth about human experience, or of motivating others with their powerful convictions. Their strong drive to speak out on issues and events, along with their boundless enthusiasm and natural talent with language, makes them the most vivacious and inspiring of all the types.

Fiercely individualistic, Champions strive toward a kind of personal authenticity, and this intention always to be themselves is usually quite attractive to others. At the same time, Champions have outstanding intuitive powers and can tell what is going on inside of others, reading hidden emotions and giving special significance to words or actions. In fact, Champions are constantly scanning the social environment, and no intriguing character or silent motive is likely to escape their attention. Far more than the other Idealists, Champions are keen and probing observers of the people around them, and are capable of intense concentration on another individual. Their attention is rarely passive or casual. On the contrary, Champions tend to be extra sensitive and alert, always ready for emergencies, always on the lookout for what's possible.

Champions are good with people and usually have a wide range of personal relationships. They are warm and full of energy with their friends. They are likable and at ease with colleagues, and handle their employees or students with great skill. They are good in public and on the telephone, and are so spontaneous and dramatic that others love to be in their company. Champions are positive, exuberant people, and often their confidence in the goodness of life and of human nature makes good things happen.

Joan Baez, Phil Donahue, Paul Robeson, Bill Moyer, Elizibeth Cady Stanton, Joeseph Campbell, Edith Wharton, Sargent Shriver, Charles Dickens, and Upton Sinclair are examples of Idealist Champions"

A less flattering, but still true description:
"General: ENFPs are both "idea"-people and "people"-people, who see everyone and everything as part of an often bizarre cosmic whole. They want to both help (at least, their own definition of "help") and be liked and admired by other people, on bo th an individual and a humanitarian level. They are interested in new ideas on principle, but ultimately discard most of them for one reason or another.

Social/Personal Relationships: ENFPs have a great deal of zany charm, which can ingratiate them to the more stodgy types in spite of their unconventionality. They are outgoing, fun, and genuinely like people. As SOs/mates they are warm, affectionate (lots of PDA), and disconcertingly spontaneous. However, attention span in relationships can be short; ENFPs are easily intrigued and distracted by new friends and acquaintances, forgetting about the older ones for long stretches at a time. Less mature ENFPs may need to feel they are the center of attention all the time, to reassure them that everyone thinks they're a wonderful and fascinating person.

ENFPs often have strong, if unconvential, convictions on various issues related to their Cosmic View. They usually try to use their social skills and contacts to persuade people gently of the rightness of these views; his sometimes results in their neglecting their nearest and dearest while flitting around trying to save the world.
Work Environment: ENFPs are pleasant, easygoing, and usually fun to work with. They come up with great ideas, and are a major asset in brainstorming sessions. Followthrough tends to be a problem, however; they tend to get bored quickly, especially if a newer, more interesting project comes along. They also tend to be procrastinators, both about meeting hard deadlines and about performing any small, uninteresting tasks that they've been assigned. ENFPs are at their most useful when working in a group w ith a J or two to take up the slack.

ENFPs hate bureaucracy, both in principle and in practice; they will always make a point of launching one of their crusades against some aspect of it.

Yup, yup, yup. It is all me. Silly, caring, zany, procrastinating, extra sensitive, ME!
A quote from a fellow idealist that I love! I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised to find out that she and I share many personality traits.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.

Now tell me ALL about you. I am listening....

It is Fix-it Friday!

Eliza's Mum has returned, although if you are looking for the second cutest sous chef ever, (barring my Pea of course) you will have to do without, Eliza is on strike again... but the recipe, oh, my, you must go partake!

Katie from the view from the hill has an idea to keep your kiddos happy on a summer's day for a LONG time, so be sure to give her a visit. By the way Katie, I LOVE your new header, the picture is too, too pretty!

Be sure to visit the links and see what other Fix-it Fridayers have to say.

Fix-it Friday

I made this recipe for our Sunday Dinner and it was a HUGE hit. We are kind of backwards. I use my crockpot in the summer when it is too hot to turn on the stove. This week I even put the crockpot out on the balcony so the heat generated wouldn't affect the apartment.

Crockpot Chicken, stuffing and mushrooms
Ingredients:
1 package herb-seasoned stuffing mix, prepared
4 to 6 boneless chicken breast halves or boneless thighs, without skin
1 can cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom
1 lb sliced mushrooms sauteed
Preparation:
Prepare packaged stuffing mix with butter and liquid as directed on package. Layer stuffing in the bottom of greased slow cooker. Place the chicken pieces on top. Chicken can overlap some, but try to arrange with as little overlap as possible. If there is room, you could use more chicken. On top of the chicken, pour 1 can of cream of chicken soup, or you could use cream of mushroom, or cream of celery, whatever you like. Just don't add the liquid the soup can says to use. Add the mushrooms. Be sure to stir the mushrooms around a little so they are coated with the soup.
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

I Won't, I Won't And I Can't Want to!

I so totally stole that phrase from Butterfly. It fits in well with my life currently.
Yesterday I was soooo incredibly excited to get my new work cell phone. It is way cooler than my personal cell phone, it even has a camera! And it is from a reliable company, not the company that has its headquarters in the back bedroom of some one's double wide, which is where I suspect my cell phone service originates from. So perhaps my work phone won't drop calls randomly and often as my personal cell does.
Then. I realized. OMG, I have another cell phone. What the heck am I going to do??? I have a hard enough time juggling my personal cell, keeping it charged, remembering where the heck I put it and most of all, finding the freaking thing when it starts ringing. Now I have to do it twice??? And the camera? I shall just have to tell my work to bite it, they can't stop me from sending pictures that I have taken with my NEW phone to all my friends and family and who cares if it isn't work related?? NOT!
And today, I am playing coporate mommy, or corporate grand ma as the case may be.
There is something absolutely heavenly about being able to go back to bed when you are just too tired to be awake that day. And today, I did! But, it put me seriously behind. I was awakened at 9:50 by my sweet June Bug being dropped off and being told, by the way, she is teething and had a horrible night and she is having a rotten day too, sorry. I found at 10:40 I had an 11 oclock work conference call. So I coughed and coughed, (I am trying to get rid of a terrible cold and when they said it would be helpful if I muted my coughing I had to tell them I didn't know how to do that...sigh) And chased the June Bug and tried to give meaningful input into my first real job thing I have done so far. It is now 12:30 and I am not showered and not dressed. Hopefully the Stinkbug will go down for a nap soon so I can shower. And cough myself to death, in front of other people. Cause yeah, that part was the best.

Don't forget! Tomorrow is Fix-it Friday! Please think of something you do, or want to do, or someone else does, or a recipe, or anything so Jo doesn't feel like a total loser and last week 3 people did Fix-it Friday and I almost died from happiness! Leave a comment or email me at lakotajo2 at msn dot com and I will sooo link you up, front and center!

First up we have Katie from a view from the hill She is discussing knitting and yarn! Delightful colors of yarn!

Next, we have a newbie, Torina from Busy Intersection has something very important each and everyone of us needs to take seriously and take action. If you have a child, love a child or know a child, this means YOU! Thanks Torina.

Another newbie, Jill, proves food doesn't have to beautiful to be appreciated. Go on over to Thou shalt not whine to be entertained and inspired.

Fix-it Friday

Cinnamon Rolls!
You really need to read Jill's post before you go on to read mine. I will wait....
hmm..... okay, are you ready now?
Take yeast dough, although I wouldn't suggest Jill's dough for rolls. You need rollable dough and I always add a couple of extra tablespoons of sugar to my dough when I am making these rolls. You can use frozen dough from the supermarket, or do as I do and make your dough in your handy dandy bread maker! We bought this expensive breadmaker years ago and it still works wonderfully! It even has a dough cycle.

After the dough has risen once, punch it down, and you are ready to begin.
Assemble ingredients:



cinnamon, butter at room temp, dough, brown sugar, and a little flour.
I spray the inside of the pan before I begin so it won't stick.


melt about half a cube of butter and pour it into the bottom of the cake pan.


Sprinkle brown sugar into the bottom of the pan. About 1/2 cup or a bit more. (This will melt together and make a fabulous caramel on the top!)

Lightly flour the rolling surface for the dough



Roll out dough, I roll mine really thin, because I like lots of layers. If you like thicker, doughier layers, don't roll it out so thin.



This batch of dough has 3 cups of flour in it. I used 1/2 of a cube of butter spread all over the top of the dough. (This is NOT a low cal recipe. Get over it.)


Sprinkle cinnamon.


Sprinkle brown sugar on top


Roll it up lengthwise


Slice into rolls (this is up to you. If you make them really thick, this will make one pan of goodness. Thin slices will make two pans)



Place in pan


Let rise until double


Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.


Place plate on top of pan IMMEDIATELY


Dump upside down and let sit for a minute. Remove pan and TAADAA!!!



I hope you enjoy all this delicious goodness. First from other blogs and then from my technique for making cinnamon rolls. If you lived nearby, I would SOOOO share with you!

Still Alive

I am so sorry. Fix-it Friday has really fallen by the wayside with everything going on. You know, I have had better weeks, really.
My uncle died. I am okay with that, but it has been really hard on my mom, and I have done my best to be present for her, as she grieves losing another family member.
My grand mother died. I can not express how grateful I am that I was able to visit with her before she passed away. I knew she was very ill with cancer, but it was a shock to have her die so soon after I saw her. She had a long full life, and there is much to celebrate. But a part of me, of course wishes she were still here with us.
This stuff with Little Bear has really taken a toll on me, physically and emotionally. He was discharged today! He just looks so wonderful! He has come a long way in two weeks. But all the driving back and forth and everything else, even though I was glad to do it, was still not easy. I feel bad for being relieved that I am not going to have to drive back and forth to the Large City 3-4 times a week.
Little Man had a dentist appt yesterday at Sick Kids R Us. They needed to see him in the clinic before they could approve of some sedation for his teeth.
That was probably in the top three worst appointments of all time. Hell isn't even the word. Hell distilled. Condensed hell. Hell so condensed, if you took one drop it would burn through you like hot lava and you would smell brimstone from a mile away. Yeah, that kind of hell. The dentist never even was able to set foot in the room, and we ultimately had to finish his medical history over the phone. My guess is that he couldn't tolerate being a new place he had never been before. He has enough going on cognitively to be anxious, scared and worried, but he is too delayed to reason with, or try to talk him out of the tree he has climbed in his anxiety. The well studied response? Um, yeah, we are going to need to sedate him. Smart, aren't they? So we have another surgery with the boy in June. Hopefully we won't need to do a PICC line and vanco again. I was the picture of patience, I am pleased to say. I just felt so bad for him, he was struggling so hard, and losing the battle to his inner demons. Poor boy. But by the end of the day, I was pretty well hammered and not up for any more fights with him. Luckily Bald Man could see how stressed we were and stepped up nicely for me to get a break.
Hopefully I won't be spitting in the face of fate by declaring that it is unlikely next week could be as bad as the last one.
Thanks as always, for your comments, kind and funny. They are a boost in the middle of some tough stuff here.

Fix-it Friday

Hey, hey, hey, all you you bloggers. It is Friday, again. And Friday means Fix-it!
First, off to a view from the hill where she links to a place where you can FLING penguins. I mean really, what could be more fun??

And next. You, yes YOU, have the opportunity to fix ME! As you all know, I have a HUGE job interview next week. I did some serious shoppage this week, one, I needed something a bit more upscale for my wardrobe, and two, I needed the confidence you get from looking your best. Now, you, my darling bloggies, get to help me figure out what I am wearing and when. Please, if you have any particular fashion advice, or reasons why I should or should NOT do something, please, please share.
Also, any interview tips would be appreciated. I am soooo naive and unschooled in these matters.
I have had some wonderful fashion tips from the only real fashionista I "know", Mrs. Figby. I was sent on a hunt yesterday by Figby for some heeled, close toed, black, pointy toe shoes. Bald Man insists that I am not a real girl because I don't like shopping for shoes. Hours were spent yesterday and even the Princess was enlisted in the shoe search. I need small heels because I just can't wear big heels anymore and the last thing I need to kill myself trying to walk in them. So kitten heels it was. I finally found them. The winners!

Macy's was having a rocking sale this week. I got 2 shirts, a dress and new dress slacks for 75$. I am so proud of my skillz!
Here are the new pieces:

New shirt:


The sleeves are sheer





Opps! That isn't a new outfit, but she is darling, isn't she??

New slacks with a subtle, shiny, pinstripe


New dress, faux wrap:



Shucks, my fingers musta slipped again!

I already own this next suit, it isn't the best cut, but I am not spending more money right now. I can wear it with either my white shirt, or a silky blue one. (I promise the blue one matches in real life)





Here are the events:
1.I get off the plane, and go to the car rental, then drive to the corporate offices. I am planning on changing at the airport and touching up my hair and actually putting on MAKE UP there. Before I go to the office. I am not really doing anything there except meeting one or two people, nothing formal, no meetings or interviews, mostly just to get my hotel arrangements.
2. Dinner either night with boss peeps.
3. Next day, is THE day. 8:45 I meet with the big boss and the corporate meeting. Interviews follow.

If none of those outfits fit your idea of what I should wear, give me suggestions. I own more clothes of course, but they aren't new. I have beige dress pants, black dress pants and some business casual shirts, and a navy blue linen blazer. I do have a briefcase I am taking with me.
So give me, 1. 2. and 3. Either what you would wear, or what you think I should wear, or pick an outfit from above.
Sheer nylons or black? And which with each outfit?

Other grooming:
I will de-fur my upper lip on either sat or sun so it is smooth and clean
Eyebrows will be cleaned up
I will shave all the regular places before I go, I don't have a great deal of body hair, so I won't need to do it on the trip again.
I will touch up my gray roots either sat or sun also.
I will be bringing and actually wearing makeup!

Anything else?? Any advice? Tips? I keep having dreams that are half anxiety and half fantasy. Excited and nervous here!

Fix-It Friday

Hey bloggy ones! I am in the middle of craziness at the Tangled House. Not bad crazy, but just really busy, crazy! I am watching the darling, darling June Bug

I just found out I have a job interview in another state at the end of the month! Oh my gosh. I think I just might be a real grown up now!
And Little Man is due home in a few.
I thought about trying to squeeze a Fix-it post, but decided, ya know, I will let it slide this week.
BUT! Eliza's Mom has an awesome Fix-It Friday post up, so head on over there and give her some bloggy lurve!
Yikes, June Bug has got Jack the dog's toy and if her mama catches her with it, I am DEAD!
Also, Katie from the view from the hill shares with us, all sorts of yumminess!

Birthday Fix-It Friday!

It is my birthday. I swear I have no idea where the years went, but for heaven's sake I am 47! Yikes that just sounds rather old. (Apologies to any out there who are older) I am so far, having a wonderful day. Most of my kids remembered it was my birthday, my forgetful but loving hubby remembered and reminded Little Man. I have gotten quite a few phone calls with happy wishes, a gift from my visting teacher and best of all, a sushi lunch with my beloved friend, Drama Mama. She is really busy and we rarely get any time to spend with each other, so two hours with Drama Mama is a gift indeed. Add a nice lunch as part of the present, and so far, my birthday just rocks! Thanks Drama Mama!
And now, on to Fix it Friday!
First off, we have not only our cutest and favoritest sous chef, Eliza!, but we also have Eliza's grand mother making an appearance for Fix it Friday. We feel quite honored. Go on over, and enjoy the cute, cute pictures AND the delicious recipe.

Fix-it Friday

Inspired by Eliza's Mom, while I was making dinner one night this week, I decided I might as well take pictures and share this for my Fix-it Friday!
Here ya go. Homemade Egg Noodles. For me, it seems just a wee bit silly to share this, because they are beyond simple and easy, but I forgot, not everyone knows how to make them or how incredibly easy they are. My kids would all keel over dead from the heresy of storebought noodles in my homemade soup. They adore these fat, chewly noodles. So, for your pleasure and enjoyment: Noodles.
First, ingredients. (You are going to die)

Flour.


Eggs.



That is all. Salt if you insist, but I don't put salt in mine.
2 eggs for every cup of flour. 2 cups of flour is more than enough to make A LOT of noodles. I kinda forgot. I used 3 cups of flour. It made too many noodles. I threw dough out. I would feel more guilty if it hadn't only wasted like 30 cents.

Mix. Dump out on whatever floured, large surface you will be rolling and cutting on.



Knead it all together. You want it mostly not sticky, just a little sticky. Or not, whatever floats your boat. Don't worry if it doesn't turn out, it is an inexpensive experiment, and quick, so you can whip up another batch if it totally sucks.



Mixing just a bit more:



Flour your rolling pin and roll it out.



I roll it and flip it when it is smaller so it doesn't stick.
Roll it out as thin as you can. The noodles get fat when they cook. My hand is there so you can see how very big it got rolled out. (3 cups of flour. Don't do that unless you are making literally gallons of soup)



Cut the strips very thin. They get fat, don't forget.



By this time they are sort of stuck to the surface, so I use a sharp knife to help me peel them up.





You can make them as short or as long as you wish. I then flip them over my hand and take them to the boiling pot of soup. They only take a few minutes to cook, so leave this til the last.


Peel them off one by one and drop them in the boiling stock.

Tada! Yummy soup! With fat, chewy noodles. Easy peasy, no?



If I did a horrible job explaining this, feel free to leave a question and I will do my best to explain it better! Happy Chicken souping to all and to all a good night!

Thursday Catch Up

Today is the first day in over a week that I haven't either crawled back into bed after Little Man was off to school, or wished I could. I think I am finally recovering from the bug that made me puke!
Don't forget, tomorrow is Fix-it Friday! Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email, I would be thrilled beyond thrilled to link to you in your brilliant goodness!
And, and! shhhh! It is also my birthday tomorrow. I will shamelessly beg for a few birthday good wishes.

I got tagged twice for the Six word meme, so here goes:

Jo, joyful, loving, wife, mother, grandmother.

Curious, passionate, silly, lover of life.

Thinking, living, loving, doing, laughing, Jo-ing!

late, laugh, love, life, learn, labor

open hand, open heart, open mind.

All me, every word!

Consider yourself tagged if you wish to do it, otherwise, I never mentioned it, okay?

The First Fix-it Friday of Spring

Can you believe it is Spring? All our snow is melted, but we are not out of the woods since our last hard freeze day is May 1st. Until then, the jury is out for real Spring.
First of all, go trot on over to Eliza's Mom who, as a black belt AND a karate instructor, has some useful tips on staying safe!

Fix-it Friday!

As for myself, I am going to share with you some sites that make me smile! There is nothing wrong in the world that a good chuckle can't make lighter.
I am a daily checker of the following two sites. They either make me laugh or grin, or just say, awwww!
Eliza's Mom is the one who turned me on to the following site:
I can has cheezburger? All I can say is some people are sooo funny. And silly. And perhaps certifiable, but still funny.
Cute Overload. Enuf said that that one!
Lest you should think my sense of humor is all goodness and light, I shall now strip you of that illusion.
Another favorite that really makes me laugh!
From a little company with the lovely name, Despair.com, we have
The Demotivators! a funny spin on something all of us have seen.

What do you think of when you read these sentences?
"He spent every lunch hour at home,curdling the burrito."
"One thing I could never figure out was how he kept his shoes on while holding the blazing eel."
"Alone once again, she retired to the bedroom and began hazing the groovy nether squid."
Should some less than wholesome thoughts be what crept into your mind, FEAR NOT, this is just The Always Amusing Euphemism Generator and it is always guaranteed to make me smile. One button click and you are on your way to your own amusing euphemisms.

I am much amused by how language can get messed up in translation, which is why the following site makes me laugh too.
Engrish.com
This is a new site to me and has more to explore than I have had time lately to do so. But what I read was pretty funny. Bored.com
Hopefully these links will put a smile on your face too! Have a great weekend.

It's Fix-it Friday!

Whoot! And we have some fun ones today. First, head on over Eliza's Mom where the Eliza strike has ended and the our favorite sous chef is back to work showing us how to make some yummy, yummy dinner!

We have a newcomer to Fix-it Friday, Thou Shalt Not Whine who is ready to make you gasp with awe over these Ukrainian Easter eggs! Wow.

Our long time Friday Fixer, Katie, is back again at the top of her form! I about died laughing watching her video on making a cake, with a meat cleaver and marizpan. Go and watch, not only is the cake especially clever, but they talk with English accents, and it was just very funny. Enjoy your View from the hill!

These next two blogs did not ask specifically to be included in Fix-it Friday, but they are having contests and I want to win something and so do you!

Amber at Soggy Cheerios is giving away either a CAKE, or cookies, (depending on where you live) if you win her contest! Go on over and leave her a comment, and then put a mention in your blog for even more chances to win! YUM, YUM! That chocolate cake is the ONE I am drooling, I mean dreaming of!

Baggage at Baggage And Bug has a lovely 12 year old daughter who is making the cutest little toddler leggings!
Here is the link to her etsy shop: Buglegs. The name of the shop is enough to make you want to shop there! She is giving away an Ipod nano as a way to get the news out about her daughter's newly fledged business. And me? I get FIVE more entries for mentioning this on my blog! Head on over and check them out.




Don't forget, the biggest part of Fix-it Friday is either to scoot with undue haste, or meander on over to these blogs, (whichever mode of transportation suits you) and give them some bloggy lurve.

My contribution to Fix-it Friday!

Lately, I have been struggling with some customer service problems. First off is Little Man's home health care. I am just so frustrated with the deliveries. With the wrong things being sent, with the things we ordered never making into a box for UPS to deliver.
Secondly and oh my gosh, this is a big one. We got our windshield replaced last June. Well guess what? Anytime there is a big rain or I try to take it through a car wash, the windshield leaks! We found this out while we were in South Dakota last August as I am driving through a TERRIBLE thunderstorm, and not only am I trying to drive on the freeway and trying to see through the rainstorm, but I am also scrambling for something to soak up the water which is pouring from the top of the windshield into my lap! ARGH! We have called and called, they have come out three different times, but each time, the windshield still leaks. I hate it. The best time it leaks is when I am driving Little Man to the Big City for his specialist appointment and he is screaming and the windshield is leaking and poor Jo is just trying not jump out the window to escape the craziness.
My solution? I found a website that has some really good tips on dealing with customer service and getting what you want. Here is a snippet:

*What the Experts Say: Turning on the charm certainly won’t hurt

*But you don’t want to be so pleasant that you seem like a pushover.

*Bottom Line: An affable, respectful attitude is best, but let your manner express both the importance of your mission and your determination to see things resolved to your liking.

This is a well written and informative article. If you are struggling like I am with customer "no-service", head on over the website and read the whole article. You won't be sorry!

Get What You Want!


Hope your Friday rocks! Here is how mine is going: I am not babysitting. No one is sick, Little Man is in school, and no one vomiting. I consider that not just a successful, but a WONDERFUL Friday indeed. Hope yours is also!

Fix-it Friday in March

It isn't too late! Write a post on something you know how to do, or something you enjoy or just link to something informative. Come back and leave a comment and I will make sure you are linked up at the top!
Eliza's Mom wrote us a song! Go check her out.

Fix-it Friday

A long time ago and in a galaxy far, far away. Okay, not in another galaxy, but sometimes it does feel like a lifetime ago, The Tangled kids were little. Okay, okay, most of them are still little, but then they were YOUNG. Very young. Pygmy Child was 8 when I had JJ. Five kids, 8 and under. Homeschooled no less. I was busy, but my first business was always raising my children. I am HUGE believer in having fun. Everyone should have fun. Kids and moms. As a young mother, I had a chance to be mentored by some really extraordinary people. One of them was Bev Bos. She was a preschool teacher that taught in a nearby town and also gave workshops. Art for art's sake, and child initiated play are two of her favorite sayings. I learned how important a child's play is to their wholeness as a human, how important getting dirty is to a child's growth and how to set a stage where children can blossom. Her book Don't Move the Muffin Tins is well worn, stained and dog eared from much use. If I could recommend just ONE book for parents with toddlers/preschoolers/young children on how to do enriching activities with their child, this book is it.
One of my most amazing memories of her workshop was the big bubble. I stood in the middle of a small wading pool that had an inch or two of bubble solution in it. There was a hula hoop on the bottom and a folded towel on top of that so you didn't slip. I stood on the towel and two other people grabbed the hula hoop and slowly pulled it up. Before I knew it, I was standing in the middle of a huge, iridescent bubble. The rainbows shifted and melted on the surface of the bubble in front of me and the light was as if I had never seen light before. It was magical. For a child, you would ask them where they were floating off to in the bubble and have the describe what they were seeing in their imaginations as they floated along.
So for Fix-it Friday, I am sharing with you my favorite play dough recipe and a couple of awesome websites to help enrich the child in all of us!

The Best Play Dough Ever!
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 cups water
4 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup cream of tartar
Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan. Cook and stir over low/medium heat until dough is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool until just warm and knead it well. You can add food colors if you want to color while you are cooking it, or knead it in after if you want to use one batch with different colors. Be aware though, if you add food color after, you will get it all over your hands! So wear gloves, or have colored hands for a while.

Here is a link to a bunch of bubble related activities, including some recipes for homemade bubbles:Bubbles

Here is a great guide to encouraging children to create:
Guiding Children

Okay, enough talking! Go play!

It is LEAP Fix-it Friday!

Can it get anymore special? Not for 28 more years peeps! The next leap friday will be in 2036. Wow. So this post is gonna be special. I am working on it right now. But in the mean time go check out Elizasmom who, in spite of the worker's strike, managed another fine Fix-it Friday post!
Katie, the ever faithful the view from the hill has some awesome linkies for your littles.
We have a new player, my long time blog friend Jenny from Bombadee's Garden who is getting us ready for the next ice age and how to survive it with a kid.
Don't forget, it isn't too late to participate today. Fix-it Friday, your chance to either share something you enjoy doing, something you know, or anything you like, it can even just be a link to a website that inspires you. Fix-it Friday is even a chance to learn a thing or two! Drop me a comment or an email today and I will link to you and put you front and center. I am off to edit my post for today.

Taking a Leap for Fix-it Friday!

As you can tell from my previous post, my little Pea has been participating in a form of exercise that is gaining some respectibilty. Pole Fitness is the exercise and fitness without the striping or sex. Let me introduce you to some new citizens in the Tangled Kingdom.

First, we have Pole Mama, (Princess and Pole Mama have been friends since High School.)



And her little one, Pole Baby aka the Pea's best friend.



Pole Mama teaches Pole Fitness and she was so sweet and is willing to give you a FREE pole fitness lesson! Welcome to the Pole Fitness Studio.
First, you need to wear a sleeveless shirt and short shorts. Your skin helps you grip the pole. No lotions, or you will slip.

This is the official pole:



Should you wish to order your own, you can even get a portable one for your home.

The cutest little pole daughters you could ever hope to meet!




You have to learn the different grips.
The baseball grip:



The Power Grip:



The Goofy Grip:



The name of the grip Jo forgot:



The first move is called the Fireman:
The embed won't work, so here is a link instead:

The Fireman
Step by step:













Climbing the pole, you use your ankles:










And if you are Pole Mama and it is your studio, you say, "ick!" and "hand me that pole cleaner please!" And proceed to clean the top of the pole. Notice how strong her legs are! Pole fitness works!





You can be creative coming down:






Dang! Her thighs are STRONG!



The next move is The Martini:

The Martini
Step by step:







This one is called the chopper:

The Chopper

This one I think is so pretty, it is the Showgirl:


The Showgirl

And some various photos showing her awesome strength and fitness.















So, I hope you are as awed as I am at the incredible athlete Pole Mama is! And should you wish to be more fit, Pole fitness is a fun way to go.
Thank you Pole Mama, for inviting us to your studio on Leap Friday. If anyone lives in Utah and wants more info, please feel free to email me and I will get you the real address!
I love learning new things and this certainly is NEW to me! See ya next Friday!