Thanks to all the Jerks who came before

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Sometimes time hop brings back memories you don't really need to recall. That happened today but in my new desire to look only at the brightside I thought I would take this opportunity to say thank you to all the jerks, idiots, and total well you know what's I dated before I met my husband because every once in a while they remind me...to be grateful for what a great man I have.

So thank you to the loser who left me crying in a bar.  I appreciate that you didn't want me because you really didn't deserve me.  Thank you also for standing me up a month later when I invited you to a tailgate.  You were a real jerk, not just a minor jerk.  The best part is as bad as you treated me, you never did apologize.  I wonder sometimes how you lived with  yourself but then I realize, you are just a selfish jerk who never cared.  My husband tries all the time and that's way more than you did any of the time.  I  Thank you for  not being the one. What a total disappointment you turned out to be.  I promise I don't live in a state of angry at you, I don't even think of  you.  I just remembered how pathetic I felt crying at that bar and the anger came back.  You were a real piece of poop. I hope nobody EVER treats your daughter the way you treated me.  

Thank you also to the other guy who tried to be charming but really just wanted to use me as a port of call when he was available.  I appreciate knowing I am not worth the extra effort to you because I was to my husband.  I really just want to thank you for helping me mend my broken heart over the dummy above and make room in it for my hubby.  The truth is, I didn't really try with you either so we are even. 

Thank you to the countless fools and idiots who passed because I didn't meet your expectations of what a woman should look like or act like.  Women aren't a cover on a magazine or a centerfold and if all you want is a trophy wife with no brains, fight, or will it is probably best you moved along. 

Thank you to all the spineless saps too afraid so ask.  I would have crushed you. I am way too strong for you.  

Thank you to all the women who came before and kissed the other toads so I didn't have to.  Kissing toads gets old.  

I am glad things worked out the way they did. I couldn't see it 3 years ago when I was crying, or 2 years ago when I was mending that broken heart.  I can see it now. Nobody else was good enough for me.  God knew it.  God had this plan all along.  I just had to wait for the timing.  That should be a bright side if you are waiting for  your prince something while kissing toads.  It will happen. Just stay away from the jerks who can't make up their minds or don't know what they want..  They are an absolute waste of time. 

An open letter to the President of the United States

Dear President Obama: 

I can't speak for all Americans, only myself so I am going to tell you honestly how I feel.  I doubt you care but here it is.  

When you took office I was excited.  I was full of hope that this country was on the brink of exciting change.  I hoped you would usher in a new era of understanding and wisdom.  You sounded so right and you looked good, on paper.  You could bridge the gap between two cultures and bring understand.   You could be the one person who could see things from all sides.  You had policies I thought I agreed with. You sure do talk "pretty".  

What I have found in the time of your administration is that things have only gotten more muddled, more confused, and more frustrating.  There is no understanding.  There is no respect between the cultures only greater and greater division.  Friendships have become strained.  Relationships have been lost forever.  Cultures on both sides are being attacked on a daily basis.  Respect is lost.  It breaks my heart. 

The President of the United States should represent all people of the United States and instead you force your ideology down the throat of the American public and respect only those who agree with you.  You seem to bask in the division instead of trying to unite the country you say you love.  

This country faces huge obstacles from the outside and knowing this, you decide that a rainbow colored White House is the message you want to send the world.  I am all for equality of marriage however I also believe in respecting our national monuments.  You have alienate a large portion of your American citizens who are offended by this act as much as those offended by a flag flying over the capital of any state that should have been removed decades ago.  

I don't feel like you care about the majority of American citizens be they white, Hispanic, Indian, of Asian heritage or pretty much anyone who doesn't get you a sound bite on the nightly news.  Your policies are so divisive and you cater to an audience so exclusive, that in my opinion, it is tearing this country apart. 

In conclusion, I can only hope the next President is a strong and wise leader because I fear it will take years to fix the internal problems your administration has left.  History may not be kind to the Obama administration but America and the people of this country are stronger than any one President. The country will survive and somehow, some way, it will become stronger despite the division or because of it.  

God Bless you Mr. President.  I pray for wisdom for you daily.  

PS:  I was a life long member of the Democratic Party.  I prided myself in never having voted for a Repubican for President until 2012. You lost me. Probably forever. You have moved so far to the left there is nothing left for those of us in the middle. You can look in the mirror for that one.

Love, Equality, and a Thanks to my Wedding Minister

My minister, My Friend,  Ben

I can't say I was shocked or surprised when the Supreme Court came down with their ruling today.  I can say I feel like it was about time.   See, I am very clear on this subject, it is none of my business who anyone loves, just like it is nobody's business who I love.  If you love me and my husband great, if you don't get out of my life, I don't need you.  Sorry but I am not sorry.  I am pretty sure that is the way every Gay and Lesbian couple feels.  They don't owe you an apology for their love.  They don't owe you an explanation. 

So let me tell you a little story, about a woman I know who is going to Hell for dating the man she eventually married.  That is what she was told by a 'friend' of hers.  She told the friend to hit the road and married her man anyway.  They have a pretty darn good marriage. They laugh a lot, argue a little, work hard and play well together.   They have a beautiful house, share his kid, her two dogs, hunting land and 22 chickens.   Okay, yes it is me. You caught me!  Do I care that I am going to Hell?  Well, honestly I don't think I am.  If I am, it isn't for marrying my husband, but I am pretty sure it was not God speaking through that person anyway. That person happens to be unbelievably arrogant, obnoxious, and ignorant at times and when it comes to my relationship, that was one of them.  Here is the thing, my salvation is between myself and God and thank GOD that is the way it is.  God knows I am not a perfect person but He also knows I am pretty good at heart, honest, and carrying when it comes down to it.  I try really hard to love His people, see the best in them even when there isn't much to see, including the ones I don't like or find incredible hypocrites. 

So why do I tell you all of that?  I was married by the most amazing, loving, wonderful man I have ever met who just happens to be in a long term relationship with his partner who, until today, he could not marry himself.   That all changed with the Supreme Court ruling and thankfully, for couples all over America love is now equal for everyone.  They don't owe anyone justification for their love and they probably don't care if anyone thinks they are going to Hell.   It is between them and God and only God gets to judge.  If God knows my friend the way I know him, he is going to see what a loving, wonderful, fun, happy, creature He made and He made him perfect just the way he is, Period.

I may also add that my friend, my minster, by everyone's account at my wedding,  knew more about what it took to create a lasting, loving, wonderful marriage than any straight minister anyone in the audience had ever heard and everyone adored him including my husband's friends who are total rednecks.   I still hear from our friends how it was the best wedding they have ever been too and I totally believe the ceremony, which was charming, full of love, humor, and happiness was the key.  You only get that from true love, both the love between my husband and myself and the love of my my friend who is an amazing person.  

I thank God for making Ben my neighbor when we lived in our old home and for him being able to marry my husband and myself.  I also thank God he didn't have hot pink hair in our wedding photos because he was at a festival the week before our wedding and he had to change his hair back the day before.  He is a really fun person, I told you! :) 

(Just an aside, I have several other friends this effects and I am equally happy for you!) 

What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday 13: the one with Muscadine Wine

It is Wednesday so it is time for What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday!  Yay!!! Join me for the blog hop below by linking your post with what you are loving this week. 

What I'm Loving:

We had visitors this morning

I love living in the country.  You never know who is coming to visit.  These are our neighbor's ducks and along with his chickens they come to visit several times a week. I swear when I saw them coming up our front walk, I half expected them to be carrying suitcases.

My Husband:

I have had a really hard several weeks month and he has been just wonderfully supportive.  There are several changes that are going on, none of which I want to talk about and all of which are stressing me out a LOT, and he has been wonderful.  I am so lucky to have him.  When they say you should marry your best friend they aren't kidding.  I did and I can't tell you how nice it is to come home and know that my best friend is there waiting for me. 

A weekend of nothing special:

We have had people or kids over for five weeks in a row and I am so looking forward to peace and quiet this weekend.  I love having people over but I am worn out cooking and cleaning and cooking and cleaning up after cooking.  I am ready for frozen pizza and not having to do 5 loads of dishes before we start again entertaining for the 4th of July.  

Protein Shakes:

Let me be clear, while I don't really love them, I am trying really hard to lose weigh and I love how effective they are and helping me reach that goal. 

Have a Pinteresting Wednesday:

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We have a bunch of muscadine grapes growing in our backyard so I am planning on putting them to good use:

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Okay that is my Wednesday.   Link up below and add your blog.  Happy Hump Day!

Dear Ryan Gosling: the Truth about Chickens and Eggs

Pasture Raised

I wasn't going to write a blog today.  I was super busy and I am just in no mood to open my soul to anyone.  Then I went on Twitter today and Ryan Gosling got my tail feathers up.  No not that way, I  saw a story that Ryan Gosling is encouraging Costco to sell Cage Free Chickens.   Well this sent me on a rant so I decide it is time for me to educate Dear, sweet Ryan Gosling and those of you who manage to get through this blog.   Ready?

Ryan Gosling is apparently of the opinion that Cage Free chickens are so much happier then conventional raised chickens.  Those are the chickens raised in cages one top of the other. They may be a little happier but not much.  You probably have this image in your head of chickens who are raised cage free running around a barnyard just as happy as can be while Farmer Brown is milking the cows and pink pigs are oinking.  Yeah, that isn't happening.   Chickens raised cage free are likely raised in a very large open barn with about a foot of space per chicken and likely never actually go outside.  Sad isn't it?

What about Free Range Chickens, you ask?  I am so glad you asked.  Free Range chickens are allowed outside but for how long?  Some of the information I have read says they are suppose to have at minimum an hour a day out of doors to be called Free Range but I have seen others explain that nobody really knows how much time qualifies them to be considered Free Range.  Here is the kicker, there is no requirement that any of that time outside actually requires grass or dirt meaning they could be on concrete the whole time.  In Texas or anywhere really hot, that means 100 plus degree concrete and you can fry eggs on that stuff.  

So you know all those Organic, Cage Free eggs you probably have been shelling out about twice the money for thinking you are getting eggs from happy chickens?  Sorry to break it to you but unless they say the chickens were "Pasture Raised"  the chickens are not happily dancing around the yard all day running around like crazy, eating bugs and being...well chickens, like the chickens that are pasture raised.  

I love my chickens and I love watching them play and run and be...chickens.  I can't imagine the poor things caged or even stuck in a barn with a foot of space not able to move.  It is cruel.  My chickens have a big backyard, a deck to hide under for shade, trees to run around and dirt and grass to dig in.  We give them treats and those spoiled little brats hear me say "Chick, Chick, Chick and they come running because they know I have watermelon, cherries, bread, bananas or something delicious for them to nibble on.  Some of them will even eat out of my hand.  Most of them have tried to eat my toes. All of them have names.  Not one has laid an egg for me yet.  I have laughed at them, worried about them, and been completely disgusted at the things I have seen them fighting over eating. They are chickens acting like chickens are suppose to act. 

So in conclusion, Ryan Gosling's heart may be in the right place but his knowledge of chickens is really lacking.  It's okay because he isn't the only one.  My chickens are happy and they are running around from 6am until 8:30pm every day, eating totally weird and icky things all day.  That's what they are suppose to do.  

Homemade Face Cream

Almost 45! OMG! I'm OLD!!!

There are a ton of things on my mind right now but I really DON'T feel like blogging about them so I thought I would share my Young Living Oil face cream experience since I am about 3-4 weeks into using it at this point.  Above is a actual photo taken this morning of my soon to be 45 year old face. That's me...all old and me.  

Just a side note, we made homemade ice cream for the kids 12th Birthday and it was amazing but it is also terribly fattening with something like 6 lbs of sugar (or it felt like that much) so I thought I would share something a little healthier with you for a Monday! 

Frankincense

Tea Tree Oil

And this was me making the cream.  Oooh! Ahhh!  I know, live action photos. Does it get any better than this in the blogging world?  I think NOT!

 Basically I use 1 cup of organic coconut oil with about 8-10 drops each Frankincense, Tea Tree, Lavender, and Elemi essential oils from Young Living.   I like coconut oil because it works well for my skin as a carrier oil and it is so hydrating.  My skin is really picky and everything tends to break it out.  I have avoided using commercially produced face creams my entire life because everything causes my skin to erupt but not this.  I think there is something to natural products that I wish I had figured out 20 years ago.  Maybe I would look younger today?

 I gently heated the coconut oil and let it cool.  Coconut oil has a really low melting point, in fact, it will melt with your body temperature so it quickly becomes a liquid on contact with skin.  What I am saying here is, it takes a few seconds to heat it but you don't need to heat it, you can cream this stuff together and the next time I make this, I will do it that way.  Next choose the oils for your skin.

Here is why I chose the oils I did:

Frankincense: May help smooth the appearance of healthy looking skin and who doesn't want smoother looking skin?  Have I mentioned like 75 times yet I am old?

Elemi: Helps reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Sign me up for anything that helps that because did I mention I am going to be 45 in August?

Lavender:  Honestly, I use this oil every single day.  I diffuse it at night to help me relax and calm down before bedtime and it smells wonderful.  It is great for skin too and it is very versatile. I also use it in my shampoo and my eye cream.  Actually, between Lavender and Peppermint it is a tie for which I use most.

Tea Tree Oil:  This oil helps beautify the appearance of skin and cleanses and refreshes.

Alright so I use this cream under my foundation and before I go to bed.  The other night my step-daughter came to hug me goodnight and she smelled my oils on my face and laughed and said "Your oils!"  She is learning.

When combined with the fact that I have added more water to my diet and removed gluten I can really tell that my skin is clear, soft, dewy and completely healthy.   The best part is that this is so cost effective relative to the cost of actual face creams which can run hundreds of dollars.  A jar of coconut oil is about $10.00 and you are only using a few drops of each Young Living essential oil in the cream so you can make this for months and months and months and still have oil, if you don't use the oil for other things but like I said, I use Lavender specifically everyday.

As for why I picked Young Living oils, aside from the fact that I love them and carry them with me wherever I go now?  Have I mentioned that I was a skeptic just 2 months ago?  It's true.  Young Living has literally won me over with amazing products.  Not only that but even my husband loves them, or maybe he just loves that he gets a foot massage when I pull them out? It probably isn't that.

Okay so here is why I went with Young Living:

It is a high quality oil with organic farms that they own and operate themselves.Young Living has a high standards of quality control through every step of the oil production ensuring the purity of their oils know as seed to seal.  This is a huge commitment as they have farms around the globe!

You can find out more about Young Living HERE.

You don't have to become a Wholesale distributor to buy Young Living but here are a few reason why you should and don't worry, you don't have to sell anything to take advantage of being a distributor.

Wholesale Pricing: Save 24 percent off retail pricing on Young Living products, and save even more money with exclusive specials and promotions every month.

Essential Rewards: As a distributor, you are eligible to enroll in the Essential Rewards program and earn as much as 20 percent of each order in Essential Rewards points.

So you can sign up For Young Living Here and when you do enter me as your sponsor and enroller pretty please!  My member number is 2931544.   Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about becoming a member and I will try to answer you quickly.

One last thing....water.  It is essential for your skin to get plenty of water so please, please, please put down the diet soda and pick up the glass of water.  Did I mention that there are some lovely and refreshing citrus oils you can add to your water for flavor that just rock the world?  My favorite is Citrus Fresh and it just tastes great.  It is a combination of Lemon, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Orange, Tangerine, and Spearmint and a drop in your water bottle adds an instant flavor boost.  I love it.  It makes lovely dressing for salads too!  YUM! 

A dozen reasons

Today is my step daughters 12th B-day so to celebrate here are a dozen reasons I am glad she is in my life:

1. life is never quiet and that's not bad 

2. She always has a story and they are usually entertaining 

3. She corrects me when I'm wrong of course that's not often 

4. There is always watermelon with her around 

5. She laughs a lot 

6. She shows me how to fish better 

7. She helps me with the chickens 

8. She helps me with the laundry

9. She keeps her dad smiling 

10. She keeps me smiling 

11. She gives good hugs (when she wants to)

12. She and I have great chats 

Bonus she loves me and I love her Happy  Birthday baby Girl!

*I know how lucky I am to have a great kid.  I was a step kid and I was a pain in the behind.  I got super lucky.  Thanks for making my life easy, Kiddo. 

What Father's Day means to me

Yes, that's mini me sort of 

Obviously I found an app that I have been playing with called Pencil Sketch.  Truthfully, I could take the time to make over all these photos into sketches myself and I could do a really good job of it, probably much better than this app does, but why bother when the app does a reasonable job of it at the push of a button?  

So, for those not in the know, I am fast approaching my 45th year and close to 40 of those will have been without the man pictured holding me above.  He missed every major event in my life after I learned to ride a bike.  Daddy wasn't there for my first dance (my uncle filled in) or to teach me to drive (that was mom and my stepdad).  He missed my high school graduation and he wasn't there to kick my butt into staying in college. He wasn't there either time I bought a house and he missed my wedding.  He missed...well okay that's about it because I didn't have kids but my sibling has 4 so he missed the birth of his grand children.  

I am sure my life would have been very different if my father had lived but that isn't my reality.  I can't begin to imagine that life because that wasn't to be.  The truth is, for me, there isn't a day that I don't miss my dad.  I don't know how to explain this because it seems silly to say that I missed someone every single day for the last 40 years but the truth is, I have.   

Let me be clear, it isn't that I wake up with an ache in my heart.  The ache isn't in the forefront but it is always there, buried somewhere.  The tears flow about twice a year.  The pain doesn't really go away you just learn to live with it.  I don't know how to explain missing someone you only knew as a little girl.  Daddy never got to be human with faults.  He was always little girl perfect.  He has stayed that way even as I grew up.   Believe me, I know he wasn't perfect.  I have heard stories about how he forgot my mom's birthday or how he rode  his bike into a cloths line.   I realize he had faults but think back on how you viewed your dad at 5 and that was pretty much invincible....to everything but cancer.  

So, for me personally, Father's Day is just another day to miss my dad.   However, I will try to make it special for my husband who is a pretty good dad in his own right.  I will reach out and wish my step-dad a Happy Father's Day because he tried the best he could to reach me.  I will be happy for all of you who have great relationships with your dad because you are blessed and very lucky.  I will also look up at the heavens and tell my Daddy that I love him, just like I have done every year for the last 39 years.  Because, I do. 

What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday 12: The one with East Texas

From this button to.....

This Button

(I know, I am bending to the black and white trend but I am trying to simplify my blog design and this is what happened....Plus, the chalk board theme is a favorite of mine since I used that for my wedding invitations and as part of my wedding theme.   So you will have to forgive me!)

What I'm loving

Sharing my weekend with you! 

Saturday morning I headed to East Texas to meet up with hubs and friends. This is our land.  It has been raining for most of the last 2 months so our ponds are very full.  I have never actually seen them this full! 

We went out there to work, mostly cutting grass and spraying bug and weed killer but in the process I managed to snap some amazing photos showing why I love this place. 

Plus, I managed to help rescue two dogs who had lost their owners.  I felt pretty good about that especially since one of the dogs was injured. 

This is pond number two.  Isn't this place amazing?  I kind of want to build a home out there when we retire. 

When we got home we were hot, tired and ready for the pool. This is from our backyard.  I can't tell you where I hid all that gold at the end of those rainbows but it really was pretty seeing the two side by side. 

Sunday Hubs and I headed to the ballpark to watch some baseball, see some friends, and for the kiddo and myself, struggle not feeling well.  Luckily, I was feeling better by Monday but as you know, kiddo has been sick all week. 

So my goofy hubs is always making faces when I take pictures with him.  I decided to turn the table and make one too.  

Also it was Elvis Andrus Garden Gnome day.  A little disturbing and I don't think we have taken them out the box yet....but we have them. 

Also I have been eating gluten free for the last what is it?  Three weeks and I found the most amazing gluten free pizza in my freezer section.   Freschetta makes this pizza and it may actually be my favorite in a box pizza ever. 

Also on my loving list this week:

-I have lost 8 pounds in the last week.  Yay me!  

-I am looking forward to the kiddo's b-day on Friday and the craziness of having her friends stay over. 

-I am excited to make her b-day cake and hopefully make her smile. 

-Our garden is producing tomatoes, squash, zucchini and cucumbers!  It is so nice to be able to go to your own back yard and find food.   

-My now 22 chicks are happy.  (I am still sad about the 23rd but even my hubs ex said we did good only losing 1) 

-My blog redesign in honor of having my own domain.   There was nothing wrong with the old blog and this one probably will get tweeked more but gosh, I love playing with it.  I get bored easily. 

Pinning:

I am going to skip it this week because honestly I don't think I have pinned much that isn't on my secret boards or gluten free cooking.  

Okay so what are you loving and or pinning this week?  

Hey, It's OK Tuesday

I am still dealing with a sick kid and the doctors are pretty much no help.  How frustrating is it when you have a child who wakes up in the middle of the night crying or getting sick and you have no idea how to help her?  

Okay so here is what is okay with me:

-I have had to work from home the last two days to keep track of the kiddo. She asked me to stay so what was I suppose to do?

-We lost one of our baby chicks yesterday and it makes me so sad. The only thing I can figure is that she got caught under her chicken sisters and was suffocated. I have checked on the remaining little ones repeatedly now making sure they are alright.  Paranoid? Maybe but it's okay. 

-The Texas Rangers are inducting Juan Gonzalez into their Hall of Fame.   In the past the team has been hesitant because Juan hasn't expressed a desire to return for the ceremony.   This year the club decided regardless of whether Juan shows up or not,  he was going to be inducted.   As a long time fan of this club, all I can say is, It's about time!  

-I didn't know until this morning who was even playing in the Stanley Cup much less that anyone had won.  

-I don't think I really understood how many roles a woman plays until I married.  I would kill for a weekend of doing nothing but watching movies and eating cereal.  I wouldn't trade my husband and kid for anything but sometimes I think I didn't really appreciate being single when I was.

-Speaking of that, I had a friend ask me to set them up with some of my friends then proceed to send me a list a mile long of what was acceptable.  I looked at my husband and said "I would not pass these qualifications.  Being lonely sucks but being lonely and picky as you know what is just too much."  I told my friend that I can't help.  I understand picky but many single people seem way too stuck on superficial or stupid things that don't matter like physical appearance, income, and geographically friendly locations.  Look, if you are perfect, you can afford to be THAT picky but if you aren't, take a hard look in the mirror, see yourself honestly, all the pimples, circles under your eyes,  grey hairs and wrinkles and  learn to love and accept your imperfections then find someone who thinks you are amazing just the way you are, warts and all, and try dating different people. You never know.  Someone outside your norm may end up treating you perfectly wonderful, loving you more than anyone but your mother, and accepting you while maybe, just maybe pushing you to new limits.  Hey, it could happen.  It happened to me and that is REALLY Okay.

-It's suppose to rain today and even though the lakes are flooded from the rain for the last 2 months, we have had 2 weeks of dry and I am okay with a little rain. Texas is hot in the summer!

-It seems to me like I am the ONLY person over 35 not running for President.  Can I ask you honestly, why would you want that job?  I mean I don't need a house that big and I certainly don't need the press watching me for weight gain, hair styles, and commenting on my lack of fashion sense.   (Remember when Hillary use to wear headbands when Bill ran?  No, okay you aren't old enough.  It was a MAJOR thing.)  It is REALLY okay that someone else gets that job.

This and That: Welcome to my domain!

It has been a busy weekend and I have a ton of pictures to share with you but that will have to wait until Wednesday because I have a sick kiddo at home and between her mom and my husband and I we are working our way around taking care of her.   So, that is sort of consuming me right now.  I haven't had to deal with a sick kid yet.  My step daughter is pretty tough so when she gets quiet and sleeps a lot and wakes up crying in pain, there is something wrong.   

I am just dropping in to let you all know some exciting news.   My blog has it's own domain.  Yep!  You can now find me at simplymethewayiseeit.net.   This is something I have been towing with for a little while now.  How to best coordinate the blog and make it user friendly.   I am not sure if I will stick with the current theme or rework it a little at some point but I do know that I am super excited to have a domain all my own.  Blogger is great and blogspot worked for me for a while but it was time to either take the WP leap or get a domain.   I am just not savvy enough to figure out all the moving from one platform to another thing and right now spending a bunch on moving it is not in the cards.  

Okay, it is time for me to get a little work done while the kiddo is getting checked out by the doctor.  Happy Monday everyone.  :) 

Why I am over Facebook

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Yesterday I mentioned that I basically deleted my Facebook.   I still have an account but I deleted the app on my phone which is how I check Facebook.  Since I have a blog and furniture page, I am not deleting the whole thing...yet.  I still want to use the good side of Facebook to share but I just can't deal with the drama....never, ending, drama! 

The shock and confusion I have received about this decision from people in real life is almost humorous.  "How could you delete Facebook? Why?" 

The answer is simple.  I am so over Facebook it isn't funny.  The thing is this, when you know people in real life, you realize how FAKE their Facebook is.  So here are open letters to the people who drove me off Facebook.  This is directed at multiple people, not just a few.  

"My life is perfect" (this is a lot of people)! 

Now, I have never pretended to have a perfect marriage.  In fact, I have been honest in this blog about how the first 5 months of marriage was hard.  My hubs and I are fine now.  He is my best friend and my biggest supporter. Of course we fight...sometimes a lot but what do you want with two very stubborn people?  We love each other and we get over it. However,  I have friends who talk about their marriage like everything in life is perfect.   I have friends who act like their husband is Prince Charming.  Pleease!   We all know that nobody has a perfect life so cut out the rose colored glasses BS.   Oh and jeez, have you ever seen so many beautiful, perfect kids as on Fakebook? 

My religion is the only right one and the rest of you are going to hell:

Next up is the people who use Facebook as a way to try and "save" the human race.   See here is the thing, religion and faith are very personal subject matters and if you want to post a "God is good" photo, I am all for it but if you spend your whole time on Facebook trying to save everyone from the error of their ways, we have a problem.    I don't care if you do believe the end of the world is coming (sometimes that sounds ok by me), that doesn't mean I should read all your prophets  posts from Brother Brown or Dr. White or Rev. Black.  Pretty much, you sound like a lunatic to the rest of the world and even though your heart is in the right place, you go about doing your thing by attacking other faiths like Catholicism and Islam and that, my friend, is not very Christian of you. My point of view, from my personal faith is that there was one savior and you aren't Him.  See, nobody wants to read about religion.  Not even this paragraph! 

Next Politics.  

Look, I don't care.  I just don't care what you think about Obama be he great or rotten.   Nobody is changing their mind because a friend said this or that on Facebook. Nobody is not forming their own opinion and nobody has the truth.  Move along. 

Racism, Bigots, and Narrow Minded People:

The straw that broke the monkeys back. This is the one that made me finally just walk away from Facebook.  Ready?   The racists post.   I don't care what race it is, when you take a paint brush and portray every white person as a racist, that is being a racists.  You can give me all your "I am so beaten down by the injustice" speeches you want but let me tell you who is beaten down in reality, the people in the Middle East are beaten down.  The people in Africa living with Ebola...Beaten DOWN!  You have a safe home, air conditioning, designer cloths and you drive a Lexus.  Nobody is holding you back but your close minded, hate filled self.   If you want to blame me for all the problems in your life because I am white, you go right ahead but that won't solve your problem and your attitude just alienates the majority of good white people out there who really don't see skin color.  You should try living in our world but I doubt you are capable of not seeing skin color.  Let me be clear, I know racism still exists but I do not believe every single act by a white person that is against another race is because the person was white and further, there are bigots in every race.  You can't hold an entire group responsible for the actions of an individual. 

Moral Values:

Don't even get me started on the Bruce Jenner debate.  My God that got ugly.  Who cares? There are a lot more worthy people in the world to discuss than anyone in the Kardashian family.  Regardless of what she is trying to teach us.  

Things I am not mentioning:

Liars, cheaters, hurt feelings and people who use Facebook to scam other people.  I am seriously shocked at how adults can't act like adults on this particular form of Social Media.  It all goes back to respect and there is a decided lack of that.  

Nothing I have said in this blog is going to buy me friends but my true friends know my heart and honestly I am over the drama. I wanted to be part of the solution but instead these one sided points of view drew me in to the problem.  I can't fix my "friends" and frankly, I don't want to but I do expect respect for differing opinions and instead what I got was attacked for my (Catholic) faith, non-partisan politics, and desire to move past blaming an entire group for the actions of individuals. 

Okay, sorry about the rant but I have just had it.  I literally came home 2 days in the last week in such a state of frustration  and sadness over Facebook and my husband threatened to delete my Facebook, if I didn't.  He was right, it just isn't worth dealing with these crazy, messed up people.  I could either delete the people (which I have done) or delete the problem.   Bye-Bye Facebook!   

What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday #11

Sorry I am late with this post today.  Yesterday was a weird day at work and somehow my allergies are going crazy which means I feel terrible and fell asleep about 7pm and again at 9pm.  

So here is what I am loving this week: 

Pool is done

We put a pool up this weekend. I am so excited to be able to just float in this baby soon.   We got this for kiddo for her b-day and she is in heaven! 

It isn't Ben and Jerry's but it will satisfy

I was having a really bad social media day Monday.  (So bad that I deleted my Facebook and it is staying deleted.  Drama...too much drama).  Anyway I went to the grocery to grab some gluten free snacks and I found this.  It's a little like a Frosty but it has only 150 calories a pint!   Now I know a pint isn't a serving but guess what?  Nobody eats a scoop.   Anyway it isn't genius but it is good enough that I will live with it happily since it won't kill my diet and it is gluten, lactose and sugar free...among other things. 

Hubby's gentle reminder to take my allergy pills! 

My husband knew my allergies were going crazy so he left me a gentle reminder to take my pills.  

Young Living Essential Oils can be found here

My Young Living essential oil collection.  I love it!   I use it every day.  (Actually there are some missing because I carry them with me.). I am a little late to the essential oil use but I find it amazing!
My favorite thing is the eye cream I made with lavender oil and organic coconut oil.  I swear I use to spend $100 for my eye cream.  I ran out a couple weeks ago so I decided to try making my own.  A quarter cup of coconut oil and a few drops of lavender and I am hooked. The greatest part?  I MAY have spent $3.00 for this cream in supplies...maybe.   I will take that savings.  I also started making a face cream with essential oils. I will get back to you on the results in a few weeks after I have been using it. :)

If you are interested in becoming a member you can sign up Here and use my Member ID 2931544  just add my Member ID 2931544 to the Sponsor ID and Enroller ID and order away and feel free to contact me with questions.  What I love about it is that you don't have to sell anything to become a Wholesale member and you get great discounts!

Okay so what have I been pinning?  A lot of gluten free recipes.  I decided a couple weeks ago after dealing with multiple tummy issues, to remove gluten from my diet and see if it helps.   I am surprised at how easy the transition has been.  

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I haven't made these cookies or brownies yet but darn they look good!

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I did make a version of this last weekend and my hubby loved it.  I think it would be a little better with maybe some salsa on it but nobody else wanted salsa.  You can add it either at the bottom or on top if you agree with me! 

Just an aside here on this subject.   We tried some gluten free pasta and none of us could tell the difference, we are going to start buying it when we are out of regular pasta.  I also love, love, love spaghetti squash.  

Okay, happy Wednesday people.   

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday: Why chickens are better than people.

Chickens don't see feather color 

Welcome to my It's okay Tuesday post.  Today I am going to do things a little different.  You see, I realized that I like Chickens better than most people so I decided to explain why chickens are better and it's okay that I like them better.

Why Chickens are better than people:

-Chickens don't hate.  

-Chickens don't give a cluck.

-Chickens don't see feather color as an issue.  They either like the other chicken or they don't. They base it on how the other chicken treats them. 

-Chickens don't pretend to be friends with chickens and bad mouth them or make fun of them behind their back.

-Chickens work hard for a living.  They go out and get their own food.  They don't expect handouts. 

-Chickens give back. They eat bugs thus ridding your yard of terrible, ugly spiders and ants and all things bad.  They also produce eggs.  Eggs are protein for humans and delicious too.

-Chickens know the importance of a good nights rest after a long day of scouring the yard for bugs.

-Chickens know why they crossed the road but they don't feel like explaining themselves to humans and guess what?  They don't owe anyone an explaination. 

-Chickens have a pecking order and they know who is in charge. 

-Chickens are cautious.  They don't leave the hen house until it is safe and they know when it is safe.

-Chickens know who they can trust and who they can't and they stay away from anyone who is going to back stab them. 

-When a chicken plays a game with another chicken it is a sport not a mental game.  They don't feel the need to bad bock other chickens behind their back and they don't feel the need to make themselves feel more important than they are by stepping on other chickens.

-Chickens never, ever, ever say "Poor me.  Life has given me such a bum rap".   They simply go out and work their tail feathers off and make life better.  

-Chickens don't actually care about politics, religion, or race.  They are chickens and they all come from the same God.  That is all they need to know. 

-Chickens are the closest living relative to a T-Rex so they are pretty fierce.   

-Chickens don't make enemies out of friends.  They have enough enemies without turning on one another. They see a snake for a snake and a coyote for a coyote and they know to run. 

-Chickens have no opinion on other chickens love life, relationships, or life choices and chickens do not judge. 

Chickens work hard for a living

That my friends is why it's okay that I like chickens better than most people I know.  That is why I would rather play with my chickens than talk to some people.

 I am linking up with Amber for today's It's okay post.  I hope she doesn't mind too much that I semi-high jacked her hop. 

Faith, Hope, and Miracles for Charlotte

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Sometimes when I am flipping through Facebook a story will catch my attention for reasons I do not really understand and I am touched forever by it.   This happened last night while I was looking through my feed and saw a story my cousin had re-posted.

Attached to the story was this picture of his angelic child and her parents.  Now, I know, we all have tons of angelic children of all ages and there are pictures all over the place but there was something different about Charlotte.  

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Attached to the photos done by a studio in Indiana, was a story.   After reading the story I was overwhelmed with sadness and  fear.  Here is Charlotte's story (Tissue Alert!) :

Charlotte's Story

I can't say why she has touched me so much. Perhaps it stems from the fact her parents live in the town I was raised in.  Perhaps it is the idea of the struggle waiting ahead for this little muffin and her family and friends. Perhaps it is the incredible unfairness of the whole thing. Perhaps it is the grace and faith the family is approaching this horrible disease with. Perhaps it is all of that.   

Today I simply ask that you read Charlotte's story, say a prayer for the family, and if you feel so called, check out  their Facebook page, photos, and Go Fund me account. Please continue lifting them up in prayer.  They will need the strength of all and God Himself.   Miracles can happen and with God's grace, Charlotte will get one but I am of the complete faith that there is a reason for everything, seen and unseen and there is a reason for this sad story.  Charlotte is a superhero in my eyes.

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Social media has many flaws but one of the best results of having social media available is that stories like Charlotte's get out across the world and people who otherwise would never know, know now and can take action.   Social Media needs more stories of Hope, Faith and the unconditional love of strangers and less of the shocking stuff.  Social media needs Charlotte to remind us all of what is good in life.  

Charlotte Strong Facebook Page

Charlotte's Go Fund Me page

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Baseball: A Women's User's Guide to understanding the Great Game

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A few days ago my sweet blogging soulmate and pug mama  Military Wife and Pug Life asked me if I would consider doing a baseball guide for wives and dummies.   It seemed like a great idea, not because I thought there were a lot of dummies out there but because I could share my love of the game with you all and maybe get a few people to understand baseball is more then men in tight pants. Not that I am opposed to tight pants, mind you.  Baseball pants are a thing of beauty.

So then came the huge undertaking. You see I grew up on baseball.  It has been a part of my life, just like football since I can remember.  I don't recall learning baseball, I just knew it. My grandfather was in Major League Spring Training with the St. Louis Cardinals before he hurt himself sliding into 2nd base and went home to heal.   His mother got sick and he stayed home to take care of her and that was the end of his baseball career but not the end of the love of the game in my family.  In the same way I inherited the love of history from my history teacher/coach father, I inherited the love of the great game of baseball from my mother.

So where to start with you ladies (or men who want to get their women more involved)?  Then it hit me, I will start with the one place you have to understand.   The entire first part of this blog is devoted entirely to giving you a basic rundown of the game in as quick a fashion as I can without completely boring you to death (I probably will not succeed).  If you get lost in that, skip ahead to the second half : What you really need to know about watching baseball.

The game is played on a baseball diamond just like you know...you wear on your hand.

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And the object on offense is to get your player home sort of like making it home from a tough work week every Friday night to a clean house and a beer and pizza.  (Is that just me?)

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Beyond that it is a simple game.   There are 9 players on the field on defense and each game consists of  9 innings.  The visiting team bats first (offense) and the home team pitches (defense).  Each position on defense has a number and when scoring a play or error you will often see the play referred to by the numbers.

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For example, an E3 means the 1st baseman made the error.   a 6-4-3 DP or Double Play means the defense got two outs starting at 2nd base with the shortstop (6) who tossed the ball to the 2nd baseman (4) for the out of the runner coming from 1st base who then threw the ball to the 1st baseman (3) for the out of the batter running from home.   If you want to impress your guy, ask him the next time a double play happens "Wasn't that a 6-4-3 double play?"  If you have never taken an interest in baseball before, he may think you have been replaced by a clone.

 

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Baseball has it's own language.  I could write for days and not cover everything so I thought I would hit the highlights.

The Battery:  

This is a term that refers to the Pitcher and Catcher collectively.  They work as a unit sending signals to one another.  The catcher will signal a pitch, the pitcher will nod or shake off the pitch and they will start over with a new round of signals.  

Runs:  

There are no points in baseball.  They score runs.   Never call them points and never ask "How many points do they have?"  It is all about the runs.

RBI

This term stands for Runs Batted In.  When a player comes to bat and there are runners already on base, if he brings those runners home, that is a run batted in.  There are exceptions when this won't happen, errors being the primary time. 

HIT 

When the batter puts the ball somewhere the defensive player can't record an out.  

Base hit

This is also called a single and this means the hitter only makes it to 1st base

Double

The hitter hits the ball far enough that he reaches 2nd base

Triple

The hitter makes it all the way to 3rd base, this is actually the most rare hit.

Homerun:

This is the money shot in baseball, the Touchdown in football, the 3 point shot in basketball, it is the hit that leaves the ballpark.  (Actually, it just leaves the playing field) and the batter gets to come all the way home.  (This is also called a homer, dinger, Jimmy-Jack,  blast and basically anything else that comes out of the mouth of a male in excitement).  A long homerun is called a monster shot. There are various degrees of home runs.  A solo shot, when there is nobody on base, a 2 run homer when there is a runner on, 3 run homer when there are 2 base runners, a 3 run shot and the grand slam or grand salami (see below.) 

Bases Loaded

When a batter comes up to the plate and there are base runners on every base, this is called bases loaded.  You may also hear this referred to as bases juiced and a bunch of other colorful terms. 

Grand Slam

when the bases are loaded and the player hits a homerun this is the greatest of all homers. 

Sacrifice:

Sometimes, like in life, you must sacrifice an out to advance the base runner closer to home. 

Designated Hitter: 

In the American League the pitcher does not come up to bat but is instead replaced by a DH or designated hitter.  This player does not play a defensive position but is instead taking the pitcher's place in lineup.  The National League does not play with a DH.

Pinch Hitter:

Both leagues use pinch hitting which is the substitution of one player, scheduled to bat, for another bench player (not already playing in the game).  The pinch hitter is used more in the National League where often the manager will substitute the pitcher when it's his turn at bat.   Once removed from a game for a pinch hitter, a player is not allowed to return to the game. 

Pinch Runner:

Basically the same thing as a hitter but the player is going in to run for someone who is not as speedy.  Again, a substitution of a fast player for a slow player means the player who was removed is done for the game. 

Strikeout (K)

A strikeout or a K is when a player either swings or fails to swing at 3 pitches that are strikes. 

Base on Balls or Walk:

If a Pitcher misses the strike zone 4 times in an at bat the hitter is awarded 1st base. 

These terms are very basic.  I could bore you to death explaining all the differences in things but you don't really need that to watch the game. 

*Each team has 9 position players.

*There are 9 innings in the game, unless it is tied and then it goes to extra innings (not overtime)

*There is no time limit (so never ask how much longer in the game, baseball is played until it is over)

*Each inning is made up of 2 parts, the top and bottom half of the inning.  The top is when the visiting team hits and the bottom is when the home team hits.   

*Each team is given 3 outs per inning before they change sides.

The rule book is complicated and nobody really knows what's in it.  I mean someone does but he is in a booth in New York and we never see him.  He is the guy they refer all the instant replay calls to for review.  Actually, I don't know that he really knows everything.  

What you REALLY need to know about watching baseball:

Alright so here is what you MUST know to watch baseball, ready? 

*Everyone and I mean everyone in baseball hates the New York Yankees except, of course, Yankee fans.  That's okay though because the rest of baseball doesn't care about Yankee fans.  

*The St. Louis Cardinals are the New York Yankees of the National League.

*Going to a game is about 300% better than watching it on TV and if you can score Opening Day tickets or find a group of friends to tailgate with before a game, it is going to be the best event (outside of NASCAR) you ever went to.  Seriously, I have made so many friends because of my love of baseball.  Some of my closest friends, my maid of honor at my Wedding and her best friend from childhood for example.  Plus you get to party with great fans when you find a group to tailgate and have fun with. (BTW check out my baseball cake topper if you didn't see it at my wedding!  SO cute! We had a sports/country/hunting theme because that's how I wanted it. It fit.) 

*Baseball pants are nice but give the game 1 season of really watching it. I am not saying you have to spend all 162 games camped out in front of the TV like me.  I realize everyone can't do that.  Honestly, even I can't do that with a husband and kid now, I am saying that you should try watching 1 or 2 games a week with your honey and really devote some time to learning.  (Let me share a moment.  I have never, ever, ever watched a single day of NASCAR in my life until I met my husband, who loves it.  I will watch with him now.  I have a favorite driver although, don't ask me why.  I have even been to a race, which is awesome.   Am I going to spend my life in front of the TV on Sunday devoted to NASCAR? No, Baseball is on.  I will however, watch the last 20 with him.)

*Let your sweetheart teach you the game and try really hard not to sound to silly. Please don't say things like "Why are their uniforms that color?  Don't they know that shade of blue makes their hips look big."  Trust me, nobody cares.   Nobody cares about uniforms outside of how well they sell so don't talk about the color and PLEASE for the love of GOD do not buy one of those stupid pink jerseys.  No MLB team has pink jerseys.

*Why you should let your man help you learn the game:
First, have  you ever met a man that didn't want to teach a woman something?  Truth here, my husband tries to teach me things I already know.  I mean the man lives to teach me things and impart his wisdom.   Second, you get to bond with your sweetheart.   Third, spending time with him doing something he loves shows him you care even if you have a hard time understanding why you care.  Trust me here.  I go fishing and hunting with my husband.  I don't hunt and fishing is something that bores me after about an hour and I start to burn.  I mean, I am a ginger, it doesn't take much for me to burn on a boat in the middle of a lake but I go anyway.  He loves spending time with me sharing his favorite things and I love making him happy.  

*A lot of women love baseball,  I swear. I am not talking like, they love to go to the game and hang with a friend and talk shopping and shoes.  I am talking we can talk the sport like a guy and know the game in a way that would make Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson proud.  

*Baseball food is more than just hot dogs.  Nachos have come a long way since chips and cheese too.  Rangers Ballpark has pulled pork nachos, 2 foot hot dogs with just about anything you can think of on them, deep fried bacon on a stick, garlic french fries, these potato chip things smothered in brisket and I don't know what all, brisket sandwiches, deep fried s'mores.  I mean really, I don't think anyone gets a hot dog unless it is dollar hot dog night.  (I don't eat there much because if you didn't notice, that stuff will all kill you faster than a pack of cigarettes and a case of beer.) 

*The baseball gods are fickle.  They giveth and they taketh away.  You will often times hear fans refer to the baseball gods imploring them to be kind.  The baseball gods are not kind.  Ask any Texas Rangers fan who suffered through the 2011 World Series how kind the baseball gods are.  It has been 4 years since that series and I am only just now beyond tears and fetal position.   Watch replays of game 6?  No, I will not, thank you.

*Baseball is a romantic sport.  Actually, I am going to do an entire blog on the romance surrounding baseball so look for the follow up to this blog but I promise, there is nothing more romantic in sports than baseball.

*Baseball has a fashion all it's own.  I will write more on this later as well but to give you an idea check out Opening day fashion talk here.

*You don't have to have a major league team to love, minor league teams are great too.  We are actually closer to the Frisco Rough Riders, the Texas Rangers AA affiliate and we go to several of those games every year.  The ballpark is beautiful and it is amazing getting to see up and coming players and rehabing major league players.  A few weeks ago we got to see Josh Hamilton, the Rangers left fielder on extended spring training rehabing from an injury and Joey Gallo, the recently called up 3rd baseman play in a game before both players were in Arlington.  You get better access to the players and a better chance at autographs, plus, the clubs are super friendly and they have better prices on seats.  During the game they had dollar hamburgers and dollar ice cream.  We ate like crap but it was glorious!  

*Which brings me to the most important point you really need to know when watching Major League Baseball, the best fans in baseball have one of these in their house. 

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Seriously though, find a team you love and love them with all your heart.  I grew up a Chicago Cubs fan and I still will catch a Cubs game here and there.  They were my first team.  I adopted the Rangers when I moved to Texas at 10 years old in 1981 and they have been my team ever since.  I live with them and die with them.  Whatever team is yours, learn the players, learn a little about the history of the club, and enjoy the beauty of the game.

Okay, I promise, I will do a follow up to this blog with some further talk on why baseball is romantic and some great fashion tips.  Until then, Play Ball!