NO REGRET

Winning An Argument

*Calm and cool is the rule
*Never lose control of your emotions
*Have all the facts and state your case clearly
*Confuse (if not kill) your opponent with kindness
*Don't make or take it personally
*Take the high road whenever possible
*Encourage compromise
*Empathize with your enemy
*Flatter your enemy 

I am taking notes.....Let's just not argue!

Wonderland

Choosing Happiness

"If you had a rough childhood, you have extra challenges in front of you, but it's up to you to overcome those challenges. We all have our own individual relationship to happiness, and shaping that relationship is within our control. Being happy doesn't happen overnight; it takes time, patience, and ---most of all---forgiveness."
SD ~ BA

TOP 10 RULES

TOP 10 RULES
TO LIVING THE
BADASS LIFESTYLE

1. Be True To Yourself
2. Be Honest With Yourself And Others
3. Be Brave
4. Be Adventurous
5. Be Kind
6. Be Bold
7. Be Well-Informed And Well-Educated
8. Be Self-Motivated
9. Be Just A Little Bit "OFF"
10. Be Confident

Quote of The Day

"The meaning of life is not to simply exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer."
Arnold Schwarzenegger

Easter Brunch Menu

Aunt Marleen's Potatoe Salad

Sliced Ham

Deviled Eggs

Bakery Croissants

Fruit Tray

Bacon, Sausage &Cheese Platter

Mark's Pink Salad

Mini Cheese Cakes

Lemon Cup Cakes

SIBLINGS

I love my children. I also love how they love each other!
Yesterday Mark and Jessetter were texting all afternoon.
When I told Cookie and Mark that Jessette and Cole would be over
for Easter Brunch they almost simultaneously said "I love them".
When the kids leave the house, they always let the other one know,
they always say I love you!
When each of my babies were born I gave that new baby
to the one just older than them.
I told that big sibling that this was their baby,
they need to take care of that new one,
to love them, protect them and be their friend.
Jessette has always looked after Mark,
she took her role very serious when he was little. She gave him his first car!!!
She keeps up on both him and Cookie even though she no longer lives at home.
Mark was indeed sad that Cookie was not a boy,
he had hoped to name her Franklin after his favorite show.
(He already had two sisters after all)
But I have never seen a better sibling bond than the one these two last children have.
Cookie idolizes her big brother. And he makes sure that he not only takes care of her,
but sets a great example for her also. Thier bond is great!
Even though my oldest darling is far away, 
her siblings are still so protective and in love with her.
I think we all hope that she will get to a point that she wants
to join back in to this sibling fun fest!
I LOVE MY KIDS!

They Have A CLUE

SPRING BREAK
Cookie and some friends hung out
durring spring break,
I was delighted that the game closet
 was the source of  hours of fun.
Not one cell phone in hand!!!
WooHoo!!!

Quote of The Day

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
Oprah Winfrey

Funny Story

I take highway 101 home from work. And the other day as I was on my way, I turned the bend there at Union Hills. Now on this particular day, my cell phone was not working right and I was hoping to get a call from my guy, so I had the windows up and the sterio off. (Yes usually I am the Tahoe with the the screaming music and the wind blown hair!) As soon as I turned the bend it sounded like my windshield  (yes the brand new windshield that I just got replaced last week) was being hit by machine gun fire. Thud thud thud thud thud. It lasted only seconds, but the carnage was gross.
I had driven through a swarm of bees! I was saved bodily damage! But my vehicle sure got peppered!

Parallel Paths

Tammy called me.....
we are on the phone right now in fact.
We can open everything up and let it all spill out.
We share everything, we are twin sisters from different states.
She is the very best person I have ever known.
I am a better person just by having her in my world.
We are on a parallel path in our lives right now.
I am so very glad to have such a wonderful friend to journey with.
I love her!

FLOWERS

VULNERABLE:

1. capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
2. open to attack or damage

exposed     sensitive    susceptible    unprotected    
unsecured    undefended    unguarded    

Quote of The Day

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."  Bill Cosby

Quote of The Day

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing...that's why we recommend it daily."



Zig Ziglar

ADDICTION of The HEART

 "I have developed and addiction. I guess it easy to do , there so many things to be addicted too. This addiction has consumed my life. When I don't feed it I cant sleep , I cant think , and I cant function. I am mean with out my fix everyday. My hands shake and my body hurts. But when I get my fix my world is happy and complete . I have tried to get off this drug a few times but then I realize how bad I need it.  I talked with my therapist last yr about this, and he gave me little hope of overcoming my addiction. I know this element in my life can give me permanent happiness. Maybe someday I can get my head together and do what I need to do to be happy. I know what that is. Unlike many addictions this one doesn't attack the brain or the blood supply. It only effects the heart. Unless my supplier decides not to feed my addiction at all , I hope she will give me enough of her drug to make me happy. Maybe someday that will be total happiness for us both."

Again I Am Grateful For The Lessons

I am truly blessed to have wonderful friends. 

I am grateful for the lessons I learn from them, the strength I have witnessed. 

For Don, who is the most tender hearted Bad Ass I know. He lost his dad this morning to lung cancer. 

My love and sympathy go out to Houston tonight. Love you Don. 

For Christy who's daughter suffers from massive headaches that stop their life. And who's husband suffers from stupidity and alcoholism. Yet she is a delight to work with. 

For Megan, who at such a young age has learned to stand up to bullies. She has learned to stand up for herself with confidence. Even when the bully is someone she wants to love.  

Hard life lessons. 

Good people. 

I am grateful for what they teach me. 

Wisdom From My Shopping Partner

It's all fun and games util they tell you the total!! 

Give Them The Pickle

  Take Care of The Customer

Service~ Make serving others your #1 priority. You're in a noble profession.
Be proud of what you do and where you work.
Attitude~ Choose your attitude. How you think about customers is how you will treat them.
Consistency~ Customers return because they like what happened last time. Stick to your high service standards.
Teamwork~ Make each other look good. Everything you do ends up in front of the customer.

Little Things make a BIG DIFFERENCE

Quote of The Day

"Only by being open to change

will you have a true opportiunty

to get the most from your talent."

Nolan Ryan

Schedule

I don't mind coming to work,

but this eight-hour wait to go home

 is really starting to mess with my schedule!

Quote of The Day

"Once you replace nagative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
Willie Nelson

Maslow's Hierarchy

Home Work

http://paulgraham.com/love.html

My daughter gave me home work to do. 

She gave me some wonderful advise. 

And she says if I don't get it done, 

she is going to kick my fanny! 

I will do my home work. 

Thank You Beauty! 

Quote of The Day

"It is quite easy for me to think of a God of love mainly because I grew up in a family where love was central and where lovely relationships were ever present. It is quite easy for me to think of the universe as basically friendly mainly because of my uplifting hereditary and environmental circumstances. It is quite easy for me to lean more toward optimism than pessimism about human nature mainly because of my childhood experiences."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon

I took some of these photos and others are google pics,

 but all these sum up the wonder and beauty of

 Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.

 I love Love LOVE spending time there. 

The Walking Dead

My kids are into zombies. I personally don't get into that stuff. I find is icky. To each there own. I avoid anything ugly, rude, unpleasant, stupid, scary or crude. I may be getting old, but I know what I don't enjoy. HOWEVER, my friend came to visit this weekend. He and my kids like The Walking Dead. I was talked  into watching the first episode in the series. I tried to have an open mind. But I ended up watching it with my hand over my eyes. My kids where excited to hear that I had gone to the dark side. But I can honestly say, I will never watch it again. It was awful!!! No I do not think it is like a soap opera, it was more like a horror show. So yes I tried something new. No it wont happen again!!

Vernal Equinox

At 7:02 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 20, the sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator during a moment known as the vernal equinox when both day and night are about equal -- also the official start of the new season. The seasons are reversed for those in the Southern Hemisphere and the event instead signals the beginning of fall.

Spring will last three months until June 21, and summer will carry on until the autumnal equinox on Sept. 22 at 4:44 p.m, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Tarot Card Reading

I had a card reading done the other day. 

Now keep in mind, I'm a skeptic, big time. 

The deck was shuffled and cut. 

The card were placed. 

Then the journey was told.

 I don't remember it word for word. 

But I can tell you that it fit me. Like a glove.

 No wild stuff. 

Just a calm reminder from the universe; 

that once again, I am in the right place, 

doing the right things, making the right choices, 

wanting the right things in my life.

 I pondered the reading,

 and as I digested all the things I was told. 

 I am doing what is best for my kids and me. 

I already knew all of what I was told. 

None of it was new. 

But clarity can come in many different forms. 

And even when you are not looking for it. 

Some times. the universe just lets you know 

that you are doing a good job. 

JACK

OZ

Paleo Cookies

I am not so sure about this Paleo Diet, 

but I made these Breakfast Cookies over the weekend. 

And I am a HUGE Fan!!!

My kids loved them too!!
http://butterinmycoffee.blogspot.com/2013/01/breakfast-cookies.html

Thought of The Day

"Everyone in this world is dealt a different hand—some better, some worse than others—but what's more important is how you play that hand. This is what builds character. And with great character comes great reward."

It Moved My Son Musically

If you don't have a fire, or a passion, you're only going to go so far - Evan Brewer

Quote of The Day

"The state of your life is

nothing more than a relection

of your state of mind."

Dr Wayne W Dyer

The Tenth of March

TODAY is......

COOKIE'S 13 and a HALF BIRTHDAY

Tayli's 13th Birthday

Miss Amelia's 1st BIRTHDAY
o0O0o...o0O0o...HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADIES...o0O0o...o0O0o

it's also......

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF AWESOMENESS

How fitting!!!

Quote of The Day

To accomplish great things,
We must not only act,
But also dream;
Not only plan,
But also believe.
Antole France

Bad Ass

"Bad Ass" by Shannen Doherty. 

I read this book. Its not one of my usual reads. 

But it was fun and it had lots of empowerment tidbits. 

I love when you find something that brings out the inner biker babe/goddess! 

I will share some in the near future!

I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing

Watch you smile while you are sleeping

While you're far away and dreaming

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender

I could stay lost in this moment forever

Where every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Don't want to close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleep

Cause I'd miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I'd still miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating

And I'm wondering what you're dreaming

Wondering if it's me you're seeing

Then I kiss your eyes

And thank God we're together

I just want to stay with you in this moment forever

Forever and ever

I don't want to close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleep

Cause I'd miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I'd still miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

I don't want to miss one smile

I don't want to miss one kiss

I just want to 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 Yeah yeah yeah

I don't want to close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleep

Cause I'd miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I'd still miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

I Don't want to close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleep

Cause I'd miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream will never do

I'd still miss you babe

And I don't want to miss a thing

Don't want to close my eyes

I don't want to fall asleep

And I don't want to miss a thing

EEK

Thought of The Day

Always Believe Something Wonderful Is About To Happen!

The Garage

This Thursday we have plans to clean the garage. Our goal is to get both cars in!!! 
My garage is not a disaster, other than all the packing boxes that I didn't ever need. The storage in there just needs reorganized. So Thursday is our day! Yesterday, Jessette stopped over to visit after work. We all visited for a bit, then as she was ready to head home, I asked her to take the last of her boxes out of the garage. After all she has her very own garage now and a darling house as well. We put the last of her boxes in her car and her disassembled desk as well. She asked if I was kicking her out. I reminded her that she had moved out almost two years ago. She agreed, but said that now I would have none of her things here. I reminded her that it was all just storage and I have so many lovely things inside still to remind me of her. 
On my way to reclaiming the garage, I did the happy dance!  

Thursday Update:
Mark, Amy and I cleaned out the garage. We reorganized everything. It got swept out and we took a load to Good Will. All the storage was sorted, and three more boxes will be headed to Jessette's place. Both cars are in the garage!! They fit great! We are all doing the happy dance!!

Being A Man

My son worked the closing shift last night. He got home around 11:30 pm. Today he has the opening shift at 5am. I was asleep when he got home, but awake when he left this morning. Before he left we talked for a minute about his friends, the band, bills and money. He said I should take the money he owes me out of the bank. I told him that doing so would leave his account empty. He said, "I am going to work, I'll make more, I just bought a car." I kissed him good bye and he left for work. I saw, as I have before, that my boy is growing into a responsible adult.
Proud Parenting Moment!

My Little Rental Home

I have lived in this little house for almost three and a half years. I love it! It is so me. My youngest two say it has always felt like home since the day we moved in, I agree. The paint on the walls are the colors I would have chosen, the tile is great, the plantation shutters are beautiful! The landscaping is far from perfect, but workable. The one and only thing I have disliked are the toilet seats. Gross, I know, petty perhaps. But as the house has felt like home since the day I moved in, the seats have been a daily reminder that this is still a rental. Yesterday we replaced them! What a joy to have the new replace the old. A simple thing, a small price for something that makes this little house feel like HOME!

Versa

My son spent the day with Maria yesterday. 
I like her! Maria is Amy's mom. She is where Amy got her firecracker attitude! 
By the end of the night Mark had his name on a new 2013 Nissan Versa. WOW!

My son is a grown up.

Quote of The Day

"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves.
The process never ends until we die.
And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."
Eleanor Roosevelt

Please

"Without you here with me, everything is hard to do,
Even breathing.
I miss you, please come home to me. I love you"