Family Best: Life, Family, Farm, Fun, Food and Everything Else Under The North Georgia Mountains Sun!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Nike the perfect Christmas Gift
The one thing that will be under our tree this year is Nike. The perfect gift for men, women, boys and girls is a new pair of tennis shoes or Nike sports clothing. The cold weather thermal tops are top notch when it comes to keeping warm on the field or when running in the colder weather. The Dri-fit technology works wonders keeping the bodies temperature regulated absorbing moisture and this is perfect when the weather is colder but activity breaks a sweat. The shoes have always been a great fit and a hard working shoe for any use. Nike has been a household name for many years and adorns the feet of youth athletes to professionals. There is no substitute for quality and endurance. Regardless, if you are shopping for the holidays or just getting ready for a winter, spring or summer sport, Nike is the way to go for the entire families needs.
Years ago Nike was a favorite of mine and I still remember the white tennis shoe with the red swoosh that I so excitedly wore to school to show off. Now, many years later I feel proud when my children show off their new Nike shoes with the same excitement. Being an avid walker I find that Nike never lets me down. Never a blister or feeling of tightness from the shoe nor a slip or slide in the heel, I always know I can get many miles out of a new pair. Purchasing cleats for my sons that play football, I can say that each year a new pair of Nike's will survive the entire season and could be used again and again, if they did not grow out of them. My daughter plays soccer and her cleats as well, take a beating and still finish the season looking almost as good as new. One product I must say has proven its quality is my sons back pack. It is on it's third year of heavy books and being tossed here and there and it still looks brand new. We have gone through more than one backpack a school year with other brands, but Nike never ceases to amaze me.
The colors and styles of Nike shoes is vast and it is almost hard to choose which ones to buy. The clothing is well made and pure quality. As a consumer of Nike, the product is well worth every dollar. This year our tree will have several Nike items wrapped delicately and placed beneath our Christmas tree, and I know that in the spring I will be prepping my tennis player and soccer star with more Nike products to get us through another season of sports. Once a true Nike lover always a true Nike lover and our affair started when I was a kid and not giving away my age, that was a long time ago. Purchase Nike this Christmas, as the saying goes "Just Do It" you will be happy you did!
Years ago Nike was a favorite of mine and I still remember the white tennis shoe with the red swoosh that I so excitedly wore to school to show off. Now, many years later I feel proud when my children show off their new Nike shoes with the same excitement. Being an avid walker I find that Nike never lets me down. Never a blister or feeling of tightness from the shoe nor a slip or slide in the heel, I always know I can get many miles out of a new pair. Purchasing cleats for my sons that play football, I can say that each year a new pair of Nike's will survive the entire season and could be used again and again, if they did not grow out of them. My daughter plays soccer and her cleats as well, take a beating and still finish the season looking almost as good as new. One product I must say has proven its quality is my sons back pack. It is on it's third year of heavy books and being tossed here and there and it still looks brand new. We have gone through more than one backpack a school year with other brands, but Nike never ceases to amaze me.
The colors and styles of Nike shoes is vast and it is almost hard to choose which ones to buy. The clothing is well made and pure quality. As a consumer of Nike, the product is well worth every dollar. This year our tree will have several Nike items wrapped delicately and placed beneath our Christmas tree, and I know that in the spring I will be prepping my tennis player and soccer star with more Nike products to get us through another season of sports. Once a true Nike lover always a true Nike lover and our affair started when I was a kid and not giving away my age, that was a long time ago. Purchase Nike this Christmas, as the saying goes "Just Do It" you will be happy you did!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Hunger in America
There is a report out by the United States Department of Agriculture that indicates there are 49 million Americans going hungry in our Nation. Seventeen million of them are children. These statistics are the highest recorded since the United States Department of Agriculture started taking the numbers in 1995. These statistics are shocking, knowing that there are Americans going days without food and children having to go to bed at night with hungry bellies not sure if there will be food tomorrow. The unemployment numbers continue to rise and more and more families are finding it harder to make ends meet. Food drives get a lot of media coverage during the Holiday season. In Atlanta, there are many different food drives and everyone that can should contribute food. Publix Super Markets, along with The Feed the Hungry Foundation and The Salvation Army. Customers are asked to donate food at any Metro Atlanta Publix store this holiday season, Nov. 2-Dec. 31.
Kroger and Comcast, B98.5 and CBS Atlanta work together with their CAN hunger food drive during the holiday season. If you are looking to volunteer your time there is volunteer match that helps match you to the right charity.
In the county that I live in the CARES program helps the hungry for Pickens County Georgia. The poverty level in our county in 2008 was 3,170 people and this is a very small area. The numbers are rising as people encounter job loss and pay decreases. Getting involved and helping out those that are in need is what America is about, neighbors helping neighbors.
Not only do families need food during the holidays, they need assistance all year long and if one person can help feed a hungry child, then we should all do what we can to help.
Kroger and Comcast, B98.5 and CBS Atlanta work together with their CAN hunger food drive during the holiday season. If you are looking to volunteer your time there is volunteer match that helps match you to the right charity.
In the county that I live in the CARES program helps the hungry for Pickens County Georgia. The poverty level in our county in 2008 was 3,170 people and this is a very small area. The numbers are rising as people encounter job loss and pay decreases. Getting involved and helping out those that are in need is what America is about, neighbors helping neighbors.
Not only do families need food during the holidays, they need assistance all year long and if one person can help feed a hungry child, then we should all do what we can to help.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Thanksgiving
I've been adding new information on my website about Thanksgiving and of course it is an ongoing project. But, I do enjoy having a place to set up all my own. It is fun and I love adding new information, hopefully some day I will have some visitors to share it all with! It is nearing that time of year to start getting ready for the holidays, especially Christmas that sneaks up so quickly. There are some great ways to teach children about Christmas around the world and other ways people celebrate their holidays.
There are going to be some amazing discounts this year due to the recession and retailers struggling to stay out of the red. Everyone should take time to research their shopping lists and get the best deals. If you can stomach the crowds on Black Friday that is the day to hit the stores with your shopping list in hand. Make it fun go with someone you enjoy spending the day with, have breakfast out and create a new tradition.
Get organized this holiday season to alleviate stresses and have everything running smoothly. It works out so much better when we do not have to stress over every little detail because we feel like we are forgetting something!
I am truly in the holiday spirit this year, more so than the last few years and am ready for it all to get rolling!
There are going to be some amazing discounts this year due to the recession and retailers struggling to stay out of the red. Everyone should take time to research their shopping lists and get the best deals. If you can stomach the crowds on Black Friday that is the day to hit the stores with your shopping list in hand. Make it fun go with someone you enjoy spending the day with, have breakfast out and create a new tradition.
Get organized this holiday season to alleviate stresses and have everything running smoothly. It works out so much better when we do not have to stress over every little detail because we feel like we are forgetting something!
I am truly in the holiday spirit this year, more so than the last few years and am ready for it all to get rolling!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Great Halloween!
We threw together a Halloween party this weekend to celebrate the holiday and for my son's birthday party combination. It was a great success and the kids loved all the food and fun the night had to offer.
The table looked amazing and the food was fun to make. Of course all the recipes can be used for any party table but adding a few embellishments made them spooky for Halloween.
Cat Face Taco Dip
One container sour cream
One packet taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheese
embellishments
Mix the taco seasoning into the sour cream well, spread in a shallow dish and top with shredded cheese.
Scary deviled eyeballs
One dozen hard boiled eggs, peeled and sliced in half
1 cup mayonaise
salt and pepper to taste
4 ounces room temperature cream cheese tinted red
green olive slices
Mix the yellow egg yolks with the mayonaise and salt and pepper until creamy, using a fork will help press out any chunks and will give more yield. In a bowl put in the cream cheese and mix red coloring until the color is what you want. Place into a ziplock bag and snip a tiny corner off. Fill the empty egg halves with the yolk mixture and then pipe lines on and smear with a toothpick. Once they look like you want them to, add a green olive slice to the center to look like a bloodshot eye.
Spider Eggs
This is an easy recipe for any party!
Frozen home-style meatballs from the freezer section of the supermarket
One small jar grape jelly
One bottle Heinz chili sauce (on the ketchup isle)
Throw it all together in the crock pot, set it on low and let them cook and when ready serve. Either transferring them to a fondue pot with Sterno or putting the crock pot on the table and plugging it in.
Skull cheese ball
2 packages of room temperature cream cheese
1 packet ranch dressing powder
Mix together well and put into the refrigerator to cool again then shape as desired. If not making a skull, roll into a large ball and roll in bacon bits or chopped pecans for coating.
All in all the night was a success, everyone had a great night and the food was almost gone. You know it's a good party when there isn't much leftover!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Organizing a childs room
Having wonderful children to dote on and spend time with is amazing. We picture them all day while they are at school in the best light, but the door flies open at the end of the day and they all march in tossing their items here and there and making their messes and we have to wonder what happened to those angels we were fondly thinking of just a few short hours ago. The evening drives on and there are dinner dishes and of course papers and homework to get through. We, of course, shuttle them to activities and watch them with the proud mom smiles and adoring watchful eyes and all along we try to keep our sweet thoughts somewhere in our minds. Eye rolls, long loud sighs, head tilting in some child like language letting you know that you are obviously not on the same page with each other, puts a fog over the angelic daydreams we have when not in the same room together. Darkness comes and they all go to sleep at night. Walking in and checking on them before retiring and seeing their angelic sweet faces lost in dreams and slumber, we are then able to regain our sweet smile and disposition on how wonderful our little darlings truly are, of course, until morning. Washing, drying and folding their laundry and whisking into their room to stop short and see the wasteland of mess and clothes tossed all over the place. A child's room can look like a war zone or in some cases a junk yard or dump. We have to wonder how a child can walk into that room and not see what we see when we look around. How can they function with all the clutter and chaos and another question is where do they get all this junk from? Well, in short a child is like a junk magnet and their eyes only see what they want to see. Children have the ability to function in all sorts of messes and with blinders on can look around and think that this will do.
The first thing we can do to help our children is to teach them about organization. Everything has a place and make a habit of keeping that place for the same thing every time. Also, simplify their life. Kids don't need everything they think they need and taking some of the chaos away will make things easy to manage. Limit clothing for kids. They love new clothes and as they progress into preteen and teenage years they want even more. A rule of thumb for every new item that comes in an old item must come out. Keep a box in the laundry room to put the older items into and when it is full donate it. Teach them to hang up most of their clothing and use the dressers for small items like socks, underwear and pajamas. Designate a drawer in their dresser for gloves, hats and belts. This will keep them on top of small things they need often. If you have a boy that wears hats, put a rack up to hang them on and if it's a girl with purses, do the same with a rack and a lot of hooks to hold them up. Hooks and baskets are great organizers for kids because it does not take a lot of effort to get the items where they need to go. If a child has to put forth effort like opening a door or drawer they will just toss it anywhere. Shelves are great pieces of furniture for a child's room. This allows them to easily store and retrieve things they think they need. Although, we know they probably don't touch half of what they have year after year. Teach them to let go of things that have no meaning to them or that they do not use. A good rule of thumb is if you have not used it, thought of it or touched in in six months it can go. Keep their room basic and all the furniture up against the walls. This allows for plenty of floor space and keeps them from getting things behind the furniture. Put storage under the beds to prevent stuffing all their clothes and items under there. Closets can be easily arranged so that there is room for things on shelves and clothes hung up. A little investment in closet systems can save years of headaches. If a child gets their room so messy that its overwhelming for them to clean they will never get it finished. Help them to get organized and let them do the work. A child will be more able to manage if they do it themselves with some helpful assistance and encouragement. Most often just hanging out in the room with them and helping with trash and items that need to be removed makes them happy enough.
Taking time to keep children organized makes a happy home for mom. It is so much easier to get in and out of their rooms with things we need to put in there such as clean laundry or things we've picked up. Teaching kids to do their own laundry is ideal, but in most cases we end up having to do some of it no matter what we teach them. Once a child has their room clean and organized its easier for them to keep it up and maintain it. Not to say that they won't get lazy and things won't get messy again, but having to do a reset once a year is much better then constantly nagging them to clean up their rooms daily when to them their room seems fine.
Spending some time getting children set up and organized can help them as they grow older learning how to clean and maintain their mess. It truly can make them more productive and balanced in their lives.
The first thing we can do to help our children is to teach them about organization. Everything has a place and make a habit of keeping that place for the same thing every time. Also, simplify their life. Kids don't need everything they think they need and taking some of the chaos away will make things easy to manage. Limit clothing for kids. They love new clothes and as they progress into preteen and teenage years they want even more. A rule of thumb for every new item that comes in an old item must come out. Keep a box in the laundry room to put the older items into and when it is full donate it. Teach them to hang up most of their clothing and use the dressers for small items like socks, underwear and pajamas. Designate a drawer in their dresser for gloves, hats and belts. This will keep them on top of small things they need often. If you have a boy that wears hats, put a rack up to hang them on and if it's a girl with purses, do the same with a rack and a lot of hooks to hold them up. Hooks and baskets are great organizers for kids because it does not take a lot of effort to get the items where they need to go. If a child has to put forth effort like opening a door or drawer they will just toss it anywhere. Shelves are great pieces of furniture for a child's room. This allows them to easily store and retrieve things they think they need. Although, we know they probably don't touch half of what they have year after year. Teach them to let go of things that have no meaning to them or that they do not use. A good rule of thumb is if you have not used it, thought of it or touched in in six months it can go. Keep their room basic and all the furniture up against the walls. This allows for plenty of floor space and keeps them from getting things behind the furniture. Put storage under the beds to prevent stuffing all their clothes and items under there. Closets can be easily arranged so that there is room for things on shelves and clothes hung up. A little investment in closet systems can save years of headaches. If a child gets their room so messy that its overwhelming for them to clean they will never get it finished. Help them to get organized and let them do the work. A child will be more able to manage if they do it themselves with some helpful assistance and encouragement. Most often just hanging out in the room with them and helping with trash and items that need to be removed makes them happy enough.
Taking time to keep children organized makes a happy home for mom. It is so much easier to get in and out of their rooms with things we need to put in there such as clean laundry or things we've picked up. Teaching kids to do their own laundry is ideal, but in most cases we end up having to do some of it no matter what we teach them. Once a child has their room clean and organized its easier for them to keep it up and maintain it. Not to say that they won't get lazy and things won't get messy again, but having to do a reset once a year is much better then constantly nagging them to clean up their rooms daily when to them their room seems fine.
Spending some time getting children set up and organized can help them as they grow older learning how to clean and maintain their mess. It truly can make them more productive and balanced in their lives.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Halloween
We had our family pumpkin carving contest last weekend and we all did fantastic this year, even Keegan's pumpkin was amazing and this is her second year to do her pumpkin completely by herself.
We all had a great time and we actually made eighteen cups of pumpkin from all of our pumpkin scrapings and that will get us through the winter. Saving the pumpkin meat and cooking it down, makes great pumpkin to have on hand for breads, pies, muffins and cakes. I just cook it down, pulse it in the food processor and then put it in one cup increments into freezer bags. We use our pumpkin for our Thanksgiving pies and other yummy things all winter long. We did our seeds as well toasting them in the oven with a little canola oil and garlic salt. They turned out amazing.
It was exciting to put the pumpkins out and wait for dark to come to light them and see how well we did with our carving. This is such an exciting time of year for the family. It begins our holiday season where we spend a great deal of time together eating, laughing and playing. We enjoy our family time and sharing our days and evenings together cooking, doing puzzles and playing games.
Having a close family bond is a great way for children to grow up and learn how to interact with others. I didn't really have that as a child and I've always worked hard at giving it to my children. I think it gives them substance in their other relationships. Watching them grow up and form friendships and have relationships is very heart warming, but sad as well knowing someday they will all be out of the nest. Enjoying holidays and sharing family time is so important because it goes by so quickly.
Monday, October 12, 2009
It's that time of year!
The excitement is growing in my house with the arrival of the fall season. This is the time of year that we really flourish. The Apple Festival is happening and we will be attending next weekend. This brings in loads of tasty apples that the kids and I can make all sorts of yummy things from together. Apple sauce, Apple dumplings, and Apple pies for the Thanksgiving holiday. It is pumpkin time as well and we will set about choosing our pumpkins for our family carving contest and I will make and freeze loads of pumpkin for breads, muffins and pies. The house just hums with excitement as we finish out the year with all of our weekends full and exciting. It is my time of year to clean too, I get so motivated cleaning the house from top to bottom getting rid of things we don't use or want and giving them to others that can use them. Starting out the holiday season with a bright, shiny clean house that have plenty of room for decorations for each upcoming holiday. I am very excited that the fall energy is happening in my house!
This is a great time to learn a little history of Halloween. There are great links on my web page to help celebrate the holiday with your family. For my family, we will be wishing every other family a great season full of fun, love, happiness and everything others wish for!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Childrens cancer golf tournament
It is childrens cancer awareness month and let's all start out September by finding an event to support a cure for cancer! If you are a golf enthusiast there is a tournament being held on Friday September, 25 2009. Get out and find a way to help children suffering with cancer.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Swine Flu
photo by Debbiep
The swine flu has made its way to our town and this worries me a great deal. A little boy died in the town next to us, and there are letters coming home from my sons high school indicating a teacher and two students have the H1N1 virus. I worried for so long and everyone told me not to worry, but here we are in a very small town and the H1N1 flu virus has hit the area. There is an elementary school that had an adult and two students with the flu as well. My doctor told me that the hand sanitizer will kill the germs on hands, and I'm having my children use it often. I told them to put it in their lockers at school to use there. When the H1N1 virus has found its way to a small town, then it must be heavy in the more populated bigger cities. This entire epidemic is very scary and concerning! Take precautions to keep the virus out of your home and protect your children the best that you can, that is all that we really can do!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Free cookbook for kids
Photo by: ronnieb
Getting into the kitchen with your kids can create memories that last a lifetime. My daughter and sons love to cook with me and it makes dinner time family time and we all enjoy sharing that together. On top of loving to cook, I love FREE stuff too! Wisconsin Cheese is giving away a Free Cookbook for Kids! The sixteen page book can be downloaded and printed off for instant gratification, or it can be mailed to you and it takes six to eight weeks to receive. This is a great stocking stuffer for Christmas! Don't wait, get a Free cookbook today and get in the kitchen with the kids and whip up some memories!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
House full of sickies
This year is very scary for me with illness, and it started already! One came home coughing and congested and was down for two days, then my daughter started and was home for 2 days and my husband next. Now, my oldest is on the brink and that just leaves me left to catch it. I'm trying very hard to stay far away and keep my hands washed and the sanitizer flowing. I just would like one August where I didn't catch something from the kids going back to school. So far so good, but I'm on pins and needles every time one of them coughs or sneezes. I've contemplated getting some of those masks to make them wear, but then I thought that might be too much right now! I hope they all get well soon, having a house full of sickies takes up all my time with taking care of them and cleaning up after them and trying to keep the place as germ free as possible. Cross your fingers and let's hope that I can be the ONE that stays well through this bout of whatever it is!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Diabetes
Diabetes can affect an entire family no matter who in the family has the condition. It can be a tedious task to learn all the right ways to keep the family healthy and fit. There are great resources and information that can help a parent and children to learn all they can about the disease. I have diabetes and it really changes things in our household, sometimes its very difficult to make everyone happy with food. Especially eating out, when the family wants something that I shouldn't have, keeping up a positive attitude and making substitutions helps a lot. If someone in your family has diabetes you should take time to learn and discuss the disease with every family member. Don't leave the kids out of the loop they should know how things work as well and if a child has diabetes a parent needs to know all the emotions and levels of frustration that are going to be part of the child's life.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Little Tikes Recall
How many parent's have Little Tikes products in their homes? I know when my children were younger I had a lot of Little Tikes things. I loved Little Tikes, tough, rugged toys that I never worried about with my children. There has been a voluntary recall on Little Tikes workshops and trucks due to a choking hazard. Find out how to contact the company and what to look for to keep your children safe.
A child hit by a car
There was a sad story about a child getting off a MARTA bus with her mother and being hit by a car that crossed a double line. The child was in critical condition afterward, but later died. There are so many accidents and injuries to children and so many of them can be prevented. Perhaps, I'm a worry wart, at least my kids tell me that I am because safety is always forefront in my mind no matter what we are doing as a family. I just feel an ache in my heart for the family of this child and how the child suffered.
Product Recall
If your household has a Nintendo Wii(tm) then you will want to check your accessories to see if you have the recalled 4-dock battery recharger that has been recalled for fire and burn hazards. I'm not surprised by this with my kids having xbox 360 game stations and they get very hot you can feel the heat blowing out of the fan. Check your kids things and if you have this product, contact the manufacturer.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Trend setting style with a vivid bright look!
There is a great line of clothing, shoes, belts and handbags perfect for the fashion forward set. Ed Hardy designs bring the hip art you would see within a tattoo right to the shirt on your back. Vivid and exhilarating, showing off the intricate design of each unique product makes you feel confident and alive when wearing it.
The shoe line is a teenagers dream. the high top canvas design covered in artwork allows you to stand out in a crowd. The lace up high top shoe is perfect with jeans and shorts and works for males and females. There are low rise lace up shoes and slip on canvas shoes as well as unique exquisite boots. All of the artwork is detailed and sharp, just what a person wants to show off when stepping out.
Are you looking for that one of a kind stand out handbag? Ed Hardy has a great selection of bags to suit every taste. There are several styles to choose from and all the colors are hot and in style. Whether its a bag for a night out or something for everyday, Ed Hardy designed bags fit the bill and show off a woman's style.
The shoe line is a teenagers dream. the high top canvas design covered in artwork allows you to stand out in a crowd. The lace up high top shoe is perfect with jeans and shorts and works for males and females. There are low rise lace up shoes and slip on canvas shoes as well as unique exquisite boots. All of the artwork is detailed and sharp, just what a person wants to show off when stepping out.
Are you looking for that one of a kind stand out handbag? Ed Hardy has a great selection of bags to suit every taste. There are several styles to choose from and all the colors are hot and in style. Whether its a bag for a night out or something for everyday, Ed Hardy designed bags fit the bill and show off a woman's style.
Swine flu
The swine flu worries me! I'm diabetic and contracting a virus that kills people scares me to death. The new vaccines are being put into trials and there are supposed to be 160 million doses available by October. But, what is in the vaccine? That concerns me too. The entire world is battling this virus and with school starting and kids coming home carrying germs, how long will it be before one of mine brings something home? Prevention is going to be key this winter, although for the last 4 years I've caught something every August after school has started and one of my little darlings drags home some germs! You can read more about the swine flu and get updated news.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Breastfeeding and alcohol consumption
This North Dakota woman that was arrested and sentenced for child negelct over breastfeeding her 6 week old infant has made alcohol and breastfeeding a hot topic. Whatever the reasons behind her behavior she did one good thing and that is put this topic into the news across the nation so that mother's can make better choices and decisions. Was it a crime? The judge thought it was but what do other mothers think? I breastfed my children and I enjoyed a beer or glass of wine during the time I breastfed but I was worried about it and always pumped my milk prior to going out that night and then pumped the milk following for a full day and threw it away. I knew that what milk my babies received from me was clean and healthy. It's not that hard to plan ahead, I always had extra milk available in my freezer. I wouldn't feed my infants following a night out eating spicy food or something that I enjoyed but I knew would give them gas. This story in the news has prompted a lot of discussion and that is the only good thing that has come from this that is good news! READ MORE
Friday, August 7, 2009
Free Event Tonight with Atlanta Falcons
Hey football fans, this is a great opportunity to get your football fix with a free family event at Brookwood high school in Snellville, Ga. The Atlanta Falcons are putting on their Friday night lights and it is free to the public. There will be autographs and a firework display. READ MORE
Stay at home moms wanting to work from home
Today's economy is on the mind of most people and worrying over finances and how families will make ends meet could be keeping people up at night. A stay at home mom can branch out and find work from home opportunities if she is looking to bring in a little extra money. There are resources to help a mom find a flexible job. READ MORE
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Finding a babysitter
It's daunting to think of finding a babysitter to watch the kids. I know when my kids were small we didn't go out much because we lived far from family and I never knew how to find a babysitter. It's actually easier than I thought when I was younger. Today there are so many different resources for finding a quality babysitter. If you are looking for ways to find a person to watch your children, read more!
Baby hammock recall
There has been a recall for a baby hammock. If you have an infant and think you may have this product you should read more to find out how to contact the manufacturer and stop use immediately. This product has been recalled for fall and strangulation hazards.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Photos of visit
Family came and visited last week and we all have a lovely time!
It was nice to see everyone and the kids enjoyed having their grandparents for a few days. We went to Amicola falls to show off the view of the water falls 
We then hung out around the pool at their hotel.
It's a lovely little inn in Jasper the Woodbridge Inn and they had a nice pool surrounded by greenery. We also had a picnic at the park, that was a great way to enjoy the afternoon.
We took them to Ellijay, stopping off at the farmers market for some fresh peaches and samples.
Then into the old town square for a bite of lunch. It was a cute little hot dog and hamburger diner.
We strolled down the street and peeked in a few antique shops. It was truly a lovely weekend!
It was nice to see everyone and the kids enjoyed having their grandparents for a few days. We went to Amicola falls to show off the view of the water falls 
We then hung out around the pool at their hotel.
It's a lovely little inn in Jasper the Woodbridge Inn and they had a nice pool surrounded by greenery. We also had a picnic at the park, that was a great way to enjoy the afternoon.
We took them to Ellijay, stopping off at the farmers market for some fresh peaches and samples.
Then into the old town square for a bite of lunch. It was a cute little hot dog and hamburger diner.
We strolled down the street and peeked in a few antique shops. It was truly a lovely weekend!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
My New Message Forum
I am so excited that I got my message forum working and up and running for my website! I don't know how much traffic I will get, being that I'm a dud with promoting my blog, but I am proud of myself for doing it all being very techsavy challenged haha :) If you want to check it out I would LOVE to have visitors and feedback!
August Celebrates Breastfeeding
I remember when my babies were small and the special moments we shared in the middle of the night when I breast fed. I also remember how great my breasts looked and I was sad to see it change when I stopped breastfeeding. August is breastfeeding month and if you are a mother that is breastfeeding your infant you should celebrate the milestones of breastfeeding. If you are like me, with older children take a moment to remember those days, and the fond memories of having a baby in your arms. READ MORE
Product Recalls
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Toddler burned with iron
What goes through a person's mind that allows them the ability to injure or even murder a child or anyone for that matter? Another shocking story in the news about a child being abused! The Texas story about the woman that murdered her infant is still heavy in the headlines and now another story to make my heart ache! READ MORE
School Open House
Knowing the right questions to ask your child's teacher is important at school open house. There isn't a lot of time with all the other parents and students there, so have a few that are important to you to ask, and then send the rest of the questions by email. This will set up a form of communication between you and your child's teacher and will give the teacher time to answer the questions properly. Find out quality questions and ways to volunteer, to help keep you active in your child's school life.
Today starts the Tax-Free shopping weekend
It's the start of shopping and this weekend is tax-free! Get ready for back to school by going after the discounts and sales that retailers are offering. READ MORE
H1N1 Protection for Pregnant women
The reports are out that a pregnant woman needs protection from the H1N1 virus. They will be among others to have the vaccine offered first. Every one should get vaccinated for the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, but those with illnesses, the elderly, small children and pregnant women will come first. READ MORE
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Teachers work for free
The Georgia budget is in trouble and Governor Sonny Perdue is making cuts. He has implemented a furlough for teachers. This means they work to set up classrooms and get ready for students for free or take 3 days off before the end of the year. READ MORE
Tragedy in Texas
The tragedy in Texas that hit the news is shocking. Otty Sanchez murdered her 3 1/2 week old infant and inflicted wounds upon herself. This story is becoming to common with mothers murdering their children in the news. READ MORE
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Traveling with kids
Taking a trip with children can cause a great deal of stress on parents. Although, creating memories for the family is ideal, better memories and more fun is had for all when we pack and organize the trip to suit the children. READ MORE
Monday, July 27, 2009
Summer is nearing an end but there are still memories to be made
Although summer is coming to an end and school will be starting again soon, there are plenty of things to do with your kids. Spending afternoons making memories that will last a lifetime is important when raising kids. Take a little time to find something affordable and exciting to do with your family. READ MORE
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Playground safety and children
Taking a child to the park for the afternoon is memory making fun. The playground can be an exciting place for a child to play. Climbing and swinging and going down the slide. Safety is important as injuries on playgrounds are astounding. READ MORE
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Asthma in children
Stress can cause asthma in children, along with other triggers. This new research is concerning to a parent. There are more and more children diagnosed with asthma each year and parents need to be educated on asthma even if their child hasn't been diagnosed to be aware of symptoms and triggers. All children should live in healthy environments. Read More
Friday, July 24, 2009
Family coming to visit
I love when family comes to visit, once they get here and we all say our hellos and I can take that deep breath and relax. The week prior is like a military regime in my house trying to get the kids to clean their rooms and get everything in what I call "company order" It's not hard and my house isn't that messy, its' just ME and my panic mode. I don't know why I worry so much about a magazine being left out or the kids room looking messy. It makes me crazy and I want my home to look perfect when visitors arrive.
Now that today is the day I'm on the panic mode of what to do to entertain them. Do they even want to be entertained or do they want to sit around and relax. I never know and try to offer up suggestions either way, but do I sound like I'm trying to push one way or the other? I hope not, I'm just trying to be a gracious host.
Living so close to Atlanta there is a plethora of things to do with visitors or just with the family. It's almost overwhelming all the things that are around that are fun and entertaining. We live in the North Georgia mountains and just visiting areas around here can take up more than a weekend. I love where we live, its so central to culture and scenery and within two hours we can be in another state looking for their fun activities as well.
My hopes are that this weekend goes well and everyone has a great time, including myself if I can relax a little bit, and I have some amazing photos to show off on my blog.
I'm going to make something yummy that will feed a large crowd and the kids love and that's spaghetti. It's my traditional visitors dinner when I know I'm going to feed an army. I used to work all day putting together my sauce, but have streamlined it down to as Sandra Lee says "Semi Homemade". The best thing about my sauce is that I always get rave reviews as if I had slaved over it all day!
Jaymie's Spaghetti Sauce:
4 cans Hunts garlic and Herb spaghetti sauce
1 can Hunts Italian style chopped tomatoes
1 can Hunts tomato paste
1 beer, any kind will do
2 lbs ground beef
2 small cans mushrooms,(I use one container of fresh sometimes)
1 small onion chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I go light on this it can be overwhelming)
Brown the ground beef and chopped onion together and drain off fat. Place the ground beef, sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, mushrooms and seasonings into the pot. Let simmer for one hour on low heat. Serve over cooked noodles of your choice (spaghetti, angel hair, vermicelli)
Now that today is the day I'm on the panic mode of what to do to entertain them. Do they even want to be entertained or do they want to sit around and relax. I never know and try to offer up suggestions either way, but do I sound like I'm trying to push one way or the other? I hope not, I'm just trying to be a gracious host.
Living so close to Atlanta there is a plethora of things to do with visitors or just with the family. It's almost overwhelming all the things that are around that are fun and entertaining. We live in the North Georgia mountains and just visiting areas around here can take up more than a weekend. I love where we live, its so central to culture and scenery and within two hours we can be in another state looking for their fun activities as well.
My hopes are that this weekend goes well and everyone has a great time, including myself if I can relax a little bit, and I have some amazing photos to show off on my blog.
I'm going to make something yummy that will feed a large crowd and the kids love and that's spaghetti. It's my traditional visitors dinner when I know I'm going to feed an army. I used to work all day putting together my sauce, but have streamlined it down to as Sandra Lee says "Semi Homemade". The best thing about my sauce is that I always get rave reviews as if I had slaved over it all day!
Jaymie's Spaghetti Sauce:
4 cans Hunts garlic and Herb spaghetti sauce
1 can Hunts Italian style chopped tomatoes
1 can Hunts tomato paste
1 beer, any kind will do
2 lbs ground beef
2 small cans mushrooms,(I use one container of fresh sometimes)
1 small onion chopped
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning (I go light on this it can be overwhelming)
Brown the ground beef and chopped onion together and drain off fat. Place the ground beef, sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, beer, mushrooms and seasonings into the pot. Let simmer for one hour on low heat. Serve over cooked noodles of your choice (spaghetti, angel hair, vermicelli)
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Cooking with your kids
I enjoy getting into the kitchen with my kids, teaching them how to cook and bake and knowing that they will be able to survive when adults. What is the saying give him a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime. That is my philosophy with cooking and my children. Around age 6 I will start letting them use the toaster and the microwave and we move up from there into baking and cooking full course meals. Now that my children are older they love food competitions. I give them $20.00 and take them to the store they have a theme, ground beef or chicken or a vegetable and they have to make a dish. It's a steal from food networks food challenge shows, but made for home fun. It brings out the best in them and they are so proud of their hard work. My husband and I will judge along with a neighbor or friend. It's a lot of fun and this summer they have had a few cooking competitions. Most recently a ground beef competition where my 14 year old son made a delicious baked ziti and my 10 year old, now 11 years old made a Mexican ground beef casserole. They were hard to judge both being so tasty. Recently my daughter made monkey bread and I wanted to share the recipe. Maybe you could share it with your child.
16 to 20 whole pecans
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 10 oz cans refrigerator biscuits
Directions:
Grease a muffin pan. Place 2 or 3 whole pecans in each cup, and sprinkle half of the chopped pecans over them. In a saucepan melt the butter. Add the sugar, water, and the remaining chopped nuts. Cut the biscuits in thirds and roll into balls. Place 3 in each cup, then drizzle with sauce. Add 2 balls and drizzle with the remaining sauce. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes.
16 to 20 whole pecans
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 10 oz cans refrigerator biscuits
Directions:
Grease a muffin pan. Place 2 or 3 whole pecans in each cup, and sprinkle half of the chopped pecans over them. In a saucepan melt the butter. Add the sugar, water, and the remaining chopped nuts. Cut the biscuits in thirds and roll into balls. Place 3 in each cup, then drizzle with sauce. Add 2 balls and drizzle with the remaining sauce. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Find out about recalls
There are a lot of product recalls, that we don't hear about on the news or in the newspaper. That leaves me a bit concerned but I am not going to be left in the dark. I've learned to check for the recalls myself on a regular basis.
For instance, just today there have been 5 child seat recalls. This is alarming because how many people strapped their child into one of these child safety seats today?
There are food product recalls this week and how many people have consumed those products and we know nothing about it? You have to look for yourself but you will be shocked to see how many recalls are happening that the public isn't warned about until it's too late!
For instance, just today there have been 5 child seat recalls. This is alarming because how many people strapped their child into one of these child safety seats today?
There are food product recalls this week and how many people have consumed those products and we know nothing about it? You have to look for yourself but you will be shocked to see how many recalls are happening that the public isn't warned about until it's too late!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Birthdays and Big Days
My daughter turned eleven this week and her birthday isn't just one day its everyday of the week in her mind. But, we all accommodate her because we all love birthdays around here. She got her precious puppy Ziggy a week early and has been babying him like mad and hes already rotten. We had cake and a nice dinner on Wednesday for her actual birthday. We went to the park on Tuesday for a picnic for her pre-birthday and are out to bowling and the movies tomorrow for her post birthday. It's an exhausting week for everyone but we are all enjoying the special fun. We are going to see Ice Age in 3D tomorrow then to bowl a few games with her friends. It should be good, I've heard great things about the film.
A few pictures of Keegan and Ziggy at the park:
Aren't they cute?
Looking forward to the weekend and then getting life back to normal, at least until the next birthday comes around!
A few pictures of Keegan and Ziggy at the park:
Aren't they cute?
Looking forward to the weekend and then getting life back to normal, at least until the next birthday comes around!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Avocado in Tortilla Cups
Try this great recipe for a snack in the afternoon or a side dish with dinner. This also makes a great appetizer for parties or luncheons. This is a diabetic friendly and Vegetarian recipe, but is yummy for everyone!
(makes 40 pieces)
10 6-inch corn tortillas
vegetable cooking spray
3 large ripe avocados
2 cups plain nonfat yogurt, drained
1 large plum tomato, seeded and finely minced
2 tablespoons minced shallots or red onion
2 large cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
dash cayenne pepper
10 pitted ripe olives for garnish
minced fresh cilantro for garnish
1. Preheat oven to 375°F Lightly spray mini-muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Cut tortillas into quarters. Mist tortilla quarters with water and place 1 quarter in each muffin cup opening, pushing down in the center to form a cup. Spray again with cooking spay. Bake until cups are golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Tip out the cups and cool on a rack.
3. Cut avocados in half lengthwise; remove and discard the pits. Using a spoon worked in between the flesh and the skin, remove the avocado half from the skin. Cut the avocado into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Using a large mixing spoon, mix the avocado with the yogurt, mashing the avocado as you mix to a chunky consistency. Stir in tomato, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, chili powder, and cayenne. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Cut each olive into 4 crosswise slices. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. To assemble, spoon some of the avocado mixture into each tortilla cup. Sprinkle the top of each with some of the minced cilantro and top with an olive slice. Arrange on a large serving platter.
Per 2-piece serving: 95 calories (45% calories from fat), 3 g protein, 5 g total fat (0.8 g saturated fat), 11 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 25 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 1/2 carbohydrate (bread/starch), 1 fat
(Image credit: Google Images)
(Recipe Credit: http://www.diabetic-recipes.com/recipes.htm)
(makes 40 pieces)
10 6-inch corn tortillas
vegetable cooking spray
3 large ripe avocados
2 cups plain nonfat yogurt, drained
1 large plum tomato, seeded and finely minced
2 tablespoons minced shallots or red onion
2 large cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
dash cayenne pepper
10 pitted ripe olives for garnish
minced fresh cilantro for garnish
1. Preheat oven to 375°F Lightly spray mini-muffin cups with cooking spray.
2. Cut tortillas into quarters. Mist tortilla quarters with water and place 1 quarter in each muffin cup opening, pushing down in the center to form a cup. Spray again with cooking spay. Bake until cups are golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Tip out the cups and cool on a rack.
3. Cut avocados in half lengthwise; remove and discard the pits. Using a spoon worked in between the flesh and the skin, remove the avocado half from the skin. Cut the avocado into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Using a large mixing spoon, mix the avocado with the yogurt, mashing the avocado as you mix to a chunky consistency. Stir in tomato, shallot, garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, chili powder, and cayenne. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
4. Cut each olive into 4 crosswise slices. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. To assemble, spoon some of the avocado mixture into each tortilla cup. Sprinkle the top of each with some of the minced cilantro and top with an olive slice. Arrange on a large serving platter.
Per 2-piece serving: 95 calories (45% calories from fat), 3 g protein, 5 g total fat (0.8 g saturated fat), 11 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 25 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 1/2 carbohydrate (bread/starch), 1 fat
(Image credit: Google Images)
(Recipe Credit: http://www.diabetic-recipes.com/recipes.htm)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
YouData
There is a great little extra money earner that I have been using and I can't keep secret any longer. After signing up and trying it for a couple of weeks to see if it was legitimate I am ready to say that YouData is the real deal. You click on advertisements and get paid a few cents for them and they deposit the funds into your Paypal every Friday like clockwork. No matter how small the amount is you get your deposit. It is a new program getting off the ground so you won't get rich quick but if you are willing to try it you will be adding a little something into your Paypal account every week and that can add up. It's better than digging through the sofa for change isn't it? Sign up today and start adding your money to your account every week.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Doggone Good Oatmeal Cookies for the Pups!
Make a sweet tasty treat for your puppies! If your dogs are like mine, they love things from the kitchen. Feeling like they just got something special after watching you cook, you can treat them with these great little cookies, just for the dogs!
Oatmeal Cookies for the Pups
2 cups cooked rice
2 packages Regular Flavor Instant Oatmeal
(mixed with 3/4 cup milk)
1/4 cup molasses
1 cup carrots pureed
1/3 cup spinach
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tbsp brown gravy mix
4 tbsp applesauce
1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Stir Ingredients together, adding flour gradually. Drop by spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before offering to your pups!
Makes approx. 20 cookies
Oatmeal Cookies for the Pups
2 cups cooked rice
2 packages Regular Flavor Instant Oatmeal
(mixed with 3/4 cup milk)
1/4 cup molasses
1 cup carrots pureed
1/3 cup spinach
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tbsp brown gravy mix
4 tbsp applesauce
1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Stir Ingredients together, adding flour gradually. Drop by spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before offering to your pups!
Makes approx. 20 cookies
Cheesecake Dip for Fruit
Summer weather brings wonderful fruit in season and it's time to have cool light desserts for the family. I just made cheesecake dip for the kids to dip their fruit into and it was the perfect ending to a nice grilled meal.
Try this recipe:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract*
Fresh Fruit Dippers: Whole Strawberries, Cut-up Peaches, Nectarines, Kiwifruit; Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Banana, Apples and even Grapes
Graham cracker crumbs for topping
1. In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the sour cream, sugar, milk and extract; mix until smooth. Spoon mixture into a serving bowl.
2. To Serve: Arrange fresh fruit on a serving platter around the bowl of Cheesecake Dip and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top and you can add a bowl of graham cracker crumbs to roll their dipped fruit into for added crunch.
Makes about 2 cups dip.
*1/2 teaspoon almond extract can be used in place of the vanilla, if desired.
Try this recipe:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sour cream
2/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract*
Fresh Fruit Dippers: Whole Strawberries, Cut-up Peaches, Nectarines, Kiwifruit; Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Banana, Apples and even Grapes
Graham cracker crumbs for topping
1. In a medium mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add the sour cream, sugar, milk and extract; mix until smooth. Spoon mixture into a serving bowl.
2. To Serve: Arrange fresh fruit on a serving platter around the bowl of Cheesecake Dip and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top and you can add a bowl of graham cracker crumbs to roll their dipped fruit into for added crunch.
Makes about 2 cups dip.
*1/2 teaspoon almond extract can be used in place of the vanilla, if desired.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Adjustments
Ziggy is getting adjusted to his new home and he plays with all the energy he can muster running like a bolt of lightning, at least in his mind. He is hilarious to watch. He has no fear, in true chihuahua disposition and will stand up on his hind legs and nip and wrestle with the other dogs, even trying to take their toys from them. When he's expended all the energy he can muster he just passes out. He has kept us all quite entertained and laughing often the last two days.
He and Phoebe have gotten quite close, they wrestle and he jumps on her back but she loves every moment of it being the mommy dog and loving to nurture. She has missed not having puppies in the house since we got her spayed.
Smoochie is still trying to figure out if he likes the new puppy or not. He is beginning to play with him and is less concerned he will get the attention of everyone, but is still trying to take everything away from him and keeps a bit of a "I'm still the baby" attitude as you can see in his photo, he's sticking out his tongue at him!
When Ziggy has run out of energy he sleeps like a rock and is adorable! Who can resist a darling sleeping puppy or child? They are so sweet when they are sleeping aren't they?
He seems to be adjusting to the camera in his face all the time. He doesn't mind the flash but sometimes he does seem to think "Are you done yet?" I'm sure he feels like a celebrity being chased by paparazzi.
Who can resist loving this precious boy? He's just so photogenic and sweet and is going to be quite feisty as he continues to grow and adjust to his new home.
He and Phoebe have gotten quite close, they wrestle and he jumps on her back but she loves every moment of it being the mommy dog and loving to nurture. She has missed not having puppies in the house since we got her spayed.
Smoochie is still trying to figure out if he likes the new puppy or not. He is beginning to play with him and is less concerned he will get the attention of everyone, but is still trying to take everything away from him and keeps a bit of a "I'm still the baby" attitude as you can see in his photo, he's sticking out his tongue at him!
When Ziggy has run out of energy he sleeps like a rock and is adorable! Who can resist a darling sleeping puppy or child? They are so sweet when they are sleeping aren't they?
He seems to be adjusting to the camera in his face all the time. He doesn't mind the flash but sometimes he does seem to think "Are you done yet?" I'm sure he feels like a celebrity being chased by paparazzi.
Who can resist loving this precious boy? He's just so photogenic and sweet and is going to be quite feisty as he continues to grow and adjust to his new home.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Welcome Ziggy!
Introducing the new addition to our family our tiny Chihuahua, Ziggy! He is 7 weeks old and is full of energy when he's not sleeping. What an adorable joy he is already in our household and to our family.
He came home last night and the Dachshunds were very excited to get to know him. Phoebe, our female immediately wanted to baby him and mother him.
Delbert our older male dachshund was interested and probably was thinking "oh no, another baby" but very gentle and loving.
Smoochie was a little more weary being that he has always been the baby in the house the offspring of Delbert and Phoebe and very spoiled by everyone. However, he is trying to get to know Ziggy and just wants to take the toys from him but otherwise is getting adjusted.
Ziggy seems to be quite happy with his new home and hasn't whined or cried once yet. He is eating well and sleeping a lot like babies do and is enjoying going outdoors every couple of hours with the other dogs. He is precious and tiny. He is about 12 ounces in weight and is 6 inches tall, if that! He is about the size of a soda can. Our daughter Keegan is his little mommy and shes taking very good care of him around the clock.
The entire family is enamored with this adorable darling and we can't believe how we all fell in love immediately. His personality is not quite showing through but you can tell that he will be quite feisty when he gets a bit older.
There will be many stories to tell and exciting adventures ahead for our family and Ziggy as he begins to grow up in our household and part of our family. We look forward to sharing them with everyone.
He came home last night and the Dachshunds were very excited to get to know him. Phoebe, our female immediately wanted to baby him and mother him.
Delbert our older male dachshund was interested and probably was thinking "oh no, another baby" but very gentle and loving.
Smoochie was a little more weary being that he has always been the baby in the house the offspring of Delbert and Phoebe and very spoiled by everyone. However, he is trying to get to know Ziggy and just wants to take the toys from him but otherwise is getting adjusted.
Ziggy seems to be quite happy with his new home and hasn't whined or cried once yet. He is eating well and sleeping a lot like babies do and is enjoying going outdoors every couple of hours with the other dogs. He is precious and tiny. He is about 12 ounces in weight and is 6 inches tall, if that! He is about the size of a soda can. Our daughter Keegan is his little mommy and shes taking very good care of him around the clock.
The entire family is enamored with this adorable darling and we can't believe how we all fell in love immediately. His personality is not quite showing through but you can tell that he will be quite feisty when he gets a bit older.
There will be many stories to tell and exciting adventures ahead for our family and Ziggy as he begins to grow up in our household and part of our family. We look forward to sharing them with everyone.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Adventure Begins
The adventure is just beginning although the search seemed exhausting. Wading through experiments with advertising on the Internet and emailing and visiting to see if we could find the new baby for our home has seemed tedious. Finally, a litter of three male Chihuahua's needing a home, in the right price range and from a home that was loving and a mommy dog that was just adorable found me. To save a lot of heartache and whining from the family, I did a little research on my own and any of the three baby boys would be perfect. Now, the excitement begins when we take the family to pick out which one we want and bring the new darling home to begin its new life.
This evening we will venture out and bring one of the boys home. What will we name him? Do you have any suggestions? All will be considered so please feel free to give us some name suggestions! That will be a large debate as the evening progresses and there will be arguing as the perfect name for our new baby boy rings true and sticks. The three dachshunds will be excited and perplexed with the new addition as I'm sure they have not paid any attention to the discussions on the new puppy. I am sure the evening will run late into the night with the family buzzing and rambunctious over our addition.
The first thing to do before going to get our new joyful baby is to make a stop at the store to gather some supplies. You have to be prepared for a new puppy and have some items on hand before we go and get him. Puppy food is the main thing we need first, and being that I've already done a little pre-puppy investigation, we know what kind we need to purchase. It's always good to keep the puppy on the same food it has been eating so that there aren't any tummy troubles right away. There is enough stress in the babies life living its mother and siblings and going into a new place you don't want to change its diet as well. A collar and leash to begin training early, although a new tiny puppy isn't going to wander off, it's always good to get them used to it as early as possible. Chew toys for those needle sharp puppy teeth to grind into and something soft and warm to cuddle up with makes the transition a little easier on the puppy. A package of puppy potty pads are a must with a new puppy in the house. I can't speak more highly of this product, having had puppies from my dachshunds, I know they work wonders and whatever makes the puppy go right to them is a miracle.
Some ground rules for the children need to be set beforehand so that there isn't a lot of stressful arguing and the puppy doesn't get scared. Everyone will want to hold him and have him with them at all times. Puppies need a lot of love and attention but don't need to be smothered. A schedule as close to the one the puppy has been living with will need to be worked into our schedule. Having the kids home during summer vacation is quite helpful for taking the puppy outside often when I don't have the time and by the time school starts the puppy will be used to its new routine. Puppies sleep a lot and need their rest as well, so making sure the new baby gets plenty of quality sleep and play time when he needs it will be mandatory.
The excitement is brewing and I know the family will be head over heels in love with our new baby boy. I am so excited I can hardly wait for this evening for all of us to go and get him. This journey will be exciting and there will be frustration ahead, happiness, entertainment and humor not to mention late night crying and going outside in the middle of the night for potty trips and most of all a lot of little kisses from our new joyful addition.
Stay tuned for updates and new adventures as our life begins this new journey with our new addition!
This evening we will venture out and bring one of the boys home. What will we name him? Do you have any suggestions? All will be considered so please feel free to give us some name suggestions! That will be a large debate as the evening progresses and there will be arguing as the perfect name for our new baby boy rings true and sticks. The three dachshunds will be excited and perplexed with the new addition as I'm sure they have not paid any attention to the discussions on the new puppy. I am sure the evening will run late into the night with the family buzzing and rambunctious over our addition.
The first thing to do before going to get our new joyful baby is to make a stop at the store to gather some supplies. You have to be prepared for a new puppy and have some items on hand before we go and get him. Puppy food is the main thing we need first, and being that I've already done a little pre-puppy investigation, we know what kind we need to purchase. It's always good to keep the puppy on the same food it has been eating so that there aren't any tummy troubles right away. There is enough stress in the babies life living its mother and siblings and going into a new place you don't want to change its diet as well. A collar and leash to begin training early, although a new tiny puppy isn't going to wander off, it's always good to get them used to it as early as possible. Chew toys for those needle sharp puppy teeth to grind into and something soft and warm to cuddle up with makes the transition a little easier on the puppy. A package of puppy potty pads are a must with a new puppy in the house. I can't speak more highly of this product, having had puppies from my dachshunds, I know they work wonders and whatever makes the puppy go right to them is a miracle.
Some ground rules for the children need to be set beforehand so that there isn't a lot of stressful arguing and the puppy doesn't get scared. Everyone will want to hold him and have him with them at all times. Puppies need a lot of love and attention but don't need to be smothered. A schedule as close to the one the puppy has been living with will need to be worked into our schedule. Having the kids home during summer vacation is quite helpful for taking the puppy outside often when I don't have the time and by the time school starts the puppy will be used to its new routine. Puppies sleep a lot and need their rest as well, so making sure the new baby gets plenty of quality sleep and play time when he needs it will be mandatory.
The excitement is brewing and I know the family will be head over heels in love with our new baby boy. I am so excited I can hardly wait for this evening for all of us to go and get him. This journey will be exciting and there will be frustration ahead, happiness, entertainment and humor not to mention late night crying and going outside in the middle of the night for potty trips and most of all a lot of little kisses from our new joyful addition.
Stay tuned for updates and new adventures as our life begins this new journey with our new addition!
Don't Get Fooled With Puppy Advertisements
Don’t Get Fooled!
Jaymie Pierce
On our ever-ending search for that perfect addition to our family, I answered a few advertisements with our newspaper Atlanta Journal Constitution online. This paper is highly regarded and I enjoy reading it quite often.
One out of ten replies that I received back were touching, heart warming stories from these poor souls in Cameroon trying to find homes for their Yorkshire terrier puppies. My heart ached for them as I read through the long drawn out replies I received. No, I’m sorry I’m not so gullible to think that all Yorkshire terriers come from Cameroon. These emails they send out are hilarious and you know with the first sentence this is a scam. How can they truly think that someone would send them loads of cash in order to get their precious pups shipped to them from another country? Do they expect that I will stand at the airport excited and ready to take the darling home and find that the crate never comes off the airplane? I have to laugh to myself at their gumption. I have to feel sad for those that obviously fall prey to this trickery. There must be people that do believe these stories and send in their money, or they would not be so persistent and have so many advertisements for puppies on the classifieds. As I write this I’ve scanned many, many websites on the Internet warning people of the puppy scams. How can one not do a little research about foreign puppies before handing over their money? I know that when we want a new darling for our family we become frenzied in our search for that special puppy. I don’t think that I will ever get to a point where all my common sense will fly out the window and I will start sending out cash all over the globe and wait patiently at the airport for any puppy. It saddens me that people fall for these scams and they get hurt and lose their money. But, if there are those out there that will send them money, they will never stop!
In my frustration with the advertisements, I’ve decided to stop wasting my time. It seems that most of them on the Internet in the classifieds are some sort of scam and a waste of time to research. I will continue our search with local breeders and try to go with word of mouth through other breeders in our area. I’m sure that I will find that perfect addition to our family soon, hopefully before my daughters birthday, but then again a nicely wrapped collar and leash might just have to suffice as a promise for a puppy to put it on if we are still searching by mid-July.
As I continue on this journey I will keep good notes and I hope that when I am all finished with our search and we have our baby in hand, my adventure will be good use to others out there ready to find that new addition to their family.
Remember, stay local in your search, don’t get excited with advertisements in your local newspaper or on the Internet that are way below market price for the animal or seem to good to be true. Know your breed you are shopping for and what the going rate is and when you see a price that stands out to you that seems like a deal, run the other direction. Even if the dog is local this could be a puppy mill animal or an unhealthy animal. You always want to go where you can see the parents on premises at least the mother of the puppies and you want to see the puppies interact with the litter and the mother as well as with you and your family. Even when getting a gift for a child or family member, it’s not a good idea for this to be a surprise gift because the puppy needs to interact with everyone. Take the entire family with you when you go to visit your new puppy to be and if you don’t feel it’s the one then walk away and continue the search. As hard as it sounds when you are ready to take that puppy home, it’s always better to wait and get the perfect pet for your family then taking one out of impulse at the moment.
Jaymie Pierce
On our ever-ending search for that perfect addition to our family, I answered a few advertisements with our newspaper Atlanta Journal Constitution online. This paper is highly regarded and I enjoy reading it quite often.
One out of ten replies that I received back were touching, heart warming stories from these poor souls in Cameroon trying to find homes for their Yorkshire terrier puppies. My heart ached for them as I read through the long drawn out replies I received. No, I’m sorry I’m not so gullible to think that all Yorkshire terriers come from Cameroon. These emails they send out are hilarious and you know with the first sentence this is a scam. How can they truly think that someone would send them loads of cash in order to get their precious pups shipped to them from another country? Do they expect that I will stand at the airport excited and ready to take the darling home and find that the crate never comes off the airplane? I have to laugh to myself at their gumption. I have to feel sad for those that obviously fall prey to this trickery. There must be people that do believe these stories and send in their money, or they would not be so persistent and have so many advertisements for puppies on the classifieds. As I write this I’ve scanned many, many websites on the Internet warning people of the puppy scams. How can one not do a little research about foreign puppies before handing over their money? I know that when we want a new darling for our family we become frenzied in our search for that special puppy. I don’t think that I will ever get to a point where all my common sense will fly out the window and I will start sending out cash all over the globe and wait patiently at the airport for any puppy. It saddens me that people fall for these scams and they get hurt and lose their money. But, if there are those out there that will send them money, they will never stop!
In my frustration with the advertisements, I’ve decided to stop wasting my time. It seems that most of them on the Internet in the classifieds are some sort of scam and a waste of time to research. I will continue our search with local breeders and try to go with word of mouth through other breeders in our area. I’m sure that I will find that perfect addition to our family soon, hopefully before my daughters birthday, but then again a nicely wrapped collar and leash might just have to suffice as a promise for a puppy to put it on if we are still searching by mid-July.
As I continue on this journey I will keep good notes and I hope that when I am all finished with our search and we have our baby in hand, my adventure will be good use to others out there ready to find that new addition to their family.
Remember, stay local in your search, don’t get excited with advertisements in your local newspaper or on the Internet that are way below market price for the animal or seem to good to be true. Know your breed you are shopping for and what the going rate is and when you see a price that stands out to you that seems like a deal, run the other direction. Even if the dog is local this could be a puppy mill animal or an unhealthy animal. You always want to go where you can see the parents on premises at least the mother of the puppies and you want to see the puppies interact with the litter and the mother as well as with you and your family. Even when getting a gift for a child or family member, it’s not a good idea for this to be a surprise gift because the puppy needs to interact with everyone. Take the entire family with you when you go to visit your new puppy to be and if you don’t feel it’s the one then walk away and continue the search. As hard as it sounds when you are ready to take that puppy home, it’s always better to wait and get the perfect pet for your family then taking one out of impulse at the moment.
Monday, July 6, 2009
A New Addition To The Family
We Are Adding A New Baby To The Family
By Jaymie Pierce
When a child announces that they want a puppy there are several emotions that run through a parent. First, you immediately think this is not going to happen. Then later as you mill it through your mind you think of the puppy and the child and the sweet moments that will make your heart melt. You know that the middle of the night crying and getting up with a new puppy to take it outside is not forefront in your heart warm moments you push the truth and facts behind the sweetness of watching your child interact with their very own baby. Now, you have convinced yourself this is a great idea and you begin to consider a new addition to the family.
With the warm and fuzzies circulating throughout your head you begin to consider a breed. Of course a young boy would probably want a rough and tumble, stick-fetching dog to play with outdoors. The great clips of “Lassie” and “Homeward Bound” play in your mind. A daughter of course wants a frilly foo foo dog to dress in cute clothing and brush its silky hair to put bows in and paint it’s tiny toenails. Being that our daughter is the one that has wrapped her parents around her finger we started searching for information on small dog breeds. At first she said she wanted a Chihuahua and we both had childhood memories of one sort or the other, my husbands being a nice nip on the lip by the cute darling. We then started looking at the breed and realized that the aggression of Chihuahua might not fit our family. We already have three loving warm-hearted dachshunds and didn’t want to have a war on our hands. We decided to move towards a more laid-back breed that would blend in with our brood and be more of a sofa princess along with our adorable phoebe. So, we decided on the Yorkshire terrier.
This breed is small and petite and adventurous. This breed seems to be just what we want in our family to play with our dachshunds. They can be very good dogs in a pack family with the adults being the leaders. We believe that you should integrate the right breeds into a family to suit your lifestyle. We take the dogs out quite often our male dachshunds avid ball chasers and love to get exercise. Our female very laidback and much more suited to lounge in the sun. Doing my research to make sure we are making the right choice I find that the Yorkshire terrier has a lot of energy but is well suited for apartment living, not that we live in an apartment but that tells me that we don’t need a farm for the dog to run. Now we have to decide on the sex of the dog. We are still working on that and deciding whether a male or female would better suit our family. We have one female and two males now. I’m on the side of another female would probably even out the balance in the dog world. Being that dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers in small holes and the Yorkshire terrier was bred to hunt out rats that infested the badger and foxholes, these two breeds seem to mix well together.
The first step is to find a puppy that is healthy and well adjusted. That is our process now, looking to find the right puppy. A healthy well rounded puppy will be playful have clear shiny eyes and a wet nose. They will lay on their back when you hold them and not go wild and try to tear away. You will see their tail wag and they will have great concentration on playing with you. If the puppy is growling and trying to bite and seems aggressive or lethargic and not eager to seek out adventure, this puppy is not a healthy pup. As we continue on our quest I will update this topic so that the journey continues. The goal is to find a healthy happy puppy by the middle of the month, our daughter’s birthday. The journey will begin with a new addition to the family that I know will be both exciting and tedious as we get through all the milestones.
By Jaymie Pierce
When a child announces that they want a puppy there are several emotions that run through a parent. First, you immediately think this is not going to happen. Then later as you mill it through your mind you think of the puppy and the child and the sweet moments that will make your heart melt. You know that the middle of the night crying and getting up with a new puppy to take it outside is not forefront in your heart warm moments you push the truth and facts behind the sweetness of watching your child interact with their very own baby. Now, you have convinced yourself this is a great idea and you begin to consider a new addition to the family.
With the warm and fuzzies circulating throughout your head you begin to consider a breed. Of course a young boy would probably want a rough and tumble, stick-fetching dog to play with outdoors. The great clips of “Lassie” and “Homeward Bound” play in your mind. A daughter of course wants a frilly foo foo dog to dress in cute clothing and brush its silky hair to put bows in and paint it’s tiny toenails. Being that our daughter is the one that has wrapped her parents around her finger we started searching for information on small dog breeds. At first she said she wanted a Chihuahua and we both had childhood memories of one sort or the other, my husbands being a nice nip on the lip by the cute darling. We then started looking at the breed and realized that the aggression of Chihuahua might not fit our family. We already have three loving warm-hearted dachshunds and didn’t want to have a war on our hands. We decided to move towards a more laid-back breed that would blend in with our brood and be more of a sofa princess along with our adorable phoebe. So, we decided on the Yorkshire terrier.
This breed is small and petite and adventurous. This breed seems to be just what we want in our family to play with our dachshunds. They can be very good dogs in a pack family with the adults being the leaders. We believe that you should integrate the right breeds into a family to suit your lifestyle. We take the dogs out quite often our male dachshunds avid ball chasers and love to get exercise. Our female very laidback and much more suited to lounge in the sun. Doing my research to make sure we are making the right choice I find that the Yorkshire terrier has a lot of energy but is well suited for apartment living, not that we live in an apartment but that tells me that we don’t need a farm for the dog to run. Now we have to decide on the sex of the dog. We are still working on that and deciding whether a male or female would better suit our family. We have one female and two males now. I’m on the side of another female would probably even out the balance in the dog world. Being that dachshunds were originally bred to hunt badgers in small holes and the Yorkshire terrier was bred to hunt out rats that infested the badger and foxholes, these two breeds seem to mix well together.
The first step is to find a puppy that is healthy and well adjusted. That is our process now, looking to find the right puppy. A healthy well rounded puppy will be playful have clear shiny eyes and a wet nose. They will lay on their back when you hold them and not go wild and try to tear away. You will see their tail wag and they will have great concentration on playing with you. If the puppy is growling and trying to bite and seems aggressive or lethargic and not eager to seek out adventure, this puppy is not a healthy pup. As we continue on our quest I will update this topic so that the journey continues. The goal is to find a healthy happy puppy by the middle of the month, our daughter’s birthday. The journey will begin with a new addition to the family that I know will be both exciting and tedious as we get through all the milestones.
We the people of the United States
Can the government implement a single payer health care system without taking the Americans into socialized medicine? That is debatable rhetoric but look closely at the other countries that have socialized medicine. Do we want to risk our lives waiting for some government peon to decide if we are worth another day on this earth or not? You can look at H.R. 676 (http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/HR_676_111th.pdf) and read the bill that has been put out there for Americans to see, but is that the bill that will be voted on and made into law? I personally doubt it, there will be middle of the night amendments that will shape and squeeze the bill so that it turns right into socialized medicine with benefits to the power players and taxes to the people.
How can the American people trust our congress to do the right thing and represent the people? By their behavior and the bills that have been past in recent times there is no trust left in our congress. You can call yourself republican or democrat even liberal or conservative it doesn’t matter what you label yourself, you have to look at the bigger picture and see that corruption runs rampant in our congress and there is no representation for the people by either party. Term limits would be the right thing to be writing into law for the people. (http://www.termlimitsforcongress.com/) Show us something of value and stop playing games with our lives. Congress has done nothing but spent money that we don’t have and made more laws and more rules that are going to cost us our children and their children for years to come. With unemployment nearing ten percent now in the United States does congress really think they will be able to tax Americans to receive the funds to pay for all these things they want to implement? How can we pay taxes when we can’t even feed our children or keep a roof over our head any longer? They sink into their cozy beds at night and dine on fine foods and wine as we struggle to scrape up a pan of hamburger helper. Fancy parties and all access chat salons for $25,000 offered up by the Washington post (http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/2009/07/03/0703post.html) as insiders to the white house to cuddle up to lobbyists and politicians and play like everything is happy and fine when there are people having to live in tents with their families because they’ve lost their jobs, cars and homes? Is this reality? Do politicians truly have a grasp on what is going on in America? When the Washington post is called on their swift idea they call it a mistake and ask to be forgiven. Now we are to be happy they want to take over health care and they are suddenly going to have our best interests at heart? I don’t think they will, I think it will turn out to be a nightmare just as everything else they stick their hands into does!
Times have become dire in America, our nation is a mess and the politicians continue spending money like there is a special tree out there somewhere where money grows rampant. Big business is continuing to give out bonuses and spend frivolously out of control because they can get away with it. Small companies are suffering and the so-called stimulus package that was to create more jobs is just sitting on the sidelines and there are no new jobs for Americans. The House just passed the Cap and Trade bill H.R. 2454 (http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090515/hr2454.pdf) that is going to have Americans spending loads more on their utility bills and building of new houses if they could afford one. Now implementing California standards on building and living greener. That has really paid off for California hasn’t it? (http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=6636740) They are now out of money and issuing IOU’s to all the people that they owe money to. This is exactly where American is heading as a whole, out of money and up a creek. I wonder what legislation they will be able to stick to us with at that point? New taxes could be collected on the paddles for the creek?
How can the American people trust our congress to do the right thing and represent the people? By their behavior and the bills that have been past in recent times there is no trust left in our congress. You can call yourself republican or democrat even liberal or conservative it doesn’t matter what you label yourself, you have to look at the bigger picture and see that corruption runs rampant in our congress and there is no representation for the people by either party. Term limits would be the right thing to be writing into law for the people. (http://www.termlimitsforcongress.com/) Show us something of value and stop playing games with our lives. Congress has done nothing but spent money that we don’t have and made more laws and more rules that are going to cost us our children and their children for years to come. With unemployment nearing ten percent now in the United States does congress really think they will be able to tax Americans to receive the funds to pay for all these things they want to implement? How can we pay taxes when we can’t even feed our children or keep a roof over our head any longer? They sink into their cozy beds at night and dine on fine foods and wine as we struggle to scrape up a pan of hamburger helper. Fancy parties and all access chat salons for $25,000 offered up by the Washington post (http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/2009/07/03/0703post.html) as insiders to the white house to cuddle up to lobbyists and politicians and play like everything is happy and fine when there are people having to live in tents with their families because they’ve lost their jobs, cars and homes? Is this reality? Do politicians truly have a grasp on what is going on in America? When the Washington post is called on their swift idea they call it a mistake and ask to be forgiven. Now we are to be happy they want to take over health care and they are suddenly going to have our best interests at heart? I don’t think they will, I think it will turn out to be a nightmare just as everything else they stick their hands into does!
Times have become dire in America, our nation is a mess and the politicians continue spending money like there is a special tree out there somewhere where money grows rampant. Big business is continuing to give out bonuses and spend frivolously out of control because they can get away with it. Small companies are suffering and the so-called stimulus package that was to create more jobs is just sitting on the sidelines and there are no new jobs for Americans. The House just passed the Cap and Trade bill H.R. 2454 (http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090515/hr2454.pdf) that is going to have Americans spending loads more on their utility bills and building of new houses if they could afford one. Now implementing California standards on building and living greener. That has really paid off for California hasn’t it? (http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=6636740) They are now out of money and issuing IOU’s to all the people that they owe money to. This is exactly where American is heading as a whole, out of money and up a creek. I wonder what legislation they will be able to stick to us with at that point? New taxes could be collected on the paddles for the creek?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
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