Whit's Wit

 FAMILY FRIDAY!

Once upon a Halloween Little Stephi and Little Sammi came home from a fun filled evening of trick-or-treating and threw their candy bags in the floor and went to bed.  The next morning was rushed as usual so the candy bags in the floor were forgotten again.  Or so we thought...

When we returned home that evening our geriatric Sheltie proved that not only had the candy bags been remembered by ONE of the family, but that Halloween is the greatest holiday EVER for a dog left alone with two giant sacks of candy.  Our house was trashed, their were candy wrappers everywhere and the phone was off the hook from where she had obviously called and invited all her doggy friends over for the party!

It took her about two days to recover from her sugar high.  I think it was her best days ever!

Whit's Wit

I just informed my Daughters that they had three options.  They can start helping out around the house now, or they can pay me cash  for my silence later, OR they can just ignore me and wait until they have children who come home saying "But Grammie says YOU NEVER HAD TO DO CHORES!" 

Their choice.

Weigh Cool!

Don't Blame the Children!

I've always kind of wanted to be a Weight Watcher's Leader because they seem so peppy and excited and helpful and everyone seems to love them so much.  I think the one thing holding me back is that if a client were to say "Well, I keep the cookies in the house because of the children" I would be forced to shout "LIAR!!!"

It used to drive me bananas when people would say "I don't want to punish my kids just because I'm on a diet".  Are you kidding me??  Is eating healthy food a punishment now??  Having them start healthy eating habits today will allow teach them how to AVOID ever being overweight!  We want our children to do better than us and not make the same mistakes we've made.  If I knew then what I know now my children would have been introduced to every single vegetable ever grown before they could eat solid foods.  I gave in too quickly - it was easier to throw the chicken nuggets and fries their way than to sit there for five extra minutes while they sulked about eating a carrot.  My youngest Daughter only likes two vegetables.  Do you know how hard it is to work those veggies into each and every meal??

So stop laying the blame on them for YOUR lack of willpower and get real!  Those cookies and candy and chips can be a treat from now on - not a staple food item in the cabinet.  And IF you are still going to bring it in, then make healthier choices.  Choose popcorn or pretzels, pack up small baggies of low fat chips or cookies and LIMIT the amount of days they (and you) eat them each week.  And take a suggestion from someone who wishes she could have a do-over - start serving at least one new vegetable a week to your family and do whatever it takes to make everyone try it.  I PROMISE you will be glad you did!

Whit's Wisdom - SPECIAL EDITION

Be Careful What You Auto Renew!!

What started out as a very productive day went downhill very quickly!  I was paying my monthly credit card bills online (yes, I pay them off in full each month), and I noticed a charge from McAfee for $89.   Hmmm....curious.  And then I remembered an email I had received from them last week that I had flagged to read when I had time.  (Note - flags do not always work so well as reminders.)  $89 charge?  It looks like I had time NOW.

According to the email, McAfee had - per my original instructions - upgraded my anti-virus subscription for yet another year.  Great - right?  WRONG.  I had recently won a free 3-computer subscription for my laptop and now I had virus protectors coming out the wazoo!!  Who's fault was it?  Mine!  I guess years ago I thought it was a great idea to have it update automatically so I didn't have to bother with it.  Well, years ago we had more computers and different needs than we do now...but I was paying for a 3 computer subscription on computers that were already covered by another protector.  I have to say I was incredibly lucky because I did happen to notice this before the 30 day guarantee expired, and McAfee was an absolute joy to work with.  They did not give me one bit of trouble for canceling and they sent confirmation information immediately.  I want to point out that I didn't have any trouble with them at all product or support wise - I just had a free copy from a competitor.

Before any of you have a frustrating and perhaps not as lucky experience, I'd sit down and think about anything and everything you might have set on Auto-Pilot.  You could be paying for something you don't need like I was!!

Whit's Wisdom

A few months ago Bath and Body Works had an awesome sale on their foaming hand soaps.  I purchased 7 of them for about $1.50 each.  Well, now I'm down to 1 bottle - but I have no worries....I saved all the empty bottles!  I will simply take my free or practically free (because of coupons!) shampoo or soap refill product, fill the foaming bottles with 1 part soap - 4 parts water, give it a little shake and I'm back in business!

If you want to get super creative you can purchase a fragrance free soap (such as a liquid dish soap) and pour a bit of your favorite perfume or body spray into the soap/water mixture.  Now you have a one of a kind hand soap!  If you are big on the antibacterial soaps, try adding in a little bit of rubbing alcohol.  I personally haven't tried it, but it should work just fine.

Whit's Wit

I just discovered a new drinking game.  Monday night's at 8 p.m. EST watch "The Secret Life of the American Teenager".  Every time they say SEX - drink!  You'll be passed out by the first commercial.

Wait...WHAT?

Just when you think people can't get any crazier....

The editors of the Journal of Animal Ethics are calling for an end to the term PET for our furry and feathered friends, stating that the term is insulting.  Not to us....to our pe....uhm, companion animals.  We, the owners, should also refrain from using such a possessing term for ourselves and instead adopt the title of Human Carers.

"Prof Linzey and his co-editor Professor Priscilla Cohn, of Penn State University in the US, also hope to see some of the more colourful terms in the English language stamped out.  Phrases such as “sly as a fox, “eat like a pig” or “drunk as a skunk” are all unfair to animals, they claim." 

I'm at a loss for words on this one.  I can only sit here and shake my head and wonder when the madness is going to end.