My Halloweeny Post

I dare you to click here to read my Halloween post at

Mile High Mamas.

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P.S. Cheetah girl got robbed!

Returning Netflix with J. Lo and Mark Anthony

Again, I warn you! You will not get this 5 minutes of your life back! I promise this is the last one.

Anniethology Lifestyle Tip #88

Don't forget your sister's birthday. I like send Amazon gift cards to my out-of-town people. It's a great way to send your love from the comfort of your office chair and they are always appreciated.

Carronin turns 45 on Monday! Be sure to go by and wish the Self proclaimed expert on the right and wrong way to do things from No-Bake Boil Lasagna noodles to Yetti defense training, a very happy birthday!

Channeling June Cleaver for the modern mom

Read today's post at Mile High Mamas. Click here.

Check out my new $800.00 coat rack!

We bought this "treadmill" at Sp*rts Auth*rity last Saturday. Secret Agent Man went above and beyond what I expected him to do by buying the one with a TV and fan! The salesdude was very knowledgeable and did an exhaustive job explaining the return policy and extended warranty (hhhmmm.) We got it home, hauled it upstairs, set it up. The TV is awesome, there is even a cable hook up. The fan works great. It even takes my pulse. But, the dang thing won't move. The tread mill part doesn't work! But, I'm having a great time watching TV standing up and taking my pulse with cool air blowing on me.

After an hour on the phone with a customer service rep who has never actually seen one of these in real life, they are going to send us a new mother board...via USPS...that we can replace ourselves... by just connecting twenty simple wires...in 7 to 10 days when it arrives.

I can't even begin to tell you how frustrating it is to spend that kind of money on something that doesn't work!

4 1/2 minutes in the car with me and Mary J.

Warning: You will not get that four and half minutes back!

Monday is the best night of television.

I have to admit to crying when Marie fainted on DWS last night. I watched this clip over and over on my DVR. You can hear her panting in the background before she took a dive. I called mymomma and Carronin in a panic. "Oh no! Not Marie!" I'm glad she's okay. Of course she fainted. She is working so hard, dropping weight like crazy, and they have her vacuumed sealed in that costume. I LOVE YOU MARIE! I'M THERE FOR YOU! BUT,I hope I grow up to look like Jane Seymour.

Mel B. should dance to her own songs more often! Spice Girl reunion? I'm sure someone out there is excited about it.

Did anyone else watch Samantha Sometimes? I've never been a big Christina Applegate fan, but this show was pretty funny.

Was anyone else suckered into watching the Bachelor to watch "the biggest emotional breakdown in Bachelor history?" It wasn't that dramatic. She didn't faint or nothin'. Sure her mascara ran and she was totally dillusional about the guys feelings for her, but I was expecting her to be carried off in a straight jacket. No such luck. You know these Bachelors have certain rules about what they can and can't say to the girls. Despite that, he tried to let her know that he thought of her as just a friend, but she wasn't hearing it. She heard what she wanted to hear. She needs to get a copy of that book, He's Just Not That Into You. Men are not that difficult to decipher if you just listen.

I still have two more shows to watch. I have Chuck and Heroes recorded. Hooray for Monday and DVR!

A Sunday Devotional from the Payne Twins

Rarely seen on this here blog, the Payne Twins re-enact one of their favorite stories from the scriptures.

Having repented of their murderous ways The Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their weapons of war and refuse to take up arms to defend themselves against their enemies. (Read the story here.) As a result of their sacrifice, more than a thousand souls were converted to Christ.

After battling for days, I had enough of the plastic swords and the crying and fighting that came with them. Instead of just taking the swords away, S.A.M. and I decided to make it a "teaching moment." Initially, they weren't too excited about burying their swords, but they soon got into spirit of it.

Update: The boys super secrety plans (They think I don't know. Of course I know! Moms know everything!) to dig up the swords on Halloween have been thwarted by the family dog. She dug them up this morning and had her way with them. Buwahahahhhaaaaaaaa!

For my bloggy friends....

...and if you are here, that means YOU. If you haven't commented in awhile, at least just say "hi" so I know you were here. Also, for you "blurkers", I want to hear from you, too. You know who you are, don't make me say the city you live in. I see you there on my stat counter. Come on, show a blogger some love and leave a comment.

This little collection of videos are also dedicated to b. and Carrotjello (((hugs)))!

With love from Charo

Nickelback love!

Original Love!

Help Wanted: Tooth Fairy for Hire

Mini Me has lost three, count `em, three teeth in the past week. She is teetering on the edge of unbelief when it comes to the Tooth Fairy. Her "boys" told her that the Tooth Fairy is not real and that it's the parents that leave the money. When she asked me about it, I said, "What would I do with all those teeth?" ( I keep them in my sock drawer, that is what I do with them.)

On the envelope she put her tooth in, Mini Me requested a personal Meet and Greet with the Tooth Fairy.

Mini Me and Secret Agent Man on the Tooth Fairy:

Mini Me: I bet the Tooth Fairy is pretty.

S.A.M: I bet she is a pretty as your mom. (Awww... isn't he sweet?)

Mini me: I bet she is twice as pretty as Mom.

S.A.M.: How is that?

Mini Me: She is like me and Mom put together, but without four eyes, two noses, and two mouths!

How am I supposed to concentrate with these things looking at me?

For the youngest in the family, the hits just keep comin'!

Woohoo! I have a mid-week post over at Mile High Mamas (click here), including a vintage photo of the Clark kids! Hey, Fashionista, remember when you used to part your hair down the middle? I do!

P.S. Go Rockies!

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Installment #1

Cute Fall decoration.
Freaky, give-me-nightmares decoration. Who would take something as sweet as a holiday wreath and turn it into something creepy? Probably the same people who came up with these...

P.S. Soul Stealing Ghoul Wreath available for sale at Michael's for $59.99, just in case you are into that sort of thing.

This was a useful conversation...

...let's have it again over at Mile High Mamas! Click here.

Secret Agent Man saves fashion one pair of Crocs at a time

Click here to read my latest article for The Daily Sentinel.

Does this purse make my butt look big?

This is a special edition of "Bring in the Professional." As a favor to me, my sister Lori, a wardrobe consultant, has agreed to write a quarterly advice column for my blogs. Each season we get her "do"s and "how to"s for fashion. She has written a special article about purses. Here is her advice.

Does This Purse Make My Butt Look Big?

Believe it or not, this question has merit for all of us. The size of your girth and stature dictates the size of purse you should carry. If you are petite in stature and frame, meaning around five feet tall and wear a size 2 or less, do not overwhelm yourself with an oversized bag. The width of a shoulder bag for example, should not extend past the width of your body. The length of the bag should never extend past your waist. Conversely, if you are curvy plus size gal, carry a purse that is in proportion to your figure. Formal wear clutches and wristlets for a quick run to the outlet mall excluded, choose a bag that is as least as wide as you are thick. Carrying a dainty purse on your shoulder emphasizes a full upper arm and makes you look bigger than you are.

When shopping for a purse, Along with function find a purse that complements your body frame. Try on the purse. Why do you think retailers put mirrors in the purse department? Since shoulder bags are so popular, I will use this style as an example. Hang the purse on your shoulder and turn sideways in the mirror. Make sure the length of the purse straps do not allow the bottom of the purse to stop at the thickest part of your body. If the widest part of your body is your hips, makes sure the purse ends at your waist, the smallest part of your body.

How many purses should a woman own? That depends on you and your passion for purses. Since I also emphasize organization with my clients, I suggest keeping your collection to a minimum. Excessive amounts of purses that you do not use add clutter to your closet. For starters I urge my clients own a black purse, brown purse and cream or bone colored purse. Fabric and style is up to you.

Finally, do you have a passion for designer purses but pale at the prices? Check out Bag Borrow or Steal. http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ It is a website that rents the latest in designer bags. Customers can rent purses as long as they want or buy gently used purses from the outlet at a discount.

I’d love to hear from you! How many purses do you own? Describe your favorite purse. Do you have questions for me? Post your questions here and I will answer. Keep checking back for updates.

Your Loving Fashionista

Mom's sick. Let's make a volcano!

I went to bed early last night with a migraine. I left my three kids alone downstairs. They watched Dancing with the Stars and drew a volcano. It takes up the whole coffee table. They asked me not to put it away while they're at school because they're not done.

What's missing the sacrificial virgin?!

Proof that I am a mean mom. Version 2.0

Yoohoo! Annie? Where am I at? Oh, it's Saturday, I must be at the Mile High Mamas blog. Click here to see just how mean I can be.

Lonely. I'm so lonely.

Secret Agent Man is in Mexico. Or so he says. Big Rich and Mymomma are in Boston. And Carronin in is Las Vegas. It ain't right for all my people to be out of town at the same time.
But, they didn't leave me completely alone. I have the 6 kids that are attached to these 12 feet. I bow down to the mommies who feed this many everyday! You know who you are. Carronin left me with these books to keep me company too. I like to try to picture the characters in my head. Remember the show Roswell? I imagine them to look like the teenage aliens on that show. Although I know it doesn't bode well with the authors description, when I think of hyper-sensitive, hyper-hormonal teenagers with super powers this is what I come up with .
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Attention Good Mail Girls; I am way overdue to thank super cutie Lauren for the "Office Supplies." Thank you! You made me smile and laugh. Also, it was Ribbon Rock Star's birthday yesterday. Show her some love!

Dawson says, "Is it true? Is Jen really dead?"

You let your kids watch what?!

It's been our family rule that my kids can't play at homes where I don't know the parents. My 8 year old twin boys have been begging me to let them play at the neighbor kids house. I told them no for months. I see their mom on the playground. We have exchanged salutations. We are even involved in some of the same activites i.e. soccer and scouting.

Last Saturday, I gave in and told them they could play over there for an hour. I thought it was weird when them came home after only 30 minutes. I didn't fnd out until bedtime why they came home early.

It wasn't five minutes after I shut off their lights, they were downstairs and crying. They said they had seen a scary movie at the neighbors. I told them they could sleep in my bed. I told them what they saw wasn't real. I asked them if the mom knew what they were watching, they said she did (that's questionable.) I asked the boy, who seemed less freaked out, what the movie was about. He said it was about man eating worms. Turns out the movie was Tremors. (Thanks a lot Kevin Bacon!) I haven't seen it, my husband has.

The next morning they were fine and it was all but forgotten, but I did let my boys know that they weren't going over there again. I told them I was sorry. This was my fault. I didn't know the lady as well as I should have and obviously they have different rules at their house. The one good thing that came out of it is now my boys appreciate more and understand why we have some of the rules that we do.

I vacillated on whether to say something to the neighbor lady or not. I have to live in this neighborhood for a long time and I would just rather avoid strained relations.
What would you have done?