I got this in an email this afternoon. I thought it was a good list of things to work towards for the year and thought I’d share it.

 

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4.       Live with the 3 E ’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5.       Make time to pray
6.       Play more games
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9.       Sleep for 7 hours…..
10.     Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11.    Don’ t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.    Don’ t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don’ t over do. Keep your limits
14.    Don’ t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don’ t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Dream more while you are awake
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18.    Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20    Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you…
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.    Smile and laugh more.
24.    You don’ t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25.    Call your family often.
26.    Each day give something good to others.
27.    Forgive everyone for everything..
28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6.
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won’ t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joy ful.
34.    GOD heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change…
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come…
38.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

This seems to be the only thing I have been blogging lately…I may blog again later tonight after homework. See, yeah, I’m in school! I haven’t even blogged about that. Will do so tonight, scouts honor.

On to the list.

 

1. Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris singing Hallelujah on the Hope for Haiti telethon.

 

 

I am totally loving this right now. Everything about it. I have no feelings either way about Justin, never thought he was hot or anything…but omg, singing this song? Yeah, hot as hell!! LOVE IT! I am gonna buy the whole album on iTunes. I really liked most of the songs. But this song I could and have listened to over…and over…and over.

 

2. WoodWick Snowflake Candle

I got my candle as a gift a couple years ago and didn’t really burn it until recently. It’s peppermint (Snowflake) and kind of vanilla…so yummy! And it’s cool that the wick crackles. I have been burning it while doing my homework.

 

3. Superbad

Comedy movie genius! You have to be into that high school type of humor…and I totally am.

 

4. PENS!

They don’t have to be Hello Kitty pens, but aren’t these cute? I just love pens, pencils…office supplies in general. It’s an illness.

 

5. Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies

Always been my favorite! I ordered some from someone at work’s daughter. I want them now. Please.

 

6. Heigh Ho Mozart CD

My mom gave me this CD because I told her I needed something “with no words” to do my homework to so she gave me this CD and a few others. They work like a charm! Thanks MOM!

 

7. Disney Vinylmation Figures

How cute are these?? I cannot wait till we go to Disney World and I can get one of these little cuties!! I think they come in unmarked boxes, so maybe I’ll get a few of them. LOL

 

8. Vintage Greeting Cards

Isn’t that pretty? I love the vintage graphics, the old paper and the sometimes outrageous or inappropriateness of vintage cards and postcards!

 

9. My iPod Case

I got my case on Etsy and it’s the exact one shown above. I also have a hard plastic case on it, so it fits in the soft case nice and snuggly. I just throw it in my purse and go on my way! And it’s pretty too, not too girly, bright bold colors, kind of retro. I love it.

 

10. Tiny Food Earrings

Description first on this one! I use Google Reader and have a number of blogs that I read on a daily basis in my subscriptions. One is called EpiCute and it features cute food! I saw some fruit tart earrings this week and they are SO stinking cute!! I love them…I’d never wear them, but I’d hang them up somewhere and stare at the cuteness. Here is a link to Mmagda’s store on Etsy where the earrings can be bought. And here’s Mmagda’s Flickr link…Cute!

Below are my favorites from her store! I can’t choose just ONE!

Pictures are linked to the Etsy…aren’t they adorable?  ♥ them!

I finally got my blog looking how I want it to look…haha for now anyways. The next rearrange should be quicker. This took me half the damn day to tweak and play around with, but I’m pretty happy with it now!

I used the kit below:

I was going to use this kit:

But we don’t have the money right now to spend on scrappy kits, so I used the pear kit I had! I really ♥ how the blog came out and will get the “Fruitie-pa-tootie” kit and use it next time I switch things around!  

So the blog is all pretty and done. YAY!

Now on to 10 things I’m ♥ ing!

1. Super Mario Bros Wii

This game is the freaking BOMB!! It’s old school, yet new school. It’s lovely and makes my nostalgic heart sing! Nintendo FTW!

 

2. PEARS!

I don’t think I’ve explained my pear love before…and it’s a silly story so maybe I won’t share. But I love pears! My kitchen & dining room are decorated in pears.

 

3. Vintage Chalkware

I believe I got a little bluebird like this for Christmas! I’ll have to check again…I know I got a chalkware pear with a face, and I think another vegetable or fruit. Tomorrow or early in the week I will hang them all up! I just love these vintage treasures!

 

4. Holiday or Funky Socks

My MIL buys be as big box of funky or holiday socks every year for Christmas. It’s one of my favorite gifts and I love looking through all of the different designs she finds!

 

5. House of Night Series Books

I started this series last year and am almost finished. It’s really good…different than Twilight…definitely young adult, more attitude and angst LOL

 

6. Amethyst

Purple is my favorite color and Amethyst is my favorite gem. Emerald is my birthstone though! LOL

 

7. Shar Pei or Shar Pei Mixed Dogs

Now before my husband has a fit and asks why our beautiful dogs aren’t dogs that I love, let me say that yes…I do love my mutts dearly, but omg look at that face!! Shar pei’s have the coolest, squarest snout/mouth and they have a lot of extra jowl skin and omg I love that!! The dog is “Bently” and it’s written that he’s a shar pei/pit mix and he’s GORGEOUS! If you click the picture, you’ll go to the original.

 

8. Cherry Dr. Pepper

YUM!!! It’s no Mt Dew…but it’s LOVELY!

 

9. Sonic Drive In

This picture is of the Cherry Limeade Chiller…which is my FAVORITE thing on the Sonic menu!! We finally got one here in MI, it’s actually not too far away and we wore it out when they first opened! Food is ok, but the drinks are YUMs!

 

10. Cupcakes!!!

I ♥ cake…and well cupcakes are just mini cake…with a lot of yummy frosting. Search “cupcake” on flickr and omg…SO many awesome designs!

 

Well, that’s 10! Off to play Mario Bros Wii with the hubbs. We’re only on world 2…gotta get better and get a little farther!

 

Right now I’m sitting here trying not to listen to my husband who is a couple rooms away and on the phone with a crisis hotline.

I won’t say more because he reads my blog.

I can only hope that 2010 has better things in store for us than 2009 did and in all honesty, 2009 didn’t suck that much.

Hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year and may 2010 bring you nothing but good health and happiness.

 

While I’m waiting for him to get ready…we’re heading to my sister’s house for New Year type activities…I’ll jot down a little list of things that happened in 2009 that are significant to me. A reflection on the year, if you will.

We are now into the Land Contract of owning our house. – so yes, the house and all of the surrounding property will some day be ours! It’s a great feeling really. I didn’t mind renting, but to actually be OWNing something…it’s a good feeling.

We brought another furry bundle into our home. – while we sadly had to say goodbye to our beloved princess kitty, Beans (she is somewhere at a rescue or in foster care awating her new forever home) we adopted a kitten from the Michigan Humane Society. His official name is Cosmo, but he’s best known as Snorty or Snorts. He will be formally introduced to the interwebz soon.

My husband was officially diagnosed with Lupus. – not the best news, but helpful for his treatment. He was also put on Plaquenil, which, I’m sure, if he took properly would help him feel better.

We booked another trip to Disney World for next year. – I am SOOO excited about this! We’re going in october and staying at the Wilderness Lodge. It should be a really fun time!

My baby sister got married! – nuff said! Her wedding and reception were both beautiful and it was all kind of a whirlwind. 2 weddings in 2 years, whew! Glad they are over!

My Sister-in-Law and her family moved back to the USA from Australia. – they were there because of my BIL’s job and they were gone for 2 years. It was supposed to be a little bit longer, but with the jobs the way they are, they ended up coming home sooner than expected. I’m glad they are home though, I missed the little ones!

President Obama was sworn in. – what a wonderful time for our country. A time of hope and a time of change. He’s got a mess to clean up and I think he’s been doing as well a job as he can.

I decided to go back to school. – this is a biggie for me. I hate school in general. I just don’t like the classroom, but my job offers us 4250.00 a year for tuition!!! How could I not use it! Why wouldn’t I want to?? So I am. I’m starting at a Community College and of course the degree I’m going for is computer related. I’m nervous/scared/excited all at once.

I bought a program to help me customize my own theme. I love the themes I’ve been using, I’ve just wanted to change my blog more often and have more options. So, I broke down and got the program to do so. So please excuse the mess while i get things back in order.

Thanks!

LOL I missed Saturday! I totally meant to do this earlier…*sigh*…oh well, I’m doing it now!

 

1. Sims 3

This is a love/hate relationship right now. I ♥ the Sims, I really do! Especially Sims 3…however, right now I have some stupid error that it seems like half the Simming world is getting!! EA games, you need to get your thumbs out of your asses and fix this mess! You’ve got a lot of unhappy customers out there!

 

2. My Camera

I love my camera! I’ve had it about a year and don’t even know how to do HALF the stuff it can do, but I think I’ve got time to learn since it will be a LONG time before I get another one. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my Canon PowerShot A570, but the Canon EOS Rebel Xsi is the shit! Now to learn how to use it without the “Auto” setting on! LOL

 

3. Caramel Bugles

Look at those! Caramel coated salty junk foodie goodness. I have NEVER seen them in the store…and trust me, I’ve looked everywhere…but every now and then they will have them in the vending machines at work. For 90 cents I can get a little taste of that sweet n salty goodness. Yum yum!

 

4. Rainbows

I have always liked rainbows. Long, long before they became the symbol for the gays. I *always* put my pens, markers, skittles, in rainbow order…even today. I’d SO have a rainbow sticker on my car if it wasn’t the gay symbol…not that there’s anything wrong with being gay. (heh, I’m a fan of the gays!) So yeah, I ♥ rainbows…don’t see them in real life too often, but they’re like magical or something. Beautiful!

 

5. Cinderella Castle

Beautiful. Magical. Disney.

 

6. Maneki Neko

Aren’t these little luck kitties adorable?? I have a few of them on the shelf above my monitor and a couple magnets on my fridge. I always buy them in Japan at EPCOT in WDW. I’d love to get one like this though…one day!

 

7. Blackberry Tour

This is my phone…well this picture isn’t MY phone, but this is the phone I have. I love it. I truly really do! I suggest everyone get one. Go now, I’ll wait.

 

8. Lily of the Valley

This is my birth month flower. They have such a sweet, distinct smell. They are tiny and delicate and I really love them. I need to plant them somewhere at my house. Maybe under the window to my computer room so I can smell them when a breeze blows through the window.

 

9. FarmVille

Yeah, it’s a FaceBook application. But it’s fun! I love the farming and the little animals and now they have flowers too! And yeah, that’s my farm. I’m growing grapes and sunflowers and have a load of trees and pigs lol I’m a dork, yes.

 

10. SLEEP

Yawn! I’m tired as HELL and am heading to bed…night all!

I read a few blogs that do this on Fridays or other days of the week, and I’m totally stealing it!! So here goes………in random order

 

1. Mt. Dew

I can’t help it. I try to stay away from the Dew. I wish I could, but there’s nothing like an ice cold mt dew from a can…mmmmm bubbly goodness and a caffeine rush all at once! Ugh, i am sooo addicted!

2. White Tigers

I like tigers in general, but I really like white ones. They are beautiful, regal animals. I’ve never seen one in person, but I’d really like to one day.

3. Vampire Diaries

I ♥ this show! It took a little while for me to warm up to it completely, but I have really been enjoying it. I haven’t read (or listened) to any of the Vampire Diaries books, but I may have to look into them…although, it may ruin the series for me.

4. And while we’re on Vampires…Twilight Saga Books

Guilty pleasure right here. Love, love, ♥ these books! LOVE them! I’ve listened to them probably 5 times each. Watched the Twilight movie at least 20 times and cannot WAIT for New Moon to come out next week!

5. Domo

No clue why, I just love this little monster. RAWR!

6. Christmas @ Walt Disney World

Disney is my most favorite place in the world, other than home, but Christmas at Disney is AWESOME! They really decorate the place up and go all out. It’s beautiful and magical and I wish I was there right now…

7. Fireflies by Owl City

I could totally turn into a electrica music lover over this song! It was a freebie from iTunes one week and I have been itching to buy the whole album. It’s a catchy little song.

8. Fall/Autumn

I love this season of the year! It’s starting to get cooler, the leaves are changing colors…it’s a beautiful thing. I like the crispness of the air, the smell of the leaves.

9. My iPod Classic

I ♥ my iPod!!! I listen to it everyday at work. It’s chocked full of audio books, movies and all my music. ♥!

10. Tulips

Simple. Beautiful. One of the first signs of spring. Need I say more?

 

So there you have it. 10 things I’m loving today.

 

I follow a page called The Truth About Pet Food that lists the pet food recalls and other things of that nature.

Today’s article is about how the pet food manufacturers are now treating recalls and pet deaths in a different manner – Silence.

The 2007 pet food recall taught Pet Food and the FDA something BIG.  The 2007 pet food recall taught Pet Food and the FDA that Pet Parents go a little ballistic over news of a pet food recall.  It’s been referred to as ‘pet food hysteria’.  Instead of just going on as usual, panicked ‘hysterical’ Pet Parents turned to blogging and Tweeting about a tainted pet food.  We (pet parents) want to learn everything we can and want to share every bit of pet food news the best way we can hoping to save the life of our or someone else’s pet.  This blogging and Tweeting told Pet Food and the FDA pet parents have lost trust in pet foods and have serious doubts of the effectiveness of the FDA.  The apparent new method of handling pet food recalls, is not handling them at all.  The new recalls are silent.

Did you know there have been 3 recalls or recall-esque events in the past few months besides the one I blogged about earlier this month? Probably not. The FDA does not have the authority to authorize that pet food manufacturers issue recalls. Read this blurb:

Why was there not a prompt FDA recall press release of these pet foods?  Why were these products (and many others of late) ‘withdrawn’ from store shelves instead of publically and promptly recalled?  What is the difference between a pet food withdrawal and a pet food recall?

The FDA provided me the following explanation to the difference between a pet food withdrawal and a pet food recall…
"FDA does not have statutory authority to require manufacturers to initiate pet food recalls. Therefore, the initiation of such recalls on the part of manufacturers or importers is voluntary.

Please see the following for additional information on recalls: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm049070.htm
Recalls classified as Class I require a press release which is typically issued by the firm. FDA posts those releases at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm.
Companies have conducted recalls that were not classified as Class I and issued press releases which is their prerogative but only Class I classified recalls require a press release."

The original blog post http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/480/1/The-Silent-Killer-of-Pets/Page1.html goes into a bit more detail on the FDA…it’s worth taking the time to read the entire article.

It goes on to say this:

There is a GAPING HOLE in the pet food withdrawal and recall system that everyone of authority seems to be ignoring; Notification of pet owners.  Ya know…the people that purchased the pet food…they’re called CUSTOMERS!  Customers and their pets are falling into this GAPING HOLE and no one seems to care. 

Thanks to the Internet and a world of concerned pet parents, news of pet food withdrawals does get out sooner or later…but I have to wonder how many times has the news of a suspect pet food arrived too late?  How many pets have fallen into the GAPING HOLE?  One sick pet due to NOT INFORMING A PET OWNER is too many.

OMG this is SO true! Without the companies letting US, the pet owners, know, how the heck are we supposed to know WHAT is going on in our pets’ food? How do we know we’re not feeding out pets tainted, moldy, contaminated, TOXIC foods? We put our trust into these companies thinking they know what they’re doing! And then they don’t have the decency to INFORM us??? That is OUTRAGEOUS!

Be mad people, be outraged. DEMAND change! The Truth About Pet Food has a suggestion to take action:

Let’s take matters into our own hands and ask (ok, perhaps demand nicely) Pet Food Companies initiate a notification system for pet food withdrawals and silent recalls!  This isn’t brain surgery…this is a very simple system that can Save the lives of Pets!  Perhaps your pet!

Please take a few minutes, copy a letter and email it to your Pet Food Company.  Click Here for the very simple instructions.

I am going to do this myself this weekend. This is just crazy and I’m tired of it. No pet owner should have to go through losing a pet because of the food they chose to feed their pets. And no commercial or premium food seems to be safe anymore. I’ve lost ALL faith in the entire industry.

Article in its entirety: http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/480/1/The-Silent-Killer-of-Pets/Page1.html

Photo credit is linked on the photo…just click!

 

Since Halloween is just around the corner and it’s my husband most favorite time of year (mine is Christmas…with Halloween a close 2nd), I thought I’d talk about scary movies. The hubbs (he needs a NN on here…hmm, will have to think) has been watching horror movies all month…hell, all year, that’s his favorite genre! But for the past week or so he’s been watching some doozies!

Horror movies scare the poop outta me, so I don’t watch them too often.

What I’d LOVE to know though, is WHEN this black stringy haired pale girl/woman became the most scariest thing on EARTH…no, IN THE UNIVERSE????

I’d post a photo, but then my blog would scare me, so some links:

• The RING: http://media.photobucket.com/image/The%20ring%20tv/CWDPEZ/WRITE%20IMAGES/TheRing_Samara_.jpg

This movie scared the CRAP out of me!! I was physically scared when I saw it. When that chick crawled OUT of the TV……………OMG I was SO done! I STILL cannot watch that part of the movie. I’ve seen it a couple times and even went back for The Ring 2. But O M G!!! That chick and the tv!! Forget it. NEVER AGAIN.

• The Grudge:  http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q250/truly02blessed/Pictures%20from%20movies/018_0001_243×400.jpg

Another one that scared the piss out of me. And this one folks, I watched basically ALONE! The husband watched it with me but his ass fell asleep on the couch. This movie had multiple pale white black haired little scaries. I don’t remember most of the movie, just that damn noise and the chick coming down the stairs. O M G – W T F

• The Messengers: http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e92/royallyspooky/movies/messengers.jpg

I couldn’t find a good photo from this movie and I don’t remember it very well, but I KNOW there were some pale little kids with black hair in it. AGAIN…WTF!

Movies I didn’t see, but W T F!!!! These are my husband’s suggestions… don’t blame me!

• Drag me to Hell: http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/vinniciusp/Maio%202009/drag.jpg
• The Orphanage (WTF for REALS on this one…what IS that???): http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee99/poolagirl/random/orphanage.jpg
• Haunted Forest (um, OMFG it gets worse!): http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w206/ByteCollectors/HauntedForest2007.jpg
• Shutter: http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg187/redhotzgum/ando-shutter-thai-movie.jpg
• One Missed Call (not sure if this movie has the girl in it, but OMG, just the COVER freaks me out!): http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn89/3cynthi3/one_missed_call.jpg

 

You get the picture. My husband thinks I’m a wuss. Whatever. I’m SO out on every.single.one.of.these.movies

Wysong has recalled some of their dry dog foods due to mold. For more information go to the Wysong website:

http://www.wysong.net/recall.php

Where I got the information: http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/469/1/Wysong-Dog-Food-Recall/Page1.html

 

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This next little bit is terrifying! I’m so glad we no longer use these products on our dogs! Yikes!!

A veterinarian presented with a peculiar case of a poodle stuck in its crate last week traced the problem to the pet’s spot-on flea treatment.

Residue from the product Advantage, which was applied between the poodle’s shoulders, somehow came in contact with the plastic base of the animal’s crate, dissolving the plastic and causing it to adhere to the dog’s belly.

When the dog wouldn’t come out of its crate the next morning, its concerned owner brought the dog, crate and all, to Dr. Tej Dhaliwal of North Town Veterinary Hospital in Ontario, Canada. Following two hours of sleuthing, Dhaliwal concluded that benzyl alcohol, an inactive ingredient in Advantage, was to blame.

Bayer Animal Health, maker of Advantage, acknowledged that the flea treatment was the likely culprit and offered to pay the owner’s veterinary bill, compensate him for loss of salary and replace the crate, Dhaliwal said.

Bob Walker, a spokesman for Bayer in the United States, confirmed that Advantage contains benzyl alcohol, which reacts with certain plastics. He said he consulted with colleagues in veterinary services and was told, “We know it can happen, but we’ve never seen it.”

Walker said a lead veterinarian in the department thought that most of the veterinary community was aware of the potential for the product to react with plastic. Walker said that he personally had not heard of such a thing before. He added, “My counsel would be, if you’re not aware, you need to be aware.”

For more information: http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/472/1/Spot-On-Flea-Treatment-melts-Plastic-Crate-to-Dog/Page1.html

http://news.vin.com/vinnews.aspx?articleId=14061

 

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This next article showed up in my inbox just this morning.

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) reviewed 200,000 cases from the past two years and produced no examples of lead poisoning from pet toys. According to Dr. Sharon Gwaltney-Brant, ASPCA Vice President and Medical Director of the APCC, younger dogs, just like children, are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning, but most studies reveal only tiny amounts of lead in pet toys—not a grave risk for acute or chronic lead poisoning in dogs.

“Just because it’s ‘detectable’ doesn’t necessarily make it hazardous,” says Dr. Gwaltney-Brant. “Even oxygen is toxic at the right concentration.”

Amazing…there are no regulations for the amount of anything when it comes to our pets. We need these laws changed. Now.

Here’s the full article: http://www.aspca.org/news/national/10-16-09.html

The article also touches on rawhide and the risks of that. I am going to look for a good rawhide article. That’s another huge no no!

Here’s one: http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/INFO_Files/rawhide.chew.warning.html