Recent Posts
In my never ending quest for unusual gifts, especially those I could possibly make myself, I found something I found to be truly unique and unusual. You can get your name (the name of your gift recipient) spelled out in unusual photographs. I LOVE this. AND - for the photography inclined, it would be something you could do on your own.
Name in photos
This comes from Gifts.com. The specific item link is HERE.
Now I'm going to have to be looking around me for letters in everyday objects. Fun, fun, fun!
Happy Giving!
Why is it that so many Christians think that religious freedom means freedom to force your religious beliefs on others, but not for them to voice their own religious views?
I am a Christian, but this is a behavior that really bugs me! I recently received an email, "'Twas the month before Christmas," that kind of set me off. I've recieved the same thing in the past, and it didn't always bother me in the way it did this time. I think my own personal religious views have evolved to be a lot more tolerant of others.
Here is the email poem:
Twas the month before Christmas,
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - why, no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers woud say,
"December 25th is just a 'Holiday'."
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit.
Pushing folds down to the floor just to get it!
Cds from Madonna, and XBOX, an I-pod,
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanza
In hopes to sell books by Franken and Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down,
At Lowe's the word 'Christmas' was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples, and Penny's and Sears,
You won't hear the word 'Christmas,' it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty,
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen,
On boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith.
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded.
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me:
Choose your words carfully, choose what you say.
Shout 'MERRY CHRISTMAS'
not 'Happy Holiday!'
Please, all Christians, join together and wish everyone you meet during the holidays a
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Think about this. Regardless of what so many think, we do not live in a Christian country. (I know, so many people got VERY angry when President Obama said those very words!) We really don't. We live in a country that guarantees each person the right to practice whatever religion he or she chooses, even to practice no religion at all. There are people who live in this country who are Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddist, Pagan, Wiccan, Satanist, athiest, and I don't even know all the different religions. Yes, those people also shop at K-Mart, Staples, Penny's and Sears. Target, Lowe's and Wal-Mart, too.
If you don't like the promotion of Ramadan and Kwanza, how do you think all those other people feel about the promotion of Christmas? If I were not a Christian, I surely wouldn't like being wished a "Merry Christmas" everywhere I went every day for a month and a half! I wouldn't want my children to be singing songs at school only about Christmas, while completely ignoring any holidays related to our family's religion.
I don't klnow the exact statistics, but about one quarter of Americans are NOT Christians. My point is, why is it ok for Christians to force Christmas down everyone else's throat, but they don't want any other religious holidays to be acknowledged publicly? One more point - what does the "Reason for the Season" have to do with retail stores? Last I heard, the reason had nothing to do with spending a lot of money on decorations, gifts, food, etc.
I've noticed that I frequently try to change the plating of something as simple as a salad, just to make it look different. Here is an example of one simple dinner salad plated three different ways. Each looks different, but it is really the same exact salad - lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and orange slice.
Classy Letuce Wedge
This first plating has the lettuce kept as a wedge - seems to be all the rage in restaurants these days. The other items are simply circled around the wedge on the plate.
Traditional Dinner Salad
The second plating is just a traditional dinner salad, tear up the lettuce, and place the cucumber and tomato slices on top. Place the orange wedge to the side.
Homestyle Dinner Salad
Our final plating is similar to the second one. The lettuce is torn, but we've added more cucumber slices and circled the entire plate with them. The tomatoes are diced, and cover the inner portion of the salad. The orange wedge was eliminated for this plating, but could still be served on the side.
Just one example of how to change the plating of certain dishes to change the appearance. You can make something look classier, more traditional, or more homey just by plating it differently.
Happy Cooking!
The White House website has a video posted: The Obama Plan in 4 Minutes. It's his health care plan as presented to Congress. Below is an outline of his plan, but I encourage you to watch the video.
The Obama plan isn't exactly what I'm hoping for (a national health care plan, Medicare for All), but it's a lot better than what we have now
[ Click here to read more ]
I've been on the lookout for inexpensive gifts (because I don't have any money to spend this year) and I noticed these adorable fuzzy socks. They are probably worthless for wearing with shoes, but make great "slippers" for wearing around the house. At my local Wal-Mart, they are $3 for a pack of two - and would make a great gift for teen girls, tween girls, or even older women.
Doing a web search for them, I found a lot of them online, but not as cute as the ones at Wal-Mart. They are the cutest bright designs. But, any color or design will be just as functional
[ Click here to read more ]
WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Calls Hails Progress on Health Insurance Reform Despite Defenders of the Status Quo
WASHINGTON In his weekly address, President Barack Obama praised the progress that has been made on health insurance reform, and spoke out against those who defend the status quo in order to score political points and protect their profits. With reform the closest it has ever been to becoming law, the insurance companies are rolling out deceptive ads, paying for misleading studies, and flooding Capitol Hill with lobbyists. Now, Washington needs to serve the American people, not the special interests
[ Click here to read more ]
September 15th 2009 04:32
I'm really wondering why we have such a problem with the health care reform issue. What do people really want? Most of the people I've heard bashing a "government run" healthcare system are already on Medicare. What do they think that is?
And the biggest problems with Medicare came when the government allowed PRIVATE insurance companies in to compete with it
[ Click here to read more ]
September 15th 2009 03:38
One of the best parts about gifts is the wrapping! Here's an adorable homemade snowman gift bag (and a link to the instructions to make it).
Snowman Gift Bag
[ Click here to read more ]
September 15th 2009 03:13
I barely have time to cook these days, much less post about it. I just went back to work.
After three years just doing my thing - being a housewife, mom, carpool driver, etc. I'm back in the work place. No time to experiment with new recipes, or write about the old ones I'm cooking from memory. Actually, the kids and hubby are doing most of the cooking, because I'm working odd hours
[ Click here to read more ]
September 15th 2009 03:08
I'm so tired of politicians. Do they know what the term "constituent" means? It doesn't mean someone who voted for them, or someone who agrees with them, it means someone whom they represent.
I've written to all my representatives about the health care issue. The problem is, none of them agree with me, or even come close. I can live with that
[ Click here to read more ]
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Comment by DeAnne
on Hoax? Reality? You decide!
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