the hmmmm files...very random Hollywood type things...

1. hmmm: where is her fricken coat? Ok we get it Suri is cute. [if you've been living under a rock and don't know her by only her first name...Suri is the child of Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes]
Suri loves to wear pretty, expensive designer dresses and has the latest haircut that all little girls want to copy...she's the fashion trendsetter of the preschool world.
Suri is paraded weekly up and down the streets and parks of New York City so the paparazzi can get there priceless picture to sell off to the tabloids and entertainment outlets.
But seriously its the Fall, its cold and she's still walking around without a coat. In every picture I've seen since September, while everyone else is bundled up, it seems that Suri is immune to the cold.
Let me know where I can send my cheque so TomKat can buy her a coat....

2. hmmm: what ever happened to? I loved Jake Ryan. I wanted Jake Ryan to be my boyfriend. From the moment I watched 16 Candles I fell head over heels for Michael Schoeffling...aka Jake Ryan. He was cute, confident but shy and had the sexiest smile.
But then Schoeffling fell off the face of the planet. What happened to him?
He so should of been a huge break out star from that movie...but nothing.
I have googled and the most I could up with is Michael is married with two children, living in Northern Pennsylvania working as a carpenter and woodworker.
I'm glad he's happy...but please someone get him a script....this man so needs a comeback...
And I still think he is a dead ringer for Matt Dillon's lost twin brother.

3. hmmm: worst possible misuse of YouTube: I'll give it to her, when she was a young TV child star on everyone's favorite Cosby Show, Raven Symone was cute, adorable and funny. Now I just find her so annoying...
And this is the last place I would ever go to for how-to-tips on fruit punch, mini sandwiches, fancy dog collars or how to fix my underwire bra [http://www.youtube.com/ravensymonepresents]
Apparently there's a market for it because for the low, low price of 16.99 US you can buy the DVD with all these nifty projects and more!
Who knew that Raven had her heart set on being the next Martha?

Des Garvey - Nepean Outreach to the World [NOW]

Not sure why I haven't heard about NOW or Des Garvey before a few weeks ago....but all that matters is that I do now.

He is now my new local hero...he's man that I've never met but who has inspired me to do more.

He is a man who saw a need a world a way, made a promise to make a difference, and delivered on that word.

Des Garvey is 80 years old, a widow, the father of 7, grandfather of 11 and a hero to a town in West Africa.

Des Garvey wants to help people escape from one of the worst places on earth and come to one of the best.

His passion is war-torn Sierra Leone, which is - according to the United Nations - the least liveable country in the world.

The story goes hat upon his retirement 18 years ago, Des decided to celebrate his retirement with a trip to Africa.
Des had heard about the poverty in Africa but he wanted to see it for himself.
His plan was to travel all across Africa but he never made it past his first stop in the town of Bo, Sierra Leone.
What he saw there made him cancel the rest of his trip and make a pledge to help the children of this impoverished town.

Des returned to Nepean, Ontario, Canada and started the process of promoting solidarity between the City of Nepean, and the city of Bo, Sierra Leone.
Des also established a charitable non-governmental organization in 1989, Nepean Outreach to the World (NOW).

The children of Bo, Sierra Leone are victims of an 11 year civil war.
Unlike here in Canada, these children have never known the feeling of being safe. Instead, they have witnessed war, experienced horrible atrocities, seen the deaths of their parents and have been left orphaned.

Through the efforts of NOW, Des wants to create a future where these children have access to family love, education, health care and an overall better quality of life.
NOW's current project is to build a Learning Resource Centre.
When completed, the Learning Resource Centre will provide the children with a facility dedicated to self-learning, books and teaching materials, computers, software and other technology aids.

To accomplish this latest project, NOW needs to raise about $40,000.
The fundraising for this project started this past weekend with an auction at a local church.

If you can help out with a donation please visit the NOW website...
http://www.nepeanoutreach.com/index.html

Des has proved that a life of service can truly change the lives of people a world away....its all about what you do...acting instead of just talking about it....and for that reason Des Garvey is my hero.

Please spread the world...

Something worth reading from a chain mail....

Not sure why this affected me as much as it did....[PMS-ing?] or the fact that we are going the soother withdrawl with my 2 1/2 year old son....and he's become a very angry and frustrating child as a result....this too shall pass I know....but when you are in the middle of it....you think that the light of the end of the tunnel will never appear....

regardless I was sent this the other day...normally I never open chain mails...I have enough bad luck that I don't need to compound that fact by not hitting forward....

but for what ever reason I did open this and I fell in love with the poem that came with it...

worth sharing and worth reading....

-------

To My Child

Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day....

Words on my daughter's wall...

I'm in the process of coming up with some design ideas for my daughter's room...
So far the colors in the room will be brown and pink...
And these words will be written on the wall...how and where are still to be decided....

family, friends, love, happiness, faith,

courage, inspiration, truth, passion
determination, dreams, success,
health, devotion,
charity
pride, self respect, strength
prosperity, character, independence,
laughter,
justice, hope, understanding,
compassion, discovery, victory, ambition,
confidence, equality, guidance
freedom
commitment, tolerance, curiosity, optimism

-------------------------------

I found the greatest website...with funky, unique decorating ideas....totally inspired by their products....love it. My husband's wallet is going to hate it!

http://www.decoratingideakidrooms.com/

Best healthy oatmeal cookie recipe ever...I swear

OK I don't bake to save my life....but I found this recipe and modified it slightly...so good.
They taste like a cross between a cookie, a muffin and a granola bar.
If I can bake them...anyone can.

Healthy But Tasty Oatmeal Cookies.....

Dry ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/4 cups of Quaker Quick Oats
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/4 cup finely chooped walnuts
1/4 cup inaly chopped almonds
2 heaping Tbsp ground flax seed

***plus you can add the following ingredients if you wish: 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 dried cranberries, 1/2 package semi sweet chocolate chips***

Wet ingredients:

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup oil (corn, grapeseed or olive)
1 egg (beat with 1 Tbsp Water)
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup or more of applesauce [depending on how dry the mix is]

Preparation:

In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.
In a medium bowl, mix all the wet ingredients together.

Hint: when measuring out the honey, spray the measuring cup with oil or baking spray--your honey won't stick).

Mix the wet stuff with the dry stuff. If the mixture seems too wet, add more rolled oats. If it isn't binding together very well, you may wish to add more applesauce or milk.

COOL the mix for 20 minutes in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 335 degrees.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto your baking sheet (spray with Pam spray).
Press down slightly with a fork to ensure even cooking.

Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden on the bottom of the cookie.

Celine Dion concert review....

How I saw the Celine Dion concert....

Ok I'll give it to Celine...she has a ridiculously amazing voice...she is uber talented....vocally speaking....
And she has the MOST killer legs that go on for miles and miles....and I would totally kill for her shoe collection [nothing short of a 4 1/2" heel]...minus the white number she wore at the very end [ass ugly Celine...fire your wardrobe person for that pick]

What I could do without....
Her need to play air guitar throughout the show....
And her need to try and merge together the dancing skills of John Travolta [Saturday Night Fever], Michael Jackson and Elvis....we get it you can't dance....just sing....

Other things I noticed that kept me entertained....

1. the super drunk chick in the floor section....who totally thought she was Celine...standing for the entire show she sang every word to every song and did the Celine [point the finger in the air] I'm about to hit a high note motion....she was VERY amusing....[and didn't drop her wines, coolers or beers once]

2. the two girls directly in front of me who thought they were at their own private Celine Dion dance club... [I saw more of their two asses than Celine...thank god for the big TV screens above the stage] I swear the 60+ tour group from Montreal that was sitting next to me was ready to kick your ass, riot style...I've never heard so many French curse words uttered by seniors....note: seniors like sitting at concerts and DO NOT like their view obstructed....

3. noticed 3 men and 1 woman who fell asleep 45 minutes into the show [grant it they looked 70 so it was well past their bed time]

4. There were a lot of guys at the show...no women with them....but young guys in their late 20s to mid 30s...and shockingly straight....perhaps they thought this was a good pick up venue...hmmm

5. The 6 year old looking boy who played with his Game Boy the entire concert...I'm sure mommy and daddy are super thrilled they spent $195.00+ on your ticket....

But in the end all that really mattered was that my mommy had an amazing time....she was in Celine Dion heaven....and that puts me on Santa's good list this year.....;)