CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation And Gloss Balm ~ Go El Naturale!

I recently received my BzzKit from the BzzAgent CoverGirl NatureLuxe BzzCampaign. CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation and CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm came in a generous full size sample. I wore both the foundation and lip balm for Easter. The Silk foundation I chose in Oak makes me look like I have a slight tan, and doesn’t leave a visible line like most foundations do along the jawline. The foundation went on smooth and light, but didn’t seem to cover all the little flaws I have. If you’re looking for a light coverage foundation and have decent or perfect skin, I would recommend the CoverGirl NatureLuxe silk foundation.

I shared my CoverGirl BzzKit with my sixteen year old daughter, and she thought the foundation felt greasy when applying. In her words the foundation was “OK.” We tried the CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in genache, and we both loved it! In fact my daughter loved it so much she said she was keeping the Gloss Balm, which means I’ll have to go out and purchase my own!! We both liked the pearly tint, natural color, and great lip moisturizers in the CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm. We’ll definitely purchase the CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm again!!

Between my daughter and I, we give CoverGirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation 4 Stars, and the CoverGirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm 5 Stars!

You too can become a BzzAgent and receive and review new products from major companies you already purchase from!! Let me know if you join up!!

Update to my blogger friends and readers, my life has become very full. I've taken a short break from animal network rescuing, and have been busy with my own furry additions here at home. Promise to update on that aspect soon. One thing I've stayed very loyal to my writing and photography, as these are my first and foremost loves. Be it wrting for urgent animals, or reviews for products I like, or writing with my photos and poetry, my real passion never fails to enter my daily life! My love for animals is almost as strong as you know!

Hoping you're taking full advantage of your passions, and staying Literally In The Moment!!

CoverGirl photo courtesy of BzzAgent & CoverGirl!

Giddy Gastronome Finest Homemade Food And Fragrant Handmade Soaps!

Are you searching for different recipes to prepare for your family meals today! Look no further than Giddy Gastronome. I’m elated, I found a good friend, in meeting Nazarina, owner and founder of Giddy Gastronome.com . We met through our love of homemade ethnic food, and our deep love for animals. Both of us have a profound respect for the women in our families, who have passed down generations of great recipes. We take family recipes and add our own twists to make them even greater!! Nazarina takes her recipes to a whole other level, with her stunning presentations of her masterpiece food creations.

Not only can Nazarina whip up an ultimate meal, she creates handmade soaps, sews, and speaks African fluently. Using only the finest and natural ingredients in both her recipes and wonderful soaps, Nazarina will enlighten your day with her humorous, skilled dialogue posts!!

Curious to know more about this sensational multi talented young woman, here is my interview with my special friend Giddy Gastronome herself.

Where were you born and what is your ethnic background? How does your background tie in with your unique tasting recipes?

I am of Malaysian descent and born in South Africa. My parents emigrated to Miami and this is where I attended college and made the best friendships! My Grandmother owned a pastry shop in South Africa, so we were practically raised in the bakery, surrounded by all kinds of good confections and the best culinary dishes to boot! However, my mother broke away and decided to study fashion designing, but still had to put in her time at the bakery. She would always say that she felt extremely blessed to have been enriched by both the fashion and the culinary worlds. I shall always be grateful to both her and my Grandmother for engaging us in all of their endeavors. It is this “creative metamorphosis” if you will, that has given me the insight in all that I do! Their mantra was that almost anything can be accomplished by commitment, diligence and with a “big fat smile on your face.”

Where did you come up with the name Giddy Gastronome!

I have a truly jovial & vivid personality and can sometimes be very naïve …..thus “giddy”, ( people always say that I am the life of the party), but on the other hand very anal about my food source. I care very much where I buy my ingredients and particularly love all of it organic and locally grown. I would rather resist the temptation of buying a sixty dollar pair of shoes, only to splurge on the very best organic ingredients! I love for flavors to explode in a dish and I care very much about the presentation. What can I say, I love to cook and entertain! Beside my passionate love affair with the culinary realm and people, I have a soft spot for destitute animals, that is why I fell in love with your blog!” I think the world of you!!!”

Do you have a favorite recipe?

I do not have a favorite recipe except maybe for my handmade roasted garlic & fennel spicy kosher beef sausage which I make twice a year from scratch. It is very time-consuming! Someone in Miami wanted this recipe for their butcher shop but my sister advised me against the idea at that time and prompted me to include the recipe in my cook book.

Last but not least, I can’t wait for Nazarina’s book to come out!! Don’t forget to check out the wonderful and taste tempting recipes already featured on Giddy Gastronome too!! As one of Nazarina’s biggest fans, and I’ll be sure to feature her new cookbook here on Literally in the Moment the minute it’s off the press!! As always stay tuned to Literally In The Moment.

I heard there's a cook book in progress, what will you be featuring in your new book?

My cook book is still a work in progress and quite a labor of love. This is almost the hardest endeavor I have attempted! This book will include pictures , step by step instructions of food and desserts, my secret tips and tricks, personal stories, ( most of them…funny), and poetry. I want the reader to experience hospitality like they would if they were in my home! My Grandmother and Mother really never did something like this,( though people will never forget their creativity), so therefore I feel the need to do so. I have so many recipes from them written down in their handwriting , so the prudent thing to do is to document them in a cook book and in a way share their legacy with everyone!

How did you get into the art of making handmade soaps?

I started the soap-making endeavor about three years ago. I would make them and give them away as gifts until a friend in Miami ordered 70 bars for a bridal shower. Now people, I hardly even know, orders them from my blog and by referrals. I love making them for people! The pictures that I attached below are two of the more detailed ones I make!


Chocolate and raspberry cupcake soap.


Speed boat, polo fragrance.

Notice all the delicate details and time Nazarina puts into her art of her handmade soaps. I was the lucky winner of Nazarina’s Spa Basket giveaway for April. From experience I love her goats milk and honey soap. I use it on my face everyday, it never dries my skin and leaves it feeling soft and toned!!! I highly recommend her soap especially if you have drier skin! You’ll be amazed at the aroma of Nazarina’s lily of the valley soap, you simply must try them all!! You’ll find many different soap designs, and great soap fragrances featured on Giddy Gastronome! Don’t forget you can order these gorgeous soaps, to add a classic touch to any holiday or any special party occasion.

Lastly but not least, I can’t wait for Nazarina’s cookbook to come out!! Don’t forget to check out the wonderful and taste tempting recipes already featured on Giddy Gastronome too!! As one of Nazarina’s biggest fans, I’ll be sure to feature her new cookbook here on Literally in the Moment the minute it’s off the press!! As always stay tuned to Literally In The Moment.

PA Twilight ~ Sunset Photo And Haiku ~ Mother's Day 2010!

Unveiled

Life's beauty unveils

memories become moments

withering in twilight

©Jo A. True-Burkholder 2010

Mother nature like many women cannot make up her mind! In the 80's yesterday and in the 50's today! Typical crazy Pennsylvania weather. I took this twilight shot right out my front door, the first part of February. We had rain, and temps dipped way down to zero, and the rain froze during the day covered by a light snow! One of my favorite shots with the sun in the backround! We're close to freezing tonight!!

Talking about Mothers, Mother's Day is bittersweet for me, because my mother passed four years ago. I've many great memories of her, filling our home with great cooking smells. It was my mom who made our house a home. Her mere presence always brang a smile into our lives and always will. Her talents and love were unprecedented and irreplaceable. To say I miss her would be an understatement. The years haven't been the same without her, and I can say my life hasn't been the same either.

Yet life truly goes on and all mom desired most was for her family to be happy. Holidays seem to be the hardest to celebrate, even years later. It's almost if I miss her more the longer she's been gone! If you're lucky enough to have your mother, treasure her for every moment that you have. People say it, yet few realize how short our time here on this lovely earth is. Embrace life with every breath, and never regret a moment you have together loving each other. Memories are everything, never cease making them.. Lastly never stop taking photos. You don't know when our loved ones will make their final exit far into the twilight.

I'll be planting my Mother's day flowers soon, picked out 42 little flower gems to brighten my Spring flower garden. Happy Mother's Day and stay Literally In The Moment!

Read my other Mother's Day posts here:

My Mother's Day Flower Planting Ritual

Siberian Crabapple Blossoms ~ Tree Sappling For Unique Mother's Day Gift

U.S. Death Row Pup Sponsored From Afghanistan! Sponsor A Shelter Or Rescue Pet Today!

Andy a beautiful hound mix was sponsored by Tina C. from Afghanistan pictured below, and saved from being euthanized on April 14, 2010. Tina and I are elated to know that Andy has found his forever home, with a great family. According to Michele Shanley at the Tulare County Animal Shelter, Visalia, CA. "Andy has a forever home! The family is very nice, and they just fell in love with him...I'm so happy!" This special pup will have the life he so deserves. Yet there are
many more dogs in need of being rescued just like Andy. Can you find it in your heart to sponsor a dog on death row today? Many more dogs are deserving of a chance at a happy ending.


Tina C. and her Dogs Gabi and Maggie at Mt Cowless CA.

Never underestimate the immense power of the worldwide internet. A dog I featured on Facebook was sponsored by a wonderful Danish Soldier deployed in Afghanistan! Facebook has played an intrinsic role spreading the word of animals in desperate need of rescue. Shelters, rescues, fosters, sponsors, and passionate animal lovers alike, have all come together to help save the lives of dogs, cats, horses ect.. in kill shelters all across the world! I’ve witnessed this wonderful phenomenon with my own eyes, seeing it all unfold in rescue efforts by so many extremely persistent and knowledgeable group of Facebook friends. There are many who work behind the scenes, pulling, and strategizing transport efforts all to save these precious dogs from being euthanized. Most do this work without personal recognition, but only for the deep satisfaction of saving animals.

Dogs have always been a deep passion of mine, featuring dogs on death row on my blog and now on facebook! Spreading the word can mean the difference between life and death for a dog who is to be euthanized within days or even hours. I’ve also come in email contact with many wonderful shelter workers, who have done everything in their power to save their shelter animals!

This is how Andy a 1year old hound pup I featured on my blog and on facebook was saved from being put down on April 14, 2010. I could tell from Andy’s photo he was special, so I composed a post and placed a photo of Andy to my facebook. One of my facebook friends Tina C. a Danish Army soldier stationed in Afghanistan came to Andy’s rescue on his last day! Tina and I met through facebook and a our deep love for animals. I was truly amazed and inspired by Tina's compassion to sponsor a dog here in the U.S. Tina is also married to a soldier from the U.S. I was very touched by Tina’s love and generosity, so I wanted to know more about her. Here is my interesting interview with Tina C.:

Where are you originally from?

I was born on the Faroe Islands back in 1973, but my mom moved to Denmark with my dad, so I am raised in Denmark!...

Are there kill shelters where you are stationed there in Afghanistan?

Well... if there only were shelters here - there´s not :( Afghanistan is truely a horribly place for dogs to live! NOWZAD Dogs is a UK charity organisation that helps soldiers (who has found a dog) get their dogs outta here... http://www.nowzaddogs.co.uk/ and http://www.baghdadcatrescue.com/
Absolutely wonderful people - take a look at their websites! I obviously support them as much as I can in any way I can!

What made you decide to sponsor Andy, and how does sponsoring Andy benefit you!

When I saw Andy´s beautiful face and eyes, I just couldn´t let him get put to sleep! I wanted to buy him more time to find a FURever home! Unfortunately I cannot save them all, but there are always dogs that really touches your heart! So I decided to give Andy a full sponsorship, that gives him another month to find a home!... At least I know, that I might have saved one dog, and saving a dogs life, is a pretty damn good feeling!... I love dogs... always have... and I love saving the few I can!

My one dog Maggie is from Iraq! She was found back in 2004 by the Danish Embassador! He took her in, and she stayed at the Embassy in Baghdad. There were some Special Operations Force guys there at the Embassy, and when a buddy of mine came there, he took Maggie in and she really got to him - he is also a huge dog lover! He knew, that he needed to get her out of the country! So he called me and asked if I could take her! And 3 months later, she arrived in Denmark!

When I was in Kabul in 2006, a U.S. pilot found a little puppy - we called her Kaia since she was found at Kabul Internatinal Airport, also known as KAIA! My buddy was there at the same time and again - we wanted to save this girl... After really putting our heads together, we managed to get her out of the country and to Denmark!

So saving dogs has always been a passion of mine! I lived in Poland for 3 years from 2000-2003, and I supported a local shelter there, raising money and food for them, and even bought puppies from the shelter, and brought them to Denmark to a FURever home - the shelters there were overcrowded, but they did the best they could with what they had for the dogs - it was heartbreaking!!!!!

Where do you and your husband want to live permanently!

Well he lives in the U.S. and I live in Denmark! For now! He is in the U.S. Military, but will retire in a couple of years, and we haven't decided where we want to settle yet. In the Army - I work 24 hr shifts in Denmark, so that gives me a lot of time off in between shifts. That time I spend with my dogs, Gabi (weimaraner) and Maggie (my iraqi mutt), and when we settle, we'll have plenty of time to go explore Europe, and hike all over the place :)

Do you have animals and what are their names?

We have 2 dogs, Gabi and Maggie! Gabi is our beautiful weimaraner and Maggie is our amazing Iraqi mutt... They are both 6½ years old and currently living it up with their dad in the U.S., while I am deployed! Cannot wait to see them again - I miss them all so much!



Tina and rescued pup Kaia in KAIA Kabul 2006.


Tina's Maggie pup rescued from Iraq! Isn't she adorable!!

The love of animals outstretches continents and spreads throughout all the world! Thanks Tina for sponsoring Andy, and sharing your wonderful information and cool photos about your life and deployment with us! The world is a better place because of you, and your deep love for dogs! You inspire us all to go another level, to make a difference in the lives of dogs on death row. Tina and I hope to bring awareness to the kill shelter plight, and many ways you can help a kill shelter pet!

According to the Humane Society of The United States, it’s estimated that 6-8 million dogs and cats are cared for in U.S. shelters every year! Out of that sadly an astonishing HALF 3-4 million are euthanized. If you can please sponsor, foster, or adopt a dog or cat in a kill shelter today. Your sponsorship will help with immunizations, neutering, and newspaper ads, and much more to help find these dogs find a permanent and loving home. Just one more way we can work together to save more dogs and cats and keep them from being euthanized!

Meanwhile I'll strive in my mission to continue my writing featuring dogs and cats in life threatening need, and give them the broad exposure they most truly deserve.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always stay right here Literally In The Moment!

Photos: Copyright and Courtesy of Tina C. and Petfinder!

Kicking The Smoking Habit ~ Tips For Diehard Smokers!

First you must be totally committed to kicking your smoking habit . You may fall off the wagon a few times, but persistence will prevail if your mind is totally made up. Choose a special goal day to mark your occasion, I chose Mother’s Day. Think of all the reasons you want to quit, write them down. Here are a few:

1. Quit for yourself and your loved ones.


2. You know smoking is bad for your health! Quit because of all the health risks to your body and for others who are subject to inhale your second hand smoke!


3. Because you don't want to mingle around others, with your clothes and breath smelling like an ashtray. As a woman, I was always self conscious about the cigarette smell.


4. You'll have a cleaner house and car! Surprising the amount of yellow smoke film cigarettes and cigars leave on your white sheer curtains and walls. You can imagine the damage to your lungs, which can't be thrown into the wash!


5. Because you don't want to die prematurely, but instead live to see your children get married, and spend a good part of your life with the grandkids.


6. The high cost of supporting your smoking habit is getting to be ridiculous!


7. A whiter smile!

Somewhere down the line your children will learn about smoking and drugs in school. A major reason I decided to quit. Before my child reached early teens, I made my final choice to kick the habit. I didn’t want another generation of smokers in my family. My parents both smoked, and I could be the one to break the smoking generation chain. Plus you can’t stand there and tell your kids not to smoke, while puffing on a Marboro Light! My love for my child is truly deeper than my love for cigarettes.

The last thing you need is someone to preach to you, and tell what you should and shouldn’t do. I quit cold turkey, and believe me this was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. I truly enjoyed smoking, it was an exhilarating feeling. Smoking calmed me down when I was stressed or nervous. Pumped me up when I needed a lift. An upper and a downer all in one habit, almost as good as sex or chocolate. I still miss it’s euphoric effects today! Expressions only a diehard smoker would make! But here are some pointers you can focus on, when you decide to quit:

1. Remember those hot cinnamon toothpicks we loved when we were young? I use them to help with my cravings. Target sells them online, or you can make your own! I like the cinnamon ones, helps take the edge off!


2. Walk! Walking is the greatest and most rewarding of all exercises to me. You can take your dog or spouse on a nice hike in the woods. Especially after dinner when the urge to smoke is the greatest, and take a few hot toothpicks with you on your walk. Instead of concentrating on smoking, you'll see all the wonderful things in nature to live for! Plus your dog will love you for it, and you and your spouse may find a private spot to neck!


3. Clean rooms in your house or garage. You have more time to beautify your home, or now as they call it crib, making every room a tidy place to be proud of!


4. Always keep busy and active. I promise you'll have more energy, breath better, and be able to walk up stairs and hills, without losing your wind! Constantly moving around will help keep you fit!


5. My Ultimate Life Protocol Learn To Love Yourself! Even when someone puts you down, keep being who you are! You hold the greatest power over your demons! People who can't stand by you, aren't your friends!

We’ll all face our mortality at some point in our lives, but let it be much later than sooner! Like the quote from my favorite Pink Floyd song: “Breath ~Breath in the air, Don’t be afraid to care! Leave but don’t leave me.” My longtime friend and I have a special motto: Love yourself first and the rest of your life will just fall in place! Usually it’s the opposite, we love others before ourselves, and let ourselves go. Typical adult behavior especially of women!

Remember life is our most profound gift and there’s only one uniquely you! Mother’s Day 2009 marked four smokeless years for me. My daughter was amazed at her mother for quitting a longtime habit. I look into her beautiful eyes everyday, and know I made the right decision for the both of us!

I wish you much luck on your smoking cessation endeavors!

My Related Story Post: Prohibition Regression In Economic Recession!

My Mother's Day Flower Planting Ritual!

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there! Every year my husband and daughter buy me planting flowers for Mother’s day! I prefer live planting flowers as opposed to cut flowers, because I can enjoy the lovely flower plants long into the Fall months. Ever since I became a mother years ago, I’ve received and planted flowers on Mother’s Day! My mom used to come and plant with me! Do you have a special tradition that you do on Mother's Day?



We always make the trip toward the mountain to Laurel Nursery, where I’ve been a loyal customer for many years. The flowers are always hardy, and I can always count on them to grow well when planted. Mostly I need flowers which do well in the direct full sun, because my flower garden surrounds my house. We receive full sunlight most of the day around my home!

I usually start out with two flats of annuals and perennials. Flat number 1 above is a fine collection of Reddy Salvia, Mix Portulaca, Double Cherry Zinnia, Zahara Scarlet Zinnia, Red & Deep Purple Petunias, and the ever beautiful Yellow Dahlia.



Flat number 2 is a brilliant collection of Blue Ageratum, Double Madness Mix Petunias, 3 packs of Montego Mix Snapdragons, Red Petunias, Big Boy Tomatoes, and Eggplants!

Lastly I picked a pack of Majestic Giants II Sherry Pansies. I’ve noticed a lot of the new packs have gone from six to four flower plants per pack! We went last weekend to pick these out, because there are slim pickens on Mother’s Day weekend. So I’ve had my baby flower plants for a week already, and can’t wait to get my hands in the earth to plant my gems. We’ve had rain almost everyday this week, so the ground is too saturated. Seems we may have a break after Mother’s Day!

I’m missing my mom so very much, and I think of her every Mother’s Day. She was a major part of my life, and I’ll never stop loving her! If you’re still fortunate to have your mother, cherish her and spend all the time you can making memories. You’ll never get back that time, when your loved one passes on! My Mother’s day weekend is very full, spending quality time with all those I love! Have a good one, and party down!

Three Year Remembrance ~ My Tree Of Life

The coming of Spring leaves me bittersweet. The season which brings vibrant life to the earth, brings forth memories of death to my heart each year. While robins fill the air with chirping song, my sweet mother lies six feet under the ground.

Death gives life, and life in return gives death. April 6th marked the three year anniversary of my mother's death. I still remember the last night I was with her, as if it were yesterday. We were very close. more like sisters than mother and daughter. Someone stole her small budda, I left there last Summer. Budda will bring theives much bad luck!

We decided on purple daisies, and yelllow daffodils this year for moma's black vases. The purple daisies have a yellow center. My nephew rolled his little red tractor on top of moma's shinny black headstone. When we buried moma that evening a full moon lit the darkness. I hated leaving her there all alone, yet it was as if the moonlight had welcomed her! In fact this week we had nights of glowing full moon!

The tree above was taken at our cemetary, which grows only a few feet away from our plots. When I die I'll be looking up at this big ole tree. Towering high to the sky, the tree of life barely makes it's branches in my photo. Much life scurries above thousands of headstones in this beautiful typical Pennsylvania country like setting.

I believe you can miss a person more, the longer they're gone! We hadn't even celebrated the first Easter when moma died. In fact holidays are the hardest without her presence. Yet her death brought the first two wonderful baby boys into our family. They've become our main focus now. Moma was the strong deep rooted tree, and we all continue to live on through her ever guilding loving spirit!

Read past tribute posts to my mother here:

A Poetry Tribute To My Japanese Mother

Two Years ~ A Tribute To My Japanese Mother

My Purple Bathroom Remodel ~ Home Decor Ideas!

Well it's been a busy couple months. painting the bathroom, picking out carpeting, and remodeling a couple rooms. We used a paint called Valspar signature colors in a color called ice crystal by Earth Elements. I just wanted to add a touch of purple to the walls, and it turned out beautifully. It looks almost a red tint here! I took photos before we added my wall art! I've also been doing some Spring cleaning and getting rid of some unwanted things we don't need.

We took OP for his first adult shots on Saturday, he did really well. While we were waiting out came a sleek black Labrador, and our hearts just sank. Just recently losing our Delilah, we are still missing her sooo much!

My bathroom is huge, I had to take my photos separately in sections. I chose a deep dark purple carpet in a Fraize since this is a very high traffic area. The last purple carpet was smashed to our foundation, didn't wear too well. We chose an 8 inch pad to use underneath, the pad makes all the difference in the overall feel of the carpet. We love it! Purple toilet set was purchased years ago in Kaufmann's before taken over by Macey's.


I had to take a photo of my dog and cat bath rug! Only an animal lover would pick such a thing, plus I've two nephews 2 years old! I purchased this at one of my favorite stores Ollies Bargain Outlet! They have so many nice bath towels, kitchen towels, and almost anything you need at real bargain prices.


The photo above is just a close up of the design on my shower curtain. Made by Saturday Knight LTD, 100 percent polyester and machine washable. My kind of shower curtain! I have an Artisian standard bone colored shower tub surround and toilet purchased at 84 lumber many years ago! They both still look like new, an excellent product!


My countertop is huge my daughter and I could both sit and primp up ourselves at this counter with room to spare. The curtains I special ordered from J.C. Penney many years ago. Purple is a very hard shade to find in bathroom products, especially curtains! There are as many shades of purple as there are in the rainbow!

The right corner of the counter I've a huge mirror I purchased when my store shut down years ago. We used these in the jewelry department for our customers. I wish I purchased another one, they are well made and very attractive. The butterfly is a flowerpot clip that I purchased at Walmart last year. I hate when you put stuff outside and they get rusted, weathered, and faded from the sun. So I just use them for inside decorations! The peacock feathers are real, a neighbor of ours actually has peacocks, and they gave my daughter a bunch of these feathers. I put in a vase behind the mirror to add height to the corner. Pansies in a vase with pot pourri, add more color.

OP was mad that I wasn't paying attention to him, this is one of his favorite spots especially looking out the window at birds! The purple butterfly was purchased fall of 2007 at Boscovs when they went out of business. Another outdoor ornamental piece, I couldn't bear to put out. OP likes to chew the butterfly attennas, and gets yelled at!

The wine glass is a rose color and slightly slanted at the top. I fill with pot pourri, and I buy a pot pourri fragrance to use when guests come to my home! You can also spray pot pourri with your favorite cologne! The roses are actually a lavender purple, excuse my lighting in these photos!

I brought in an additional lamp to get this shot. More accurate in color of the fraize carpet. It's like a grape. I've many corners in my home!

Lastly I just wanted to feature my origami birds, my mom made these for me before she died. She is always with me in many things in my life. She created beauty wherever and in whatever she touched. The rice bowl with purple flowers I purchased many years ago at the Ames store before they too shut down.

Well there you have it a purple bathroom in my style! I'm going to make a part two for my wall art! Happy Spring cleaning and decorating!

Related Posts: Interesting Art And Artists ~ Childrens Art!

Sarah Palin ~ McCain's Surprising Strategic Move!

Times are a changing! I'm empowered to see another woman in the spotlight! What an amazing move for McCain's campaign! He pulled a duesy out of his hat didn't he? Hey if we couldn't have a woman President, why not a Vice President? Who would've thought in this day and age that women would be holding such powerful positions? A proven fact women can do anything, and become anyone they want to be. Women have come a long way, from the 1920's when the Nineteeth Amendment was passed. The amendment giving all women the right to vote!

Sarah Palin referred to the time when women were allowed to vote, in her speech . The vital role of women to vote, in which she humbly attributed to be in the position she is today. I like how she is down to earth, five children -bless her heart! Her husband Todd Palin is a production manager for the Alaska North Slope. Their son Track, she is proud to say is serving our country in the Army. Governor Palin also paid tribute to the women who have come before her, Geraldine Ferraro, and Hilary Rodham Clinton.

Already news is coming out of the woodwork, ready to say she's inexperienced. Not a factor, you can learn anything you put your mind to. Knowledge and experience comes with the chance to be put in the position to learn. She is definitely a woman to follow in the spotlight, and rising up to the occasion with grace and determination. You heard the saying "Behind every man there is a good woman," now I say "Beside every man there's a woman willing and waiting to take his position!"

My Favorite Love Song! What's Yours!

Time In A Bottle has remained through the years, my favorite love song. Remarkably resonating more in my life today, with timeless lyrics, and a tear jerking melody. Jim Croce had written this beautiful song for his son A.J. at his birth. Along with his wife Ingrid, the world was shocked by Jim Croce's sudden death. Killed in a 1973 plane crash with his musician sidekick Maury Muehleisen, after performing a concert in Louisiana. Jim Croce was only 30, and Maury Muehleisen only 24, both dying at the pinnacle of their music careers.

Jim Croce was inducted into The Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1990, and has been paid tribute by the band Queen , and also The Righteous Brothers.

Ingrid Croce has created a wonderful website in honor of her late husband Jim Croce: Jim Croce - The Official Site which is still a work in progress. I especially enjoyed reading through Ingrid's autobiography section, which she tells about her life with their son after her husbands's death. Ingrid's strength to keep his legacy alive, is thriving in her Croce’s restaurant & Jazz bar located in San Diego. She has helped with the production of new Jim Croce CD’s and DVD’s, T.V. segments on PBS, and her autobiographical cookbook "Thyme In A Bottle," is in it’s third publication. Nice to know Ingid is remarried, and doing well in spite of all the sadness she had to endure in the past.

All Jim Croce’s songs are a major cornerstone in American music, and his songs and voice will remain an icon for generations to come.

Women Empowered ~ International Women's Day

Women Empowered

All women are beautiful in their own uniqueness. We all love our children in the same way, striving for a brighter future. We wouldn’t be here without a woman giving birth, nurturing us through the many years of growing and learning. Do we not owe everything to the women who gave their lives, and in turn becoming mothers to give our lives to our own children?

Women born to be empowered in femininity and sexuality walking proudly in our step. To be loved for who we are, and all we can achieve if given a fair chance. Women have made many strides over the centuries, paving the way toward equality and women’s rights. Yet there are still atrocities taking place all across the international spectrum.

Imagine all women united living in modern equality. Imagine the dreams flourished in reality, imagine the world wide possibilities. Perhaps here in the near future a Woman president!

©Jo A. T.B.


Interesting Articles for International Women's Day ~ March 8, 2008

USA Today ~ Calls to end rape to mark world Women's Day

International Women's Day.com

International Women's Day NYC