Friday Fives 3-30-12: Five Guilty Pleasures

  How did it get to be Friday already? March sure went by fast!  I had to ask Dawn for help thinking of today’s list of fives, because I had horrible insomnia last night and was awake until 4:15.  I partly blame Pinterest, I should have never even opened my laptop!  Then I woke up at 8:15 with Kaitlyn and I’ve been sitting here since then going through email, which of course takes me over to Pinterest again (so-and-so repinned your pin, I have to check to see if I follow them, then I have to scan their boards, it’s like crack for me and I obviously am going to need a Pintervention soon).

If you are just joining me, Friday Fives is  my weekly meme where I take it easy and just post a list of five…anythings.  Favorite movies, favorite websites of the week, whatever I can think of that adds up to five. Dawn suggested I do five guilty pleasures – yep, I have them all right! Here’s my list!

 

MY FIVE CURRENT GUILTY PLEASURES:

1. Celebrity Apprentice – How can I not watch? This season’s cast includes 80′s pop icon Debbie Gibson, rocker Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, the Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno, magician Penn Jillette, foul-mouthed comedian Lisa Lampenelli (who is showing herself to be one smart lady), Paul Sr. from American Chopper, former talk show host Arsenio Hall (whoop whoop!), and two people who I cannot. stop. watching. – American Idol’s Clay Aiken, and Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day.  I watch Clay to see how much makeup he’ll be wearing on any given day, and I watch Aubrey because HER HAIR, people. Does Celebrity Apprentice not have a stylist? Or a MIRROR?

I’m going to confess something – I watched every episode of MTV’s “Making the Band” when Sean “Puffy/P.Diddy/Diddy/Whatever” Combs was putting together a girl band he ended up calling Danity Kane (ugh). On that show, Aubrey O’Day was a stunning California blonde with an incredible singing voice. Like this:

image found on thatgirllisa.com

I mean, I know there’s a TON of makeup and hair extensions and whatever that makes her look like that, but compare it to her current look:

image credit: www.hollywoodlife.com

And on TV, there’s even MORE makeup, and her hair sometimes looks downright pink. I have to watch every week just to see her hair!

2. Fark.com – It’s not news, it’s Fark!  Where else can you see top headlines from the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, the Salt Lake Tribune, Yahoo! News, Mental Floss, BuzzFeed, AND England’s best gossip sites the DailyMailOnline and The Sun?  I like to browse the homepage first, then click the “Geek” and “Entertainment” tabs.  The best part has to be the headlines, like this one:

“January Jones eats her own placenta. Your argument is invalid.”

and

“Woman sues McDonalds for a) burning her with hot coffee; b) serving her a mouse in her burger; or c) turning her into a hooker.”

It’s just pure entertainment!

3. The McDonald’s McChicken sandwich. I know, I know, it’s loaded with sodium and fat and who knows what kinds of chemicals, but it really hits the freaking spot sometimes.  Especially with super-hot fries dipped in ketchup and a fountain Diet Coke :)

 

image credit: www.mcdonalds.com

4. The Spider Solitaire app by MobilityWare – When I got my Xoom tablet, I first installed a regular solitaire app. One day there was an ad pop-up for Spider Solitaire, so I clicked over. Holy crap you guys, that game is SO ADDICTIVE.  It makes me see why gambling is so addictive, because when I don’t finish a game, I immediately want to deal a new one and try again. And again, and again!

image credit: Google Play Apps

5. Brach’s Bridge Mix – I love chocolate-covered anything, so this mix of chocolate-covered peanuts, brazil nuts, raisins, and vanilla cremes is just the best of all chocolate-covered worlds. A little sweet, a little salty, a little crunchy, a little chewy – it’s chocolate nirvana!

image credit: www.brachs.com

 

So, those are my guilty pleasures, what are yours? Tell me in a comment (keep it family-friendly please!) or do a post on your own blog. Have a great weekend everybody!

It’s About To Get All Kinds Of Personal On This Blog

Six and a half years, that’s how long I’ve had this blog. When I started it I was pregnant with Kaitlyn, on bedrest, and thrilled to have found “Mommy blogs”.  I had an excellent Creative Writing teacher in High School and spent almost my entire four years of college writing paper after paper. Writing came naturally to me,

When I became a SAHM, I tried all kinds of creative outlets, from quilting to scrapbooking, but nothing gave me any kind of satisfaction until I discovered blogging.

At first, my blog posts were very personal. I wrote about my pregnancy, what was happening in politics, what I thought of my favorite TV shows.  It never occurred to me in those early years to dig any deeper or to write about what my life had really been like up to that point. All the other Mom blogs I read had these great posts about motherhood, everyone’s kids seemed to do these hilarious things all the time, and I just wanted my blog to fit in.

But now, six and a half years later, I feel this tug in my soul telling me that it’s time to use my writing skills and my blog to tell a deeper story. See, I’ve had this life that I haven’t tried to hide on purpose, it’s just never seemed like the right time to talk about it.  From my birth to my adoption, my childhood, teen years and college years, there are stories in those years that I just feel like I need to tell now.

I’m going to be writing the  TRUTH about where I’ve been, the things I’ve done. I highly doubt anyone who has ever met me IRL would have any idea of what I have had to overcome, not to mention the seriously dumb and sometimes dangerous situations I’ve put myself in. I was a victim of what I think of as “inappropriate touching” by a family member, I lived with a sister who hated me and parents who wanted kids for the image, not for the love, I spent years drinking myself practically unconscious,  I left my first college after two years because I had basically disgraced myself – and that’s just the first things that come to mind.

I’ve been trying to decide if I need a name for this new series of posts, and I’ve thought of one – The Girl With Three Names. You’ll have to read to understand, but it’s the best way I can think of to explain everything in just a few words. I have no idea what it’s going to feel like to finally get it all written down.  I’m scared of feeling the feelings again as I try to put them into words and get them written down, but I guess I’m also hoping for some kind of catharsis.

Comments will always be welcome. You can also email me any time if you want to have a private conversation. Maybe I’ll find out that my life isn’t so unusual or shocking after all.  Or maybe everyone will start talking on Facebook about Table for Five’s messed up life :P

Speaking of Facebook, I’m also putting back the Facebook comments plugin. If you are already logged in to your Facebook account, you can leave a comment on posts without having to re-type your name, email and URL. I hope that makes it easier for you, but let me know if it gives you any problems.

Alrighty then. I have a giveaway to start for Kraft Foods, Wordless Wednesday tomorrow, and Friday Fives to get planned out, so back to work. Thanks everybody who replied so quickly on Facebook when I asked for advice about how to do this! I can’t tell you how much it means to me to know I do have a “community” after all :)

5 Tips to Avoid Getting Sick on a Family Vacation

This information came to me in an email, and since my daughter is sick AGAIN, I’m thinking about ways to avoid germs not just on vacation, but everywhere. I wish I could coat Kaitlyn’s entire body with hand sanitizer every day before school :P

These tips are courtesy of Dr. Yael Halaas, a Board Certified Ear Nose and Throat doctor who specializes in the common cold.

  1. Sanitize everything! One of the first ways to ruin a vacation together is catching a cold on the plane. Carry antibacterial wipes and wipe down every surface you may touch on the plane. Wipe the belt buckle, food tray and latch, volume control, and armrests. The airline crew cannot clean all these surfaces between flights which can harbor contagious viruses and bacteria.
  2. Wash your hands- especially before touching your own or a loved one’s eyes, nose or mouth. When travelling, it is impossible to avoid contact with surfaces that many others may have touched. To avoid those bugs contaminating your family, wash your hands.
  3. Be proactive- On family vacations with everyone close together, take Cold-EEZE at the first sign of a cold to shorten the duration, minimizing the amount of time you are sick to better enjoy your vacation. Cold-EEZE zinc lozenges have been found to decrease the duration of colds by nearly half in studies by Dartmouth Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic. Also, by shortening your cold, it minimizes the chances of spreading the cold onto your family members.
  4. Be prepared- Carry medications with you to minimize the impact of a cold or illness so you can all still enjoy your trip. Useful medications include analgesia like Tylenol or allergy medications for adults and children. Adults may also want to have some decongestants handy just in case.
  5. Be healthy- Good hydration, good nutrition and exercise go a long way to giving the body the support it needs to stay strong.

I’ve tried Cold-EEZE lozenges for myself, and they give me a stomachache. Does that happen to anyone else? Have you tried anything else for keeping germs away? Let me know what it is in a comment, I could use some tips!

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“Missing Mommy” – A Story By Kaitlyn, Age 6

Kaitlyn wrote and illustrated this story using Dot’s Story Factory on PBS Kids. It had an option at the end to email it to someone, so she had me email it to my Stepmother, the Grandma mentioned in the story. It boggles my mind that my SIX year old can spell this well, type on a laptop, and figure out website directions like this. I am SO PROUD of her!

Oh, and it must only have an option to illustrate the first page, which is why the other two are blank on the top. Also, I’m not sure what is on Kaitlyn’s head in the illustration, maybe a party hat sticker? Without further ado, “Missing Mommy” by Kaitlyn Edwards, age 6. Enjoy!

Missing Mommy Story Dots Story Factory PBS Kids 1

The fact that she included "lol" is just too awesome.

 

Missing Mommy Story Dots Story Factory PBS Kids 2

She sounded out "missed" and got "mist". Close enough!

 

Missing Mommy Story Dots Story Factory PBS Kids 3

I barely have enough room in my body for how much I love Kaitlyn!

 

THE END.

Friday Fives: My Five Favorite Authors

Wow, this week went by FAST!  And then I sat down at my laptop at 8:30 this morning, opened email, clicked over to Pinterest to follow someone back….and now three hours have gone by.  Whoops!

If you are just joining us, Friday Fives is  my weekly meme where I take it easy and just post a list of five…anythings.  Favorite movies, favorite websites of the week, whatever I can think of that adds up to five.

Today’s list is my five favorite authors:

1. Patricia Cornwell

2. Jonathan Kellerman

3. Stephen King

4. Dean Koontz

5. John Grisham

And yes, I’ve always thought it was odd that three of them start with “K”, and Cornwell is the “K” sound as well. And I swear I didn’t stand in the “K” section of the bookstore as a young adult and decide to do the majority of my reading from there LOL!

Who are your five favorite authors? List them in a comment or post them on your blog, Tumblr, Google+, LinkedIn page, Twitter, Facebook – wherever you are online! A link back to this post would be greatly appreciated. Have a great week everybody!

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Wordless Wednesday: Me and Mr. Clean at the Housewares Show!

Mr Clean and Table4Five at the Housewares Show

The pose was his idea! And yes, he is THAT handsome and fit :)


 

Household Tip – How To Clean Glass Shower Doors

Frameless Glass Shower DoorsI have always lived in houses with a shower that is above a bathtub, with fabric shower curtains. When we moved into our current house, our main bathroom came with what is sometimes called a shower enclosure – you know, just a shower stall – with glass doors.  Chris had no experience with them either, but fortunately when I mentioned it to my sister in law on the phone, she knew just what we needed to do to keep the doors soap scum free!

On her suggestion, we went to Target and bought a squeegee with a hook on a suction cup so it hangs on the shower wall. Whoever takes a shower, after they turn off the water, they take the squeegee and run it down the shower doors. It’s kept water spots and  dried soap scum off the doors for  6 years!

Did you know that over time the surface of the glass door itself gets rough and even pitted from exposure to hard water (which we have), soap, and cleaning products? Minerals, scale, and soap scum get stuck in those pits (I know, ewww), which makes the glass look dirty. I still think my squeegee method is the best, especially for frameless shower doors which have even MORE glass to clean like the one in the photo at left, but there are ways to clean shower glass without scratching the glass.

If you want to use commercial cleaners, look for products that say they are safe to use on glass. For example, “Soft Scrub” brand cleanser specifically says it removes soap scum, hard water stains, and limescale, and that it is safe on glass. “Kaboom” has a specific line available just for cleaning showers.

To clean hard water stains or soap scum off of glass shower doors, try using  the scrubbers called “Dobies” made by Scotch Brite, or the Brillo® Estracell® No Scratch Scrub Sponge With Wedge Edge®, found at most supermarkets. Get either one wet with some warm water, and use “elbow grease” to remove any soap scum or hard water stains.

If you are remodeling your bathroom and are thinking about installing glass shower doors,  you can now get ones that are manufactured with a special process that seals the surface of the glass.  Hard water, soap scum, and limescale won’t stick, and best of all, you can clean them with just a cloth or soft sponge! Contact a local glass company to see if they make those kinds of shower doors, and you can enjoy beautiful glass shower doors with minimal cleaning!

 

Going Out For Drinks on St. Patrick’s Day? Read This FIRST!

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) needs your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this St. Patrick’s Day by spreading the word that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving.  Before you make your plans to go out for drinks on St. Patrick’s Day, please read the information in this infographic! I love all of you too much to have any of you drink, drive, and get yourself or someone else hurt or killed. :)

Follow NHTSA on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about the financial and life threatening implications of buzzed driving, and please feel free to right-click on the infographic and share it.

 

drinking st patricks day infographic

No Friday Fives Today, I’m Heading To Chicago For The Housewares Show!

This weekend is the International Housewares Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, and I was honored to be invited for the third year in a row to attend as a member of the Internet Media (sounds so fancy, doesn’t it?).  What makes this weekend even better is that I spend it with my dear friend Lisa from My Thoughts, Ideas, and Ramblings (and about a bazillion other blogs too, that girl is a blogging beast).  I’m forever grateful to her family for letting me basically take over their basement rec room for three nights so I don’t have to spend a fortune on a Chicago hotel room!

Lisa and I always have a blast at the Housewares Show.  It’s hard to describe just how huge McCormick Place is to begin with, then to fill up three humongous expo halls with what is probably a million different things to look at? It’s crazy and exhilarating and exhausting and eye-opening and well, FUN!

 

Because our email addresses are available to exhibitors, Lisa and I start getting emails about a month before the show, inviting us to stop by certain booths. We try to stop by every booth that invites us personally.  You’d think half a day on Saturday, a full day on Sunday, and a few hours on Monday would be enough, but it won’t be!

Guess who we have appointments to meet in person? It’s two very famous celebrity chefs, and I’ll give you a hint – one of them likes to say “BAM” when he cooks :)   That’s right, we are meeting EMERIL LAGASSE!! We are also meeting Curtis Stone, who is such a hottie that I’m going to have to try to resist the urge to just stand there with my mouth hanging open.

I’ll take as many photos as I can (only Internet Media people can take photos, which makes us feel even more special!), and when I get home I’ll start rounding up my favorites on MomReviews and MomCooks. I’m hoping I’ll be able to do some fun reviews and giveaways, too!

So, wish me luck and keep me in your thoughts and prayers please as I drive the 217 miles to Lisa’s. I can’t leave until after Chris gets home from his business trip to California! He lands at 3:30, I pick up the rental car, and then I hit the road. Chicago, here I come!