How to Improve Your Attitude

Join me!  

I'll be the one holding a Pina Colada and wearing a big smile! 

Special Occasions

Refrigerator is on? 
    Check.
Bottle of wine is cold?
    Check
It's Wednesday?
    Check.
    Check.
    And triple check.
Is 6 A.M. too early to start?
     (Probably so but who else is up at this hour?)
     Check!

Do You Care?

I carrot!  Hugs to you today!

Happiness is....

It's an ears flopping, feet moving, smile of a good time! 

Happy Monday!

He is Risen!

Today, rejoice in the Lord's gift to humanity.

Happy Easter.

Cross of Fingers

I would love to have this photo hanging on my living room wall.  It's a powerful image and a constant reminder for all of us of the precious gift given to an undeserving world.  I will never grow to old to drop to my knees to give thanks to the Lord, my God, our Savior in Heaven. 

Teenage Boys Easter Basket

This idea would have come in handy when my boys were teenagers so I thought I would share it.  I hope it's not too late to use it!

So Many Doors...So Little Time

It's a tough decision, isn't it?  

The more you read, the more options become available.

Every book is a doorway to somewhere.

Enjoy wherever it takes you!

My Doorbell

Yes, my little yappers let me know when the neighbor's doorbell rings, when an uninvited cat-bird-squirrel-turtle-gecko-wasp-fly-ant...is in the yard, and every time a neighbor exercises.  I know that Chihuahua's are very protective of their territory but come on guys, we don't own the whole block!   

You by Caroline Kepnes

From debut author Caroline Kepnes comes You, one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of 2014, and a brilliant and terrifying novel for the social media age.

When a beautiful, aspiring writer strides into the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, he does what anyone would do: he Googles the name on her credit card.

There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance” meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation, debut author Caroline Kepnes delivers a razor-sharp novel for our hyper-connected digital age. You is a compulsively readable page-turner that’s being compared to Gone Girl, American Psycho, and Stephen King’s Misery.

I recently finished reading this book and found it riveting.  So much so that I bought the sequel, Hidden Bones, which I am reading now.  You was a frightening look into the mind of a stalker, a pyschopath really.  Actually he was much more than that.  Joe Goldberg could be any man you might meet out and about with friends or in a random retail or grocery store.  What drives a person to be so fixated upon another?  And if so, would you, your friends or your family be safe?  Not if Joe Goldberg (or someone like him) has his sights set on you.  Love - that's all Joe wants.  Why is it so hard to find?   

Caroline Kepnes is a natural with her quick wit and fluent writing style.  She is hip and blunt and her characters dance around on the page.  Joe is scary as heck and Beck, she is self-absorbed and plays games of her own not knowing that Joe can read every word she types, texts, emails and tweets.  Joe's hope of finding romance turns into a deadly obsession.  As Beck's world slowly closes in on her, growing smaller and smaller as the novel progresses, will she realize in time that her relationship with Joe Goldberg is really not good for her or anyone around her?  Hopefully I've piqued your curiosity just enough to read it.  If so, let me know what you think. 

Finally!

From my lily pad to yours, Happy Spring!

DABDA - The Five Stages

Especially on a Saturday...

This is my morning to wake up slow and enjoy HGTV!

Today, it's House Hunter's Renovation,

followed by house cleaning and NCAA Basketball.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk! 

Go Kansas!!!

 

 

Age of Asparagus

Ha!  Mom - I found the perfect song for our shopping endeavor today!

Ready:  1 - 2 - 3...

Let's sing it at the top of our lungs while driving down Hwy 27!

Whoops - mom bailed on me today...she had to play golf instead!
We'll work the song in next Friday when we get together!

Answered Prayers

After reading this post my daughter-in-law wrote on Facebook yesterday, I had to share it with you. 

What a beautiful Tuesday this was. I got Audrey back from being at her dad's for a whole week. It was just a lovely day I spent with just my girls until daddy got home. Then just had a nice family night, Audrey was introduced to the world of Warcraft (hahaha) and loved it. Daddy and I played some injustice and Eliza played and screamed. Finally we all cuddled for an episode of star trek.

And then this: I caught Bret with this look on his face. Looking at Audrey, then Eliza and back to Audrey. His face seemed to say "she's back, even though it was just a week, we've felt that hole in the house the entire time. Her here now makes us complete, me complete. I couldn't be any prouder or happier to be their father."

Just that look on his face made me almost cry.

My response:  That makes me want to cry. Thanks for sharing.

Response back:   You raised a great man who didn't have to work at being a great father-he already is one.

You have to understand that this boy was my problem child.  The one who didn't want to take on the responsibility of becoming an adult.  We have prayed many a prayer and cried many a tear over this young man's future.  It wasn't until he met the right woman, his soulmate, that he happily took on the role of husband and step-father.  Obviously they added another daughter to their little family last year and I could not be more proud of him today.  I've always known how smart he is and waited a long time for him to live up to his potential.  Seeing him do so makes my heart soar with love and joy.  I always knew he could do it.  And I thank Caley, my daughter-in-law, for helping him to see the light.  I love you all.  

 

Harassing the Servants

Yes, I am but a lowly servant in my own home.  

However, I am never lonely!

Happy Wednesday!

Bring Dixie Cups!

Since I am heading out to vote in the Florida primary...

I prefer choice number two!

Please bring supplies and meet me in the parking lot of the polling center!

Super Easy Super Hero Art

Are these not awesome little art projects?

Needed:  A little hand, paint and markers.

Note to self:  Recruit some little hands!

Spring Forward

Yes - it's already that time.  

This is just a little reminder to set your clocks forward an hour tonight.

Have a great weekend!

Embrace

I do this every day - sometimes with a self arm hug, sometimes with a mental hug, sometimes the couch hugs me!  And if I'm having a really trying day, the dogs stick close by - their bodies constantly touching mine - which is an awesome way to receive their affection.  I would certainly call that a doggie embrace (hug)!  No matter how you embrace yourself - be like Nike and just do it!

Do You Have CDO?

Oh my gosh!  I laughed because this is me!  I can't even send a text without spelling out what I want to say.  Add the correct punctuation as well (unless my phone auto-corrects the words) and you have my disorder down to the CDO!    

Women Rock!

International Women’s Day is all about celebrating incredible women and showing them how much we love, respect and value them.  However, why do we need a "national day" to celebrate all the wonderful, special, awesome women in our lives?  I am thankful for every woman in my life each and every day.  You are my lifeline and I love you dearly! Big Hugs to you!

How Outlooks Change

This is a great example of how we look at the same things, but we see them differently. Be Positive and your whole outlook changes.  Sometimes it's harder than we think to stay positive but I would like to think that most are most of the time.  Happy Tuesday.

Poor, Poor Henreitta

I know this scenario to be fact as my oldest son and his family raise chickens for the eggs...and when they stop laying we avoid having dinner at their house!  I have an aversion to eating something that we called by name before it ended up on my plate!  Poor Henreitta.  How long can she hold out?

Loving Mean People

I saw this story (author unknown) and had to share it:  I stopped to get dinner for my son and the guy behind us in the drive-thru yells to my son, "Hurry up fucken nigger!" When I got to the window I asked to pay for his order. I wrote this on the back of his receipt and asked the cashier to hand it to him with his food. My son asked me why I paid for his food if he was mean, I explained that being nice to nice people is easy, you have to be nice to mean people, that's the hardest thing to do.

 

It's a Shower Party!

A friend of mine posted a little story on Facebook about her five year old daughter singing "Shake, shake, shake! Shake your booty!" at the top of her lungs while she was in the shower.  When my friend asked her what she was doing, the five year old answered, "I love shower parties!"

It was such a great story that I had to share.   

Cheers to Friday!  Have a great day. 

Try This Tricky Word Puzzle

Can you find the six words hidden in this puzzle?  

Yes - I did find all six words! 

I'll post the words later today via comment. 

Good Luck!

The Egg Diet

Now, that's my kind of egg!

Now, smile and enjoy your day.

Ladybug Garden Project

Here is a great project for anyone with extra golf balls lying around.

I am headed to the golf course with my bucket to look for lost balls.

Have an awesome Monday!