Who Knew?

We were watching Grease the other night and I commented on how old the characters looked - all supposedly teenagers.  At least they were consistent, though....everyone looked older than a teen, so it all seemed to make sense somehow.

I ran across an article today and I was totally shocked  - Stockard Channing (Rizzo) was actually 34 years old when she performed in Grease!!  34!  She was portraying an 18 year old.  Did you know that our beloved Olivia Newton John was nearly 30 when she played Sandy? 

And what about Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future III - Onscreen age of 17 - Real age of 29!  Alan Ruck (Cameron - Ferris Bueller's Day Off) was also 29 playing a 17 year old.  Kevin Bacon was 26 when he played the 18 year old Ren in Footloose.  These guys make Ralph Machio really seem young when at age 23 he portrayed The Karate Kid (Daniel - age 16).

Glee Cast (as of 2010) 

Quinn 24, Rachel 24, Mercedes 24, Tina 24, Artie 22, Kurt 20, Puck 28, Finn 28

Looks like child actors are going to be playing toddlers for a very long time....

WHO KNEW? 

Wait...WHAT?

The differences between Men and Women:

By Cliff Pickover

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/math-book.html

Whit's Wisdom

Change those Air Filters!

When I moved into my house I was a single Mom with no clue about home owning.  I inherited my Grand Parents home, which my Parents had been maintaining for my Grandmother for several years.  I'd been here about 6 months and my Daddy came to help me move something in the basement and asked why I had so many air filters left.  They had purchased a dozen....and there was a dozen left.  I replied "What filters?  Oh.  What are they for?"  Once he got all the dust off of him (from pulling out the horrible looking filter) he explained the importance of it to me.  Here's the Wiki version:  

A particulate air filter is a device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air. A chemical air filter consists of an absorbent or catalyst for the removal of airborne molecular contaminants such as volatile organic compounds or ozone. Air filters are used in applications where air quality is important, notably in building ventilation systems and in engines.

Got it?  Well, here's the part he told me that made more of an impact - if you have a clogged filter, your air conditioner/furnace is having to work harder (more electricity) to filter out the bad stuff and it is COSTING YOU A LOT MORE MONEY.  That' got my attention.

So, change that filter!  You can purchase the cheap once-a-month kind or go for the high end 3-6 month kind that cost a ton but supposedly filter out more bad stuff AND you don't have to change it as often. I go with a once-a-month plan.  I put a little note on the calendar and keep a stash in the basement next to the furnace. 

As an extra bonus - if your filter is clean your house is less dusty! Less dust/pollen/pollutants means healthier family!  Healthier family means less doctor visits!  Win/Win/Win/Win!!!

Whit's Wit

Isn't it ironic that that same teenager who says "I don't know WHYYYYYY you won't let me *insert daily unreasonable request here* !!! I'm practically grown!!" will snuggle up to you and ask "So....what's the Easter Bunny bringing me this year?"

Wait...WHAT?

Just when you think visiting the bathroom couldn't get any more exciting....

WELCOME TO JAMMIN' JOHNS!

 

As a young man, Kentucky music store owner Marvin Maxwell, fashioned a guitar from a toilet lid. Twenty-five years later it suddenly occurred to him "to turn the idea around 180 degrees." He commissioned fellow drummer and business partner David Boone to build the prototype. As Boone told the Louisville Courier-Journal, "Marvin either put his brain in gear or took it out, we don't know which."

To order from Jammin' Johns:  http://www.jamminjohns.com/home/

Who Knew?

Pringles are Chips....no, Crisps...but not in the UK....they are biscuits or cakes there - HUH?

Pringles were initially introduced into the market as Pringles Newfangled Potato Chips.  However, having only 42% potato-based  in its formula, the majority of it being wheat starch and various types of flour, the U.S. FDA eventually made them change their name because they didn't meet the requirements of a potato "chip". In 1975 the name Chip was changed to Crisp.

Oddly enough, this change brought trouble upon the Pringles Company in the U.K.  "Crisp" in Brit-speak translate to"Chip", so they were back to being a potato chip - at least in the United Kingdom.  Apparently, there is also a 17.5% VAT (value added tax) on products made with potatoes.  In 2008, the Pringles Company had to go to court, citing that (under British standards) Pringles are more like a cake or biscuit, and therefore should not be charged the VAT.  The High Court ultimately ruled that the product was not a potato chip and the VAT tax did not apply.

Luckily, no name change was necessary.

As a side note----the Pringles cartoon character is name Julius Pringle...who knew?

Whit's Wisdom

Pack A Lunch!

One of the easiest ways to save money is by not eating out at lunchtime.  Do you even realize how much money you are spending each day?  I would say an average take-out lunch is around $7....that's $35 a work week.... $1,820 a year.  Even if you eat a $3 meal deal from McDonald's - that still comes to $780 a year.   And seriously, how many of us pay even more than the average by dining out in restaurants where the food is more expensive and a gratuity is involved. Is that REALLY how you want to spend your money?

I make my Husband's lunch every day.  If I didn't, he wouldn't.  Not because he minds taking it, he just doesn't like the hassle.  It's not something I just love to do, but I love the idea that we can take a  vacation - make a couple of extra house payments - have an emergency fund - by taking five minutes a day to make his lunch.  His job provides a company paid lunch once a week so he gets a treat and doesn't get tired of eating a homemade lunch each day.  So even adding an 'eat out day' once a week is still a huge savings on your wallet.

But, back to actually making the lunch.  He takes sandwiches, leftovers and sometimes frozen dinners (if I get them on deep discount)chips, fruit, energy bars.  It's just part of my routine to make his lunch in the mornings.  But I'm also not trying to rush out to get to a job either.  What I suggest to everyone is making that lunch AT NIGHT and storing in the refrigerator.  When I worked outside the home I would fix lunches while cooking my dinner.  That way it is ready to go the next morning (the most hectic time of the day!).  Having it all ready also keeps you from using lack of time as an excuse to eat out.

And DO treat yourself every once in a while.  Plan a lunch date with a friend or co-worker once or twice a month, eat at your favorite restaurant, go out for an ice cream after your homemade lunch.  It always tastes so much better and is much more rewarding when it isn't a daily event.

Whit's Wit

I want to be a guest in my own home.  I hear the service there is amazing!!

Wonderings and Ponderings

"Only believe half of what you see and none of what you hear".  Who grew up being told that by their Elders?  "Hey, Mom, Angie said that Jonie said that Jenny's mom wears men's underwear!"....Yeah, we all had to learn the hard way.

But I always trusted the News.  I believed that what they told me were facts.  Not hearsay, not personal opinions, not creative spins.  If the entire story wasn't known - it wasn't told.  And maybe I've been wrong all along - but I think that when Walter Kronkite signed off each night with "and that's the way it is" I felt like I had been told the truth.

With technology, you would imagine, comes intelligence. The more I am exposed to, the more information I can get my hands on, the more I will know.  But the more I blog, the more I search for interesting, fun, different, extreme news I'm understanding more and more how hard it is to trust what is touted as fact.  I see a news story and Swag it (SwagBucks search engine) and I might read seven different articles that have different information.  I've tried to research historical figures only to find one website that says one thing - three others that say the exact opposite.  In this world of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., we are constantly being updated with new information - all of which people are posting and re-posting as facts, and getting outraged or excited or arguing about it.   It's sad to say, but most of it is untrue or a portion of information taken out of context.

Television/Cable News stations are like watching either bad reality TV or crime dramas.  The snippets of 'news' that tease you into watching their newscasts are over-dramatized and incredibly misleading.  The Newspapers have headlines that make you think one thing, only to find as you read along that it is the exact opposite.  Most editorials are now called fact instead of personal opinion.

It's a shame.  And as many opinions as I have about this - I have zero solutions.  I just have to try harder to root out the truth, believe only half of what I see and none of what I hear, and question everything and everyone. 

And that's the way it is, Tuesday, March 29th, 2011.

Who Knew?

APHRODITE was the great Olympian goddess of pleasure, joy, beauty, love and procreation.

Aphrodite's Magic Girdle:

This girdle was popular for its ability to arouse desire and create a great hunger for love. This girdle was so "potent" that whomever she desired would fall in love with her. Hera, in her role as the goddess of marriage, occassionally borrowed it from Aphrodite to reunite quarrelling spouses in love and to inspire the bridal contests of suitors.  It is even sometimes said that Hera once wore the girdle to win back Zeus's affection. 

And I always assumed it was a MAN who invented that torture device!  Who Knew?

...and more importantly, would Aphrodite just wear Spanx nowadays??

Whit's Wisdom

I love, love, love sour cream on my homemade tacos.  I hate, hate, hate how it globs in one or two spots when I try to spoon it on.  My oh-so-intelligent daughter, Stephanie, solved this problem for me - plastic baggy!!

Take an ordinary plastic baggy (maybe that one that you bought accidentally with the fold over top that no one in your family will use! oh, sorry) and spoon in your desired amount of sour cream.  NOT TOO MUCH - you don't want to be wasteful.  Scoot all of the cream into one corner of the bag and then snip off the tip of the bag with scissors.  Gently squeeze your sour cream onto your taco!

This is basically like using a icing bag - but with sour cream.  I had actually considered doing this before, but I was afraid too much would be left inside the bag.  Not so!  Since it's not as thick as a frosting it slides right out!

It's the little things in life that make us the happiest.

Whit's Wit

Extreme Couponers say that clipping coupons is FUN, invigorating, thrilling and highly satisfying!

I bet they run with scissors too....

Wait...WHAT?

Don't you just hate it when you get an email and the Subject tells you just enough to get excited, but the body of the email crushes you like Scissors under Rock?  That's how I felt this morning.

SUBJECT:  Disney Land's Rights to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple!

Agatha Christie is my most beloved author. She wrote over 80 novels and short stories, as well as 12 plays - "The Mousetrap" being accredited as the longest running play in theatrical history.  Christie has sold roughly 4 billion books - only  the Bible and William Shakespeare have sold more.  Her books have been translated into 103 different languages.

In layman terms, Christie rocks!!  But to read on in the body of the email:

Deadline is reporting that Agatha Christie's most famous character, Miss Marple, will be heading to the big screen, but instead of Marple being an elderly woman in England who solves murder mysteries, she will instead be portrayed as a 30 to 40 year old woman. Mark Frost, who co-created Twin Peaks with David Lynch and most recently wrote Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, is writing the script. The site says that the story is still developing...

Miss Marple portrayed as a 30-40 year old?????  Miss Marple is an old maid....OLD being the key word, here.  She is not your average detective; indeed, she does not look like a  detective at all.  She is a curious old woman who has lived in the same place her entire life and has had every opportunity to observe human nature.

For those of you unfamiliar with Miss Marple (and what a shame that is) here is a visual of what Miss Marple was created to look like - and who Disney will now have portray her:

 

NOW do you see why I just don't get it?  It is rumored that Jennifer Garner will both produce and star in the big screen version.  I understand her desire to play this amazing character....I just wish she'd wait another 30 years to do so.

Wait...WHAT?

The comparison alone is irreverent, but maybe it says a little about whom we idolize today.

Art Director: 

Jenny Burrows 

 

Copywriter: Matt Kappler

Who Knew?

Syndicated Financial Editor Humberto Cruz just wrote his 1,000th column, going back over 20 years where he has advised people how to handle their finances.  He wrote a retrospective for this column, stating the two main things he has learned from people that are the most important things to know about managing your money.

1)  SPEND LESS THAN YOU MAKE.

2)  STAY COMMITTED TO SAVING MONEY - day after day, month after month, year after year.

Humberto Cruz and his wife retired from work in their mid 50's from middle class salaries, bought a home on the beach and still had a $2 million dollar nest egg.

It sounds so simple....and it is.

Whit's Wisdom

Time for some more recycle, reuse, repurpose and reinvent!

Paper Towel Holder = Toilet Paper Holder


When my Husband and I got married he brought along a counter stand paper towel holder.  It is made out of marble and is beautiful and very heavy.  I tried to use it for about a year but it just took up so much counter space - space that I simply don't have in my kitchen.  


So, I threw it in a closet.


A couple of years later I was on a search for one of those covered toilet paper storage bins.  I found some, but they were all too expensive and took up way too much space in my bathroom.  (Do you see a pattern here?  Not a large home.)  I just hated putting spare toilet paper in the closet though - it was just inconvenient, if you get my drift.  While going through said closet, I notice the marble paper towel holder....paper towels are on a roll....toilet paper is on a roll.....PERFECT!


It was a match made in heaven!

Whit's Wit

I follow Charlie Sheen and Kirby the Corgi on Twitter.  Are there any doubts now about my state of mind?

Wait...WHAT?

It's Friday and everyone is headed home, leaving that job behind and thinking only about the weekend!  But if you find yourself dreading Monday like these people, you might want to re-think your career path.

Life's too short to for the wrong job!"

For a closer view visit:  www.dailydawdle.com/2010/09/10-best-lifes-too-short-for-wrong-job.html

Have a great weekend!

Who Knew?

R2D2, that lovable Astromech Droid from Star Wars fame, was named by George Lucas during the making of "American Graffiti".  It appears that Mr. Lucas was working late one evening and a co-worker asked him for "Reel 2, Dialog 2".  Supposedly George wrote down the abbreviation and saved them for future use.

Who Knew?

Whit's Wisdom

After making out a grocery list, couponing, going to the grocery store, bringing the items home and then putting them up - I'm way too tired (or lazy) to separate my ground beef or turkey into individual baggies for freezing.  (I always buy in bulk - cheaper per pound in most instances.)  

To make up for this laziness, the first time I need the ground meat for dinner, I go ahead and cook it ALL  Then I separate the already prepared meat into one pound bags and freeze.  We use it for tacos, spaghetti, pizza topping, sloppy joes, etc.  All I have to do is pull it out to defrost and heat it up.  Makes cooking dinner so much quicker and easier!

Whit's Wit

Family Friday!!!

When I picked up Little Sammi from daycare one afternoon, she had a vast collection of rocks that she had gathered.  After closely examining each and every one of them, she proudly announce that, seeing as how she had no pockets on her dress....she had carried them all in her undies.

Wasn't she the clever one?  sigh. 

Wait...WHAT?

While researching the validity of this so-called Fact:  "If one places a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.", I ran across this youtube video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGphmfaVEAI

After watching AMAZING PICTURES, I knew it definitely topped my scorpion information.  This video starts by warning "This is for Adults", but I wasn't offended by anything I saw.  It also takes a lot to offend me though....use your own best judgement.

I hope you enjoy!  Definitely turn the sound on - there's a beautiful song accompanying the pictures.

Oh, and if anyone can prove the scorpion thing - let me know! 

Who Knew?

I was making garlic toast last night and, for the life of me, could NOT see the salt coming out of the container.  I finally had to pour some in my hand and then sprinkle it onto the butter.  I told my daughter that colored garlic salt sure would be convenient.  It would be awesome for folks who really needed to monitor their sodium intake too.

Just when I thought I'd invent something and become rich....sigh.....I hopped on the old Swag Wagon (swagbucks search engine) today and look at what I found:

http://margaritasalt.com/colored_table_salt.htm 

What's Shakin' Table Salt - Five different colors too!   They also offer Margarita salt.  You can order it online through the link above.

If you are like me, though, I prefer a do-it-yourself method.  I haven't tried it yet, but I'm thinking a ziploc baggy 1/2 full of salt, a couple of drops of food coloring and some shakin'!  I would suggest spreading it out on a cookie sheet to allow it to dry before putting it back in the shaker, though.  I bet the moisture from the food coloring would make it clump.  

If I can do it with salt, surely it will work with garlic salt too!  Now all I have to do is figure out which color looks most inviting!

Whit's Wisdom

This just crossed my mind while stopping for gasoline today and thought I might share my epiphany.

I pulled into a fairly crowded gas station - one with 20-25 pumps and a large convenience store.  I used my credit card to pay at the pump and while it was filling up I remembered I needed hamburger buns for dinner.  As I started to lock my vehicle and walk into the store while my tank was still being filled- I realized how EASILY someone could come along and use my pump - my money - to fill up a gas can or even their vehicle!!

I don't know how many times I've seen other people start gasing up and run in the store to get food, cigarettes, even use the restroom, and leave the the pump in the tank.   We (at least I do!) think about locking the car - but in a crowded station, who is going to notice someone filling up a gas can along side of your vehicle?  Or pulling up on the other side of your car, putting the hose into their tank and stealing from you?  And with gasoline prices as high as they are - would you even realize it if someone stole $5 or $10 worth of gas from you?  I doubt I would.

From now on, I'll make sure my transaction is complete before I make that quick trip inside!

Whit's Wit

Jake and Zoe, my dogs, ran outside yesterday to say bye to Steph.  That was around 3:30.  A couple of hours later I mentioned to Sammi that I was so happy that the dogs were loving the beautiful Spring weather as much as I was, because they hadn't been in since Steph left.  I went on and on about how they must be loving that wonderful breeze.

Around 6:00 I started hunting the house for Sammi.  Thinking she had gone into the backyard, I opened the door and ran smack-dab into the patio umbrella!  The table had fallen and the umbrella was completely blocking the doggy door!  I had barely lifted it when both dogs shot by me and zoomed into the house....where they remained the entire night.

So much for my SPRING theory.

Wait....WHAT?

Chris Brown apparently expects everyone to forget his violent past and just move on.  When questioned by Good Morning America's Robin Roberts yesterday about Rhianna he tried to avoid the subject.   When asked how he felt about the stay-away order being lifted, he said"..."It's not really a big deal to me now. ... I think I'm past that in my life and today's the album day".  A few more questions regarding his ex-girlfriend clearly made him agitated and angry.

After the interview was over Chris Brown stormed off the set and allegedly broke a window in his dressing room by throwing a chair through it.  By the time security got to the room, Brown had taken his off his shirt and left the building after getting in a producer's face.

I'm not surprised....he has anger issues....he has proven that time and time again.  What makes me stand up today and shout WAIT....WHAT? is this:


 

 

Did he really bleach his hair?!?!?!  I sure would hate to see that hairdresser if this was an accident!  Yeeikes!

Whit's Wit

My family takes all non-perishable empty items (boxes, plastic bags, bottles, glass, etc.) and places it on the table next to the trash can.  

I go through it, break it down, separate it and take it outside to the proper bins.  Once a month I load it all into the van, drive to the dump, take it out of the van, place it into the respective dumpsters, drive home and put the bins back out so we can start all over again.

My family calls this "helping me recycle"....I call this "helping me earn another stupid badge". 

And STILL they wonder WHY I drink.....

Who Knew?

Finally, something older than ME!!

Eggo Waffles were created in the 1930's by three brothers Tony, Sam and Nate Dorsa.  The product was introduced throughout the US in supermarkets in 1953.  This breakfast favorite was originally called a froffle-a portmanteau of frozen waffles, but the "eggy" taste soon has the public nicknaming them Eggos.  In 1955 the name was officially changed to the now famous Eggo. 

In the 1970's Kellogg's purchased the Eggo brand and came up with that famous advertising slogan "Leggo My Eggo".  As of 2009, Eggo held 73% of the waffle market in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Happy 75th Birthday Eggo!!  For more information on the history of waffles, please visit this website:  http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1941724,00.html

Whit's Wisdom

Got a picky eater living at your house?

I wish I could say "My kids ate what I cooked or they went to bed hungry!"....but I can't.  I was a short order cook for a few years (or so it seemed), and then I just adjusted my dinner meals around what they would eat.  As they've matured, so have their taste buds.  As with everything else in raising children....it does get easier as time goes by.

I did learn a couple of tricks along the way, though.  Kids will TRY everything they help prepare.  They might not eat it, but if you let your child help you cook they have that ownership - that pride - and they will normally take a bite or two just to prove that they are fantastic cooks.  Sometimes we all get surprised and they actually like it!

Kids love finger foods.  Heck, I love finger foods.  Give me a few finger sandwiches, a crudites platter (who knew that was just raw veggies???)  and maybe some dips and I feel like I'm at a party!  I always loved it when we had cheese and leftover cold ham or roast beef and crackers for dinner when I was a kid.  It just felt more festive.

I'm not even allowed to talk to our house plant because I am the Grim Reaper to all things green, but I know that kids do enjoy growing their own veggies and will, again, be more likely to try them if they grow them.  Planting some container tomatoes or squash or potatoes and watching them grow from seeds to beautiful vegetables is a great way to inspire children to eat those vegetables.

When all else fails....turn to peanut butter.  (unless your child has allergies, of course - bless their hearts!!!)  My oldest daughter ate pb&j sandwiches every single day of her school career until she went to high school.  I'm not exaggerating - every single school day.  Knock on wood, she is one of the healthiest people I know.  There is no scientific proof, but I swear that peanut butter warded off the cold germs! 

Peanut butter is great on waffles, apples, crackers, pretzels, celery....the choices are endless! I've listed two of our favorite recipes below:

Banana Dogs - 1 hot dog bun (lite or wheat suggested), 2 tbs. peanut butter, 1 banana - spread the peanut butter on the bun and place the banana in the center....eat like a hot dog.  Guaranteed grins and giggles.

Soldiers:  saltines, peanut butter, marshmallows:  spread pb on saltines and top with a marshmallow.  Place on a cookie sheet in the oven on BROIL.  Do not walk away....these only take a minute or two to start melting the marshmallows.  Remove from oven and let them cool a bit (just a minute or two....they taste better when they are still a bit warm).  YUMMY!!

Who Knew?

My Whit's Wisdom disturbed me so much today that I wanted to end the afternoon with something light.  I have searched random facts for the last hour and it is simply AMAZING what interesting tidbits of knowledge are out there - - - all claiming to be TRUE.  Since I was unable to confirm or deny this story - I decided to let you be the judge:


In 1843, a Parisian street mime got stuck in his imaginary box and consequently died of starvation.

 

There's something to be said about someone taking their work so seriously.

Whit's Wit

My kids are smarter than yours....

My girls befriended me on Facebook.  They also follow me on Twitter and my Blog.  They love me.

Although....whenever i open my mouth to speak, someone holds up a hand and says "we already know....we read about it on your wall...."

Blasted Opportunists.

Whit's WOW!!

I just had to share this tweet from Blake on the Dave Ramsey Show:

Blake: Upset about gas prices but love your lattes? The avg latte costs $3.59 for 16 oz. That's 22 cents per ounce (or $28.72 a gallon!)

Does that put things in perspective for you now????

Whit's Wisdom

Time for some more recycle, reuse, repurpose and reinvent!

1)  Grocery Bag Throw Rug

If you know how to crotchet, this was easy...but very time consuming.  I had two-hundred million grocery sacks sitting in my mudroom waiting to be used.  Well, it looked like it, anyway.  I already reuse them by lining my small garbage cans with them and using them for lunch bags, but they were really just getting out of hand.  I was surfing the net one day and found a recycling website which suggested cutting the bags into thin strips and using it for crotchet yarn!  I have to say, it was like slapping me in the face with the white glove - I was challenged!

After a little practice I figured out it was easiest to lay the bags flat, cut off the handles and the fused bottom first.  Then I just cut around the bag - like I was peeling an apple and trying to keep the peel together in one long strip.  It takes patience!  I then just tied the strips together by knotting them and pulling them very, very tight to make the knot as small as possible.  I just did a simple chain stitch for the width I wanted and a double stitch after that.  Here's the result:  

I use it as a runner in front of my washer and dryer.  It's not what I'd call 'pretty', but it keeps the clothes clean when I accidentally drop them on the basement floor!  My basement will flood during heavy, heavy rains and when it does, this rug can be hung on the clothes line to dry and thrown back down - no mildew, no stains, no washing!!

2)  Chip/Snack Clip

Since the first one is a bit time consuming, I figured this second one needed to be a quick fix.  Do you have chips and snacks that you'd like to keep sealed so they stay fresh?  Bring in the old, faithful clothes pin! 

I know stores sell chip clips - and some of them are adorable....but a set of wooden laundry pins can be purchased for $1 - and you get about 50 in a pack.  Roll your opened bag down, pushing out as much air as possible, and slap that laundry pin on it.  Voila.  So simple a child could do it (and should!).  I keep about 20 of them hooked to a canister in my kitchen for instant access.

If they aren't classy enough for your kitchen, you can always doctor them up with some paint, plastic gemstones, wooden letters....get creative!

Wait....WHAT?

Normally when I'm searching for an article for this segment of my blog, I search out quirky, funny, unusual news that makes you say "huh?  what were they thinking?"  and hopefully giggle a little about how silly humans can be.

This will not make you laugh at all.  When I read this article it made me physically ill. 

An 11 year old child (female) was gang raped in Cleveland, TX.  17 men have been arrested so far, with the potential of more arrests pending.  I would normally add in the phrase "allegedly raped"  but the sexual acts were caught on several cell phone videos.  She was 11 years old.  It is rape.

How can you possibly find anything more horrific than the actual physical actions of these men? It gets worse.  "...local activist Quanell X blamed the girl and her family for what happened at a town hall meeting Thursday. 'It was not the young girl that yelled rape. Stop right there, something’s wrong brothers and sisters,' said Quanell X."  A small group gathered together at a news conference Saturday to support the 11 year old and to protest the words and allegations of Quanell X and his followers. Quannell X questioned where the girl's parents were....supporters of the girl say they can ask the same question - where were the parents of these 17 men?

To quote a Facebook friend who brought this article to my attention:   "Why is it necessary to drum up support for an 11 year old that was gang raped by at least 18 men? Support for this child should be a given. I don't care if she walked butt naked down main street at high noon shouting I'm ready to have sex with at least 18 men. Not one of these men had the right to lay a finger on this 11yr old CHILD!"

 I couldn't have said it better.  To blame this child is just beyond comprehension.  After threats and phone calls, Child Protective Services has placed the girl in foster care for her own safety.

 
For the full news story:    http://www.khou.com/home/Group-supports-11-year-old-in-center-of-alleged-Cleveland-sex-assault-117866074.html

Wait...What?

Watch for ZOMBIES??

Motorists on Hwy 160 (near the South Carolina-North Carolina border) have been warned to watch out for Zombies, be aware of Hunters, and be alert for Tanks.  The electronic signs, which normally flash messages about road construction, have been changed quite a bit in the last few weeks. 

Ken Wilson with the state's transportation department says a key is needed to get into the control box for the signs. A code is needed to change the wording.

So far, no undead or weapons of mass destruction have been spotted.

BLOG UPDATE:  According to my Niece (who obviously knows more than the original writer of this news story) Hunters and Tanks are also zombies. They're from the game 'Left 4 Dead'. Even funnier now!

Who Knew?

Convertible Wedding Dresses???? Really??

A family friend just got engaged this weekend, so, being a household of mostly girls, there's been a lot of talk about rings and dresses and 'when I....' conversations in our house today. My oldest daughter would love to have the Limited Edition Cinderella wedding dress (shown here http://www.chipandco.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/1219463167_uBwkm-M.jpg ) and I would love to keep my house without having to sell my body (to SCIENCE - you knew what I meant!)

I did a little research and found these convertible wedding dresses! You start off with this wonderful long, flowing, traditional wedding gown. After the wedding, you pull off a little here, take off a little there, maybe do some unzipping here and there and bazinga - instant reception dress!




This is just one of many selections I found by a simple Swagbucks search. I guess this idea isn't anything new - but how cool is it?!? Here is a blog I found displaying a few more if you are interested in seeing different styles. This has been out there since 2008, so I'm sure there are probably hundreds more now. http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/how-gorgeous-is-this-convertible-wedding-gown


I always like to get the biggest bang for my buck, and I think this is just a fantastic bargain - it's like BOGO at Publix!

Whit's Wisdom

Humpty had all the King's horses and all the King's men....and he still couldn't get unscrambled in one day!!

I was fine when I woke up....until I remembered that I had two tons of laundry to do (got behind last week and still refuse to do laundry on the weekends), a house with no food in it, an a computer room that had been totally demolished yesterday and needed to be put back together again.   Oh, and it's time to pay bills too.  

Once I got the crying and screaming stopped so I could think (yeah, it was me) I realized this:  It doesn't ALL HAVE TO BE DONE TODAY.  In this house if my family has dinner, a pair of clean jeans and internet access they are happy.  They don't care if they have to step over a couple of totes or if the laundry room looks like it exploded.  And I schedule bill paying early so I have a few days leeway.  Since I'm not having Oprah or Queen Elizabeth over for tea at noon - I don't really think this mess is going to hurt anyone, is it?

So, I'm creating my to-do list, breaking it down in small segments, and going to tackle it a little bit at a time.  And I'm going to reward myself after each segment.  A piece of dark chocolate here, and coffee break there....even some sunshine time!  And what doesn't get done today can just wait until tomorrow!

Morale of the story - stop putting so much unnecessary pressure on yourself.  Don't sweat the small stuff.  Stop and smell the roses.  Rome wasn't built in a day!  

Whit's Wit

I'm always trying to teach my Family life lessons.  It's great to stockpile food when you find a fantastic sale, but it's also important to learn not to run to the grocery store when you are out of your convenience foods.  So last week I taught them the art of "eating from the cupboards" (fixing meals from food we already have).

This week I guess I'll have to teach them the art of "eating from the dumpsters"....

Wait....WHAT?

Mama says I can be whatever I want to be!

....and obviously, if you have a video camera and can write a really, REALLY bad song - you can become a STAR!  At least that seems to have happened to Rebecca Black, new youtube.com Super Star.  The teen's song "Friday" has gotten over 16 million hits on youtube (according to TMZ this FRIDAY).  She also appeared on GMA today (FRIDAY).  I have a feeling that by SATURDAY her 15 minutes of fame will be over. 

If you have been under a rock this week and unable to hear this song - I strongly suggest you pop on over to this site http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/videogaga/71429/is-youtube-sensation-rebecca-blacks-friday-the-worst-song-ever/ and check it out.  It will make your own child's trumpet/violin/singing/guitar playing seem not quite so bad anymore.

Who Knew?

I absolutely LOVE Hungry Girl! http://www.hungrygirl.com/  She is just a regular person (not a nutritionist) who loves to eat but wants to maintain a healthy weight.  So she has taken everyday REAL FOODS (and tons of restaurant foods) and re-created them with healthier, lower calorie alternatives.

I have tried tons of her recipes and, so far, I haven't found one that I didn't like.  Tonight I hit the JACKPOT of HG recipes though.  Hungry Girl Magical Low Calorie Margarita!  It truly tastes like a yummy mexican restaurant margarita!  Not only is it tasty but look at this!

PER SERVING (entire recipe, 1 margarita): 115 calories, 0g fat, 55mg sodium, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, <0.5g sugars, 0g protein -- PointsPlus™ value 4*

I personally think it is much better than those store bought mixes and it has tons less calories and sugars.  It was super simple to make too (recipe below).  I made them 'on the rocks' but my next batch I will try some frozen ones.  If I only had a fancy margarita maker I think they would be perfect!  I highly recommend your signing up for Hungry Girl's daily email AND check out her cookbooks!  I own four of them!

I have definitely found my new Summer drink!  CHEERS!

HG's Magical Low-Calorie Margarita

Ingredients: 3/4 cup Sierra Mist Free (or Diet Sprite Zero, or your other fave no-cal lemon-lime soda) *1.5 oz. tequila 1 packet (two 5-calorie servings) sugar-free powdered drink mix, lemonade (like the one by Crystal Light) 2 tbsp. lime juice Optional: lime slice for garnish and salt or no-calorie sweetener for rim of glass Directions: If desired, run some lime juice along the rim of the glass and dip into a dish of salt or sweetener. Mix all ingredients together. Pour over 1 cup of crushed ice. Optional: Garnish with lime slice. Enjoy. Serves 1! *You can also make your margaritas alcohol-free. Each recipe, without tequila, contains around 20 calories!

Whit's Wisdom

Constant case of the sniffles or congestion?  Try checking under your bed.  I've admitted that I am not a great housekeeper, but I do vacuum once a week (twice during dog shedding season).  And I move things around when I vacuum - picking up the rugs, vacuuming behind the tv's and under the chairs and even swiping off the air vents.

You should have seen my face, though, when I accidentally sucked up a sock from under my bed and stooped down to retrieve it.  YEEIKES at the dust bunnies hiding under there!!  I thought I had so much stored under my bed that a bunny couldn't fit!  But there they were.  No wonder my husband snores - he's sleeping on top of pet hair and dust and probably pollen from having the windows open.

So if you can't seem to find what's making you ill - try looking under the bed - you might find something worse than monsters hiding out!  

Whit's Wit

FAMILY FRIDAY!!!  Since my oh-so-talented niece, Casey, created such an adorable avatar for my blog, I figured I needed to feature her today!

Casey did EVERYTHING earlier than most babies - she came out talking, walked at 8 months and I truly believe she took drama lessons in the womb!  One afternoon at my Mom's house, little two year old Casey fell and hit her head quite hard on the table.  Within seconds a lump began to form on her forehead.  My Mom is old school - no ice bags for us - we've always used the side of a metal butter knife to rub across a lump to make it go away.  (I don't know - something cool about the metal maybe?)  Regardless, Casey is crying and my Mom yells "Whitney, run get a butter knife!!"

To Casey's dramatic reply:  "NOOOOOOOOO - you're going to cut me to pieces!!!!"

Who Knew?

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.


Well.....he/she is supposed to be impartial and thereby not solicit any opinions.  However, their job is to make sure that order is maintained (no name calling) and they do run the meetings, so there is some speaking involved.