MelaniePenelope

Saturday 9: Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Welcome back, S9ers!

Looks like we'll have a fun time this month. Link up  here if you want to play along with us!

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Saturday 9: "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" Theme

This week's song was chosen because this is the last Saturday 9 before Halloween. Are you unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.


1) The Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, was born in England. Name another pop culture contribution England has made.

 

 

I got stuck on the Beatles, of course, and my brain wouldn't let go of that thought to let me think of anyone else. But then I jumped to Sir Elton John, and I had to go with him. Boy George, George Michael... I could (now) go on and on.

2) This week's song is recognized as the theme to Hitchcock's long-running TV show, but "Funeral March for a Marionette" is a classic piece written for piano in the late 1870s by Charles Gounod. Do you often listen to classical music?

 

♪♫♪♫♪♫... I've put that on right now. I listen to classical every chance I get. I usually put it on YouTube on my phone and then ChromeCast it to the TV in order to annoy a certain three teenagers. Of course, to annoy is not my point. I learned in 9th grade Biology that playing classical music during any kind of thinking time for students helps encourage broader and higher levels of thought processing in the brain, so I put it on when I feel the kids will least object. I prefer Vivaldi's Four Seasons the best, but lately they've wanted more Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. And they still always complain. (Now we have Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata playing.)

3) Janet Leigh's shower scene in Hitchcock's Psycho is considered one of the scariest sequences ever filmed. What's the most frightening movie you've ever seen?

 

 

When I was seven years old, in April, my mother died. My father lost all the parenting sense he probably never had and basically forced me to watch Children of the Corn. That same month, I think if not that week! And later, all the Freddy Krueger movies. And after that, Silence of the Lambs. And more. I do not enjoy that stuff. I have had plenty of scary things happen to me in the dark. I do not like purposefully subjecting myself to more.

4) Hitchcock admitted that he "never trusted birds," and he took that fear and turned it into the movie, The Birds. Is there a member of the animal kingdom that just gives you "the creeps?"

 

 

Yeah. Home sapiens. Too damn many of us, making too damn many horrible decisions. Soon, we're going to be using up more Earths than Earth has left to give us. It's scary, and not enough people care.

5) Halloween will soon be upon us. Will you carve a jack o'lantern this year?

 

Yeah, but we probably won't even get our pumpkins until Halloween itself this year. I want to do something like this skull one!!

 

 

6) What candy will trick or treaters get at your house? 

 

I haven't decided yet. I give out good candy, not like apples or pennies - I got a lot of those as a kid and was not a fan! Ha. Hallowe'en, to me, is (partly) a day for kids to just let loose, have some fun, and eat a shit ton of stuff that's bad for them. Rob and Chloë say we got fewer than a dozen last year, so I really want to give out full-size candy bars this year. In Virginia Beach we got hordes of kids every year and sometimes had to put out a sign that we'd run out. And I bought a LOT of candy to prepare. That's more more fun to me.

 

7)  When you went trick or treating, did you prefer fantasy costumes (like a storybook character) or scary ones (like a monster)?

 

Whatever people wear, I prefer interesting costumes.

 

8)  Which candy was your favorite? Which one were you disappointed to find in your trick or treat bag?

 

 

Let's just say, if Reese's Pieces Cups had been a thing when I was a kid, I'd be in serious trouble with diabetes right now. I never liked finding pennies and apples, as mentioned above, and I hate(d) Milky Way and 3Musketeers bars. Gross.

9) Which do you find scarier -- cemeteries or haunted houses?

 

 

I've always found graveyards to be beautiful and peaceful. I never mined being in them. Haunted houses, on the other hand, I don't even like now. I don't like bad things coming out of the dark and grabbing me. It's terrifying to me.

 

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And now I think we might watch Children of the Corn. Just to get that memory out of the shadows and out of my worries for good.

 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Halloween 2018

Hey, guys. Welcome back! The kids are out back cleaning out the chicken coop and letting the 19 surviving chicks (we've lost two of the this batch) free-range in the yard and forage for mealworm treats for the first time. I'm going to knock this one out, hopefully, before they're done. At that time, we need to check all their leg bands for tightness, reband if needed, and take pictures of our growing birdies. They're all changing so fast! <<sniff>>

Let's begin!

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Halloween Questions

 

Stolen from Something Stirring

1. The smell of pumpkin guts or rotting leaves?

 

 

I much prefer the former. I can't wait to roast my seeds!

2. Sweet or salty pumpkin seeds?

 

 

salty for me

3. Store bought or pumpkin patch pumpkins?

 

 

It's a family tradition to go to the pumpkin patch and pick out our pumpkins each year. This year, I told the kids it might be the very last day of the month before we could afford to go. For the first time, the two oldest (15 and 17) told me that not only did it matter to them if we went or not, but they didn't even care if we carved pumpkins at all. What is this growing up bullshit?!!

 

4. Wool or knit sweaters?

 

 

Um, I completely fail to understand this question, given that the two are not only not mutually exclusive, they are often combined to produce maybe (??) a majority of the more beautiful sweaters. Wool is a material fiber, and knitting is a technique, after all.

5. Halloween party or exploring haunted places?

 

 

I'd rather go to the party. Halloween is fun, and I enjoy it - but I truly don't like being scared on purpose.

6. Candy corn or mellowcreme pumpkins?

 

 

I had to look up mellowcreme pumpkins; I had no idea what they even were. But my answer remains: neither. I pretty much don't eat anything made by Brach's.

7. Apple cider donuts or pumpkin donuts?

 

 

Since I didn't want either of the last question, I'm taking both this time. I love doughnuts!

8. Apple pie or pumpkin pie?

 

 

I think most of my family prefers pumpkin, but I love apple pie the most.

9. Scary costume or something silly?

 

 

Silly, please!

10. Still, silent nights or rainy, windblown ones?

 

 

I'm fine with either, depending on what I'm doing. I'd rather not drive in the rain, though.

11. Hocus Pocus or Halloweentown?

 

 

You know, I don't think I've ever sat and watched either one all the way through. I'm thinking we might have to have a Hocus Pocus screening tonight!

12. Witches or ghosts?

 

Did I tell you guys Sophia (aged 13) wants to go as a plain white ghost this year? That's right, my girl is goin' retro. I dig it.

13. Raking leaves or climbing trees?

 

 

I've done my fair share of leaf-raking. I still feel like I've left some trees unclimbed.

14. Ouija boards or ghost stories around a campfire?

 

 

I'm not a fan of either, but no ouija board for me! Ever.

15. Frankenweenie or The Corpse Bride?

 

 

I just... don't know. I don't really think I've seen either of these, either. I'm so lame.

16. October or November?

 

 

This Winona Ryder meme is everything. Also, what's wrong with September??

17. Black cats or owls?

 

 

I like both! This is our (well, Sophia's) black cat, Sugarplum Yogurt (yes, that's her real name). Before she was spayed, that is. Now she's got a big booty!

18. Fireplace or candlelight?

 

 

I love both! I'm out of candles right now, though. I really need to stock up! (Update: Chloë found the bag of tea lights that I knew we still had! It's candle time!)

19. Monster movies or their classic novels?

 

 

I'm not really into that genre. According to this chart, using my maiden name, my movie would be Terror of the Disco Sock Puppets. I would totally watch that!

20. Carve or paint pumpkins?

 

     

 

Hm. Carved or painted... I think both are beautiful, but really, I think gilded is the best. I'll have to try that next time!

 

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That was fun! Time to band chicken legs. 

♥ y'all!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Sweet City Woman

Hey, hey, what do you say? Welcome back! Link up here if you want to join up with the rest of the Sat9'ers today!

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Saturday 9: Sweet City Woman (1971)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.


1) The lyrics tell us the singer is on his way to catch a train and he really wants to be on time. When is the last time you were late for something?

Between picking up Chloë from work, getting Jack to work, I was a few minutes late to my latest therapy session on Thursday. Fortunately, her last session runneth over, so no one was the wiser when I snuck in a few minutes past the hour.

2) He sings he's on his way to meet a woman known for her macaroons. What's your favorite cookie?

I'm simple. I like a good chocolate chip cookie.

3) His girlfriend's face is so pretty she lights up the city night. How many lights are in the room you're in? How many are switched on?

There are probably a dozen, and as wasteful as it is, they're all on. My brain doesn't get the signal that there is light, and unless things are super bright, I have a lot of trouble seeing what's right in front of me. It's a huge pain in the ass.

4) This is the rare top 40 tune that prominently features a banjo. Sam has always been crazy about the sound of a banjo. What sound makes you smile? (It doesn't have to be a musical instrument. Think bacon sizzling, church bells, etc.)

Intellectual humor that makes me want to laugh even when I'm pissed off about something (I'm looking at you for all of the above, Hubs)

5) 47 years after their record was a hit, The Stampeders still tour every summer, playing festivals across the US and their native Canada. Do you enjoy live music under the stars? Or would you prefer to be seated in a theater?

I love live music! Just wish I could get out more to enjoy it!

6) In 1971, when this song was popular on the radio, detective shows were popular on TV. Mannix, Ironside and Cannon were all in the Top 20. Who is your favorite TV detective?

Adrian Monk!

7) Also in 1971, the Post Office Department was disbanded as a Cabinet department and became The United States Postal Service. When did you last go to the post office? Were you mailing something? Buying stamps? Picking up a package? Renewing your passport? 

I drop off something to mail from time to time, but even last time I bought my two books of stamps, it was online. I get more choices that way, y'see. But that reminds me, I need to initiate the process of getting Chloë's passport in time for her mission trip to Guatemala next summer!

8) Race car legend Jeff Gordon was born in 1971. Do you watch NASCAR?

In case you didn't catch that, my answer was "oh hell naw."

9) Random question -- Do you have a vaccination scar? If so, where is it?

No, I don't have any vaccine scars, because I never received any vaccines as a kid (thanks to being raised in the cult that is Christian Science). My new primary care doctor started giving me my childhood vaccines this month, at the age of 42. I'm scheduled to get my whooping cough and polio vaccines for the first time next week. It's an odd feeling, but a relief. Someone finally cares.

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Glad y'all stopped by.

Fin.

 

Doing Our Part To #MoveTheDate: Part The First

Hey, peeps! I've always been an avid tree-hugger, and right now is really a time in my life where I want to focus on actions that are good for me, good for my family, and good for our planet. I thought I'd tell you about some of those things.

So for our scientific exploration this year at Sweet Pea Academy, we're focusing on Ecology and the Environment. One of our objectives for this class is to take one of the #MoveTheDate pledges from this website each month and, individually and as a family, make it a top priority to implement that pledge in our daily lives. Then we evaluate how we've done at the end of each month. The first month we pledged to #GoVeggie, and although we didn't 100% meet our goal, we definitely made some significant progress.

Also, as a mom, educator, and concerned citizen of the planet, I'm taking every additional step I can think of to contribute and set an example. Reducing packaging and waste is a big push for me. So recently, we ordered this set of 12+2 Cleaner Pieces Reusable Stainless Steel Metal Straws, in four colors: Gold, Silver, Rose Gold & Black - 20 oz & 30 oz Tumblers Straws (Bent). This whole plastic straw mess - as well as all the plastic garbage clogging up our waterways - is killing me! So the straw thing is going well with this set, and 12 seems to be enough for our family of five so far. I recommend them!

I have lots of other eco-friendly goodies on my family wish list, of course, including this colorful 12-pack of cloth napkins for $16.99. At 20x20", they're big enough to cover any number of messes that this team of sometimes-sloppy people can make! Of course, we already have some cloth napkins, but they're always in the laundry, it seems like, so there are never enough. And I have more toned-down neutral colors on that wish list as well, so you can be sure there are plenty of options.

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So you probably don't know, but for nearly 20 years from age 22 or so until 41, I was a die-hard Jafra skincare fanatic. I mean, Royal Jelly was where it was at, as far as I was concerned, and Jafra could do no wrong. Now, don't get me wrong; the products are great, the benefits are amazing - and they work. But after getting involved with Young Living in 2016 thanks to my great friend Shana, and becoming even more in touch with my hippie flower child Bohemian side, I started thinking long and hard about my connections with Jafra. The ingredients just aren't always the kind I want to smear all over my face and body every day, and not just that, but the business side of things was not something I wanted to be a part of anymore, either. So I unceremoniously ended my longtime relationship with Jafra, cemented it with Young Living, and opened the door for more opportunities to live more wholly wholesome.

Recently, I read about MyChelle Dermaceuticals on a post by Nadia over at Body Unburdened: Healthy Living Made Simple.

Personally, it has always been important to me to use a good eye cream - well, ever since I was introduced to good quality skin care at Jafra, that is. And now that I'm in my early 40s, a well-made eye-plumping product is one of the most important items in my skincare arsenal. I can always, always tell when someone is either not using an eye care product - gasp!! - or isn't using a very good one. I don't want anyone to ever think that about me! So I decided to try the Ultra Hyaluronic Eye Gel Nourish & Moisturize Eye Care from MyChelle Dermaceuticals first.

I love the way the cooling gel feels on my tired ol' eyes in the morning and then again by the end of the night. This gel helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and dark circles - which is key for moi!

About MyChelle Dermaceuticals:

Founded in 2000, MyChelle was the natural industry’s first to use anti-aging peptides, plant stem cells, and clinically proven dermatological ingredients. Their 360º approach to beauty provides clean, conscious, and comprehensive products that are bioactive and ethically sourced. Sounds good to me!

What's really sweet in addition to the great products at MyChelle, you can use this code to get 30% off your first order total: MYCHELLEBEAUTY2018  - and, what's more, shipping is free, and returns are free on all orders. They have the BEST customer service. I swear.

On top of that, you can earn points toward meaningful discounts for completing simple actions. For instance, I earned 500 points (= $5 off an order!) just for subscribing to their newsletter. I earned 50 points each for sharing my eye gel purchase on both Facebook and Twitter. Subsequently, I earned 100 points each for following the brand on Twitter and liking them on Facebook, and so on and so forth. I was was delightfully surprised when I received this Clean Beauty VIP award in my email inbox, which afforded me extra benefits like bonus points and a free product:

For achieving VIP level, which was exceedingly easy to do, I was given a free MyChelle Sun Protection Sun Shield Clear Stick SPF 50 - worth $12 - absolutely free! I didn't pay one red cent for the product or, of course, shipping. I haven't gotten it yet, but it should be here early next week.

What's more, I was able to redeem $10 in those reward points for a big discount on a $12.50 MyChelle Lip Hints Conditioning Lip Balm in the Nude shade. Counting free shipping, nothing extra for tax, I only paid $2.50 out of pocket. I can't wait to try it, since I am addicted to lippies! Any member of Team Odette will happily verify that for you - I have multiple stashes of lip balms in every conceivable location I encounter in my daily life: my bathroom drawers, my purse, my desk, my car dashboard... everywhere. So I have high hopes for this one!

So maybe give natural beauty products a try and start with MyChelle Dermaceuticals. They work really hard to develop quality products that are safe for you and the environment, and they work even harder to keep your business. I'm quickly becoming a big fan!

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And finally, the last new-to-me company I want to fangirl over to y'all is Grove Collaborative. Have you guys heard about them yet? If not, you need to head on over here and get yourself a totally FREE Mrs. Meyer's Cleaning Kit with five full-size products!

Here's what you'll need to do:

Head on over here in order to use my referral code and receive your free gift. You'll need place at least $20 worth of items from Grove Collaborative into your cart, but that's super-easy to do with all the amazing down-to-Earth, good-for-the-Earth products they offer. You can choose from baby and kiddo products, household cleaning items, personal care, and even their own Grove brand of items to help you get even more value from your first delivery.

As for me, we needed laundry detergent, and I'd been wanting to try Molly's Suds Laundry Powder forever and a day. So that was $13.99 right off the bat (though valued at $16.99), leaving me only $6.01 worth of goodies I still needed to add to my cart.

I liked the Zarbee's Naturals brand already, and we were having some sore throats going around Chez Odette, so I splurged on a $6.99 package of 14 throat lozenges.

In return for my $20.98 buy-in with nothing additional for tax or shipping, I received a 12½-ounce bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Honeysuckle hand soap valued at $5.30 for free,

a 16-ounce bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Honeysuckle dish liquid valued at $5.30 for free,

a 16-ounce bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner valued at $5.30 for free,

a 12-ounce bottle of Method Sweet Water dish liquid valued at $5.40 for free,

a lovely Grove Collaborative red-and-white 100% cotton dish towel valued at $5.95 for free, and finally, a set of two Grove Collaborative walnut scrubber sponge valued at 3.95 for free!

As if this offer couldn't get any sweeter, I do have to say that I'm a sucker for nice, careful, and thoughtful packaging - and Grove Collaborative definitely did not disappoint. The dispensers were carefully taped to prevent leakage during shipment. The note inside was handwritten. And the packing job inside the box was clearly planned and not just thrown together like so many other packages we've all received, I'm sure. 

You'll love what you get - in product, in service, and in peace of mind - from Grove Collaborative, and if you don't, that's okay, too. Their 100% Happiness Guarantee means you can return anything at any time, and they'll even send you a prepaid shipping label. There's literally no risk - but plenty of risk if y'all keep using those heavy industrial-level commercial cleansers around the kids, pets, and yourselves, y'know?

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So what kind of eco-conscious changes have you and your clan made lately, or are thinking about making? I'd love to hear about 'em!

Fin.

OFFER On Your Next Full Young Living Order!

(My own personal collection of *some of my* Young Living Essential Oils)

I'm currently offering a 15%/20% coupon for ANY size order from my Young Living account. The benefit to you is that you will get the finest essential oils on the planet at a really nice discount.

Meanwhile, the benefit to me is that for the size of order I like to purchase each month (I'm not required; I just like to max out my rewards for doing so as much as possible), that much less will be out of my own pocket for my own order. So it's a win-win.

Actually, it's a win-win-win, because truly I have always loved helping my friends and others I know get the best deals possible, and I assure you, this is one of those great deals!

You can look around on my personal Young Living website, but do not order through that site. Instead, send me your order so that I can take the discount off on your invoice myself.

Please do try to honor the October 31st deadline.

Additionally, I promise that I will always include as many samples as I can with each and every order you place. Some will come pre-made by Young Living, such as those in the photo above, while some will be customized to try and address your particular needs at that given moment in time.

Listen.

I know a lot of you think a lot of us have just jumped on the ol' Young Living / Essential Oils bandwagon, but for me personally, that is simply not the case. I was just ask skeptical as the next guy, and I kept saying "no" to Shana when she offered to send me some things. Pffft, please! I'm a scientist; I had no interest in what I thought were non-scientifically developed products.

I was so wrong. That initially sample bag she sent me helped so much that I jumped on the offer to sign up, and since then, I have accumulated as many Young Living oils as I possibly could. But that's not all - I use many of their EO-infused products like skincare, bodycare, and house-cleaning products, just to name a few.

So if you'd like to benefit from this great order, just drop me a quick line & we'll go from there.

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Calling All Pancakes!

Welcome back, ladies and gents! I'm covered in bruises from my cupping device, which I'm using (overusing?) in an attempt to get my dislocated left shoulder back into place long enough to lock it in with kinesiology tape and/or an Ace bandage, but so far nothing's happening there. Ugh. Anyway, while I've got my pain meds onboard, I thought it might be a good time to join in the weekend dose of thievery. So here we are!

Thank you to Bev and Kwizgiver for providing this week's entertainment! Let's begin; link up here if you'd like to play along this weekend:

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The Phone and Pancakes -- A contribution from Kwizgiver (Thanks)

1. Your phone rings. Who is the most likely caller?

 

A quick check of my phone indicates that it's either (a) Rob or the kids, for any number of things, (b) any of my multitude of medical providers' offices, or (c) the hospital's billing department. The latter call about six times every weekday.

2. How long do you chat on the phone each day? 

 

 

As little as possible. I have phonophobia or something. I avoid it like the Bubonic plague.

3. Who do you speak to the most? 

 

 

One of these formerly-wee kids are usually the ones I talk to on the phone, since Rob never picks up when I call!

 

4. Do you often not answer if a certain person comes up on your caller ID?

 

 

Unless it's one of my immediate family members, or someone I've been playing phone tag with, chances are that call is going straight to voicemail.

5. Do you phone friends at work? 

 

 

No! Never.

 

6. Do you make personal calls at work? 

 

I mean, I homeschool my teens - have for 9 years now - so whenever I get a call, wherever I get a call, am I technically at "work"?

7. Who do you always say “I love you” to at the end of the call?

 

Hubbers and the kiddos

 

8. Do you use a landline or cell more often?

 

 

We haven't had a landline in years!

9. Who in the blogosphere that you haven’t chatted with but would like to?   

 

Um, IDK. 

Pancakes...
1. Scratch or mix? Buttermilk or plain? 

 

 

Doesn't matter. I like 'em all. Usually only one, though.

2. Pure and simple, or with additions cooked in?

 

 

I'll take some chocolate chip banana pancakes if you're taking orders.

3. For breakfast or for dinner?

 

 

I love breakfast for dinner!

 

4. Preferred syrup or other topping? How about the best side dish?

 

 

I grew up close enough to the Canadian border to know that it's got to be pure maple syrup or nothing on a pancake. As for sides.... hm. I'll be full on a couple of pancakes, but I'm guessing most of y'all would like some bacon and eggs on the side?

5. Favorite pancake restaurant?

 

 

I'm all about some IHOP!

 

Bonus: Any tasty recipes out there, for pancakes or other special breakfast dishes? Bring 'em on! 

 

I can't think of any, but I'd love to find out what you guys have to say about this!

 

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All right, back to nursing my damn naughty shoulder. Have a lovely!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Unbreak My Heart

Hey, folks, welcome back! I'm going "basic bitch" by, yes, writing this post in Comic Sans. I'm just in the mood for it. Live and let live.

My grandmother used to tell me, when I'd forgotten to call or write her a thank you note or similar, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I think of my grandmother telling me that every time I fail to do something that I had truly meant to do. In this case, my road to hell comes courtesy of my failing to post midweek instead of just doing Saturday 9 and Sunday Stealing on the weekends.

I try; I really do try, but life gets so busy in the middle of the week. We're chock-full of doctor appointments every weekday, I swear, so when it comes to that and trying to get all of our homeschool lessons in for the day, I'm exhausted at the end of it. 

But I'm not giving up. It's important to me to document my kids' lives, and I'm failing miserably. Giving up has never been an option for me, though, so watch this space.

In the meantime, link up here if you'd like to play along today!

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Saturday 9: Unbreak My Heart (1996)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Songs like this are enduringly popular in part because each of us has had our heart broken. Give us the name of a heartbreaker from your own life.

Michael, the first black man I dated and my first fiancé. That's a very long story, though. I don't even know whether he's still alive. It's quite possible he's not.

2) Toni Braxton sings that "nights are so unkind." What did you do last night?

I don't even really remember last night, because I went from busy to snoring in half a second, but the night before that, I rented us Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom from Amazon Prime. I saw approximately the first 14 minutes of it before, again, I passed out exhausted.

3) While this song has Toni singing the blues, in real life her love life is happier. Now aged 50, she's engaged and has been sporting a diamond on her left hand. Do you believe that a bride is ever too old to have a big wedding?

No! Of course not. If a couple want to have a big wedding, and they can afford it, then they should do whatever they want. There aren't any rules on that, are there?

4) Growing up, Toni Braxton's parents severely restricted how much TV their children could watch each day. Ironically, today Toni and her sisters participate in a reality TV show on the WE-TV network, so TV cameras are a big part of their daily adult lives. What TV show do you try not to miss?

There are three shows that my family all gather around to watch together, come hell or high water: (1) Jeopardy! (2) The Big Bang Theory (3) Young Sheldon (that Iain Armitage is incredible in this role!!!); however, we are quickly adding (4) Bob's Burgers and (5) Fixer Upper to our must-see-TV repertoire.

5) She is prone to dry skin and applies Kiehl's Hand Salve to her hands and arms throughout the day. Tell us about a product you're brand loyal to.

I'm kind of a product whore when it comes to trying new brands all the time, but that's probably because of a combination of: (1) couponing for the best deals, no matter the brand; (2) mystery shopping and therefore getting to try a plethora of new-to-me brands; and (3) blog- or follower-related campaigns to which I'm invited, so I get to try new things all the time. However - and I suppose this isn't the sort of thing you meant - I am pretty choosy when it comes to my technology. Both of my DSLR cameras have been Nikons; I would choose an HP over any other computer/printer/other peripheral any day of the week; and I lurve my Samsung Galaxy phones abundantly much. ;) 

I suppose if there were an opposite thing to "loyalty," that would be how I approach the Dyson brand... Dyson. Ugh. It's awful.

6) Toni admits to being "a bit of a germaphobe," and always maintains a supply of hand sanitizer and wipes. What is always on your shopping list?

Toilet paper. With three teenagers and, well, me, we go through our Cottonelle like water. It's a little absurd.

7) While she is not shy about her body, and has worn revealing outfits on the red carpet, Toni Braxton refused a 2011 offer from Hugh Hefner and Playboy to pose nude. What's the last thing you said "no" to?

I don't say 'no' very often.  I guess I said no on Friday when my physical therapist's office called to say she had two openings yesterday, but with my shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles constantly dislocating, I declined making another appointment. I've just frankly been in too much pain to even shower for a few days. 

8) In 1996, the year this song was popular, Mattel introduced a Star Trek Barbie and Ken set. Have you ever fantasized about space travel? 

Oh, yes. For as long as I can remember, as a kid, I frequently dreamed about both having the ability to fly, soaring through the skies and in and out of buildings and other obstacles, as well as going into outer space and visiting the Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and even beyond. Here I am, decades later, and I can still say I have those dreams. I'd give anything!!

9) Random question -- Would you (or did you) invite an ex to your wedding?

No I did not, and no, I don't believe I would. Hm, I don't know now. One of my exes, Faris, invited me to his wedding, and I went - with Hubs and nine-month-old Chloë. But then again, his bride was one of my very best friends, Lisa, so I would have gone no matter whom she married. And Faris and I get along just fine these days.

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Fun questions once again this week, Sam! Thanks for keeping us entertained(ing)!

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Friday Questions On A Sunday

Hi kids! Welcome back! I had grand intentions this weekend of doing both Saturday 9 and Sunday Stealing on time, if not early. But then I got this awful migraine, and Hubs has been plowing me with nauseating migraine medicine, medicine to control that nausea, and Benadryl to round out the cocktail. The result? Five naps this weekend. Doesn't much make for promptness! But I'm here now, and that's what counts.

Link up here if you want to play along this weekend!

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From ilax studio blog

1. Have you ever tried to learn (or re-learn) a foreign language as an adult? Which one? What worked for you?

 

Funny you should ask. Just this past August, my two daughters and I started learning Latin. It's going really well! I love learning languages.

2. Do you donate blood? Do you know your blood type?

 

 

I'm type O-negative, the universal donor. I try to donate as much as possible, but that's been on hold as long as I've been unwell (since May 2015), because we don't know exactly what's wrong with me. Better safe than sorry.

3. Have you ever been in a play or musical?

 

 

I was in a few plays in elementary school, including the scene-stealing Caterpillar in Alice in Wonderland I recently mentioned, but my stepmother intentionally took my confidence away after that. I've never performed since.

4. Do you use certain text or ring tones for specific people? Who gets their own? Or do you just use the default on your phone?

 

Hubs and each of the kids have their own ringtones, and then the default ringtone is a silly song with my name in it. I got a new phone in June and have yet to work on assigning a different text tone to each person, though.

5. When did you get your first digital camera? Do you still shoot on actual film, or all digital now?

 

 

My first digital camera was a Kodak EasyShare dinosaur, in about 2003. I don't do film anymore; I like to take far too many snaps with my Nikon. It'd be extremely expensive to develop all those only to have a tenth turn out the way I'd want!

6. What do you think someone else would say the most daring thing you’ve done is?

 

Everybody I know thought I was insane to run off and elope with a guy who I'd just met two months earlier on the internet! That was just about 18 years ago, and here we still are! Ha. Hubs and I still joke about my sister calling him an axe murderer.

7. Do you talk with your hands?

 

 

More than if I were deaf and Italian.

8. Given the choice in a restaurant – would you go with a booth or table (or bar!!!) for seating?

 

 

I like sitting belly up to the bar when I'm with Hubs or a friend, since you tend to get much more personalized service. Unless it's super crowded, and then that shit sucks. I hate sitting at a booth unless I have to, though, because I like to be able to adjust my chair to the perfect distance from the table. Y'all know.

9. What kind of milk did you drink, growing up? And now?

 

 

I don't know, whole milk as a kid? No clue. My three teenagers all still drink whole milk. The ortho doc said that probably paid a big part in why Sophia's badly broken wrist healed so beautifully that it didn't looked like it had never even been broken a few years ago. Now I'm extremely lactose intolerant. Bad things happen if I drink milk. Bad things!

10. How do you keep track of all your passwords? Do you make your passwords super complicated and change them often, or use the same ones over and over?

 

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

11. Are you a note taker?

 

 

Duh. I'm Type-A, so I think it's the law.

12. Do you remember what your first social media posting (or status update) was on Facebook or Twitter – without looking it up? What was it?

 

No, I do not. I was on MySpace first, and then joined Facebook as soon as I heard about it. My husband thought both were silly and used to call it "MyFace." Hehe.

13. Do you have a “power” song?

 

 

I don't know that one would call it a "power song," but I can't hear "Kiss" by Prince without having to get up and perform like a damn diva.

14. Do you have an eclectic mug collection, or is your stuff all matchy-matchy?

 

 

We have a few eclectic mugs in our collection, but a lot of what we have is from my FiestaWare. It's like a Homer Laughlin warehouse in here!

15. Do you have a junk drawer in your house/garage/at work/wherever?

 

 

Of course! It's the drawer next to the fridge.

16. Do you ever get the urge to watch a favorite scene from a movie, and watch just that scene?

 

 

Nope. Okay, maybe...

17. Have you ever woken up and felt guilty from a dream you had, or, mad at someone else for something they did in the dream?

 

 

Oh yeah. I wake up angry at my husband for something my dream husband did, all the time! At least once a week. My dreams are so vivid, so when something odd happens, I wake up extremely confused.

18.  How old were you when you took your first commercial flight? To where did you fly?

 

 

I was five years old when I took my first solo flight, from Newark, New Jersey, to Syracuse, New York. I don't remember my first flight. I was raised both swimming and flying. Odd for me to think that not everyone did those things as kids.

19. Are you good at keeping track of your things – or do you easily misplace them? Do you ever leave anything behind when you travel?

 

 

I can keep track of my belongings really well. It's when one of the four other people walk away with my things and don't remember to return them that things go downhill. I do, however, tend to always forget things when I leave the house and/or leave my belongings behind when I travel. Hate that!

20. Is there any place you go where time seems to stand still? What is it about that place that makes it that way?

 

 

When I step onto a beach, especially one with big waves, it's like I'm transported back in time to my childhood. I grew up on the giant, tumbling waves at the Jersey Shore, and it's like I'm still a kid whenever I get the chance to dig my toes in the sand and splash in the waves. Being in the water from time to time is vital for me. I think I was a mermaid in a past life.

 

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Well, that was fun, but now I've got to get back into my lesson planning for the upcoming school week. See you soon!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Treat You Better

Hey, pals. I'm exhausted and have to get up in fewer hours than I'm actually gonna wanna sleep, so we'll see how interesting this gets. Link up here if you want to play along today!

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Saturday 9: Treat You Better (2016)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 


This song was chosen because October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please share this information about The National Domestic Violence Hotline. Let's spread the word that there's help out there.

1) In this song, a young man advises his neighbor to stop wasting her time with a guy who makes her cry. What is something you regret wasting time on? (It doesn't have to be a romance.)

Seems like I waste far too much time pushing my stack of papers this way and that - drives me nuts!

2) Much of this video takes place in a very sparely-decorated apartment. Because Shawn Mendes and the girl he’s singing to both appear young, it’s easy to assume they are both in their first apartments. Tell us about the first place you ever rented.

When I moved from Miami to St. Petersburg, Florida, after college, my goal was to get into the Tampa/St. Pete-based school, University of South Florida, for my doctorate program (which I did, a year later). I had never been to St. Pete before, and it was about a four-hour drive, so I had to figure out the rental situation from a distance. Back then there was no Facebook, of course, so I found an offline apartment rental guide at the grocery store and set up a two-bedroom apartment for myself. Then I found a roommate-matching service and, through that, found my first apartment mate, Janet. She was cool; I liked her. 

3) It's clear he can hear his neighbors' conversations and arguments through the walls. Are your neighbors quiet? Do you consider yourself a quiet neighbor? 

I guess we're all right, but we could probably do better with the yard maintenance. Our neighbors who always blocked our driveway with their 50 billion cars and ... stuff... moved out on Monday. Hubs is relieved; I guess I am, too, although I'm also sad because the older boy is my son's BFF.

4) This song received a lot of attention and airplay because it was used in a Southwest Airline commercial. When you last visited an airport, were you traveling yourself or meeting someone?

The last time I flew anywhere was a year and change ago, when Chloë was beckoned to audition for another movie in Los Angeles. The industry is so last-minute with its calls like that, that the airfare is prohibitively expensive. Good thing I have a friend who works for Delta!

5) This week's artist, Shawn Mendes, was a serious skateboarder during his high school years. Sam has never even set foot on a skateboard. How about you? 

I have. And I promptly fell right off.

6) Shawn is happy eating cold cereal with milk for every meal -- breakfast, lunch and dinner. He prefers cereal with almonds in it. What about you? Do you have a favorite cereal?

It's a toss-up between Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch and Frosted Mini Wheats.

7) He says he started eating cereal beyond breakfast because it's convenient, and it helps him avoid "junk food" when he's in a hurry. Do you often order your food "to go?"

We try to avoid it, but it happens occasionally.

8) In 2016, when this song was popular, a German short-haired pointer named CJ won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show. Is there a dog who holds a special place in your heart?

♥ Our 5½-pound chihuahua, Paco, and our 17-pound chiweenie, Tapioca, are my bebes. ♥

9) And this week, we're trying a random fill in the blank: I wish someone would create an app that would allow me to take pictures of all my clutter spots and link me to the perfect decluttering, organization solutions. I'd so buy into that.

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That was fun! And I made it without taking a nap. Go me! ;)

Fin.