Wordless Wednesday

This is the building I went to for 17 yrs. where I started my new career as a legal secretary, and later became a Legal Assistant - 150 N. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL - I worked in four different law firms in the same building.  Below is what I saw everyday that was kitty corner from my building. 

Merchandise Mart - Pictures taken by my daughter and I when we went out to dinner together at night.

Here's another new home for Wordless Wednesday  Parenting By Dummies.  Now I haven't a clue what's going on, and why there's two.  Somebody tell me, and we'll both know.  All I know is that Angie handed down her Wordless/Wordful Wednesday to Amanda aka Dumb Mom, and if Angie says she's okay that's good enough for me.

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

FOLLOW ME BACK TUESDAY!

Follow Me Back Tuesday some friends of mine are hosting this meme so we can all get to know each other better, and gain more followers.. Follow Me Back Tuesday is hosted by some cool friends of mine:  Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, Review Retreat and Boobies, Babies & A Blog

 How it Works

• Follow the 4 Hostesses #'s 1-4 ( leave a comment & they'll follow back ) 
• Add your blog to the list ( 1X )
• Grab their button & link up; and
•  Start to follow blogs! (leave a comment so they can follow back )
• In receiving a comment from a new follower  return the favor & follow back.
• Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!
•  
• Thanks to all who played our meme yesterday, "Monday's Music Moves Me" we had WAVES OF TUNES! ~hehe~  See you next week!  

MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME!

HI EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO  OUR 4th WEEK OF    
"MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME!"

 Hi!  Everyone, and welcome to "MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME"  Let me introduce you to your host/hostesses.  I'm XmasDolly Founder of this little party, and then here's my musical co-hosts. Lorie from The Shewbridges of Celebration, Florida,, Larry from Cakeblast , and my girl Callie from JAmericanSpice and we're all eager to get our Ga roooove on BADA BING - BADA BOOM!  We'd all like to F-O-L-L-O-W   U, as soon as you can get here, and leave us your link!

SO ARE YA READY TO ROCK & ROLL?  LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Theme: Song has to have the word water in it, or to be about water. Come on you can do it!  SO GET YOUR FUNKY SPUNKY, AND LUBE YOUR GROOVE CUZ IT'S TIME TO PAR-TAY   HAR-DAY!!!  SHAKE YOUR BOO-TAY!

So, here's the steps to this party.
       First step:  Run over to You Tube, (or wherever), and lock & load!  Get your pick for the theme of the week.  Upcoming themes are over to you left.
       Second Step:  Grab our "Monday's Music Moves Me" button (over to our right, right under mine)
       Third step:  SIGN THE LINKY - Dance (follow) your host/hostesses, and grab their buttons.
       Final step:  Start lookin' for a partner and boogie on down to her blog, and say hello, and tag (follow) her/him, and leave a nice comment.  If you've been tagged (followed) be hip, and get on over there, and tag (follow) her back & leave a comment.   

THAT'S IT!  What a great way to meet fellow Rockin' Bloggers!  

     PICK A TUNE, GRAB OUR  BUTTON, SIGN MC LINKY, AND HEAD ON OUT TO FIND FELLOW ROCKERS!  Random.org will pick the partners to showcase next week's "Monday's Music Moves Me" Spotlight Dance!  WOO HOO!  Now don't be a WALLFLOWER!  I will e-mail you, and let you know, so please  leave your e-mail address if it's not available at your blog.

HERE'S OUR  "SPOTLIGHT DANCE" COUPLE FOR THIS WEEK!  Those bloggers are:  DRUM ROLL PLEASE: 

1.   Twincerely,Olga   and  Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)

Congratulations to our Spotlight couple.  This week's theme is A SONG WITH THE WORD WATER IN IT OR ABOUT WATER!    So, what better group to sing about water then the BEACH BOYS! 

THANKS FOR COMING AND PLAYING ALONG.   
NOW COME ON EVERYBODY
LET'S ROCK!

Tweet

OKAY SOMEBODY STOLE MY LINKY AND NOW THEY PUT IT BACK AFTER I BOUGHT A NEW ONE!  OH WELL, SIGN WHICHEVER YOU LIKE SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION - BUT IT DON'T STOP THE MUSIC - ROCK ON!

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1.03.01

GROWING PAINS FOR MOMS!

Oldest Granddaughter/ loves reading!

Only thing is I had all the growing pains when my children were little.  I was a single mother with four children, and money was tight, but I managed to get them mostly everything they needed, and wanted.  When I went shopping I liked to bring them a little something, and most of the time it was the educational coloring books for whatever grade they were in.  They loved them, and my two oldest turned out to be very bright in school, and had an easy time of it.  I also have grandchildren, going on nine (9) to be exact.  My oldest granddaughter loves to read, and read some more.

Now my two youngest didn't seem to care for those books, and they had a much harder time.  I'm all for   educational toys, and books.  At Growingtreetoys.com they have so many cool toys, and educational toys.  Helpful?  You bet!  They have a gift finder in case you're like me and you get brain freeze, and you haven't a clue what to get your nephew or niece for their birthday because you haven't reached their ages with your own children yet.  The best one I like is their "Deal of the Day", and they keep selling it at that price until they run out!  Never have I heard of such a thing.

Middle Granddaughter/dance - read.

Youngest Granddaughter/play house

Plus they had their products by department, by age, by specialty and by brands. This is just a few things about this wonderful site. You just have to go check it out for yourself. Growing Tree Toys! The instant cure-all for Moms with a big headache for what to buy that's safe, educational and fun! Personally, I think I found a new place to shop! Growing Tree Toys!

*Disclaimer: No product was provided by GrowingTreeToys.com in exchange for honest review. Opinion is 100% my own and no monetary compensation was given.  

REST IN PEACE!

I was going to put a fun post, but I'm going to save it for another time.  We just got word that my husband's Uncle Don past away.  His wife was present, and they live in California.  It was his mom's brother.  I only met him once, and what a very handsome dapper gentleman he was.  He was a retired psychiatrist, and him and his wife volunteered their time at the library doing all sorts of things including reading to children.  So, if you have time this Sunday offer up an extra silent prayer for him would be very much appreciated.  Thank you.

So, may I quickly say:  May Uncle Don rest in peace.  You are no longer in pain, and you're with friends and family now I'm sure.  May the Lord welcome you with open arms, and guide you on your way to everlasting peace, and rest.  Amen. 

"In my Father's house there are many dwellings... I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be."   John 14:2.3

ALOHA FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK.FRIDAY FOLLOW 40 & OVER!

Alicia over at More than Words started "Friday Photo Flashback" because of having so many pictures from her PRE-digital camera days. She thought it would be fun to scan them and share them here with you. I'm having so much fun doing this, that I would love for you to join us, too! So dig out the photo albums and put your scanner ON! Don't forget to sign in to her MckLinky so we can all visit and comment on each others blogs!   IT'S GREAT FUN!    Please come join us.   Just sign up at Alicia's linky at Friday Photo Flashback (link above).  You'll love walking down memory lane - just as I do!

This picture was probably taken in the early 1970's, at one of the houses I grew up in.  From left to right is my cousin Dom, and his wife Susie (who's his wife of 31 years this year).  Then my cousin Sheri, my mom and my mom's mom, my Gramma.  Yep, that's my NaNee.  All 4'6" of her.  Man, do I miss her too!. 

Are you a blogger over 40? Yeah, welcome to the club!
Please join in the fun and get to know your fellow bloggers at Never Growing Old!!

"In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So here on Fridays we're taking it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’m asking a simple question for you to answer & nothing that requires a lengthy response.

If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link at the very friendly place of Islandlife808.com. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends and find new followers!

My question is:  Did you ever go see a play, at what theater, and what was the name of it?

My dad use to take me to the Candlelight Playhouse in Chicago all the time.  I seen No time for Sargents, Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, Guys and Dolls, and ByeBye Birdie, but the best one I saw was with my mom and my aunt was at the Shubert Theater they took me to see "Hello Dolly" with Carol Channing.  It was fabulous, and the costumes were amazing!


Have a Great Weekend Everyone, and THANKS for stopping by, and following me.  Also, please take a look at my GIVE-AWAYS before you leave.  I'm sure I'll take a look at yours to see if there's something I might like and visa-versa!  ~hehe~   Oh!  Don't forget about this Monday - "MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME"  Check the theme for this week.  It's a song about water. - MOVE ME!!!  I truly hope you ALL can make it.  Boogie Time!

DID YOU KNOW?

DID YOU KNOW?   
Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store.  
If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.   

Store your opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil .  
It will stay fresh much longer and not mold!  
Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating.  
Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.  

Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef .  
It will help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.

To really make scrambled eggs or omelets rich add a couple of  
Spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream ; then beat them.  

Add garlic immediately to a recipe if you want a light taste  
Of garlic and at the end of the recipe if your want a stronger taste of garlic.  

Reheat Pizza  
Heat leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove; set heat to med-low  
And heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza. I saw this on   the food channel and it really works.

Easy Deviled Eggs  
Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal; mash till they are all broken up Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy; squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done - easy clean up.   

Reheating Refrigerated Bread  
To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in  
A microwave next to a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food  
Moist and help it reheat faster.  

Newspaper Weeds Away  
Start putting torn newspaper in your plants, work the nutrients in your soil. Wet newspapers,  
Put layers around the plants, overlapping as you go; cover with mulch and forget about weeds. Weeds will get through some gardening plastic, they will not get through wet newspapers.    

Broken Glass?  
Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily.  

Flexible Vacuum  
To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel   roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.  

Reducing Static Cling  
Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and ... Ta DA! ... Static is gone. 

Measuring Cups  
Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup , fill with hot water. 
Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient ( peanut butter , honey, etc.) and watch how easily it comes right out.  

Foggy Windshield?
Hate foggy windshields? Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!  

Reopening Envelope  
If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, 
Just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily. 
 
Hair Conditioner  
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair . 
 
Goodbye Fruit Flies  
To get rid of pesky fruit flies, take a small glass, fill it 1/2 with Apple Cider Vinegar 
And 2 drops of dish washing liquid; mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever! 

Get Rid of Ants  
Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed! 

INFO ABOUT CLOTHES DRYERS
The heating unit went out on my dryer! The gentleman that fixes things around the house for us told us that he wanted to show us something and he went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. (I always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes.) He took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material . I'm sure you know what your dryer's lint filter looks like. Well .... the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't go through it at all! He told us 
that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh - that's what burns out the heating unit. 
You can't SEE the film, but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your 
clothes soft and static free. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box ... well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to potentially burn your house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush at least every six months. 
He said that increases the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that!?! 
Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn't know dryer sheets would do that. So, I thought I'd share! 
Note:  I went to my dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water ran through a little bit but mostly collected all the water in the mesh screen. I washed it with warm soapy water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. Then when I rinsed it ... the water ran right thru the screen! There wasn't any puddling at all! That repairman knew what he was talking about! 

Old Rock Star Songs

I got this the other day in my e-mail, and I really enjoyed it, and wanted to share it all with you!  

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1.03.01

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

First Day of Autumn?

Still looks green to me!

For more WW, visit Parenting by Dummies by clicking on her link, and take a look around while your there. It's a great blog with many new interesting things to read, and do! I love browsing around at her site.  Also there's this website, so now I am confused.  Can anybody decipher who's who?. http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

All, I know is a big thank you out to Angie at 7ClownCircus for all her work, and friendship she has afforded all of us since 2008.  Thanks Angie you've been one hell of a hostess I'll say!  Good luck in everything you do, and have a little me time while you're at it!  I applaud you!

Follow me back Tuesday!

Follow Me Back Tuesday is hosted by some friends of mine so we can all get to know each other better, and gain more followers..  They are: Survey Junkie, Little Yaya's, Review Retreat and Boobies, Babies & A Blog

 How it Works

• Follow the 4 Hostesses #'s 1-4 ( leave a comment/ follow back ) 
• Add your blog to the list ( 1X )
• Grab their button & link code to post on your blog; and
•  Start to follow blogs! (leave a comment so they can follow back )
• In receiving a comment from a new follower  return the favor & follow them back.
• Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!
•  
• Thanks to all who played our meme yesterday, "Monday's Music Moves Me" You guys ROCKED!  Loved all your picks!  See you next week and don't forget to check out to see what the theme is!  SEE YOU ALL THEN, AND ANY ONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO groove, mellow out or ROCK ON! 

HAPPY HARRIETTE DAY!

HAPPY HARRIETTE DAY! 

This is my mother-in-law, and my best friend! Isn't she gorgeous, and you know what so was her heart! She was the best lady I had every met, and I was proud to call her friend, and me Mum! We always hung out together, and went shopping, and garage sales, second hand stores, parties, relatives, etc.  She traveled all over the work.  New Zealand, China, Turkey, the Dead Sea, Italy, Hawaii, Austria, St. John's, Spain, and Budapest.  Probably more places, but I can't remember.  She was with a company too called Habitat for Humanity.  Ahhhh Ya just gotta love that lady! She's been gone since 12/06/06.  We sure do miss her! 

She didn't like birthdays, so that's why we called this Harriette Day! I even made her a cake. I'm not much of a baker, but it's a Banana Spice cake, and the frosting is whip cream! Nummers! There's bananas on the inside! So come on over the coffee is on, and you can have a slice of cake!

As long as you're here take a peek at my REVIEWS AND GIVE-AWAYS and don't forget tomorrow's FUN MEME - MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME!  IT'S FREEBIE DAY - YOU GET TO PICK ANY VIDEO YOU WANT TO MOVE IT TOO!  And hop around, and move to everyone else's!  

WOO HOO! 

SCHIMMERING LOTION CANDLE

The Shimmering Lotion Candle
(From their website)
The First Shimmering Body Candle Available Exclusively from Scandle! The patent pending Scandle Shimmering Body Candle is a candle that burns at 2° above body temperature to produce a shimmering, fragrant lotion to give your skin a healthy, sexy & flawless glow!

Made from 100% natural ingredients, Scandle’s Shimmering Body Candle is the first candle to:

• Gives skin a natural shimmer
• Hides wrinkles and imperfection by deflecting light
• Hydrate skin; and while adding aroma and ambiance to any setting

Scandle's Shimmering Lotion Candle is in a re-usable white/pearl colored ceramic container with pour spout that can be refilled with our Scandle Body Candle Refill Massage Candles.

Don't  you just love it when they tell  you all the wonderful things this new product is going to perform on you, and you believe every bit of it don't you!  Well, sure you don't have any reason not to do you?  Well, I do!  I don't trust nothing or no one.  Guess I'm a skeptical kind of person.  Well, I've been burning their candle here for a while, and thus far it has "Added Aroma & Ambiance" in the room.  Okay, that's one thing they were right on.   Now I'm watching the candle burn, and I'm looking at the liquid forming around the flame.  Oh my goodness!  I'm not kidding!  It's actually shimmering!   Kind of like a sparkle even.  I'll be -- Well, here's what I've done.  First let me tell you I am sixty years old, and my skin is very dried out in places, and especially my hands and forearms.  I'm going to put some on my hands and arms tonight, and even some on my crows feet (hey, there's only a few - watch it), and I'll let you know in the morning what happens. 

Okay, we cannot expect miracles overnight, but I do have to admit my face and forearms feel very smooth and moisturized.  My husband even rubbed my back with it this morning, and the warmth really felt good as he glided over my back.  Yes, it's definitely a great moisturizer.  I was definitely skeptical before I got this product thinking why would I want to pour hot wax on my body.  Just seems to me that would hurt, but this isn't hot wax.  It's a shimmering lotion that actually feels quite good.  I never knew heat could make such a difference.  You have just got to try this out.  I'll tell you even watching the candle flicker, he aroma, and the heat against my skin was quite soothing.  Yes, I'm hooked, and they have so many other products.  This product is being advertised in many places (see below).

I personally belong to a health club where I go do water aerobics, and other therapy classes.  I have Spinal Stenosis.  I mentioned this product/company to my therapist, and she was very familiar with this product.  She was highly educated on it too.  She advised me that not only was this a fantastic product, but it's not only for enjoyment, but extremely therapeutic.  Tomorrow is my cay for a pedicure too.  The really nice thing about this product you can close the cover on the can (contains the candle), and store it in your purse, and off you go!  I'm bringing my with, and telling her to use it on my toes, and my fingers.  How convenient is that?  Check it out, and see if it's for you.  I did, and I'm glad I did!

*As Seen In Shape Magazine, MarieClaire.com, WomansDay.com, Fox News, Parade.com, and Essence Magazine

MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME!

HI EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO  OUR 3RD WEEK OF    

"MONDAY'S MUSIC MOVES ME!"

  This week we would like to introduce ourselves to you.  Welcome back Lorie from The Shewbridges of Celebration, Florida,. and Larry from Cakeblast who will be hosting with us, and our final hostess will be Callie from JAmericanSpice who has graciously agreed, and is eager to get her Ga roooove on, and of course there's myself, XmasDolly BADA BING - BADA BOOM!  We'd all like to F-O-L-L-O-W   U, as soon as you can get here, and leave us your link!

SO ARE YA READY TO ROCK & ROLL?  LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!  IT'S FREE-BEE MONDAY - SO GET YOUR FUNKY SPUNKY, AND LUBE YOUR GROOVE CUZ IT'S TIME TO PAR-TAY   HAR-DAY!!!  SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER!  OOO OOO

So, here's the steps to this party.
       First step:  Run over to You Tube, (or wherever), and lock & load!  Get your pick for the theme of the week.  Upcoming themes are over to you left.
       Second Step:  Grab our "Monday's Music Moves Me" button (over to our right, right under mine)
       Third step:  SIGN THE LINKY - Dance (follow) your host/hostesses, and grab their buttons.
       Final step:  Start lookin' for a partner and boogie on down to her blog, and say hello, and tag (follow) her/him, and leave a nice comment.  If you've been tagged (followed) be hip, and get on over there, and tag (follow) her back & leave a comment.   

THAT'S IT!  What a great way to meet fellow Rockin' Bloggers!  

     PICK A TUNE, GRAB OUR  BUTTON, SIGN MC LINKY, AND HEAD ON OUT TO FIND FELLOW ROCKERS!  Random.org will pick the partners to showcase next week's "Monday's Music Moves Me" Spotlight Dance!  WOO HOO!  Now don't be a WALLFLOWER!  I will e-mail you, and let you know, so please  leave your e-mail address if it's not available at your blog.

HERE'S OUR  "SPOTLIGHT DANCE" COUPLE FOR THIS WEEK!  Those bloggers are:  DRUM ROLL PLEASE: 

1.   RMontalban  and   Jus Keep Smiling

Congratulations to our Spotlight couple.  This week's theme is whatever you want it to be, and I'm still stuck on the boogie!   What I've chosen is one my old favorites to dance too!   So, I have chosen for our Spotlight Couple is:  "BETTY DAVIS EYES!" 

THANKS FOR COMING AND PLAYING ALONG.   
NOW COME ON EVERYBODY
LET'S ROCK!