Independance Day Hodgepodge

1. What do the words 'freedom' and 'liberty' mean to you? Does your mind go more in the direction of not being persecuted or discriminated against or does it head in the direction of doing what you please?

For me it definitely goes in the direction of the freedom from persecution and discrimination. I don't think that doing what you want without regard to others is a good idea, ever, and I think that people who justify being ugly or mean by saying that it's their right should remember that rights come with responsibilities to themselves and others, and those include treating others with the same dignity and respect that you feel like you deserve.

2. Nathan's sponsors a hot dog eating contest every 4th of July. Last year over 40,000 people attended the event and almost 2 million watched it on TV. The winner ate over 60 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. How do you like your hot dogs?

I don't, well not very often. I like brats or sausages of that style in a hotdog bun, I like chili cheese dogs with no othdog in them, so chili cheese buns? I will eat them if they are all that's available, and sometimes I will want one, but hot dogs are something I never crave.

3. If you were going to enter an eating contest what would be on the menu?

Hmmmmm, Cookies. Yup, fresh baked cookies.

4. Do you run your house more as a dictatorship or a democracy?

I would say that it's more of a monarchy. God put me and my husband in charge of my kids, so we have the final say in everything. We will listen to them and take their opinions, concerns, and desires into account, but the final say comes down to us.

5. Where was your favorite summer place when you were a kid?

Visiting my Grandmothers house is Texas. So many fun memories with my cousins.

6. Do you have a guest room? Would you want to stay there?

Yes, at this moment since the girls are staying with their grandparents we have a lot of guest beds. But yes, we have them. At this moment I would love for Ladybug (what my girls call my best friend) to be able to come and stay.

7. Next Wednesday America celebrates her independence. Do you have any special plans for the 4th of July? If you live outside the USA when and how does your country celebrate its own patriotic holiday?

I assume that we will be going to the celebration on post (that feels so strange to say after living near a base for so long) have some fun outside activities and snacks, watch some fireworks. I don't know.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm getting ready to start the July workout challenge. If you want to join in on Facebook please join my group. If you don't want to join please just feel free to follow the plan, it's posted in this blog as Jammin' Workout July. If you link it please give credit.

Summer Music Hodgepodge

1. Summer officially rolls in with the Hodgepodge this week, for those of us in the Northern hemisphere anyway. What song says summer 2012 to you? Summer 2012? Wow, it's like I get to pick a theme song for my summer, what should I choose? Something that makes me smile, something that makes me think of goals that have been accomplished....How about this one?

 

LOL, ok, ok, I kid. No I am not making the Hot Dog song my new Summer theme. Although technically it does tick all the boxes so to speak. I think that I will go with this one though.





 

2. What's your favorite quintessential summer food? Food, yum, one of my favorite subjects. I would say that my answer to this question has changed over the years. When I was growing up I would have put Ice Cream or Popsicles here without any hesitation. But now I find that I really don't love them as much as I used to. I would say that anything berry is perfect for summer now. Fresh picked berries, cobblers, pies. Yum!

3. I've spent a lot of time traipsing up and down the NJ Turnpike in recent weeks. Did you know the rest areas on the turnpike are named after people who lived or worked in NJ? Clara Barton, Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, Molly Pitcher, Joyce Kilmer, Thomas Edison, and Gover Clevland just to name a few. Of those I listed, who would you most like to have known and why? That's a pretty interesting list, which person on the list would I have most liked to know and why? Let's see, I would have to pick Molly Pitcher, because I am continually fascinated by the lives of women as they related to the military throughout the years. There have been women throughout history who have exhibited the same bravery and patriotism in war as men but they have been largely ignored by historians, and I love the stories that do get told.

 

 

4. At what age did you move out of your parent's house and what prompted the move? At what age did I spend the majority of my year at another location? Or at what age did I claim another address as my own? Or at what age did I finally get all of my stuff out of the house? Those are three questions with different answers. My parents moved the summer after I graduated from High School and while I had a room at their house, I spent most of my year living in the dorms at Northern Arizona University. So even though most people would say that I was still at home at that time, since I have never spend the majority of a year in that room I have always thought of it more as their house than mine. I moved out and got my own address when I got married the September after graduating from NAU. I moved to England in a suitcase though so I left most of my things at their house, so even though I was married and living on my own I still had a lot of stuff there. In fact now, 9 years later I can finally say that there isn't much that is mine that's left at their house. Or at least not much that I will want to re-claim. I have my college textbooks, some of the history memoirs that I will rescue, but others are probably pretty worthless by now. Also I have the accessories for my American Girls Dolls that I will want. Other than that I think I am finally moved all the way out.

5. What's more satisfying to you-saving time or saving money? For me right now it's saving money. Time I have, money is tight. Being a SAHM Mom has given me a lot of time with my family which I love and which is important, but it has made money tight. So saving money is what I think about.

6. Name something you think brings out the good in people.  Generally I think that seeing someone in need or hurting brings out the good in people, especially if that person is a child. While I never want to see any child hurting, I think that the care and help that people show to children in need is always a good thing.

7. This last question comes to you courtesy of Kathy over at Reflections...will you be taking a vacation or a staycation this summer? If so where will you go? If a staycation is on the calendar have you made any special plans to fill the time? I guess we are doing neither. With the move just being over we dropped the girls off at the in-laws house for the summer, so we will be driving down there at some point in time to pick them up. But the plans for the hubby and I are for him to get settled into work, and for me to find work. Not very vacation-y.

8. Insert your own random thought here. I'm having WAY too much fun on YouTube this morning. I found this after I posted the video of Iz earlier. These boys are fantastic.

 

 

Jammin' Workout June

Without Further Ado. I would like to present the July Workout Challenge. I am really excited about this one because I feel like it offers people more options for personalization than ever before. Here is a quick look at the calender, please save it, share it, or whatever, but also please link back to me or give credit when you share.



This calender is designed to be used one of three ways.

   1) You can just do what is on the day as written for a quick addition to a current workout routine

   2) You can repeat the routine for each day as written 3 times for a full strength workout.
 

   3) You can add in the cardiovascular option listed at the bottom in between your strength exercises for a cross-training effect. And do that 1-3 times for your desired workout. For example if you were to do the cardio option on the 2nd you would do
       15 Plie Squats
       25 Jumping Jacks
       15 Reverse Lunges
       25 High Knees
       15 Mule Kicks
       5 Burpees
       20 Calf Raises
       25 Mountain Climbers
       10 Jump Squats

 

If you would like to join our support and reminder group on Facebook please follow this link. I have some amazing help from Ali Mc who has the blog Running With Spatulas making the instruction videos and admin-ing the group while I was moving last month.

Back again! Finally!

After an whole entire month and a week without internet I am finally back up and running! WooHoo! I am seriously excited, I have missed being able to actually sit down at a real computer and type with a keyboard rather than having to do things from my SmartPhone. I get so frustrated with those little itty-bitty things. And yes I realize that somehow that probably makes me sound a lot older than I am. Oh well. So be it.

The move went really well, or as well as any move with the military can go and we are getting settled in nicely in our new location. I am loving being able to live somewhere with actual weather and a decided lack of gambling. I am not loving all of the in-house wildlife that I am encountering however. The sheer variety of insects here is daunting. Also we apparently have at least one mouse in the house, so as soon as all of the people finish setting up the satellite today I will be heading to the store to get the stuff to kill that problem off.

I will start taking pictures again soon to post for you all to see, how we are getting things all set up and organized, don't worry I won't post any pictures of any mice I am lucky enough to kill.

Now comes the job search, The husband is off to work and the girls are off with family, so I really have no reason not to jump into this search with both feet.... other than the fact that I am petrified to death. I have been a stay-at-home Mom for almost 7 years now, so the whole idea of getting out there and going back to work is a little daunting. Not to mention that I hate being judged and really, what is a job interview other than asking someone to judge you. So that just stresses me out. Anyway, wish me luck.

Summery Hodgepodge

1. What is a pet peeve you have when vacationing?

It has been a very long time since I vacationed, so I am having a hard time coming up with anything.

2. Would you describe yourself as a light packer or do you need everything in your closet plus the kitchen sink?

I am an OCD packer. I pack by list and event and weather. I pre-plan everything down to the earrings. So I guess I would be a light packer.

3. What's the best lesson a child ever taught you?

Being silly is an essential part of life.

4. Share one piece of advice you'd give a recent graduate as they attempt to enter the job market?

Look for your perfect job, but don't be so picky that you miss an opportunity for something different that might be better.

5. What's your favorite lemon something?

EVERYTHING! Lemon desserts are my favorite, lemon food is pretty high up there too.

6. Flat sandal, wedge, heel...your favorite footwear?

Flip-flop or wedge. Easier to run in.

7. What do you like best about a beach holiday? If you're not a beach lover (GASP!!) what do you dislike the least?

The sound of the ocean and the way people are always so much nicer when they are near the water.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Unless I can figure out how to do this from my smart phone this will be my last hodgepodge for a while. And the next one will be from Missouri!

Teaching Hodgepodge

1. My daughter2 is graduating from university this month and plans to teach elementary school. What are three qualities you most want to see evidenced in a teacher?

Caring for Students, the desire to teach their minds as well as their esteem, and fun.

 

2. You can tell a lot about a person by_____________________.

The way they treat their waitress.... or anyone who is "serving" them.

3. What song makes you think spring?

Singin' In The Rain

4. May 1st is Mother Goose Day...share your favorite nursery rhyme.

Mary, Mary quite contrary
How does your garden grow
With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

5. What makes someone unforgettable?

My relationship with them, I rarely forget anyone ever, something I am thankful that I have and hope I never lose. But those people who I have had a relationship with, be it good or bad, leave a thumbprint on my heart.

6. Should music and/or art be part of a well rounded education?

Absolutely, nurturing the creativity and imagination is just as important as math or science. God created us with two sides of our brain for a reason.

7. What social situations make you flustered or nervous?

Almost all of them, but especially places that I go alone that I have never been before. I am almost painfully shy and have worked hard to move past that.

8. Insert your own random thought here

 

What a day, DH got hit this morning in his parking lot at work, he is fine as is the guy who hit him, but now we have to deal with getting one of our cars repaired within the short time before we move.

 

Also we met the people who are planning on moving into our house when we move out. Things are starting to feel really final.

Hidden Talents Hodgepodge

1. William Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated on April 23rd...when did you last read Shakespeare? What's your favorite Shakespeare play? It's been about a year or so, longer than normal, but I would venture to guess more recently than the average person. My favorite, that's hard, I do love Much Ado... and Taming..... I can't pick between those two.

2. What food(s) would you recommend a foreign visitor try when they visit your home country? This is such a broad question, there are so many different foods that exemplify so many different regions of the United States. I would say that if there was any ONE food I think that someone visiting the US should experience it would be a pie... There is just something so very American about pie, it doesn't have to be apple, but pie is it.

3. What's a lie you often tell yourself? "I can eat this junk food in moderation." LOL. I am better off not eating the junk, I just can't eat one small serving of my favorite junk, it has to be so much that my stomach hurts and I hate myself.

4. What's something you're good at that might surprise us? Remember this is a family friendly blog! This is hard, mostly because I don't feel like I am a really secretive about things, I feel like I don't have huge secret talents. I have a really good color memory... I can look at something and then 6 months later go to a store and match the color almost exactly.

5. Who is your favorite animal character from a book? Wow, with all of the reading that I do this one has me stumped, I have skipped over it to come back, which I NEVER do when answering a hodgepodge question. So here we are and this is the only one I have left. I guess I will say Jack from the Little House series. He is everything that a dog should be.

6. April showers bring May flowers...do you have a green thumb? As much as I would like to blame the fact that I have spent the majority of my life in a desert of some sort I think that I am just not someone to whom gardening comes naturally. But I believe that I can and will learn how. It's just a matter of applying myself.

7. Speaking of rainy days...which one of the following activities would you most want to spend time doing on a rainy day-

sort photos and create albums

bake cookies

read a good book

hold an all-day movie marathon

organize closets, cupboards, or bookshelves

try a new recipe

fix something that needs fixing

 

 

Well, off of that list, I would say that any of them but number 1 and number 4 sound like a good idea. I try to do number 3, 5 and 6 at least once a week so they aren't novelties, they are necessities each in their own way. And while I enjoy 2 and 7 those are the husbands rainy day activities.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  I am in the midst of making mop caps for a production of Oliver that my church is putting on. I haven't done anything like this in a while. Keep your fingers crossed for me that they all turn out ok.