PAR-TAY!

Tired of Summer? Got the back to school blues? Tired? Hot? Annoyed? Need a break? 

I've got the solution!

Laughter. And loads of it.

How? With just one click of your mouse. That's right! Just one click right HERE.

If you aren't already familiar with Carol's blog, or if you haven't already heard of her NEW BOOK, then you are missing out on some major laughter!

You're also missing out on the chance to win some really nice prizes!

So get over there! Order the book! Enter for the prizes! And register for the launch party of her NEW BOOK on SEPTEMBER 16!

Now, go on over there and share some love with Carol. 

And then get your party dresses mini skirts on (you too fellas) and let's---

TGIF HOPS! And an update

FIRST, an update:

Dad's surgery (yesterday) went just as the surgeon hoped it would. He seems to think that they got all of the cancer but, of course, took a few cells and lymph nodes just to be sure. Dad feels great and his spirits are HIGH! He gets to leave the hospital tomorrow morning! Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

The same day Mother was in AFib- (the parents are divorced so this was going on in a different town/state). Good news is that her doctor was able to get it under control with meds so NO HOSPITAL but she does have to see a cardiologist.

And that was Thursday.

AND NOW- It's the end of another week!  That means it's time for the FRIDAY HOPS! If you are here for FIVE QUESTION FRIDAY only, then just scroll down!

Have a FANTASTIC weekend!

First is Hilary's Follow Friday Four Fill-In at Feeling Beachie!  

Hillary says:  I would LOVE it if you could please help me spread the word about this hop!

This week’s statements:

1. My favorite piece of advice my mom ever gave me was--not sure about that. Most of the great advice I ever got was from my grandparents. So, I'll go with this one: my dad's mother told me to never compare the lovelies with each other because they were all individuals- and I never did.
2. I overcame my fear of nothing. I still hold to my fears with a healthy (HA! Right) respect. And I plan to keep them that way.
3. Chick-fil-A is my favorite fast food restaurant. Although I never go to any fast food restaurants anymore. They aren't exactly healthy choice friendly. But, Chick-fil-A has the BEST WAFFLE FRIES EVER.
4. The last time I was sick I probably had something allergy related. It's been a long time since I was last sick. When I do get sick, it's usually allergy related- hay fever or a sinus infection.


Next is Five Question Friday from Mama M. at My Little Life. 

This HOP is a great way to get to know each other better and to meet new friends!  If you click on the button, it'll take you right over there to join in the fun! 

Questions for Friday, August 19th:

1. Do you close the bathroom door when you are home alone? No because Tucker stands at the door and scratches it. He can't stand for a door to be between us. Kind of like having the lovelies home and little all over again.

2. You have to walk around with a word on your forehead. That word describes you. One word. What is it? Explosive. And this can be a good thing or a bad thing. Depends on the mood. 

3. What store do you refuse to shop at and why? Dick's Sporting Goods. Because they totally ticked me off about 6 years ago during an after Thanksgiving Day sale- We were in line a full 10 minutes before the end of the sale and they cut us off. I was so pissed. I never have and never will shop there again. There were quite a few people behind us who were also angry. One man went off on the manager so bad I dropped my items right there and left. Probs should have stayed - I bet he got his items at sale price. Maybe he should walk around with explosive on his forehead. 

4. If you participated in arranged marriages for your child(ren), who would you choose for your child(ren)? I have no idea because I can't see myself EVER doing something like this.

5. If you could pick how and when you would die, would you? The how- YES. The when- NO. Unless, of course, NEVER was an option. 

HUMP DAY HOPS!

It's time for my TWO favoritey fun HUMP DAY HOPS! If you're here for Wednesday Hodge Podge only, then scroll down.

The first is a new/revised meme from Patrice at Everyday Ruralty called Chats on the farmhouse porch!

Questions

1. Have you ever colored your hair? If so, what colors have you tried?  Goodness yes! I am a natural brunette- light brown with a hint of auburn. However, red is my absolute favorite color for hair so I have gone red (well, auburn) before and I loved it! Now, I just go with a light brown called pecan and what I have left of any auburn still comes through (thankfully).The reason I color has changed though- I'm covering that gray. That hateful gray that just won't stop coming.
2. What's your favorite kind of music? This always depends on my mood of the day but if I had to pick one I guess it would be rock. No country though. On any day. Ever.
3. What are the last three movies you watched? Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil; Father of the Bride; The Resident. We got rid of our cable and have Netflix now. So I'm re-watching a lot of movies. There aren't that many available via Netflix that I'm really interested in. However, they do offer a few good Pilates videos and the documentary list is fairly decent. I've been watching the America: The Story of Us series- I think the History Channel made them--and they're not bad. Right now I'm watching a documentary on Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony this is pretty good.
4. Do you remember your first pet? Yes. He was a black Dachshund named Duke. And I used to sit on the front porch and share my cookies with him- I'd take a bite and then he'd take a bite. He was a great dog!
5. What was the best or most interesting "back to school" thing from your childhood?  The new dress! I loved shopping for that new first day of school dress and then putting it on for the first day back!

Now it's time for WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond.  This meme is a great way to get to know some wonderful new bloggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.   

1. Using what's in your frig right now what sort of meal would you be able to make for guests who are knocking at the front door this very minute? It's lucky that I have a few things leftover from the baby shower this weekend! I could put together a veggie tray and fruit tray as well as some shrimp tarts and cheese and crackers for appetizers. Then, for lunch, I would serve some of that delicious Tomato Zucchini soup I made on Sunday! OR, if they prefer, I have all the makings for some She Crab soup! OR I could make crab dip--depends on what the visitors want!

2. What is something about yourself that you hope will change but that probably never will? How quickly rude people annoy me. I really should just let it go but I don't. I either very visibly shake my head or I will actually say something. I've got to stop this. 

3. What's something about yourself that you hope will never change?  How passionate I am in the fight against things such as prejudice, injustice, intolerance, judgmental attitudes, narrow-minded blowhards, etc.   

4. Do you usually send serious or funny greeting cards? Why? Almost always something funny. I like to lighten up dark situations and add to bright ones. There are some occasions when I won't send a funny card, like for sympathy, but I also keep it uplifting-- none of that depressing stuff.

5. Bird watching, shell gathering, or star gazing- your choice for whiling away the hours? Oh gosh! I love to do all those things! Sometimes I gather shells while I'm bird watching or star gazing! It's easy to take part in all three when the beach is only 5 minutes from the house!

6. Do you double or triple check things? If so, what? I double check. The oven, the lights, the doors, the washer and dryer, the fans---all things electric and all things that lock.

7. What's your favorite place for people watching? Downtown Charleston! There are all kinds of people down there all the time. The college is down there and tourists galore! I have taken some of the best and some of the funniest pictures of people down there! It's a blast!

8. Insert your own random thought here. Not much on my mind today. Just kind of hanging out waiting for autumn to get here. Oh, and the school kids might be selling wrapping paper soon so I can't wait for that to come around! It was much better when they sold Sally Foster (when the lovelies were in school) but I buy it anyway! I just can't resist!

It's the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

But not for me. For the third year in a row, I don't have a kid to get ready for the first day of school. The last time I got to shop and get someone up for the first day of school was August 2008 which was DoodleBug's last first day of school. Well, we did move her into a dorm room in August of 2009 for her first year of college- so, that counts. Right?

I should be practically giddy that I don't have to try and get a kid up on the first day of school

I should be extremely grateful that I didn't have to fight to get a kid to go to sleep so they would get up for the first day of school.

I should be thrilled beyond belief that I didn't have to take out a second mortgage to buy school supplies, new school clothes and pay school fees.

I should be tickled pink that I didn't have to sit in first day of school traffic.

I should be delighted that I didn't have to prepare breakfast for four little girls and rush out the door to be on time for the first day of school.

I should be elated that I didn't have to leave a kindergartener crying on the first day of school- actually, I am glad about this one! Though none of the lovelies ever cried at school.

And I am grateful in some ways. But I really do miss those days. We had such fun getting ready for school and going on that first day back. The lovelies LOVED school. But then, it was easy to love school around here. They attended the best elementary school around and had the most amazing teachers!

Middle school left a lot to be desired but the two older lovelies attended the School of the Arts and I homeschooled the two younger ones.

Even high school was full of more good than bad. Seriously, with four daughters attending the same high school and all the teachers they had, we only experienced three who had no business teaching anybody anything EVER.

All is not lost, however. I do still wander the back to school aisles to see what majorly cool cannotdowithoutthem supplies they have these days. Remember those black and white marbled composition notebooks? They have the coolest colors and designs now! I bought two to use for journaling! I even bought more pens that I just had to have! And it was fun listening to the arguing debates between the moms and their kids as to the importance and need of certain items. And then there was the dad who had his three kids in there and had no idea on the face of the earth what he was doing. Good thing the kids were telling him the things they 'needed'. God only knows what those three showed up with today. But it was sure good for a chuckle.

I do still volunteer at the elementary school. And I enjoy it so much! But it's different. I'm not up there now because my kids are up there and I get to see them at school. I just do it because it fills up empty hours it's fun. And hugs from elementary school kids are so rewarding.

But, for the most part, I just watch other people get their kids ready for the first day of school. And remember fondly a time not so long ago when I was one of those frazzled moms trying to make it back to school on time.

Fessin' Up: Week 10

Only two weeks left until the end of the Slimmer this Summer update/check-in/fess up posts. Here's the data for week number 10.

My goals for the challenge remain safe.

Water intake: Still getting in the 64 oz plus.

Exercise: I walked every day again for a WEEKLY total of 21 miles and  I continued Pilates. Luckily, the heat was somewhat tolerable for most of the week! Finally!

Calories: The calories remain within the challenge limit---

Here's the breakdown for week 10:

• Monday:1178
• Tuesday:1224
• Wednesday:1242
• Thursday:1266
• Friday:1214
• Saturday:1186
• Sunday: 1280
• WEEKLY TOTAL:  8591 calories

Discoveries?  More like a reaffirmation of a previous discovery- that I can host a gathering and prepare all sorts of yummy foods and not eat a single bite of it other than the veggies and fruit! This is good to know. We also had cupcakes at the baby shower we hosted and I didn't even lick some icing that attached it's nasty little self to my finger! Even better? My mouth did NOT water or beg me to give it a taste! Oh! And I drank water instead of my favorite punch!  

See those delightful cupcakes in the center, front? With the sugary goodness all in blue? I did NOT eat a single bit!

Goal changes? Not yet. However, I may be walking 4 miles/day instead of 5 by end of challenge. We'll see how it goes. 4.5 this morning and I'm still alive!


UPDATE: The not eating of the meat thing is going well. I have not missed it one bit. I did prepare Shrimp Creole Saturday night--Breezy and BestSonInLawEVER were here and Breezy requested it--but I had a veggie patty and some vegetables. 

Here are the numbers for week 10:

Weight loss:  -1 lb (Total for 10 weeks: 38 pounds gone forever!).

Inches: -1.5 total (chest:= -0"; hips = -0"; waist = -1.5"; neck = -0")  Total for 10 weeks:-23.5 inches off forever!


Whoever decides to offer a fall/Christmas/whatever challenge to follow this one, COUNT ME IN! And let me know!  Joining a challenge seems to be key for success! And, even better? You get to meet some amazing people!

Hope everyone has a fantabulouso week!

The Week in the Proverbial Nutshell

Not too much going on around here--again. Except for this weekend. Breezy and BestSonInLawEVER came down so that Breezy and I could host a baby shower for a friend she's had since fourth grade!

Anyway, here's my week in a:

There is an actual weather update: WE GOT RAIN! That's right! And we've had it several times over the last few days coupled with some amazing storms! It has been glorious! PLUS, we have a couple of days coming up when they are calling for the highs to be ONLY in the upper 80s! We might need to get out a sweater or two. 

Several of you have been waiting for a picture of Tucker in his brand new carrier- I finally remembered to get Hubs to help with this over the weekend, so, HERE'S TUCKY:

He looks a little pitiful here. I think he was wondering WTH he was doing in the carrier without being outside walking--and why his dad is carrying him and not me. Usually, he's looking all around and then looking back at me and giving me little Tucky kisses! 

Birdie is still slowly adjusting to be in Texas. She says it's HOT. The main thing bothering her is that she has no family close by. We are a tight-knit family so moving away does take some getting used to. ANYWAY, she got her sewing machine set up and went out to get some fabric, a pattern and various other sewing needs. She returned to her apartment and taught herself how to sew! She made an apron. Here it is:

Her sewing machine...

The necessary items...

In progress...

Finished product!

Finished product on Birdie!

OH! This is Birdie's office---

Here's another angle of her office.

Breezy and BestSonInLawEVER arrived Friday night. It was almost strange with just the four of us here, but more pleasant than anything. Breezy has a friend, Keely, that she's been close to since 4th grade. Keely's mom was one of our most wonderful parent volunteers at the elementary school the lovelies attended. Sadly, her mom passed away a few years ago. But Breezy and I have stepped in as family for this wonderful occasion. So we're sort of honorary aunt and grandma! It'll be great practice! She got TONS of gifts and everyone had a great time! Here are some highlights:

The goodies.

Granddaughter of a dear friend- cute isn't she?

Some of the girls---that's Keely in the chair with the balloons. Breezy is to her right (your left...the girl holding the paper...LOL)

This kid is just the cutest thing!

The woman talking is Breezy's 3rd grade teacher! She is one of the most wonderful people ever put on Earth! (I'm not exaggerating I could write an entire post on her!) She was a good friend of Keely's mom too!

Two pregos at the party! That's Keely on the left.

Breezy and Keely!

My dad is having surgery to remove (we certainly hope they get it) cancer from his prostate on Thursday morning (August 18). Any and all prayers/positive vibes are welcomed and appreciated! 

That's all for now! Hope everyone has the best week EVER! And remember to smile- it makes people wonder what you've been up to!