Hot Button Topic at Mile High Mamas

Click here to read what all the fuss is about!

The voices are back and they are madder than ever!

I'm reading " The Host."

Even if you are paranoid, someone could still be living inside the body you snatched.

Thanks NCS for the inspiration. (Annie breaks out into song..."You're the meaning in my life, your the inspiration...") Try getting that out of your head today. You don't need to be a an alien invader to infiltrate the gray matter. I'm just sayin'.

It's time to freshen the air around here! This blog is starting to stink...

....with dank partisanship!

Awwww... that's better. Let's Bollywood!

Anniethology Question(s) of the Day

I may live to regret this.
Ever since I posted pictures of Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin, my blog has become a lightning rod for political interest. My stat counter has lit up like a disco ball!
Despite everything that would indicate to the contrary, I don't like controversy.
I can't stand the back and forth of warring ideologies. I have a political opinion. I have religious beliefs, but I don't argue about it. I don't see the point.
"A man convinced against his will, holds the same opinion still."
That being said, people have come to my blog to voice their opinion and I am going to give them the forum to do that. BUT, I won't tolerate name calling. You may get away with calling someone "a disgrace to the human race" on other blogs, but not here. Look up and read the name on the blog again. It says, "Anniethology." That's me. It's still my blog. My sandbox. My rules.

1. Is there a statistic out there that says teenage girls with working mothers are more likely to get pregnant?

2.. Will Obama put his young kids before his presidency?

3. Did Obama pick Joe Biden because he wasn't a threat to his popularity?

4. How would Hillary Clinton respond to someone who says that a woman with a baby should not be Vice President?

5. I have more questions. Maybe I will save them for another day, if my computer doesn't crash from the massive amount of hits I'm going to get.

There are only two kinds of people in the world...

....people who love Napolean Dynamite and people who hate Napolean Dynamite. There is no gray area here. There is no Switzerland. You either love it or hate it.



A blogosphere challenge has gone out to our friend Omar , spear-headed by our own No Cool Story, to finally decide which kind of person he is. In order to do that, he has to see the movie.

Omar, the gaunlet has been thrown. We are all waiting for your answer.

I love Napolean Dynamite. I love it and I've worn the t-shirt. Check out my sister's blog to see her pics from the Napolean Dynamite Festival!



Do you know which kind of person you are?

If you see her... Version 2.0

...tell her I love her!

The Secret is.... I'm controversial!

I have been reading the book, "The Secret." It's been amazing what I have been able to "manifest" into my life by using some of the concepts contained therein. I have read other books before about the power of positive thinking, but this one has proven to work more powerfully in my life. Since I have been reading the book I have been able to bring some exciting things into my life with my thoughts.

Ham and mustard

I was reading a book about a poor, young, teenage girl who lived in a decrepit castle with her family. A neighbor gave them ham and mustard for a Christmas meal. It was the best meal they had had in months. When I read that I thought, "Ham and mustard, that sounds good."

A week later, we went to dinner at a friend's house. What did they serve?! You guessed it! Ham and mustard!

Member of an Advisory Board

I recently recieved an e-mail from an up and coming on-line clothing store I purchase from. They asked me to be on their Advisory Board for a new clothing line! In return, free clothes! Woot! Thank you, Universe! When I told my sister, Fashionista, about it she said, "How did they know you were opinionated?" I don't know. I guess I just "manifested" it. Oh yeah!

Made national news

I wrote, what turned out to be, an edgy post for the Mile High Mamas blog. My post was picked up by an associate producer at abcnews.com. She called me and asked me to do a follow-up for an article she was writing.

I am super excited about having made national headlines. But, my mom is all upset at some of the comments I have been receiving. Apparently, my quotes have made me, in the eyes of some, a "disgrace to the human race."

How does Kathy Griffin's mom deal with her daughter being controversial? Kathy always jokes about her mother and her boxes of wine. I guess it's too bad my mother doesn't drink.

And for my next manifestation...

Seeing how applying certain principles from "The Secret" has brought some exciting things into my life. I decided to test the waters even further. I put on a water-skiing vest and threw open my front door and yelled for the Universe to hear,

"I want a boat!"

Apparently, the Law of Attraction went a little off kilter, because I noticed a new boat in my neighbors driveway instead of my own.

Maybe in need to "manifest" a little harder.

I'm "Parenting with Altitude!"

I'm the top post at Mile High Mamas today. My kids have gone back to school and my twin boys have a man teacher! Click here to check what I have to say about that! Apparently, I've hit a nerve! Go see what all the fuss is about.

Scroll down to help me with an upcoming Home and Garden article and don't for get to take my new "Cindy McCain Picture of the Day" poll.

Calling all my Homies

Hello, my fellow Home and Garden enthusiasts. I would like your input for my next article. I want to know about your household chores that need to be done every so often, but tend to get over looked. For instance, vacuuming your mattresses, deodorizing the waste disposal, washing the outside windows, or changing the batteries in the smoke detectors. What are your every-so- often" chores and how do you do them? Do you have a system in place to remind you to do them? What chores have you been putting off until you have more time?

Thanks for the help. Don't forget to check out my new poll on my sidebar!

It's nice to be loved!

Yesterday, I received flowers from Aubrey . Now if only she were here to stage them perfectly for me. The flowers took me completely by surprise. It's not my birthday or my anniversary. I was about to give Secret Agent Man big props from being super romantic. Haha!
And I got a wedding announcement from Cutie Lauren! I want to go to her reception sooooo bad. At least I got a preview of the wedding dress. Try not to be jealous. Talk about Good Mail! That was too good to be true! Thanks Ladies. Smooch!

And IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII will always love youuuuuuuuuuuuuu

It's been 31 days since I have quit my dear friend, Diet Coke, cold turkey. I white knuckled it for the first week and a half. It seemed to get a little easier after that. They say it takes 28 days to change a habit. I very nearly fell of the wagon on Day 28. We went to Fiesta Guadalahoochies for lunch and I wanted to throw back a soda with my chips and salsa and Picadillo Burrito like there was no mañana, but Secret Agent Man pulled me back from the ledge, i.e. staged an intervention, prying my death grip off the icy glass and away from my quivering lips. I have decided to quit caffeine and carbonation altogether in an effort to make healthier choices. Since I am not buying so much soda, I have more money in my pocket: Upgrade. But, I have replaced my Diet Coke with fruit juices, therefore I am drinking some of my calories: Downgrade. As certain as I am that I have done a good thing, I will miss my D.C. ::Tear::

If you see her...

...tell her I love her.

Two bloggers collaborate for a Home and Garden article

While at the blogger party in Oregon, Aubrey and I collaborated for my latest Home and Garden article. We wrote about her home staging business and bringing the beach home. Here are two scanned pictures of the article.

Here is the full text of the article:

CANNON BEACH – I have gone from coast to coast in a week’s time. My last article was written from Boston. Now, I am writing from Cannon Beach, Oregon.

I am here for a blogging convention where I have met, for the second time, my BFF (Blogging Friend Forever), Aubrey Petersen. Aubrey is a Colorado native that now resides with her family in Bellevue, Washington. She is not only my BFF, but also an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional.

I’ve been inspired by the beauty of the northern east and west coasts of America. But, how do I take the beach home with me without it looking like Captain Ahab is having a rummage sale in my living room?

Sitting in the cute, cozy, and clean kitchen of our rented beach house, Aubrey and I had a Q & A session about her business and her advice on how to bring the beach home to the Western Slope.

Annie: Tell me about your home staging business.

Aubrey: There are various aspects to my business. I stage homes to sell, I stage homes to live, I stage offices and retail shops. I can travel to you and do it for you or I can give a consultation over email if you would like to do the work yourself.

When staging a home to live, I get to know my client, their personality and style and ask them what their ideal home is, complete with the kind of feel they want in their home. I am also careful to make everything in their home as functional as possible. So, for instance, when my client says that he has a hard time figuring out where to put all of his video game equipment in a way that is pleasing to his wife, I search for the perfect way to organize that, whether it is a shelf or a cabinet.

When staging a home to sell, I stage it just like how you would market a product. I declutter, de-personalize, rearrange furniture and generally accentuate the positive in your home so that prospective buyers can see themselves living in your house.

Whether staging to sell, staging to live or staging an office or retail space, I can work entirely with the furniture and accessories my client currently has or, if my client has more of a budget, I can bring in additional furniture and accessories.

Annie: Do you have a personal philosophy when it comes to home staging?

Aubrey: My philosophy on staging is to keep everything uncluttered, functional and classy. Most people, right now, could look around their home and see furniture or accessories that they either don't like or don't use. When you free up that space and then arrange your remaining furniture in a pleasing and welcoming way, along with adding beautiful accessories, you will create a space that you love and feel comfortable in or for those who are looking to sell their homes, a home that will attract prospective buyers.

Annie: Colorado is a land-locked state. I love the beach, I love the sand, I would like to create a space in my home with an Oregon coast-feel, but I don’t want it to look like Bob’s Fish and Chips. What do you suggest?

Aubrey: Well, the northern coasts of the U.S. have more muted, light colors as opposed to the more tropical locations with bright colors and a surfy feel to them. I would suggest keeping the wall colors light. White, tan or even a pale blue would work. The same goes for the furniture, keep it light or earth-toned.

Annie: What about window coverings?

Aubrey: I like the idea of something flowy and natural. You can hang white voile or linen curtains or even some earth toned roman shades or bamboo blinds.

Annie: What if I have only a small space to work with?

Aubrey: Don’t be intimidated by small spaces. Using mirrors helps add depth and brightness to your smaller beach space. Pottery Barn has some great frameless mirrors. They can be hung alone or with a natural rope or raffia for a more organic feel.

Annie: What about accessories? This is where a lot of people go “overboard,” so to speak.

Aubrey: Once again, I suggest keeping it natural. Bring in nature: Large table corals, small pieces of driftwood and green, leafy plants. And don't forget seashells and sand! Keep it simple and uncluttered by filling various sized glass vases or bowls {which can be found easily at thrift stores} with shells and sand. You could even bring in a nautical touch if that appeals to you. A pretty model sailboat perched on the mantel next to some large shells would look great. But not too much! Remember that you are channeling the seaside here. Clutter will not help you achieve the airy, relaxing feel that you are wanting. So, less is more! Keep your accessories to a minimum.

Annie: What about hanging things on the walls, like a captains hat or a life preserver from the S.S. Minnow (jokingly)?

Aubrey: While I was window shopping in Oregon, I found an overabundance of shops aimed at tourists wanting to bring the beach home. I paid close attention to what you could decorate your walls with. Everything from wooden plaques with seaside sayings painted on them, to enormous framed paintings of the beach. I even saw various sizes of beautifully polished ships helms. I personally enjoy going into someone’s home and seeing photographs. It adds a personal touch to a space and is a great conversation piece. If you took some great pictures of the kids playing in the surf, frame them. Or if you took gorgeous pictures of the sunset, frame those. Keep is simple and uncluttered. A pretty montage of 2 or 3 pictures with the same earth toned frames, placed on a certain spot on the wall is perfect. More than that, it gets too chaotic. So, paintings or photos, black and white or color, pictures of the kids on the beach or just a shot of the ocean. Bring the beach into your home through pictures you have taken or have bought.

Annie: I think I am ready to put some of your advice in the practice and put a little of my beach vacations into my home. Do you have any more advice?

Aubrey: Whether you want a strong coastal influence in your home or just a touch here and there, the main thing to remember is to keep it simple, uncluttered and comfortable. Anyone can achieve this look and feel, even on a tight budget, but keeping the clutter to a minimum will make all the difference.

For more information about Aubrey Petersen ASP, Accredited Home Staging Professional, visit her website at www.stagingbyaubrey.com or e-mail her at Aubrey@stagingbyaubrey.com.

This article is also available to read online at gjsentinel.com.

The Cap is on the Summer of 2008

I'm the top post at Mile High Mamas today. Click here to see what this ↑ is all about.

The Second Annual Summer Blog Party `08!

I' ve been at the Oregon coast for the Summer Blog Party `08. 15 women, 2 vans, one Impala, and a beach house. I am bad, I mean, really bad at the recap. All I can say is that a good time was had by all. Here are a few pictures.

This is where we stayed.

This is what we saw.

When bloggers get together, it's like Christmas. This is what I gave to the bloggers. They didn't survive the plan ride in my suitcase too well. Most of the beads fell off. Downer!

Multnomah Falls

It wasn't a one woman blog convention, there were other bloggers there, but I have to get their permission before I can post their photos. Some bloggers like to keep their identities super secrety if you know what I mean.

Two things in the Blogosphere you have to see!

This & this!

Hint: Click on "this."

Stop the presses!!

My dad, Big Rich, thought it would be funny to play "cut and paste" with my last Home and Garden article.

He handed me this copy of The Daily Sentinel and told me that half the newspapers in Grand Junction went out with this picture from the Olathe Sweet Corn Festival, instead of the expertly posed and primped for picture I submitted. (See below.)

After some crying and wailing and gnashing of teeth, I noticed that the picture of the person in the corn eating contest had been glued over the original.

Bad Daddy! Bad!

See what I mean about "protecting the brand?"

Tablecloths, place mats, and napkins: Dressing the table from a wardrobe consultant's perspective

Here is the text and picture from my latest Home and Garden article! Enjoy! For more information about Lori Wynne, visit her website at www.fashionwithflair.com.

BOSTON - I am writing this article in Boston. My family and I are here visiting my sister, Lori Wynne. She is a wife, a mother, and a wardrobe consultant.

Along with a having a passion for fashion and a soft spot for good causes, she also has a harmless addiction to table linens. Lori loves dressing her kitchen and dining room tables almost as much as dressing herself or her clients. This being said, she has amassed quite a collection of tablecloths, runners, placemats, napkins and napkin rings. In fact, she has more placemats than bath towels. Lori’s double-door linen closet has one shelf for towels and two shelves filled to the brim with table linens. She counted 21 sets of napkins, 14 sets of placemats, 16 runners, and 20 tablecloths.

Table linens serve double duty; protecting your table from damage and they serve as decoration. Table linens appeal to both Homies (Home and Garden enthusiasts) and Foodies (Food and Dining enthusiasts) alike. Both would agree that a well set table makes a meal more enjoyable and appetizing.

Lori’s personal philosophy on setting a beautiful table is, “Presentation is everything.” One or both of her dining tables are always decorated with linens and centerpieces. In an effort to be “green,” Lori says, she will leave her tablecloth on the table two to three days until laundering becomes necessary.

“I use cloth napkins instead of paper. In my house, the napkin stays at the family member’s place at the table. After each meal, the napkin will go back in the ring until its next use. When the linens get dirty, once or twice a week, I change them. It’s like redecorating in a minute’s time.”

Our mother set our feet on the path of appreciating a nicely set table. Growing up in the Clark household, the use of table linens was commonplace.


As children we understood that a formally set table signaled the advent of something special. Eating at the dining room table, as opposed to the kitchen table, we sat up a little straighter, held our forks delicately and properly, instead of the dagger position, and only caught the disapproving eye from our mother when we tried to compose a symphony by circling the rim of our water goblets with wet fingers.

Lori doesn’t believe that you need to sacrifice civility or style just because there are children in the home.

She says, “You may think that tablecloths and napkins are not appropriate for your current lifestyle. On the contrary, I have used cloth linens since the day I was married, then had two small, messy eaters and now dine with a couple of voracious teenage boys. The solution is clear plastic placemats over the cloth placemats when feeding toddlers. Whether in fashion or dressing your table there’s no need to forgo style when living with young children.”

She adds, “As a mother of two sons and the daughter-in-law of a woman who wrote an etiquette book, I feel it my duty to teach my sons the proper use of cloth table linens and to not be intimidated by them. Equally important, I have taught them to set a proper table. Just like jewelry and shoes, dishes and napkin rings are the accessories for the table that complete the look you are trying to convey.”

Visiting Lori and perusing her collection of table linens has rejuvenated my own interest in making a better effort to set a nice table for my family. She has always believed in making her dinner guests feel special.

“I want to present my home in the best light possible. Just like the perfect outfit can make a great first impression, table linens can make your family and guests feel like you were expecting them, and their presence makes every day a special occasion.”

Lori’s tips for table linens

For a casual dining setting a tablecloth should have an overhang of at least 8 inches. For a formal setting the overhang could be anywhere from 15 inches to all the way to the floor.
Napkinfoldingguide.com is a website that has instructions and pictures on how to fold cloth napkins.

Use a rod in your walk-in pantry or hall closet to hold hangers filled with tablecloths. This keeps tablecloths from getting wrinkled.

If your collection of napkins is small, keep them rolled up and upright in a basket on the counter near the table. They will be decorative as well as close at hand.

Keep napkin rings in drawers with dividers, much like how you would store jewelry.
Store vinyl or plastic placemats in the same upright cupboard as you store your cookie sheets. When they are no longer used to protect your nice linens, use them as cutting boards. They can easily be washed in the dishwasher.

Don’t be intimidated by table linens. If you have never collected linens, start with one set of at least four place settings of coordinating mats, napkins, and napkin rings that can be easily maintained by laundering or wiping clean. They are widely available at many price points.

Tell-Tale Closet Part II

Jenny S recently accepted the challenge from me to clean out her closet and take pictures of some of the more "interesting" items she unearthed. Clickety here to see her results. I don't know how long she has been holding on to those sweaters, but have just one thing to say about them, "Burn, Baby, burn!"

Now it's your turn. Be sure to drop me a comment and let me know when to come and look!

I am still in Boston. Early tomorrow morning I will be flying out West, First class! Thanks Secret Agent Man. He and the kids will be sitting in Coach. Muwahaha! Er, I mean. Awwww....

When our plane lands we will be headed to "the river." If you are from that area, you know what I mean when I say "the river." If you are not, you might not know what river I am referring to.

Two days after we get back, I am headed to Portland! Woot and whew!

Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!

Kimber and Amanda guessed correctly. I am in Boston! I am here visiting my sister, Fashionista, the one who periodically does the wardrobing posts.

The picture from the preceding post was taken at Bunker Hill. It is very similar to the Washington Monument, but the obelisk at Bunker hill is smaller and, from what I understand, it only has one window at the top instead of two. We walked up one side and down the other of Bunker Hill after the most fabulous meal I have ever had which can only be described as mo' rockin'! If you have a chance to visit Tangierino Morrocan restaurant in Charlestown, I would highly recommend it. I am sadly lacking in the review department. It would take a concerted effort on my part to describe the food and the irridescentness of the belly dancers gold costume, so I'm just going to say, it's great! Go there!

I have been here since early Tuesday a.m. My kids were terribly spoiled. We had the last four rows of the airplane to ourselves. Each one of them was able to stretch out on three seats and sleep for the five hour flight.

We have done so many things since we have been here. I don't have time to mention them all now because we are taking advantage of the sunny weather and visiting Plimouth Plantation today. But, I will mention one of the highlights... I met a couple of my sister's closest friends, Dana and Macy. Dana has a gorgeous home and even more gorgeous children. Mini Me was in Girl Heaven, she didn't want to leave. She pouted all the way home. And Macy is a fellow blogger and SYTYCD Recap Goddess Extraordanarious! I was so excited to find out she was a blogger, too! I wasn't planning on a Bloggy Meet and Greet, but it happened anyway! I love that!

Okay, I gotta split. It's time to watch some pilgrims churn butters. I'll tell ya more about my trip later.

Here's a hint!

Up, up she goes!

Where she lands, only a couple people know! Now you know that I was in Arizona last night, where I am going today is anyone's guess. E-dub, put your hand down! Give the rest of the class a chance.

Meeting the Faces

That mysterious knock at your door at 9:00 at night could be me.

Knock, knock...

Someone who reads this blog will be receiving a surprise visit from me on Sunday night. I hope that you will be home. I hope that you will be as excited to see me as I am to see you. I won't be coming alone and I won't be empty-handed.

Could it be you?

Update!!

If you have the chance to stop by Nancy and Lauren's house at 9pm on a Sunday night, I highly recommend it. They were surprised and welcoming. They were in their jammies, too, which was an extra treat! I can honestly testify, having seen them with my own eyes, that they are not men. Nancy and Lauren are all they claim to be on their blogs and more! Our visit was short but sweet, afterall, I did "pop in" on them at bedtime, but I know that if we had the whole weekend to be together, they would be a total blast.

Thank you, thank you Nancy and Lauren for welcoming my family and I into your home.

I don't want to make anyone jealous, but... I saw Lauren's wedding dress!

I had a video of our visit, but the connection here at the hotel in Phoenix is really slow:( Maybe I will try to load it again later.

What I wish someone would have told me before the Emergency Room

Let me first say that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but if someone would have told me some of these things, it may have saved us some dough and my kids some trauma.

Tis’ a Flesh Wound

My son was jumping on the trampoline at my brother’s house. Bless their hearts, they made the effort to put the safety net around their trampoline. But, it was the metal stairs that lead up to the trampoline that my son cut his head on during a mad, three-kid-scramble to climb out. I was at work, my husband was at school, my sister-in-law did the right thing by calling us. Of course, we hurried over to their house to attend to our son. Although the cut wasn’t deep, it was bleeding a lot. We took our five-year-old to the emergency room. By the time we arrived, the bleeding had stopped. We weren’t concerned about a concussion because my son was lucid and his pupils were their normal size, but we thought that stitches might be in order. When we finally saw the doctor, he informed us that head wounds tend to bleed a lot because there are a lot of capillaries near the surface. He said that the cut wasn’t deep or large enough to merit stitches. The doctor asked the nurse to put Neosporin on my kid’s head and sent us on our way. That was the most expensive tube of Neosporin ever!

Don’t Leave Home without your Pharmacy

Our other son tripped a couple weeks ago in the backyard and broke his arm. He is not prone to drama or whining, so when he continued crying and agonizing, I knew something had to be broken. When we got to the ER, they immediately immobilized his arm. That didn’t seem to help with the pain much. They said they had nothing to offer him for the pain. What? Isn’t this an ER? After over an hour of waiting, x-rays, and a temporary cast was put on, finally some Tylenol magically appeared. The instructions were to continue giving him Tylenol or Acetaminophen for the pain, Ibuprophen was not recommended. Had I known that he could have Tylenol, I would have given it to him before we left that house, that way he wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.

Yankee Doodle Out your Elbow

When my daughter was 3 and my sons were 5, they picked her up by her arms and legs and tried to swing her. She immediately started crying and holding her arm. Again, this child is not prone to whining or over-reacting, so when she continued crying and didn’t want to move her arm, we decided to take her to the ER. My husband, the Eagle Scout, created a splint for her. Keeping it immobile seemed to help a bit. Because we didn’t actually see what the boys did to her, we found out later through a remorseful confession, the doctor ordered x-rays, where they moved and manipulated my daughter’s arm as she howled and wailed like a chorus of love sick coyotes. It was awful to hear and to witness. When the x-rays came back clear, the doctor decided she had Nursemaid elbow. Basically he turned her palm up, pressed his thumb on the inside crease of her elbow and bent her arm. Voila, the crying and the pain immediately stopped. Then he repeated the procedure to show us how we could do it at home if it slipped out again. The instructions are on the web. Again, never at any point did they give her anything for the pain.

Up Your Nose with a Rubber Hose

During my jewelry making phase, I wasn’t as careful with my supplies as I should have been. Two-year-old Mini Me, on a couple of occasions, found the beads on the floor and shoved them up her nose. The first time it happened, Secret Agent Man and I ran circles around each other wondering how we were going to get that bead out. While we were stewing over what to do, she pulled herself up onto the couch, which took enough breath and exertion that she just blew it right out her nose. When we repeated the story to Grandma she reminded S.A.M. that Aunt Who’s-Its used to blow things out of kid’s noses by plugging the clear nostril and blowing gently in to the child’s mouth. The air would then force the bead or bean or whatever the offender may be right out. So, the second time Mini Me had a bead stuffed up her nose, obviously neither one of us learned our lesson the first time, Secret Agent Man swiftly blew it out. Aunt Who’s-It's technique worked like a charm!

I feel grateful our trips to the E.R. have been over minor incidences. I also feel grateful for the excellent care we have received. But, I think because of our lack of information and experience our kids have had to suffer and we have had to pay out more than we would have if we had armed ourselves with more information. I’m not suggesting that you don’t take your kid to the Emergency Room, I am suggesting that, we don't let embarrassment or fear of looking like a "bad" or neglectful parent keep us from sharing our stories with each other so that another family can benefit from or make a decision based on information and experience and not panic.

These are just our family's stories and our experience. If blowing into your kid’s mouth to get the macaroni noodle out of their nose, makes them go cross-eyed, don’t sue me because, as I said in the beginning, I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.

Summer is great at Grandma's

Grandma's swing and Grandma's treehouse.

In case you are interested...

Click here to read my latest Home and Garden article. I would like to thank my fellow "homies" for taking part in the informal poll! Do you have any suggestions for topics for my next article?

Tell-tale Closet

I spent a good portion of the afternoon cleaning out my closet, a project I started months ago. They say that you can tell a lot about a woman by her closet. I wonder if that's true.

I made this t-shirt. Does anyone know the significance of this number?

Got jeans?

You: Annie, do you actually wear that shirt?

Me: What do you think?! Gosh!

Hollywood, Bollywood, Hoochie, Pucci.

Them Paynes know how to party!

Excuse the hiatus. I've been partying with the Paynes. Secret Agent Man took us to a family reunion for his side of the family. We all had a blast. About 125 Paynes attended (Insert joke here). What could be confused for torture was actually just pure Payne-style fun!

Yep! The bossy one is mine.

No children where harmed in the making of this video, but the grass will never be the same.

Aunt Sarah gives an underdog.

Paynez gotz jump ropin' skillz

More bells! Warning you will not get the next 35 seconds of your life back.

Where this mom draws the line, Part Three: Orange Puffs of Death

Today: I am the top post at Mile High Mamas. Click here to read and comment on where I draw the line when it comes to this popular snack food. One hint: Orange Puffs of Death. Don't even get me started on Oreos and nachos.

Yesterday: Boy #1 broke is arm last night:( I will tell you all about that later. If you have never been through this, I have some advice for you.

Don't forget to scroll down to participate in my informal poll.

An Anniethology Informal Poll

Help me out with my next article.

What are your favorite Home and Garden type websites or blogs and why?

The Best of the Sunday Inserts 6/29/08

As No Cool Story would say, "Clickety to biggify!"

Saturday Selection from the Payne Family Photo Album

According to my stat counter, Saturday closely rivals Sunday for the least number of visitors to my blog. I get it. I'm not mad. I don't spend much time in the blogosphere myself on the weekends. Since people are too busy on Saturdays to read blogs, I thought I would pick one or more pictures from the Payne Family photo album to post.

A day of introspection

This series of pictures is called,

"Alone with my camera phone"

Anniethology De-Lurking Day

Comments for bloggers is like heroine. Okay, never mind. Let's go for something more benign, maybe something I actually know about.

Comments are like a chocolate bubble bath, one that magically disappears when you are done so you don't have to clean all that chocolate out of your tub and ruin your towels and plug up your drain and have that embarassing conversation with the plumber about how you managed to get six pounds of chocolate stuck in your pipes.

Leaving a comment for a blogger is like saying,

"The people you know in real life may think you are a nut case, but I totally get you."

It doesn't take much to make a blogger smile. Just a few words to let us know you were here. Today is Anniethology De-lurking Day. Do me a solid and leave a comment today.

Whether it's your first time visiting or you have been waiting in the wings for the courage to chime in or you are one of my bloggin' peeps, I want to hear from you.

There is no need to sign up for Blogger, create a sign in, or give out your url, you can just click to leave an anonymous comment, but at very least, if you are shy, you could leave your initials;)

Good luck! And Happy Commenting!

Protecting the brand: Another thing I learned from Dolly Parton

The summer after my sophomore year in college, I met Dolly Parton. She was in Grand Junction to perform at Country Jam. I had a job as a waitress at the hotel where she was staying. Dolly's people told the breakfast shift that she would be coming down the service elevator in a few minutes and we could greet her as she came out. But, there were two stipulations, we couldn't approach her and we couldn't take her picture.

It would be years later when I would reflect upon Dolly's requests. I understand now why she wouldn't let just anybody take her picture. Dolly is protecting her brand. Did you know that she is on 3-foot-11? Okay, maybe a little taller, but she is short, on the verge of "little person" short. Most people don't realize this because she has protected her brand. Her brand of being blonde, big b**b-ed, and crazy talented. My favorite quote from Dolly is, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap!"

Now that I appear regularly in the local paper, I feel the need to protect the "Annie Payne" brand. My editor kindly offers to have a photographer come out and take pictures for my articles, but I'm not sure how much they would appreciate me shouting instructions from in front of the camera.

"Not from that angle, THAT angle!"

"Okay, one more with teeth."

"Did you get my shoes?'

"Wait, let me move the plant."

"Can we do that again without the flash?"

Only family could still manage to love me after going through that kind of torture. Secret Agent Man is usually the unfortunate person behind the camera, but I have also used my 9-year-old son. For his young age and experience, he has a good eye for framing.

Here are a few of the rejected photos for my article this week:

No teeth.

Chunky arm.

Checking to see that there are no chlorofluorocarbons in the glass cleaner.

What the kitchen really looked like.

Product obscuring the face.

This is the picture I finally chose. Teeth? Check! Shoes? Check! Looking like I actually use these cleaning products? Check!

"Parenting with Altitude!"

I'm the top post at Mile High Mamas today. Please click here to read and comment on my post, "Where this mom draws the line: Part Deux"

The Best of the Sunday Inserts 6/15/08

On Sunday, before the comics, before Blotter, before the "You Said It," I go straight for the center of the newspaper and pull out all the inserts to see what all the stores are offering on sale that week. Here are my picks for the best items in the Sunday inserts. Brought to you exclusively by my cutting and pasting skillz and my mediocre, but free scanner. Enjoy!

My Favorite Cleaning Tools

For my next article for the Home and Garden section, I am writing about

my favorite cleaning tools.

"The Dyson"

Microfiber Mop

Sprayway

Microfiber Gloves

Telescoping Feather Duster

What are your favorite cleaning items?

Julianne Hough and the Never-ending Pier

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fh4L7qvUiEM <----Clickety.

If I can live through just one more week...

Friday, I carried out (with lots and lots of help) an all-day activity for 100 children at church. It was the culmination of six months of preparation and planning. It's been reported that the day was a success. NO CHILDREN WERE HARMED, during the paper lei-making, regatta, or charades.

Tomorrow is the first day of Cub Scout Day Camp. I will be volunteering, hopefully, only two of the four days, although I am completely responsible for the coordination of 6 volunteers for each of the four days of the camp.

If I can live through this week, there will be another week to live through.

In my local congregation, I am responsible for the children's Sunday services. For the past two years, 100 children have regularly attended these weekly two hour services.

We have just recently found out that our congregation has grown to the point where it is time to "split the wards" as it's known in our church. I will go from being in charge of 100 kids to about 45. Mind you I don't do this alone, I have the help of two councilors, a secretary, music people, and teachers.

With the splitting of the wards, I will be losing most of the people involved in this organization. Over the next couple of weeks lot of thought, time, and prayer will go into choosing people to replace the ones I have lost.

And I have Jury Duty.

And split ends.

Annie's Mail Bag

Hey Annie,You've probably already seen this, but just in case you hadn't...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ZimguGSrA&eurl=http://drewandjanaglass.blogspot.com/2008/06/go-archie.html

Have a great day!
Glittersmama

***************************
Glittersmama,

That was great! No, I hadn't seen it. The bumpy camera work makes me dizzy, but he sounds amazing. Would it hurt him to wear a tie for pete's sake? Who the heck is Pete? I sang this song as a solo once in church. I wasn't that good. I'm not a trained singer, I wouldn't even say I am good, but I am willing. When someone calls and says, "Will you sing?" I say "Yes," because I don't think you should say no. You know that whole beer under a bushel thing. Beer? Wait, it's lamp or light or something.

Thanks for sharing!
Annie

How I'm feeling today

Demystifying Feng Shui

I like to Google my name and see what the other Annie Paynes in the world are doing. That’s how I became interested in Feng Shui. I found an Annie Payne who lives back East that teaches classes on the philosophy of Feng Shui. I thought, “She can do it. Why can’t I?”

That was two years ago. Since then I have studied, practiced, and watered-down Feng Shui to make it useful and practical for me and my home.

Feng Shui, pronounced fung-shway, is an ancient Chinese practice of utilizing the Laws of heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to improve one’s life by receiving positive chi or energy. Having more positive chi (pronounced chee) in your life means having greater prosperity, peace, and well-being.

My first inclination was that Feng Shui was just a bunch of ancient Chinese mysticism. I couldn’t understand how changing the position of my bed, keeping a goldfish or putting a rooster in my office, could make the least bit of improvement in my life; even so, I was skeptically optimistic. In order to get the most out of Feng Shui for myself, I had to look beyond the “voodoo” and superstition to find the practicality and wisdom behind this 4000-year old-philosophy.

Things as simple as putting a wind chime near my front door, adding more live plants and re-arranging my furniture to be more conducive to the flow of energy through the house has made a difference, not just in the look of my home, but how I feel about my home as well.

What I have begun to understand through Feng Shui is how my environment effects how I feel everyday. I realized that pockets of disorganization here and there in my home, like my closet, the kitchen junk drawer, and the laundry room, were sucking the energy and desire out of my life. I realized those areas were contributing to a feeling of being stagnant and not being able to move on to other tasks.

I know I am not alone in this. It’s important to understand that a home needs to be a place that energizes, inspires, and creates peace for all who live there. Sometimes you need to step back and ask yourself, “Am I depressed because my house is a mess or is my house a mess because I am depressed?”

I’m not talking about clinical depression; I am talking about feeling un-motivated, un-inspired, and listless when it comes to your environment.

When I started practicing Feng Shui, I couldn’t tackle every area in my home that bothered me at once. I wanted to keep it simple and take small steps. I decided to start at the front door.

I learned that in order to attract peace and prosperity, you have to create an environment that attracts good chi, or good energy, to flow through your home. Look at your front door. Is it hanging off the hinges? Is the walkway to your door obstructed by tricycles and footballs. Are there cobwebs and dead leaves? All these things send a signal to “the universe” that you are not ready for good things to flow into your life. You must make a clear path to the front door in order for good chi to enter freely into your home.

Does this sound a little out there for you? How about this? Make sure the path to your door is clear so the UPS man doesn’t trip the next time he delivers a package or the only thing “Brown” will do for you is send you litigation papers.

The Feng Shui philosophy also suggests painting your front door an attractive color. I have yet to apply this principle to my current home.

I asked my husband, Secret Agent Man, to paint the front door of our last house. I picked a dark color of red, which, according to Feng Shui philosophy, is an auspicious color for south-facing homes. The cleaning, prepping, and follow-up coats took up the better part of a Saturday.

As much as he adores me, he won’t be painting another door for me. So instead of painting my now north-facing door blue, I have opted to place an urn with pink New Guinea Impatients, my favorite flowers, next to my front door. I hope the universe will recognize my effort and send me good chi, anyway.

Here are a few more Feng Shui basics from the book, 365 Feng Shui Tips, by Lillian Too, to get you started on a more “Zen-like” atmosphere in your home:

· "Keep your bathroom doors closed. Negative energies tend to accumulate in the bathroom. Make it a household habit to keep all doors going to the bathroom closed."

· "Pictures of women in bedrooms cause problems. Remove all pictures of females from the bedroom. This includes glamorous women, paintings of nudes, and so forth. Their presence makes a marriage crowded." Annie’s note: For all the husbands out there, trust me on this. To all the wives out there, you are welcome.

· "Sound therapy for your space. Sound therapy inside the home is created by the use of wind chimes, bells, bamboos, and other natural sounds. The sound of flowing water will also attract vibrant fresh chi into your home. Make an effort to never leave your home silent for too long. When you go on vacation, keep the radio turned on as this is the best way to keep the chi flowing." Annie’s note: This is just a suggestion. Don’t send me the electric bill.

· "Throw out chipped glasses and cups. Chinese matriarchs are strict about this. Eating and drinking from chipped plates and cups not only is bad luck for you, but shows disrespect for your guests, also."

· "Removing negative chi from neighbors. For petty annoyances place a large urn of water with a wide mouth and a narrow base between your home and the neighbor’s house. For a stronger measure to deflect bitterness and hate, use a round mirror circled by trigrams arranged like a yin pa kua symbol. This powerful tool bounces back a thousand-fold whatever energy is being sent your way." Annie’s note: Or how about making your neighbors brownies and letting bygones by bygones?

For as much mysticism and superstition that is found in the philosophy of Feng Shui there are also practical and pertinent applications that can be used to enhance the home of even the most skeptical Feng Shui practitioner.

Now that I have created a little more peace and well-being in my home through Feng Shui, I am ready to see what else I can learn from the other Annie Paynes of the world.

Google me this, Google me that, is there another Annie Payne that can show me how to knit a yoga mat?

The preceeding was my latest article for the Home and Garden section of The Daily Sentinel, Western Colorado's Largest Newspaper.