Week in Review

So the previous schedule had me a few weeks ago- and I was so excited for it.  I have been thinking and thinking about what I wanted to review.  Alas, my week is this week- and today is Friday.  You may have to forgive me and allow me to add it when I can.  Claudia found out last week that her cancer is back and had to go in for surgery this week.  Blair and I were gone Tues- Thurs with his parents.  Not being near a computer, and quite frankly having more pressing things on my plate, my review has not been top of my list.  Sorry guys, It's not like I don't love you and this idea.

The gift that keeps on giving

In light of the Christmas season, I thought I would do a review on a great gift idea: Magazines. Greg, a few years back, started getting magazine subscriptions for my birthday, valentine's day, Christmas, etc., and I have really grown to love this present.  Magazine subscriptions can be pretty inexpensive, but provide you with a year of entertainment. Who doesn't like to get a treat in the mail? With a magazine subscription, you can get a treat monthly, bi-monthly, or even weekly. I thought I would give a little review of some of the magazines I have really come to enjoy.

People

If you are into pop culture, this is the magazine for you. It is one of the pricier magazines, but you do receive it weekly, and it is filled with all the latest "substanceless" news. Basically, if you like fluff (I do!), you'll like this magazine.

Entertainment Weekly

If you like pop culture, but prefer less of celebrities lives and more of their work, then EW is the one for you. This magazine includes reviews of TV, movies, books, and of things to come in the entertainment world. Also a weekly magazine, it is relatively inexpensive. If you have that movie or TV show you just love or can't wait to see, more likely than not, it will be in this magazine.

Reader's Digest

The Finding Nemo of magazines: It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and usually has a story about sharks.  I have loved this magazine since I was a little girl. The jokes are hilarious, and the stories are riveting. This magazine comes monthly, and I feel a must have in every home.

Parents

Very inexpensive, and will give you great advice on raising children. Monthly.

Country Living

For those of you that like antiques, old houses, animals, and cozy cottages. I like to call this a "flip through the pictures" magazine. Not many articles, but fun to see all of the country homes and how they decorate them.

Newsweek

Week by week coverage of current events. It will keep you up to date on the things you need to know, but I feel going to local news sites will do that for you just as well, and those are free. :)

Rolling Stone

Greg just got me a subscription to this magazine for my birthday. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It has everything I look for in a magazine: From articles about the latest band to an in depth look into solitary confinement. Most magazines have a lot of ads, but Rolling Stone has very few. It comes bi-monthly and is only $20 a year for a subscription. I highly recommend this one.

Taste of Home

Have you ever wanted to compile a cookbook of all the best cook's favorite recipes? Well, this is the magazine for you! This magazine is basically a monthly cookbook, filled with mouth watering recipes, sure to please everyone in your family. I have yet to try a recipe that I did not love.

Any who, I hope these review help. Please feel free to add your own magazine review in the comments below. I am currently waiting for my subscription to TIME to come, and once I get it, I will give my thoughts on it. Hope this helps some of you with gift giving ideas!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAYLEY!!

 
We all LOVE you and had a great time with you on Thanksgiving.

My Review... Still working

Just wanted to let you know, as you wait on pins and needles, that I am still working on my review.  I realize that it shouldn't be this hard, but I have very little in my life that is super interesting outside of my family- so trying to come up with something to review is stumping me. Sorry.

Reviews and Recomendations

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for participating in reviews. It is so fun to get advice from you all and I love reading things that you are passionate about. I am going to start extending the weekly assignment, and I wasn't sure if those I hadn't talked to yet would be interested in participating. I know dad (Lee) has expressed interest, but if you are not on the list on the sidebar and want to contribute, we would love to have you! Just let me know!!!!

The Truth about Julie 

Or 

Tomboy Extraordinaire or Triple Trouble

My first recollection is napping in my crib and waking up to our pet Siamese cat playing with my toes through the blankets. “So what,” you say “that sounds pretty harmless.” Let me remind you, I was in a crib, behind bars.

At about the age of five, I remember finding a tube of bright red lipstick. Off I went to find an uneducated soul. I did find one around the block, a cute little boy a couple of years my younger. “Let’s see how this looks on his lips…Good… but even better, let’s make a clown face!!!” My mother got an angry phone call from and even angrier mother.

I’ve had a sweet tooth all my life and many, many cavities. Maybe it’s from the boxes of Jell-O I used to steal from our storage room. You remember Pixie Sticks? Jell-O is even tastier. Talk about cavities… I hated the dentist. One fateful exam, it was determined I had twenty-three cavities. Well, I hated shots even more than I hated dentists and refused to have any before the drilling. I was told to hold up my hand, which I did often, if the pain became too great and the Doc would stop for a moment to let me recover. Phew… I was glad when the last tooth had its silver patch.

My older sister DeAnn must have felt sorry for me because the next year she took me to the dentist she worked for. I must have been about seven years old. He was located in downtown Provo, many miles from our home. While she was in the back, I took off out the door, around the corner and down the road.

I was NOT going to sit in the torture chair again. It took so long to find me, I missed my appointment. It didn’t bother me a bit! I beat the establishment.

My sisters and I would play hide and seek in our home during the cold winter months. We had a laundry chute in the hall way. I found it a great hiding place as I could climb into the downstairs, escaping through the bars. Rue the day, when attempting the same trick after not doing it for a very long time, I found I was stuck fast between the bars. I had grown and was too big. I started yelling at the top of my lungs for help. Everyone including my dad ran downstairs to see what was the matter and upon finding me, all stood back and laughed and laughed. I guess I looked pretty funny hanging half in and half out but REALLY… they didn’t have to laugh like that!

One day I got the great idea to go fishing. I found a safety pin that would work just fine for a hook, a long piece of string for the line and a stick for the pole. Now I had to find water. I remembered the river about three miles from my house. Not wanting to make the trip alone I talked a four year old neighbor to go along. Being a fearless six year old, I felt quite confident in my undertaking. I shudder now to think of what I did. Not only was it three miles away but we traveled a busy road and where the road dropped down into the bottoms, it was very curvy and narrow. Not a place you would walk down because of traffic not to mention being a short sized six and five year old. We made it to the river. Again I shudder. Provo River is fast moving and dangerous. But undauntedly I hauled that kid to the river’s edge and tried my hand at fishing. You can guess what happened. (I didn’t even have bait!) I was so disappointed. Crestfallen we started for home. About a mile before we got there the boy’s father pulled up, got out gathered his son and me up (after spanking me!) and took us home.

I loved my pets and I loved horses. But my mother DID NOT. (I really think she had a soft spot for them though, I figured that when she stuck a straw in the dirt of the jar of red ants I had collected and gave them some water).

She did not appreciate my fuzzy brown hamster. I had run away from home and had ridden my bike a couple of miles to buy it at Woolworth’s. I remember proudly carrying it home by the little metal handle of the box that looked like a Chinese carry out container. She didn’t know anything about it till the next day. I was at school and she kept hearing a scratch, scratch under my bed. Upon investigation she uncovered the doll clothes closet I had turned into a hamster den. I was so upset that she made me ride my bike all the way back to return it.

Nor did she appreciate the couple of different times I tried to sneak a kitten downstairs. Darned things couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

I remember bringing stray dogs home whenever I could find them. One day I found a beautiful Red Setter. That one my mother kept, if only for a few hours until the owner could be located.

One of my sisters had a fish. I figured it needed washing. Oops, down the drain it went. I tried it with the turtle next. I was careful he didn’t go down the drain, but soap didn’t agree with him and he killed over.

We had an irrigation ditch that ran in back of our home. I used to love walking down it, peering into people’s back yards. One day I noticed a pigeon coup and decided to have a look inside. What to my wonder? I found three little pigeon eggs and nestled into a nest. “Ohhh, I could raise them for my own,” I thought. I carefully gathered them up and took them home. I have no idea how those people found out it was me, (could I have some sort of a reputation in the neighborhood?) but my mom got another phone call. Dang, back they went.

My infatuation with horses came as soon as I could say the word horse. While driving along, my dad would say, “Look Julie, there’s a cow.” “No, Daddy, that’s a horse.” He could never fool me!! . I loved tying things up. I had a little scout rope that was used for practicing knots. I still remember my mom telling people how she had stepped outside and noticed a dried up worm tied with one end of that scout rope the other end tied around a Popsicle stick that was sticking upright in the ground. When asked about this bizarre finding I explained that the worm was really a horse and I just staked him out to eat grass. I still can’t figure out how I got that rope tied around a worm.

I don’t know how I became so crazy about riding them though. A horse alone in a field within three miles was not safe from me. Even from a very early age I had horse radar. And I had absolutely no fear. I would get a horse down in a ditch so I could get on him, no saddle, and no bridle. Some places I would get the horses next to a fence so I could climb on. I got into trouble once for riding a horse that wasn’t even broken. The other times, no one ever knew about.

While driving with my dad I remembered seeing horses down in the river bottoms about three miles from our home. I was eight or nine years old. They were in a field with lots of trees in back. It wasn’t long till I made the trek on my bike to check them out. It was in the same place I had been several years before when I had taken the four year old fishing with me. This soon became a favorite horse riding place for me resulting in quite a few journeys far from home. I found lots of bailing twine which I fashioned into a corral which enabled me to catch my prey. I also invented the first bailing twine bridle. With an old stump I clamored up and had many a good ride. I soon found the twine bridle wasn’t much good. In exploring an old barn I found a bit and some old leather strips. What treasures! I took them and made my own bridle.

I was so excited about my new find; I took my friend and his younger sister with me to the horses to ride. Somehow, he fell off and broke his arm. Oh, what to do now….I stashed my bridle to be picked up later and we ended up at the nearest house, using the story of him falling off his bike, and the kind lady called his Mom.

One day, my dad found that bridle where I had hidden it in the dog house. He called me to him and asked about it. I fessed up to the crime of stealing, and alluded to my escapades. Funny thing was, he didn’t get mad at me and I thought I saw a hint of a smile as he turned and left. “All Right!” I thought, “Green Light!”

The broken arm thing didn’t stop me. After all, it was my friend who broke his arm, not me. Once I was with my mother as she worked at the Bishop’s Storehouse. I wanted to go outside but was told, in no uncertain terms, to stay by the door. I did for about three minutes. I had spied the top of a barn roof over some trees in the distance. A barn could mean horses so I took off. I did find the horses but got stomped on trying to ride them. I saw three boys coming so I hid in the barn. Too late, they had seen me go in. They hunted until I was found. Lucky for me they were nice and upon seeing my injured leg helped my back to the storehouse. Another time I was kicked by a colt I was chasing. Two hind feet right to my chest. I thought I was going to die. I also was bucked off; fell off and even got suckers on my legs while chasing horses through streams. I took it all in stride. They were the hazards for the great feeling of flying through the trees on horseback.

So now when you wonder where your kids came by their spit and vinegar, you’ll give pause and remember. Next I may tell you about another four years of my life! 

FYI.. If you're interested

Brooke is going to be singing the National Anthem (Hmmm, as a song is that supposed to be capatalized, underlined, or quotation marks?) on the Friday after Thanksgiving as approx 7:30 p.m.  I realize that it's a 2.25 hour drive over- but I wanted to offer the invitation to ride over with me and watch her sing.  I am planning on going over and back the same day.  Don't feel obligated, but we would love to have anyone that would like to come...  and really, all of us in the same car should be FUN!   Maybe?  Love you guys!

HOA Queen

Did you know that Jenny is on the board of her HOA? Congrats on your election!

Good bye, dear friend.

You kept me warm at night through high school.

You stole my spot next to my wife in bed.

You touched me with your perfect memory of me after my mission.

You filled our nostrils with unbearable stench.

You provided constant yard-cleaning chores.

You made us smile with your desire to wrestle and play.

You amazed us with your incessant need to play fetch.

You warmed the hearts of my children.

You protected us from harm.

You loved unconditionally.

You, dear friend, will forever be missed.

News Review

I can't pretend that what interests me will interest everyone, but what more do I have to review than that which I spend a lot of time doing? I read a lot of news--more than what can probably be considered healthy (especially around election time). I'm going to conduct a basic review of some of my favorite news sources. Some are common, others maybe not so much.

I'll start with:



(www.realclearpolitics.com)
This website has been particularly fun during the election. I visit the site multiple times daily--mostly for the polls. There are about as many political polls out there as there are white people voting for Romney, but the results are so divergent it can be hard to make heads or tales of them. RCP has a running average of all the presidential polls in the last week and tracks them on their home page. Furthermore, they take running averages in every state and display them on a handy map. You it's been much easier for me to tell who is ahead and who is behind this election by using this tool. On a broader base, the website is somewhat politically neutral with a slight slight lean to the right. Its content tends not to feel more analytical than political. The reading is sometimes more dense as a result, but definitely more rich.

(www.drudgereport.com)
The drudge report is only for those who want a constant feed of unabashedly biased right wing reporting. Matt Drudge put the website together in the mid nineties and it hasn't changed much since then (it looks like the old DOSS operating system we had on our first computer). Drudge reads a ton of news and then posts the articles he likes on his website with charged headlines. I also cruise the sight multiple times a day as it updates constantly. It feeds my inner conservative monster but I find if I spend too much time on it that I get really fed up with how biased it is.






The Chris Matthews Show, The Shean Hanity Show, the O'Reilly Factor, and the Rachel Maddow show are all to be avoided in my opinion  Matthews and Maddow on the extreme left, Hanity and O'Reilly on the extreme right. Being extreme is not what is bothersome about these shows, it is the apparent hatred for the other side that seems to infect all of them. In fairness, O'Reilly isn't quite as bad as the others, but each seems to be so set in their viewpoints that their only goal is to tear down the other side down at all costs. This kind of reporting is not news, it is hate mongering.

(www.news.google.com)
I'm sure everyone knows about this one, so I won't spend a lot of time on it, but Google's entire existence is based on finding and compiling data. Since it is a very mathematical process, it is also pretty unbiased. After I read Drudge, I often go here to find out what the "real world" is reading so I can understand what the average person is consuming. This helps me to develop a picture of how they view the world so I can understand a little better why people in America act stupidly when it comes to politics.



(www.economist.com)
The economist is good for deep coverage of international topics. They will be running stories on things you probably haven't heard of, but they will make sure you understand why they matter. It is not politically motivated, but objective in its approach. As a result, coverage is not emotional or charged and the non-political junky may even call it dry *gasp*. Read at your own risk



(www.npr.org)
I know there are those of you who will say that NPR is an extension of a left-leaning liberal government, but I would doubt anyone spends more time listening than me. I find the reporting relatively unbiased and somewhat more detailed than I get in some of my reading. Certainly there are some boring reports on the mating habits of Alaskan Polar bears, but if you can get through those, I think you'll find valuable perspective on national and international issues.

I'm always looking for new places to cruise though, so in your comments, I'm most interested in what YOU like to read and watch .

Where'd it go?

Anyone know what happened to the list of other families' blogs that were listed along the right side of the page? That was my main form of getting to everyone else's blogs! Someone please find it! Gah!

Just a Random Quote

“He is a loving Father who wants us to have the happiness that results not from mere innocence but from proven righteousness. Therefore, he will, at times, not deflect the harsh learning experiences that may come to each of us—even though he will help us in coping with them”   Neal A. Maxwell

Weekly Recommendation - Liz

My recommendation may not be for the most exciting thing, but it can save you money, and who doesn't want to save money these days?

I prefer to shop online when I can. This stems from several factors: the ease of finding online deals, the fact that I grew up in areas where my retailers of choice were often unavailable except on the internet, and my slightly misanthropic hatred of real shopping. So when I learned about Ebates, I knew I had to take advantage of it.

Some of you may have heard of this site before, but for those of you that haven't, I highly recommend Ebates, a site that will pay you cash back for purchases made online. This is how it works: You go to the site and choose from a very extensive list of online stores. Click the link for the store you want, and you're immediately taken to that site (an Ebates message will appear telling you a "ticket" has been opened, which means Ebates will be informed of how much you spend). Shop as normal. Once you've completed your purchase, Ebates will send you an email informing you that your cash back is being processed. Depending on the store, you will receive up to 20% (but usually more like 2%-8%) of your purchase total, sent to you in a nice little check, or deposited right to your PayPal account, according to your preference. Super easy! Ebates also has coupon codes for these stores, some of them exclusive to that site.  And these aren't obscure stores, either. Places like JCPenney, Sephora, Target, Snapfish, Toys R Us, even Amazon occasionally has cash back categories.

I started using Ebates last November, and to date I have received $69.21 in cash back. I know that $69.21 in one year isn't a lot compared to what some of you super couponers can save, but every little bit counts - that's $69.21 that can be used for a new dress, or a nice date with Mike, or put towards a down payment on a house. And, if you use the link below to create an account at Ebates, I get a referral bonus credited to my account!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=BhEO%2FSmP4gNTb93w57GA1w%3D%3D

So, as the holiday season approaches, I urge you to use Ebates as you make your online gift purchases..

Let it Snow

Yeah, We love the snow.  Last night it snowed 2.5 inches in about 3 hours.  Big, Puffy, Cotton ball flakes that are perfect for catching on your tongue.  The kids ran around outside, danced to the Carpenter's Christmas CD, drank hot chocolate, and officially kicked off the holiday season.   

Christmas, here we come!!

hmm my week?

Well I guess it is my turn now... and to be honest I have no idea what to write about. The only thing I can really think about is either baking/cooking or crafts... That is something I'd rather be doing than going to school. I feel bad,.. I don't know what to review or recommend! The only thing I can think about is my Laughter yoga class which is my favorite and I wished more people knew about it.. but that's not something very many of you can try (unless if your in an area that offers it... which there are quite a few in Utah.. not so sure about Idaho, Vegas, Colorado, or Montana). And as of late all I've had on my mind is school, and homework and other things. :s

Even though you can't take the laughter yoga class's - I realize there are some interesting things I can share with you that I feel that has helped me be happier in my life, so as crazy as it is, I will share - try it and let me know what you think! :)

So what is Laughter Yoga, you might ask? If you want the long version, you can read this:
 http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=180:what-is-laughter-yoga&catid=85:about-laughter-yoga&Itemid=265

But if you don't feel like reading all of that, simply put it is to help you expand and improve your breathing, good health and feeling joy. Laughing also helps open your blood flow which helps you feeling less stressed. Laughter dissolves distressing emotions, you cant feel anxious, angry or sad when you are laughing.
Laughter is good for your health


Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.   "Laughter Yoga combines Unconditional Laughter with Yogic Breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can Laugh for No Reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group; with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter. One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits."
It is really awkward to try some of the exercises, especially alone. But I think you should try a few of them. The more people you try these with, the more fun and more you'll laugh. I think best done with kids! :)

One of my favorites, is one that I used to do as a kid with my cousins. It is better to do with at least 3 or more people. Larger the group the more fun and complicated it gets. First person lays down on their back. Next person lays down on their back with their head on that person's stomach. This continues till the last person. As a kid I called it the stomach laughing game! :) you can lay down as shown in this picture or whatever is the easiest. One person starts. They just say Ha. Next person that is laying on that person's stomach as to say Ha Ha, third person says Ha Ha Ha, fourth person says HaHaHaHa... and so on. Soon you'll all break out into laughter!

Next one to try out, is called the silent laughter. Laugh, without making any noises! (okay you'll make some raspy noises, that is fine but try not to actually laugh out lout .. LOL) Try laughing really hard, with out making any noise. Sometimes its funny to see others trying to do this and it will make you bust out laughing even more.

Anyways those are only two of the examples of ways you can do some of the laughter exercises. I would do more, but that would make for a long post. Google Laughter yoga exercises for more activities or click here. Sorry this is so late out of the week. So there is my review and recommendation for the week :)

Week 2 Review - Viva Paper Towels and Kroger TP

So this week I have decided to review my favorite toilet paper and paper towels. While this may sound strange, the search for the perfect paper towel and toilet paper is one that every family continually goes through. In my opinion, finding the perfect paper towel and toilet paper is like finding the perfect food. A food that is healthy, filling, cheap, and tasty. Very difficult. Like that, people want paper towels that are strong, long lasting, versatile, and a good value, while desiring toilet paper that is strong, soft, long lasting, and a good bargain. That said, I feel I have found the paper products that best fit this description! So look no further, dear family, for the perfect paper products. This review will end that seemingly endless search. So on we go!

First, Viva paper towels! Viva paper towels are made by Kleenex, so you know they are a reputable brand. I was a little hesitant at first, because they are a little bit more expensive then other paper towels. But we got them on a good sale at Target. So we bought a 12 pack, and the paper towels lasted us literally ten months. And we use them quite frequently. So they are long lasting! They are also very tough. This is the only paper towel I've ever used where I actually feel guilty for only using it for a tiny little spill because it can do so much more! So whenever I have to clean up a bit of water, I also use the same paper towel to quickly run over the stove, the sink, and anything else that might look dirty. With one little sheet. So, in essence, they are strong paper towels that last forever. Facts that no one can overlook. Paper towel dilemma - case closed. Try them, guys. You'll love 'em.

(Also make sure you get the choose-a-size. No matter what brand you use, it really makes them last longer if you're using smaller sheets.)

Second, Kroger brand toilet paper. I'll admit that my search for a good toilet paper has taken me to pretty much all of the brands. Unfortunately with almost all toilet papers it is either soft but breaks all apart, or it is strong and leaves a burning sensation that makes you feel like you fell asleep on a nude beach in the Hawaiin tropics. And anything even close to decent was so expensive! So when I went to our local King Soopers and found the Kroger brand toilet paper on sale for really cheap, I thought it might be worth the risk. Lo and behold, it was. The toilet paper is soft. Not uber soft like pricey brands, but pretty nice. It is strong! It never tears. Or leaves those creepy little bits that the Charmin Bears are plagued with. Lastly, they are cheap. They are a bargain brand. So a toilet paper that truly leaves me feeling clean and unchafed for a good deal is all I could ask for. It's worth its weight in gold.


So, there you have it. The Alpha and Omega of paper products. I challenge everyone to try them out and see what you think. You'll see. And you'll be glad you did!