Healthy New Year to Ya!

Anybody feeling chubby and a little dumpy? Yep, me too. It's that time of year when most of us have consumed a bit too much egg nog and fudge.

This is one of the reasons why one of my hobbies is researching health. I found a site called Healthy Self Tips to improve your health and well-being. Nice site. He talks about the importance of organics and focuses on greens that contain nutrients necessary for a healthy body. Kale, which is a lot like spinach, is one of those veggies that doesn't always taste that great, especially if you don't cook it properly. But, it's full of Vitamins A, C and K and reduces the risk of several kinds of Cancer! Anyhoo, I got this tip which I want to share:

Chop up 1 cup of Kale, very fine. Place it in the blender with 2 bananas and 1 cup of water. Mix well and drink it down.

Let me know what you think and have a healthy and prosperous new year!

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In Honor of You, Mama...Merry Christmas

Christmas this year was held at my mom's in Kansas. I don't remember if we've ever done this before...it was a very memorable day. All my siblings and their families showed up (about 20 people). Though we only spent a day there, I will never forget how happy my mother was to have all of us together, at one time, in her home. (click on photos to see full-screen view!)

Stay with us now papa Wahalla, the fun's about to begin!
There ya go, Mom. Give him something to do!
Oh my - desperate to find hidden goodies in grandma's cellar.
Yup - throwing the tinsil on is how we use to do it too :)
Hey, D, thx for bringing your friend, Mr. Light. You know how he always brings us together.
Adorable new add'n to the Zimmer family.
Newly engaged! Congrats :)
You look good with a girl, Missie!

Sis and hubby with daughter via emergency foster care.

Big brother's a grandpa and lov'n it!
Look who stopped by, Aunt & Uncle Chicken!
Papa W. thinks he's really funny!
Woah - Look how tall you're getting!
Uh huh. We all know what's in that nog.

Priceless - my ma, M&M's pa!

Santa's tired. Guess it's time to go. We decorated the tree, had a great meal, exchanged gifts, shared the love of family, lots of beautiful music, and even some tears too.

....And when it was all over, in honor of our hostess, on this special day, M&M and I dedicated this song:

Mama by Il Divo

Mama, thank you for who I am

Thank you for all the things I'm not

Forgive me for the words unsaid

For the times I forgot

Mama remember all my life

You showed me love, you sacrificed

Think of those young and early days

How I've changed along the way [along the way]

And I know you believed

And I know you had dreams

And I'm sorry it took all this time to see

That I am where I am because of your truth

And I miss you, yeah I miss you

Mama forgive the times you cried

Forgive me for not making right

All of the storms I may have caused

And I've been wrong, Dry your eyes [dry your eyes]

Cause I know you believed

And I know you had dreams

And I'm sorry it took all this time to see

That I am where I am because of your truth

And I miss you, I miss you

Mama I hope this makes you smile

I hope you're happy with my life

At peace with every choice I made

How I've changed along the way [along the way]

Cause I know you believed in all of my dreams

And I owe it all to you, Mama

Wishing you a very merry Christmas everyone!

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Christmas Creations cont'd

M&M's working late, so I created my own tasty, chocolaty beverage: Heat up 1 cup milk, add 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 T sugar, 1 1/2 t cocoa, dash of salt, and a 1/2 t mexican vanilla. Top off with mini marshmallows.

Extra flab to you all throughout the rest of 2007. What? It's only fair. If I get fat, you should too.

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Best Time of the Year

No excuses, but, here's one of the things I did while I wasn't blogging (getting flour in the keyboard is difficult to remove)...for the hood, I made home-made chocolate covered cherries, fudge, chocolate-covered pretzels, peanut clusters, gingerbread men, sugar cookies and peanut brittle.

Wishing you all the best during this wondrous time of year.

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Procrastination or Pure Fear? (Scroll down for WW)

What is going on with my memoir? *Scratching my head* I believe my brain cells are in thaw mode. After rewriting, reinventing, and revising repeatedly, I've decided I'm lost and consuming chill pills has only set me back even further stifling me from progression. Maybe my body is still numb from the cold; hence, the brain freeze and clearly cold fingers.

In the interim (as I successfully procrastinate), I've educated myself on the contents of the proposal submission to the publisher; written the chapters necessary (and rewritten and edited repetitively as noted above); researched; begun building my platform; read 3 of the 7 books on my memoir list; held interviews; ordered records; and yet, I still find myself at a standstill. (However, now that I've written all this down, maybe I have done more than I tho't???)

I think I'm going from one day to the next in fear and didn't know it till now, as I sit here, doing what I do, but in the wrong screen of my notebook.

Encouragement highly encouraged.

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More Gifts of Giving (Scroll down for WW)

I decided to branch out of my zone of blogs and find some new stuff to read. Then it hit me. There's a blogger out there who is a freelance writer...Who is she? Searched. Found her -- Her name is Dawn and she writes stuff down at It Had To Be Said. Anyhoo, she has the same Google background, is interested in health and fitness, was born the same month as I, and is a fellow AWer, etc. Feel funny saying all this, but it's just one of those things - running into somebody with similar backgrounds and interests makes the sphere just that much more interesting!

Long story short, she posted today about another blogger who is doing something charitable. I've decided to participate. Mysti at My Journey is going to donate to a good cause -- a $.01 for every blog that links back to her post and $.01 for every comment made. Go check it out! I'm already curious to see how much she gets to give.

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Wordless Wednesday #11

Fresh roasted chestnuts served by a vendor near Central Park (can you tell I miss NY)?!

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Reason for the Season

What's the Problem With This Picture?

Maybe it's not as obvious to you as it is to me. Let me help. Focus your eyeballs on the stockings. Now, zoom in on the contents (go ahead and click on the foto to get a full-screen view). The one on the left is M&M's; the middle one is Baci's; and, guess who the one on the right belongs to? Yep. That would be me. Therein lies the problem. You see. It's empty.

But, honestly, I'm alright with that. He did make an extra effort this year to have the first gift under the tree. He did that for me...He does a lot for me. That said, I shall shut my trap, kick myself in the nogg'n and remember the reason for the season, 'cause that's what matters here, folks.

Continued happiness to you and yours during this wondrous time of year.

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Tag, I'm It...Again! (I know. I'm so popular.)

A big shout-out to my new bloggyville comrade, Rhonda, who has ever-so-thoughtfully tagged me -- Yippee :? I guess I deserve it, since I got her first. Joy, joy. And, thanks to Hootin--Anni who created this adorable image of me, just for me! (FYI to those of you scratching your head, she did this 'cause I inadvertently ran off with hers! *giggling with a blush on*)...I actually am grateful to play the game, all, so I can proudly display this colorful creature here on my blog and note how clearly I'm getting along well with others in the sandbox.

Now, on to the game! Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog;
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself;
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs; and,
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The seven random and/or weird facts about myself:

• I like to pick my nose. (no kidding)
• Dead things fascinate me -- any species. (truly, this is no joke)
• The music must go down when a moving vehicle slows down.
• I've never voted, nor have I registered to vote.
• It is imperative I clean up my house or my surrounding area prior to opening mail or something new.
• I have never been pregnant. I've always wondered if I was able...
• .I adore, adore, adore, (emphasis on adore), fruitcake. Yes, that's right. Feel free to regift yours and send my way. Snail mail's fine 'cause it just gets better with age.

And, finally (never start a sentence with and), here are the seven lucky winners who I've chosen to tag: Mama Pajama, Comedy +, State of Confusion, ..."And Miles to Go Before We Sleep...", Recovery Reconnaissance, Tricotine, and last but not least, Our Happy Happenings. I hope none of you hate that I have inclued you in this game and opt never to return to my playground. Please participate only if you have time or have even the slightest amount of interest.

Sloppy hugs and kisses to you all and continued joy and happiness during this special time of year.

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Wordless Wednesday #10

[Note: I took this photo last year while in Midtown (NY), celebrating my 40th. It's a window display! -- Click on it for a full-screen view.]

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It's That Time of Year

I'm such a bum. I go on a vacation and upon return, I go right into "catch-up" mode; hence, as you can see, I've not made time to blog. Now that I'm sort of back, I get to prepare for the next trip and decorate our house for the holidays. All I can say is, maybe I'll get better at traveling...Woe is me. I know, shut up Rhonda. What a whiner.

I decided today for a quickie I would give away my latest present (mind you, I started this post yesterday and am just now laying it to rest in completion land). I got this from sweet, sweet Dorothy @ Scrungy and Friends and am giving it to Rhonda who says, Because Mom Said So...That's Why! So, pipe down and listen up! and What Works for Us for obvious reasons (look at the name of the gift, folks). No need to give specifics, except I have to say these two always make my world a little brighter. They both make me grin 'cause of their sarcastic humor and are both so very real. Now, gotta run. Got a 12' tree to decorate. By myself. Yippee. No really. I'm excited. This is my job and it's a darn good one!

Wishing everybody happy holidays and continuous love and laughter...

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