Travie McCoy: I Want to Be a Billionaire ft. Bruno Mars

What kind of good deeds would you do if you were a Billionaire? Would you be selfish or would you help others?



** Note: The F word is repeated a few times in this song,so make sure no kiddies are around.

"Make You Feel My Love" Covers

When I think of this love song I usually think of Garth Brooks' version. But today I listened to a few different covers that give Mr. Brooks a run for his money. Which cover is your favorite? Does this song make you think of anyone special?

Mick McAuley & Winifred Horan- I listened to this cover for the first time today and really enjoyed their voices together.


Adele- She is one of my favorite female artists. I love this cover!


Kris Allen- I'm not too familiar with this guy but I gather he is from American Idol. Regardless I liked his cover.


James David Carter- I found this guy's cover on Youtube. He's pretty good! I think he is trying to make a name for himself. He is pretty talented. I wish him the best.


"I'd go hungry
I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling
Down the avenue
No, there's nothing
That I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love"

Ronnie Dunn- We All Bleed Red

I turn up the volume every time I hear this song playing on the radio. When you listen to this song take the time to let all the lyrics wash over you. This song is really powerful!


"We're all the same
We all bleed red"

Remember this song when you meet someone that is a little bit different than yourself. What did this song make you think about?

Dear 16 Year Old Me

Please share this with all the teens that you know....it could save a life!

Randy Rogers Band-One More Goodbye

"How 'bout one more goodbye
Play with fire just one more time
let it burn til morning light
and let it fade away
girl, we dont even have to pretend
we ain't going back to where we've been
We both know it's not worth another try
But how 'bout one more goodbye"

Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you were intimate with? How did you handle saying goodbye?

Brett Dennen- Ain't No Reason

I've seen this video online a few times. The part that really gets to me is the little boy sitting holding his knees at the table while the family eats. Gives me goosebumps!



‎"There Ain't no reason things are this way.
It's how they always been and they intend to stay
...Love will come set me free"

What did this song make you think about? Do you think things will change? Do you believe that love will set us free?

Fleetwood Mac- Dreams

One of my all-time favorite female vocalists is Stevie Nicks. Who are some of your favorite female singers?



"Thunder only happens when it's raining
Players only love you when they're playing
They say, women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean you'll know
You'll know"

What are you hopes and dreams?

Thompson Square- Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

Have you kissed your sweetie lately?



"Yeah baby I love you a lot
I really think we've got a shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not"

Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson- Don't You Wanna Stay

Turn off the ringer; turn off the TV; get off the computer; and hold your lover tonight!



"Don't you wanna stay here a little while,
Don't you wanna hold each other tight,
Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight,
Don't you wanna stay here a little while,
We can make forever feel this way,
Don't you wanna stay"

Bob Seger-Travelin Man/Beautiful Loser

I've had Travelin Man stuck in my head all day. The music gods must of known I needed a Bob Seger fix!



"Travelin' man, love when I can
Turn in my hand 'cause I'm goin' on
Oh, travelin' man, love when I can
But sooner or later I'm goin' on, yea
Travelin man"

What song do you have stuck in your head?

Rascal Flatts- I Won't Let Go

Isn't this what we all want? Someone who will be there for us no matter what. Is there someone you would be there for?



"Cause I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
And I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go
Oh I’m gonna hold you
And I wont let go
Wont let you go
No I wont"

Rolling Stones- Wild Horses

I've really developed an appreciation for The Rolling Stones over the last year. This is one of my favorites.



"Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you
Graceless lady, you know HOW I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you've decided to show me the same
But no sweet, vain exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, couldn't drag me away

I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom, but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let's do some living after love dies
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them some day

Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them some day"

Sometimes we need to be there unconditionally.  Do you feel unconditionally loved?  Are you there for someone unconditionally?

Building Sandcastles

What are you building with your life?

Eli Young Band- Crazy Girl

Heard this song last night and instantly fell in love with the lyrics. Have you told your special someone lately how much they mean to you?

Crazy Girl


"Baby why you wanna cry?
You really oughta know that I
Just have to walk away sometimes
We’re gonna do what lovers do
We’re gonna have a fight or two
But I ain’t ever changin’ my mind

Crazy girl, don’t you know that I love you?
And I wouldn’t dream of goin’ nowhere
Silly woman, come here, let me hold you
Have I told you lately?
I love you like crazy, girl"

Synchronicity

How is synchronicity at play in your life?

The Power of Words

Wow this is extremely powerful! How could you use your words to be clearer about what you want out of life?

A Moment of Relaxation

Take a few moments out of your day and relax!

Disconnect to Connect

Set aside some distraction free time for your loved ones today!

Lord Save us from your Followers Documentary

This is a very thought provoking documentary about Christianity in America today. No matter what your beliefs this is worth the time to watch.

Pop-Up Books

Do you like Pop-Up books? Check out this video about a pop-up book collection at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.



Did you have a favorite Pop-Up book as a child?

How to Cope With Death

This is both creepy and funny at the same time!


How do you feel about death?

A Lost Generation

What is really important to you? What kind of legacy will you leave?

Explaining World Tragedy to Children

In light of everything going on in Japan this is a very timely article.

Explaining World Tragedy to Children
By Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman

Your six-year-old has just seen video footage of devastating destruction including collapsed buildings, crushed cars, and homes under water, all vivid images resulting from the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Your teen sits transfixed watching the numbers of dead and injured mount. At the dinner table your fifth grader asks, "Can anything like that happen to us, Dad?"

How is a parent to respond under such circumstances? What should you say? What should you do? How do you deal with your children's fears without increasing them? Is it possible to reassure them at a time when you, yourself, are horrified by the images of intense pain and grief you see on the faces of parents halfway around the world?

Yes, you feel empathy for the survivors who have lost loved ones, homes, and jobs. Yes, you are extremely grateful that your children are safe in your comfortable home as the horrific images continue to flow from your television screen. And, yes, you can use this tragic situation to help your children learn lessons of love and compassion and about the indestructible nature of the human spirit.

Once children have seen the images of tragedy and suffering, debriefing is essential-the sooner the better. By debriefing, we mean answering their questions, providing information, asking questions, and reflecting their feelings.

Provide the scientific information they're asking for. Tell your children in age-appropriate language what you know about how nature can create an earthquake, tidal wave, tornado, hurricane, or volcanic eruption. Keep this part factual. You can even use books or magazines to assist you in providing information.

Tell your children the effects of the natural disaster. Talk about the destruction that was created by nature's fury. This is a good time to make the connection between cause and effect. Limit what you say to what your children actually saw on TV, and provide answers to their directly asked questions. Too much information at this point can increase their fright and worry. The goal is to be brief and accurate and to provide them with the specific information they're looking for. If you fail to give them information, if you fail to debrief, children's brains will fill in the blanks. Better to fill in those gaps yourself with factual knowledge than to have your children fill them with their imaginations.

Concentrate on feelings. Your children will be seeing a wide range of feelings expressed during TV coverage of such events. They will see sadness, panic, grief, relief, joy, depression, frustration and desperation. As a result, they will personally experience unexpressed and often unrecognized feelings.

When you sense they are feeling empathy, sadness, or pain, say so. Tell them, "You seem deeply saddened about this," or "You sound afraid that this might happen to us." Children are starving for feeling recognition and this is a great time to supply it.

When strong emotion is shown on TV, honor it by talking about it. Acknowledge the extreme sadness and grief that people are experiencing. Refrain from being an adult who ignores the grief of others and refuses to acknowledge it. Do not treat hurting human beings as if they are invisible. Talk about your own feelings. Tell your children about the sympathy and pain you feel for the losses others are suffering. Allow your children to hear and see you express feelings. By doing so, you're helping them acquire a feeling vocabulary they can use their entire lives.

When you communicate your own feelings and honor the feelings of your children for people around the world, you teach them important lessons about the human condition. You help them appreciate how we are all more alike than different. You help them see that we are all connected, no matter how distant we seem. You help them learn that we are all one.

As you go through this debriefing process, encourage your children to look for the helpers. Helpers always come. There are always people who step forth to help. In the case of a major tragedy, there will be many helpers playing out a variety of roles. Point them out to your children. Then, when small problems occur in their own lives, they will have learned to look for the helpers. There are helpers at school, on the playground, in the mall, and on the highway when our car breaks down. Learn to look for helpers and they will be more likely to show up when you need them.

Discuss with your children how you as a family can be helpers during this tragedy. Perhaps you can send money, give blood, say prayers, send love, or call the Red Cross to see what kinds of items you can donate. Choose one or more ways to be helpers as a family and allow your children to participate in implementing those choices with you. Pray together. Let them observe as you give blood. Take them shopping for the toiletry items needed by the Red Cross. Let them help you address the envelope that sends the check. Get them involved in the process of being a helper. Let them see and be love in action.

The scope and depth of the pain and heartache of catastrophic tragedies are not measurable. Yet, those horrific events can serve a useful purpose if we use them to help our children learn about feelings, look for the helpers, and appreciate the connectedness of all human beings and the beauty of one heart reaching out to another across continents. We can help them learn that around the world is a long way away, yet still very much a part of our neighborhood.


Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller are the authors of Parent Talk Essentials: How to Talk to Kids about Divorce, Sex, Money, School, and Being Responsible in Today's World. They are two of the world’s foremost authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children. For more information about how they can help you or your group meet your parenting needs, visit their websites today. www.thomashaller.com or www.chickmoorman.com

Personal Power Press • P.O. Box 547 • Merrill • MI • 48637
http://personalpowerpress.com

Red Riding Hood

This movie looks fantastic! Has anyone seen it yet? What did you think?

How to Talk with Kids When Bad Things Happen

Have you ever had to explain something tragic to a child? How did you handle the situation?

Happy April Fool's Day!

"I Can't Take My Eyes off of You"...

Is there someone in your life you can't take your eyes off of?  What are you waiting for?

Damien Rice- The Blower's Daughter


"I can't take my eyes off of you..."

I heard this song this morning. What a beautiful song! Now after watching this video I really want to see the movie, Closer.



I love these kind of movies! It has a great cast as well.  Has anyone seen it yet?

Rainbow Bridge

This gave me goose bumps. Can't wait to see my Huskey, Nanook, again someday!

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.


All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

(Author unknown)

Do you have a pet that has crossed?  Do you ever feel their presence?

Changing Education Paradigms

Sir Ken Robinson is brilliantly accurate when it comes to summarizing and finding the pitfalls in our current educational model. As a visual learner, I loved the use of animation in this video to depict his talk on education paradigms. Can you imagine the paradigm change that would take place if kid's could learn that way at school?

The Miracle is You!

Rolling Stones-This Place is Empty

This song is dedicated to a very special someone who died one year ago today. This place is truly empty without you here!



"It's funny how things turn around
It's crazy but it's true
This place is empty, so empty
So empty without you"

Have you lost someone recently? How are you grieving their loss?

Red Hot Chili Peppers

When I was in 7th grade a classmate let me borrow some of his older brother's Danzig and Red Hot Chili Peppers tapes. I thought they were so hard core at the time. The other day I heard Soul to Squeeze on my favorite Classic Rock station. The Chili Peppers songs don't seem so hard core anymore, but their songs are still really great. Guess that's why they are classics now. Yikes I am getting old! What songs do your remember from your tween years?

Soul to Squeeze


"Where I go I just don't know
I got to got to gotta take it slow.
When I find my piece of mind
I'm gonna give you some of my good time."

Sara Evans- A Little Bit Stronger

I've seen Sara Evans in concert before. She has such a great voice and always has really powerful lyrics.



"I know my heart will never be the same
But I'm telling myself I'll be okay
Even on my weakest days
I get a little bit stronger"

Have you moved on from a relationship? Do you feel yourself getting stronger?

Human Connection

Take a moment today to talk with someone who looks lonely. You just might be their only human connection.

Self-Acceptance

Before we can have what our heart's desires, we first need to accept ourselves. Ask yourself, "Who am I really?" When we see ourselves without judgement than we have self-acceptance. Remember this, we were created perfectly. God does not make mistakes!

Manifesting Your Soulmate

Are you looking for that perfect person for you? Watch this video for tips on how to manifest that special someone for you.

Hair Bands

Wow, I am feeling very nostalgic right now. These were three of my favorite bands when I was in my early teens. I am remembering the posters on my bedroom walls, the band t-shirts, and my bangs sprayed as high as they could go. Even though plenty of time has passed I am still singing along to all the words. I forgot how much I loved these hair bands!

Skid Row- I Remember You


"Remember yesterday, walking hand in hand?
Love letters in the sand - I remember you
Through the sleepless nights, through every endless day
I wanna hear you say I remember you"

Warrant- Heaven


"Heaven isn't too far away
Closer to it every day
ohhhh ohhh
No matter what your friends say
I know we're gonna find a way"

Slaughter-Fly to the Angels


"You've got to fly
Fly to the angels
All the stars in the night
Shine in your name"

Who were your favorite hair bands?

Gratitude

What are you grateful for today?

The Blessing

May you always feel the comfort of being "in the hollow of God's hand." Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Jonatha Brooke- Eye in the Sky

I really like Jonatha Brooke's remake of the Alan Parsons Projects' "Eye in the Sky." But of course the original is amazing too! What remakes of songs do you like?

Eye in the Sky


"I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't Need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind
I can read your mind
I can read your mind
I can read your mind"

A Letter from Mom and Dad

If you have ever cared for an elderly parent or may possibly someday, please watch this video.

House

House is a really brilliant show, but not just for the medical anomalies. Whoever is in charge of scoring the show does an excellent job choosing selections that really pull you into the drama of the show.

Here are two songs from the recent episode, Recession Proof:

Fyfe Dangerfield-Barricades


"And when love is a barricade
When love is a barricade
That's where I'll find you
Saying we're already made"

Damien Jurado-Everything Trying


"And I would sail back to you"

What do you think of the character House?

Words With Friends

One of my favorite applications on my IPod is Words With Friends, a Scrabble type game that lets you play friends or random opponents. I usually have a few games going at a time. My User Name (UN) is, E&A'sMama, if anyone wants to play a game with me. Words With Friends even has a Facebook page where you can challenge people to games. During the fall there was even a Words With Pirates game that was really fun....Arrgh! The reason I bring up Words With Friends today is because I wanted to share this really cute idea....Words With Friends inspired cookies! I think if we ever have a family game night I will make these!

Love and Logic Parenting Tips

Giving Choices


Let your kids make choices throughout the day. Gently remind them of this priviledge when you need to make a big choice.

How to Get Kids To Do What You Want

Model with excitement and joy! Think out loud! Behave!

How to Get Out the Door in the Morning


As you move through your morning routine only give two possible choices for each desired action. Don't forget to make it fun!

Potty Training Tips



Remember children potty train at different ages and it has nothing to do with the child's intelligence. Be a model, make it natural, and it will happen!

Dealing with Whining


When your child whines, smile and say, "Love you too much to argue."

Camelot

I have always loved anything to do with King Arthur. I once paid over $20 in late fees at a movie rental place just to watch a Camelot movie. This new series, Camelot, looks like it is going to be an amazing series. Just wish I had cable!



Anybody else love Camelot?

Katie Melua

I heard Katie Melua for the first time today. She is young and has a really unique sound.  Some of her videos that I watched on Youtube were very different. Here are a few songs that I particularly liked...


Just Like Heaven


"Show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream he said
The one that makes me laugh he said
And threw his arms around my neck
Show me how you do it
And I promise you I promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you"

The Closest Thing to Crazy


"This is the closest thing to crazy I have ever been
Feeling twenty-two, acting seventeen,
This is the nearest thing to crazy I have ever known,
I was never crazy on my own…
And now I know that there's a link between the two,
Being close to craziness and being close to you."

Piece By Piece


"Piece by piece
is how I'll let go of you
Kiss by kiss
Will leave my mind one at a time
One at a time"

Anybody ever feel like a teenager?

Never Take Someone For Granted

Wear the Right Size Jeans

Do your jeans fit you right?  If they are saggy in the rear or make you have a muffin top then you are wearing the wrong size.  Check out this segment from The Nate Berkus Show to learn  Denim Sizing Secrets.

Here are a few tips:

• Ignore the size on the label!  You are probably not wearing the correct size anyways.  
• Know your measurements (waist, hips and inseam).  This gives you a better fit than going by size.
• Jeans should sit 2" below your navel.  
• To make your bottom look smaller- avoid baggy jeans, wear jeans with high pockets and embellishments.

Lowering Sodium Intake

On average most Americans intake a lot more sodium than our bodies need. But how do we lower our sodium intake? Watch this video to learn how:

Small Actions Lead to Big Things

Do you ever think, "Why even bother?" Well,sometimes all it takes is one small action to get something big started. So start out doing something small today!

Babyface

I started my day off this morning exercising while listening to Babyface.  It was a very relaxing workout!  Here are two songs that I listened to...


When Can I See You


"When can my heart beat again
When does the pain ever end
When do the tears stop from running over
When does “you'll get over it” begin
I hear what you're saying
But I swear that it's not making sense
So when can I see you

When can I see you again
When can my heart beat again
When can I see you again
When can I breathe once again
And when can I see you"

Someone To Love- Jon B. Featuring Babyface


"I thought I'd never love again
I thought my life was over, and..
I didn't wanna face or even see another day, baby
Suddenly from nowhere
baby, you appeared
You dried my tears
You cared for me
Maybe your love for me
truly rescued me
It's because of you, I was able to
fall in love again
You gave me someone.... someone to love"

Check Writing Tutorial

If you are new to check writing (or just need a refresher) here are some great tutorials that walk you through how to fill out a check!

How to Write a Check-a tutorial on how to fill out a check

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Lettuce Knives and Salad Spinners

Tonight while I was cutting up lettuce for tacos with my plastic lettuce knife I thought about this blog. It occurred to me that there may be a lot of people out there who have never heard of a lettuce knife or may never even have thought to use one.

So what is a lettuce knife and why should you use one?

"A lettuce knife is a knife which is designed to cut lettuce without causing the lettuce to brown, yellow, or wilt. These special knives have serrated blades and they are typically made from plastic, which will not react with the lettuce to stimulate browning. Since browned lettuce is deemed aesthetically unpleasing, a lettuce knife can help keep a salad looking crisp and fresh without forcing cooks to tear lettuce by hand. The use of a knife also reduces the need to handle lettuce directly, reducing the risk of food borne illness." (Source: Wisegeek.com)

Before using a lettuce knife to cut lettuce you should wash your lettuce first. The best way to wash lettuce is to use a salad spinner.  A salad spinner consists of three parts an outer bowl, an inner removable basket, and a lid with a crank handle.  The purpose is to spin the salad after washing to remove moisture.

Check out this video to learn how to use a salad spinner and a lettuce knife.

Alan Parsons Project

This morning on Body Electric the background music was the Alan Parsons Project.  Here are two songs I exercised to this morning:

Time


"Time, flowing like a river
Time, beckoning me
Who knows when we shall meet again
If ever
But time
Keeps flowing like a river
To the sea
Goodbye my love, Maybe for forever
Goodbye my love, The tide waits for me
Who knows when we shall meet again
If ever"

Eye in the Sky


"I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools
I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that
I can read your mind, I can read your mind"

What music do you like to exercise to?  What are some of your favorite exercise shows?

Adele- Rolling in the Deep

I tend to listen to classic rock when I am driving in my car, but this morning my radio was tuned to another station. Sometimes it's nice to shake things up; especially, when you hear a song that really speaks to you. Like this one by Adele....



"The scars of your love, remind me of us.
They keep me thinking that we almost had it all
The scars of your love, they leave me breathless
I can't help feeling...
We could have had it all... (you're gonna wish you, never had met me)...
Rolling in the Deep (Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)
You had my heart... (you're gonna wish you)... and soul in your hand (Never had met me)
And you played it... (Tears are gonna fall)... To the beat (Rolling in the deep)"

What songs have spoken to you lately?

John Butler Trio

My friend posted this video on Facebook and I am so glad that she did. I was completely blown away by this guys guitar skills. What an amazing instrumental!

Ocean


What instrumentals do you enjoy?

Taylor Swift- Back to December

I've had this song stuck in my head all day...



"So this is me swallowing my pride
Standing in front of you, saying I'm sorry for that night
And I go back to December all the time"

Is there an apology that you need to give that is long overdue?

Rod Stewart- You're in My Heart

Do you ever hear a song on the radio and start tearing up?  While I was driving yesterday I heard this song and the eyes started watering.  Rod Stewart is a master at the lyrics.



"You're in my heart, you're in my soul
You'll be my breath should I grow old
You are my lover, you're my best friend
You're in my soul"

What songs make you cry?

John Lennon & Yoko Ono

The other day the lyrics "Oh My Love" popped into my head. I finally got around to looking up the song tonight. After watching a few John Lennon videos that featured him with his wife, Yoko Ono, I am so struck by the love that they shared for one another. If only we could all feel that kind of love for another person. I think John had the foresight to write the song "Imagine" because he knew that love is what makes the world go round.

Oh My Love

"Oh my love for the first time in my life,
My eyes are wide open,
Oh my lover for the first time in my life,
My eyes can see,

I see the wind,
Oh I see the trees,
Everything is clear in my heart,
I see the clouds,
Oh I see the sky,
Everything is clear in our world,

Oh my love for the first time in my life,
My mind is wide open,
oh my lover for the first time in my life,
My mind can feel,

I feel the sorrow,
Oh I feel dreams,
Everything is clear in my heart,
Everything is clear in our world,
I feel the life,
Oh I feel love."

Imagine

"Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one"

What lesson do you think we are all here on Earth to learn?

America in Color

Have you ever wondered what life looked like in the 1940s? Check out these rare color photos spanning the period from 1939-1943.

We may have a struggling economy and think that times are hard. But if we really think about it don't we have it pretty good?

Paul McCartney

Since the beginning of January I have been getting up at 6:30am each morning to exercise to the fitness shows, Body Electric and Classical Stretch on PBS. While doing the grueling Body Electric workout today I heard some really beautiful and moving Paul McCartney songs playing in the background. They made my workout so much more enjoyable!

How Kind of You


"How kind of you to think of me
When I was out of sorts
It really meant alot to be
In someone else's thoughts
Someone else's mind
Someone else as kind, as you"

This Never Happened Before

"I'm very sure

this never happened before

I met you and now I'm sure

This never happened before"

Nutrition in the News

New Dietary Guidelines for Americans are released, highlights include limiting sodium intake to 2300mg for most people and filling half your plate with veggies and fruits.

Nutella, the beloved (but not particularly nutritious) chocolate-hazelnut spread, is facing a lawsuit over nutrition claims in its advertising. A reminder that reliable nutrition information comes from reading the nutrition facts label and ingredient list of foods.

Another good reason to eat a diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids: not only is it good for your heart, but may also help prevent against Alzheimer's disease.

(Source: Nourish Family Nutrition)

Cowboy Music: Love, Heartbreak & God

Rascal Flatts- Bless the Broken Road

What a beautiful song! I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

"Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you"

Jason Aldean- Truth

Don't you just want to give him a big hug?


"Just don't tell em I've gone crazy,
That I'm still strung out over you,
Tell em anything you want to,
Just don't tell em all the truth,
Yeah don't tell em all the truth"

Chris Young-The Man I Want To Be

I love the depth of this guy's voice! He's definitely going places!

"That I wanna be a stay man
I wanna be a brave man
I wanna be the kind of man she sees in her dreams
God I wanna be your man
And I wanna be her man
God I only hope she still believes
In the man I wanna be"


Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?

Sunshine

Sometimes the world and everything in it seems bleak and dark.  But if we use our imaginations and a little bit of creativity we can create a brighter reality.  Hope the sun shines on all of you today!

Happy Valentine's Day!

John Lennon-Love


"Love is real, real is love,
Love is feeling, feeling love,
Love is wanting to be loved.
Love is touch, touch is love,
Love is reaching, reaching love,
Love is asking to be loved.
Love is you,
You and me,
Love is knowing,
We can be.
Love is free, free is love,
Love is living, living love,
Love is needing to be loved."

Isn't this what we all really want and need? I hope that you all are showered with love today. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Ray Lamontagne

I never get tired of Ray Lamontagne. Here are a few songs that I discovered recently. The first one is an instrumental and it is just beautiful. The second is very haunting but the lyrics and his voice speak volumes. Enjoy!

Truly, Madly, Deeply


Till the Sun Turns Black


"Time goes slowly when you're only, waiting,
'til the sun turns black."

What does Ray's music evoke in you?

80s Night

I remember as a young child that my parents went to a Pat Benatar concert and brought me home a 'Get Nervous' T-shirt. I loved that shirt and wore it all the time until it became a belly shirt. That was a sad day! Anyways tonight I am remembering the 80s of my childhood and listening to some classic 80s songs from Pat and from Tom Petty (who is also amazing!).  Wonder if my parents ever saw him in concert? Hmmm...guess I should ask.

Pat Benatar-We Belong


"We Belong to the light
We Belong to the thunder
We Belong to the sound of the words
We've both fallen under
Whatever we deny or embrace
For worse or for better
We Belong, We Belong
We Belong together"

Tom Petty- You Got Lucky


"You got lucky babe

You got lucky babe

when I found you"

What bands did your parents like?  Did they influence your musical tastes?

Diabetes & A Mediterranean Diet

Are you scared of getting Type 2 Diabetes? According to a study, if you lose 7% of your body weight and walk for 30 minutes 6 days per week you will lower your chances of getting the disease by 58%. (Source: Better Homes and Gardens, Nov. 2007)

If you have already been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes or want to improve your eating one study found that a Mediterranean diet is very successful at controlling blood sugar. The following lists below are foods to eat less of and more of on a Mediterranean diet:

Eat Less
Beef, Lamb, Pork
Butter, margerine, butter substitute
Low-fat Crackers, chips
Reduced-fat Cookies
Egg Substitute; fat-free yogurt; reduced-fat American, Cheddar, and Swiss cheese
Baked Potatoes, bread, rice

Eat More
Fish, Poultry, Beans
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or other vegetable oils such as soybean and canola
Walnuts or other nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, olives
Fresh Fruit
Whole Eggs; Whole Yogurt; Feta, Parmesan, or goat cheese
Roasted or sauteed vegetables tossed with herbs and drizzled with olive oil
(Source: Reader's Digest, date unknown)

Here is a great Mediterranean inspired recipe to get you started:

Walnut-Olive Pesto
Place 2 cups walnuts, 1 cup large pimiento-stuffed green olives, 1 large garlic clove, 1 tblsp extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp dried thyme in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped. Use as a topping for pasta, meat, fish or chicken, as a spread for crackers or as a sandwich spread. It's also a great flavor enhancer in sauces and chili. (Source: Relish Mag, 2010)

Fleetwood Mac

Does anyone remember the music buying club Columbia House? Well as a kid, my family bought lots of music from them. We had quite the collection of cassette tapes and later Cds. When I got my own stereo system, complete with a tape deck, I would hoard all the cassette tapes in my room. One of my favorite tapes was Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits collection. Here are a few songs I really loved and still do:

You Make Loving Fun


"Don't, don't break the spell,
It would be different and you know it will.
You, you make loving fun,
And I don't have to tell you but you're the only one."

Say You Love Me


"cause when the loving starts, and the lights go down,
And theres not another living soul around,
Then you woo me until the sun comes up,
And you say that you love me."

Who are your favorite Classic Rock artists?

Jamie Oliver's Food Rules

Here are some food rules that I snagged from Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution FB Page. All really great common sense ideas!

1. Cook at home
2. Avoid Packaged Foods
3. Avoid too much refined sugar
4. Trade refined grains for whole grains
5. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables (Plant a garden)
6. Teach your kids to cook and use different ingredients
7. Read labels and reject what you don't understand
8. Choose food grown and raised close to home
9. Try new foods
10. Learn to love drinking water
11. Serve the same food to your family and friends that you serve to yourself
12. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store where the fresh, whole foods are
13. Eat less sodium
14. Avoid flavored milk. It has more sugar than soda.
15. Use fresh herbs and spices
16. Exercise, keep moving and eat healthy.

Happy Happy Birthday Baby

Remembering a special angel on the other side today....

Wanda Jackson- Happy Happy Birthday Baby

"Happy happy birthday baby no I can't call you my baby
Seems like years ago we met on a day I can't forget cause that's when we fell in love"

The Shirelles- Dedicated to the One I Love


"While I'm far away from you my baby
I know it's hard for you my baby
Because it's hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn
Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love"

How do you remember your deceased loved ones on special days?

Bento Boxes

I am always so inspired by the Bento Box lunches I have read about on Wendolonia. This past Christmas I bought the boys a Frog and a Panda Bento box. I have only packed snacks in them so far but I am feeling inspired by Wendolonia's video (see below) and just may attempt to pack a full lunch in them. So cute and functional!



Do you pack your kids school lunches? Do you use Bento Boxes?  What healthy foods do you pack?

Jerrod Niemann

Just discovered these two songs this morning! Wow, very talented and extremely sexy guy! Am I right? But seriously I really enjoyed these songs.

Lover, Lover--How would you feel if you saw the neighbor kids taking off with your stuff?


"Lover, Lover
you don't treat me no good no more"

What Do You Want-Would you go back to a former lover if you were lonely or would you question their motives?


"What do you want from me?"

The Lost Valentine

Last night I watched The Lost Valentine starring Betty White and Jennifer Love Hewitt. What a tear jerker! I cried buckets watching this Hallmark movie, but it was worth the tears. If you get a chance to see the movie you won't be sorry!



Have you ever waited for someone to return?

Validation

Sometimes we all need to hear that we matter and that we have value. Check out this short and very cute film called, Validation.  I promise you will come away feeling better about yourself.  After, make someone's day today and tell them how much you value them!

Bob Seger Rocks!

Ever since I heard You'll Accompany Me on the radio I have been hooked on Bob Seger. He has so many amazing songs in his collection. I have included a classic song and a modern collaboration with 3 Doors Down. Bob Seger Rocks!

Bob Seger-You'll Accompany Me

"Someday lady you'll accompany me."

3 Doors Down & Bob Seger-Landing in London
"All I think about is you..."

Who else do you think Rocks?

Blue Valentine

I am sucker for romantic movies. I love movies like Titanic, The Notebook and Dear John. I just discovered this trailer for Blue Valentine starring Michelle Williams and Rylan Gosling. This movie looks amazing! Now to find out if it is available for viewing.



What romantic movies do you enjoy?

The Black Crowes- She Talks to Angels

I tend to hear this song quite a bit on the radio. I've read a few books about angels and have watched videos about making contact with our guardian angels. But unlike this song I haven't heard any angels calling out my name. I hope they don't call out my name until it's my time. If you know what I mean.  Do you believe in angels?

"says she talks to angels
they call her out by her name
oh yeah, she talks to angels
says they call her out by her name"

If I wasn't afraid I would?

I heard this a while ago and thought it was worth sharing. Say the following over and over for a few minutes, "If I wasn't afraid I would (fill in the blank)." The first few times you may laugh or come up blank but after a while you will start being more specific about what you would do. Then ask yourself what is holding you back from doing those things.  Try it today!

Animusic

One night I was watching PBS and saw an Animusic video. I was blown away. It is really creative! Do a Youtube search for Animusic and check it out!

The Invisible Mother

If you are a mother or know someone who is please send this to them. They will appreciate the message!

The Invisible Mother


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'


Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??


Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'


Some days I'm a crystal ball: 'Where's my other sock? Where's my phone? What's for dinner?'


I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature--but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!


One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'


In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great
cathedrals--we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.


A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'


I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does."


No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.


I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.


When I really think about it, I don't want my son/daughter to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a monument to myself I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, "You're gonna love it there..."


As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.


Share this with all the Invisible Moms you know... I just did!

Eric Clapton- Bell Bottom Blues

I woke up to this Eric Clapton song the other day. What a great song!

Bell Bottom Blues


"I don't want to fade away.
Give me one more day please.
I don't want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay"

What songs have you woken up to recently?

Stand in the Truth

Are you standing in the truth? Listen to this advice from Suze Orman:

Stairs Can Be Fun

I have a confession to make...escalators scare me! I'm always nervous about stepping onto them and stepping off. I think I over think the whole process.  Sure it is a great invention but once on a very long road trip I almost had a nervous breakdown because of an escalator.  I was extremely exhausted and really needed to use the bathroom.  The escalator was the only visible choice to get to the 2nd floor facilities.  I must have stood for a good 10 minutes in panic trying to figure out my options.  I finally discovered a hidden stairwell at the last minute.  Since then I cannot step on an escalator.  Plus I would rather get the exercise using the stairs.

But what about you? Would you choose an escalator over stairs if you had the choice? What if the stairs were fun and more enticing? Watch this video to see a really neat initiative to make stairs more appealing.

Plain White T's Rhythm of Love

I've had this song stuck in my head for the past couple of days. Such a great song!



"We may only have tonight
But till the morning sun you're mine all mine"

Anybody else ready for summer?

11:11

Ever since I was a little girl I have had an uncanny ability to notice 11:11 on the clock. I was always told that when you notice 11:11 it means that someone is thinking about you at that moment. Recently I posted about Angel numerology and the possibility that 11:11 is a wake up call for us to stop thinking too negatively. I just did a few searches online about 11:11 and one popular belief is that our Spirit Guides use 11:11 to get in touch with us. I like that idea and it kind of goes along with my childhood belief that someone is indeed thinking about me at that moment. Another reasoning I found is that people who see 11:11 are "Light Workers," people who are awakening to the light of Spirituality. I guess I would fall in that category. My search for the significance behind these numbers is not over yet though. Here is a video I found about 11:11



Do you see 11:11 or other numbers all the time?

Dilana Smith

I remember seeing Dilana perform on a Rockstar reality show. She has such an amazing and versatile voice!

What do you think of these cover songs?

Landslide-- Are you scared of changing?


Behind Blue Eyes


Roxanne

Manifest A Dream

7 steps to Manifest A Dream from Denise Linn, host of Soul Coaching:

1. Affirmations- Say Affirmations with conviction, passion and belief, Say them over & over again until it becomes reality
2. Visualization- See it, Make It Real
3. Write a letter from 1 year in the future-Write a letter like it happened
4. Act As If- Act like your dream happened, hold your body as if it happened, do actions as if
5. Collages- Put up pictures of the things you dream for; put your collage were you can see it often
6. Let Go- Sometimes we need to let go of a dream because something better is out there for us
7. Get Support-Get together with friends that support your dream; dream together

Blake Shelton- Home

Until today I thought Blake Shelton was singing "Harrison Road"  not "Paris and Rome." True story... LOL!    Either way this song is amazing and Blake's voice really makes this song!   Have you ever been homesick?

Home- Blake Shelton w/ Miranda Lambert


Official Music Video of Home

"Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

Maybe surrounded by

A million people I
Still feel all alone, I wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know"

Mental Conditioning

I love to listen to Hay House Radio and one of my favorite shows is John Holland's Spirit Connections. This morning's show was called, Believing in the Impossible. John talked about how our families unknowingly mentally condition us to certain beliefs by things they say. His family's saying or mantra was, 'We never have any luck.' He told himself that if he wanted to accomplish his goals then he needed to break free of that conditioning. So he started to tell himself, "Anything is possible."

According to John the most common mental conditioning people find themselves living out is, "What will other people think of me?" Perhaps you can relate to some of these mental contionings:

• The rich get richer and the poor get poorer
• You're such a dreamer
• People are out to get you
• I'm not good enough

Sometimes our friends and family members tend to say things to us like, "Yeah right. You won't do that" when we share our goals. Let's take John's advice to "surround ourselves with people who will support and encourage us". If we want to write a book don't talk to your family members about it, instead, talk to someone who has written a book.

One way to change our old mental conditioning is to use positive affirmations and visualization techniques. For example, when John wanted to write his first book he started to visalize the bookshelves at Barnes & Noble and pictured his book on a shelf. He also started to use one of Louise Hay's affirmations and would say to himself, "Life wants me to be happy."

Now what? Take the time to think about what mantra your parent's passed on to you. Are you still living that mantra; and if so, is it time to change your saying? If you are a parent take time to think about the mantra that you are passing on to your children. Let's change our negative mantras into something positive! What will your new saying be?

Aerosmith

I remember as a kid that my Dad had an expansive record collection. I would look through his records and admire all the album artwork. When I got a little older I got a record player and would sneak my Dad's records down to my room and listen to his classic rock collection. He had quite a few Aerosmith albums and I recall him bragging that he got to see Aerosmith live before they were popular. Bet he didn't know at the time that Aerosmith would still be rocking it today! Here are a few Aerosmith songs that I love!

Angel


"You're the reason I live
You're the reason I die
You're the reason I give
When I break down and cry
Don't need no reason why

Baby, baby, baby

You're my Angel, come and save me tonight
You're my Angel, come and make it alright"

I Don't Want to Miss A Thing

"I don't wanna miss one smile, I don't wanna miss one kiss
I just wanna be with you, right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close, feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment for all the rest of time"

What artist do you listen to that your parents rocked out to?

Survivor

I have been listening to Pandora lately and ran across these Survivor songs that are awesome!

The Search Is Over


"I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world, that was just my style
Now I look into your eyes
I can see forever, the search is over
You were with me all the while"

I Can't Hold Back


"I can feel you tremble when we touch
And I feel the hand of fate reaching out to both of us
Theres a story in my eyes, turn the pages of desire
Now its time to trade those dreams
For the rush of passions fire"

Do you feel like a Survivor?

Inexpensive Art Appreciation

About six months ago we setup our computer screensaver program to scroll through assorted art photos, photographs and nature landscapes. As new ones come up we have been discussing what we like or don't like about the pictures. Tonight my five year old said, "Momma, don't you wish we could go through the screen right now?" He was referring to a beautiful western sunset. What an inexpensive way to appreciate art!

Positive Affirmations

Every time you say to yourself, "I am fat" or "I am too skinny" you are creating a negative affirmation. Affirmation is just a fancy word for self-talk. Read this inspiring article about creating Positive Affirmations. I am going to use positive affirmations in several categories such as health, love, weight,etc in my life in 2011. What an awesome tool for self-growth!

Why it's good to let kids get dirty!

Many parent's today dislike when their children get dirty, because it usally means more laundry for them. But the following articles and video explain why it's important for children to get dirty.

Let Your Kids Get Dirty--Explains why dirt is good for our kids immune systems

Dirt-It's Good for Kids--"Relax, Let your kids get dirty!" We are being too phobic about germs.

"Dirt is good" for Kids, Experts Insist--Put away the antimicrobial soaps, let kids play in the dirt



Let kids be kids! They should come home dirty everyday or they are not doing their body good!

A Fine Frenzy

I would love to see this girl perform live. Wow, what a voice!

Think of You



"I think of you whenever you're not around...you still pull me home"

Almost Lover

"Goodbye my almost lover"

Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you loved?  How did you cope?

Happy Housewives

Are you a housewife? Women who stay-at-home to care for their families and homes tend to get a bad rap. Darla Shine, creator of the Happy Housewives Club, says "Stop apologizing and feel proud of the great job you are doing!" Shine wants you to take to heart the 10 Golden Rules for Happy Housewives. Be proud ladies!!