hiding behind a computer

Have you actually stopped and read some of the comments on your favorite blogs, or YouTube channel?

I was shocked when I read some of the comments that were being left to "Meganheartsmakeup". If you or your daughter have not discovered her, she soon will! Megan has a makeup how-to channel on YouTube for 2 years or so. The girl is polite, cute, funny, and informative in her videos. Megan occasional will address such issues as girls respecting themselves, and self esteem. Seventeen magazine has recently hired her since January of this year, and she has a page in their magazine each month on everything from make-up to hair do's. However some of the comments that she has had to endure or put up with have been shocking for example the following is just one of such comments left on her YouTube wall:

@macie1243 LMAO. I think she's ugly, but in this video her make-up looks pretty and her eyes are gorgeous. Besides that, I think she's not pretty on any level. That makes me strange? Ok!

Teresa Collins another blogger who owns a scrapbook company listed some of the comments she has had to endure :

mary artest said:

You are ?????? years old.. You have never used the rubber bands, yet somehow you 'LOVE' them now. You are so shallow and inexperienced. I have a suggestion for you. Instead of (posers boot camp), maybe you should take a class in English grammer and composition. Your writing is quite embarasing. Your experience level is obviously quite limited. Why do you think anybody would want to read your whinning and complaining about your pretend 'boot camp'. You are such a tool. It's funny how you pay people to train you, and you think they respect you. A clue for the 'clueless', they don't care about you and they even make fun of you after you leave. You are so pathetic. How come you are constantly losing weight, (6 pounds here and 2 pounds there), yet you are still a COW. I saw you walking today (on 1300 east) (not running)(in the ugliest pink sweat pants I have ever seen), you are bigger than ever. You are such a joke!"

I am shocked that so many people are comfortable being so rude hiding behind their computer! In the real world I doubt very many people would actually be rude enough to say something like

those comments to someone else's face. Or infront of people that they know. After all what would their family and friends say about how they are acting.

I know some may try to argue that they are just trying to "keep it real" or "honest". However, I don't think people are trying to "keep it real" or "honest". I think it is just an excuse for being rude. (Notice the hurtful comments are not directed at the post or video blog it is directed at the person personally!)

Cyber bullying comes in all forms and shapes. I do not read anything informative from the two above sample mean hearted comments left for others on their blog post. I think this form of cyber bullying is social acceptable, I just don't think it should be. (note: I do not know either of

those 2 ladies who have been subject to these hurtful comments. I know that there are probably more out there-these are just 2 that I have happened to stumble upon)

My mom always told me, "If I can't say something nice, I should just keep my mouth shut!"

It really is possible to read something you don't like and not to leave hurtful comments behind!

What are your thoughts on the subject? Have you suffered any hurtful comments on your blog?

Is your Purse heavy?

The other day I reached for my purse to get ready to head out the door, and all I could think is "what is in my purse?". My purse was heavy! I sat it down and started to go through it (to try to figure out what was making it So Heavy!) Well I found 4 lip glosses, not in the make bag that was in the purse, a change purse, hand sanitizer, a sheet of coupons, my ear buds for my i phone at the gym, 5 pens, a small notebook (I like my notes old school style), a pair of scissors (who knows!), a hair bow, 2 hair rubber bands, a highlighter, some lose change, a bulletin from church last weekend, a snack packet that my daughter did not eat one day when we were running errands in the car. No wonder my purse was heavy!!

I think in life, our thought life, or our inner tape that runs in our mind as we go about our business can sometimes get "heavy" or "negative" without our permission, or with out us "really" meaning to start being negative in our thought life. Lately, I have been unpacking my thought life - really listening to what I am saying about myself as I am going through my life. I have been stopping myself when I hear myself being critical towards myself that I would never Ever say about a friend, or let anyone say about a dear friend! Why, oh why would I think it would be OK, to think those thoughts about my self? I am trying to focus on positive, true statements, instead of the negative ones that have unfortunately become a habit for me.

"And now, dear brothers and sister, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

Philippians 4:8

I was shocked, when I really started paying attention to what I had been saying to myself, about myself!

What does your internal tape say when you are not paying attention?

Have you cleaned out your "thought life" or purse lately? Has it gotten "heavy" without you realizing it?

Do you have a library elf?

What is going on in my neck of the woods, is the Library summer program! My kids look forward to participating in this program each year. Our local library does not only encourage reading through awarding a coupon book, and gold medal for visiting and reading a certain number of books. It also offers some fun freebie classes for entertainment for the kids. We went to the Bixby Library last week and watched a magic show. The kids thought it was so much fun. We also went to the Glenpool library to watch a show put on by some clowns it was very entertaining.

I never understand why more people do not take advantage of all the free things offered by the public library. Ours offer free loans on books, magazine, Cd's,DVDs, play aways,e-books, I admit there have been times where I have accumulated some fines by the library. I recently found this adorable pin being sold on etsy by Baymoonstudios

However there is a fairly new site that helps keeps all those fines down. Especially for mom's of multiple children who also enjoy the library as much as she does! This site is called the library elf

This is an AMAZING website that offers you the ability to sign up your library card, and all your dependents library cards and they will email, and text you notice before any items are due (I set mine up to text me 3 days before items are due), then I set my account up to text and email me ever day that there is something overdue. (our library charges $1.00 a day for overdue DVDs with no cap- AH! That could really add up fast if I forgot that one of the little princess's checked out 3 movies one week.) If your library is a subscriber this service is provided free of charge. If it is not the basic service of one library card is free, for additional library card monitoring there is a $12.00 charge for the year. Still how much money could this service save you? Fortunately for me, my library is a subscriber - Yeah! Tulsa County Library system- thank you!!!

have you ever missed the mark?

Sometimes you think you are communicating to find out that you have so missed the mark!! That was my experience following the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. I bought fun, tacky tiara's for me and my girls. We baked a white cake, with strawberry filling for the wedding cake, and a chocolate cake for the grooms cake. We were ready set, to get up on April 29 at the crack of dawn, I believe in Glenpool, Ok that made it about 4 am.

We got up, and ooh, and ahh'd over the hats and the dresses. We waited with anticipation to see the bridal dress. When Princess Eugenie and Beatrice arrived on the scene with there fun amazing, show stopping hats, I pointed out the princesses to my princesses "Oh, look there is Fergie's daughter's". I also pointed out several other people to them along the way, David and Victoria Beckham (my did she not look lovely for being pregnant, and yes, boy he looked handsome!) I pointed out Prince Charles, and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. We talked about the large bet placed on what color Queen Elizabeth would wear. The large bet, guessed it would be yellow. Yellow it was. All and all we had a wonderful time. We thought the wedding was nice, the bride's sister Pippa looked Wow!! The ceremony was sweet and seemed personal even though they were sharing it with the world. A great day to add to our memories that I was building with my kids.

Days later, we were talking and I spotted Fergie on the talk show circuit. I pointed her out to my girls, my oldest looked dumb struck, and went "Oh! I was wondering why Fergies, daughters were so old, when Fergie does not seem old enough to have daughters that age." Yep, you guessed it, she thought I had been talking about

the singer, Fergie , not the redhead former princess Sarah Ferguson. Sigh, sometimes you think you are communicating and sharing information only to find that you have missed the mark completely!

Pancake Lovin'

First, off this is not a diet recipe. This is a recipe that I made, one evening when my family was wanting Breakfast for dinner (remember just because I am on a diet does not mean that my hubby and kids want to be on one) . I am so not a morning person I am not sure that I would want to make pancakes from scratch for breakfast, however for dinner I will take all those extra steps. The peach pancake recipe is from the cookbook "Mary Mac Tea Room". Which I guarantee you is jam packed with good down home southern recipes. Not very many of them are low calorie or low fat. However yummy they are.

Peach Buttermilk Pancakes:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 Tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (OK, maybe a smidgen more)

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups canned peach chunks, drained (you can use fresh peaches as well)

maple syrup

Stir together the dry ingredients, set aside. In another large bowl, beat eggs then add buttermilk. Blend in dry ingredients. Once mixed, stirred in peaches. Lightly butter a large griddle, over middle heat. Pour batter in small circles on griddle. Cook 2-4 pancakes at a time. Once tops of pancakes bubble flip over to cook the other side. Once both sides have been cooked remove pancakes from hot griddle. Continue making pancakes until the batter has been used. Served pancakes warm with maple syrup.

My family loves to occasionally have breakfast for dinner. Does yours? My family gave this pancake recipe 2 thumbs up, they could not speak because they were too busy eating.

Oh, and Amy over at Mamie'sQuilt posted about this yummy pancakes she made called "cinnamon roll pancakes". I am going to make this for the family this weekend!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

Psalm 34:8

What is your focus these days? The above is the verse I have been focusing on during this stage of my diet. What stage you might ask, well I have crossed over the half way point on my diet. I am down53.9 pounds, I have only 46.1 left to go!!! However when you have been dieting as long as I have (5 months strong as of today) You have to change your focus, I love the above verse! What satisfies my soul is not mindless eating food that offers no real nutritional value, but knowing that the Lord, nourishes my soul.

Do you have a verse, a positive motto, or picture that you look at to help inspire you to your weight loss goal, or what ever you are currently working towards (it could be a financial goal, a parenting goal, a redecorating, or even housecleaning goal)? I would love to hear what inspires you!

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother Book Review

I have to tell you with all the hype and strong opinions I had heard about this book, I was a little Leary about picking this one up. I was not sure that this was a light enjoyable read that was suited for summer reading. However this book charmed me. Amy Chua was an honest author who wrote about her experience raising her two daughters. Amy Chua went in to great detail to explain how she thought about her children's education, chores, musical talent. I loved that she did not just give her opinion but she explained how her opinions were shaped, and how they differ from commonly held parental view points here in the United States.

I respect her as a parent. As a mother who loves her children and really wants the very best for her children. I loved how she addressed work ethics, towards achieving ones goal. Amy explained "What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. To get good at anything, you have to work, and children on their own never want to work." I am not sure that I always agree with her that achieving to be the very, very best at something will bring my kids happiness or some of the extreme measures she took. However I do believe that to achieve anything takes work. I believe that our society as a whole, has lowered the "expectation" bar that we ask our children to meet, or exceed. I see this with "helicopter moms" hoovering around their children often feel that the school or teacher is to blame if their child does not make a good grades. Instead of thinking that their child should have to work harder to make better grades.

I loved how she explained the difference with Chinese parents not worrying at all about their children's self esteem, and we know that Western parents worry about this concern way too much! After all look at parenting magazines, and the titles of some of the articles each month, if you think our culture does not focus on this subject.

I really enjoyed this book. The author does not hide from areas that she struggled with in parenting her daughters. Amy openly admits criticism that her parents, and children have vocalized to her. However she also fights, to prove to the reader that her view point though not a common view point here in America does have validity. This book I would recommend to any parent even if you agree or disagree with the author, I can say this-The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother will definitely get you thinking about your parenting style, and philosophy.

Put your hands up! How are your fingernails painted?

Well my brother has a theory that "if" a lady has a tattoo if she will tell him where it is located he can guess her age. (within 5 years based on trends). So since I have added Yoga to my work out routine this last 2 weeks I have been staring at my toes a lot. I have been dreaming of all the pretty shades of color that I could use to paint my toes. So the other day at the pool I wonder if the same "theory" could be applied to Nail polish, on the toes. So I started making a point to peek at the ladies toes around me to see what colors they were using. To my surprise at both pools about everyone over 20 kept to either Red or Hot Pink. However, imagine my surprise when I looked at one ladies toes and one (1) toe was painted a different color. A Different color! What was that all about?

I mean did she run out of nail polish for her big toe or what? Well I was quite surprised when I came home and did an Internet search on nail polish trends. I discovered it is very much the thing when painting your fingernails to paint the "Ring Finger" a different color. I found tons of pictures demonstrating this technique from the outrageous to the tame. From the famous to the not so famous. So what Do you all think? Do you like this new trend? For more information or to see more photos of this trend, check out GirlsinthePoodleshoe blog.

I think the more I get used to it, the more I like it! At least simply done, like above.

I never have my nails done this elaborately. However if I paid to have them done I might add a design on the ring finger instead of painting it a different color.

Well while I was researching nail polish trend I stumbled upon these cute photos of "Strawberry nails". My girls are going to go crazy over this! I even think I can paint this one for them. (some dots, and jagged lines are definitely in my artistic skill set!)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Diet Strategies

If you are planning on losing 50 pounds or more, you need to mentally cowgirl or cowboy up that it is going to take some time! Now I am not being negative, if you choose not to go on a diet to lose the extra weight you are caring around, you will just be that much older down the line 5 months to a year. However if you are gearing up, psyching yourself up to lose a large amount of weight - be realistic. You did not gain the extra weight in 3-4 weeks, so it makes since that it will take longer than 3-4 weeks to lose that extra weight. So as you give yourself the freedom of knowing that losing a large amount of weight is going to take some time. You need to come up with some good, livable diet strategies for you and your household. (Especially if you are wanting your household to support you! You may be on a diet, but that does not necessarily mean the rest of your household wants to be! My kids would revolt, hold strike signs in the front yard if I tried to make them adhere to my diet plan.) However, let's be real. Most of us have to figure out how to diet at home, or at work - the exact same places that we put on the weight. So what works?

1) I started by cleaning out all the "junk" food and "unhealthy" food that were my triggers. I instead bought snack food for my kids and family that were not temptations for me, but they love. For example, ice cream and Popsicles do not tempt me at all! So they are no problem to have in the house.

2 & 3) If my family demanded to have certain foods in the household that they think they can not live without. I will occasionally buy these items, but my rule is "no food but healthy food is allowed out on my counter". Any other type of foods have to be stored in a drawer or cabinet. You see I have 3 children that range from the ages of 3rd grade-8th grade. Since they outnumber me, and I wanted to not feel like a short order cook. I started to keep a basket of snacks on the counter so the girls could reach them and help themselves. Well that had to stop because if I was hungry and walked into the kitchen, I would most likely grab at the first food I saw and eat quickly before I had even had a chance to think "Is this a good choice? Is it the best choice for me?". Now I have some snacks down low, that the 3rd grader can reach by herself when she wants an afternoon snack but I don't have to stop folding laundry, etc.. to run go get it for her. Also the less time I am in the kitchen, the less opportunity there is for me to eat.

4) Plan ahead, have healthy snacks, or calorie correct portion snacks ready to eat and in a place that you know if you get hungry you can look at these 2 places and anything there will be safe to eat.

5) I really don't like to make 2 dinners but sometimes I try to "tweak" the meal a little bit for me. For example, on nights I make spaghetti for the family. I set aside my spaghetti sauce with out meat, to the side before I add meat to the sauce for my family. Also instead of using noodles for spaghetti like my family eats. I cut a zucchini in long slices wet them with water, and coat them with bread crumbs and bake them in the oven. (I will often hit the top with a spray of Pam) this allows me to eat at the table with the family. My plate looks very similar to theirs. I get the flavor of the marinara sauce, but not all the calories for the noodles. A win-win situation!! (also some nights, I skip the sides that I am serving the family if it happens to be a baked potato, or mac and cheese etc.. I will subsitute a low calorie bowl of soup as my side, but still eat the meat portion of the dinner and throw in a fruit.)

6) Also sipping hot tea in the evening is amazing! I try to buy flavored teas for the things I like, "coconut cocoa" tea, "cocoa spice" tea, can you see a chocolate theme here? Also mint tea is great as well. I am excited to try a pineapple tropic tea this upcoming week!

7) Remember as you lose weight, and you adjust to a new eating pattern some of the things that would make you a raving lunatic might not be a big deal any more. You might have tried some things that work, so stick with those. Other strategies might not have worked or are no longer necessary be flexible to change. Look for better subsitute for the things you are craving.

8) Get a support group! I don't mean a girlfriend that has only 5 pounds to lose!!! If you don't know anyone personally find some weight loss blogs of real people losing weight! Watch the TV show Extreme Weight loss. They will help to keep you inspired as you are on this journey!

9) Also Keelie over at RealFat says to take pictures of yourself while you are on this weight loss journey. I love, love, love this idea! Because if you have a lot of weight to lose it might be a few months before other people start to recognize all the hard work you are doing. So you can look back over the photos and see how your body is changing and be encouraged.

These are my tips that I have found that seem to help me in my weight loss journey. I have currently lost 52.1 pounds and have 48 pounds left to go. I have been on a diet since January 7th 2011. That means I have been on a diet for 5 months. and I have 48 pounds left to go. So I know and understand that losing weight is hard, and yes, sometimes gruellingly slow. However keep it up! We are here to encourage one another no matter what the journey or struggle we might each be facing. I thank everyone that leaves sweet comments and encouragement on my blog! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! I read each of them and treasure them in my heart!!

You mean it takes work?

I have to admit it! I always thought that you either were naturally thin or you were not. I mean I had read the articles with super models who said that they did not diet, they just enjoyed biking and walking with their families. I saw countless of very skinny, tiny girls at church - I saw that during VBS they ate a chocolate chip cookie with the kids. I felt so overwhelmed and mad at my genes. I was so frustrated I wanted to be classified as a "skinny chic" who would look good in clothes. I did not realize that it took work! I am honest! I did not realize that other ladies worked at being thin. My own mom who is itty bitty - never seem to have to work at it. Oh, she occasionally would watch what she ate. Once she was passed 40 she started walking. However that just never seemed like it took a lot for her to maintain her youthful appearance.

I remember that I started my weight loss journey in January, thinking ok it is just a "food issue" I have to get this under control. "I wonder why some people can eat anything they want, but it is such a struggle for me?" Well you should have seen all my thoughts the first week I went to the gym back in March. I could not believe all the ladies I knew that I was running into!!! I was a little awe struck! Here I had admired some of these very thin, beautiful ladies from my previous church for years!! I had been jealous that they could shop, and & come to church in the latest styles. (I know jealous is not a good emotion, but I am trying to keep it real!) I was shocked that I saw some of these same ladies showing up at the gym day after day, putting in some grueling workouts. These ladies did not just have "great" genes! These ladies sacrificed for it! It was such a relief to me. It was an "Ah-Ha!" moment for me.

It connected in my brain that being in good shape, wasn't just about eating 100% perfect all the time! (Because really who can be 100% perfect all the time!) It was combining good eating choices, with exercise that pulls staying healthy all together. It finally made sense! To me it was like finding the perfect recipe for the best banana bread! It has started to click. I don't feel angry anymore that I have genes that allow the excess fat I store to be on my thighs. I am not frustrated that I have to make good eating choices. I realize for the most part everyone who is over 40 and in good shape probably has to deal with both of these issues - they may have just had it figured out before I did!

Do you need some inspiration?

Do you need some inspiration? Do you need to hear something positive? Do you need to be encouraged during the season of life that you find yourself in. Be it, single, married, divorced, etc... Well I am loving the new series by pastor Steven Furtick from Elevation Church from Charlotte North Caroline. I know I don't even go to his church, but his sermons are on my ipod every week. The new series is called Mr. & Mrs. Betterhalf. You can find them on itunes to download for free as an audio podcast or you can go to their website and listen from their archive at Elevation church. I included a link to their archive for your convenience.

Whether you are looking for Mr. Right, or you have found Mr. Right. Or you are raising kids that will be looking for Mr. Right! Check at this series!! Do Not Forget the Bonus teaching by Dr. Emerson so funny & so true!! For anyone who wants to understand why men & women are really different and how we handle and react differently to conflict. Also if you are raising boys to be men I would say that this message is one you can not afford to miss hearing!! LOVE IT! Love It!!! Love it!! I hope you are inspired in wherever you are in your life's journey! Happy Friday! I hope you have a Great Weekend!!!

summer decorating ideas

Isn't the above arrangement just beautiful!! Little votives and shells. If you don't have any white sand, and can't find any at the store. I have used salt. It works great, and it's cheap!

I love summer time! I love the beach! However when you live in Oklahoma what ways can you bring the beach into your home. Well I have took some pictures of some cute ideas and I wanted to share them with you.

Here is a cute vase/large jar with a wreath of shells on it. That could easily be removed for the rest of the year.

Here is a close up pics of the shells wired onto a wreath form.

Above is a photo of the back of the wreath.

Above is a photo of a large jar, with wood sticks coming out of it, with a few shells sprinkled across the bottom..

Here is another large glass container with shells in the bottom. Love it!

Once again the simplicity of shells displayed in a basket. I love seasonal decorating ideas that can easily be swapped out for fall, or holiday decorations! What do you like to decorate with in the summer time?

Girls weekend trip

What's happening in my neck of the woods, well my mom, "Sweet Tea" and me went on a Bunko reunion this weekend! Can you say Girls Road Trip!

We meet up with about 8 ladies, 6 of them we used to play bunko with about 2 decades ago (ouch! that was painful to admit!) I was so fortunate to be able to be in a group of ladies that included not only my mom, but my Aunt as well! Here is a pic of the 3 of us below.

We all meet up at one the ladies Lake house on Grand Lake, here in Oklahoma. Where we ate dinner, caught up on all the gossip and all the kids, and grand kids photos. We laughed and talked to about 2am. (at least some of us did!). Then we all got up, and ate a yummy breakfast that Helen had made for us. Then we grabbed our purses and we headed out the door to Sandstone Gardens which is located right outside of Joplin, MO. Their brochure describes it best "Sandstones Garden is an inspirational shopping destination featuring endless home & garden delights." It really did! It also has a Bistro located in it's facility. So all of us girls got to "do lunch" together. Below is a photo of us all looking at the menu.

The food was yummy! They had these wonderful soup/salad combo's, or a salad/sandwich combo meal and all the meals came with a choice of dessert. (yep! I total splurged for this meal!) Below is a photo of one of the ladies lunch. Didn't I tell you it was good!

We had such a delightful day! We all went back to the lake, had a snack then packed back up and headed home. If you are from Oklahoma this is such a great day trip! We did not got into the heart of Joplin, since much of the town has been destroyed since the tornado hit Joplin a few weeks ago. However do not let that stop you from heading up for a nice day trip! Sandstone gardens was a delight!

Size 16 baby! Down 51.1 pounds!!

You know what this is a picture of? You guessed it! It is a photo of me in a pair of size 16 jeans - zipped up!!! Woo Hoo!!! I hit my 2nd mini goal ! I am below 200 pounds!! Woo Hoo!!

I have to tell you I had 2 milestone moments this week! The first I have lost 51.1 pounds which has put me at 198.4 which being below 200 was the 2nd mini goal heading towards that large goal of 100 pound weight loss. The 2nd milestone that I hit this week was fitting into size 16 pants!! I almost cried I was so happy! This means that I can go shop at ANY store! be it Gap, Limited, Ann Taylor Loft. All the stores I have dreamed of shopping at, but could not because of my size. This really has been such a happy, happy milestone to hit.

Also it does seem like LOTS of people are noticing that I am losing weight. Yeah! That is such a positive thing since I have been dieting, and exercising and on this weight loss journey since January. I just can't believe it! I have 48.9 pounds left to go. So I am excited about continuing on down this road. My daughter and me were talking after I was able to buy some new pants, and some new tops! (did I mention that I bought tops in a size Large Woo Hoo! no, 2Xl, 3Xl, not even a Xl, but a L!!!!) about what size did I hope to end up. I told her if you had asked me in January all I would of hoped and dreamed for was a size 14. However I am in a size 16 with 48.9 left to go. They say that every 10-12 pounds is a dress size. I have found that pretty accurate. So Who knows I told her, we shall see where I am when I get there! The reality of this weight loss journey is becoming much bigger, than I had every allowed myself to hope for! (also I did 16 push up's in a row today in class!! Have I mentioned that when I started classes in March I could only do about 2 push up's in a row. I am definitely getting stronger!)