My Name is Coralee

It's a Girl Thing

2012-01-04T17:40:00.004-07:00

Happy Birthday Uncle Larry

2011-12-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hold On

2011-10-28T19:15:00.002-06:00

Curried Chicken Salad

2011-10-06T09:34:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite summer recipes from my friend Pam:

2 Chicken breasts - chilled, cooked and diced
1 cup green grapes, halved
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 c water chestnuts, chopped
1/2 can crushed pineapple
4 celery stocks - diced
3 green onions, chopped

Dressing ( add just before serving)
1/2 cup light mayo
1T Milk
1T Soy sauce
1/2 tsp yellow curry powder

Serve in Pita Pockets, wraps, croissants or as a side dish or over a bed of lettuce.

18th year.....

2011-09-11T10:19:00.001-06:00

Happy 96th Grandma

2011-07-15T09:09:00.000-06:00

Day 45 - Card is in the mail - Alice

2011-06-03T10:41:00.000-06:00

Today I celebrate my 42nd birthday :-) Life is Good!

I want to send a big thank you to Alice today, for as long as I can remember my entire family from my Grandma's on down to all my cousins - everyone knows Alice's Chocolate Cake partners with my Grandma's brown sugar icing. Alice's family and my parents ... partied together when I was a wee one. Their family farm was close to ours and my mom still to this day does coffee with Alice and Gardy. Hmmm I guess I better ask her who she got the recipe from one of these days.

For my Gluten Free friend you can just substitute gluten free flour ( Thanks Ann for testing it )
Also makes a really good Black Forest - just add cherries and whip cream

So today on my birthday I declare cake and cupcakes calorie free - enjoy the recipe.

Alice's Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2/3 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
2tsp. baking soda
2tsp baking powder
2/3 cup cocoa
2 2/3 flour
2 cups boiling water

Preheat oven 350 ( bakes for 1 hour in most locations - higher elevation 35-40 min )
In large mix together sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla for 4 min, add dry ingredients and then boiling water. Will make 9x13 + 6 cup cakes or a bundt cake, or 3 8inch round.

Elsie's Butterscotch Icing

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 cups icing sugar

Boil butter and brown sugar over low heat for 2 min. Add milk. Continue to stir until mixture returns to boil. Cool until luke warm. Beat in icing sugar until spreading consistency. *** Make sure it is almost cold before spreading.

Change in me: Something as simple as a cake recipe can be the greatest gift families can share. I am grateful for being taught to cook and have a passion for baking.

Actions - thanks Shauna for sharing this :-)

2011-05-23T14:25:00.004-06:00

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.
I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?
He must really be a nerd.'

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...
He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes .
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.'
They really should get lives.
' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'
There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.
He said he had gone to private school before now.
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.
We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football
with my friends .
He said yes
We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.
Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.
I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!
' He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.
When we were seniors we began to think about college.
Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.
I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never
be a problem.
He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
He had to prepare a speech for graduation
I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak .

Graduation day, I saw Kyle
He looked great.
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
Boy, sometimes I was jealous!
Today was one of those days.
I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled....
' Thanks,' he said.
As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began ...
'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.
Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
I am going to tell you a story.'
I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met.
He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.
He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
'Thankfully, I was saved.
My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.'
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.
I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
For better or for worse.

2011-05-17T10:11:00.000-06:00

Day 44 - The Bank

2011-05-17T10:07:00.000-06:00

My mom worked for years in a bank and many of those people who she worked with became a part of our life. She still keeps in touch with many of them. From those people come entire families and friends to us. Shout out today to all those families. Some became closer than others and thankfully for FB we have rekindled many of those temporarily lost people.

Change in me: People that you work with can leave a lasting impression on you and your family for a life time.

Dragonfly continued

2011-05-16T09:57:00.000-06:00

part 2....

# 4 - Distance between friends SUCKS
Recently I was asked to remove a post from Facebook, actually just a name. You see asking for prayers is not something I do but I figure if I ask for them they should know who actually they are for dont ya think. I also understand that facebook can be viral, I also know that the viral not always is good thing.
I also respect the wishes of family members. She understood! 3 years ago I started training for doing webcasts on line and really was the start to our friendship. Funny thing is my training consisted of here is how you sign in, this is where you pull up the slides and here is the outline...."I know you will be fine" She knew I would learn and pick up along the way. She has more than once talked me off a ledge in regards to business - sharing her years of experience. Years with the company - 8.5 Biggest check $17,000 - over all income $541,396.53

#5 - Cancer - SUCKS
3 times a week we ( Jen & I ) have a friends and family wellness webcast. Over the past 6 years I have learned more than I ever wanted to know about Cancer. My BFF is a 2 times breast cancer survivor and she just turned 35 - cancer does not define her but it sure has made her strong. She is an amazing mom of 3, married to the love of her life and as my daughter says about her friends "she just gets me". I have a magazine ad and our dear Beth to thank for her being in my life. We are as close as 2 people can be that live on opposite sides of the country. I am excited for her to come here to TX to do the 3 day Susan G Komen Walk for the Cure in November. This will be her 4th year in a row and she brings her Jenny's Army of angels. She is my partner in crime, we laugh together, we plan together she is really the flip to my flop. In 7 years her biggest check just over $5000 total earnings $145,324.45 ( not to damn bad for a Stay home mom of 3 who has had 9 surgeries in the last 6 years ) She is sure to show up again in the 365 days of a stamp.

#6 - It is just not fair!
A year ago in August I sat in a room with 5 of the 7 mentioned here and a journey began. That day each of us was given a rubber band - this came from the book, One minute Millionaire. It is a means of changing thoughts that are negative. Each time you say or think something that is not nice or ugly...you snap the rubber band. We when all returned home we started a conference chat thru skype and I grew to trust and cherish these women more than I already had. I worked with her on some design work - created her blog, designing & branding her logo, setting up her FB and creating ads for online as we work through this I got to really connect with her and get to know her on a one on one basis. About 6 weeks ago a tragic chain of events unfolded and we are very lucky to still have her here with us. She has a long road ahead to recovery but I just know she is going to do amazing things in the years to come. She is a rock, she stretches the limits of her comfort zone but the one thing I have learned from her is to keep it real, we all do deserve to earn a great income and to do great things with it. When she is home I will get the numbers posted of her income, but one truly amazing thing about our business is her business is growing and her check still arrives each and every month....that is a true blessing.

#7 - Love Story cut short - SUCKS

My dear friend lost her husband just a few weeks ago to a senseless motorcycle accident ( the driver that hit him was just not looking ). I did not know her husband more than to say hi at the winery but when he would walk in her eyes lite up. You could see they had that deep love that kind that just shines when they are together. She is the 7th to receive the dragon fly, she is the only one that does not work with me - some day I hope she gets to meet the amazing women who are my silver lining.

Change in me: Life does SUCK but if you let that stop you from living life then you will miss out on all the silver linings. We can not always see the silver lining at the time but embrace the people in your life close and far be present in every day and always look for those silver linings they will show up.

COURAGE, STRENGTH, & HAPPINESS.

Day 43 - + 2 SIL

2011-05-15T17:44:00.000-06:00

My husband and I always joke that we have a family bush and not a family tree. I have 2 very special SIL's they come into my life because of my amazing Mother in law. Although we do not live close or have ever had a really close relationship - mostly because we have not lived in the same country for the last 10 years. Thankfully for facebook I am able to keep up with them and their busy lives.

This year we will celebrate a wedding the last of the kids is getting hitched and I could not be happier for them. She has the biggest heart and one of the oldest souls and I love that she has your back even if you dont live close. We will not be able to make it to the wedding but will be celebrating in spirit. Her kind heart puts her in a very noble profession and she amazes me how she can teach a family and parents to get it right so they can stay together - quick on her toes always with a solution. One day I hope that she and our BIL get on a stage together and do some stand up comedy....

Being a single mom, that is when dad is out of town working for months is not an easy job. I have never had to do it for more than 3 weeks at a time but I know there has been times she has gone months flying solo. She is always on the go not only is she a hockey mom (my friends in Canada you know the commitment that comes with that) - oh and he plays summer league so it never ends she also has a dancer and I think I am missing activities. A few years ago she made the most brave decision, she had a stressful job with a commute and on top of being a single mom a great deal of the time - she like many women made a career change so that she could be home with her kids and not have a commute. She now has her own nail salon in her home and from what I hear a very busy schedule.

Change in me: Family is just really a 6 letter word and whether you share blood or not or if you live close or not or if you see each other or not....celebrate the relationship! Some day I hope to actually have the pleasure of working with the 2 of them....just sayin.

Day 42 - Royal name

2011-05-15T16:49:00.000-06:00

Preschool - our sons attended school together from the age of 3 till we moved from WY. The year before we moved away I knew as a mom that my son needed to be split from her son in school - 6 years together in every class. The reason was only so that my son would learn to make new friends because once we moved to TX he would not know anyone. What a year it was 4th grade - bullies and it was a tough year for my son learning some hard lessons. The 2 boys continued to walk home together no matter what happened on the play ground always stopping at Jack & Nana's ( his great grandparents ) to have a cookie and ice tea. Later in the year another hard lesson came but it was mine, his mom was trying to have him moved from his classroom as he was having a hard time and the principal said I requested them not to be together....when we dont know the whole story...well you can only imagine. Thankfully she called me and we were able to work through it as friends.

I am so excited for her to be getting married and she has added to her family. I will always be thankful for her friendship and for sharing her family with ours.

Change in me: Just because you think it is the right thing to do at the time you just never know how it will effect others around you.

HOW TO BE A GRACIOUS BITCH - thanks Carmen for sharing

2011-05-12T09:27:00.000-06:00

Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen
her excitement - not even her parent's nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear, and would be the
best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's
new, young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother!

Jennifer asked her father's new young wife to exchange it, but she
refused. ''Absolutely not! I look like a million bucks in this dress,
and I'm wearing it,'' she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, ''Never mind
sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special
day.''

A few days later, they went shopping, and did find another
gorgeous dress for her mother.

When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, ''Aren't
you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another
occasion where you could wear it.

Her mother just smiled and replied, ''Of course I do,
dear.....I'm
wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night BEFORE the wedding.''

(NOW I ASK YOU - IS THERE A WOMAN OUT THERE, ANYWHERE, WHO
WOULDN'T ENJOY THIS STORY?)
Women are like phones: They like to be held, talked to, and
touched often.
But push the wrong button and your ass is disconnected!

Women are Angels.
And when someone breaks our wings....
We simply continue to fly ........ on a broomstick.....
We're flexible like that

Day 42 - 48 -Dragonfly

2011-05-09T21:18:00.000-06:00

Dragonflies that stand for COURAGE, STRENGTH, & HAPPINESS.

Sometime life just SUCKS, yes you heard me it sucks. This is kind of hard to get out of my head, I normally let it rattle around in there and then it fades and I can either forget, forgive or at least I think less about it. So today I am sending 7 cards - You have heard me say everything happens for a reason, well sometime it is hard to see the reason. My heart is hurts and on the other hand my heart is full because of the people in my life. Each of these 7 people are all special in my life and really are silver linings...so yeah see I told you once it rattles in my head and I shake it out good always wins.

#1 - Hurt feelings Suck!
I have been working my business for 6 years and many of my close friends and family whether they really know what I do or not ...or think they know they are not supportive and dont get me wrong it does hurt sometimes but I am good at what I do and I just do it without there support. My friend once told me on the phone in a heart to heart and it is always in my ear, "I have been doing this business for 10.5 years, I make over 6 figures a year now, my largest check was over $65,000 and her total earning over $720,000 and my family thinks I am in a cult." The most amazing thing about our team and company is honest, caring people who if I pick up the phone and say I need you even though none of them live with in driving distance they would do what ever they could to help - to just lend an ear and share a little wisdom. Sure glad I was smart enough to join that same cult ( lol ).

#2 - Divorce sucks!
I just wish my mom could have met someone like my friend then.We all have people in our life who we look up to, people who we may not know all to well but we call friend who we watch from a far - or maybe all people dont but I have this group and every one of them has something they have given me. That gift has not come in wrapped box with a bow but in the gift of sharing there life experiences and wisdom. My mom was a single mom and I know life was never easy raising 3 kids and trying to make ends meet -
My friends - I just have a ton of respect for her - she works hard, plays hard and is always on the other end of skype when I need her with no agenda. She has been with the team 10.5 years, her largest check was almost $30,000 and earning to date $1,297,678 ( yes a single mom of 3 working from home)

#3 - Husband that travels for work SUCKS!
Webcasts: One of the parts of my business is live ( and no there is no pole dancing involved ), it is a tool that we use to educated and share information. I learned to fly, I really learned to find my voice here. Now I cant give credit to 1 person they have all have rubbed off a bit in my delivery. For well over a year we shared the same time spot and I could always count on her. We have had chats on the phone about frustrations, life, disappointments and celebrations. A listening ear on the other end of the phone that goes both ways is priceless. She has been with the team 8 years, her largest check was almost $14,000 and earning to date $354,000. So excited for to being moving so her husband will be home more.

#4 -7 coming, much more to come

Day 41 - Days at 33

2011-05-09T08:33:00.000-06:00

So many great people worked at London Drugs #33, some longer than others. I spent about 8 years at 33. Each of those people played a part in my day to day life.

A reconnection on FB reminded me of a day we sold our Micra. Both Andrea and I learned to drive a stick shift in that car.

Change in me: Everyone in our life can effect our day, our thoughts we all should celebrate them!

Day 40 - BFF's mom

2011-05-02T22:00:00.000-06:00

Some times people come into our life because of our children. I was reminded the other day by my son he said "mom if we had not moved to Texas, Carter would not be my friend". Some of you are aware how many times (16) we have moved as you have run out of room in your address book in the "F" or you maybe got smart years ago and started using pencil. Every move I have been blessed with new people in my life that have influenced me.

This weekend my daughter had a sleepover for her birthday and hubby was out of town, I sent over a quick txt to my friend to see if my son could spend the night. The return txt was he is always welcome! When you do not have family close, friends around you become your support and that is not always easy.

So thankful to have them in our life. Thank you also for choosing to be my customer and supporting my business.

Change in me: Don't wait 2 years to invite your childrens friends over, they may just end up being a great friend of yours.

Day 39 - More than Insurance

2011-05-02T10:02:00.000-06:00

Early morning at Elemental Gym I could always count on the morning regulars to be there with a smile and a good morning - I do miss that. Energy of some people just rubs off and I love that she shares her passion for community freely. The first time I met her was actually to get insurance, we had a unique situation and she was not able to help me but as an amazing women she told me who she thought could help me. If you are in Wyoming she is amazing to work with, give her a call.

Over my 7 years in Lander I watched the amazing things she did just because it was the right thing to do. From reading to kids in kindergarten to hosting a bike rodeo and being part of the Rotary. She was on my Safeway card list so I use to get to just pop in every month and see her and always loved the quick visit. BTW she is also one of the best dressers I have ever met - great style.

A customer and her shopping each month benefits one of my non profits ( if you work with a nonprofit and are looking for fundraising help email me I might be able to help ) - nothing better than passive giving, safe products for your family and saving money.

Change in me: A simple smile in the morning can change a persons day - all day! Being involved in your community can and will give you a full life!

Day 34 - I've got you babe

2011-05-01T18:40:00.001-06:00

I spent 10 years developing pictures in a photo lab right out of high school and all thru college. We had a unique window or a glimpse it to peoples lives as they captured them on film. Many people in the lab became like family, you see as we worked behind glass in a closed small room you just connected.

We celebrated, we cried, we laughed...boy did we laugh. In the 10 years we celebrated many weddings, graduations and promotions. Again FB has reconnected many of us. Over the years my dear friend and I have had our moments....more good ones than bad and we always come thru it in the end.

Remember the keys....

I read a post last week that said "if you dont cry then are you really living".

I went to message her for her mailing address so I could send her a card as her day on my calender was getting close - only to find we were not friends any longer. Hey we all have had it done and we may have even unfriended. So I did send her a message but not the message I wanted to but to ask why, now most people I would just take it in stride but we had been friends for 20 years and we have been here before. I will tell you I totally own my short falls, my miss comings and my mistakes. It was heart breaking to me that my actions or words offended her. Once again our friendship prevails, just in time for her to share her scone recipe for the morning of the royal wedding.

Want to hear the story about the keys? email and I will send the story.

Change in me: Good Friendships are worth fighting for!

Day 37 - Cooking Tip of the Day

2011-05-01T17:33:00.000-06:00

Some of you know I have the pleasure to work with many all over the country many who I have never met face to face. Those people I work with not only inspire me to be better at what I do but I also learn more than I could ever teach. A fellow blogger ( Cooking Tip of the Day )with incredible traffic and high search engine rankings and is always willing to share what she has learned from design to increasing traffic. Actually the entire blog community seems to do just that, it is a very sharing group - teaching their finds.

Change in me: Share what you know, keep blogging, enjoy cooking and just keep doing it till you get it right.

Day 38 - Wisdom Project

2011-05-01T17:11:00.000-06:00

"Each time one person shares their wisdom - another person is strengthened." Connecting - Sharing - Inspiring...The Wisdom Project

It started with shoes. An encouraging comment turned into you should be friends with Kimberly. We are really just getting to know each other but I love what she stands for, what she spreads and fascinated by what she is doing. I can not wait for all that is to come ....

Check her out on Facebook, Twitter, her blog and get her book.

Change in me: Connections can inspire globally they can and will inspire you if you open yourself to it. Put yourself out there, find like minded people and be present in each others life.

Day 36 - Dancing Daughter

2011-05-01T16:46:00.000-06:00

Honestly I am not sure how we met but we are facebook friends and one of these days I know we will sit down for a glass of wine together. What I can tell you is I love her being present in my life, her emails and her posts are always up lifting and encouraging. If you live in the DFW, I think she would be the best Realtor to work with - her website.

Change in me: Surround yourself with positive people and be present build 2 sided relationships.

Day 35 - Derby

2011-05-01T16:34:00.000-06:00

Facebook has made some unlikely connections. My first name and yes my married name are unique and many have found my on FB who actually knew my husband better than me. I have enjoyed getting to know each and everyone of them. I am fascinated by all the different things people do. I am especially curious about roller derby not because I would every be tough enough to do it but I would love to go and watch the kick ass women of the derby.

Check out the girls in Red Deer http://www.rdrda.ca/boutposter.html

A simple post 1.5 years ago lead to coffee in Fort Lauderdale - more than 20 years after seeing each other. I had posted a count down to cruising which lead to an exchange of emails and phone numbers. The 2 of us realized we would be leaving on a cruise the same day. We all got in late and I had sent a txt about the location of our hotel in the morning to get a txt saying look out the window we are staying across the street. My husband and myself met for coffee with 2 girls he actually knew better than me, I really had gotten to know them over facebook. I wonder how often people you know are in the same location at the same time and we just dont know it?

Change in me: If you are in the same place at the same time take the time to have coffee. Girls ROCK on many levels.

Day 32 - Chamber

2011-04-30T07:56:00.000-06:00

Connections become very apparent when you look back.

8 years ago I started a journey co-leading the building of a custom playground with Leathers and Associates. The project itself was amazing and will forever be one of my favorite things.

During the start of the project we needed to organize committees and leaders to run the committees, this was going to be a big commitment for 8 months. Most of the groups had 2 leaders, the specific one I am talking about is the volunteer group ( resonsible for finding and organizing at least a 1000 volunteers over 5 days ).

Sisters in laws took on the job and from this I gained an amazing friend and neighbor. At the time Jackie was the head of the Chamber of Commerce and from her I learned a great deal. Today I am thankful for her introducing my to her SIL. Sue and I joke that Jackie got her involved and then got busy and let Sue do the job, I think that is the key to making connections is being the person who can find the right person for the job.

8 months + 1000 volunteers + 5 day build = an amazing city park play ground to be very proud of

Change in me: It is always good to have a neighbor you can borrow an egg from, getting involved with your local Chamber of Commerce is always a good idea, knowing the right person to get the job done and how to get them involved is priceless.

Day 31 - Crazy

2011-04-28T07:38:00.000-06:00

My dear friend, when ever I am feeling a bit blue I think about the night you swooped in and rescued me from being stranded. This song always makes me smile and think about you dancing around the living room with a candle holder singing from the top of your lungs.

Change in me:

Singing out loud can always make you smile and some how make all things good!

Day 30 - It's all just Math

2011-04-27T18:18:00.001-06:00

It started on a bus.

6 hours, 3 buses, 25 kids + parents on each, 30 cans of spray paint ( Cadillac Ranch).

Almost a year ago I was partnered up with her for a field trip room assignment. We knew each other only because she taught my son math. Her daughter & mine are really good friends now, the kind of friendship that will last a life time. Funny thing is we got paired up because of our food habits. We ventured off the beaten path and found gems of restaurants, hung out with our 2 human"beans" and really had a wonderful time getting to know each other. As far as change in me well that is yet to be seen this friendship is just getting started.

Day 29 - Part of the family

2011-04-26T18:16:00.000-06:00

If you have every moved away from family you will understand how your friends can become your local family. Living in Wyoming was really a life changing experience for me. We arrived and I was 6 months pregnant with our daughter and a 3 year old, yes many thought we were crazy actually I think many of them still do.We did not know a soul and my husband was not going to actually work in town...how the heck was I going to do this.

I am not going to start from the beginning she will arrive later.

I honestly can not remember the first time I met Connie, she just always seemed to be there ( that is how she rolls ). We as a family actually had the pleasure of being friends with the entire family - invited to university graduation, first days of grand babies in the hospital, camp fires at the farm, Vegas and the craps table, at the bar with Dick, deep fried turkey, youngest 2 babysat our kids, benefit events at the community center, camping, piano my kids learned to play on...oh the list can go on.

She is the center of the family, she is a loyal friend, she works hard plays hard, loves unconditionally, cares for many, philanthropic, and the best Grandma ever ( even my kids benefited), has amazing kids and lives a true love story.

Change in me: True love does exist, hard work does pay off, you can bet on a small white mouse create a ton of excitement and it can be a great fundraiser and family does not always have to be blood.

Day 28 - Chicken Marsala

2011-04-26T12:29:00.000-06:00

Nope not a recipe but when I think about her I wish I could pop over and deliver her dinner and it would be Chicken Marsala.

When I first met her I was teaching painting classes at the hardware store - yep I was teaching free faux finishing classes, how to pick color, how to create a custom stencil, how to turn a plain white out door plastic table into a piece of art.....oh the list goes on. She did not have the time to learn how to do it so she hired me to, and our friendship began.

I watched how she did business very closely, she was always very involved in the community, always giving her support. For about a year I had a personal chef business and also on Wednesdays offered hump day meals & catering. I had a regular list of customers who would order and on Wednesday they would pick up the order at the bakery. We worked out a deal, I used her commercial kitchen and she sold my meals in trade for making home made soup from what was in the cooler that needed to be used up.

I love how she gave people chances to learn, to grow, to have a second chance at life. Her work ethic is beyond amazing and no matter what she always had a way of seeing the positive. I think one of the reasons I loved going to the bakery so much was because of her passion for life and for people. Cheers my friend for being you and always opening up your kitchen to me.

Change in me: everyone deserves a second chance, work hard for what you love, giving to your community is always a good thing, if a cake flops you can always use icing to cover up the flaw, when you pay it forward it will come back to you even if just in good Karma and it is always a good idea to surround yourself with people who are positive!

Day - 27 - My first job

2011-04-25T11:58:00.002-06:00

This week my daughter turned 10, I started babysitting when I was 10. Seems crazy now that I look back that I was that young when I started my first job. All of the families lived with in a couple of blocks of our house and my mom was always only a phone call away....or out with the family I was watching the kids of.

Many of the families I babysat for I have connected with on FB even many of the kids I babysat.

My mom was a single parent starting long before my dad actually left ( I was 10) . Many of our neighbors became more like family and I know often helped my mom. Today's note goes to the shortest most full of life friend of my mom - Thank you for giving me my first job :-)

Change in me: independence at a young age is just the beginning, good friends no matter how far away or how much time has passed will always be there, and if you are good at what you do you will always be remembered and asked back. When you pay a babysitter if you pay better than most you can always find a sitter ( thank you for this as I never had a problem when following this rule).

Everything happens for a reason

2011-04-25T10:33:00.001-06:00

Those of you who have spent any amount of time with me know this is how I roll. I am always looking for the silver lining in all that goes on in our life. Any time someone comes into my life no matter how I meet them I am always thankful for the new connection and know I can learn something from them and how we can be present in each others lives.

When I first moved to Texas I was excited about my first corporate launch and getting to meet others locally that I could partner up with and learn from. Because most of my business is done remotely it is always nice to have a connection locally. Well the launch did not go as I had hoped, one of the girls from our team who I had really hoped to connect with well lets just say I didn't get warm fuzzies. Time had past and well I became
I guess worthy, I know you are thinking this doesn't sound like Coralee she is always positive - it is coming the silver lining that is. Later on we partnered up to do a local event in my neck of the woods, wow did I learn ALOT! The silver lining is a person who has turn out to be one of my dearest friends - nope it is not the person who you think but some one who she introduced me to.

So today I send 2 cards - one to my friend and one to the person who introduced us. Hard for me to say but it is okay that everyone we meet does not become a part of our life but they can invertible change our life. The not so good in our life can also change us if we choose to embrace it.

I am excited about our corporate launch coming up as I will get to see many of the people I have connected with not to mention I get to see my dear friend :-)

Change in me: If it feels wrong it probably is, it is okay not to like how some one rolls - but you can also learn from their ways, there is ALWAYS a silver lining you just must keep your eyes open to see it and decide to embrace it. Life is not all beer and skittles but often that not so good is when we learn the most.

Request for card

2011-04-25T10:32:00.000-06:00

As my posts and cards go out I have gotten the most fabulous feedback. The feedback has come in the forms of a card in the mail, a txt on my phone, a post of facebook, comments on my blog and a massage on my machine.

Last week I received a private message on FB from a online friend with her address and a message saying - I love what you are doing and reading about your journey ... I want to pay it forward. Misty and I met through my business although we have not worked together YET she is a customer on mine making her home safe for her beautiful daughter.

Change in me: Some times you just have to ask for what you want. So here goes Misty - how about a second look at a business partnership :-)

If you want to partake in the Power of a Stamp - leave a comment below and I will connect with you to get your mailing address.

Day 24 - lil petite one

2011-04-22T11:07:00.000-06:00

So many great connections in Wyoming were made over our short stay of 7 years. In my daughters eyes it was her entire life to that point until we moved. Today is my daughters birthday and the note card went to her BFF in Wyoming.

As I watch my daughter grow and learn and become an amazing young lady, I also like to get to know her friends. There was a tight group of girls in Wyoming but the one in particular is extra special. I remember the day she came home from the hospital and became our newest neighbor...her and her twin brother.

Over the years of sleep overs, birthday parties, school and play dates she became my daughters BFF. I have no doubt in my mind that one day in the future they will again connect in person. Her love of penguins, her smile, her flare for art and music and her wonderful way of just being who she is and not caring what others around her do or think rubbed off not only on my daughter but me too. Many kudos to her mom for raising such an amazing little girl!

Change in me: All those around you can impact our life no matter how old. Always listen your heart it will always steer you in the right direction. No matter what life throws at you celebrate what you have not what you do not.

Has someone inspired you that was young ? Who and why? Would love to hear in the comments.

Day 23 - time for a conference call

2011-04-21T07:50:00.000-06:00

Re-connections of all kind happen with facebook. I have been very lucky to find many that I went to elementary & junior high school with.

Always so much fun - memories of "broken glass", "Dunvegan", "Mr. Brown who always wore a brown suit"

Kimmy this week we conference call :-) txting just wont do.

Change in me: No matter how far away you move you can always reconnect if you want to.

Day 22 - 1 or 25

2011-04-20T15:08:00.002-06:00

My memory begins with a wooded sign from art class with I believe a smurf on it and her name and date of arrival ( it was a long time ago the details maybe fuzzy).

I am in the middle of 25 grandchildren the oldest now being 50ish ...you wouldn't know she was to see her and the youngest being 25.

Before I had kids I got called in to "babysit the house" and she will tell you I spoiled all her plans while playing chess and drinking beer with Lance. Her and her sister also helped me with a show home by making tulips with their hands ( it was a cute little girls room with a picket fence and tulips and butterflies). I will always cherish those nights of you staying up way to late on a school night chatting on the couch. We have always had great fun at family reunions and our daughters just love hanging out together. ( long over due for me attending a reunion I guess )

She is now a fabulous mom of 3 and always makes me smile with her face book posts and all the fabulous pictures of her beautiful girls. I had a brief opportunity to work with her and hope someday we get to work together again - so many great talk and laughs.

Change in me: I am really thankful for my sister for cheering me on and supporting me no matter what crazy ideas I may have -whether it is good or bad. Playing in the puddles is always a good idea, and cherish your friends and all the great moments you have with them...and cant forget a new pair of shoes is always a good thing.

Day 20 13 months

2011-04-19T19:39:00.006-06:00

A small house on the corner across the street from a railway crossing. One would think you would never get sleep because of the trains but when the are regular you tend to not even hear them as the roll through and blow the horn. This town was hard to move into, no one moved into town or at least not that ofter.

This was the start of many moves to come. I must have been crazy my design career was just starting to take off and yep I move to a small town so that I could sleep in the same bed as my husband more than 1 week a month.

My option of places to work a fabric store and a paint/carpet store. I started working and learning more about carpet and mixing paint and surprisingly I managed to pick up design jobs. I met my friend Gill, let me tell you it was not easy to meet people. Gill was great she would invite me to ladies night of golf, to go walking or to join a group of girls at the local church to do step aerobics. She would also brave sitting with me and an entire table of boys ( hubby and the guys from the rig) at the local bar.

After I left I never thought I would hear from her again...this was pre face book even email was not close to what it is now. Years later we had moved to Wyoming and I get a phone call saying she was refereed to me from one of my old clients and she was looking for a designer and then she started to giggle. With facebook once again after the 2 of us have moved yet again we reconnected. Some day I really would like the opportunity to work with her again.

Change in me: You can always get back up and dust yourself off and thrive. If you work hard it will always pay off.

Day 21 - Not by Blood

2011-04-19T14:24:00.000-06:00

Shocking comments on face book often make you stop and rewind. I repeat I love that facebook has allowed me to keep in touch, reconnect and get to know many of the people in my life that do not live close. A few weeks back a post came across my news feed that broke my heart, but one thing good came out was a long over due reconnect.

Some of us have family that is not by blood, they often can be the best or sometimes the hardest kinda family to have. When I was young my mom remarried, went from a father who was never home or involved to a step father all up in my business. We never saw eye to eye but I did get the best part of that marriage a step sister and her family. My step sister and I also did not always see eye to eye but even though her dad and my mom separated she is still my sister...no matter how far apart we are.

My niece, although we have not seen each other in well over 14 years I have the best memories of hanging out with her and her brothers. Camping by the river, seeing them play in the corn play house they grew and making cookies at Grandma's house. The last time I was up that way we pulled off an amazing surprise birthday for my mom and sadly the last time I saw her. Actually it was when I pulled away because my feeling got hurt...silly really. You see those kids meant the world to me and because of not letting them stay out and camp at the surprise party, and it really had nothing to do with her why I never returned.

So now as an adult I get a do over on our terms and no one else. Looking forward to may years of being Auntie and reconnecting.

Change in me: Just because things get tough does not mean you should turn off family. You do not have to be a blood relative to be an Auntie. No matter how rotten you are to your mom as long as you dont go to far she will forget and be proud of you - so call her or give her a hug right now.

Day 19 - Virtual friends

2011-04-18T13:31:00.000-06:00

Funny story on how we met. I am a member of a woman's social network site called Fabulously 40, it is a great resource for women. There is a section of questions and answer that is a great place to help and get help. I had answered a question and this person made a comment...well that was not very nice or should I say she assumed things not to be true. I responded privately and maybe not so politically correct ( hey I am human and I have feeling too) . From that point I really made no thought to the conversation or the personal note until I got a phone call from her.

Yep she called to apologize and we had the best conversation and guess what .... yep we are friends. I get the best hand made note cards in the mail from her. She also supports my business as a customer :-) and one day I hope we get to work together.

Change in me: Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and say sorry because you never know you just might make a friend. Sending a card in the mail just because can make someones day.

Day 18 - Family

2011-04-17T15:42:00.000-06:00

My earliest memories of this couple is the year I figured out that Santa did not exist but in our hearts. I would have been about 5 and I remember the evening so clear...or maybe it is not clear. The Wizard of OZ was on TV and a knock at the door...it was Santa, not really sure why I knew it was my uncle but have always remembered the rubber boots.

As an adult I had the pleasure of getting to spend the weekends up at their house, some for design work and one time I came to house site ( well really to make sure their daughter didn't have a party). All the visits I was able to really get to know my cousins, many a nights up really late talking in the basement. They have always called when in town and we have either met for a visit or they came to see us <3 and same goes if we are in SK.

I love face book because no matter how far away I am I can keep in touch with those people in my life that matter. This last week we had a quick IM chat about gardening and it is always okay just to call and chat.
I have for a long time said we together will do something great and I stick to that it just has not happened yet.

Change in me: Work hard play hard, it doesn't matter if you know all the words to the songs you can always hum along and making the time for a cup of coffee is priceless. Sending out your Christmas letter is a great valentines card to get in the mail.

Day 17 - Relativitis

2011-04-14T18:45:00.000-06:00

2 of my favorite family members have often had a case of "relativitis". The one in mention today, I have been able to become close with because of facebook. You see 98% of my family lives in Canada and now that we are in Texas the trips north have been fewer.

I have often heard it is not easy being married into this family you see we are VERY big. My mom is a family of 8 so that makes 8 + 1 married in spouses , they produced 25 + 2 - those 25 all but a few are married and I think last I heard they had produced 37 + 2 ( of hell I have lost track and I am sure some one will correct me ). SO BIG, that when we all come to town we double the population of Eyebrow, SK.

Every time I have come to my Grandma's the person of today and her family have always made it a point to getting in to see us. The last time I was up I was training for a 1/2 marathon and walked from town out to the farm...there is something about farm coffee or maybe it is the people who make it. Over the years the little things she has done for me have made the most impact. Graduation a beautiful card and an umbrella - brilliant and I still to this day carry it in my car. My children both got engraved silver spoons with name and birth date - I also have one and believe she may have been doing it for years...need to ask. She just cracks me up with her side remarks on FB and she is always the first to support me.

Relativitis - there is no cure, no inoculation, you can not get away from it. The only cure is to embrace the craziness called family stay true to who you are and enjoy life and all the people who have come into it.

Change in me: Little things in life can make a big impact and your family no matter how big or small embrace them all for who they are.

Day - 16 SIL 2/3

2011-04-14T17:48:00.000-06:00

This one is going to be hard to write..... you have the note but the post will have to wait.

Day 15 - Pretty Lisa

2011-04-13T14:17:00.000-06:00

All those boys over the years in the oilfield have brought a few women also into my families life....very few. Most of them we dont get to see often or for a long time. Ms Lisa came and spent Christmas with us one year - it has been at least 5 years ago and she is still known as pretty Lisa by my kids.

She has since married the boy who spent time at our house and the have the most beautiful baby girl. I love following her on facebook and seeing her view of the world through her camera lens.

Change in me: Take a chance and share your smile, take pictures of the little moments....and I think one day we will do something amazing together...time will tell.

Day 14 - 2nd 1/2 BFF

2011-04-12T14:05:00.000-06:00

Who would have thought a piece of paper blowing out a vehicle across the road would turn into a friendship to last a life time. 2 new families living on a new street in a new town.

Our morning workouts at the park almost every day for a year....I so miss that time. No matter the weather we strapped on the shoes and hit the track, it is very hard to find a walking partner that will walk even if they don't feel like it and who will also not let you talk yourself out of it. On those walks we both worked through a great deal of "stuff".

I have never had a friend in my life that it has always been a give and take or an equal friendship. When my husband is out of town she always makes a point to just check in, we both have pitched in with each others kids, and when I just need that ear no judging she is always there. When the day is good or bad she is always there to celebrate or to turn a bad into a pee your pants laugh.

She loves me no matter how crazy my ideas, or if my house is not picture perfect clean. She is also a huge supporter of my business and for that I am always grateful - I guess she sees it that same way I do - why would I shop at Walmart or Sams/Costco when I can shop with a company that benefits my friend.

Change in me: Never ever give up, you can make a BFF in your 40's, no matter what crap is thrown your way as long as you have a friend to listen you will get through it. Always always eat something before you drink toooooo much or you will pay for it in the morning. Oh and it is easy to blame the Canadian ... because she owns it and happy to push the limits of life.

Day 13 - Bigger than me WAY bigger

2011-04-11T00:08:00.001-06:00

One of the first people I met when we moved to Wyoming was a brief exchange in a restaurant a couple months before we moved down. At that moment in time who would have thought what an impact she would have in the years to come.. Over the first few years we frequented the restaurant and from the very first moment of meeting she always remembered my family ( small town and not many Canadians moving in) I guess.

I was later connected to her at a fund raising dinner at her restaurant it was funding a project for a school in her birth country of Cambodia. My dear friend has lived through hell and survived the Khmer Rouge not all of her family survived and she saw many suffer horrifying acts as a child. All that and she is not defined by her beginnings rather she is the most giving hard working women I may know. Every year she has a free Thanksgiving dinner to all who wish to come, she raises money and builds water wells in Cambodia and she is always giving to help the community.

Our journey continues as I had the pleasure of working with her as an interior designer. I first worked on her restaurant being able to transform an average restaurant into a true gem in a small community - wow you should see the lighting and the art work...and my favorite piece is the hanging doors. Then as an interior designer I was able to work on her dream home - many designers never get to work on such a project.

Change in me: you can always do more to help your community, your past does not determine your future but it will help you define your character, family is everything, revisit your roots, live life FULL.

Day 12 - boys

2011-04-10T23:06:00.001-06:00

Over the years of being an oil field bride many boys have come into our families life. Being a family in the oilfield is often like the life of a military family - many moves and hubby is gone for a period of time ( shorter periods for us but more often ).

The boys - they all come for dinner and a home cooked meal. Plenty of them have stayed on the couch, in the spare room and even a night and a day shift lived in our basement or should I say slept on the mattresses and used the shower ( long story ). Many of them who returned always brought gifts of chocolate from Canada, I have always been including in going out ( one I even had to ask to go home and not come back for awhile as my head could not handle 3 nights in a row) and each of them have become part of our family in a small way.

We have shared holiday dinners, celebrated birthdays and all of them have been present in our life at the moment in time some how it has always made those 16 moves all that much easier.

Not all of them have we kept up with but Face book does make it easier.

.....this on is for you on your blackberry in the afternoon "It's the company, not the cooking, that makes a meal." Kirby Larson, Hattie Big Sky, 2006

Change in: Boys never get tired of roast beef and mash potatoes, being kind and sharing your home is always a good thing, and being a bride oilfield or other wise isn't always easy but if you share and give of you heart and accept the people in the moment you can always remake the Yorkshire pudding if it flops.

Day 11 - My SIL ( 1 of 3 )

2011-04-09T12:06:00.002-06:00

I am not even sure how to start and if I get started I may never stop.

When I was still living in Canada my sister in law and I became very close. Some of my fondest memories are in the kitchen cooking, seems like the best place in the world to get close. I think our best collaboration was our 12 days of Christmas gift giving when our nephews were small. ( 12 days of opening presents.....even peanut butter play dough. ) Camping and hiking trips and always ready willing and able to come help...even to build a fence, hosting the holidays and just doing what families do.

When we moved to WY, her and I would catch up on the phone every Tuesday morning, in fact I was on the phone with her the morning of 9/11. I can remember the phone ringing and her saying turn on the TV...it doesn't matter what channel just turn it on. Life has gotten busy and our calls less frequent but no matter what I can pick up and call and find her on the other end.

Change in me: No matter how mad you get at your family dont stay mad - life is to short not to move on, tell the people in your life that you love them, make the best of your life no matter what it throws you, volunteer your time, plant a garden not only the process is therapeutic but so is the harvest.

Celebration Notes - 3 bonus notes

2011-04-08T13:26:00.001-06:00

One on the most favorite things of my business is not only helping people but celebrating what they have accomplished. Lets face it sometimes life is hard, things do not go the way we want, the news is depressing, gas prices are going up - I could go on and on.

I have partnered up with 2 of my friends and we celebrate people in each of our businesses. You may be asking why would you care? These 2 girls and I have been connected ....even though we do not have any financial gain from each others work we have a partnership. We are here for each other and what better than to lift up the people around us.

Change in me: When you surround yourself with like minded people you are lifted to a higher version of you. We are all in this together.

Day 10 - 1/2 BFF

2011-04-08T11:37:00.003-06:00

We all have people in our life that will be in our life for ever. I have 2 amazing women in my life who live with in a stones throw of my house and can be at my house in a given moment for any reason at all. If life has ever thrown you your fair share of lemons you will appreciate how this women has inspired me.

In the short 3 years of knowing her she has lost both her mom and her sister to cancer, her son has been diagnosed with Asperger's, her husband has a girlfriend, and her dog died this past week...oh and the list goes on. Hmm maybe we should write a country song about it...

Not but 2 months ago I was having a pity party for one and on my way home from school pick up ran into her. She knew right away that something was wrong....her response let me run home and get out of my scrubs and I will meet you at your house. REALLY!!! my pity party paled to what she has been dealing with but these girls that's the way we roll. Some times you just need a friend to walk in the door with a bottle of wine and listen no matter how small the issue.

Almost weekly we get together for a "therapy session" just a great way to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly of the week. We have cried together, laughed till we peed our pants ( you all know the kind of laughing I am talking about ), and just been there present in each others lives.

Change in me: That which does not kill you makes you stronger, the people you can count on are the ones who are present in your life, some times you live in a situation and make the best of it because it is the best thing to do, death is a part of life once you have grieved it is okay to celebrate the good, and when life hands you lemons add vodka and call your friends to join you they are likely able to turn the bad moment into a pee your pants laughing moment and somehow it will all be okay. Be present in LIFE!

Day 9 - Never met or maybe we have

2011-04-07T08:58:00.000-06:00

Many of the people we meet in our lives are through others we already know. Sometimes those people become closer to you than the friend that connected you. Can you really become good friends with someone you have never sat in the same room with?

Currently my friend is rounding up a 6 month stay in Mexico with her family. What an incredible adventure for them being exposed to an entirely different culture, language and way of life. After many conversations on line we think we may have actually been at the same golf tournament of a mutual friend. We have been brought together as she was a referral to be a customer of mine. The relation grew through FB and Skype and me helping her design her blog. On our trip to Mexico we had plans to meet face to face....and life got in the way. Crazy thing is my husband went fishing with her husband and had a great day.

One day we will meet face to face!

Change in me: Even if you are scared you never know what might come from an adventure - embrace it just do it even if you dont understand the language. Be yourself! Take chances! Celebrate! Support your friends in what they do. Girl POWER!!!

Day 8 - It started with soup

2011-04-06T10:01:00.001-06:00

Oh so many memories of Wyoming, over the next 365 days you will meet many people who have effectively made a change in me. I can not pin point the meeting of this friend but I am sure it did stem around building the park ( story for another day ).

For a little more than a year I took the passion of the kitchen and began "Are you being Served" personal chef business. During that year I catered events had regular weekly hump day meals and was a personal chef. I have no professional training but have had my hands in the kitchen my entire life and also spent a year working at a corporate retreat much of the time in the kitchen or bakery.

"Soup" - my memory escapes me as to how I even started making soup for my friend. Monday morning I would drop off a crock pot of homemade soup and each week the crock pot would come back to me empty. The one ingredient she did not like was onions.....hmmm I am not sure you can even make soup without onions. So every week I would surprise her with a new kind of soup that didn't have onions ( wink wink ). On a separate occasion as they set out on an epic camping adventure she enlisted my skills in preparing all the meals for her week long adventure - for those of you who camp know it is a big part of what goes on is what are we eating - she wanted not to have to think about it. Many years of camping and cooking gourmet on a Coleman stove I created a long list of short cuts.

Since moving away from WY I have followed her on FB and her blog - I love her daily openness for change, her incredible love for her husband and her boys, her girl time and always love reading about her next epic adventure. On FB I have been connected with many others who inspire because of her willingness to share.

Change in me: NO matter what the blisters will heal, live love and dance - who cares what others think, no matter how old you are you can always change what you know how to do, live your passion because you only get one go at life, an old Winnebago can be converted in to an awesome office, share what you know or what you learn because you never know who you might help. Inspired by a few words!

Day 7 - Connections

2011-04-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

Face book has given me many connections with people that I am just getting to know. Today's note goes to a gal I have met here in the DFW area at business meetings. In person she always has a smile on her face book page her words inspire, cheer and life all of those up who read it. With the news in the world being bleak I cherish my friends who look for silver linings.

Change in me: I think more is to come from this friendship only time will tell.

Day 6 - my cup runith over

2011-04-04T08:14:00.002-06:00

Those of you who know me well know that I am not a religious person however I do believe everything happens for a reason and people come into our life for a purpose. Life is a journey of change, that change is going to happen whether you like it or not.

I have embraced social networking and have made some incredible friends as a result of it. Earlier this year I went on a retreat, sounds normal enough right. Well I had never met face to face with any of these women and they flew in from different parts of the country and an amazing thing happened.....those friendships have been fostered virtually became part apparent they will be a big part of my journeys to come. Surrounding yourself with people that care about your well being, your success and just being present in your life will make life so much more colorful. BEING A FRIEND ON PURPOSE

Over the next year you will meet all the ladies but today my FABulous most incredible heartfelt life changer in my life is Cindy. I love that she drives a sports car and frequently gets stopped for going to fast :-) Her spiritual connect is aspiring, she gives 100% of herself and like me wants to do more. My business allows me to be a philanthropist without having the millions personally to support nonprofits. We have started an adventure of allowing me to give and support her nonprofit from afar.

Change in me so far: Grey hair is incredibly beautiful on women, dancing with a scarf is uplifting, it is not always easy wanting to help people but it is almost always certainly worth it and I know this list will grow as we continue our journey.

Day 5 - College

2011-04-03T07:30:00.000-06:00

When I started my college journey I started out in Business Admin with the plans of being an accounts....not sure who that girl was but sure glad she changed her mind. After an extremely bad managerial accounting class....I was at a loss as to what the heck am I doing and what am I going to do now.

My brother was living with us at the time and as he was going through the college calender he said to me why aren't you taking interior design....hmm never crossed my mind. The process at the time to get into the program was not just a simple application you had to submit a portfolio. 400-500 applications and only 50 get accepted....could I really do it. The portfolio included a drawing of a bowl of fruit, a living room setting,a plant, a grouping of kitchen items and draw them see through and a short essay comparing an international logo to a car ( dont remember the car but the logo was Coca Cola). Well I got in...and the journey began.

I promise I am getting to the person in my life.

College itself taught me many lessons and that is a post in its self. A few things I took away - work had play hard, you can work a full time job and go to school at the same time, the power of group purchasing and when you are the designated driver you can still dance on tables with your friends.

Of the 50 in my class, I have lost track of many and reconnected with a few on FB but one I stay connected with and she is the one who is the person of change today. When we all graduated she went back to her home town and her family and I moved to Moosomin ( long story - will tell later as a note will go there too). She is married to a wonderful man and has 4 beautiful children, working in interior design and happy with routine. She never forgets my birthday, she will drive any where in SK to visit me, she doesn't like change but respects that I live in constant change, she cherishes the little things in life like a glass of wine in the hot tub with her hubby and she is all about FAMILY. She also drives way out of her way to go shopping at my Aunt and Uncles greenhouse - I know she passes at least 5 other place - I send her a giftcard to spring shop for her birthday( my way of supporting family even though I can't do the shopping myself ) and I know for a fact she spends way more the what I send her.

Change in me: It is perfectly okay to have a friend that is not like you, you can send a Starbucks gift card as a birthday gift and every time that person uses it they will think of you, it is always worth the drive to see a friend, wine is always best shared with someone you care about and she has also given me the gift of not only her friendship but she has also shared a friend of hers with me ( more on her later) HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK my dear friend.

Day 4 - just because

2011-04-02T23:21:00.004-06:00

Some people in our life have not yet shown why they have crossed our path. Cherish the relationships in your life.

Change in me: Keep your eyes open you never know who may come into your life and cause that change.

Day 3 - Childhood lessons

2011-04-01T22:55:00.001-06:00

I think I was in grade 3. This lesson was not learned then but the actions of one momma stayed with my whole life.

It was valentines and we made fancy boxes for our desks to act as mail boxes to get ready to receive all our cards. On party day a certain boy in our class did not receive one card, I can only imagine how he must have felt. The very next day his momma came into the classroom to have a chat with all of us....and yep it followed with 2 weeks of detention ( no recess ) The feeling of this momma and her son have always been in my thoughts as I raise my kids.

Although this is not related to that day that very same boy took a fall for something he did not do and
I think his story should be known. I believe it was grade 4 - not really sure because it was a mixed grade. The short story - a tack on a chair as a joke, boy sits down bleeds and we once again get detention ( no recess ) until a confession is heard. The confession came from the same boy who did not get any cards and yep he got the strap and we all once again resumed recess as regular. A few years ago this story came up and I learned that even though that boy took the blame he was not the one to place the tack. The tack in fact was placed on the chair by.....

Change in me: Be aware of others feelings, a simple card can cause joy but it can also cause sadness when the box is left empty - life is hard enough - I teach my kids to have a kind heart and think about others feelings

Day 2 - My Mother in Law

2011-03-31T21:47:00.059-06:00

Since she is a big part of the inspiration to the pay it forward experiment she gets day 2. I miss sending her a birthday card every year, the end of January comes and yep I have missed it again. She NEVER forgets a birthday or anniversary and the cards are never late.....hmm I have never asked her what her system is - think I need too. She has friends that she has kept up with for years with good old fashioned letters.

My inlaws are the few people who can come and stay at our house for a long time and when they leave we are always saying are you sure you have to go home. ( longest stay 35 days )

Over the past 24 years we have celebrated, she was my nurse for 2 weeks after surgery, we have gone on some fantastic trips and we have played tons of games of scrabble and every move she has embraced our friends but really the list goes on and on. She is an amazing Grandma - helping with home work, she holds more records on Wii fit than anyone in the family and she loves my kids. She makes a mean orange salad - a family favorite ( or should I say a must ) and she takes the best care of my father in law.

Change in me: traditions are great things, blood doesn't make a family - people with big hearts do, tolerance, and the importance of taking the time to remember those you care about in not forgetting a special event.

Day 1

2011-03-30T16:43:00.000-06:00

My first note went in the mail this afternoon. If you have ever spent any time with me you have probably heard me say "Everything happens for a reason". I believe all the people and events in our life can and do change us in some way. With 16 moves in the last 23 years I have made friends with many and thankfully for facebook I am able to keep in touch with them much easier than without it.

My first note goes out to well you may have guessed who it would be...wait I can't say because then it will loose the element of of surprise in the mail as I know she reads my blog.

As a wise lady from when I was a kid said "I still send cards and letters by snail mail on a regular basis. Call me old fashioned but I like it!" (Sandy Isaac)

hmmmm wonder who will be the 365th person I send a note to?

Starting a 365 day experiment or a revolooshun...

2011-03-30T16:28:00.000-06:00

As I was reading facebook updates a few days a go a dear friend of mine asked for a hand written note, not a text but a real note written by someone who cared enough to take a couple extra minutes. It started me thinking about the feeling of when you go to the mail and find an envelope that is neither junk nor a bill. Dont get me wrong I am all about technology - I love sending random quick messages on facebook or cell phone - it just feels good to stop for a minute and think about the people and the good in your life. ( it only takes a minute and could make a persons day ) In fact this morning I received a message "Happy Hump Day my friend!" - I know what her mornings are like getting her kids out the door and getting prepared for her day and 20 kindergarten kids....and she stopped and took that extra minute for me <3

This week a birthday card for my husband arrived from my mother in law - she never forgets and they are never late. I have always admired this about my mother in law, think a lesson can be learned here.

So today in the words of my friend "so you want to start a revolooshun, hell yeah" Today my experiment begins but I have one rule in my experiment if you get an envelope in the mail from me all I want you to do is pay it forward and just send a note to someone you care about....take a couple extra min and make someones day.

To keep me accountable, I will post every day a short note about the recipient of my "note of the day and why I am grateful to have them in my life"

Wine...why not!

2011-03-28T22:27:00.000-06:00

Good reason to? I have never needed a reason to enjoy a glass of wine. Today as I was reading a post on "OMG I so need a glass of wine or I'm gonna sell my kids" I was intrigued by the fact that Colby Red sales go to charity. I went over to the website and WOW. Take a few minutes to watch the video and tell me is this not a good reason to grab a bottle of the wine and enjoy it with friends. Taste testing at my house later in the week..."PATIO is OPEN"

Funny

2011-02-15T21:33:00.002-07:00

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and
wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out
to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured,
educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think.....Good grief, look how smart... I am! Must be where the term 'Smart Ass' came from!

Dance!

2011-01-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

DANCE LIKE NO ONE'S WATCHING

Author Unknown

We convince ourselves that life  will be better after we get married,  have a baby, then another.  Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough  and we'll be more content when they are.
After that we're frustrated that we  have teenagers to deal with,  we will certainly be happy  when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete  when our spouse gets his or her act together,  when we get a nicer car,  are able to go on a nice vacation,  when we retire.  The truth is there's no better time  to be happy than right now.  If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges.  It's best to admit this to yourself  and decide to be happy anyway.  One of my favorite quotes comes  from Alfred D Souza.
He said, "For a long time it had seemed  to me that life was about to begin -real life.  But there was always some obstacle in the way,  something to be gotten through first,  some unfinished business,  time still to be served,  a debt to be paid. Then life would begin.  At last it dawned on me that these  obstacles were my life."

This perspective has helped me to see  that there is no way to happiness.  Happiness is the way,  so, treasure every moment that you have.  And treasure it more because you shared it  with someone special,  special enough to spend your time...  and remember that time waits for no one.

So stop waiting until you finish school,  until you go back to school,  until you lose ten pounds,  until you gain ten pounds,  until you have kids,  until your kids leave the house,  until you start work,  until you retire,  until you get married,  until you get divorced,  until Friday night,  until Sunday morning,  until you get a new car or home,  until your car or home is paid off,  until spring, until summer,  until fall, until winter,  until you are off welfare,  until the first or fifteenth,  until your song comes on,  until you've had a drink,  until you've sobered up,  until you die, until you are born again  to decide that there is no better time  than right now to be happy...  Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So, work like you don't need money.  Love like you've never been hurt and  dance like no one's watching.

Thanks Karen for your daily insight emails always makes me smile :-)

What color are you?

2011-01-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

To be honest I am not sure the origin of the below passage, thought it would be fun to share and would love to hear what color you all are. What color of person are you? Dor you fit into one color or are you a combination?

Reds: The Power Wielders

Reds are the power wielders of the world. Power is not good and it is not bad, it just is. It has to do with movement, (remember: moving from A to B). Power sometimes carries a negative connotation but where positive characteristics of Reds are concerned, it drives them to high levels of productivity and efficiency. Reds boldly move forward with logic, vision and determination. These qualities make them natural born leaders, as they make things happen by sheer force of will. From a Red perspective, emotion has little to do with accomplishing a task.
Red Strengths Reds are visionary and seem to have insight into the future. Keeping their eyes on the future averts them from the mundane day-to-day. In dealing with day-to-day circumstances, they make swift decisions and their independent nature doesn’t require someone to hover over them to see them through. Reds can be difficult to work with if they don’t get their way. Their behavior may appear negative in their efforts to get things their way. However, before you jump to conclusions, look past the behavior to what is driving it. It may be an enormous ego problem that causes a complete intolerance of others’ ideas. On the other hand, it is possible they are trying to achieve an important goal within the timeframe previously agreed to by the team.
Red Limitations Just like all the colors, Reds have challenging limitations. Let’s start out by saying they are not subtle. You know exactly where they stand and how they feel about things. Reds are verbal; however, what they say often seems hostile due to their tactless manner. Their insensitivity combined with a marked lack of subtlety causes many to wince at what comes out of their mouths. They can also be very demanding. Red bosses will ask you to work long hours because they do. They expect you to get the job done to make them look good. It doesn’t matter whether you have limitations or not—they expect you to make up for them. This is how they would deal with it. Overall, Reds lack compassion. If they develop the gift of compassion, Reds are hard to beat. When they add this dimension, they are truly very capable people.

Blues: The Do-gooders
Blues are motivated by Intimacy and without their natural talent to insist on quality and to provide service, our world would be a far less pleasant place. Blues want to connect and to be understood and appreciated. If they are not connecting with you, if they are not plugged into humanity, then what’s the point? They believe if you don’t have a sincere connection in life, then there really is no other value. Earning money, having the Mercedes, and being in the windowed office are nice but do not represent a purposeful life to a blue. Blues are very purposeful people who love to serve and give of themselves freely to nurture others' lives. They are loyal friends, employers and employees, and their personal code of ethics is very strong. They expect other people to live honest and committed lives as well. Blues are dependable, thoughtful, and analytical; but they can also be self-righteous, worry-prone, and moody. They hold on and never let go of something/someone once they are committed.
Blue Strengths Blues are very observant and intuitive, noticing quality and detail. With their combined assets, their sense of purpose, and their ease with showing compassion, they become integral parts of every society. In fact, they become an integral part of whatever they commit themselves to doing, whether it be fundraising, raising a family, or running an entire department. Blues sense of commitment can sometimes trap them. They will often stay in a job much longer than will serve their best interest simply because they said they would. They tend to stay because they are loyal and they care about everyone with whom they connect. You can bet Blues will be the ones to refer back to the Color Code materials because they have made a commitment to learn, to become self-aware and to be their best.
Blue Limitations Ruling by the heart can be a double-edged sword for Blues. If you don’t appreciate their gifts, they won’t give at all. This is a constant threat when in a relationship with a Blue. A common statement from Blues is, “My emotions have ruled me all my life.” Their emotions are their Achilles’ heel. They want so badly to be loved and accepted, constantly seeking understanding from others while often refusing to understand and accept themselves.
Blues remember their limitations—or what is wrong with them—more than they remember their strengths. It is inborn. Abraham Lincoln is a good example of possessing a desire to reveal insecurities. He often talked about his flaws and inadequacies as president. Yet he continues to be seen as one of the greatest presidents of our nation. Blues need to remember that the reason they have these limitations is very connected to their gifts. The reason they care so deeply is also the reason they tend to struggle more with depression. Blues must realize that the reason it is so hard for them to break off a relationship or leave a job is tied to their capacity to dedicate themselves so completely and feel so deeply about those commitments.

Whites: The Peacekeepers

Motivated by Peace, Whites will do almost anything to avoid confrontation and to create tranquility. They have a remarkable ability to understand and draw objective conclusions—they are the voice of reason, and this is their gift to us.
Whites truly believe that with patience all things come to those who wait. The problem is that they are sometimes too content with sitting around waiting. They seek contentment more than power, money or, for that matter, more than friends. They are happy having one or two good friends and one or two hobbies. In fact, they tend to have only one hobby at a time. Instead of trying to carry on with two hobbies, they will drop one to take on another. Having two is too much effort. Their only demands from life are the things that make them feel comfortable. That feeling fosters their need to feel good inside.
White Strengths Whites are kind, considerate, patient and accepting. Unlike Blues and Reds, they are not judgmental or critical of others’ actions or behaviors. They simply accept people for who they are: the good, the bad and the ugly. They are tactful, because they don’t want to create confrontation or rock the boat too much. Not rocking the boat is also revealed in Whites through their strength to self-regulate. Controlling their own behavior is a natural strength and this precludes impulsivity. To the rest of us, they offer a clear perspective that is objective and factual. They are excellent listeners, taking what is said sequentially, understanding why it is said, what it is going to take to deal with any problematic situations, and what they can do to help. They simply hear the facts, making no judgments on what is being said. In essence, they are virtually devoid of ego. They are good at constructing thoughts that did not exist before, just from careful listening and taking time to think things through.
White Limitations Whites don’t commonly share what they are seeing, feeling or understanding. When they have a conflict, they won’t show it. Like a duck, they are paddling violently underwater, but on the surface, they appear calm and comfortable.
Whites can be unwilling to set goals. They are generally very content with the way things are. If you try to force them to set goals, they may reply, “I don’t know where I’m going to be in a month. How can I possibly set goals?” Better yet, they will write down the goals to get you off of their back, but have no intention of following through with them. They resist working at someone else’s pace.
Even though Whites seem ambivalent about most things, they can be very self-deprecating. They are very generous when it comes to accepting others’ limitations, but will be disapproving of themselves. On the flip side, they can also become uncomfortable when receiving public praise and fanfare. People with the DCM of Peace tend to operate on a very logical basis like Reds, but move through life using their ability to reason in a milder manner than Reds. They don’t need to dominate like a Red, but will calmly offer a voice of reason that benefits everyone.

Yellows: The Fun Lovers

Yellows are motivated by Fun. Without their natural talents of enthusiasm and optimism, the world would be a boring place for all. They are here to have a great time. Yellows have an innate ability to be happy. They believe it is okay to play and people who don’t understand this have limited minds. They are the people who get up in the morning and sing to the Bon Jovi tune, “Until I’m six feet under, baby I don’t need a bed. Gonna live while I’m alive–—I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Yellows love to enjoy life. They have a mental attitude that allows them to appreciate what they have rather than be miserable over what they don’t . They spend much of their time charming everyone in an entertaining way. Robin Williams is a good example. Can you imagine growing up as his child? What a fun dad. He has that child-like innocence and a hope that inspires the masses.
Yellow Strengths Yellows tend to spend their time around people. They love to be with others. In like manner, people like to take care of and be around Yellows. People feel better about themselves when with Yellows because of their positive energy. They are optimistic and really believe the best is yet to come. Yellows are enthusiastic. They quickly respond to anything that appears fun or a new adventure. However, they are contented with more playful adventure, not the challenging adventure of the Reds. They prefer activities without too much risk or potential for pain. Instead, they prefer activities that involve many people having a good time together. They are persuasive, so don’t be surprised if Yellows haul you off to do something unexpected. You don’t even have to be someone special to them. They may have just met you an hour ago, but now you are invited to their house for dinner that night. They have difficulty sitting through a boring lecture without becoming the entertainer. Their spontaneous nature is always looking for something new to do. They will be the ones looking at the local rag to find new events in town because it is a chance to meet new people.
Yellow Limitations Yellows often lack the commitment necessary to create long-term success for themselves. Yellows always believe the best is going to happen to them, even when their ship is sinking. While other people look at them and think, “How can you be successful? You’re a mess.” Lady Luck tends to smile on them and bail them out, even when they don’t deserve it. They develop friendships with ease but can be very self-centered. For example, they don’t hesitate blowing off plans with someone if a better offer comes along. As a result, they often have many, many friends but only on a superficial level. Their self-centered nature can block them from developing deep, meaningful relationship.

#10 on my list

2011-01-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

#10 Help someone loose weight and improve their health.

On Face book I have page 120 days of change, they have proven it takes that long to change a habit. Now for the last little bit I have fallen out of habit so I will show by doing so I guess I am really helping myself too. I am going to start with a 12 week Fat Burning Workout - 84 days is not that long broken in to 3 - 4 week blocks and will be over before you know it. March 27 is the end of 12 weeks

The reason I am going to blog this is I need you to keep me accountable, it is very easy to make excuses and get busy with life but lets face it our health is the heart of how all other things play out. If we take care of our every day to day health and fitness it will pay us back in many ways from how are close fit to the energy we have all the way down to our state of mind.

I plan to share the good bad and the ugly, this is about making a change so not to fall of it again.

Would love if you joined us and would also love to hear about your progress. Today step on the scale and write down the number also take a picture of yourself - put it away till the end of the 84 days and do not step back on the scale either.

Back on Track as always my name is Coralee!

1-1-11

2011-01-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

My bucket list for 2011

Celebrate hard work with a huge fireworks display in July
Celebrate our marriage of 20 years in FL
Visit my Grandma in the summer
Walk 60 miles in 3 days along side my BFF in November
Walk in the sand
Learn how to use You Tube
Give more to my favorite NPO's
Make ice cream
Help someone to work from home and be able to retire from their job.
Help someone loose weight and get healthy

I am almost certain this list will expand. What extraordinary things will you do over the next 365 day?

mmmmm Buttertarts

2010-12-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

I just hope I can find the frozen unbaked tart shells.....will be adding more squats in the day I eat these :-)

Peppermint Patties

2010-12-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Problem with these is you can not just eat one...makes a very nice gift in a pretty box. Freeze well, stacked between wax paper.

Grandms's baked Caramel Corn

2010-12-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

I love both caramel corn and poppycock for different reasons. This recipe is crunchy and makes me think of visits to my Grandma's.

Poppycock

2010-12-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

Note to self this is best eaten while walking on the tread mill to best not feel guilty. Makes a very nice hostess gift or a gift to give your neighbor. Popcorn is fiber right??? :-)

My Sticky Buns

2010-12-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

This one is for you Glenda. For me this recipe changes all the time. It makes a great weekend morning breakfast with coffee. Enjoy!

Giving a gift to last a life time

2010-12-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Holiday Goodies - Almond Roca

2010-12-01T17:17:00.001-07:00

A few of my favorite things that will have me doing double time on the treadmill so I can enjoy them. Almond Roca comes from the kitchen of my Sister in Law - Glenda. This is a very easy recipe and is a huge hit at a cookie exchange. One of the things I do miss being so far away from my sister and sister in law is a tradition of getting together to bake for the holidays, so this year I will share all our recipes here and hope you can get together with someone you enjoy and hang out in the kitchen for the afternoon.
as always
Coralee

Baileys Irish Cream

2010-12-01T13:21:00.001-07:00

I am not sure who to credit for this recipe, I have been making it for 20 years - I am sure my mom had something to do with its origin. Last year I went to Pier One and found some great Mexican Glass bottles with corks ... made a perfect gift. So share a bottle or a cup of coffee this is one of my holiday favorites that will add an extra set of squats but so worth it!

Happy 21st Cody

2010-12-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today is my little brothers 21st Birthday - WOW I remember when I found out (I was 20) that I was about to be a sister again. Thanks to Facebook I have been able to keep in touch with him, I was able to spend time with him when he was little but now distance is an issue. The picture above is from one of the many camping trips he joined us on in the picture also in my nephew Josh. Happy Birthday Cody I hope you have a wonderful year xoxo you older but wiser sister Coralee

Great personalized Gift and one of my favorite places.

2010-11-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Dana and Donna at D'Vine Wine have great gift ideas and you can have a bottle of wine personalized. I think this would make a great gift from business to business, thanking a great customer or maybe a house warming gift. Or even that hard to buy for person that you want to know you care. My personal favorite is their signature Dumb Blonde red but my BFF's love the Green Apple white, they have wines for all. The do ship :-) just not to Canada.

Star of the Show - Brined Turkey

2010-11-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

I think over the last 23 years I have cooked about at least 60 turkeys between celebrating 2 thanksgivings a year and Christmas. We have deep fried, stuffed and un-stuffed but this was a first to brine. Yesterday morning my family was not so sure we made the right choice, we have company coming for dinner and it would not be good if the star of the show tastes bad. OMG if you have not ever thought of trying a brine I am here to say this was the best tasting turkey we have eaten. In fact hubby said this morning "no offense but that is the best turkey you have ever cooked." The only down fall is I will need to figure out how to drop the salt level in the drippings for the gravy .... will try at Christmas to boil a couple potatoes in the drippings to pull out some of the salt.

The above picture is the brine I used, the kit comes with a large zip lock for putting the turkey in, all you will need to add is sugar, water and vinegar.

My other tricks I have learned over the years:
1. Cook the turkey breast down for moist white meat - try it you won't regret it
2. Crock pot stuffing - I stopped stuffing the turkey when my MIL showed me this trick

Pumpkin Cheese Cake

2010-11-26T08:14:00.000-07:00

Original recipe is linked above, I modified it below.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups vanilla wafers, crushed into crumbs
1 cup ground pecan pieces
1 stick melted butter

I chopped and mixed these 3 ingredients in the foot processor. Press in the bottom of spring form pan.

2 boxes 1/3 fat cream cheese
1 cup light brown sugar
6 eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon - first cake just added this - mild creamy and the non pumpkin pie fan in the house loved it
( 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ginger )- second cake I added both of these - enhanced the flavor and the pumpkin pie lover in the family preferred the 2nd
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 can pumpkin puree

Mix all ingredient till smooth in the food processor.

2 cups sweetened whipped cream
Dash bourbon - I used dark rum
1 cup semisweet chocolate sauce, warm, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix well and press into a 12-inch spring-form pan.
Pour into the prepared pan.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the cake is set. Remove from the oven and with a knife loosen the sides from the pan.Best served COLD

Combine the whipped cream and bourbon together, blend well. Garnish each piece of cake with the Bourbon Whipped Cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Chocolate Sauce:

3/4 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 pound semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Combine the half-and-half and butter in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Heat the mixture until a thin paper-like skin appears on the top. Do not boil. Add the chocolate and vanilla and stir until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Kristy Cardinal Photography

2010-11-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Kristy is an amazing photographer in Lander. She has an amazing talent of capturing more than a great shot. I think the pictures speak for themselves. So if you live close or are off for a destination wedding - Kristy is the BEST!

My friend Terri - love her mirrors

2010-11-19T08:52:00.001-07:00

You can also find her on facebook - Spare Me

My FAB friend Tracy

2010-11-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Wonderful gifts, I am thinking stocking suffers. Go shopping with my FAB friend Tracy

Cakes in DFW

2010-11-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a beautiful taste cake you can't go wrong with Kakes by Kami, all cakes are made with passion and the love of beautiful cakes.

My friend Joyce

2010-11-17T13:14:00.001-07:00

A great gift and a great way to preserve a memory.

Investing - Dennis is the guy

2010-11-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

Dennis a friend of mine from Wyoming and is my money guy. I am not a huge investor but he always takes care of me. If you are looking for the best make sure to call Dennis and see how he can help you with your investments.

Favorite people

2010-11-13T20:33:00.004-07:00

306 Main ST. Lander, WY 82520 * 307-335-8353

A dear friend and neighbor from Wyoming has a great ladies store, you can find her on facebook - if you live in Lander and when you go shopping please tell Sue I said Hi! Great news she ships - Troll beads for free and a small charge on clothing...think I might need to have Sue take more pictures :-)

Favorite Things

2010-11-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Looking for something unique and special be sure to stop by and check out what Mindy has to offer.

Personalized gifts for your Christmas gift giving...

2010-11-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

When you are shopping online make sure to choose Lisa Brown in Regina, SK - you can also email her if you need assistance. I was given a gift from a friend with my kids names on it and just love it!

Perfect gift - personalized wine from D'Vine

2010-11-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

Friends & Family or Corporate gift - a personalized bottle of wine from my favorite place D'Vine Wine.

Plan early and shop D'Vine in Burleson.

Melinda Brooks

2010-11-10T08:14:00.001-07:00

If you are looking to purchase a house in the DFW area give Melinda a call or check out what she has to offer on her website - Melinda

Shop early for Christmas

2010-11-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

Shop Early for Christmas, all girls young and old love a piece of jewelery. Click here to shop Vikki

Blueroot Press - Carrie Holub

2010-11-08T14:43:00.003-07:00

A beautiful way to add to that little black dress and they are all one of a kind. To go shopping click Blueroot Press

Who Can I help?

2010-11-07T14:13:00.001-07:00

Promoting my friends this month - Mindy Wilson

2010-11-04T17:45:00.000-06:00

I love my Scentsy Plug-ins, and this is my new favorite. I think this with a bar of a winter scent - Christmas Cottage would make a great teacher gift this year. To order click here and go shopping! - Mindy Wilson

self promotion :-)

2010-11-03T14:39:00.000-06:00

Yesterdays post deleted

2010-10-27T08:39:00.000-06:00

My apologies - yesterdays post that I shared was never meant to offend or hurt anyone.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2010-10-03T13:42:00.000-06:00

My brothers girlfriend Lintendo

Standing up to Breast Cancer

Be Aware,

take proactive measures with your health,

do a monthly self breast exam,

get a mammogram yearly if you are over 40

photo by Prairie Ranger

Had to share......

2010-09-24T09:27:00.001-06:00

Why Parents Drink
A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up. Then he saw an Envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to 'Dad.'

With the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you.

I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice.

But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am. But it's not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we will be very happy.

She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children.

Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy.

In the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. She deserves it.

Don't worry Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself.

Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your grandchildren.

Love, Your Son John

PS. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house.

Toxins and Cancer

2010-09-16T21:52:00.002-06:00

Ignoring the Link Between Toxins and Cancer

by Vic Shayne, PhD
Worldwide, more than 7 million people die from cancer every year, and the numbers increase annually. Generally, high-fat diets are blamed for increasing the risk, while plant-based diets, high in fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, and minimally processed starchy foods, are said to help prevent cancer.
And, if we look a little closer, we discover that there are very specific foods and herbs that are powerful "detoxifiers" and thus play a major role in prevention of cancer and other diseases. But even as we attempt to control cancer risk by our food choices, we always have to realize that diet is just one of the lifestyle factors that influence the development of cancer.

With all of the cancer information and disinformation broadcasted continually through the major news media, rarely do we hear a mention of the greatest threat to our health – and the most prevalent cause of cancer: toxins. Toxins (poisons) are ubiquitous in our modern world. Although those cancer researchers and foundations making the news headlines, mostly funded by pharmaceutical corporations and chemical manufacturers, seem to be obsessed with finding a cancer virus or genetic predispositions to the disease, as a society we are not being given the whole truth that toxins cause most cancers.
Independent researchers (e.g., read Cancer-Gate: How to Win the Losing Cancer War, by Samuel Epstein, MD) understand that toxins cause disruptions in cellular function, cellular differentiation, cellular protection, and immune system function. Such poisons also place great stress on the eliminatory system that tries, often in vain, to rid our bodies of a toxic overload; this includes the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, lungs, bowels and skin. Toxins are known to rob our bodies of oxygen and cause free radical damage to cellular structures; they also are cumulative, leading to illness and symptoms now and into the future.

"With all of the cancer information and disinformation broadcasted continually through the major news media, rarely do we hear a mention of the greatest threat to our health – and the most prevalent cause of cancer: toxins."

The natural question is, where do these toxins come from and how do they get into our bodies? The answer is that toxins hail from a wide array of sources, including artificial food ingredients, prescription drugs, topical ointments, household sprays, fumes, automobile and truck exhaust, incinerators, factories, plastic off-gassing, construction materials, carpeting, bug sprays, fluoridated water, hair sprays, fast foods, pesticides, herbicides, chemical spills and dumping, perfumes and more. You can see how, entering our bodies from so many sources, the toxic overload is inevitable unless we make a concerted effort to monitor what we eat and how we live our lives. But if we wander around in a state of paranoia over slanted media reports about bad genes and invisible viruses, we'll never see the real threat right before our eyes.
What Are You Eating?
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recommends that people should eat more plant-based foods and states that as much as 20 percent of lung cancer, 33 percent of breast cancer, and 66 percent of colon cancer could be prevented by appropriate diet choices, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight. Add this to not smoking and moderate consumption of alcohol, and the AICRF believes that 60 percent to 70 percent of all cancers are preventable.¹ Yet, even with this information, major associations such as cancer and heart institutes, who must ride the political line in an effort not to alienate the chemical industry, fail to tell us that organic foods are safer than nonorganic; that prescription medications can be dangerous; that there are too many chemicals in our lives; and that eating more plant-based foods is vague advice. As a rather alarming and bothersome side note, it is clear to anyone who has researched the cancer-toxin connection that some of the largest companies contributing to cancer rates by manufacturing poisonous chemicals are the same companies that influence and fund scientific research that ends up on the nightly news, producing the drugs to "fight" cancer.
Why Is Cancer Winning the Battle?
Thanks to the power and greed of industry, the public is kept in the dark about many of the causes of cancer. Instead we are fed news reports about genetic connections, viruses and early screenings. Biologically speaking, as human beings, our bodies are not equipped to handle the onslaught (or combinations) of toxic overload that exists in our modern world. Until we realize that synthetic chemicals are causing most cancers, we cannot begin to stem the tide of disease and suffering.
"Most epidemiologists and cancer researchers would agree that the relative contribution from the environment toward cancer risk is about 80-90 percent," said Aaron Blair, PhD, chief of the Occupational Epidemiology Branch in the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. "There is very solid evidence that environmental factors are the major cause of cancer."⁴

References

1. Axmaker L. Eat Right to Prevent Cancer. Vanderbilt Faculty & Staff Wellness Program, Vanderbilt University Web site, November 2005. Click to view it online.

2. Slavin J. Mechanisms for the impact of whole grain foods on cancer risk. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2000;19(90003):300S-307S.

3. Kanofsky DL. The case for organic produce. Daytona Beach News-Journal 2005. www.organicconsumers.org.

4. Environmental Factors the Major Cause of Cancer. Environment News Service, 2004. www.ens-newswire.com.

Other Resources

§ The Diet & Cancer Link. American Institute for Cancer Research, 2000. www.aicr.org.

§ Potter J. Leading Scientist Hails Progress Made To Date in Field of Diet and Cancer Research. Press Release from American Institute for Cancer Research, 2000. www.aicr.org.

§ Mediterranean Diet May Lower Cancer Risk. American Cancer Society, 2000. Click to view it online.

Vic Shayne, PhD, a 1978 graduate of the University of Florida, is a food science researcher and writer. His books include Illness Isn't Caused by a Drug Deficiency!, Man Cannot Live on Vitamins Alone, and Evil Genius in the Garden of Eden (a study on food-borne and environmental toxins and their toll on human health). Dr. Shayne's work stresses the value of whole-food nutrition over vitamins and other isolated supplements. He is a key contributor of the research Web site healthscienceupdate.com.

http://www.nutritionalwellness.com/archives/2006/mar/03_toxins.php

thanks Auntie Noreen for sharing this

2010-09-08T21:03:00.000-06:00

Something To Think About!

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:
Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400.00 in your private
account for your use.
However, this prize had rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken
away from you.
You may not simply transfer money into some other account.
You may only spend it.

Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account
with another $86,400.00 for that day.

The second set of rules:
The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,
Its over, the game is over! It can close the account and you will not
receive a new one.
What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right?

Not only for yourself, but for all people you love, right?

Even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself, right?

You would try to spend every cent, and use it all, right?

ACTUALLY, this GAME is REALITY!

Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank.

We just cant seem to see it.

The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!

Each morning we awaken to receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is NOT credited to us.

What we haven't lived up that day is forever lost.

Yesterday is forever gone.

Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your account at any time....

WITHOUT WARNING.

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Aren't they worth so much more than the same amount in dollars?

Think about that, and always think of this:

Enjoy every second of your life, because time races
by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, and enjoy life!

Here's wishing you a wonderfully beautiful day!!!

Power Hours

2010-09-02T19:50:00.000-06:00

I have been thinking about the power of 1 hour. 60 minutes. What can you get done in 1 hour?

No interruptions, no distractions....

1 hour on Sundays - we can get the yard mowed, edged, and flower beds weeded.

1 hour today - 3 loads of laundry, made beds and vacuumed and had lunch.

1 hour of walking at a good pace burn around 400 calories.

One hour of business just getting on the phone and setting appointments for 30 min can turn have an incredible week of enhancing lives.

What did you get done today in 1 or your 24 hours?

Cantaloupe Salsa

2010-08-22T12:51:00.001-06:00

One more reason I love HEB Central Market is my family loves to try new recipes along with exploring new vegetables and fruit. It is Hatch Chile Season from what I can tell is it runs from the August 18th - August 31st. So we but Hatch Chile and pick up a couple recipes to try. Named for the town Hatch,New Mexico , these peppers have all different kinds of uses. Hatcharita, Hot Hatch Chile Ice Cream, and Hatch Chile Verde Skillet Macaroni and Cheese.

What we tried so far:

Hatch Cantaloupe Salsa ( played with the recipe we picked up in the store )

1 cup coarsely chopped cantaloupe* see below for substitutes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp grapeseed oil ( olive oil will work )
Juice of one fresh Lime
3 Tbsp Cilanto
2 Tbsp Hatch Chile minced ( you could use jalapeno )

Chill 15 min or more and Serve. We will be eating it with chips but the recipe also suggested serving it or grilled chicken or Tuna.

* Things I would substitute for Cantaloupe - fresh pineapple, mango, honey dew, watermelon and even tomatoes

Dragon Fruit - Dont be scared to try new things...

2010-08-22T08:47:00.000-06:00

When we travel we always try new things that we have never eaten for good or bad. While standing at the fruit buffet in Mexico my daughter and I checked out a bowl of fruit and wondered should we try it. A lady walked up and took 2 pieces and I immediately asked what it was. We did not know what the fruit looked like before it was ready to eat. A trip to our favorite grocery store, HEB Central Market that has an extensive selection of fruits and vegetables - we found the dragon fruit. So next time you are in the store I recommend you try this odd looking fruit. There are 5 different varieties, varying in interior color from white to reddish meat.

This is the interior of the fruit, the texture is much like a kiwi it has a bit of a citrus flavor and is very juicy. They are high in Vitamin C and other antioxidants and have great nutritional value.. The flesh is not to be eaten. I looked for recipes to see what other uses and found fruit salad, fruit pizza and juice. We will be enjoying the fruit on its own as it is an expensive treat at $4.99 each.

The one I purchased came from the US ( wonder if I could grow then in my yard? ) but are native to Mexico, Central and South America, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Hawaii, Isreal and Philippines.

5 lessons shared by a friend...not sure of the origin but a must share

2010-08-18T20:43:00.000-06:00

Five (5) lessons about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady. During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the rain one night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down hi address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve. In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path. In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the> person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

NOW more than ever - Peace... Pass It On...