Making Changes in the New Year.

I love the start of a new year. And I love to make resolutions. And like every other year, my top resolution this year is to become more organized. What does that mean? I'll no longer stack mail and school papers on the counter and in my office. I'll clean out my closet and keep clothes off the floor. I'll dust and vacuum on a regular basis. I'll keep the clutter to a minimum. Whew. My husband will be glad to hear this. Oh wait. He has heard this before. Last year. Okay, I typically start the year off strong and then things kind of fall apart. Isn't that what resolutions are all about. Hope and then failure. No. I'm kidding. I choose to set goals and hope for great things in the new year. Don't we all need a "new beginning" once in a while .. or every year.

Have a safe and happy New Year's celebration. And set a resolution.

I enjoyed this movie ...

I hope you had a great weekend! With just over a week until Christmas we were busy with a Christmas party, kid's activities and just a bit of shopping. I did, however, get a chance to watch a good movie. It's called "Catch and Release" featuring Jennifer Garner. It takes me forever to get around to watching movies so this one is not a new release and it's a "chick flick." Enjoy!

Treat Yourself ..

Are you in the mood for a warm treat, but don't want all the calories that go along with it? While paging through the November 13th issue of Woman's Day I came across this low-calorie dessert drink that will warm your bones during the upcoming winter.

Here's what it said:

Head over the Starbucks and order yourself a Gingerbread Latte. Order it "tall" nonfat with sugar-free syrup and the drink is only 100 calories. (I always get a little whipped cream on top. The few extra calories are worth it to me.)

Stay warm and have a happy day.

It's the Christmas for Fleece

Are you looking for a great Christmas gift for the kids to make for grandparents, teachers, or really anyone? How about a fleece scarf. I like to have the kids make Christmas gifts for certain people every year but don't want to repeat what we've done in the past. The kids have already made book marks with their pictures and magnets, but this is the year of fleece.

Go to a fabric store and pick a favorite fleece pattern. Have them cut the fabric 9-12 inches wide. Take it home and trim up along the sides so it's even. Lay it out on the floor and have the kids cut 1 inch wide/3 inch long pieces on the ends of the scarf. Make sure you have an even number of pieces. Then have them tie two pieces together at a time. Tie them right over left and then left over right. It's very easy for the kids and the grandparents love the presents. At least ours did. We've already celebrated Christmas with one set of grandparents.

If my instructions are not clear, the employees at the fabric stores can usually tell you what to do. They're all so crafty .. and well, I'm not ... usually.

Happy shopping!

Great Book to Share

If you're going to have some down time this long-Thanksgiving weekend I have a great book for you to sink your nose into. It's titled "Ricochet" by Sandra Brown, who's the author of 55 New York best-sellers. Every time I put it down, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. Enjoy and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

The Best Day ... Ever

How would you describe your favorite day? Does it include shopping, watching football, spending time with good friends? I love to do all of those things, too, but Sunday was the BEST DAY EVER. I spent the whole day in my pajamas. When's the last time you had the chance to grab your most comfortable down-comforter and prop up on the couch for the day? I can't remember the last time that happened in my house and it was wonderful. I watched two movies, finished a book I've been reading, played several board games with the kids, watched the Chicago Bears on TV. As we gear up for the busy holidays, I highly recommend taking a day for yourself. It made me, not just happy, but giddy. I can't wait for next Sunday.

Find happiness in your life.

New Fall Recipe - Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkins are everywhere this Halloween season. They decorate our homes and porches and they fill our pies and cakes. A friend of mine recently shared this Pumpkin Cake recipe that's absolutely delish! Easy to make! Easy to eat!

Pumpkin Cake

4 eggs
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of vegetable oil
2 cups of flour
2 tsp. of baking soda
2 tsp. of cinnamon
1 tsp. of baking powder
1 tsp. of salt
1 small can of pumpkin

Mix ingredients together and pour into greased cake pan or jelly roll pan. (The jelly pans makes a lot more) Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. It'll likely take a bit longer if you use the cake pan.

Icing

1 stick of butter or margarine
1 tsp. of vanilla
1 8 oz. of cream cheese
1 lb. of powdered sugar

Mix together with a mixer until smooth.

Hey! I never said they were healthy. Enjoy.

Where's My Money Going????

Your not a big spender but, once all the bills are paid, your checking account is nearly empty. Do you ever wonder where all that money is going? According to MSN Money (where I got this article) it's surprisingly easy to blow thousands, a few dollars at a time.

MSN Money says here are the "10 little expenses that add up fast."

1. Coffee. According to the National Coffee Assocation, the average price for a cup of brewed coffee is 1.38 ($4 for a latte). There are rougly 260 weekdays per year, so buying one coffee every weekday morning costs $360 per year.

2. Cigarettes. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids reports that the average price for a pack of smokes in the US is $4.54. Pack-a-day smokers fork out $1,650 a year.

3. Alcohol. Drink prices vary depending on location. But assuming an average $5 per beer including tip, buying two beers per day adds up to $3650 per year.

4. Bottled Water from Convenience Stores. A 20-ounce bottle of Aquafina bottled water cost about $1.

5. Manicures. The Day Spa Magazine Price Survey of 2004 found that the average cost of a manicure is $20.53. A weekly manicure sets you back about $1,068 per year.

6. Car Washes. The average cost for a basic auto detailing package is $58, according to Costhelper.com. The tab for getting your car detailed every two months: $348 pewr year.

7. Weekday lunches out: $9 will generally cover a decent lunch most workdays. If you buy, rather than pack, a lunch five days a week for one year, you shellp out $2340, a year.

8. Vending machine snacks: The average vending machine snack costs $1. Buy a pack of cookies every afternoon at work and pay $260 per year.

9. Interest charges on credit card bills.

10. Unused gym memberships. Costhelper.com reports that the monthly service fee at gyms average between $35 and $40. At $40 per month, an unused gym membership runs $480 a year.

Published October 11, 2007, MSN MOney

Have a smart day.

Let's Make Some Smores!

So ... my husband caved. I got my fire pit.

Here's a little back story. About a month ago, I told Bruce that I really wanted a fire pit. The kids love making smores and I love to sit around the fire with family and friends on a cool, fall night. They're only about 50 bucks so it was no big deal, right? NOT! Bruce got on a high horse "challenging" me not to buy a fire pit. WHAT?! His argument ... (besides our Visa bill being huge) was that I constantly impulse shop. He says I always say "I need this and I need that," and I don't stop until I get what I want. (What woman doesn't?)

Still, it's a fifty dollar fire pit. Come on! Well, I didn't buy one and this argument went on for about a month. I'm still not really sure what changed his mind. But I returned from out of town this weekend to find a new fire pit sitting on our patio out back. It was a surprise from him and the kids.

HMMM ... why the change of heart? It may have been that he was on a camping trip this weekend and realized that he, too, enjoyed sitting around the fire. Guilt may have been a bigger factor. After the topic came up on the camping trip, my neighbor, Tim, apparently told Bruce ... "Oh, just go buy your wife a fire pit!!!"

He did. HMMM .. Maybe the next time I "need" that really expensive item, I should consult Tim to do my negotiating.

I'll let you know how the smores come out.

Have a great day!

Stinky washer. Stinky clothes.

UGH! I did it again. I forgot my load of towels in the washing machine .. for two days. Now they (and the washing machine) stink. Am I the only one who does this? If not, I found a tip for making that little annoyance go away. According to an article in my Redbook magazine, you can get the smell out. Here's how;

Rewash the towels on the longest setting and at the hottest possible temperature using your regular detergent plus a detergent booster, like OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover (oxiclean.com). At the rinse cycle, Redbook says you can add 1 oz. of white distilled vinegar to attack the mold and mildew, without harming the fabric.

Then, throw the towels into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet and dry them completely - or the smell will come back the next time they get a little damp.

If you're washing machine still has a funky smell (YES, IT DOES!), run an empty cycle on the hotwater setting and add a 3/4 cup of chlorine beach to disinfect the washer and kill any leftover bacteria.

(Redbook cites it's source of information as Steve Boorstein, author of The Clothing Doctor's 99 Secrets to Cleaning and Clothing Care.)

Have a happy day!

Fall Season = Jean Season

Cooler temperatures are now upon us, thank goodness. Over the past 48 hours, we've gone from a high in the 80's to a high in the 50's. It's all good. Aren't you in the mood for a little Fall weather? I am. Keep in mind, though, that once we pull those sweaters out of the closet, we also have to pull those jeans out of storage. Yep, it's time for us to squeeze back into those pants we've been able to avoid all summer. What's the problem? It's just that wearing jeans is the TRUE test when you want to know if you've gained a little here and there since the last time you put them on. I think I came up with the perfect solution for me. Last week, I went jean shopping and decided I needed two pairs of jeans. They are the exact same style but different sizes. There's one for those skinny days and one for the .. well, the other days. Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. Two pairs of the exact color and style of jeans .. different sizes. It makes perfect sense.


"You're either in or you're in the way." - Several friends love to repeat this quote. I don't know where it originally came from but I like what is says.

Have a great day!

Women Falling Down

Women Falling Down ... Again this has nothing to do with my trip to Vegas. :)

"Women Falling Down" is the latest funny video I discovered on YouTube. Okay, I'm addicted (just a little) to humorous videos on the video-sharing site. Someone sends them to me and I send them along to friends and we all laugh. Well, I found another one and I want to share it with you. I may have a warped sense of humor, but I find this kind of stuff hysterical. It gets me every time. Hee, hee. I get a good belly laugh and I hope you get one, too.

If you want to laugh, click on the site below or go to youtube and type in the key words "Women Falling Down."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr8h_7ONK24

Enjoy. Have a great day.

Temptation ....

Temptation is defined as something that seduces or has the quality to seduce.

Temptation is defined as the desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid.

Temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual.

Let me tell you. There's alot of that temptation thing going around right now.

Get your minds out of the gutters, folks. This has nothing to do with my trip to Vegas. It's more like my latest trip to Target.

Yep, it's that time of year again. The Halloween candy is out and I have to tame my temptation for chocolate. I promise I'm going to be good this year and I'm going to help you be good, too. I believe in moderation so that means I will enjoy some of that sweet stuff but I'm not going to over-indulge. Here are some miniature treats you can enjoy and not feel guilty about the calories. (Family Circle Oct. 2007)

Hershey's Kissables (This might do it)
12 pieces
63 calories
3 grams of fat

Starbursts (2 candies)(I don't think I can stop at two. How about four?)
40 calories
1 gram of fat

Mini York Peppermint Pattie (Not my favorite)
47 calories
1 gram of fat

Tootsie Pop (No, thanks)
60 calories
0 grams of fat

Snack size Junior Mints (I'll pass)
60 calories
1 gram of fat

Individually wrapped Twizzlers (YUM - I'll go for these anytime)
40 calories
0 grams of fat

Have a great day!

Back from Fantasyland

What Happens in Vegas ...... Stays in ......

Nope I'm not finishing that sentence. I got everything I wanted out of my trip to Vegas and more, but it wasn't that wild. I spent a couple of fun days with five girlfriends laughing and being a bit silly. We dressed up and went out on the town. The Celine Dion concert was fantastic. I spent five hours at the pool Saturday, reading, listening to music and meeting a lot of fun people. In fact, I've already started planning next year's Vegas trip.

Yeah. We're definitely going back.

Be happy and have a great day!

What Happens in Vegas ..........

I have a couple of specific goals over the next few days; sit by the pool, shop, see Celine Dion in concert, eat some great food, relax. I'm heading off to Las Vegas with five of my friends and we're planning a weekend of fun. I haven't been to Vegas in many years so it'll be like a new experience for me. I don't gamble much but may find myself at the Blackjack or Craps table for a few hands. I also hope to see a celebrity or two. Why? Because it would be fun to come home and say I saw a celebrity. Have a great weekend. I know I will.

Clogged garbage disposal

It's been my experience that it's not a good idea to put a bunch of spaghetti down the garbage disposal.

The first words out of my husband's mouth this morning.

Bruce: "What did you put in the garbage disposal?"

Me: "Spaghetti."

Bruce: "You put all that spaghetti down the disposal?

Me: "It's spaghetti. (A moment of silence) Is the disposal clogged?"

Bruce: "It's pretty hosed."

It's been my experience that it's not a good idea to put a bunch of spaghetti down the garbage disposal.

Have a great day.

My TIVO is set

I'll admit it. I'm a TV junkie. As fall approaches, I look forward to a few favorite things ... juicy apples and delicious apple-cider donuts from Tanner's and Apple Bloossom Farm, cool Fall nights and the new TV schedule that begins in September. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the season's new shows. With three young children, lots of activities and the need for sleep, I don't have as much time as I used to to watch TV. Here's what's set on my TIVO so far.

SUNDAY
Desperate Housewives (ABC). I kind of lost interest at the end of last season but plan on watching this year.
Brothers and Sisters(ABC) - I didn't watch this one last season but have heard great things. I hope to catch up.

MONDAY
How I Met Your Mother (CBS) I love, love, love this funny comedy.
Two-And-A-Half Men (CBS) Keeps me laughing.
* Samantha Who (ABC) This is a new one. I'll check it out and let you know. Christina Applegate stars as a woman who wakes up from a coma with no memory of her past.

TUESDAY
The Biggest Loser (NBC) How can I ignore this one. Peorian Jerry Lisenby is losing (weight) bigtime.
* Cane (CBS) Drama with Jimmy Smits. I'll give it a try.
* Carpoolers (ABC) Sitcom. We'll see.

WEDNESDAY
* Private Practice (ABC) Spin-off from Grey's Anatomy.
* Back-To-You (FOX) Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton team up. Could be funny.
* Bionic Woman (NBC) An old theme with new life.

THURSDAY
Grey's Anatomy (ABC) I also lost interest in this one last season. We'll see what happens this season.
The Office (NBC) I love to watch this one with my hubby. He thoroughly enjoys this one.

FRIDAY
*Women's Murder Club (ABC) A bunch of women team up to solve crimes.

OTHER MENTIONS :
Deal or No Deal (NBC) My children love watching this one so it'll definitely be on the TIVO.
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader - For the kids

Check out USA Network for these TV shows (shown below) that will be in reruns. I love all of them. They're character-driven shows that are highly entertaining.

Burn Notice
Psych
Monk

WOW. I guess I didn't realize how many shows I record. There's no way I'm going to be able to watch all of these.

Have a great day.

My Monday Blues

My week is not off to a great start. First, I didn't sleep very well last night. Then, finally I nod off about an hour or so before my alarm is set to go off. Once I wake up and get down to the kitchen, I discover my coffee maker has made an awful mess. I don't know what happened but there was it was .. on the floor, on the counter, in a drawer. I cleaned up that mess and then was late for work. On my way downtown, I look down and see that my engine light is on. OH MAN! We already have one car in the shop so this is not good news. Finally, I make it into the studio, sit in front of my computer, have some java and ahhhhh, I'm feeling much better now.

P.S. I know compared to some people this Monday doesn't sound so awful, but it was all happening at 4:30 in the morning.

Okay, I'll quit whining now.

Have a great day.

Car Trouble

I made a BIG mistake yesterday. While driving my husband's car, I accidentally rolled down the passenger side window. UUGH! That's what came out of my mouth as soon as I hit the wrong button. What's the BIG deal? The window is broken and has been for almost a year. It's now going to cost us BIG to get it fixed. My hubby has a Volkswagon Passat and, while it's been a great car, it's very expensive to fix anything on that vehicle. Never again will we buy an import. We've managed to live with the broken window for over a year now by warning anyone who gets into the car not to touch the window. If it comes down it rarely goes back up without the help of my husband. Bruce seems to be the only one who can temporarily fix it. Well, that's over. Last night he couldn't fix it. It's down and won't come up. I guess we've put it off long enough. It's time to pay up and get it fixed. Until then though, we're stuck driving with the window down. It's a good thing there's no rain in the forecast.

Have a great day!

Another Toy Recall

Maybe we'll all save a lot of money this upcoming holiday season. With another recall by Matell, it's third in a month, I'm not sure how confident I am in the safety of toys these days, specifically the ones coming out of China. Maybe I just won't buy toys that say "Made in China." That's how I'm feeling these days. Call me Scrooge. All of these toys in question have tested positive for excessive amounts of lead paint, which can cause brain damage when ingested by young children. My question .. what is the United States doing about it? I haven't done much research but will.

Have a great day!

New recipe to share

I've found a new recipe I want to share. This is usually big around the holidays but it's yummy anytime of the year.

White Chocolate Gorp

1 pound of white chocolate (I used the white bark)

6 cups of Rice Chex mix

3 cups of toasted oat cereal

2 cups of thin pretzel sticks (I broke them in half)

2 cups of nuts (I used peanuts)

1 large package of M&M’s

Directions:

Melt bark/white chocolate in a large saucepan over low heat of microwave until just soft. Stir until melted. Combine all the other ingredients in a big bowl. Stir white chocolate into mixture. Turn out on waxed paper. Let cool.


Enjoy!

Quote of the Day

"The three words every woman really longs to hear : I'll clean up."

- Molly Shannon in Esquire (taken from my Reader's Digest)

Wake Up: It's Time For School.

There's a time for summer vacation.
There's a time to go back to school.
Today, is that day.
Hallelujah!

Have a great day!

Are you a fair tipper?

Are you a fair tipper? I can honestly say, yes, I am. I tip between 15-20 percent, usually on the higher side, mainly, because I used to waitress and realize how hard our restaurant servers work on a daily basis. After surfing the web, I came across an article that says a 20% tip is now the new 15%. Liz Pulliam Weston, writing for MSN Money, reports that 20% is now considered standard. She has some guidelines on tipping, which I've posted below.

Waiter/Waitress 15-20% pre-tax bill
Bartender $1-$2 per round or 15% to 20 % of tab
Wine Stewart 15% of bottle's cost (less as price rises), clearly earmarked on bill
Room Service 15-20% of pre-tax bill
Valet Parking $2-$3 when car is returned
Taxi Driver 15% plus $1 to $2 per bag for help with luggage
Hotel Bellhop $1-$2 per bag
Hotel Maid $2 per night, paid daily, clearly marked "housekeeping"
Skycap $1-$2 per bag, $2 minimum, in addition to any fee
Hairdresser 15-20%
Manicurist 15-20%
Spa Services 15-20%
Food Delivery 10-15% with $2 minimum
Golf Caddy $20 or 50% of the caddy fee, whichever is greater

Liz Pulliam Weston continues:

But what if you get lousy service? Peter Post, of the Emily Post Institute, is quoted in the article as saying if he experiences bad service he caps his tip at 15%, then talks to the manager about the problem. "Not tipping doesn't correct bad service," Post says.

Stiffing is also a bad idea because:

The poor service you go may have been beyond the wait staff's control, such as problems in the kitchen.

The federal minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.13 per hour, so wait staff depend on tips to earn a living wage.

Weston writes that if you don't want to tip because you consistently get poor service at restaurants, consider whether the problem might be you.

My New Favorite Pizza In Peoria

Pizza tops the list when I ask my children what they want for dinner. I love it. They love it. Let's order. The problem for me has been finding a favorite pizza place in Peoria. Over the past several years, there hasn't been a hands-down winner. My all-time favorite is Gioridano's but there's not a restaurant in Peoria. It's usually when I visit my parents in the Chicago suburbs that I get to gorge myself on a Gioridano's stuffed pizza with lots of cheese. MMMM. So I was pleasantly surprised when I visited Firehouse Pizza, which recently moved from Pioneer Parkway to a strip mall off Knoxville Avenue on the north side of Peoria. For me, it's all about the sauce and Firehouse has a zesty one that keeps my taste-buds interested. It's officically my new favorite pizza. At least for now. If you decide to try it, order something different like the chicken barbecue pizza topped with cheese and jalapeno peppers. It may not sound good but it's yummy. There's also a lunch buffet. Below I've listed my top five pizza joints in Peoria and one in Champaign. I'd love to hear about your favorite pizza place. Please, let me know.

Peoria
1) Firehouse Pizza
2) Monical's
3) Uno's
4) Leonard's
5) Nick & Willy's (take & bake)

Champaign
1) Papa Dell's Pizza (LOVE IT!)

Summer Reading List - #2

How much reading have you done this summer? If you're like me, it's probably not as much you'd like. I was able to read three books while on vacation and hope to continue finding some great page-turners. Earlier this summer, I posted a list of books that was recommended to me by friends and family. There were so many that I'm coming out with a 2nd edition. I hope you find one you like.

The Other Boleyn Girl
Author: Philippa Gregory
"A Period Piece. A riveting read when you have lots of time." - Sarah Biehl

Gods In Alabama
Author: Joshilyn Jackson
"An easy read. It moved fast enough. You didn't lose interest." - Shari Robider

Ten Little Indians
Author: Agatha Christie
"An old-time favorite. Great mystery and hard to solve." - Jackie Codevilla

Tuesdays With Morrie
Author: Mitch Albom
"It will make you cry, but it make you think about life." - Mary Brown

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year Old Like A Skank
Author: Celia Riverbank
"LAUGH out LOUD funny!" - Shari Robider

Shoot The Moon
Author: Billie Letts
"It has an interesting storyline, great characters and a nice twist at the end to solve the mystery. I enjoyed this one on the ride home from vacation. " - Me (Nancy Flagg)

Beach House
Author: James Patterson & Peter De Jonge
"A great book." - Gretchen Michelet

Little Bitty Lies
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
"Funny, funny, funny. Loved it."
Shari Robider

The Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love
Author: Jill Conner Browne
"Don't we all want to wear sequin dresses, big red hairdos and dance to the tune of "Tiny Bubbles?" - Mary Brown

The Count of Monte Cristo
Author: Alexandre Dumas pere
"It's the best classic book ever. Romance, action, revenge. It's got it all." - Jackie Codevilla

Back from vacation .. Back to the real world.

It's always great to get away from the real world for a while. A world where you don't have to do laundry, cook or clean up after anyone. That was my life last week. My husband and I, along with our three children, loaded up our mini-van and drove thousands of miles west to the mountains of Colorado. We stayed at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, a vacation that included my husband's father, brothers and their families. Overall, it was a wonderful trip with cousins to play with and lots of outdoor activities for the kids. The weather was pretty good. The scenery beautiful. A very relaxing vacation that left me rested and refreshed. As with every vacation, there was one hiccup along the way. On the first day of driving, as we left Des Moines, Iowa after lunch my husband stayed on 35-south instead of turning onto 80-west. "I bet a lot of people do that," he later said. I just kind of looked at him. Anyway, we ended up in Missouri instead of Nebraska and added an extra three hours to our first day of driving. I'll admit that my first reaction was to throw a hissy fit, which I'm sometimes prone to do. Instead, for one moment, I cursed to myself and then said it was no big deal. He was already mad at himself so why make the situation worse. A big argument would serve no purpose so we made the best of it. Although, I did inform him that I would be talking about it on the radio and also blogging about it and that I would never let him live it down. (Hey, I said it nicely and with a smile on my face.) By the way, while Bruce was driving in the wrong direction, I was in the back seat with the kids watching the movie "Pacifer," with Vin Diesel. It was the only movie I watched on a great vacation that allowed my family to reconnect and de-stress. It's now back to the real world of laundry, cooking and cleaning up after the kids. But it's good to be home.

It's time to go back to school!

Mom ... mom ... mom ... mom ... MOM! Do you remember the first time you heard those precious words. "Oh, how cute. He said ma, ma," I would say to my husband after each of my three children first began talking and calling out to me. Now, years later, hearing that word sometimes threatens to push me over the edge. Usually, it's when one (or all) is shreeching "MOOOOOMMMM" from the downstairs playroom while I'm upstairs. Or when I'm making them lunch and I can't give them what they want fast enough. "Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom." Aargh! Am I exaggerating? I am not. One time in fact, in one three minute span of time, collectively my three children said "mom" about 13 times. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little but you get the picture. Sometimes I even declare that nobody is allowed to say "MOM" for 15 minutes. It doesn't work but, at least, I feel a little better. I think I know what's really going on here. It's time to go back to school! Overall, we've had a wonderful summer at the pool, playing outside, riding bikes and taking family trips. But, I'm starting to get tired of being maid/cook/entertainer/etc. to the kids every day all day. Also, my three children (aged 7,5 and 3) are now getting to that age where they know how to push each other's buttons and do it often. This usually ends in a yelling match. The countdown is underway. First day of school : August 16th. One more family trip and then we get excited about getting on the bus each morning.

Am I the only one? I hardly think so.

Dancing With the Stars ... Fantabulous

The Dancing With The Stars tour cha-cha'd, sashayed and boogey'd through Peoria on Sunday and, WOW, what a show! The Peoria Civic Center arena was transformed. A dance floor was set up in the center. Behind it was a stage and three big screens. Joey McIntyre, Joey Lawrence and Joey Fatone were the "stars" but even they admitted that the real show centered around the professional dancers. The "Three Joeys" did a great job singing, dancing and entertaining, but the dancers were amazing. Another star who was supposed to be performing, Drew Lachey, was not in attendance and there was no mention as to why he was absent. We missed him. The other highlights of the show were the women's colorful and dramatic costumes, and the band which sang and played throughout the whole show. Overall, a fantabulous show. If it comes through Peoria again, I would highly reccommend it.

I hate libraries! No. Wait. I love libraries! But I hate what they do to me. Here's the deal. I'm unorganized and that's a bad trait when you check out dozens of books/audio books/videos from a library. For those of you who know me personally, there it is. I've finally admitted it. I'M HIGHLY UNORGANIZED. I like to think that I'm in charge of my life. I'm constantly writing lists. I have a calendar on my fridge that lists all of my family's activities for the week. The problem is that I lose things constantly. Papers litter my desk at home. And somewhere in my house there is another lost library book. YAARRGGGHHH! This lost-library-book habit began when I started checking out books for my children a couple of years ago. And still, no matter how hard I try, I cannot keep track of all the items. I even try limiting the number of books and videos we check out but it doesn't work. Inevitably, one item always turns up lost on the day everything is due. I search but come up empty-handed. I can't tell you how many times I've written a check for a late fee. Yes, a check. Then, with frustration in my voice, I simply state to my children that, "We are not going to the library any more. We are not checking-out any more books." Of course, I can't stick by my statement. This summer we signed up for the summer reading program at the Dunlap libary. I love to read and now my seven-year old is deveoping a love for books. So, here I am again. It's due-date-day at the library and there's a lost book. Oh well, I'll guess I'll just bring the check book.

By the way, I'll have my second summer reading list out soon. Enjoy!

I Had A Dream About ...

Have you ever had a dream like this one: Your husband leaves you for his ex-girlfriend? I had a dream like that one last night. Bottom line, he left me and went back to her. It doesn't matter that, in the dream, we didn't have children yet and they were living in his first house. It doesn't matter that Bruce and I have now known each other for nearly 15 years and just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. It doesn't matter that his ex is also now married with children.

In the world of dream analysis, I'm not sure what this one means.

There's really not much back story. She was the woman he dated before we met. But this was almost 15 years ago. There was never any drama between the two of us. Actually, I do know what sparked the dream. While eating at a Peoria restaurant a few weeks back we saw her. She came over to the table and we talked. Everything was fine. We were all very nice.

So why the dream?

Okay, I know what you're thinking. Nancy is insecure about her marriage, her relationship, yada, yada, yada.

I'm not, though. I'm very happy. And so is Bruce.

Who knows. Something is going on in the subconsious. I'm just not going to analyze it. No time for that. After all, it's America's birthday. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July.

Thrill Rides ... Not For Me

Every summer we load up everyone in the family truckster and head off to visit a theme park, where there are tons of roller coasters and other rides that make my husband and son scream in delight, while they make me sick to my stomach. Am I the only one? As I've aged I've found that I can no longer handle the thrill rides as they give me a headache and stomach-ache for the rest of the day. This year, we visited Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. It was great fun. There were enough rides for my two youngest children (You'll be happy to hear there's a new Wiggle's section with kids rides, games and a show.) and enough scary rides for my oldest child and Bruce, my husband. They went on the Screamin' Eagle and had a blast. I can usually handle the water rides, like the log flume but, believe it or not, on the June day we went it was too cool. I didn't dare get wet or else I'd be miserable. WOW. Do I sound like a whiner. It didn't come across that way on the big day, though. Everyone had fun and I offered to hold everyones stuffed animals while they went for the rides of their lives.

GNO ROCKS

GNO ROCKS! Literally. A group of friends and I went rock-climbing for our Girl's Night Out. Typically, we hit a local restaurant to enjoy great company and delicious food, but last night it was all about the adventure. Eight of us, ranging in age from 32-39, loaded up in one huge SUV and traveled to Upper Limits in Bloomington. It's a rock-climbing facility in a grain silo. We didn't know what to expect and didn't know what we were doing so we opted for a "Group Adventure," where a guide (Bryan) helped us every step of the way. What fun! We started on a smaller climb and all of us who tried (Gretchen is afraid of heights so she opted out and climbed the low boulders instead) made it to the top. YEAH! Next, we walked into the "real" silo and looked up ... way up. I think it was 65 feet high. YIKES! Patty was first. She did it. Anne (John Riley's wife) was next. Ditto. I went third and was about half way up when I looked down. Big Mistake. I started to get a little squirmish about the height. But I kept going. All I could think about was "If I don't make it to the top, I'll never hear the end of it from Patty." You see, Patty thinks I'm ultra-competitive. I agree. Anyway, I did it. Meg, Michele, Jen & Belinda followed and we all had huge smiles on our faces when our feet were back on the ground. Our legs were a little shaky but our self-confidence was stronger because of the experience. We stepped out of our comfort zone and took on the challenge. Next time ladies, we tackle the 110 foot climb.

"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right." - Henry Ford

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." - Michael Jordan.

Suit Up And Celebrate The First Day of Summer

It was a big day for the Flagg family yesterday. We visited the "Dump Bucket." That's the name my children have given to East Peoria's Splashdown Water Park, simply because there's a huge bucket that dumps itself over the water-playground. They've been asking me to go all year and finally I could say "yes." It was fun for the whole family, even my parents,who were visiting from the Chicago area. The two of them are in their mid-60's and pleasantly surprised me by, not only, going down the big water slide but doing it repeatedly. They also enjoyed floating the lazy river and, of course, watching their three grandchildren swim in the big pool. As an adult, I can't remember either one of them ever getting into water-play when I was young. Mom always sat by the edge of the pool reading her book while my brother, sister and I splashed away. It seemed dad was working. So it was fun to see them tap into their playful side. After all, isn't that what summer is all about? So the next time you're thinking about how the laundry is piling up or how the lawn needs to be cut .. suit-up, hit a local pool and, why not ... splash the kids with that powerful cannonball.

Deal of the Day
(Check the back of your phone book. Splashdown has a coupon. Buy one admission and get one free.) Enjoy.

Camping In The Heat ..... UGH!

Camping in the heat ... hmmmmm. I better rethink that idea. That's exactly what my family did over the weekend in 90-plus-degree heat. Yeah, I know. What was I thinking? It was actually not bad until Sunday morning when we packed to leave. That's when the sun was beating down on us. Boy, were we (hubby and I)crabby.
This was actually a quick tent-camping trip. On Saturday, we headed east to the town of Leroy and stayed at the Moraine View State Park. We were able to swim at the lake for a couple of hours and the kids enjoyed playing in the sand. We cooked out some hot dogs and hamburgers and just hung around the fire. My seven-year old loves to poke the fire with sticks. He also had great fun catching lightening bugs (or fireflies).Lucas proudly told me he caught 15. We also toasted marshmallows for smores and told stories around the fire. Bernard: The Pork & Bean Eating Dog story, told to us by my husband, was my favorite. All in all it was a great opportunity for my family to re-connect and enjoy each other. Even in the summer it seems everyone is busy, busy, busy. I did learn one thing this weekend .... from now on we are Spring & Fall campers .. not summer campers. The heat is just too much. Have a great day.

Visit the BEST Beach this Summer

Are you planning any summer vacations? Imagine, for a moment, that you're sitting in your lounge chair at one of the best beaches in America. Docter Beach (Must be a tough job) has ranked the nation's best beaches and is out with his 2007 list. Believe it or not, this year's best beach isn't in Florida or Hawaii. It's North Carolina's Ocracoke Island, part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Stephen Leatherman, AKA Doctor Beach, is a profesor at Florida International University. He sys there are 14 miles of unspoiled beach at that site. But it might be tough to get there. The only access to the island is by boat or private plane. Other beaches on this year's list are in Clearwater, Florida, Southampton, New York, and Kauai, Hawaii.


Source for story: Associated Press

Stomach Flu .. Go Away!

Ugh! It's not been the best way to start our summer vacation. The stomach flu has invaded our house, hopefully for the last time this year. First it was my five year old (over the weekend), and then my three year old (Monday). So, I wasn't surprised when I came down with the bug, as well. No work for me. In the past, I've gone in to work and just dealt with it, but not today. John went solo. I'm sure he didn't mind. He doesn't want me coming in there spreading germs and getting everyone else sick. So while I did get to sleep in today (1:00 pm).. there wasn't any pleasure in it at all. Listen for me tomorrow.

Summer Reading List - #1

The kids are officially out of school beginning today so even though it's not officially summer on the calendar, the summer days have begun at our house in Peoria. As we gear up for the warmer weather, I look forward to picking up a good book, sitting out on the patio with a glass of wine and gettin' in some good reading. With three children, I know that's not always a reality .. but .. a girl can always hope. Here is a list of favorites from my friends and family. Installment #2 will be out later this month. Please feel free to respond with your favorite books, authors and comments on why you enjoyed them so much.



Housewives Eating Bon Bons
Author: Lorna Landvik
"A real women's story about friendship." -- Gretchen Michelet

The Same Sweet Girls
Author: Cassandra King
"One of my favorite books ever. Great female bonding. If you liked Steel Magnolias, you'll love it" -- Shari Robider

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Author: Lisa See
"Beautiful, heart-warming. About female friendship." -- Sarah Biehl

The Kite Runner (this was recommended by several people)
Author: Khaled Hosseini
"A must read about growing up in Afghanistan during all the political upheaval. Fantastic characters,incredibly engaging and somewhat disturbing." -- Jackie Codevilla

To Kill A Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
"A Perfect Lesson in Life." -- Marika Sharpe

Heat
Author: Bill Buford
"This book is big fun. A writer becomes a kitchen "slave" in Mario Batali's restaurant -- and falls in love with Italian cooking." -- Becky Doubleday

The Stephanie Plum Series ("One For The Money" is the first installment)
Author: Janet Evanovich
"Stephanie is your everyday girl. One can almost imagine themself as Stephanie. A fun read." -- Shelli Dankoff McClellan

Elvis, Jesus, and Coca Cola
Author: Kinky Friedman
"Doesn't The Name Say Enough." -- Mary Brown

The Girls
Author: Lori Lansens
"A story about the lives of conjoined twins, from their own perspective. I heard this was a page turner." -- Tammy White

Joke for the kids

My family was sitting around the house this past weekend and my son, who was reading out of his Captain Underpants book, came across this joke you can tell your kids. Oh yeah, and you may chuckle, too. I did.

Knock, Knock.

Who's there?

I'm a pile-up.

I'm a pile-up-who.

Say it out loud and it will make more sense.

Did you laugh yet?

Hey, nobody said I was mature all the time.

Have a great day

Movie on the Cheap : Movie suggestions

Movie on the Cheap : Are you ready for all the big summer movie releases (and paying an arm and a leg at the box office)? "Shrek 3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" have already attracted big crowds to the theaters (and lots of cash). Yep, it can be pretty expensive to take the kids to the big screen but a friend of mine found a deal I want to pass along. If you go to Willow Knolls 14 before 6:00 pm, movies only cost $4. That's for everyone. So hit a matinee and save some cash.

Movie suggestions:
I love to watch movies but don't get to the theater very often. I try to rent a few here and there and actually had some time over the weekend to sit down and check a few out. Here are my suggestions if you're looking for a couple good ones.

DreamGirls (Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx). This came out ages ago but I just got to watch it this weekend. Loved the music. Loved the story. Loved the stars.

The Lake House (Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves) is for pure romantics. A little confusing (for me) in the beginning but it worked out just fine.

Have a great day.

Information Overload: Mom Moment

Okay, I had a "Mom Moment" this week. That's what I'm calling it, anyway. No, I didn't yell at my kids in public (that happens too) nor did I lock myself in my bedroom (yep, occasionally). Here's the story; like many households we're currently juggling too many activities and my brain went into information overload. My son and daughter are both in soccer, which means we're at Detweiler Park four days a week. Baseball also started and we're there three days a week. I teach fitness classes three days a week. YADA, YADA, YADA. Like I do every week, I drove up to the 24-teller to get some cash and punched in my ID code. DENIED. It said I had the wrong pin number. WHAT! I do this every week. So I sit there a moment and think, think, think. Still nothing. Then I call my husband at work. He doesn't answer. I end up having to drive away from the ATM with no cash. My brain simply shut down and frankly, even today I still can't remember my pin number. Mom Moment? Or Losing My Mind? Sometimes it's one and the same, isn't it? Have a great weekend. Slow down. And enjoy time with the kids. I hope to.

Great place to eat!

Looking for a nice place with great food and fantastic service? Word is The River Station in downtown Peoria is all that and more. It's been gone for a while but recently re-opened. A friend of mine visited the restaurant and said is was fabulous. I guess I'll have to plan a date night with my hubby.

Eat well!

Nancy

The Safest Vehicles for 2007

My husband and I are on the fence about buying a new minivan. The Ford Windstar we've been driving since 2001 is showing it's age. Problems are starting to arise, almost on a regular basis. We've got an oil leak, the brake light recently came on and rust is developing on the door. Oh yeah, last month, we spent hundreds of dollars to fix .. well .. I can't specifically remember what it was but, if I trust the man at the car dealership it apparently needed to be done. In all reality, we could probably get at least two more years out of this van. The kids have trashed the back so I won't have to constantly worry about messing up a new van. Plus, we've been without a car payment for about three years. Boy, that's been nice. So as much as we'd like to drive around in a spiffy, new van, I think we're going to hold off a bit longer. With that said, if you're looking for a new 2007, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has just released its picks for the 13 safest vehicles of the 2007 model year. Safe driving.

Large Cars

* Audi A6 (Manufactured in December 2006 and later)

Midsize Cars

* Audi A4
* Saab 9-3
* Subaru Legacy

Minivans

* Hyundai Entourage
* Kia Sedona

Luxury SUV's

* Mercedes-Benz M-Class
* Volvo XC90

Midsize SUV's

* Acura RDX
* Honda Pilot
* Subaru B9 (Tribeca)

Small SUV's

* Honda CR-V
* Subaru Forester


To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. - Anatole France

Kids Eat Free

"What's for dinner?"

For as long as I can remember, it's been a favorite question of mine. I ask Riley every day. If my mom calls, I question her about the day's menu. My friend's parents even used to get annoyed with me because I would ask. Weird, I know, but I love food. Well, now my children have picked up on my habit and ask me early in the day what we're having for dinner. At least one of the three has a loud, dramatic response. Something like "Ugh, I don't want ............ ! It doesn't matter what I've planned, at least one of them won't like it. Secretly, I think what they're waiting for me to say is "We're going out to dinner." With three children, going out to eat can get pretty expensive so we don't do it often. But now, I've come across a great concept. The "KIDS EAT FREE" plan. Many restaurants in the Peoria area have weekly specials for kids to eat free or at very discounted prices. I've done a little research and here's the list. Bon Appetit!

KIDS EAT FREE (or nearly)
Please call first for details

SUNDAY
Alexander's Steakhouse (Peoria)
No holidays
688-0404

Carlo's O'Kelly's (Peoria)
All day
682-0606

MONDAY

Flat Top Grill (Peoria)
693-9966

Godfather's Pizza (Pekin)
347-3135

Old Chicago (Both Peoria locations)
4-9 pm
691-1885

TUESDAY

Bennigan's (Peoria)
All Day
674-2571

Bernardi's Restaurant (Washington)
1/2 price kids meal includes drink and ice cream
745-5505

Denny's (Peoria)
4 pm
282-1772

Fazoli's (Peoria)
$.99 kid's meals 4-8 pm
691-7671

Golden Corral (Washington)
$.99 meals for kids 4-8
$1.99 meals for kids 9-12
Starts at 4 pm
444-2349

Joe's Crabshack (Peoria)
$.99 kid's meals all day
671-2223

Lonestar Steakhouse (Peoria)
All Day
688-0400

WEDNESDAY

Buffalo Wild Wings (Peoria and East Peoria)
$.99 kid's meals
691-9453

THURSDAY
No offers

FRIDAY
No offers

SATURDAY

Lonestar Steakhouse (Peoria)
11-4 pm
688-0400

Palanza's Family Dining (Washington)
Noon - 4

"Get Off Your Duff, Flagg!"

Okay ... okay ... I suspected it was coming.

"Get off your duff, Flagg. And start blogging." That's what I heard from the boss today (although he was much nicer about it. ) It's not that I'm lazy or that I don't want to blog. I've just been searching and searching for the best consumer news to bring to you. So, I'll change my initial goal of writing specifically about news you can use. Sometimes I'll give you consumer information while other times I'll just .... well .... I don't know. We'll see what comes up. Stories about family life, working with Riley (boy, do I have lots of those). Who knows. I'm going to blog so much you're going to be sick of me (Joking, of course.).

Have a great day!

Quote of the Day
"Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits. " -- Thomas A. Edison

Spring Cleaning

Spring weather is finally here which means we can finally get outside to admire our blooming flowers, take in a breath of fresh air and force those kids to burn tons of pent-up energy. Unfortunately, it also means, in many households, spring cleaning. I'll admit I'm not the best cleaner in the world but if there's one thing I try to do every spring it's clean my windows. My mom, who is immaculate and loves to clean, says to forget the store-bought window cleaner. She swears by this little recipe. Just put it in a bottle and spray. And even though you can use paper towels, she does advise the use of a squeegee or microfiber cloth.

3 Tablespoons of Ammonia

1 Tblespoon of White Vinegar

1 cup of water (you can add a little more if you'd like)

Happy Cleaning!

Rev Up Your Metabolism

I don't mean to be preachy .. I just want to want to pass along information that you might find helpful.

With that said .... I've been teaching fitness classes for the past 12+ years in Peoria and try to watch what I eat in an effort to be healthy. Like everyone else, I have my good and bad days. (I promise to start eating better after I finish that large cannister of chocolate covered raisans I bought at Costco. I couldn't help myself). Anyway, Family Circle (May 2007) printed this article about making over your metabolism and I wanted to share.

Make Over Your Metabolism

"It's a myth that your metabolism slows as you age. "Actually, most people simply become less active over the years," says endocrinologist Scott Isaacs, M.D., author of Hormonal Balance [Bull Publishing]. Here's how to stay slim:

Join the breakfast club. If lunch is your first meal of the day, your metabolism has likely slowed to preserve energy.

Get moving. Exercise boosts metabolism for up to 24 hours, and muscle burns more calories than fat. So try to walk an hour daily, and lift weights for 20 minutes three times a week.

Pack snacks. You'll store fat if you wait too long to eat, so have three small snacks daily. Try low-fat yogurt with granola or vegetable soup.

Fabulous Fruit Dip

Have you come across a great recipe lately? Food is one of my favorite topics so, please, pass it along. I'll start, even though my friend, Gretchen, made fun of me for actually writing this one down (because it's so simple.)

Fabulous Refreshing Fruit Dip

1 container of lite cool whip
2 small containers of berry yogurt
Mix and chill.
Serve with strawberries, kiwi, melon, bananas or your favorite fruit. YUMMY!

Enjoy!

Women Who Love to Wine

Here it is .. my first published blog. As I embark on this new venture, I promise not to bore you with details about my three beautiful children (Lucas is 7, Lauren is 5 & Logan is 3) or my wonderful husband, Bruce, who I will celebrate 10 years of marriage with this June. Yeah .. It's just not my style to go on and on and on about my passion for fitness or Krispy Kreme Donuts or brag about my great job. By the way, did you know that Krispy Kreme Glazed Donuts are only 200 calories. I know that for a fact because I looked it up on the internet. LOL.

Anyway, the main purpose of my blog will be to bring you consumer information that you can use. I read tons of magazines monthly and come across lots of lifestyle news that I would love to share with everyone. The first installment .. "Women Who Love to Wine." (I do) Wines: 10 for $10 (or less). This list comes from the latest Consumer Reports Magazine ( May 2007) which says you don't have to spend big bucks to get a great tasting wine. Check it out.

Cabernet Sauvignon
* Colombia Crest : Grand Estates Colombia Valley (WA) 2003 $9.80
* Rosemount Estate : Shiraz0Cabernet (Australia) 2004 $7.50

Chardonnay
* Alamos : The Wines of Catena Mendoza (Argentina) 2005 $ 9.90
*Stone Cellars by Beringer (CA) 2005 $ 5.80

Merlot
*Concha yToro : Casillero Del Diablo (Chile) 2005 $ 8.60
*Bogle Vineyards (CA) 2004 $ 9.20

Pinto Grigio
*Hogue : Colombia Valley (WA) 2005 $7.30
*McManis Family Vineyards (CA) 2005 $ 9.80

Riesling
* Covey Run: Colombia Valley (WA) 2005 $ 7.20

Zinfandel
*Rancho Zabaco : Dancing Bull (CA) 2004 $ 9.00

Enjoy! And let me know what other consumer information you would like me to pass along.
Have a great day. Kia Kaha.