TUESDAY MORNING

"let's watch the old year die with a fond good-bye...and our hopes as high as a kite...how can our love go wrong if we start the new year right?"

it's new year's eve. time to bid adieu to the old and welcome the new. so, how do you make sure the new year will be more amazing than the last one? by following ancient superstitions, duh doy! these superstitions say what you do on new year's day, you will do all year long. be sure to do only things that make you happy and follow cardinal's rules for an awesome 2014:

• make sure all your laundry and housecleaning are done new year's eve day. who wants to be washing clothes and cleaning house all year?!
• do your cooking the day before, and be sure to cook the following: black~eyed peas (for luck), greens (for financial prosperity), and pork (because chickens scratch backwards, cows stand still, but pigs root forward guaranteeing you will move forward thru the new year).

                      

• nothing goes out of the house on new year's day, or you will be losing things all year long.
• fill up the cupboards, fridge, and freezer the day before. if the cupboards are bare you'll be starving all year.
• kiss someone you love at midnight to ensure affection all year long.
• set a dollar bill outside on new year's eve and bring it in new year's day. this will ensure you have money coming in all year.
• the first person that enters your home, on new year's, should be tall, dark, and good looking. no joke. so i will be sending the bk out the door at 11:59 and letting him walk in at midnight...

• open your doors at midnight, to let out all the bad from the past year. and noise. make a lot of loud noise to scare off evil spirits.

so. spend today doing all these things, while you watch the walking dead marathon on amc, and you will have a bright and shiny 2014!

happy new year!!

A WEEK IN THE LIFE: INSTAGRAM EDITION

"snapshot image froze without a sound..."

i've learned a few things in the past week, like: never leave your dishes for the next morning; dogs will protect you from zombie cats; and starbucks refreshers are delicious, low~cal, refreshing (duh doy, it's in the name) treats...

^my morning...every morning^

^early morning disaster^

^first pumpkin ale of the season AND cool label^

^her icing melted but it was still delicious^

^the boys of fall^

^my new favorite thing^

^hydration is important^

^almost the end of summer vegetables^

^stay away from her, she's a zombie^

^shadow dancing^

HAPPY INSTAGRAMMING!!

TUESDAY TREASURES

"these are a few of my favorite things..."



1. i always look forward to late night with jimmy fallon because i might get to see this:

 2. edy's slow churned ice cream ...slow churned is naturally half the fat, so i can feel slightly less guilty. and this flavor is uh~mazing! but it's only available thru the end of august:

3. i can't say, for sure, it's my favorite...yet...but my love of everything simon peg (shaun of the dead, hot fuzz) tells me i am going to totally love this:

4. i'm in love with this:

5. i can't stop listening to this:

6. really liked reading this:

7. i totally love playing on vine because i can do this:

what are some of your favorite things?

FLASHBACK may 2005

*note: in honor of 'hurricane preparedness week (may 26-jun 1)' i am letting you re-visit a previous post about emergency prep...enjoy!*

"in your head, in your head...zombie, zombie, zombie..."
it seems impossible, but dustin is graduating. the parents come to town for the weekend to partake in the festivities. daddy comes out of the bathroom "why do you have a guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse in your bathroom?" me "because we want to prepare for the zombie apocalypse, duh doy!" d "you need some quality reading material in there" me "one day you'll be glad your daughter and grandsons know how to survive a zombie apocalypse".
FLASH FORWARD december 2010
the bk has to go to charlotte on business. the meetings will start early on monday, so he leaves on sunday. i lay down on the couch and start flipping channels. i find the walking dead on amc. it's the season finally later so it's a marathon. i watch for 6 straight hours. it's awesome. it helps me gain a little more understanding of what the zombie apocalypse will look like.
FLASH FORWARD today
say what you want about my "zombie apocalypse" knowledge, it's actually a smart thing to be prepared for an emergency. even the cdc jumped on the zombie apocalypse band wagon, using it to teach us how to prevent infectious diseases...click here to learn more...emergency prep doesn't have to be as serious as something you might see on doomsday preppers. i have survived countless hurricanes and ice storms...i am always prepared. you should be, too.

first, have an emergency evacuation plan (especially if you live in a hurricane prone area). you need to know, ahead of time, where you will go. and you should have the following with you:

• large backpack or container for all emergency items
• health profile for all family members
• updated medications
• copy of important documents (insurance, social security cards, driver's licenses, birth certificates, deeds, stocks/bonds, wills, pet’s vaccination records, etc)
• spare keys 
• cash
• first aid kit 
• wrench or pliers
• extra cell phone chargers
• batteries
• work gloves, rope, tarp, and utility knife
• emergency whistle
• filter masks for every family member
• crank or battery operated radio
• crank or battery operated flashlight
• light/glow sticks
• can opener
• plastic bags or trash bags
• hand sanitizer
• blankets and warm clothing for each family member
• baby items (extra diapers, wipes, formula)
• pet items (food, water)
• Extra clothes for each person

riding it out at home? you need the following packed in a large rubbermaid bin:

• water: at least a 3 day supply (1 gallon per day per person)...but go for 7 if you can...also, fill some rubber maid bins with water for bathing, washing dishes, etc.
• stock up on non-perishable foods (think spaghettios, chef boyardee, dinty moore beef stew). anything that comes in a can and requires little to no water. don't forget infant formula and pet food.
• first aid kit
• batteries. make sure to have a supply of every size.
• at least one change of clothes per person. don't forget jackets, shoes, rain gear, hats and gloves.
• blankets or sleeping bags.
• crank or battery operated radio and/or tv
• matches
• candles
• personal hygeine products...y'all don't wanna be stanky do ya?

some of the items are in both kits. if the zombies are busting thru your front window, and you have to make a run for it, you really don't want to have to stop and hunt thru the bin for batteries. do you? cuz i'm fairly certain unnecessary stops will lead to you being lunch. 

happy prepping and see you in the safe haven!!!

^the walking dead^

^zombie hunter extroardinaire^

     

FLASHBACK december 31, 2011

"should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind...should old acquaintance be forgot, and days of auld lang syne"
every january, the bk and i take a much needed trip to fort myers, florida. much needed because we've been cold for 3 months. and...more importantly...because we haven't seen moniebird and jimmy for 4 months. this year we go a little early. we arrive in time to celebrate moniebird's birthday, with a trip to her favorite restaurant (red lobster...she loves the garlic cheese bread), and to ring in the new year with the old timers. they throw quite a party. there are cheeses and cakes and meatballs and cookies and stuffed olives and dips and chips. there is beer and wine and cocktails and champagne. there are board games and cards. there is conversation and jokes and laughter. there is cheering and kisses after dick clark and ryan seacrest countdown to the new year.
FLASH FORWARD december 31, 2013
as we have every year before, the bk and i will wait until the last minute to decide what we will do. we may go out to our favorite bar. we may have friends come over for games and food and laughter. or we may simply stay in and quietly ring in 2013. whatever we do, we will reflect on what we saw and did in 2012. and what was that you ask? well...
we watched my sis in~law's sister make a miraculous recovery from a traumatic brain injury she suffered in a plane crash on december 28, 2011 (click here to read her version of events, as well as my sis in~law's and track her progress)...we started a new valentine's day tradition (the valentine's breakfast)...i got a new job and quit a mere 3 months later as the bk took a new job, within his company, that brought us back home...the bk gained a daughter in~law and my lil bro and family gained a puppy...the country survived an election that nearly divided the nation...we lost neil armstrong, whitney houston, etta james, dick clark, and a beastie boy...we saw "zombie" attacks and the manhunt and capture of "canadian psycho" luka magnotta...there were horrific mass shootings: the aurora, colorado movie theater; the sikh temple in oak creek, wisconsin; and, most recently, at sandy hook elementary school in connecticut...we watched america shine at the olympics...and the bk and i rejoiced as the osu buckeyes went undefeated, even though they were banned from playing in ANY bowl games...my niece turned 16 and got her license...the bk's daughter turned 18, meaning our collective kids are all adults...i started this blog AND got another job and my daddy decided to retire...and the entire world waited for an apocalypse that never came (stupid myans!)...
wherever you are...whatever you do...look back and remember 2012...what made you laugh? what made you cry? what made it a year to remember?

                 

                  

               

 

FLASHBACK 1970

  
"this is halloween...everybody scream!!! in our town of halloween..."
i am counting down the days 'til halloween. trick~or~treat is so much fun in oxnard. halloween specials are important, too. its the great pumpkin, charlie brown is my favorite (still is)...but there is also scooby~doo and garfield. at halloween parties, we play "pin the tail on the donkey" and "bob for apples". our costumes are homemade or are a vinyl cover~up with a plastic mask, held on your head with a flimsy piece of elastic stapled to it. yep....i said it was stapled together.
FLASH FORWARD today
gone are most of the halloween specials...kids do still get charlie brown (sorry, i don't count ANYTHING that comes on nickelodeon or the disney channel as a SPECIAL)...and the costumes, though some are still homemade (my preference), are somewhat better quality. no more staples and made of cloth...if you're careful with it, it can last you for years.
but the games! oh the games!! with the invention of the iphone, and other smart phones and tablets, kids have access to a lot of cool halloween games and apps. there are countdowns, coloring books, talking skeletons, and zombie creators...too much fun. here is my review of just a few of these apps (all free and available at itunes):

#1~halloween by schatzisoft games: this app has a simple countdown...no programming necessary. just open the app and it tells you how many days until halloween. it also offers spooky sounds, ringtones, backgrounds for your phone, and halloween trivia. one very cool feature? a costume finder for all ages and genders. want an idea for your 10 year old daughter? just go to the finder. it will give you a list of ideas AND...after you've chosen the best idea...it will take you to google to see where you can purchase, if you don't want to make it yourself...
#2~talking skeleton by sixits, inc: just like the talking cat everyone loves, this skeleton will repeat what you say. you can punch him for no reason (not sure i understand that one), play games with him, and paint his face to your liking. you can even take pictures with him...he is a lot of stupid fun, however...he's a little slow. it takes a minute to navigate thru all his features, and he doesn't open to the talking feature. one thing that is kind of cool, when in talking mode, he puts his hand up to his ear and "listens" to you talk before repeating it. 
#3~halloween coloring book by peep software: for your little ones. this app has tons of halloween pages for your child to color. they can color with their finger...CAREFUL! don't go outside the lines!...or paint (changing the color in one click). it has a zoom feature making it easier to get those tiny images...and tons of colors to choose from. trust me, this keeps toddler and preschoolers busy...
#4~zombiematic camera by second fiddle apps: okay...this app has a few bugs. it doesn't always read the face and shuts down on occasion. but be patient...it's still a lot of fun. you can use pics in your photo library, or take one with the app. the app then detects the face and you can size it to fit exactly...tap infect and the person in the pic turns into a zombie!! ack!!! the only flaw i found is that it seems to only affect the eyes...no zombie mouth or rotting skin. but we have a had a ton of laughs with this app.
#5~pumpkin creations by libii: this app is another one that will keep your little ones entertained. you can change the color of your pumpkin...then you pick eyes, nose, mouth, and accessories. you can even choose a background and candle. it's simple and fun. 
#6~zombie builder by appinthesky.com: i mention this app for one reason...it doesn't seem to work and i don't want you to mistake it for zombiematic. i tried 3 times...taking pics of the bk with the app...and that's as far as i got. i hit "use" and the app froze in the "preview" feature. hopefully they get the bugs fixed soon because this one appears to give me the features zombiematic doesn't. however, i would rather have an app that works.
#7~ghost o meter by adrian 3: okay...okay...this app is really cool. it is simply a meter that detects ghosts. open the app...walk around the haunted place, wherever you may be...and the meter will spike if there is something paranormal around. even if you don't believe it's detecting ANYTHING, this app can entertain for hours in the dark. i know paranormal when i see it and, so far, i have not experienced anything in our new home but....i turned the app on and it stayed steady for about 15 minutes and suddenly started spiking when i got near an antique armoire...does that mean it works? i have no idea...but it's still fun!

keep in mind that, although free, some have features that are only available with an upgrade to the paid version (usually 99 cents).

old school games:

 







new school games:

                      

 

                      

 

fun with zombiematic: