I Have My Own Domain – 123pizza.org

I have my own domain so I am now at 123pizza.org

I need book suggestions. Please help.

I’m needing some suggestions on what to read. I’m looking around my house at my bookshelves and am realizing that I don’t feel like reading any of those books yet. I am currently in the process of reading two books 1) Woman’s Inhumanity to Woman by Phyliss Chesler and 2) Off the Record by Elizabeth White.

My tastes in books are rather unusual…I tend to read just about anything as long as it keeps my interest. I usually read the classics, with some chick-lit when I don’t want to think. I also tend to read non-fiction on whatever subject strikes my fancy at the time or if I’m doing research on whatever topic is of interest at the time. Lately I have been reading Christian Fiction and blogging about it. I like to read young adult and children’s books also.

So anyway I was wondering what you, my readers, have to suggest for me to read. I’m running out of books and need help. Let me rephrase that…I’m running out of books that I feel like reading at the moment and need help. I don’t think I will ever run out of books because I keep buying more and haven’t read all that I already own.

So dear, dear readers…help me. Help me find some books to read. All suggestions are most welcome.

Also don’t forget about my book giveaway that ends Friday at midnight, October 12. I am giving away a copy of Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee. You can read about the author and the first chapter of Demon on my Feature Authors page. Saturday morning I will randomly draw a winner. This contest is open to those with a U.S. address only.

Today

Today has been an interesting day. Since hub and I have been running fevers we stayed home from church today. It has been nice. I had forgotten how relaxing the weekend can be. Hub took a nap this morning while I played Hide-N-Seek with the kiddos.

Hide-N-Seek was fun considering there really isn’t anyplace to hide in our house. Hiding consists of putting a blanket over you and hoping nobody notices you. We don’t play for the hiding aspect of it; we play for the fun. I mean really…we once played Hide-N-Seek in the car while waiting in line at McDonald’s drive-thru…where can you hide in a 5 passenger sedan…you can’t.

This afternoon I took a nap. I wanted one but had no intentions of taking one but my body has a will of it’s own and overruled my brain. After my nap I took a bubble bath and started reading Off the Record by Elizabeth White.

While I was napping the kiddos were playing games on the computer and I’m not sure what hub was doing. I know at one point he was playing Pokemon with the kiddos.

So yes, today has been a day of rest and relaxation and I’m praying we are feeling better tomorrow.

Are You on Your Period?

It’s not your business whether or not I’m on my period. Nope, it sure isn’t. As a matter of fact, I would like it very much if you didn’t know when I was menstruating. However, girls at Tri-Valley Central School in Grahamsville, NY don’t get the option of keeping their periods a secret.

According to this article Tri-Valley has banned backpacks and purses from their schools. After they did this, they realized girls needed tampons and pads handy when on they were on their periods. So girls are allowed to carry purses only when they are menstruating. A security guard called a girl out of class to ask her if she was on her period.

HELLO! HE DID WHAT? I don’t know about you but when I was 14 years old I was very insecure and sure as heck didn’t want to deal with my period. I didn’t even want to go to school if I was menstruating. My first period happened at school and was not a pleasant experience. Especially when I had to go to the nurse for supplies and had the unwanted attention that came with it.

Women menstruate. Yes that’s a fact of life, but it doesn’t mean it needs to be broadcast all over for everyone to know about. I sure as heck would be upset if the only time I was allowed to carry a purse what when I was on my period. Think about the ridicule and humiliation that comes with that. How would you like the guy you’ve had a crush on since third grade to see you carrying a purse and know why you had it? How about the mean and catty girls who just love to humiliate others? Who cares that they are also in the same situation as long as they can make you miserable?

Really… this school has taken the whole “let’s protect ourselves” too far.

**Don’t forget to leave a comment at this post for a chance to win Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee. My giveaway ends Friday, October 12. Saturday I will randomly choose a winner. Remember, only those with a U.S. address are eligible to win.**

Casio Pink Camera Contest in Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Go to 5 minutes for mom for their latest giveaway.

Slim, sleek and ultra-chic.
She’s dressed in pink and takes fabulous photos.
Her mission is promoting awareness and education about breast cancer.

Who is she?

She’s the Casio Pink EX-Z75 digital camera specially bundled with a camera case with pink stitching and a pink ribbon-clad lanyard to show support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

Yes, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Casio is putting on the pink.

They’ve taken their pink EX-Z75, a 7.2 megapixel digital camera which is part of Casio’s highly-regarded zoom line of EXILIM cameras, and are offering it with this special camera case and pink-ribbon lanyard for the month of October.

I don’t normally enter in contests but I couldn’t resist this camera!

Don’t forget to leave a comment at this post for a chance to win Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee. My giveaway ends Friday, October 12. Saturday I will randomly choose a winner. Remember, only those with a U.S. address are eligible to win.

I have Demon: A Memoir to Giveaway! I have Demon: A Memoir to Giveaway!

I have a copy of Demon! I have a copy of Demon! I have a copy of Demon! Nana-nana-booboo! I have a copy of Demon!

Oh yeah…right…I’m not supposed to brag and rub it in. My mom did teach me manners…I just choose to not use them most of the time.

Where was I? Oh…right…I have a copy of Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee…and you could too! Yes, you read that right! You could have your own copy of Demon just by leaving me a comment. This giveaway is open to those with a U.S. mailing address only. This giveaway ends Friday, October 12. On Saturday I will randomly choose a winner.

Then the winner and I will have Demon! The winner and I will have Demon! The winner and I will have Demon!

(It’s a good thing my mom doesn’t know how to work a computer!)

**To read the first chapter in Demon: A Memoir visit my Feature Authors page.

BABES – My journey to lose weight begins

Yesterday I started a new weight loss program. This program isn’t like most weight loss programs because it is focused more on accountability through exercise. I have waiting for years to try this program. I was pregnant when I first heard about it and have prayed about doing it off and on since then.

The program is called BABES (Beautiful Accountable Babes Exercising Sensibility). It is a 12 week course that was started by Barb Swanson several years ago. I go to weekly meetings for weigh-in, exercise, and a short teaching on how live healthier.

I love how a group of women can get together and share secrets (weight) and then sweat together. I mean really this is a program at church and most of the time when you are at church you want to look cute. (At least I do).

So I’m excited to start BABES. I’m committed and I’m ready…until I read I only get 1200 calories to eat a day. (Three meals at 300 calories and three snacks at 100 calories). Hmmmm…let’s see…didn’t make it…I came in at 1740 calories. That’s 540 more calories than I was supposed to have. (Although, way less than I normally do).

Breakfast – egg, oj, milk = 312

snack – yogurt with grapenuts = 295

Lunch – albacore tuna, lettuce, romano cheese, almonds, bacon bits, orange pepper = 265

snack – 2 slices Amish Friendship Bread = 200 (guessing based on results of other sweet breads at calorieking.com)

Dinner – spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans = 290

snack – wine, apple, cheese = 378 WOW!

Can you believe 1 oz. cheese is 110 calories!!! I was amazed! I have blood sugar problems and have been told to eat cheese (protein) to help stabilize blood sugar. I have been racking up on the calories through cheese alone! I mean I knew my wine would probably put my snack in the higher range but I didn’t know my BEFORE BED snack was almost 400 calories. WOW! What an eye opener.

I have known to keep a food journal but haven’t really ever figured up the calories…do I have a lot to learn. I am thankful I will be learning how to get my food under control. For the most part my family eats healthy and I keep my portions under control…calories are definitely a different story…I couldn’t believe my container of yogurt and grapenuts was so high in calories.

Another thing I will have to do is get back in the habit of exercising. Last year I was walking and started running. I want to run again and actually stick with it. I loved knowing I could run…it was exhilarating. Anyone can walk but to take the courage to run is completely different especially if you are overweight.

My prayer is that my journey to lose weight will continue in a positive way…I keep my eyes on the prize…don’t lose focus…but most of all…to enjoy myself.

I Was…But I Didn’t

I was going to write about how busy my life has been…but I didn’t.

I was going to write about all the doctor’s visits each of my kiddos has had…but I didn’t.

I realized that there are people out there that do this all the time because their loved one is ill. My current busyness is nothing compared to what they are going through. They would look at me and tell me to suck it up.

For the most part my kiddos are healthy. I don’t want to take their health for granted any longer.

If you know of a family with a sick loved one…please say a prayer for them.

New Pages for Kiddos

Kiddos came to us today asking for a web page. They wanted their own pages so they could show what they like to do. You know games they enjoy playing, books they enjoy reading and so on. So to honor their request I have allowed them to each have their own page on my blog. I hope you enjoy looking at N’s Top Ten Wish List and S’s Top Ten Wish List.

I Don’t Want to Homeschool for Religious Reasons. (That’s not normal for this region).

I have a confession–when I think about homeschooling it isn’t for religious reasons. Not once have I researched Bible curriculum. I have looked for other curriculum–I have reading and writing covered. Science is pretty much taken care of through books at home and at the library. Grammar…check. Math…I will need to add to…mostly finding alternate ways to present the concepts being learned. I will also want more manipulatives…as we are hands-on learners.

My main reasoning for wanting to homeschool is my kiddos are having a hard time adjusting to school. One keeps getting into trouble and the other keeps daydreaming. Both are bored.

Currently they are at a Christian school but will moving them to a public school be any better?

My kiddos used to love to learn. We would make weekly trips to the library and they would head to the science section and grab tens (yes tens) of books…each. We would watercolor and make paper-maiche. We would have fun and we would learn.

Now we don’t have time. Sure we still go to the library but the books don’t all get read and the experiments aren’t being done. We don’t have time. By the time we get home from school and have a snack, it’s time for homework. That doesn’t include the non-homework that is expected to be done at home such as Bible Verse Memorization (and it’s not just one verse…it’s like 10 verses), spelling words, addition/subtraction facts for one kiddo and multiplication facts for the other. At this point kiddos are schooled-out. They both hate it. They hate going to school.

Is this what I want for my kiddos? Can I do better? Can I re-instate a love of learning? Can I make learning fun? Will I regret taking the narrow road by teaching them myself or will I keep them in school while dreaming of homeschooling and regretting I didn’t take the plunge. Do I have what it takes to teach my kiddos and be around them everysecondoftheday? Can I handle teaching them with a toddler to also keep entertained? (Although youngest loves to be involved with what we are doing).

Also, what about the teachers who took the time and spent the money to go to college and learn to teach? What am I saying when I remove my children to homeschool? Can I really do it better than them? Is it so much about doing it better or being able to provide the one on one time they need? Am I strong enough to stand up to my educator friends and family by going out of the norm?

AAAAGGGGGHHHHH! So many questions and concerns. Someday I will make a decision and I pray it is the right one.