"Just a Dog"

The three words I must admit I really dislike is he’s “just a dog."  In fact, I not only dislike it I must also admit that I hate it and I don’t hate too many things.

Let me tell you a little about my “just a dog”.  He’s the reason I get up in the morning and walk in steamy hot weather or snow and ice.  He’s the reason I make sure I have plenty of food on hand for him at all times.  He’s the reason I go down the dog food aisle to bring home special treats to see his happy face and wagging tail.  He’s the reason I stay by his side when he has an epileptic seizure.  He’s the reason I have had extremely high vet bills.  He’s the reason I buy special food for him to decrease his seizures.  He’s the reason I am so excited to walk in the door when I get home. He’s the reason I go to the park and walk two miles in the heat.

This may sound horrible to someone who thinks he’s just a dog.  Now if you are one of those people you must wonder why anyone would have just a dog.  Why do I have just a dog?

I have just a dog because no one on the planet would stay by my side constantly while I’m sick.  No one sleeps by my side all night long every night and snuggles against my leg.  No one is as excited to see me as much as just a dog.  No one kisses my tears away like just a dog.  No one wakes me up with a happy face and wagging tail each morning.   No one stays by my side all the time like just a dog.  No one makes me a better person as much as just a dog.   

So who is just a dog.  His name is Scamp.  He is 10 years old and he has been having epileptic seizures since he was 1 ½ years old.  I had a person ask me once with all the seizures he has why I would keep him.  I keep him because he is part of my family. When we brought him into our home we brought him in for life.  If your child had epileptic seizures would you get rid of them?  Scamp has given our family so much more than we could ever give him and he asks for nothing in return. 

All just a dog wants is to be loved and taken care of properly.  What you get in return is everything they have to give.  How many people do that for you? So next time you think to yourself it’s just a dog….think again.  It’s not just a dog, it’s unconditional love and I don’t think anyone in my life loves me more than my just a dog. 

My family loves our Scamp and he will never be “just a dog”.

Jennifer Lawrence Wants Young Women to "Catch Fire"

I’ve always told my daughter, like all mothers do, to make sure she eats balanced meals. I nag her probably more than I should, and everyday I ask her what she has eaten at school. 

She is in college and is gone for the majority of the day. I give her plenty of money so she has no excuse not to eat. I’m proud to say she does make healthy food choices and I will take only some credit for that part. She is very health conscious, but she has on occasion told me she is fat. 

Young women tend to not want to eat. They are always worried about their weight. My daughter has said to me on more than one occasion that she thinks she is fat. If you know her, she is anything but fat. As her mother who loves her child more than life itself, I must admit that her self-assessment of her weight worries me more than just a little bit. 

Much of what is portrayed in magazines and on television are women who starve themselves sometimes to death. That to me is not sexy. In fact, if you’ve ever seen someone who is too skinny it makes you feel a little sick to your stomach. 

The first thing that comes to my mind is self-destruction and low self-esteem. Everyone wants to be perfect and what you see in a magazine many times is air brushed to make the subject look perfect—flawless, in fact. It’s all an illusion, like a magic trick.

Nobody on this planet is flawless and Hollywood is a large part of why some young girls want to starve themselves to death. You must be angry at any industry that allows our beautiful young women to feel less than perfect.

However, I was so proud to hear how actor Jennifer Lawrence (left) has become a voice against exactly what I’m complaining about. She has been fighting back against an industry that is helping to destroying our young women’s self-worth.

Hollywood has always been nothing but illusion and magic. Jennifer Lawrence has become Katniss Everdeen, her movie persona, in many ways—fighting against Hollywood like she fought in “Hunger Games” and now in “Catching Fire.”

“Somebody told me I was fat, that I was going to get fired if I didn’t lose a certain amount of weight,” the 23-year-old said. “They brought in pictures of me where I was basically naked, and told me to use them as motivation for my diet. It was just that.”

On top of feeling hurt, however, the actress says it makes her angry. “If anybody even tries to whisper the word ‘diet’, I’m like, ‘You can go f–k yourself,’” she said.

I believe she is indeed “catching fire” and fighting back in real life, as well as in her role as Katniss. You have to feel proud of her that she is brave enough to say this is wrong! She is a wonderful role model and I’m happy to know my daughter agrees with her as all young women should. Fight back, raise your voice and make changes. 

As women we come in all different shapes and sizes. No one is better than anyone else. We are not china dolls, but real women who deserve better from an industry that is clearly out of touch.

Jennifer Lawrence is not fat, just as my daughter and many others are not fat. As mothers we have to start teaching our daughters to be proud of who they are, no matter what shape or size they may be.

Eat healthy of course, but you have to splurge on occasion. Most important you must eat balanced meals three times a day. Must we continue to lose beautiful young women like Karen Carpenter (left) to eating disorders brought on by an industry that has been nothing but smoke and mirrors?

We all need to “catch fire” and fight back! Enjoy life, enjoy food and eat healthy! Be who you are and proud—and may the odds forever be in your favor!

The "21st Century Soap Operas"

As a child brought up in the 1960s and ‘70s, I remember the old time soap operas.  Shows such as “Days of Our Lives”, “Dark Shadows” and “General Hospital” bring back memories.  I could go on and on, but you get my point.  My mom didn’t watch these, but I do remember them very vividly just the same.

Today we have what I like to call the “21^st Century Soap Operas.” Shows like “The Walking Dead” with Andrew Lincoln.  BBC’s   “Sherlock”, starring my daughter’s favorite, Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch, Also, “Sleepy Hallow”, staring Tom Mison and last but certainly not least, “Supernatural”, with Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins.  Again, I could go on with more shows, but those are just a few.  The things these shows have in common are plenty of drama, good looking, sexy men and fan girls that go crazy over both the shows and these men.

My daughter, who is now 20, has made many new and close friends through these shows and her computer. The young people today tweet, blog and are on Tumblr.  They also text each other during these shows with the friends they have made through multi media.  They cry, complain and scream together.  They discuss and pass along pictures via the Internet about their favorite shows and the men they are literally “falling in love” with. 

Back in my day, we “fell in love” with guys like Donny Osmond and David Cassidy.  We had posters on our walls from Tiger Beat Magazine and 16 Magazine.  My daughter has posters on her wall as well, although they didn’t come from a magazine.  They came from being ordered via computer.  For instance she has a big poster of Benedict Cumberbatch on her wall like I had of Donny Osmond, although mine came from a magazine and hers came in the mail from ordering it through a computer. Everything seems to be done through the computer—including watching TV shows with a friend you met on the Internet.  Who, by the way, probably lives in another state.  The kids tweet and text during the show as if their friend is sitting right next to them and in a sense I suppose they are.  My daughter has a friend in New Jersey whom she has never met in person. They text constantly. They are now best friends.  It’s a new day and age for sure and it’s interesting to observe; technology has changed so much since I was a young girl myself.

The stars of these shows also tweet during their episodes as well, which creates more of an interest and yes even a frenzy from time to time.  Misha Collins from “Supernatural” is a perfect example of a star who tweets to his fans.  It’s a way to talk directly to their fans without being in the same room and that is quite amazing when you think about it. 

This interpersonal contact via social media is also good advertising for the star’s show and creates more interest when you get a personal quote directly from the stars themselves as you watch their latest episode with them.  No waiting for the next teen magazine to hit the stands!

  

When I was a young girl my friends and I would run to the corner store to get the newest edition of a teen magazine.  We would read it from cover to cover, pull out all the pictures of the guys we were in love with, and hang them on our doors and walls.  Now with the computer it has opened up a bigger world and you find more people with similar interests.

One thing leads to another, but a common thread today has become the computer.  I think it has made shows even more popular.  The stars of these shows tweet and that piques even more interest for both the actor as well as for the TV show.  This is also the new 21^st century way of advertising and marketing a show, and provides a direct link to the fans who love them.  I can’t imagine seeing a tweet from my teenage crush, Donny Osmond, back in the late 1960s or early ‘70s.  I would have lost my mind the way these girls and guys do today when their favorite star tweets—especially to them.  Somehow tweeting seems more personal and a way to better know the show and the stars.

 I believe the computer today is a double-edged sword.  It can be used for good and bad, like everything else in life.  Although my daughter has made wonderful and close friends through the computer and these TV shows, you still must be careful.  I think my opinion is that in this instance it’s been more of a positive than a negative in our home, to have the Internet play such a prominent role in day-to-day life.  These TV shows are drama-packed and full of excitement just like the young generation who loves and watches them each week. The Internet keeps the fans’ interest and allows the stars to keep in touch with their fan base in a safe environment.  It also allows young people like my daughter to make new friends she would never meet otherwise.  It opens a whole new world we never had in my generation.  Is this more good than bad? It’s your call, but in this instance I say it’s more of a good thing.

Long gone are the days of walking up to the corner store to buy the latest teen magazine.  Those were the good old days, but we must remember that these are the good old days for our children.  Each generation becomes more advanced and things continue to change like they always do.  That’s how life has always been.  Technology advances and that’s the way it should be.  The next generation will be even more advanced with exciting new technology always changing.  Yes, these are indeed the “good old days” for our children and these are the memories that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

May everyone’s memories keep them forever young and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that! 

The Most Important Room in the House

Sunday has always been family day in our home.  It's the one day we make sure to eat together, and it keeps us close.  The kitchen for us is probably the most important room in our house.  Not only have my daughter and I shared many hours cooking together I truly believe it has helped maintained open lines of communication between us. Cooking and talking makes the time go by fast, but it's a very important part of our family bond as well.

My daughter, who is now in her second year of college, has remained very close to me and I'm very proud of that fact.  She is heading into the nursing program soon and I contribute a large part of that to family values. We always knew where she was, what she was doing and who she was with.  I have always been a parent first and friend second. Kids need to know they are loved and I believe the most important way to show that love is to make sure you know what's happening in their lives.

Now that she is in college I really don't worry about her because I know she knows right from wrong.  She has always exercised good judgement and I trust her completely.  As a parent, that is the best gift you can receive from your child.  As parents my husband and I can't take all the credit because we have a child who has respected our judgement and I believe that says more about her than it does about us.

She turned 20 years old and she still wants to cook with me.  She still gets excited about the holidays and we still make Christmas Cookies together every year.  We are always together on Christmas Eve.  As a family every year we head to the Italian store Christmas Eve day.  We buy cold cuts, cheese, olives and bread and come home and partake in all the imported Italian food we bought.  It's been a tradition and it's always something we've done together as a family and we look forward to it each year.

I know some day she will get married and leave home, but I will always treasure the time I've spent with her. I hope that will continue after she has her own children.  I look forward to growing old with my husband and having everyone over for our Sunday meals.  I can see me in the kitchen with my daughter and grandchildren and I hope she will be as close to her children as I have been with her.  So indeed the kitchen is the most important place in our home.  I hope this carries on from generation to generation because family is the most important part of life and the only thing that will last.  Family love never dies and memories will last long after we are gone.

Behavior Of "The Bachelor" Inexcusable, But A Lesson May Be Learned

People are buzzing about "The Bachelor" on ABC. I watched it unfold and if it was true and unscripted this Jason is a total disappointment.

I felt so bad for Melissa. My heart absolutely broke for her. If this was actually true, I hope Melissa finds true happiness because she deserves it.

I find this so ironic that the guy who was so afraid of being hurt could actually hurt someone else so deeply. Especially knowing how much Melissa has been hurt in the past. I remember how Jason's brother was so verbal about not wanting Jason hurt. Yet Jason turns around and does the same thing to poor Melissa. How ironic!

Actually Melissa is better off without this guy, and though she may not realize it he did her a huge favor.

Jason through this whole process kept mentioning his son, Ty. However, what kind of example does this set for this little boy? Jason didn't think about Ty nor Melissa -- just himself and "following his heart". I'm sure Melissa and Ty during the last several months had formed some kind of bond. He not only hurt Melissa, but also hurt his son. This is a very selfish person who thinks of nothing but himself. He acts like such a great father, but in reality he is no such thing. He didn't even try to work on the relationship with Melissa. The message he sent his son is that nothing is worth fighting for; just follow your heart and your head. What kind of example is that?


"The Bachelor", Jason Mesnick, and son Ty; what sort of lesson is being taught to the little guy?


Well, if Molly thinks he won't hurt her she is mistaken. Men like this are just interested in the flavor of the month. The "grass is always greener" syndrome. Certainly he is no one you would consider having a long term relationship with.

Melissa showed a lot of class and she can hold her head up high. The man who gets her is a very lucky guy. She is not only pretty outside, but also inside. I hope this whole experience doesn't change her. Because not all guys are like this and it's worth the wait for the right man. Jason is not a man he is a boy and needs to grow up. To do what he did to her on national television was inexcusable and nothing a real man would ever do.

So go ahead Jason -- follow your heart and head. You will fail every time. If you think that a successful realtionship isn't constant work you are fooling no one but yourself. As someone who has been married to the same man for 17 years, I can honestly say we have worked every day to keep our relationship going. It isn't easy and if you aren't committed to the other person it will never work. No, you aren't happy all the time. You have peaks and valleys, but you endure and work. Why do you work on the relationship? Because not only does it affect you, but it affects others. If there are children involved it's even more important to work and fight to have a successful relationship. Because the peaks are worth more than the valleys! Are you happy all the time? Absolutely not. Is it worth fighting for? Absolutely!

The lesson here is that anything worth having is worth fighting for.

Seizures In Dogs: You Can Stop Them With A Bag Of Ice

We have a precious little Jack Russell Terrier named Scamp. He's a wonderful part of our family and like most people who have pets, we love him. We have gone to the ends of the earth to take care of him and make sure he has all he needs to be happy.

He is a very special dog because first he was saved as a little puppy and second he is one of many dogs who have epilepsy. This has broken our hearts over the last three-and-a-half years. To see the animal you love so dearly have seizures is heartbreaking, to say the least. It has cost us both emotionally and financially as a family. We love this dog so much and he's such a big part of our family. We do our best for him. Even though at times we couldn't afford the cost at the emergency vet in the middle of the night, we took him there.

Recently my husband and I did research on the Internet regarding dogs with epilepsy. What we found was amazing. Something the eight or so vets we have seen over the past years had never even mentioned to us. It's as simple as keeping a bag of ice in your freezer.

We had never tried this until this morning at 5:00 a.m. when Scamp began seizuring. I've never seen anything work so fast in my life. As I write this this morning I'm still amazed and can't believe that what ended a seziure was as simple as a bag of ice and 2 teaspoons of vanilla ice cream to elevate his blood sugar level.

Here's how it works: all you do is fill a food storage bag (at least one quart size) with crushed ice and leave it in the freezer. When your dog starts to seizure remove the bag of ice from the freezer and place it firmly on his lower back. Scamp came out of his seizure in about 30 to 60 seconds. Never have I seen this happen so quickly. I know I keep using this word but it was truly amazing. There's no other word for it.

He came out of the seizure smoothly and with no post-ictal symptoms whatsoever. He began to walk and followed my husband and I right into the kitchen. I went to the freezer and took out vanilla ice cream and took two teaspoons out of the carton. I placed them in a microwave safe bowl and zapped it for about 10 seconds, mushed it, put it in his clean food dish and he lapped it up. He was fine. He wanted to go outside so my husband followed him out to make sure he would be OK. He went to the bathroom, roamed around the yard for a bit and came in and went back to sleep on our bed. I'm still in shock.


The blue area above is approximately where you need to place the ice bag using the "ice pack method"


It is now 11:00 am and he is doing just fine. The emotional and financial burden this has placed on our family has been so very difficult over the years. Not to mention how upset our daughter gets when this happens. To see your precious little dog clench and seizure is not an easy thing to endure, but we did. Now to find out that a simple bag of ice on his back and two teaspoons of vanilla ice cream is all it takes to get him out of an epileptic seizure just makes me crazy.

Why over the past three-and-a-half years hadn't one vet even mentioned this method? Especially knowing how hard a seizure can be on our little guy's body. This makes me more than angry. Not to mention all the emotional things we go through as a family. Watching my daughter have tears streaming down her face as we try to get the seizure under control. Then we have to take him to the emergency vet, knowing how much money they will charge.

This "ice pack method" has been in medical journals for the past five years. Scamp has been having seizures since he was about two years old. This has been going on for over three years and neither our regular vet nor any of the many emergency vets had said one thing about using something as simple as a bag of ice and two teaspoons of ice cream. Better they pump him full of medication, shave his paw and put a needle in his vein I guess.

I hope I'm wrong in what I'm thinking, but I'm wondering if money isn't the root of all evil. How else can you have a little 15-pound dog go through seizure after seizure and not mention something as simple as a bag of ice to try to help him and his owners? I'm more than stunned. However, in this day and age why should I be?

If you want more information about the "ice pack method", click HERE.

Books Don't Have To Be New To Be Enjoyed

If you enjoy reading a good book like I do, one way to save money is to take advantage of used bookstores.

They're a great alternative to having access to reading material you enjoy, at an affordable price. Of course, you probably won't find the books that are on the current best sellers list. However, they have many great books that may be older. And if you haven't read it yet, it's new to you, right?

Most of the books I find are in very good condition. They may have only been read once. For instance, I'm reading a series of books right now that have twelve in the series. The price in the regular book store, new, is $14.99 per book. Yesterday I paid only $3.95 for book no. 4 in the series at my local used bookstore. That's a saving of $11.00. Needless to say I was very excited.

The books in a used bookstore usually have two prices on the cover. One price is with "trade in". The other price is what you pay if you haven't brought in other used books to trade with. All this means is that you bring your old paperbacks to the store and they give you credit for each one. It's a great way to get rid of old books that are just laying around the house. Also a wonderful way to help a local small business while at the same time putting a little extra money in your pocket.


They're used, but so what?

My daughter is reading the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer. I paid full price for these books. Yesterday I saw this series at the used bookstore for one-quarter of what I paid. You can encourage your kids to read at an affordable price too.

Your whole family can get many hours of enjoyable entertainment, and reading is a great stress reliever for everyone.

Make reading fun for the whole family. Have a family reading night. Take turns discussing your books together. This is another way to talk to each other and it helps keep the family close. We all need outlets right now and that includes our kids. Don't think for a minute our kids don't feel stress too.

Keeping lines of communication open with our kids is important and this is another way to achieve this at an affordable price.

We all deserve to relax and enjoy a good book!

Republicans Not Credible When They Cry About Spending

There is a huge divide in the Haves and Have Nots in this country and it's getting downright ugly now.

The Republicans, the party of the Haves, are frankly out of touch with middle America and most middle-class Americans are fed up.

President Obama is trying to boost the economy and get it going again. Republicans keep saying the Obama Administration is increasing government spending. Well, the GOP didn't seem to be too worried about government spending during the Bush years. Especially when you were the recipient of all the tax cuts and perks you received. I guess that was okay.



Now that the poor and middle class are finally getting the help we need you worry about government spending. Republicans are the party of spending, too; just take a look back at history. The country always goes south during the times when the Republicans have been completely in power. High deficits, tax cuts for the wealthy and deregulation are just a few of their hallmarks.

If the Republicans are so worried about government spending why don't they all take a pay cut or better yet give up their pay for a few years until the country is back on track? Especially you, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. You want the people of your state to not receive extended unemployment benefits. Why don't you give up your paycheck too, and see how it goes? Also give up that big mansion you live in courtesy of the taxpayers in your state. Yes, some of them may be unemployed. People need unemployment insurance right now to pay the bills and feed their families. Come on, Mr. Jindal, why don't you give it a try? If the Republicans want America to cut back they should be willing to do the same. I'm sure they all have plenty of money to get by with. You expect us to get by on nothing; then you should be willing to do the same. Don't expect more from others than you do from yourself. That's how I was brought up!

If they don't get paid we'll see how fast they can come up with a solution. I'm sure we will all be amazed at how fast they can solve the problems that we the poor and middle class are facing right now if it hit them in the pocket book too.

Republicans should come up with fresh ideas, not the same ole stuff. Look at the last eight years. Wake up; it didn't work! People are getting more and more upset with the GOP.

One last word of advice for the Republicans: You can't win elections without the poor and middle class on your side.

Obama Again Shows His Leadership Skills

"We will recover" stated our President. Last night's speech reaffirmed in my mind that I made the right decision when I voted for Barack Obama last November.

President Obama delivered an inspiring speech to a joint session of Congress and our country. He spoke about energy, health care, education and the auto industry.

I'm positive this man is leading the country in the right direction. He is committed to the people of this country and especially our children. After only 35 days in office he's doing an amazing job.

The GOP has done nothing but say "No". However, I haven't heard one inspiring person nor have I heard any new ideas. They have the same old stale ideas such as tax cuts for the rich. Don't they realize that prosperity really doesn't trickle down, but actually rises up. The nation isn't upset with the poor, they are mad at the rich.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is the GOP's "rising star". If that is all they have they certainly have a long hard road ahead of them. You don't win elections with this type of uninspiring and strange perfomance that Mr. Jindal gave in response to President Obama last night.

Lousiana got kicked in the teeth by the Republicans during Hurricane Katrina. Yet here was Bobby Jindal trying to use that as an example in the GOP's favor. The only word I keep coming up with for Mr. Jindal is strange.


Good, inspiring!



Strange.


The American people are well aware that we have a long hard road ahead of us. However, Republicans are not making it any easier. We are Americans first, not Democrats or Republicans. This country is in trouble and we need to come together, which has been what President Obama has continually said.

The people are mad at the Republicans for what's happened the last eight years. We spoke loud and clear in this past election, but somehow they still haven't gotten the message. Without new young blood and fresh ideas from the GOP they have no hope of rising any time soon. If all they have are people such as Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin and Rush Linbaugh, then they are in deep trouble.

The world is changing all around, but the GOP remains standing on the same platform that the train left behind months ago.

I will leave you with these parting words from our President. "Someday," he said, "years from now, our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed."

That's a responsibility we all share -- Democrats and Republicans.

Mean Kids: They're Out There; How Do You Handle Them, As A Parent?

How mean can some teenage girls be? Very mean! Now how do I know this? I was a teenaged girl, and now I'm raising a teenage girl.


The hardest part, I'm finding out, about being a parent is knowing that you can't stop your kids from getting hurt. Part of being a good parent is knowing when to get involved and when to just let them work it out for themselves.


Some teenaged girls are very mean and my daughter is finding that out right now. The hardest part is finding out that the person you thought was your best friend is really in competition with you and truly isn't your friend.


Being a teenager is tough enough as it is, especially today. When the person you thought was your friend stabs you in the back it hurts. Not only does it hurt your child, but as a parent it makes you mad and hurts you as well.




How you handle any situation with your child is always tough for any parent. Do I keep quiet and let her continue to get hurt or do I say something? You try to handle it calmly, but emotions sometimes get in the way.


The best way I found is to bring it to their attention, and hope they make the right choice to not hang around with the offending "friend" any longer. However, you can't choose your kids' friends for them and as long as it isn't anything harmful to their bodies like drugs or any substance, sometimes you have to watch from the sidelines.

The thing about my daughter is that she always thinks the best of everyone. She doesn't want to believe anyone would intentionally want to hurt her. However, that's not always the case. If this was the first instance, I would've shut my mouth, but this is the second time and I had to say something to her. I don't trust this particular so called "friend" and with good reason. I guess it doesn't matter what I believe; my daughter has to come to terms with it in her own way.

However, this so called friend of hers is a very lonely, unhappy person. My personal belief is I think hurting others makes her feel better about herself. My daughter feels sorry for her, but you can't be friends with someone you feel sorry for. Especially if hurting you makes them feel better about themselves. That isn't friendship; it's abuse.

The awkward part about the situation is that not only do I know this child, but I know her parents as well. She has proved to my daughter before that she isn't really her friend and she's doing it again to her. I have to let my daughter work this out for herself, but when you're a parent, that's the most difficult thing to do. That being said, my daughter is smart; I brought her up the very best I could and I trust her judgment.

She told me last night, "Mom, trust me. I can handle this," and I know she is very capable and is intelligent enough to take care of this situation her own way. So now I sit back and pray and bite my tongue.

The Internet is where this situation came to light, and that's something that I never had to deal with as a teenaged girl. The Internet and Instant Messaging isn't always a good thing. People can be mean and stab you in the back and not have to face you. Basically, it's just a new way of how someone can be a coward. Just what we all need to complicate raising our children!

I recently read this on line. If you're like me -- raising a teenage girl in today's world -- I believe it's worth taking a little time to read.

If I'm thankful for anything during this time it's that my daughter and I have an open relationship. We talk and I hope I guide her in the right direction. The hardest part about being a parent is knowing when to back off. Believe me, I know how hard that can be!

Another Food Tip To Save Money: Leftovers!!

I recently found a brand new recipe that I tried. It's another inexpensive meal and also filling. This is another casserole-type dish. This particular recipe's also great because the vegetables are mixed into the casserole, so that's one less pot to dirty. Great for a working mom to just throw in the oven, and it's ready in under an hour. I almost feel like Rachael Ray; however, it isn't a 30 minute meal. Close, though!



CHICKEN VEGGIE BAKE

1 package (6 oz) stuffing mix (any flavor )
1 1/2 lb. chicken tenders (cut into bite size pieces)
1/3 cup of sour cream
1 can of condensed (10 3/4 ounce) cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables (thawed and drained)


Grease 13X9 baking dish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare stuffing mix according to directions on box. Put on the side.

Mix chicken, sour cream, soup, and vegetables and put in the greased baking dish, top with stuffing.

Bake 30-40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through

Serves 6

If you make this recipe, remember to put the frozen vegetables in the refrigerator to thaw. I usually place the frozen vegetables in the fridge the night before I make this dish. However, if you forget or decide to make this at the last minute, I'm sure you can partially defrost veggies in the microwave oven.

I served this meal with applesauce on the side. It was a hit with my family and there was enough left over for lunch the next day.

Many times I have leftovers and there isn't enough for dinner the next evening. What I do is heat it up for lunch. Everyone enjoys it because it makes lunch a little more interesting. Sometimes I'll throw in a tossed salad with the leftovers and there's a wonderful lunch everyone will enjoy!

Another way to save money is by making sure you eat leftovers. If you don't want it for dinner why not lunch? My family is great about eating leftovers, but if you have picky people in your family it may not be as easy to pass it off. However, remind them no one should be wasting food with this economy. Many kids go to bed hungry every night; we need to be thankful for what we have.

I hope your family will enjoy this hearty and inexpensive meal!

Casseroles A Great Way To Stretch The Dollar

Meals on a budget are sometimes hard to come up with if you don't have an arsenal of recipes on your side to help. I have a lot of them and I'm one of those people who love to share a recipe with others. These people who say it's a "family secret" drive me crazy. Why not share? I've never understood that side of people. That being said, I'm going to share some of my family's favorite budget meals. Your family will never know it cost so little to prepare!

Tuna Noodle Casserole is very easy to make and cost efficient. My family loves it and it's great when I can make them something they enjoy and still keep my food budget in tact. This is a recipe I found in a cookbook and added my own touches.

I believe in women helping women. Sharing a recipe to help feed someone's family in these trying times is a small way to help others.



TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE

1/2 bag of egg noodles (Medium to Large Noodle)
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cans, 10 3/4 ounce can condensed Cream of Mushroom soup
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cans tuna in olive oil - 9 1/4 ounce can (not drained)
3/4 cup of grated parmesan or romano cheese (reserve 1/4 cup) for top of casserole
1/4 cup of Italian or plain bread crumbs for top of casserole
additional butter for top of casserole

375 degree oven

Cook noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.

In a separate bowl mix 1/4 cup of Parmesan or Romano cheese with 1/4 cup of bread crumbs and set aside. Spray a 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray; set aside.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan cook celery and onion in butter till tender but not brown. Stir in the flour; stir in condensed soup. Gradually stir in milk and 1/2 cup of Parmesan or Romano cheese . Stir continually over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. Carefully stir in tuna with oil and the cooked drained noodles. Stir till well mixed.

Turn noodle mixture into casserole dish; spread evenly. Sprinkle top of casserole with the cheese and bread crumb mixture and dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until top is lightly brown.

Makes 6 servings

Serve with a vegetable or salad and it's the perfect meal. This is delicious and hearty. The best part is, it costs very little to make. This won't break the budget!

My twist to this dish is the cheese in the casserole and the cheese and bread crumb mixture on top. I also think it's much more flavorful with tuna in olive oil. However, if you want to use tuna in water by all means go ahead. Just make sure to drain the water out of the tuna before adding to the mixture. Experiment and see what you and your family enjoy most.

I think the fun part of cooking is changing it a little. Come up with your own variations. Try little things and see what you and your family like best.

Enjoy this meal!

Those Old Standbys, The Coupons, Still The Best Way To Save Money

Let's face it: the economy isn't getting better fast enough for most Americans. Even though the Stimulus Bill passed, it's going to take a while for us to see results. In the meantime, most of us have to find ways to get through.

One of the ways I have found to get more "bang for the buck" is coupons. I've always clipped coupons, but even more so now. You have to be careful, however, and make sure the coupon is really the best deal. Stores have their own products, so be a little flexible and make sure to take advantage of the best deal possible. I've noticed no difference in taste or quality, for instance, in a Meijer-brand product versus a name brand product.

Every week in the mail I receive flyers from five to six different grocery stores. Try to take time and go through these and see where you can find the best deal. Sometimes it's worth it. You may find several things on sale to make it worth a trip. If you have a coupon PLUS the sale price, you can really save quite a bit of money.

Another way to save money is with coupons online. Almost everyone has a website now so before you make a trip or go out to dinner check the websites for coupons or special offers. You will be surprised what you can find out there.

You can even find coupons in junk mail. So make sure to go through your mail carefully; you may be throwing out money!




I receive most of my coupons in my Saturday newspaper. I go through and clip them right away. Don't be ashamed to go out and buy two or three more papers if there are a lot of good coupons. You can save even more money. You'll also be doing a good thing for your local newspaper. Let's try to keep all the American jobs we can. Especially now that newspapers are having such a hard time too.

One more way to save money is discount cards. Make sure you have them where you need them. Even the movie theaters have discount cards. Every time you go to a movie give them the card and you get points. They give you things such as a free popcorn, soda, or even a free movie pass. Discount cards are free and it pays to ask if you don't know. I have a card for our movie theater and have already gotten free popcorn by only using it twice.

There are hundreds of coupons in circulation. Make sure you take advantage of every one you can. Everyone has to do what they can to get by and clipping coupons is still the best way to make your dollar stretch.

One thing you must remember, however, is to check the dates on these coupons. Make sure they haven't run out. What I do every week after I clip my new coupons is to go through the old ones. Pitch out the ones that have expired. I keep them in order of date so the oldest ones are on top. You can figure out your own system and what works best for you.

Have a great weekend and start clipping those coupons!

Keeping Yourself Soft And Fragrant Doesn't Have To Be Expensive

I'm a typical female when it comes to feeling good about myself. One way I can still do that on a budget that is very tight is with shower gels, lotions and bath spray.

The good thing about these products is that you can find them in just about every store -- Target and corner drug stores like CVS, etc. However, my favorite place to purchase these products is at Bath and Body Works. You can find great sales most of the time and the fragrances are wonderful, and the stores are located in most malls. You can also check them out online.

I love all their products, but my favorites are Japanese Cherry Blossom and Dancing Waters. My daughter loves Sweet Pea. Personally I think they all smell great and it just depends on your preference.

I signed up in the store and gave them my e-mail and I'm always alerted regarding sales, etc. The products range from bath products, including shampoos and conditioners, to candles.





The other good thing is that most of these products will last a very long time. With shower gel you need only about a nickel-sized amount on a bath sponge or puff and it lathers up very nicely. It smells great and is refreshing. After a long, stressful day what's better than a nice bath or shower? Light a candle and enjoy!

I still believe that a nice hot bath with products like these will do anyone a world of good. With the terrible economy now, we especially need time once in awhile for ourselves. A bath with wonderful products such as this is a very inexpensive way to accomplish this and not feel guilty.

The other thing is you don't have to spend a lot of money. Maybe one shower gel, one body spray and one lotion. It really won't cost much and you can always add items when you have a little money. That way, you shouldn't feel guility to spend a little cash on yourself.

Again, I believe these products are made in the USA, in Ohio. So feel good about that too! One compaint I have is I wish companies would start proudly displaying on their packages "Made in the USA". I pay attention to these labels and try to buy everything that is made in this country. We need to start taking care of our own people here in America. Making sure everyone who wants a job has a job. One way to accomplish this is make sure to read the labels carefully. I think it's worth the extra effort, and so will that American family who can keep their job.

Another great American pastime is baseball and I'm proud to announce that my husband is now writing for TheBaseballPage.com. If you or someone in your family loves baseball this is the place for you. Great articles and lots of historical information. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

Have a great and stress-free day!

Old Standby Noxzema Still A Cost Efficient Way To Having Great-Looking Skin

With an enconomy that continues to be terrible, I keep trying to find new ways to save money and cut corners.

I am 47 now, a mother of a teenager and married to the same man for almost 17 years. I have never been one during the course of our marriage to spend too much money, but now I have even cut back more.

I hope my husband appreciates this about me. I don't believe I am cheap, but I try to stretch our money as far as I possibly can.

I used to use facial products, eye creams, etc. If you're like me, you know these products can run into a lot of money. Well, I obviously ran out of these products and I refuse to spend anywhere near the amount of money these products can cost today. However, being a woman, wife and mother, I want to feel good about myself. After 17 years of marriage I still want my husband to be attracted to me. I also want my daughter to think her mother looks younger than her age.

Now how do you do this on a tight budget without breaking the bank? I found the perfect product and it has been around for ages. Now I bought this product and as far as I know it's made in the USA. It's distributed by Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio.

What is this product you ask? Good ole Noxzema. I have been using this every morning when I wake up and every evening before I go to bed. It is refreshing and the best part is that it only cost me $3.99 for a 14 oz. jar. I've been using Noxzema daily since last October and have found no difference in my skin whatsoever. In fact, I may like Noxzema more than the other products I have tried over the years.





My skin looks and feels good. My budget is in tact. I can still feel good about myself. Now I feel even better because it's saving my family the precious money we need so badly in these hard economic times. We've had one of the worst winters in Michigan in a long time and it isn't over yet. However, my skin looked great through it all!

If there is any silver lining to this economy it's that we have all learned to appreciate the small things in life. The other thing I have learned is that my family and I are a tough bunch. Over the last couple of years I have learned to cut costs and this is one area where I have made a significant cost cut. However, I am happy with the product and the results, and that is the most valuable and important part.

I am going to dedicate my next few blogs to products that can make a woman feel good about herself without breaking the budget. Especially now, we need to do things that make us feel good about ourselves. If we feel good about ourselves it can only help our family. I have done that without the expense of products that I really don't need.

Most of us have familes to feed and children to put through college. However, taking care of your skin for pennies a day won't make you feel guility. On top of that maybe I and others like me can help keep someone in Ohio from losing their job at Procter and Gamble. I hope so!

Don't Sweat The Mess When Baking Cookies With The Family

My husband and daughter are both very busy most of the time. My husband is very busy with his job as Managing Editor at SET Magazine (Sports and Entertainment Today). He also is a writer and works in local television. My daugter is a freshman in high school. On top of that she is in band and also an Equestrian.

The holidays are the perfect time to make things special at home. Christmas holidays are the busiest time of the year not to mention the most expensive. I try to make everything festive and fun leading up to Christmas. We enjoy being together as a family and I want it to be the happiest it can be.

One of the ways to make things festive is to bake cookies. My daughter and I bake cookies every year and have fun decorating them. We get my husband somewhat involved with the decorating process; however, his favorite part is the eating process. Sorry honey, but you definitley can't bake.

Most of the baking we do is usually with an Italian flare because my family background happens to be Italian. Over the years, however, we have tried many other types of cookies and they have become part of our family holiday baking tradition as well.

We make everything from Struffoli (Italian honey drenched fritters),rum balls, anise cookies to good ole American type cookies from sugar to mint chocolate chip. My husband doesn't like anise so if you or someone in your famiily doesn't like anise flavor (licorice) you can substitute with any extract (almond, lemon, vanilla etc.)

This first cookie we make is one of my daughter's favorites. It's delicious and fun because you can decorate them with icing and little candies. Kids love to decorate cookies. If your kitchen gets a little messy, it's a small price to pay for family fun and togetherness.


CREAM CHEESE CUTOUT COOKIES

1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Almond Frosting (recipe follows)
Assorted candies for decoration

In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until well combined. Add sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract; beat well. In a small bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to cream cheese mixture; beat until well mixed. Divide dough in half. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out dough, half at a time, to 1/8 -inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut out with cookies cutters. Place two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Frost cookies with Almond Frosting; decorate with assorted candies, if desired.

ALMOND FROSTING

In a small bowl, beat 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of softened butter and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract until smooth. For piping consistency, beat in 4 to 5 teaspoons milk. For spreading consistency, add a little more milk. If desired, tint with food coloring.

The two main tips I have for these cookies is make sure to use butter and also extracts -- not imitation flavor. This will make a big difference in your cookie's taste.

These cookies are so much fun to decorate. I buy an assortment of candies from Michael's. You can decorate these with the little silver candies, sprinkles, and colored sugars.

My dogs also love these cookies. Don't forget they are a big part of our family too!

The holidays can be stressful on everyone, but relieve some of the stress by baking and having fun with your family during the holiday season! Slow down a little and enjoy each other -- family togetherness and love that is what Christmas is all about. No present can replace love and happiness.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

P.S. Don't forget to have the kids leave cookies for Santa! Homemade cookies -- that's one sure way to get on Santa's Nice List!

Ham Wraps Quick, Easy Appetizers Your Kids Can Help You Make

I love the holidays and I enjoy all the cooking and preparation that leads to the festivities.

My daughter who is now 15 years old helps me out with everything. She will be in America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year and has been very busy leading up to Thanksgiving. However, she asked me the other day when we were going to start baking and cooking. I thought this year she wouldn’t want to get involved with all the preparations, but she surprised me.

This is allowing us to become closer and talk, while at the same time it teaches her how to cook. At 15 years old she does a pretty good job of cooking, but she started helping me with little jobs in the kitchen when she was small. I always took time and made it as fun as possible starting with her Easy Bake oven.

I’ve tried to teach my daughter during our cooking marathons to always make sure everything tastes terrific, but at the same time to try to keep the cost down. Not an easy task in this economy! However, there are some things you can do to keep the cost down. One thing I’ve found is that you don’t necessarily have to buy brand name products. If you can get them on sale, great, but if not, I’ve found the store brand products (Meijer,etc.) taste just as good. The other thing I’ve noticed is that the week before a holiday most stores have wonderful sales on groceries. Look at the weekend flyers and compare prices to make sure you get the best deal.

Another example is cream cheese. I love the Philadelphia brand, but if you are putting it in a dip or appetizer it doesn’t really matter.

Here is a quick appetizer you can make with your kids. This is fun and will get children in the kitchen so you can spend more time with them during the busy holiday season.

I’ve used prosciutto (dry-cured Italian ham), which is very expensive, but I’ve also tried deli ham. They both taste great. I’ve found deli ham as low as $2.99/lb. at my local deli counter. I also make sure I’ve blanched the asparagus spears before my daughter even gets into the kitchen so they are cooled and dried completely. That way you don’t worry about your kids getting burned and you can get started right away.

Also a little added note, I am from Michigan, and Michigan ranks third in the nation for asparagus production. So I can boost the economy a bit as well!


ITALIAN HAM & ASPARAGUS WRAPS



1 8 Oz. package cream cheese
1 teaspoon of dried chives
1 teaspoon parsley
Salt to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
¼ teaspoon of lemon juice
½ lb. ham or prosciutto (at least 10 pieces of ham)
10 large asparagus spears trimmed and blanched for a few minutes to retain crispness.

Let cream cheese come to room temperature. In a bowl mix cream cheese, chives, parsley, salt, pepper and lemon. Set aside. Place a slice of ham on counter or cutting board and spread thin layer of cream cheese on the meat with a spoon. Place a piece of asparagus on top of the cream cheese and top of the ham slice and roll. Cut each roll into pieces. About 4 to 5 pieces per ham slice.

Makes about 40-50 bite sized pieces.

These little appetizers are great to serve with a glass of wine before dinner. Ham wraps taste great and they don’t cost much to make.

So get the ham on sale and no name brand cream cheese. This is something you can make that will make the holidays a little more festive while being affordable at the same time.

Most of all, get your kids in the kitchen and spend time with them during the holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Stress in Michigan Is Nothing New

Stress here in the Detroit Metro Area has been a way of life for many years. A saying I heard recently: “When the United States gets a cold, Michigan gets the flu.” I have lived in Michigan my whole life, and I believe truer words have never been spoken.

I am very upset with Congress, again. Auto executives yesterday pleaded with them for some kind of financial relief and all they did was put them through the wringer. I didn’t see Congress treat their banker buddies on Wall Street as disrespectfully as they treated the auto executives from Michigan. Yes, of course the Auto Industry is somewhat to blame, but they made the cars that were in demand. Yes, all of America wanted their big SUVs so that is what the auto industry gave them. Now Congress wants to put all the blame on the Big Three. How many members of Congress have or had these big SUVs?

I keep hearing about how great small businesses are. If that’s true, don’t you think by letting the auto industry go under you will affect small businesses across this country? Who do you think supplies many of the parts for the auto industry? The auto industry doesn’t just mean the Detroit Metro Area – it also includes small businesses across the country. The Detroit Metro Area gets a whole lot of beating up by the media, but I’m here to tell you some of the most wonderful down-to-earth people live in this area, and they are decent, hard working people with wonderful families who deserve better.

It seems like anything to help the middle class is taboo in Washington, D.C. Oh sure, help the rich right and left, but middle class and poor people? Forget it, you’re on your own! If you want help to stop a foreclosure on a poor or middle class home, too bad. If you’re rich, start lining up at the front door of Congress because they are handing out all the billions to you guys.


So after the Wall Street bailout, is there anything left for the U.S. auto workers and the millions of people who depend on that industry?


I’m sick of Congress laying most of the blame on the middle class about the financial situation in this country. I’ll tell you who is to blame for this mess. It’s all the wealthy, greedy people in this country. Do you want the truth? I’ll tell you exactly what happened, because it happened to my family and many others. Big business didn’t want to pay the American worker enough to make a comfortable living. They were greedy and wanted more profit to line their own pockets. So what did they do? Out-sourced our jobs and sent them overseas for cheap labor so they could make more money. They raised prices on everything from food to heating your home with deregulations on just about everything. Well, now they have completed their mission. However, who can buy all these products if we (middle class America) don’t have the money to spend? We don’t have jobs. Maybe that’s why the economy is in such a mess. If we the middle class don’t have decent paying jobs and money to spend, who is going to buy all these products? To me this is Economics 101 and Washington needs to go back to school so they can figure all this out. I’ll tell you what will help. GET OUR DECENT PAYING JOBS BACK! The middle class doesn’t want a hand out; we want our jobs and homes back. We want to be able to pay our bills and still have a little money left over. We want to be able to buy food to feed our families without worrying what bill not to pay this month. We want our children to have presents under the Christmas tree. We want to feel like we make a difference in this country, because we do. We want to not have to fight with our spouse because of all the stress. We want to be able to buy clothes and shoes for our children. Our kids want to be able to go to college without a $45,000 debt hanging over their head when they graduate. We want our pride back. Is that too much to ask for? Apparently it is.


Supply and demand: America's thirst for big SUVs like this one prompted the Big 3 to make them at the expense of smaller, more fuel efficient cars


You see, Washington didn’t want to help and acknowledge the problem until it hit their rich banker and Wall Street friends. The stock market drops and all of a sudden we have a financial crisis. Well, we’ve had a financial crisis for years here in America, but they didn’t want to pay attention until it hit them and all their buddies. What did they do? Race to help them while the rest of the country continues to drown. Job well done!

When you don’t help the auto industry you don’t help get our jobs back. The economy won’t get better until the middle class is restored. Why can’t Washington figure this out?

On the front page of the Detroit Free Press today it says, “Congress Ready to Sink Bailout” and “Anxiety Is the New Normal”. Need I say more?

I have hope, however, with all of the above now that President-elect Barack Obama won, and I, like millions of Americans, can’t wait until the day he takes office. I am also happy about a new Congress who will also take charge in January. I know things won’t get better overnight, but I know they will get better eventually.

On that note I wish you a good day, and a bright and happy future!

How to Keep A Parading Kid (and others) Warm? Here's How!

My daughter’s high school marching band will be in The America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year in Detroit. I am so proud of the band, and of course Nicole. However, putting that aside, this started to create a problem in the beginning and that was: how to keep her warm all morning beginning at 7:00 a.m. until the time she returns home?

Keep in mind, we live in Michigan and November can be pretty cold. Our neighbors are Canada and I can see Russia from my back door. You betcha! Of course, I’m just kidding about Russia, but we do get the Canadian winds and we are also surrounded by the Great Lakes. I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life and I know from experience how cold November can be, especially early in the morning. For instance, we already have snow on the ground and it’s only November 17th.

When I went to our parent’s monthly band meeting, they mentioned getting the kids a product called Under Armour. Now I had never heard of this product before-- so off I went dragging my poor mom along to our local sports store. Ouch! We looked at this product and it looked to us like long underwear except for the price. For a top and bottom it would cost around $127.00, and that’s before the tax. If you can afford it by all means go buy it because I heard it really does keep you very warm. However, if you are like I am and you’re on a budget and about a month away from Christmas this is simply not an option. My first reaction was being mad how expensive the Under Armour is. Now my problem remains: how do I keep my child warm and be able to afford it?

My first thought was to layer her clothes. This is affordable, but it may be bulky. I have to keep in mind she is marching and I also have to get it under her band uniform. So we continued to look around the sports store. We ended up finding some pretty cool products all for under $4.00 each. We found hand warmers with an adhesive body warmer which was included in the package. The hand warmers with body warmer cost only $2.79. I also found mini hand warmers and foot warmers. The mini hand warmers were $0.99 and the foot warmers were $2.99.

The company that distributes this product is called Grabber. Even though they are made in Japan they are distributed by Grabber which is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. So hopefully I am helping keep some Michigan people working. The economy could sure use it around here.
The website is http://www.warmers.com/, which shows them in bulk. However, the warmers I bought were sold individually and that made it more affordable. My suggestion would be to go to your local sports store first and just ask about them.

The only negative is you can only use them once. The mini hand warmers last about 7+ hours according to the package. The foot warmers last 5+, regular hand warmers last 7+, and the body warmer last 12+ hours, which is plenty of time for our use. Regardless, it's a great and affordable product.


Another advantage the products have, other than being affordable, is that they are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and odorless. Plus they have all-natural ingredients and are non-combustible, so they are very safe. Like any product you use, please make sure to read all the directions on the package.

After I picked up this product I drove to Target and bought long johns for my daughter. The top and the bottom were $4.99 each. I may still add layers depending on how cold it is on Thanksgiving, but all and all I am able to keep my daughter quite warm for under $20.00. In this day in age that is saying something.

These hand and foot warmers could have many uses. If kids are playing in the snow for long periods of time this is a great source of added warmth that is quite affordable. They would be great for any winter outdoor sport. My mom has arthritis and I’m sure it would be wonderful for helping that also.

Again, the website is http://www.warmers.com/ and the phone number is 800-423-1233. What a super way to stay warm during winter with these wonderful, affordable products!

Good luck to my daughter’s band in the Thanksgiving Day Parade! We’re all proud of you!!!

Here’s to the beginning of a long, but hopefully warmer winter. Cheers!

Barack The Vote!

Yes, America did "Barack the vote"!

It was a moment that brought tears to your eyes. It was a moment that brought hope to humanity. It was a moment that will mend many fences. It was a moment that showed the world we are Americans first and it is a bond that holds us all together in this country.

Yes, it’s true that there hasn’t been a woman president yet. But what this proved to me is that anything is possible with drive, determination and hard work. I can now say to my daughter, a middle-class child, "Yes you can be anything you want to be and here is the proof."

Mothers and fathers can now say to their children -- “Joe or Josie the Child”-- that with hard work, determination and a belief in yourself, you can be anything you choose to be. We can now mean it. Even a child who is poor or middle class without all the money has hope and an opportunity to become President of the United States.

I don’t want to bring race into this post, mainly because I have always believed we are all mutts. White, black, Hispanic, Asian -- whatever you think your background is, there is a mix in you somewhere. I look at my daughter and to me she looks Asian. She has beautiful long dark brown hair and her eyes have a lovely tilt. Now as far as I know we are Italian and Polish, but my aunt who has two Italian parents like my mom also has the same look. So yes, I believe somewhere in our past their may be some Asian blood.

My point being, no one is pure anything, but our common thread is that we are all Americans. I still believe most people care about each other and we love our country. However, to love your country you must love warts and all. I think Tuesday’s election proved that we can remove some of those warts. No, our country isn’t perfect. Yes, you will always have a few people who are racist, no matter what. However, that being said, this is still the greatest country on Earth. Where else can this type of election be possible?


Barack needs YOU to help America!


We should all be proud of ourselves. Yes, we put our country first. We put our children first. Our children will grow up in a country that may not be as racially divided.

When you look at me you will see a white woman. However, how I feel inside is that I am an American. I voted for the best person. A person who I feel has compassion for each of us. A person who cares. A person who is smart. A person who will put the best interest of the entire country first. Not just the rich and special interests!

Here is a sign of our new times already: my daughter’s math teacher approached them yesterday and asked who wants to start doing community service right now! He wants to get them started on that path. He is giving them choices to help the elderly or to help tutor other kids. I think it’s a wonderful thing. Community service gives you a sense of purpose and will give us a new generation of caring people. It will teach them to have compassion for others.

My daughter said she was scared to do community service. Now begins my challenge as a responsible parent to get her over that fear. Just like I make sure she does her homework. I have to make sure she has enough confidence in her ability to be able to meet this new challenge. I know she is capable and one thing I know for sure is that my daughter has compassion for others. She is a loving and caring person and just needs some guidance to overcome this fear of community service. She gets wonderful grades and I know she relates to others well. I think she could tutor another child and not only help that child, but make a difference in her own life. What a great gift to give and receive. You can’t put a price on that!


Tutoring younger children is a great example of community service that teens can perform


I know over time I will not always agree with President-Elect Obama. However, I do believe he will be honest with us. I know he is smart and I know he will do what he believes is best for the majority of this country -- not just a few of us. What more can you ask from a president?

I know these next several years will be tough on his wife and daughters, and let’s not forget what they are giving up. Michelle is giving up time with her husband. His daughters are giving up time with their daddy. This family will go through much over the years, and I thank them for that alone. It is a sacrifice they are making as well. So see, we all have to sacrifice something. Of course, some will always sacrifice more than others and that is how it has always been.

Last year at this time I didn’t have much faith in this country, but now I have hope. Like President-Elect Obama said, we have to be willing to work hard and sacrifice. I think any American should be willing to do this to leave our children with a brighter future. I know I am!

God Bless America!