Bon Jovi

I can now seriously cross something off my bucketlist. I saw Bon Jovi live! I could listen to them all day every day and be deliriously happy. They are not just one of my all time favorite bands, they have been one of my most favorites for a long time.

In the first picture, that is Jon singing Bed or Roses. He was singing right to me. I swear. My friends even saw him point in my general direction. Never mind that I was in the farthest seat away from the stage in the arena. He was singing to me. *sigh*

This next picture was taken during the same set. This was the time he was in the audience. The rest of the time he was dancing that good lookin' bod of his around the stage with the rest of the band, including Richie Sambora.





Thanks to Summer, Jenn, Mike and Kristin (both not pictured) I got to see them perform Wednesday night! So my brain has been pretty much mush while I come to terms with the awesomeness of this. That's my update. :)

Today is the official launch of my part in the Snyder's declutter challenge. I have several areas prepared for this weekend, depending on how well things go. Tomorrow is Z-man's birthday party so I have to have the house looking somewhat presentable. I don't want to get too optomistic, so I will keep it real and start with one area.


The childrens' books. They have lots and lots of books. I am mostly pleased with this, but have been thinking in terms of decluttering. Do you remember my post about twaddle free literature. My kids are blessed to have a lot of cherishable stories to jump right into. I do believe, in that mess of paper and binding, that there a more than a few twaddle full books as well. I am not just going to find a neat and tidy spot for the books, I am also going to sort through them. I have never been one to part with my beloved books, but I think I need to be ruthless when it comes to this messy corner of our home.

Now I'm going to go charge up with some fresh grapefruit and toast and then get to work!

http://www.thesnyder5.com/2010/01/500-pound-declutter-great-declutter.html

You know I was just talking about my declutter project yesterday. I need to be accountable. And then what do I find?! This great declutter challene from the Snyder family! Not only are they on a major decluttering challenge, they weigh in. Their goal over there is 500 pounds of clutter to get rid of. Already over 300 pounds, I think they are well on their way. So here I am, joining their challenge. This is a great challenge and I encourage any of you who are reading to participate.

For my first area of challenge I am going go retroactive. Sure, some might call it cheating, but I don't see the need to throw ugly words around. :) At the end of last week I decided to switch my bookshelf and computer desk. I wanted the desk, and internet, in a more public place. And the bookshelf...oh my! The kids destroyed it on a daily basis, leaving books and papers scattered all over the floor.



Look at me! I was so proud of being all burly and moving the furniture that I had to show this off. I moved that sucker a couple of feet! The Hubby moved it across the house, but I moved it a couple of feet! I know, I'm just awesome like that. :) The books are all put nicely back on the bookshelf in my bedroom. Sorry, forgot to take a picture of that. The desk and computer is all put back together and functional. I am so glad I made this switch.

Next up...the kids' books...

My mission.

I am strong. I am smart. I am willing. I am capable. I will succeed.

Another fad diet. Another New Year's resolution that we give up on. Another failure. Right? Wrong! I am a born clutter bug. I have the hardest time making sure everything is put away in it's rightful spot, if it even has one. It's like that part of my brain is missing. We have always had a messy home. Now I don't mean that something is going to reach up and grab you when you sit down to pee messy. Someone recently pointed out to me that clean and tidy are different things. So just to clarify...there is no danger of the dust bunnies eating you at my house. Throughout my 10 years as a homemaker, I have always battled the clutter. I want things put away. I want things nice and tidy and pleasant to look at. I want a peaceful and calm atmosphere to my home for my family to enjoy. Instead, we live in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). Have you ever met the Flylady? If you are like me and live in CHAOS, she is a great place to start. I am determined to get this homemaking thing right. I try and try to organize and reorganize, but with little to no lasting effects. This time will be different! This time I am approaching this as a lifestyle change. I need to live differently to pull this off. And with four kids tearing up the house on top of my clutter problem, I need to pull this off. I am putting myself out there. I am being accountable to you. Who knows, there could be hundreds of readers checking on my progress daily?! LOL..*snort* So today's post is to just let you know to expect more updates on my progress. I will triumph!

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm not much of a celebrator of Valentine's Day. I don't exactly have anything against it, but it's not up on my list of favorite holidays. Nevertheless, I would like to take a moment to reflect...

I love my husband. 12 1/2 years together and 10 1/2 of those married has brought a lot of ups and downs. For better or worse, he is my other half. I love you, baby.

I love my kids. Most of the time I am figuratively drowning in complaining and messes to clean up. It doesn't matter though, not when I get those hugs and smiles and "I wuv you"'s. I L.O.V.E. my kiddos!

I love my family. I am so very fortunate to have many supportive family members. They say you can pick your nose and pick your friends but you can't pick your family. Even if I could, I wouldn't want anyone different.

I love my friends. My friends are some of the most amazing women and men that I could ever imagine sharing my life with.

Ok, I got my warm fuzzies out. Now...who do you love?

Honorable mention giveaways.

There are two more very readable blogs involved in the Simple Media launch. They are also hosting some great giveaways.

First up I would like to mention Simple Homeschool for all of you committed homeschooling moms and dads out there. I am loving these prizes too, but I have not entered to win as I do not currently homeschool. It is definitely worth checking out for the prizes and for the excellent resource that it is, too.

Next up is Simple Marriage. Again, I think this blog is worth subscribing too! I have entered to win for these giveaways. There is a $50 giftcard to Victoria's Secret, a free 1 year subscription to Pear Budget, and a couple's game called A Private Affair: The Erotic Game of Secrets, Plans and Promises for Couples. The fun doesn't stop there but continues with a copy of the author of the blog's book, A Simple Marriage and also a book called Sweeping Her Off Her Feet With Food by Eric Lee.

Simple Organic Launch Giveaway.

Time is running short on this one. Just one more day to win some great gifts in this giveaway from Simple Organic. Up for grabs is a very nice soap kit from Laundry Tree, a Bummis Organic Cotton Diapering kit, and one Diva Cup of your choice. I have been very interested in trying one of those. The lucky winner will also receive a free custom cereal capsule from [me] & Goji (this is such a cool idea!) and one copy each of Amanda Blake Soule's books. People, these are unbelievable giveaways. Go to Simple Organic now and check it out!

You've gotta check out this giveaway.

As part of the launch for Simple Living Media, Simple Kids is offering a fun giveaway. A lucky reader will be winning a subscription to The Book of Days, an engaging series of ebooks. That same reader will win a Multi-Play Soccer Station from a creative toy store, HearthSong. Last up for the winner from the Simple Kids site is something on my very own wishlist. Amanda Blake Soule will be giving a copy each of her books The Creative Family and Handmade Home. You can find out more about her fabulous books at her blog, SouleMama. So head over to Simple Kids and enter to win!

This is some giveaway!!

Hello everyone out there. I have a super fabulous giveaway to tell you about. Head over to Simple Bites to enter this contest. If you win this giveaway contest you walk away with a basket stuffed full of treats galore! Here's what's on the menu... a 25 bean bundle of Bourbon Vanilla beans PLUS a sample of pure vanilla powder from I Heart Vanilla; one Diamond Edge Gourment Electric Knife and Scissors Sharpener from Smith's; one hardcover copy of Blog Aid: Recipes for Haiti; one of each of the following Canterbury Naturals products: Savory Herb and Cheese Tortellini Soup, Old World Sundried Tomato Flatbread, and Northwest Apple Cake Mix.... Oh! And that's not all! Also, the lucky winner will receive a Keurig Platinum Single Serve Brewer KUB70.

Run over there now and enter to win!

Simple Mom giveaway!

Amazing giveaway prizes at Simple Mom!! A gorgeous pearl necklace from One Pearl, where they donate 100% of their profits to non-profit organizations that benefit children's health and education. A package of 365 overlays from the delightfully talented Ali Edwards. Also, you have a chance to win an annual subscription to the wonderfully simple Seeing the Everyday magazine. Please check out this link to find out more!

The healing power of onions!

I haven't been posting much lately because our family has been down and out with the sickies. Croup type nastiness all around. It has caused a usual problem for me and I decided that I would share a solution with this first foray back to the blog. I have teeny tiny ears. That means I also have teeny tiny eustachian tubes. When I get a cold or react to seasonal allergies, my tubes fill up with fluid. That fluid causes the them to swell up and get inflamed and they don't get better on their own. Besides feeling like my head is full of water, sloshing around, another side effect is I lose hearing. Right now you could probably speak at normal volume against my left ear and I wouldn't hear it. That rather unpleasant side effect has me craving an onion.


You take an onion and slice it in half. Place each ends of the onion, cut side down on a cookie sheet. Bake it in the oven...this part I'm a bit fuzzy on, at about 350 for just a few minutes. You want the onion as hot as you can stand it without burning. Grab the onion with a potholder and hold it against your ear. This will relieve the pressure of the fluid build up and will begin to drain the fluid. Plus, you are gonna smell great! :o) This is a tried and true temporary cure. I am ready for my onion perfume today. By the way...I have mentioned this to my ENT doctor. Someday I will need tubes, but for now this is my quick relief. He laughed it off and said to use a hot pack against my ear and that "it will do the exact same thing." It doesn't. It feels good and relieves a bit of pressure, but nothing like the onion.

Onions having healing properties. You have probably heard about the awesome goodness of garlic. If you haven't, don't worry, there will be a future post. ;o) Not as many people have heard about the healing power of an onion. Would you like to know more? Find out how onions can lower blood pressure at Foods That Heal: Onion. Find some more healing properties at The Healing Power of Onion.

Happy Birthday X2!

to our beautiful, bright, FUN niece. Rylee, you are great girlie!
to The Hubby. Today is your day, baby. Hope you have a good one.

This looks like an amazing movie!

Thanks to iVillage, I have seen a preview for this new HBO movie. For anyone blessed to have an autistic person in their lives, you know what a delight they can be. I can't wait to see this.

Trailer