Wednesday's Headlines

I've seen and heard some interesting news-bytes this week. Here's a recap. Discussion is welcome.

From Good Morning America:

Stay-at-Home Moms Worth Six Figures

Don't forget--no overtime, no paid vacations, no benefits...except for sticky hugs and kisses--I'd call those some great benefits!! The piece I saw on the actual show this morning was a little more detailed of a SAHM's work. In this article, I like the ideas they give for moms considering going back to work, but I think they are downplaying the SAHM role a bit here. Also, the decision to be a SAHM in the first place is hard for a lot of women and tips for transitioning from the workplace to full-time mom would be helpful. What do you think?

From American Family Association(AFA):

H.R. 1592--Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007

Do any of you get e-mails from the AFA? They send out awareness e-mails about laws and public events that may affect Christian families. Though some of their notices I agree with and have even e-mailed lawmakers about, this one and many others, sound so "doom-sayer", that I can't help but roll my eyes. They're calling this a "thought crimes" law, which "aims to silence biblical Judeo-Christian speech and beliefs about homosexuality and “transgenderism.” Other e-mails about this have that "homosexuals are taking over the world" feel. If you read the description about this law here, it seems to lean toward better legal assistance with local hate CRIMES. I didn't see anything in there about speech. Furthermore, we should be embracing loving speech anyway. I'm not saying we should condone homosexuality, etc, etc. But how about just preaching about how Christ died for them as any other sinner? We shouldn't be wanting to speak derogatively about anyone anyway. Is anyone picturing the dodo bird from the original "Ice Age"? "Doom on you...doom on you!"

And finally from Yahoo News:

Coffee Can be Good for You, Experts Say

As I sip my decaf and blog about this--I'm feeling healthier with each drink. Not much else to say about this one really. Just good to hear something good about one of my addictions :)

Wednesday's Wild Wacky Trivia

"All hail the Hypno-Toad!" If you have any idea who this guy is, PLEASE leave a comment!

Now, on to the trivia (yeah, that was a wierd way to start). After carusing around on the net, I found an article that says there are more poisonous species of fish than snakes. Who knew?! It's a good thing, despite the fact that more than 50,000 people are poisoned by fish bites each year (didn't know that either!). It's good because these fish could help researchers make medicines for all sorts of disorders. Here's the link I found. Enjoy!

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/060822_venomous_fish.html

Wednesday's Wacky Wild Trivia

This is another animal I saw featured on Animal Planet's "Most Extreme" today. This is the Hooded Pitohui from New Guinea. He is one of the first documented POISONOUS birds in the world. Only this guy and a few of his relatives are documented as poisonous. We owe our thanks for this discovery to Jack Dumbacher, who in 1989, was studying these birds way out there and was scratched and bit by getting one out of a net. He put his boo-boo finger in his mouth, and lo and behold, his lips and mouth went numb. It was eventually discovered that the Pitohui's skin and feathers contain this poison, called Batrachotoxin, and has only been found in one other group of animals--poison dart frogs. Research is still ongoing to determine if this bird gets his poison from the insects he eats and how he is immune to it. It is thought that the poison is a chemical defense, visually demonstrated by the bright colors of the more toxic birds. Interestingly, the very low toxicity birds are much more dull in color. This would indicate the presence of Aposematism, a defense mechanism used by animals to ward off predators, warning them of unpalatibility or poison. For more information see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitohui and http://www.interaktv.com/articles/pitohui.htm.

Now, don't you feel smarter? Speaking of feeling smarter, my sister in law is taking an intermediate algebra class in college and my hubby and I (mostly him, the math genius), helped her with some of her assignments. I had forgotten a lot of the algebraic rules and such, but when I got started, I got such a mental stimulation from it, that I have now been doing some algebra here at home. I never thought while sitting in 8th grade algebra class, and calculus throughout high school and college, that I would ever want to do math for fun. Being a stay at home mom, though, has me in brain drain. Being with toddlers all day long is physically, but not mentally challenging. It was like I took my bored mind for a walk in a sunny park. Here's a website I've been using to "crunch" out problems. Good tutorials too for any age who need some mathematics help. Check it out!

http://www.coolmath.com/algebra/index.html

Wednesday's Wacky Wild Trivia!

In the spirit of Valentine's day, here is some trivia on some bizarre animal mating rituals. Two extreme examples:

1. Squid--They mate all day long for two weeks. At sunlight, they begin. The female only takes a break to dive down and deposit eggs. At twilight, they stop to eat and rest and by dawn, they're at it again. No Viagra needed by these guys!

2. The Adele Penguin--Once a year, the males signal their intentions to their prospective mates by rolling a stone at her feet. Two weeks after they pair up, they mate--for 3 minutes. Neither penquin will mate for the rest of the year. Talk about commitment!

Here's to a Valentine's Day that is JUST RIGHT!

Wednesday's Wacky Wild Trivia!

I've decided to change my Wednesday theme. I didn't think I did so well with Faves and Flops. It was hard to think of things to fit those categories. So, I'm treating you all to some wacky wild trivia. It will mostly be about the natural world, wierd science, etc. Hope you enjoy! Here's today's trivia:

The Angler Fish:

It was one of Marlin and Dory's enemies in "Finding Nemo", but the angler fish is no mere cartoon villain. It's a real deep-water fish, often living in waters over a mile deep. The wierdest thing I've discovered about this fish is that the males of the species are tiny, and to mate with the females, they actually bite into her skin, fusing with her to become nothing more than a parasitic growth, eventually losing eyes and internal organs and are only capable of depositing sperm. Talk about being too clingy! Here's a good website with some more info. Knowledge is power! Or at least interesting conversation :)

http://www.allthesea.com/Deep-Sea-Fish-Angler-Fish.html

You can also see this wierd fish featured on Most Extreme "Lovers" episode on Animal Planet, I think.

Wednesday's Faves and Flops--a day late

A bit late, yes, but umm... motherhood has been calling. And my computer game. And burning DVD's of the 28 (you should see the stack) mini DV's we have made over the years. I've burned about 4 so far, I think. Using Pinnacle Studio 9 on my laptop here--quicker than our PC downstairs, but still takes at least 2-3 hours per DVD. That's my winter project. So, burning DVD's in the morning while Meg's in preschool, then playing my computer game in the afternoon while they're asleep. I've got a full day! I actually have managed to be productive today. I washed some laundry, exercised, dressed a chicken for supper (you should see his tux--haha!), and burned a DVD. I even managed to fix my hair and brush my teeth before I picked up the kids from preschool. Attempted to burn another DVD this afternoon, but it froze up, so now I'm gracing you with this post.

My fave and flop of the day (or yesterday) is American Idol. Out of the countless reality shows on TV, this is the only one I keep up with. I love to hear the diversity of the contestants and the first week, they show all the preliminary auditions from across the country. Listening ranges from goose-bumpy to absurd as they move on from one contestant to the next. That's my fave--never knowing what talent ,or lack thereof, may come next. My flop this year though--the judging is really getting harsh. Yes, Simon Cowell has always been a jerk, but this time around Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson are dishing it out too. I'm sure it's a ploy to beef up ratings, but putting a 16 year old boy down so hard that he's literally weeping on his mother's shoulder--now that's just mean. I'm concerned about all the impressionable pre-teens and teens out there that watch the show too, thinking their self-worth may be tied up to whether they can be famous or not, whether they have celebrity talent. Heck, even I daydream when I watch it. I can only imagine how a 16 year old girl must feel. And these kids the judges are bashing (if it's not staged)--what impact will that have in their life? I can totally respect the bashing of the crazies who come on there just to be seen. There was a guy dressed up as "Apollo Creed" from the Rocky movies, all decked out in red/white/blue boxing shorts and crazy top hat--singing OPERA! A girl who sang like the growling lion in the Wizard of Oz. And a red-haired 27 year old software engineer that tortured everyone's ears with the worst "Unchained Melody" I've ever heard. Go ahead and bash those people, but give the 16 year old kids--yes, even the kid who juggled while he sang--a little slack.

A few people I did see were very promising and had great stories. One was a 16 year old girl who had been a "crack baby" and had a great voice. Another (*see above pic) had left Colombia, South America with only a couple back packs and a teddy bear when she was 15 and went from periods of being homeless, sleeping in her car, to this audition, where she won a spot for the Hollywood trials. She sounds amazingly like Shakira, who happens to hail from Brazil. I'll keep watching. Let me know if you watch too.

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

My fave today is so sneaky, really it is. "Tee-hee!" My friend Maggie came by for lunch today. Apparently, my minestrone (*see yesterday's post for the recipe) AND the ice cream (mmm, Moose Tracks) she brought for lunch today just hit the spot, and she got very relaxed. All 4 kiddos (my 2 girls, Buddy, and Red) were playing quietly (Thank you Lord!) so I got this shot:

It really is nice to know a friend can be that comfortable in my home. Great compliment for me! Hope you don't hate me Mag! :) It was just too hard to pass up.

I don't really have a flop today, except that Meg's been a little cantankerous (I don't even know if that's a real word) at preschool and at home, and not sure exactly how to nip it in the bud. I'm trying taking the video games away for a few days to see if that will help. I don't want her to get out of hand, especially in school. She's very bright--she is in a reading circle now for the older kids in preschool and got stars for reading some words today--and I just don't want that intelligence wasted with bad behavior. Trying to really praise the good and correct the bad, and hope the good wins out more :)

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

My fave today: My hubby! I just dearly love him. He got me a new 1 GB memory card for my new camera, so now I can take more than 8 pictures at a time :) That's not the only reason I love him, by the way. I have loved him since we were 16 and he's a great husband, provider, and daddy. I love the way he makes me laugh and I love how his eyes light up when he smiles. His blue eyes are gorgeous, his smile is infectious. I'm blessed to be his wife.

*PS--No, I'm not trying to score an extra present either :)

My flop today: Caffeine withdrawal. I'm beginning the cutting off the caffeine process. I have a constant dull headache and I'm draggy. I miss caffeine. But hopefully something good will come of it soon :D

Wednesday's Faves and Flops--a day late!

Sorry I'm late with this. I'll explain in the next post.


Wednesday's Fave: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
My girls and I got to watch it on Monday night, I think it was. I love it--the original Dr. Suess TV adaptation. Great stuff. Catch it if you can.

Wednesday's Flop: Santa Baby
I'm getting this review from another source, since I actually didn't view it. I didn't really want to, either. I usually like Christmas movies, but this one just didn't appeal to me from the previews. According to my friend Maggie, it was a disappointment and included lots of taking the Lord's name in vain. I think the story itself was a cute idea. Santa is sick and his estranged daughter is called in to take over. But his estranged daughter is ex-Playboy model Jenny McCarthy. Not really sending me warm family vibes here. But I'm not going to add any more opinions since I didn't watch it and can't give it a fair enough review. If you've seen it, let me know what you thought. The movie premiered on ABC Family Channel.

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

Today's faves and flops comes from a discussion on another blog that I have been perusing and participating in. I'll keep it short and sweet today.

Wednesday's Fave: Called to Fish post from 12/3/06

Diana is a very sweet young woman in India who accepted Christ about a year ago. She is a person of superb faith and wisdom for one so young. She began this intersting discussion the other day and many people have responded of different faiths and it has remained polite and thoughtful. I'm happy to have joined in a conversation about faith that does not hurt or offend. Take a gander at it.

Wednesday's Flop: People who fight about religion

Why do it? What's the point? There is so much fighting between people of different faiths, and too much between people of the SAME faith. I would grant there are no two people on the earth that believe the EXACT same things. And guess what? I don't think God will be concerned with religion in Heaven! No denominations there, no doctrine, no legalism. My own faith and beliefs tell me that those who believe in Jesus as God's son and accept him as Savior will be there, not just Baptists or Catholics or Pentecostals.

And you know something else? Some people don't believe in God. Or believe in OTHER gods. Of course I wish they would believe in Jesus, but judging them, bashing them, or hashing out your differences with them is not the way to go. You have to accept people the way they are. LIVE out your faith as an example. Don't yell it out. Jesus was the most accepting person in the Bible. He didn't condone sin, but corrected with love. He invited people to follow him gently and with open arms. Let's learn from His example and stand firm behind our beliefs but accept and treat with respect those who think differently. It can be interesting to learn from other cultures and religions. Look on the bright side and remember my mantra: "Don't fight about politics, religion, or love!"

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

I have managed two days of exercise so far this week, and am keeping up with my chores well, pacing myself, taking some me time here and there too. I struggled to get all my chores done early last night so I could settle in with Bryan and the girls and watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I was doing good with the cleanup until Zoe had a poop from you know where. It required an immediate bath, so thanks to the technology of our wonderful DVR, we didn't miss any of the Charlie Brown special. It's such a simple little show, but so cute and timeless.

Now, on to my fave and flop of the week.

Wednesday's Fave: The Santa Clause III:The Escape Clause

We had a chance to see this new installment of The Santa Clause series on Friday last week. Date night and a movie--great combo! Anyway, I was afraid it wouldn't be pulled off well, but they really managed to get a good story out of this one. This movie has Santa (Tim Allen) and his Mrs. Claus getting ready to have a baby. Of course, she's due right at Christmastime, Santa's busiest time of year (poor planning on their part, I'd say). The movie's strongest character, and most intruiging storyline came from Martin Short's portrayal of "Jack Frost". He tries to sabatoge Santa and take his job, by finding out that Santa can reverse his "Becoming of Santa" by using a magic snow globe and saying "I wish I'd never become Santa". So, of course, things get hairy, but with the help of some of the other "legendary figures", like Mother Nature, the Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman, things are put right again. Good story, good for kids and adults too, and surprisingly intersting for a third sequel. See it if you get a chance.

Wednesday's Flop: The way Fox threatens to drive a good series into the ground.

It happened with Boston Public. Series was going well, then the plot got TOO twisted and TOO wierd to recover and off it goes. Now, it is looking bad for the dramatic series House as well. It started out as a great show, a medical series where Dr. House has to solve really wierd medical cases, and there's always a surprise in the end. The characters were interesting, all had their own vices and backgrounds, and House himself--recovering from a severe leg injury that left him partially crippled and hooked on pain meds. He's a total jerk, but a brilliant diagnostician, and you see a sense of caring deep down under the snide, witty remarks. But now, they've delved deep into the drug addiction plot. A cop is on House's tail about forging prescriptions and being hooked on these narcotics, and he's put the pressure on every other staff member as well. It's looking REALLY bad for House, and in reality, he would be fired and put in the can for what he's done, so I'm really NOT sure how they're going to pull out of this plot. If House goes to prison, where's the show going to lead--now he's a prison doctor? I just have real doubts that this series will pull itself out of the mire. So sad that Fox starts a good dramatic series that both my husband and I actually sit down and get into, and then let it head south with plots that can't be unraveled. There's still hope, but I'm not holding my breath.

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

For my fave today, I've decided to list some things I'm thankful that I've learned as a mom. And my flop--another movie review. Here goes:

Wednesday's Fave--Things I'm thankful fo have learned as a mom

1. Kids don't need baths every day, especially babies. This will change as they get older and do things that get them dirtier, like football, mud-fighting, etc.


2. Toddlers, babies, and doors don't mix!


3. Rocking a freshly-bathed baby is one of the best experiences in the world, especially if you don't bathe them every day (see #1).


4. Screaming children, especially little girls, can reach decibels that can rattle the teeth in your head.


5. It will take a proportionately longer time to get ready to go anywhere depending on the number of children you have.


6. You will usually be at least a little late everywhere you go when kids are small, unless you don't sleep.


7. You will not sleep as soundly as you once did--every cough, sigh, burp, or other utterance will be heard, even through closed bedroom doors.


8. It is often not worth the argument to get kids to eat something they don't want.


9. Any food that is "new" is a food kids don't want.


10. Unless that food is candy.


11. Or cookies (but NOT oatmeal raisin, as my Meg reminded me 50 times in Kroger today)


12. A baby's giggle is one of the sweetest sounds you'll ever hear.


13. Hearing your baby say "I wuv oo" for the first time--also one of the sweetest sounds.


14. Hearing your child say their bedtime prayers, thanking God for mom and dad, nana and papa, siblings, toys, all the animals, all the grass, the sun, food, all the houses, and anything else they can think of.......priceless.

Wednesday's Flop--The Break-Up

This movie started out pretty good, kinda funny, then got really dramatic. I was hoping for the happy ending, for the twist, but did not get it. Real disappointment. It was too real. If I wanted to see that, I'd just eaves drop on some couples we know. If you're into drama and don't mind a movie without a happy ending, then go for it. If you'd like to escape reality for a couple hours, choose anything else. There's my 2 cents. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!!

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

I like rainy days. Except that I just want to curl up and sleep all day and can't but other than that, I get mundane stuff done fairly well. I have managed to complete nearly all my Christmas shopping ONLINE (woohoo!) This doesn't seem like that big of an accomplishment, but if you knew how much I hate shopping then, yes, it is! And, being the clever little computer chick that I am, I have also made up a nice Christmas list on Excel, on which I have listed all the people I'm buying for, what I have bought them (and would like to buy), and how much I've spent, with a summed up total on the bottom of that column as well. I have also color coded the list and when I finish up shopping for someone, their name is in GREEN, and gifts I have yet to buy (or ideas) I have in RED. I have printed out all of the receipts as well so that I can keep up with what I have bought and when they are shipped. I feel like the holiday season is going to be more controlled this year. I love feeling organized. It doesn't happen often enough. On to this week's faves and flops:

Wednesday's Fave: Click

Hubby and I had not rented a movie in such a long time until a couple weeks ago, when we watched Saw II (really gross, but really twisty plot). We decided to rent Click and watched it night before last. We loved it! It's about a man who is a workaholic and decides to buy a universal remote control to "make life easier". Well, he ends up in a Bed, Bath, and Beyond, where "Beyond" is staffed by a mad scientist looking fellow by the name of Morty (Christopher Walken). He gives him the remote, which Mike (Adam Sandler) finds out can actually control real life like a Tivo. The movie begins like the other slapstick, raw humor of previous Adam Sandler movies, but this time, ends with a really serious story and hubby and I were both teary eyed. The point of the movie is that all of life has a purpose--the good and the bad and that you really don't want to miss any of it, or you'll regret it. If you want a good date movie and don't mind a few curse words and sexual innuendos (put the kids to bed!), pop some corn and snuggle up to watch this. It REALLY is good!

Wednesday's Flop: Retailers who don't offer online products/pricing or don't take debit cards

It's time to get out of the Stone Ages, people. Debit/credit cards are fast and convenient and most consumers in the developed world are using them. Many, many consumers now also have online access and at least offering a catalog/pricing of items in a store is a good way for people to do research. Even little mom/pop shops could offer a website with at least an e-mail link for questions. Technology is not scary. It's useful.

As for the debit/credit cards, checks are for little old ladies in Wal-Mart who take 10 minutes to fill them out only AFTER all is rang up, then mess it up and start over. You can still keep up with what you spend. No one will steal your soul. It's not the mark of the beast. I think a lot of people are afraid of identity theft/robbery with credit cards, which is a concern. But, you can take precautions here. Make sure only to buy from websites that are secure, do not share your PIN with anyone, and find out about the credit company's policies on theft. Most of them will not hold you responsible if a card is stolen and charged. I know. I had it happen to me--on my last day of work before I left to be a stay-at-home mom. I had $600 charged to the Discover and I was not responsible for a penny of it. You can easily call their 800 numbers too and often can get the card cancelled before they can even charge anything. As for checks and money, if those are stolen, well, the money is gone, and you may be responsible for stolen funds from your banking account. Now, who's going to call their bank?

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

It was so quiet yesterday. No preschool, no babysitting, and the girls were very mellow. I liked yesterday. I want more yesterdays. Today is back to the usual chaos, with someone in trouble every 5 minutes. Keeps me on my toes I guess. I had to delve deep into the cobwebby recesses of my mind to seek out my faves and flops today. Here's what I came up with:

Wednesday's Fave: Activia Yogurt from Dannon
It really seems to work like it says it does. I've tried it every day for two weeks like the "challenge" says to do, starting right at the tail of that flu I had. My tummy was all bloated up and crampy and not well, and after a couple days eating this, it really got things going :) And I felt better. I haven't been bloated, and things have been normal in the digestive tract. It tastes good too, which is a big plus. Also makes really good fruit smoothies--take 2 containers of the vanilla, mix with half a carton of chopped strawberries (or two bananas is great too), a little milk and about a tablespoon of honey, and voila! It's become one of my girls favorite treats.

Wednesday's Flop: POLITICS!
Sick, sick, sick of hearing it and I'm glad election day is over and I don't really care who won what seat. I've heard so much mudslinging going on that it has sickened me and I really don't think any politicians have the public's interests at heart. Perhaps some of them start out that way, but many just end up in corruption or uneffectiveness. I realize they're just people and not superheroes, but I don't like people making promises they don't keep and especially pointing fingers at everyone else. It's ugly, and I'm tired of it. I've got enough to worry about.

Did you like my faves and flops today? Don't let the tumbleweeds blow by on here--post a comment if you drop by, if only "Yo, wuz up?" I can see people are coming by the stat counter, but not many are leaving a message.

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

Are you ready? Put down those Sweet Tarts and Snickers you pilfered from the kids' treat sacks--or just snack on them as you read :)

Wednesday's Fave: Zoo Tycoon!!
As most of you know, I'm a computer game junkie. I currently switch back and forth from The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion to Zoo Tycoon 2. I just got the most recent expansion pack yesterday--Marine Mania 2. I haven't had the time to play much yet, but going through the tutorials was even fun! You can build marine exhibits, and add show animals and train them. This game lets you get into first person (zookeeper) mode and walk around like you're really there, really caring for the animals, along with overhead modes for building, etc. If your kids (or you) are into gaming, and you want a good game that is free of violence and explicit material, this is the game for you. Zoo Tycoon 1 is good too, except it doesn't have zookeeper modes, but can be played on older systems.

Wednesday's Flop: Afrin 12-hour Nasal Spray
More like 6 hours with severe congestion, and the lousy thing is--it says you cannot use it for more than 3 days. I NEVER have congestion for less than 3 days. Apparently if you use decongestants too much, you can make congestion WORSE!!?? I really can't understand that. How about designing some that you can use the whole time you have a cold and they actually work to clear the congestion and don't have wierd effects? Anyone know of any? I'm using plain saline spray now to break it up and keep things flowing, and that is helping some, but when a cold actually hits, I need something to clear it out fast and get going again. So, it's more of a rant than a review, really. I hate being sick *whine*.

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

I had a hard time coming up with a fave this week. I've been sidetracked by a cold, and hard-pressed to really like anything much this week. But, thinking from past experience, I thought of a good fave and flop. Are you ready?

Wednesday's Fave: Food Network!
I've linked stuff from Food Network before, but for a while, I didn't watch the channel or even look up recipes, but I started watching again this past week. They have some really cute Halloween food shows on this week. Very informative--you learn how many of our favorite Halloween treats are made, and get some good ideas for fun Halloween food. All around, it's a great channel AND a great website. You can look up a multitude of recipes, and what's even better is that people rate the recipes, so you can see how others like it before you try it. The recipes are also rated by difficulty, so if you see one labeled "expert", you may want to save that for later :) I got my favorite pancake and biscuit recipes from there. So, if you're not tuning in to Food Network, at least go clicky on these links and see what you're missing.

And now, dum, dum, ta DUMMM!!! What you've all been waiting for....

Wednesday's Flop: Celebrity Paranormal Project
I was channel flipping the other night, when I came across this gem. I cannot believe some of these stupid reality shows--so, the flop is really directed at all the STUPID reality shows out there. Some of them are so ridiculous--"House of Carters" anyone?
But, this one really put the icing on the ridiculous cake. The episode I watched included Gary Busey (good celebrity D-lister), and a "Survivor Amazon" contestant, among other not-so-well-known celebrities. They were touring the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, KY--"Hmm, local place, supposedly haunted, might be interesting", thought I. In the beginning of the tour, one dialogue ensued where the Survivor contestant was proclaiming that she was terrified to enter the place, and Mr. Gary Busey nobly suggested, "Just remember Jesus Christ as your savior, and you'll be fine." "Hmmm, interesting comment--didn't know Gary Busey was a Christian." Then, after a commercial break and some more channel flipping, I return to hear the gallant Mr. Busey screaming in the face of another participant, "Shut the **** up!" Didn't continue to watch at that point. Will never watch again. Sick of TV producers coming up with the stupidest reality TV shows, and people doing anything to get 15 minutes of fame.

Hoped you all liked today's faves and flops--if you have any comments on these or know any other good ones, let me know. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday's Faves and Flops

I've managed to exercise two days this week! Go me! Now blogging before I pick up the kids. Hoping they will be a bit less wired today. And Team Kid again tonight--my my. At least it's not my night to teach, so I don't have that pressure. Enough rambling. On to today's topic--

My favorite thing of the day: Digital Scrapbooking! I've decided to venture beyond the paper and glue and gel pens and go digital. All we have is a digial camera now, so it's a bit easier, and I am totally loving the non-mess. I can do it all from the comfort of my laptop and printer. I found a great little free program on the web called Scrapbook Flair. It allows you to set up your templates, add backgrounds, embellishments, photos, etc, and you can download stuff from anywhere else and use with it. There is a lot of free stuff on the internet to choose from and some pretty cheap stuff too. Definitely check it out if you are at all interested in going digital.

My flop of the day: Actually this came from last week. I saw a terrific ad for Chips Ahoy Chunky White Fudge Cookies in Parenting magazine. The close-up picture made me want to eat the page--great ad! I then bought them at the grocery, which I rarely do in response to ads. Needless to say, they did not meet my expectations. They looked great, but had such a processed taste that they almost tasted fake. The chocolate in the dough and the chocolate chips in them didn't taste very chocolatey at all, but the white fudge chunks were good. They were better warmed for a few secs in the microwave, but still were quite the disappointment.

Hope you've enjoyed my faves and flops for Wednesday. Comment all you like. Stay tuned for Thursday's Laugh Out Loud!