MelaniePenelope

Extra! Extra! Read All About it!

Howdy, Pardners... 

So in this post, I'm going to be giving you my recommendations for apps, products, and services that I, myself, use and love (or have in the past but, for whatever reason, no longer can). I will not endorse anything that I do not love or believe in.

I'm going to leave this at the top of the blahg semi-permanently, update it when necessary, and add/delete/change things when appropriate. Some links will be my referral links. Some will not.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The first company I'm going to introduce you to, if you haven't already met their acquaintance, are ella+mila.

The first items I bought from ella+mila are these: the 4-oz Soy Nail Polish Remover, which is a bit surprising in that it's oilier than I expected but also works beautifully to remove every last drop of colour; the Two-Pack Base & Top Coat Duo, because duh, I need both if I'm going to have a proper mani-padi; and the Cup O'Latte polish. I ♥ this shade! If I weren't so capricious, I'd have it on all day, every day!

So here are some pretty epic things about ella+mila that you should know, in order to help you make your decision about whether to purchase:

They are a 7-FREE company, meaning their products do not contain:

• Formaldehyde
• Toluene
• DiButyl Phthalate (DBP)
• Formaldehyde Resin
• Camphor
• Triphenyl Phosphate (TPHP)
• Xylene

Additionally, ella+mila products are VEGAN & cruelty-free, which as a fellow vegan, y'all know I adore. 😍🌱💚

And finally, because I loved the Cup O'Latte and the entire manicure in general - it dries super fast and lasts and lasts, y'all, I purchased another color polish from ella+mila: Dulce Amor. It's beautiful and performs just as wonderfully as the previous products I'd tried.

I can't wait to get lots and lots more colors of polish, and I'm really excited to get a lip scrub or two (that Peach Smoothie) one is calling my name! 

PLUS right now, you can get 40% and FREE SHIPPING with the code HIP749 (limited time!!!) - so jump on that and get yourself some goodness at ella+mila!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Next up, we have the vegetarial (sure it's a word, because I wrote it!) goodness at Full Circle. 

I have a code for, I think, ONE person to get their first box free, a $33 value, here:

VDKHFQ5HK4

Try that first, and then if that doesn't work, and you still want to order, visit here and use my referral code:

MELA5473

That code will give you $15 off your first box. There is no permanent commitment, and you can cancel at any time. What's more, the boxes are fully customizable, and you can add or change or delete so. many. different. items. to your box to make it perfectly perfect just for you.

These two photos represent what's been in our first two boxes, and I must say, I have been beyond thrilled. Very high quality of fresh, organic, local to the Pacific Northwest, fruits and veggies have come our way, and IMHO, it's a terrific value. Try it today!

~*~*~*~*~

And now for some apps I use:

For Fetch Rewards, you simply scan your receipts - mostly grocery, but from anywhere really, and you get points for doing so! If none of your items match up with point-rewarding products, you still get about 25 points for that receipt; but if you do have some matching items, you get a lot more points. I usually wait until I have 3,000 points on Fetch Rewards, and then I cash it in for a $3 Amazon.com gift card.

And now, if you use this link and my referral code: VD4KY, you'll immediately get that 3,000 Fetch Points just for starting! Whee! So what are you waiting for? You can get it in both the App Store and the Play Store.

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

ibotta is actually a fun one, too. You scroll through the grocery, bar, hotel, and other offers (which is a lot easier now that they have added the dang search option) and add the ones for the items which you plan to purchase. Sometimes they just add when you click on them, and sometimes you have to watch a short video, but honestly? I just checked my own ibotta app, and I have gotten back $697.70 since I signed up. Totally worth it, y'know! That's not  a small chunk of change.

What you do is scan your receipt, and you can add and add and add sections for longer receipts, and then submit. Once it uploads, it will select those offers you've already chosen. Once you confirm those, you submit again, and boom! Within 24 hours - and sometimes, within 24 minutes, I swear - you have the money you've earned in your account!

If you use this link right now, you can get up to a $20 bonus - and cash that out for rewards like PayPal, Amazon, Starbucks, and lots more!

Again, ibotta is available on the App Store or the Google Play store.

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

Like I said I'll keep this post updated at the top of the blahg, so more to come...

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Aesthetics

Welcome back, kids of all ages! I slept well past noon today, thanks to everyone else being out at various things and not waking me up, and also thanks to my new Parkinson's medicine knocking me the F--- out as well. 😴😴 I've only been up an hour, in fact, so my day (Saturday's) just beginning. I feel like, out of all of you and me... that makes one of us.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Link up here if you'd like to write a fun meme about aesthetics with the rest of us this week. Thanks, Bev, for sending it through the Interwebs!

~*~*~*~*~

Aesthetic themed list

When did you last sing to yourself?

Before Hubs and Sophia came home from her showjumping lesson a few minutes ago, I was belting out "The Schuyler Sisters" from the epic Broadway musical Hamilton. Work, work!

If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about anything, what would you want to know?

I guess I'd want to know if I'm ever going to recover from the conglomerate of 20+ autoimmune diseases I've been diagnosed with in the last 45 or so months.

What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

My husband and kiddos - #18YearsStrong!

What is the first happy memory that comes to mind, recent or otherwise?

Eloping with Robert Allen Odette 18+ years ago was the most joyful thing I've ever done in my entire life, and to think about it, no matter how often I think about it, brings me a rush of pure joy all over again. The Law of Diminishing Returns definitely does not apply to this situation.

♥ ♥ ♥(If you're interested in any colourful lovey-dovey art by Romero Britto art, perhaps start here...)

If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living?

I'd worry even less about stuff, even more about making memories with my loved ones. Incidentally, these are part of the Valentines the kids made for each other and us parents. Still a work in progress, but I love the results thus far!

Do you feel you had a happy childhood?

Absolutely, most definitely, NOT.

Would you ever have a deep conversation with a stranger and open up to them?

OMG yes, all the time! It's weird, since I'm such an introvert, but when someone gets me to talking, I get to talking!

What would you title the autobiography of your life so far?

It's actually a book I'm writing, and it's a work in progress, so maybe for right now... A Work in Progress??

How do you feel about tattoos and piercings? Explain.

Well, since I've got multiple ear piercings including a trio in each lobe, the left cuff, the right tragus, my right nostril, my septum... and more being considered for down the road, I guess that explains how I feel about piercings. They don't bother me, although I would never do my tongue (too many infections! too much interference with singing and speaking!) or my eyebrow (mostly because OUCH!).

As for tattoos...

they're fine for other people who want them, I really don't care - in fact, we allowed our then-16-year-old Chloë get a Deathly Hallows tattoo (from the Harry Potter books, for the uninitiated among you) - but I've thought a good long time about whether to get one for myself. Still, the answer is no, but that's because it's permanent and that means it has to be PERFECT. I'd want it to represent my kids and also something very personal to me, like the ocean. So we'll see.

Do you wear a lot of makeup? Why or why not?

Sometimes I do, like here the other day, just because I have a lot of makeup - a lot of Jafra, mostly Young Living Savvy Minerals (which is everything that I've got on in this pic), but I'm starting to think about getting into the very $$$ BeautyCounter everything-free cosmetics... maybe? Have any of you used them and can recommend?

But most days, like here, I just wear mascara so my eyes stand out a little bit from the rest of my face. It's weird, but much of my lashes are blonde, so I need to give them a little colour.

The world is listening. Pick one sentence you would tell them.

If you are doing nothing to do your part for the planet, then you are doing literally nothing important.

Who in the world would you most like to receive a letter from and what would you want it to say?

"Dear Melanie, It's Michelle Obama. I'm officially running for President, because I am guaranteed to defeat the current false "President" if he runs for a second term - and another other right-wing nutjob - and I want you to be part of my team! ♥ MO"

(Hey, we have the same initials; it's kismet!) 😂😂

Do you have a desk/workspace and how is it organised/not organised?

This is what it looks like right this second, but it's a constant, constant battle to get and keep things organized!

What’s your starbucks order, and who would you trust to order for you, if anyone?

I trust Me, Myself, and I to order myself a Venti Java Chip Frappuccino with coconut milk, no whipped cream, and no chocolate or caramel drizzle. ☕️😋😉

What is the most important thing to you in your life right now?

Well, first of all see #3 about "greatest accomplishments," but other than those guys, it would be buying a house. I'm beyond eager to start the process... which we have, but we're mostly keeping it under wraps. I hope, and pray, and yearn for it all to fall properly into place!

~*~*~*~*~

So that's that, for now. I hope y'all are having a splendid weekend that only gets more so as the hours progress. See y'all soon!

Fin.

Saturday 9: Valentine

Hey there, hi there, ho there! Happy day after day after Valentine's Day, y'all! What better way to celebrate than to, y'know, fill out a questionnaire by Crazy Sam and hang out with my InterBuds?

Link up here if you'd like to play along today.

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Valentine (1993)
 
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

This song was specially chosen for the Saturday 9 closest to Valentine's Day.

1) This is a love song written by Willie Nelson for his young son. Have you sent any Valentines this year to someone you love who isn't a romantic partner?

Well, not this year, but I've often given Valentines to my kiddos in previous years; does that count? Sure it does, if it counts for Willie! As for this picture, it's still a work in progress, but it's part of a Valentine my 13yo Sophia made for 15yo Jack. He just bought himself this electric guitar kit, so she made him a handmade guitar pick and guitar keyring to go along with it. There's more, but I think this alone is pretty cool!

2) Today that little boy, Lukas, is a singer/songwriter who wrote eight of the songs for the 2018 A Star Is Born soundtrack. Have you seen the Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga big screen romance?

Not yet! I'm waiting for next Tuesday, the 19th, when it comes out on Netflix. Can't wait!!! Right now, I'm watching Bohemian Rhapsody, another movie I've been truly looking forward to watching.

3) On Valentine's Day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the first telephone. Whom did you most recently speak to on the phone?

I spoke to the receptionist at a dermatologist's office. Got a few spots on my back that are concerning.

4) Penicillin was also introduced on Valentine's Day (in 1929). When you get a shot, do you look away when the needle touches your skin?

I sure do! I'm as chickenshit as they come.

5) According to legend, a gift of red roses signifies love and romance. When did you last purchase flowers or plants? Did you buy them for yourself, or someone else?

So we're having the kids learn about gardening as part of a study of plants this year in our homeschool, Sweet Pea Academy, so Hubs and I just bought them some succulents from Trader Joe's to start off their little personal gardens. Some are taking better care of them than others!

I want to get them this collection of succulents eventually, and a bunch of cute pots like maybe a few of these:

OR  

OR maybe even these cuties:

... but when we can afford it. 😏

6) This week's artist, Willie Nelson, can trace his family tree back to the Revolutionary War. Captain John Nelson served with the Minutemen back in 1776. If you could go back in time to witness any great moment in American history, which would you choose?

I wish I'd borne witness to Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address.

7) Before he became a musical success, Willie was a door-to-door salesman, peddling first Bibles, then vacuum cleaners. INC magazine tells us that the traits of successful salespeople include resilience and good listening skills. Do you think you'd make a good sales person?

No way in hell. I've tried, and I'm terrible at it!

8) In 1993, when this song came out, Saved by the Bell aired its series finale. Crazy Sam likes to tease her brother because he once admitted to her that he has seen all 86 episodes of this teen sitcom. Is there a show that you believe you've seen every episode?

I'm pretty sure I've seen all of The Big Bang Theory, but that doesn't stop me from watching the syndicated reruns on 

9) Random question - We're having milkshakes! What's your favorite flavor?

No milk for me. Lately we've been drinking a lot of different vegan smoothies, so experimentation is the name of the game. I haven't gotten around to making any milkshakes with plant-based milks yet, although we've got all kinds of those milks (cashew, almond, soy, pea - unflavored, flavored, etc.) in the fridge right now!

~*~*~*~*~

So I'm still in the middle of my big Queen moment, watching the movie, adoring Freddie Mercury, and constantly listening to "Don't Stop Me Now" and others on my Beats.

Love Queen! Such a damn shame... 😭🎤🎧🎹

Anyway, y'all, have a lovely weekend! 

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Bookish

This week's SS is all about books, my least favorite meme topic. That, coupled with the fact that I've just had a huge argument with my husband, may mean this isn't my most fun post. However, I'm gonna give it a go, just the same.

Link up here if you'd like to play along this week!

~*~*~*~*~*~

This is a set of book questions I found a long time ago on A Striped Armchair, which had not posted since 2015.

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

1. 
2. My therapist from years ago recommended I read Just One Thing by Dr. Rick Hanson, and I bought it right away... but I haven't really read much of it at all. I just can't seem to 'force' myself to keep reading it, since I don't want to... I don't know, not benefit from it and fail my therapist, maybe?
   
   If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
3. 
4. The Mad Hatter - because what an interesting and fun dude he'd make for all of that!
5. 
6. Willy Wonka - because of all of the above AND hey, candy!
7. 
8. And hey, how 'bout Grindelwald, because who doesn't like a bad boy now and then? ;)
   
   You are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realize it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
9. 
10. I expect I'd find Tolstoy's War and Peace dreadfully boring.
    
    Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?
11. 
12. I don't lie about silly things like that.
    
    As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realize when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?
13. 
14. Still a big fat NOPE!
    
    You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why?
15. 
16. Hmm. I've read The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. All were amazing; I'd recommend any of them!
    
    A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
17. 
18. Maybe Greek? I'd really like to be fluent in every language, but let's start there!
    
    A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
19. 
20. Definitely Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams - everyone should read it!
    
    9. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?
21. 
22. I'm not a book blogger and really have no desire to be... ;)
    
    That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leather-bound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favorite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

Absolutely NO leather-bound books for me, please (#Vegan)! First edition hardcovers would be amazing, though. Signed by all the authors, of course.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Welp, that was... fun? But at least it's done. Heh! Thanks, Bev.

Fin.

Saturday 9: Waiting For A Star To Fall

Good morning, y'all! Yeah, I know it's Friday, but it's a busy weekend coming, so I want to make sure I get 'er done. And I think I'll be going in for a root canal later this morning 😫, so who knows how I'll be feeling tomorrow (Saturday)?

Link up here to join us, won'tcha?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Waiting for a Star to Fall (1988)

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

1) "Waiting for a Star to Fall" was literally inspired by a falling star. The singing/songwriting duo of Boy Meets Girl was at a big, outdoor concert and could have sworn they saw a falling star in the night sky. Have you ever seen a falling star?

I've seen a meteor shower or two, but it never gets old to me. Still on my astronomical bucket list, though: seeing the Northern Lights. Just... oooooh.

2) They offered this song to Whitney Houston, who declined to record it. Whitney did have hits with two other songs they wrote: "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and "How Will I Know?" What's your favorite Whitney song?

Probably "Greatest Love of All." I know every word.

3) Boy Meets Girl were George and Shannon, a husband-and-wife team originally from Seattle, Washington. In 2016, Seattle was named America's most "bike-friendly city." Do you own a bike?

No, not currently. I won this Levi's Schwinn bike a few years back, but I gave it to my son, Jack. He's got a new bicycle now, a Mongoose dirt bike, and pretty much trashed the one I gave him. So I'm cycless. I'd really like a touring bike with a basket, though.

Or a Vespa. A chartreuse or a turquoise Vespa. Yeah.

4) George and Shannon met for the first time at a wedding. She was a guest, he was in the band. Think of the last wedding present you bought. Was it from the bride and groom's registry?

Yes, it was. But I do not remember what it was, exactly, so here is a picture of a beautiful bouquet that I want from The Bouqs. They're soooooo prettttyyyyyy, she said, breathlessly. Ahh.

5) In 1988, when this song was popular, 98% of American homes had a TV set. Today, that figure has dipped to 96%, presumably because Millennials are watching more content online. What's the last video you watched online?

I've been on a Queen kick lately, so I was watching their Live Aid performance last night. Gah. Freddie Mercury. Such a damn shame.

6) In 1988 saw the introduction of one of the most memorable slogans of all time: "Just Do It." Without looking it up, do you know what brand "Just Do It" promotes?

I haven't looked it up, but... I guess the concept to me means to go after what you want. Aim high. Achieve. Be fearless.

7) In 1988, Sonny Bono went from entertainer to Republican politician when he was elected Mayor of Palm Springs. Have you ever met the mayor of your town?

David Bieter is the mayor of Boise. I had to look him up. So, no.

8) Michael Douglas took home the Oscar in 1988 for his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street. The American Film Institute named Gekko one of the "top movie villains of all time." Do you think bad guys are as interesting as good guys?

I used to think so, but no, not anymore I don't. I think it show much more depth of character to know how easily one could slip into "bad boy" behavior and yet still choose to be the good guy. I find that depth much more attractive. Now. ;)

9) Random question: Have you ever seen a photo of yourself naked? (Baby pictures don't count.)

Yes. It's a horrid sight! I try very hard not to see such things.

~*~*~*~*~*~

So now I must try to find an emergency dentist who can see me today, because apparently my own dentist's office is closed on Fridays. That's actually pretty common around here. I hate that.

Wish me luck. Toodles.

Fin.

Butterfly... Flutter By

“Just when the caterpillar thought,

'I am incapable of moving,'

it became a butterfly.” 

Annette Thomas

This post is a very personal one for me. It may be long.

                    I've experienced a lot of pain, abuse, and trauma in my life. My beautiful mother died of untreated diabetes when I was a little girl of seven years; she was just 33 years old. Prior to that, until I was 20 years old, I was raised in and under the brainwashing influence of the cult known as Christian Science. (Which is neither Christian NOR Science, if you know anything about it as I do, and which cult status has been confirmed many times over since then.) There was nothing I could do to get out. I was trapped.

                    After my beloved mama died, I endured a decade of abuse of every possible kind - all of which has been denied by the perpetrators and also my fellow survivors- but I think the worst of all was the psychological torture I was met with daily, 24/7/365/10, mostly under the careful, menacing eye of my stepmother. (I have long since dubbed her TBFH, or "The Bitch From Hell.") The secrets my brain holds from that decade and beyond - some of which are still hidden even to me, because of the brain's wonderful ability to blissfully shield oneself from the worst scars inflicted by one's tormentors. I was 17 when I finally fled that House Of Horrors and went to college, but like I said, it was another few years before I fully escaped.

                     That was over half my life ago. That damage has long since been done, but it was far, far too painful for me to touch in therapy. I'd done EMDR (Eye Movement Densensitization & Reprocessing) therapy when one of our identical twins died nearly 16 years ago, along with acupuncture, acupressure, and music therapy, but I had not done EMDR since graduating from that course of treatment.

"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,

but rarely admit the changes it has gone through

to achieve that beauty."

Maya Angelou

            I've had half a dozen therapists since then, but it was still much too soon for me to be able to handle what happened in that house in Baldwinsville, New York. (If it burned down tomorrow, I would not be sad.) Finally, at 42 years old, as of just yesterday, my wonderful counselor and certified EMDR practitioner began this treatment with me anew. It wasn't even what we were planning to discuss. I had admitted last week that I was terrified to get started and didn't know if I was truly ready yet.

We began "tapping" via EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) on the idea that I am valuable, and worthy, and could love myself... because for all those years, it was taught, and shown, and demonstrated to me time and time again that those things were not true. And I have believed it ever since. I am kind, and compassionate, and caring, and empathetic to all the world... except my own self.

This suddenly opened the floodgates. I didn't even know it was coming, but suddenly the dam burst and I just started sobbing uncontrollably. My therapist, "T," was encouraging me to speak, and at least try to repeat after her about my own worthiness, but I could not get the words out. I could barely breathe. I am not able to believe that those things - that I am not only worthy of love but that I might be worthy of my own love! - can be true. Not yet.

We filled the hour much more quickly than I had expected, with me doing a lot of crying and T just encouraging me to tap via EFT and her own EMDR work on me, helping me to go to that 7yo little girl whose mother had just suddenly dropped dead, whose world was ripped out from under her and turned upside-down, who already couldn't believe at that time, by 8 years old, that life would ever be okay and, for fuck's sake, safe again. And she was helping me to go to the older me, the teenager inside, and comfort her as well. And show her the love that no one else had.

But. Neither 7-year-old nor 17-year-old me is ready to trust 42-year-old me, and believe that I am safe, and loving, and will be kind and trustworthy to her. We are not there yet. There is still a long way yet to go. But we will get there. We will.

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued,

is always just beyond your grasp, but which,

if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Fin.

Sunday Stealing: Three Wishes, Part The Second

Hey, guys! Welcome back to Sunday Stealing. I'm a little late getting to it today, because my Xolair for my Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD) has basically worn off and I'm not getting the next dose until this coming Thursday. What that means is I'm having allergic reactions to everything, and sometimes anaphylaxis to just... breathing, basically? It's frustrating and exhausting. Xolair is a miracle worker for me; I just wish I could either get more, or get it more frequently, or it lasted longer... Anyway. 

Starting into today's Sunday Stealing post: Three Wishes, Part 2. Link up here to play along today! Hopefully it'll be a good one, but trusting Bev, I'm sure it will be! Let's go:

~*~*~*~*~

16.) What is your favorite wild animal?

 

 

I go back and forth between mako sharks and the majestic African elephant. Today I'm picking the latter; I've loved them longer.

17.) Name 3 of your favorite childhood shows:

 

 

I adored Three's Company and miss John Ritter dearly ♥

 

 

I had a major crush on Bo and Luke Duke (especially the blond one, but I forget which is which now) of Dukes of Hazzard

 

 

I watched a lot of The Jeffersons back then. My dad wasn't a huge fan and called them derogatory terms. That made me realize far more about my dad than George and Weezie.

18.) If you could live as a character in a movie who would it be?

 

 

I would be the truly badass Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.

19.) Favorite vegetable?

 

 

Hmm. That's a tough one; I love veggies! I think it might be onions, particularly when they're sautéed and nicely caramelized. This, followed by potatoes prepared any kinda away, followed by broccoli... Mmmm.

20.) Favorite Fruit?

 

 

Another hard one, because I love all the fruits! Except mangoes. I'm really not a mango fan, too much. I think it's a tie between bananas, which come with their own packaging, and you can easily take them with you on the go without getting messy the whole time, and then just compost their peels when you're finished. Orrrrrr...

 

 

... or lemons, because I like to put that shit on everything!

21.) If you had a dragon what would you name it?

 

 

Welp, going by this one, I'd go with Sapphire Flame. Not the last part, because it's kinda dumb, but she'd be "The Regal," which is okay, too. It's really not something I think about too often.

22.) What do you put on hot dogs?

 

 

These are vegan Bánh Mì "hot dogs," which I'm not a big fan of, anyway. I might try these. But as far as replacing real meat hot dogs, which I haven't eaten since 1995, with a plant-based alternative, I don't really have a huge interest in doing that.

23.) Do you play online games?

 

 

I play Words With Friends on my phone, more or less daily. That's about it for me.

24.) What's your favorite way to get inspired?

 

This may sound kooky, but I've been reading a lot about gems and rocks and crystals, along with my practicing of yoga and my studies of Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism. I was given a free Bloodstone, aka Heliotrope, from Sivana East, with a discount code. (Let me know if you're interested in a $25 off code; I am not an affiliate, and it would not be a referral link for me to gain something from you.) I like to hold my Bloodstone and roll it around in my hand, in order to gain courage and confidence to do those things I'm invested in right now.

25.) Do you have a middle name?

 

 

Yeah. It's Ann. I freakin' hate it. It's dreadfully boring.

26.) If you had to order from a kid's menu, what would you get?

 

 

Hmm, I don't know, there aren't a whole lot of choices, but that grilled PB&B sounds pretty good!

27.) Do you speak any other languages?

 

 

I speak English quite well. I speak Spanish near-fluently, although the more I use it, listen to others use it, and read it, the more I realized I have so much yet to learn. I am learning Latin with Chloë and Sophia this year. I understand and speak a little Italian, but I'm hoping to convince Sophie to study Italian with me next year. I also understand, speak, and read a bit of French. I know some American Sign Language. I have learned some Japanese and also some German. I think there is more, but I can't think of it right now. I guess I am not the typical American, and I like it that way.

28.) Do you use Twitter?

 

 

Sometimes I do, but I rarely go to the actual Twitter website to post a tweet. Most of my tweets come from sharing through other sites or apps like Instagram or Swarm.

29.) Do you go onto YouTube?

 

 

First of all, I have a love/hate relationship with YouTube, because as a homeschool mom, it kinda irks me that my kids have probably learned more from YT than they ever have from me. Second of all, yeah. I'm not on it a super lot, but when I am, I usually send videos of songs I love to the big (42", so not enormous, but bigger than my desktop monitor) screen TV in the living room, here, via Chromecast. Gawd, I love my Chromecast. It's great for educational purposes, too!

30.) Do you play Angry Birds?

 

 

Angry Birds? Huh? Is that even still a thing people do? I did it for, like, five minutes back in the day. So, no.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Okay. Time to give Jack his spelling final test that he missed on Friday, for whatever reason. Ciao, y'all!

 

Fin.

Saturday 9: Backfield In Motion

Hey, everybody! I hope you've all had a fantastic week. Mine hasn't been so bad, but it's been pretty exhausting! Tomorrow I get to sleep as long as I want, and I cannot wait!! So let's get started with this wonderful questionnaire provided by the lovely Gal herself, Crazy Sam! ;) Link up here if you'd like to play along this weekend!

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday 9: Backfield in Motion (1969)

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


1) This week's Saturday 9 has a football theme because there's a big game Sunday. Will you be watching?

I might DVR it. I can't watch it live, because I'm taking my son on a fun assignment on Sunday. I don't care about the teams, though; I just want to see the commercials and the half-time show.

2) The Super Bowl is the second-largest day for food consumption in the US, second only to Thanksgiving. What's on your menu this weekend?

Honestly, I'm craving tofu. I haven't even started my grocery list for our monthly shopping, so I have no idea what it'll be, but definitely all vegan. Hubs made a tofu stir-fry the other night, and I loved it. I even picked out and ate all the tofu in it!

3) Super Bowl Sunday is the #1 day for consuming guacamole. When did you most recently eat something with avocado in it?

I was super hungry about a week ago, so I just took an avocado out, sliced in half, popped out the seed, and then spooned the good stuff out of the shell. Or skin. Whatever, it was good!

4) The Pro Football Hall of Fame is in Canton, OH. Have you ever visited Canton, or any other city in Ohio?

I think my dad took me to Ohio on a business trip once, but I honestly don't remember anything else about it or where we went. So memorable, that Ohio.

5) This song mentions different moves that football players -- and, it seems, girlfriends -- can make that will result in penalties. What's the last rule you broke? What were the consequences?

My younger daughter Sophia, aged 13, and I drove the 5-hour trip down to Salt Lake City, Utah, on Thursday. I had an appointment with my specialist there. Then we drove the 5-hour trip home. (So, out the door at 6:45 AM and home by 8:20 PM! Long day.) I was speeding the entire way. No real consequences this time, other than Sophie looking over at my speedometer one time and exclaiming, "No, Mom! Don't go over 100!"

6) In 1969, the year this song was popular, the Colts lost to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III. The game is famous because of all the hype leading up to it, including Joe Namath "guaranteeing" his underdog Jets would win. Tell us about a time when you felt like an underdog.

I can't really think of anything except graduate school! That's not recent at all. LOL But I was trying to get into a super-competitive doctoral program, and I was up against some tough men and women to get in. It was an extremely stressful time in my life.

7) This week's featured duo, Mel and Tim, are cousins from Mississippi. Tell us about one of your cousins.

So, I have three cousins from Florida who have all grown up into such amazing women, with graduate degrees, families (for the two older ones) and spouses who are great to/for them, and a deep sense of caring for their community and the world. I'm proud of them. (This one here, Laura, was just born when I moved to Miami for college!!)

8) The song is about a man who catches his girl cheating and he just won't put up with it. In romance, do you find it easy to forgive and forget?

I mean, yeah, as long as that person genuinely apologizes and feels remorse, it comes easily to me.

9) Random question: You've collected a box of gently-used items to donate to a second hand store. What would it be most likely to contain: clothes, housewares, or books/video/music?

Probably clothes, since I still have growing kids who need to discard and upsize their wardrobes!

~*~*~*~*~

Well, that was fun. Back to writing my reports! Thanks for the fun quizzionaire, Sam. 

Toodle-loo, y'all.

Fin.