Thought of the Day - 3/21/09

Love is everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.
~~ Erica Jong ~~

Aloha Friday #6

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is a day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend so Kailani at An Island Life thought that Fridays should be easy posting day too. I’ll ask a simple question. You respond with an answer, nothing that requires a lengthy response.

This week's question:

What's your favorite cleaning product? Why?

To participate and see other questions, go to Aloha Friday.

The Ultimate Blog Party - I Want to Win

The Ultimate Blog Party is about meeting mom bloggers and having fun. It's also about winning prizes. The prizes I would love to win are (in no particular order):

• #19 -- $50 Target Gift Certificate
• #21 -- $50 Target Gift Certificate
• #41 -- Photo Tile Necklace
• #103 -- Surprise Box
• #23 INTL -- Blog Makeover
• #28 INTL -- Blog Design
• #35 INTL -- Blog Design

Wish me luck!

Spring

It's the first day of Spring . . .


Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn.
~~ Lewis Grizzard ~~

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!"
~~ Robin Williams ~~

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.
~~ Geoffrey B. Charlesworth ~~

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~~ Charles Dickens ~~


It's the first day of Spring . . . for me the first day of new.


Today, I got a hair cut -- 13 inches of hair -- cut. T-h-i-r-t-e-e-n inches! I needed a change and what better day for a new change, a new look than the first day of Spring?!




I have donated my hair to Locks of Love too. I am so happy to be able to do this for others. As a survival of cancer and chemotherapy, I understand the need to feel accepted and not ostracized due to being bald.


What is Locks of Love?

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

Mission Statement of Locks of Love

Our mission is to return a sense of self-confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Happy Spring!

What did you do today to celebrate the first day of Spring?

Thought of the Day - 3/20/09

Your closest relationships are growing even closer, but don't miss out on opportunities to start new ones, either. There is plenty of room in your life for friendship.

Thursday Thirteen #10

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring and I am going to get my hair cut to celebrate. Why is this a big deal? I'm getting, at least, 9 inches cut off.

Thirteen Reasons Why I am Cutting Hair

1. I am cutting my hair because it does not look healthy because of all the split ends.
2. I am cutting my hair because my hair is heavy.
3. I am cutting my hair because, I think, the heaviness of my hair causes some of my headaches.
4. I am cutting my hair because its time for a change.
5. I am cutting my hair because its been 6 years since I had a hair cut.
6. I am cutting my hair because I cannot comb the knots out by myself due to the long length.
7. I am cutting my hair because my daughter, 7, has to comb my hair for me.
8. I am cutting my hair because at night the dogs are constantly laying on my hair. Ouch!
9. I am cutting my hair because my hair often gets stuck in my coat zipper, shirt buttons, and necklaces.
10. I am cutting my hair because trying to style my hair is useless due to the long length.
11. I am cutting my hair because I am tired of pony-tails.
12. I am cutting my hair because I use a lot of shampoo and conditioner, a big waste.
13. I am cutting my hair because I use a lot of hair color because one box is not enough to cover all of my hair.

After this list, I guess its about time to cut my hair. Good thing I already scheduled my hair salon appointment.

Check out other fun, witty, interesting lists at Thursday Thirteen.

What is Blogging

What is blogging?

This is an overview of the development of weblogs and an introduction to the ways you might use a weblog.

Blogs are frequently updated web pages on which authors post short comments about news items, interesting websites, their thoughts, and more. Blogs are part of a publishing revolution that allows individuals to express themselves to the world. Blogs are easy to create, easy to maintain, and fun to read.

(n.) Short for Web log, a blog is a Web page that serves as a publicly accessible personal journal for an individual. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.

(v.) To author a Web log.

Other forms: Blogger (a person who blogs).

A Short History

In the early days of the Internet, each new page was a cause for celebration. The early pioneers watched in excitement as the network grew, and they wanted to keep people informed about this growth. In 1992, Internet pioneer Tim Berners-Lee created the first "What’s New" page. Later, another pioneer, Marc Andreesen, put up a similar page. Each had hot-links to the new pages springing up on the Net.

As the Internet grew and the World Wide Web came about, other programmers created hand-coded pages with their recommendations for surfing the Net. Justin Hall started his filter log in 1994. In 1998, Jorn Barger coined the term “weblog.”

Soon, says weblogger and author Rebecca Blood, these “link-driven sites” were very popular, and webloggers became a community. Each weblog included a list of similar filter sites.

In 1999, website Blogger began to offer a simpler way to create a weblog. This hosted service allowed any person to easily sign up, create a blog, and write numerous postings. All without having to know HTML.

Since then, millions of weblogs have been created. The term is now pronounced web-log or we-blog, but usually shortened to blog. These blogs evolved into personal diaries or journals.

Many journal-blogs still do include a list of other similar sites. This is a called a blogroll.

So, get blogging, so we can learn more about you and share more in your life.

The Ultimate Blog Party - Let's Party

Welcome to All Things Cherished!

My Brief Introduction

I am: a single mother, a foster mother, a college graduate, a Master's of Education candidate, a feminist, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece, a heterosexual, a lover and owner of Chihuahuas, a lover and previous owner of Cocker Spaniels, eclectic, sassy, unique, allergic to milk, an Internet addict, a Christian, a friend, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a counselor, a teacher, a kid at heart, an adult, a woman, a female, a sexual assault survivor, someone working to prevent sexual assault, a chocoholic, a book lover, a scrapbook artist, a photographer, German, Welsh, American, 5'1", a blog junkie, a Christmas fanatic, an advocate for children, supporter of education, a crime show watcher, a hopeful writer . . . I am ME.

My Long Introduction

I'm Storm (my middle name) and I am a single Mother. I also have to earn some money to support my family so I am a Supervisor and Consultant for Usborne Books, Sales Consultant for Memory Works, Educational Advocate and Consultant, as well as the owner of two home businesses -- DawnLyn's Designs and Litz's Business Services.

I am a single mother to three wonderful children: (1.) Cameron, my son, 10 going on 11 in four weeks, is disabled (bipolar/ADHD/ODD/OCD/Sensory Integration Disorder/speech problems) and is very generous with his heart and very loyal to his family and friends. He's such a handsome young man. (2.) Cassandra, my daughter, 7, going-on-15, is gifted, beautiful, smart, and sassy. Cassandra has severe asthma and chronic bronchitis, and is learning French. (3.) Renee, 9, is my foster daughter, who is also disabled (FAE, borderline Mild Retardation; Adjustment Disorder; still doing testing & evaluations to determine disability), is shy, quiet, and sweet.

Champ, a Chihuahua, 1, is living with friends at the moment. Baby, a Chihuahua, approximately 2, is a stray and the newest member of the Litz family.

More About Me

I have always enjoyed writing as a creative outlet and hope to publish a novel some day of the antics of my life. I don't think I am artistic but do feel I am creative; hence, my love of scrapbooking and Christmas decorating.

I am passionate about health and safety issues as they relate to my family, especially concerning mental health issues and protecting children's rights -- which is why I am an Educational Advocate and Consultant.
In my past life I was a special education teacher, a elementary education teacher, a community college teacher, a drug & alcohol rehabilitation counselor, a vocational counselor, a pregnancy counselor, a therapist, an administrative specialist in the Army, an intelligence specialist in the Army, a TSS (therapeutic service specialist), a BSC (behavioral specialist consultant), and much more.

To learn more about my love of scrapbooking, go to 365 Days of Memories.
To learn more about my love of Christmas, go to 365 Days of Christmas.
To learn more about getting organized, go to 365 Days of Organization.

The Party

Welcome to my cherished life.

When I host a party, at home or online, I serve . . . pizza rolls with several types of sauces, various flavors of chips with dill dip, chocolate chip cookies, cocktail meatballs & wieners, and tortilla chips with taco dip.

Here are some of my favorite recipes.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2-1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c butter or margarine
1/2 c shortening
1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c granulated sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
1 12-oz. package (2 c) chocolate chips -- I usually add more than this.

Stir together flour, soda, and salt. In a mixer bowl, beat butter and shortening on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugars and beat until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating until well combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop from a teaspoon 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375* oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and let cool. Makes about 60.

Cocktail Meatballs

1 lb ground beef/chuck
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/3 c finely chopped onions
1/4 c milk
1 Tbsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
1/4 c shortening

Sauce
1 10-oz. ketchup
1 10-oz. grape jelly

Mix ground beef, bread crumbs, onion, milk, parsley, salt, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and egg. Shape into 1” balls. Cook meatballs in shortening in 12” skillet until brown. Remove and drain excess fat. Heat 1-10 oz bottle ketchup and 1-10 oz jar grape jelly in skillet, stir constantly till jelly is melted. Add meatballs and stir until coated. At this point you can put into a crockpot on low. Simmer 30 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 5 dozen.

Giveaways

I have prizes to share each of the blogs (listed above).

Here, at All Things Cherished, the prize is an awesome journal you share with your child. Pillow Talk is a creative way to communicate with your child. Got a secret to share, some admiration to express, or a word of thanks for a job well done? Why not put it in writing? On the pages of Pillow Talk, you'll find 100 relationship building questions for you and your child to answer. In today's world of virtual communication, give your kids the real deal. Something tangible they can see and touch and look at again and again, whenever they want to feel connected with you. The journal is an awesome way to bond with your child(ren) and I am so happy to be able to give one to a lucky winner.

If you are interested in Pillow Talk, please a comment as to why you are interested in receiving this prize.

At 365 Days of Memories, the prize is a four-pack of handmade cards. I love scrapbooking and paper-crafting. Recently, I have gotten some very nice compliments on my cards. I am excited to give one lucky winner a pack of four cards for various occasions and holidays.

At 365 Days of Christmas, the prize is a lovely, hardcover book titled The Heart & Home of Christmas by Karla Dornacher. Artist Karla Dornacher celebrates the Christmas season with her first holiday title. Page after cozy page features her signature artwork with its warm and home-style feel, along with her gentle words of inspiration. I love this book and am so excited to be able to share it with one lucky winner.

At 365 Days of Organization, the prize is a high-quality, full-color planner. You have a choice of one planner from primary age through high-school aged children or adults. The dates are from July 2009 through June 2010 so, of course, they are current calendars. There are quotes and other misc. information included. I am happy to be able to share two planners with two lucky winners.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thought of the Day - 3/19/09

People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

Works for Me Wednesday #14

You can add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there is blood on clothing, pour directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

Check out more great household tips at We Are THAT Family.

Simply Healthy #3

Feeling energetic and taking care of yourself will make you happier and healthier. Boost your energy by taking a different route to work or the park, prioritizing the day’s chores with a to-do list, &/or spending time outdoors.

Thought of the Day - 3/18/09

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
~~ Harriet Tubman ~~

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thought of the Day - 3/17/09

Beauty, truth, friendship, love, creation -- these are the great values of life. We can't prove them, or explain them, yet they are the most stable things in our lives.
~~ Jesse Herman Holmes ~~

Around the 'Net - Plinky

The fact that there are tens of thousands of results for "blogger's block" suggests that more than a few of you have struggled to think of what to say on your blog at one time or another. If that sounds like you, you might want to take a look at Plinky. Plinky is the brainchild of one of the original Blogger team-members, Jason Shellen, and we've enjoyed seeing what people have come up with in the first few weeks of answering Plinky prompts.

Every day Plinky provides a prompt (i.e. a question or challenge) and you answer. They make it simple to add rich media and share your answers on Facebook, Twitter, and blogs.

Not only does Plinky provide help with what to post to your Blogger blog, but it also helps your answers look good in the process. Depending on the prompt, answers contain rich media elements like maps, photos, lists and cover art for books, movies and albums. It's easy to tell Plinky that you use Blogger and all your answers posted through Plinky can go right to your blog.

What are you waiting for? Go answer a prompt.

Simply Healthy #2

Getting too much sleep or too little sleep can trigger a headache so pay attention to your sleep patterns.

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009 - Are You Coming?

The Ultimate Blog Party is a carnival for you to meet other mom bloggers, have fun, and win prizes, so get out and meet & greet.

Head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom to get all the details, links, and other information you need to party with me, Janice and Susan from 5 Minutes for Mom, and all the other great mom bloggers out there.

See you around the blogosphere.

Please Raise Your Hand!

Everyone Against Abortion, Please Raise Your Hand!

To see a touching, heart-wrenching one-minute video go to Everyone Against Abortion. Though it's only 1 minute long, the beautiful message that "Raise Your Hand" will imprint on your mind and engrave on your heart will last the rest of your life.

You can take action by praying, by looking at pictures, and by letting others know this is against God's wishes.

Make Me Laugh Monday - How to Decide Who to Marry

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports,. And she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10


Join us in making Mondays fun by sharing a joke, riddle, comic, funny story, funny song, etc., by adding your link to Mr. Linky below. Please add the link to your funny post (not the link to the front page of your blog) so we can all blog hop and have fun together.

Thought of the Day - 3/16/09

Giving to others enables you also to connect to others.

Blog Redesign Contest

Tena over at Punky Monkey’s has teamed up with Sara over at Subjective Beauty to give away a one-of-a-kind custom blog design to one lucky person. To enter this contest, you have to post an entry so here I am. Sara is very passionate and have done many blogs of many of my favorite bloggers.

Go to Subjective Beauty to check out her awesome work, go to Punky Monkeys for some fun reading, and don't forget to send both ladies some bloggy love by leaving comments.

I so would LOVE to win this! Wish me luck!

Thought of the Day - 3/15/09

Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.
~~ Ayn Rand ~~