Owner: Simply A Musing Blog URL:http://www.simplyamusingblog.blogspot.com Join Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:35:15 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: I believe in self-deprecating humor, always wearing clean underwear, and looking on the bright side. I'm a happily married Christian mom of three and I homeschool, but don't give me any of those turtlenecks and rompers - 'cause I'm tragically hip. Site statistics:Click here
Wordless Wednesday - Tiny Bubbles 2008-04-16 01:07:49 Seriously...Fun...Visit the Wordless Wednesday
Headquarters!Hoooold it right there, internets! Don't think you are going to click off here until you've made sure you're all signed up for this month's contest. Go! Quickly! But come back, I'll have things to tell you later.Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: photos, wordless wednesday, Texas
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WFMW - Oh The Things You Can Do With it... 2008-04-16 00:58:01 Distilled white vinegar. Stinky, yes. But highly handy. Especially this time of year when the flowers are blooming and the ants are coming out of hiding. Here are some uses you may not know about for gardening:Kill weeds and grass growing in unwanted places by pouring full-strength white distilled vinegar on them. This works especially well in crevices and cracks of walkways and driveways. Give acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and gardenias a little help by watering them with a white distilled vinegar solution now and again. A cup of white distilled vinegar to a gallon of tap water is a good mixture. Stop ants from congregating by pouring white distilled vinegar on the area. Discourage cats from getting into the kids’ sandbox with white distilled vinegar. Preser
Meet Yertl from "Smile, Play, Dream" 2008-04-15 23:20:50 Someone else got a new blog header designed by Simply Amusing Designs (moi). I'd like for you all to meet Yertle from Smile
, Play, Dream
. She is a wonderfully bright and inspiring blogger and when she asked me to do a header for her, I was delighted. Pop on over and say hi if you get a chance - I'm sure she'd love to hear from you.Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: graphic header,blogger header, custom blog header design, Texas
Well, nobody's perfect... 2008-04-15 01:55:44 Hoooold it right there, internets! Don't think you are going to read another word until you've made sure you're all signed up for this month's contest. Go! Quickly! But come back, I have things to tell you.Today my son informed me that someday when his daddy and I die, he is going to go live with his best friend, Major, and his mom and dad and they are going to adopt him and they are going to live happily ever after. Then I asked him what would happen if we didn't die. After a moment's hesitation, he looked at me, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, I guess I'm stuck here, then." It's so good to know I'm loved and appreciated. Sigh.I have always found advertising slogans amusing and when I was growing up, my secret wish was to work for a company who wrote jingles. (I'm a dreamer, I am.
Recipe Round Up - Texas Style Blt Wrap 2008-04-17 09:18:59 This is a variation on one of my all time favorite sandwiches -- the BLT. The thing that makes this so good is you can make it when tomatoes are not in season, because it calls for salsa. This is a very versatile recipe - sometimes I substitute tomatoes for salsa, sometimes I use homemade guacamole instead of store-bought.Karen's Texas
-Style
BLT WrapperIngredients:(4) 8-inch flavored wrappers (or wheat tortillas)4 ounces cream cheese spread1/2 cup chunky salsa1 cup shredded romaine lettuce12 slices cooked bacon1/2 cup guacamoleDirections:Spread each tortilla on one side with some cream cheese; top with salsa and shredded lettuce and spread evenly. Place three slices bacon on each tortilla; top with some guacamole and roll up to serve immediately. Dorothy of Field Stone Cottage is hosting t
Maxims gone wrong - TT #10 2008-04-16 22:21:49 Here's another way of looking the situation:1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the heck alone.2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.3. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.4. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, just miss a couple of car payments.5. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.6. If you lend someone $20 and you never see that person again, it was probably worth it.7. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and holds the universe together.8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize th
You Raise me Up 2008-04-18 00:39:02 I don't know about you, but I could seriously listen to this man sing for the rest of my life. (Shhh...don't tell my husband)Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: josh groban, you tube, Texas
Is this cute or what? 2008-04-17 23:51:51 I've just completed my first shabby chic blog header and it's so stinkin' cute! (Even if I do say so my self!) Meet Elaine from "The Miss Elaine-ous Life" (is that a clever title or what?) She wanted a little something fresh and new for her blog, and I was only more than happy to oblige with a header, signature and color-coordination of the template.If you're in the market for something new, head on over to my design blog - my prices are very reasonable and my order pad is currently open!Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: simply amusing designs, custom header, custom blogger header, Texas
New! Saturday Mystery Photo Contest 2008-04-19 15:05:30 This might just have to become a weekly installment here at Simply A Musing Blog. I love the whole "guess the photo" kind of contests that run on other blogs, but I also like to be different.That being said, I now offer the first of what may be many "SaturdayMysteryPhoto
" contests. What the heck is it? Leave your best guess in the comments section. I'll reveal the correct answer on Sunday night.Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: photo contest, mystery photo contest, Texas
Read more:Contest
, Photo Contest
Free Starbucks Sample 2008-04-19 13:16:58 I love coffee. In fact, I think my blog is powered by coffee...and very little sleep. I'm a sucker for freebies and giveaways as much as the next person, and this one is too good to keep to myself. Want to know how to get a free Starbucks
coffee sample? Go to their website and let it completely load. Look to the left and click on "Explore our coffees", then look up to the upper right corner and click on "Enjoy a complimentary sample", fill out the form and it's on its way. Easy-peasy, right?Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: starbucks sample, Free Starbucks
Coffee, Texas
Read more:Sample
I seriously need your help... 2008-04-19 12:55:35 Between homeschooling, caring for my mother, running our family business, and my design business, I'm finding myself a tad bit overextended. My blog is seriously neglected and I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever find the time (or energy) to sit and write a post that doesn't include youtube or my design blog's newest header.So this is what I'm going to try -- a schedule based very loosely on topics I like and enjoy - along with some of my more serious postings when I can fit them in. (which will be often) I spend my days living life, listening to the hilarious things that come out of my kid's mouths, and then when I sit down to write, I have amnesia. I can't remember a thing that happened during the day. Only that I'm tired. That's pretty much it. Oh, and the fact that this week? "Aunt Flo"
Mystery Photo Contest - We have a WINNER! 2008-04-20 20:24:50 Thanks to everyone who participated in the first installment of "Saturday's MysteryPhotoContest
" - where there are no prizes, just heartfelt thank you's for playing along. :) So thank you. From the bottom of my heart.Almost everyone guessed a Trike of some sort, whether it was of the Big Wheels variety or the Three Wheeler variety (not that I know of one of those, I'm just sayin'). Well, you were all wrong. Neener-neener-nee.Well, almost all of you were wrong. Megan from Fried Okra guessed the correct answer her very first time - it is a lawn sprinkler. And then a few of you saw the *light* after that. But I'm giving the credit and the link love to Megan, because she was first - "So Congratulations, Megan! And my heartfelt thank you for playing along with my game!"Here's a side by side c
Six Totally Unimportant but equally fascinating facts about me... 2008-04-21 14:13:42 Yertle, over at Smile, Play, Dream tagged me for this meme. Here are the rules:1. Link back to the person who tagged you. (check)2. Post these rules on your blog. (check)3. Share six unimportant things about yourself (check)4. Tag six random people at the end of your entry. (I'm a rebel - everyone is tagged)Thing #1 -- I like my toilet paper over the top. Way, dude.Thing #2 -- I wear a size 10. Shoe. Thing #3 -- I went to Columbia University. For a visit. Shut up.Thing #4 -- I had dinner with Bill and Camille Cosby. In New York. Seriously.Thing #5 -- I was once friends with Sara Evan's ex-husband. Craig Schelske. Thing #6 -- I cashed in my Nordstrom 401K to move back to Texas from Alaska 11 years ago and buy my house. Stupid? I don't know. My house is paid for. And I'm saving for retiremen Read more:facts
Bloggy Giveaway Carnival - Win a handmade apron! 2008-04-21 10:46:44 Hi and welcome to my giveaway for the quarterly Bloggy Giveaway Carnival
! I'm so glad you stopped by and I know you've got six gazillion other giveaways to enter, so I'll make this easy for you. (Why don't you just bookmark me or add me to your reader and come back for a visit - I have monthly giveaways too!) I've got a little something I made up for grabs. Pictures just cannot capture the cuteness that is this apron - here's my daughter (who is 11, modeling it):Close Up:The Details on How to Win:1. To enter, just leave me a comment. You don’t have to be a blogger to enter, but you do need to leave your name - I can’t contact you if you win if you enter anonymously.2. One comment per person, please.3. Open only to those with U.S. mailing addresses (this includes Alaska and Hawaii - not Read more:handmade
Wordless Wednesday - Expired 2008-04-23 11:43:16 Check out the new Wordless Wednesday
HQ!!Don't leave this blog without ENTERING THIS GIVEAWAY! or THIS ONE!Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: humor, wordless wednesday, Texas
WFMW - Kids and Money 2008-04-23 11:42:52 This week, my eleven year old daughter opened up shop on her very own business. She is selling handmade candles door-to-door and to local businesses to earn extra spending money -- mainly for trendy new clothes and to raise money for her summer youth camp, but she is also learning and developing important money management lessons in the process. My husband and I are encouraging her that after tithing her 10%, she should be paying herself at least 10-20% of everything that she makes. If she continues with this throughout her life, she should easily be a multi-millionaire at retirement age. {An aside - my husband and I meet people every day in our own business who just weren't taught this simple principle and therefore have nothing saved - so we help them find ways to reduce debt and free up Read more:Money
You don't bring me flowers anymore... 2008-04-22 14:50:59 While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor, 'It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes.' He addressed the man, 'Can you name your wife's favorite flower?' Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, 'It's Pillsbury, isn't it? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: marriage, humor, Texas
Important Life Lessons... Learned from my Cat? 2008-04-22 09:35:53 My poor, poor cat. She's cycling in and out of her misery again. And yes, yes...I'm going to get her spayed...just as soon as I get back from New Orleans - we have an appointment for next week at the vet. But on the bright side, she has taught me a thing or two in the last couple of weeks.The other night, as I was watching her wallow around in her fleshly desire, miserable and unable to get any relief - it dawned on me. That must be how I look to God when I get all caught up in my own desires and want to feel sorry for myself. Not a pretty picture, is it? Except I'm not an animal, so there's really no excuse for me. Ugh. Instantly, my disgust for her behavior changed - and I began to feel the tiniest bit of compassion for her. (Not that I know how it feels to be in heat, mind you, but I do Read more:Lessons
, Learned
Thirteen Ways to Save $$$ on Energy Use TT #11 2008-04-24 08:36:29 1. Take a flier on fluorescents. They no longer buzz, flicker or turn faces blue -- and they represent one of the brightest ideas yet for cooling down the atmosphere and your electric bill. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) approximate the glow of incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy. If every U.S. household replaced just one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent, the emissions savings would be comparable to taking three million cars off the road for a year. Don't let the price of CFLs -- as much as $7 each -- turn you off. The lights not only last ten times longer than incandescents but also save up to $60 in electricity per light over their lifetime.2. Vanquish the vampires. Remember James Thurber's story about the aunt who worried that electricity was leaking out of the wal Read more:Thirteen
, Energy
Jazz...it's not just for breakfast anymore 2008-04-25 04:43:47 Well, it's 4:36 a.m. and here I sit with wet hair typing furiously on my keyboard. We're leaving today for New Orleans on a business trip (stay away bad guys - we have a housesitter) and I can't stay off my addiction called the internet.Just wanted everyone to know that I'll miss you. (sniff!) But I'll be back...hopefully with some photos. But don't expect much in the way of photos, I don' have my Nikon D80 yet. :) I've decided against taking my laptop - it's just too much to lug around during the day tomorrow (not that it's not worth it), and I don't want my arms to drag the ground, know what I mean?Don't forget - the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival ends Saturday, April 26th at noon - so if you comment after that? It won't count. Have a great weekend!Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.
Isn't she pretty? 2008-04-24 20:47:18 Meet Fresh Girl from Anew and Afresh, the latest design from Simply Amusing Designs. This is an example of an "Ultimate Design Package" - all the colors compliment the header and she has a fresh new signature and side links. Go on over and say "hi", won't you? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: blogger header, Custom blog header design, Texas
Bloggy Carnival Apron Winner 2008-04-27 13:00:40 Using the ever-so-scientific random number generator (my cat ran away), I have selected a winner:Counting down from the top, I was oh so happy to discover it's this person, who actually collects aprons:Congratulations, Tami! And, if you didn't win, never fear. I will be giving away another apron in the future for my monthly giveaway, so subscribe to my feed and I'll let you know when it's going to happen. Have a great weekend, all!Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: apron, giveaway winner, Texas
Read more:Carnival
, Apron
Feed me Seymour...my little shop 2008-04-28 20:44:14 Well, I have been having some fun tonight on Cafepress. I have some items for sale in my little
shop if you are interested. I was just playing around, but I think I'm going to order some mugs or tees and give them out every now and then as giveaway prizes. What do y'all think? Would you even want one?Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: simply amusing tee, cafe express, Texas
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Let them eat cake - the "300" trailer...spoofed! 2008-04-28 03:02:32 My husband downloaded this the other night and I laughed so hard my sides hurt. We watched 300 and enjoyed the story, but could have done without all the gratuitous shots of naked folks. Which explains why we don't own it - we won't let our kids watch it - but we will let them watch this. If you missed it, this is the PG version and it's safe to watch. I promise. Turn it up so you can hear. Am I the only one that thinks this is funny? "Let them eaaaat caaaake!"Don't leave this blog without entering THIS giveaway!Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.Technorati Tags: you tube, 300 spoof, Texas
WFMW - Foiled! 2008-04-30 00:56:28 Remember the old cartoon with Dudley Do-Right the Canadian mountie? He was forever ruining Dastardly Dirks's plots and DD would always say, "Curses! Foiled
again!" Well, today's Works for Me tip has to do with common old everyday foil - one of my favorite things. Here's a helpful little list with some of my favorite uses (besides covering tonight's casserole):1. Shine your chrome ~ For sparkling chrome on your appliances, strollers, golf club shafts, and older car bumpers, crumple up a handful of aluminum foil with the shiny side out and apply some elbow grease. If you rub real hard, the foil will even remove rust spots. 2.Keep a paintbrush wet ~ Going to continue painting tomorrow morning? Don't bother to clean the brush -- just squeeze out the excess paint and wrap the brush tightly in a
Through The Looking Glass 2008-04-29 22:46:54 I have always loved the writings of Lewis Carroll. His "Alice in Wonderland" series was one of my favorites as a child and I was especially fond of the book, "Through the Looking Glass
". I imagine it was because at some time or another, we all speculate what life must be like on the "other side", whether it be the looking glass, the fence, the computer, or this life. Recently, I have had a look at what life on the other side of "healthy" and "young" is like and aging gracefully is something that I'm starting to believe only happens in Hollywood movies. Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty, but everything else seems to wear out, fall out or spread out. Taking care of aging parents is demanding, draining and if you're not careful, it can be downright depressing. I have always known the Read more:Looking Glass
Very Merry Events 2008-05-01 10:44:14 Allison, from Very Merry
Events was the winner of a $50 custom header package from Simply Amusing Designs during the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway. She wanted something very simple yet festive for her new party planning blog, and after a few emails and a chat, she picked this photo and trusted me to do the rest -- this is the result:
If you need any party planning advice, check her out. She's just
13 Ways to Know You're Drinking too Much Coffee 2008-04-30 23:06:03 1. You answer the door before people knock.
2.You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
3. You get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
4. You grind your coffee beans in your mouth.
5. You chew on other people's fingernails.
6. You can type sixty words per minute... with your feet.
7. Your only source of nutrition comes from "Sweet & Low."
8. You walk twenty miles Read more:Drinking
, Coffee
April's Organization Giveaway Winner 2008-05-02 00:05:56 Obviously, this means nothing to anyone until I explain it. If you go back to the original post, you'll see there are only 140 entries (one of which is a duplicate, which I didn't count)...so how the heck did I come up with #181 as the winner? Well, everyone who posted or linked to my blog about the contest got 5 extra entries...and I went through personally and checked every single blog where Read more:April
, Organization
Eighteen Wheels and a dozen excuses... 2008-05-01 20:57:34 Dear Mom,
I feel completely helpless right now and I don't know what else to do for the two of you to make you understand the severity of your situation. There are certain things you just can't do anymore and you're both going to have to face it.
Mom, I'm not sure what you were thinking or if you even were thinking when you asked Dad to take a drive to the store and pick up some chicken at 7 Read more:Wheels
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