MelaniePenelope

Aloha Friday

Howdy, friends! Yes, it is actually me, back on the scene. Whew, it's been hell hectic! Link up here if you've got questions for the rest of us!

My question for you this week is:

What's the longest you've gone without posting on your blog?

I think this past two weeks, which I just realized, is my longest stretch. I've missed it and have had SO much to share but no time to share it. Since our recent downpour flooded us in, and there isn't much I can do, I'll try and catch up tonight. Stick around. ;)

Now you.

Have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you've got questions that need answerin' today!

My question for you this week is,

Have you ever written a letter just to get something out of your system, but never mailed it? (Wanna share?)

I've done it, but I'm afraid a couple times, I DID send the letter and burnt a few bridges. Ah, they needed burning anyway...

Have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you want. You know, I can't force you, and stuff.

My question for you this week is:

Do you groom your eyebrows? If so, how?

As for me, I'm a habitual plucker, but I didn't start until I was 25! I had wild 'n' crazy brows before that, but I didn't realize how bad until after I had my firstborn. Now I'm constantly tweezing away at them. Now, you.

Cheers!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Hey y'all! Link up here if you're questioning along with Kailani and pals this weekend.

My question for you this week is:

Would you do a newsprint manicure? What do you think of it?

If you read my Friday Fragments post just before this one, you'll know I'm in the middle of doing it, because I love it! So cool. What about the funnies?! That would be... amusing. Heh.

Have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here to play along with Kailani & friends!

Yesterday, I took our two youngest (of four) cats, Cupcake and Muffin, to get spayed at the SPCA. So my question for you this week is:

Unless you're a breeder, do you spay/neuter your pets? If not, why not? If so, do you opt for the take-home pain meds?

Especially for spaying, I can't imagine not getting the pain meds, since it's a major surgery, but I would opt for it for a neutering, too. I mean, owie! All of our pets have been "fixed." It's the responsible thing to do, IMHO.

Have a great weekend, and happy Easter/Pesach!

Fin.

Aloha Friday (Open To See Embedded Poll)

Link up here to play along with Kailani and friends this week.

My question for you this week comes courtesy of Polldaddy:

  

I'm hoping this coming weekend will bring me some Facebook-sharing worthy news, since that's who I share the good stuff with, following Hubs. And you, too, of course... Stay tuned for Friday Fragments!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you're playing along with Kailani and friends this week!

My question for you this week is:

Would you go up in space if you were given the opportunity?

As for me, hell yes! I have dreamed of being in outer space since I was a little kid.  I was always fascinated with the planets and weightlessness and all that. If I were given the chance, I would go in a heartbeat, despite the risks.

Anyway, have a great week!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you've got questions for Kailani and friends today!

My two-part question for you this week is:

What's the highest education you have achieved, and are you using it?

As for me, I have a B.S. in Marine Science/Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Miami ('97), with some graduate work in my Ph.D. in Biology and my Master's in Science Ed. from the U. of South Florida. I've been a stay-home mom since I got married 11 years ago, so no, I'm pretty much not using my education, except for the fact that I homeschool my three kids aged 10 and under. Eventually, I plan to go to law school, but I'll probably be in my 50s when that happens!

Anyway, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. What about you?

Fin.

Aloha Friday: What's The Opposite Of A Guilty Pleasure?

Link up here if you've got a question for Kailani and her pals today!

My question for you this week is:

Are there any famous artists you feel you're 'supposed' to like, but you just can't stand? Who?

As for me, I can not stand Stevie Nicks' voice - so grating! Martin Short is eyeroll-inducing; I cannot stand him. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why Daughtry is so popular. I hate their music!  Yet, I feel like I "should" like these people.

So what about you? Anyone?

Have a great weekend! Aloha!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you've got a question for Kailani and pals!

My question for you this week is:

Chocolate: Milk, dark, white, or... (eek) none?

As for me, I'm trying to switch over to darker and darker (as well as organic and fair-trade, but sometimes you just get what you get and you don't throw a fit), but I'm a milk chocolate girl at heart. Don't even TRY to get me to eat white chocolate. Blech.

Have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

I'm pretty sure it's Friday the 13th, which means it's time to link up here with Kailani if you've got questions for us today!

My question for you this week is:

What talent do you not have, that you wish you possessed? Anything from the ridiculous the sublime - name it!

As for me, I have a few... I can sing and I can dance, but I'm more of a "back-up" type and wish I had a powerhouse voice with amazing moves. Also, I wish I was an incredible gymnast who could do handsprings and things across the floor. There are more, but those are my biggies. :D

What about you?

Have a fantastic day!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you've got questions for Kailani today!

My question for you this week, as our Council begins its Cookie Sale tomorrow, is:

Do you buy Girl Scout cookies? If so, what's your favorite kind?

I have two GS daughters, so we buy way too many, and Samoas are my faves!

Have a great weekend! Don't forget it's Mega Swagbucks Day, so you can earn lots of 'Bucks today! I just cashed in for a free $25 Amazon.com gift card, woohoo!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

I'm not really well and feeling up to it, but I couldn't miss the last Aloha of 2011, so my question for you this week is:

When it comes to yourself, and you need to go to the doctor, are you good about going right away or do you drag your feet and wait until it's really necessary?

As for me, I'm more the latter type. I'm the first one there when it comes to the kids, but as for me, I'd rather do just about anything else than go to the doctor. 'Fraid I've been four times - and counting - with this illness, though, persistent as it is.

Link up here if you've got questions for Kailani and crew today, too.

Have a happy, and healthy, 2012.

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you're questioning with Kailani today!

So, my question for you this week is:

Does it bother you when people wish you holiday greetings for a religion in which you don't participate, or do you just smile and shrug it off??

As for me, I like knowing about other people, so I won't "Merry Christmas" someone I know is Jewish, for example, and if I don't know, I'll wish them a happy holidays. I am Christian, so few people get it "wrong" when wishing me holiday greetings, but if and when they do, it doesn't bother me in the least. I guess I just figure that the person is being kind-hearted and loving, and not intending offense, so why take it?

Anyway, that's my take on things. What about you?

Have a great weekend and... happy holidays? ;)

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you've got questions for Kailani and crew this week!

My question for you this week is:

How do you de-stress?

As for me, I tend to put in my headphones, zone out, and knit. My stress and anxiety levels are high right now, and I'm on meds, but my doctor just "prescribed" me 30 minutes of yoga per day. That was just the other day; I haven't started yet, but I plan to soon. Like, today. Hope it works!

Happy weekend. :)

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you have a question for us today! Thanks for hosting, Kailani!

So I've been taking pictures of my cats this week, being cute... three of the four, anyway. The last, Star, is camera-shy. Here are some:

This is Cupcake, curled up in my Inbox...

... and this is her twin sister Muffin, sleeping in my Outbox! So cute, right??

And finally, here's chubby Tinkerbell peering into my open craft cabinet while Cupcake looks out at her (see her up there??)... It just struck me as funny.

So anyway, my question for you this week is:

Do you have pets? And if so, do you ever photograph them being cute, or is that not your thing so much?

Obviously, I do, but really not that much...

Anyway, have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you've got questions for Kailani and friends today!

My question for you this week is:

If you could have any tangible THING for {insert December gift-giving holiday of your preference here} (not, like, world peace, or all the military members to come home or something like that, but an actual thing), what would you choose?

For me, since a clean house is never going to happen, I guess it would have to be a toss-up between an awesome new wardrobe that fits (and doesn't belong to my husband, 'cause that's all I seem to wear lately), and some new yarn ('cause I can't get enough of the stuff, that's why). Of course, I'd be satisfied with some chocolate. I am female, after all.

Hope your Thanksgiving was lovely, and if you're not American, I hope your Thursday was great, then! Heh.

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you have a question for Kailani and friends today!

My question for you this week is:

Do you look more like your mom or your dad? Or are you a blend of both?

As for me, I have my mom's body, but from the neck up, I am ALL my dad.

Hope you have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Happy Friday! Link up here to play along with Kailani today.

My question for you this week is:

What are five things you are grateful for today?

Here are some of mine:

1. My husband is out of the hospital, alive and kickin'!

2. Messy as it may be, I have a home for my family and me.

3. My desktop computer is fixed and returned to me, so hopefully we can get back on track with our regularly scheduled homeschooling adventures!

4. Elephants. I just like 'em.

5. Finding our four sleeping kitties on top of the ironing board, all together. Hey, man, it was cute. Warm fuzzies.

What are some of yours?

Have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here with Kailani if you're in a questioning mood today!

I've had a rough week, so in an effort to turn things around, my question for you this week is:

What's the most fun you've EVER had?

The first thing that pops into my mind is when I eloped with my husband. We met at the bus depot, as we were both unvehicularly inclined at the time, and it was about 10 minutes before the courthouse closed. We found each other, and then ran as fast as we could, breathless and laughing, all the way there, with our hands clasped together. You'll find us that way, still, when we're driving or walking: hands tighly clasped, (nearly) 11 years later. I ♥ him with my whole being.

Have a great weekend.

Fin.

Product Review: Fleischmann's Simply Homemade No Knead Bread Mix

(Be aware I've had lots of sampling opportunities lately, so I'm catching up on my posts about them.) ;)

Recently, MomSelect and Fleischmann's chose me and my "Mom Group" (aka my large homeschooling co-op) to receive a lovely sampling kit containing two boxes each of four different flavors of Fleischmann's new Simply Homemade No Knead Bread Mix. These include:

Country White (delicious),

Stoneground Wheat (yummy!),

Italian Herb (not my favorite but still pretty good), and

 

Multi-Grain (my favorite!!).

So since we had a costume party at the co-op last Wednesday, wherein we were all supposed to bring healthy, delicious snacks to share with everyone, I decided to bake up all eight mixes and bring them to co-op. It took me less than two hours to make all that bread, starting with opening the first box and ending with taking the last two loaves out of the oven.

This bread mix could not have been simpler to use: the dough mix, a yeast packet, and a small package of sugar for feeding the yeast were included in each box. I simply had to mix the sugar and yeast with a cup of warm water and let it sit for two minutes. After that, I added the dough mix and stirred it up. No kneading was required! I just let it sit in a warm place for about 25 minutes and then baked it for another 25 minutes, two loaves at a time. Voilà!

The comments I received were identical to my own feelings about the bread: Utterly delicious, and incredulousness about how good such simple-to-make bread could be! The breads were a BIG hit in my own family and in my entire co-op. Huge TWO THUMBS UP from us!

(Note that I am a ding-dong and forgot to photograph the finished products. DUH!)

Questions were asked about the bread, such as price and availability. I'm not sure where it is and is not carried yet, nor for how much, but if you go to Fleischmann's Facebook page, you can get a 50¢-off coupon for submitting a picture of your bread. Maybe there's a way to get more coupons, but I'm not so sure.

Oh, I almost forgot: I also received a dozen or so high-quality oven mitts with the Fleischmann's logo to pass out to my co-op friends, as well as a logoed apron for me to keep. I wore it all day, over my costume! Hee.

In sum, look for this product in your store. It's great.

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here to play along with Kailani if you've got a question today!

My question for this week is:

What are you allergic to?

I'm allergic to Percocet & Anceph, an anti-biotic they use in surgeries. In 1998, I was allergic to every other thing that I touched, but that ended after we went to Europe. It was way odd. Anyway, that's it. My son is allergic to morphine, and as far as I know, the daughter-children don't have any allergies. I feel bad for those of you with serious allergies! :(

Have a great weekend.

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up here if you're playing along with Kailani at An Island Life this week!

My question for you this week is:

What's the happiest, best news or thing that's happened to you in the past week?

For me, it was going back to my old oncologist yesterday and finding out that I am CANCER-FREE after having a recurrence scare for the past three weeks. WOOHOO!!!!!  I am so thankful, so grateful, so relieved, so thrilled!!!

Have a great weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

Link up with Kailani here if you're playing along with her today!

I saw this question on a friend's Facebook status update a little while ago, and it's been making me think ever since, so I thought I'd steal it for this post:

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

Now, I realize some of you may not believe in God, so apply it to your particular belief system and don't be offended, please. As for me, wow. What a heavy-duty question. I would be stripped of a lot of THINGS that make life comfortable and interesting, but I would still be super blessed. And now I'm making sure I express my gratitude, whether silently or out loud, for those "things" on a daily basis.

Happy weekend!

Fin.

Aloha Friday

I'm late again! It's been SUCH a busy week, and I'm glad it's almost over. Anyhoo, link up with Kailani here if you're asking questions today!

My question for you this week is:

Have you ever had an MRI?

I'm asking because my 6yo daughter, Sophia, had to have one yesterday. I know it's not a serious procedure (necessarily), like a surgery or whatev, but I couldn't help myself. I bawled when they wheeled her away, unconscious from sedation, and about three more times while she was gone. My baby!! I have also had one myself, about 12 or 13 years ago, when I was stuck in a ten-year cycle of daily migraines. (They didn't find anything wrong with my noggin, but of course it's too soon to tell about Sophia.)

So... you?

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Happy October!

Fin.

P.S. You have until 8 PM EST tonight to take advantage of my 20% off your initial order from my site, Jafra Cosmetics International. We have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so there's no risk!