presents

I love giving and getting presents at Christmas time. With Christmas just behind us, here are a few of my favorite gifts received:

1. the afghan my mother in law crocheted

2. the pot holders she also crocheted

3. the pot scrubber that her friend made

4. my digital photo frame

5. Nike mock neck running shirt

6. Reebok running shirt w/ zipper pocket

7. Ove Gloves

8. banana hanger

9. gift cards

10. cash

(almost) Christmas Birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday. When I was younger I always felt like I kind of got gypped on my birthday. But the last several years, it has not been so bad. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. everything is always decorated so nicely

2. we can almost always find something fun to do

3. everyone is off work/school

4. my family makes the time and effort to keep my day special for me

5. usually a great time to go out to eat

6. everyone is usually in a good mood

7. lights and music everywhere we go

8. lots of free events going on

9. nice time of year

10. after all, it is my special day!

my gift list

I love trying to pick out the perfect gift for people at Christmas. I find it to be part of the fun! Here are a few of my favorite gifts I will be giving this year:

1. season tickets to the theater

2. computer games

3. ed hardy shirt

4. air jordan back pack

5. reusable shopping bags

6. over the ear book lights

7. china tee shirt

8. ice cream dipper and serving bowl

9. necklace

10. volleyball shirt

Christmas activites

We all have our own holiday traditions. Sometimes I think I want to do something different, but often I stick to the same ones each year. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas activities:

1. Christmas music

2. lights on the house

3. decorate the tree

4. buy the kids an ornament

5. bake cookies

6. get out all the pictures of kids over the years

7. buy presents

8. wrap presents

9. give presents

10. get presents

when the internet is out

Since our internet has been out so much lately, I have been doing other things to keep occupied. (It is amazing how much stuff I do online every day!) Here are a few of my favorites:

1. chores (not a favorite, but this way they're done when the internet comes back on!)

2. cook

3. sudoku

4. free cell

5. spider solitaire

6. read

7. watch TV

8. shop

9. nothing

10. take a nap

soups

I love soup any time of the year, but as the weather gets cooler, I love to make different soups each week. When my MIL asked for ideas for an alternative Christmas meal, I said "Let's all bring soups!" Here are a few of my favorites:

1. black bean

2. taco

3. potato

4. tomato

5. corn chowder

6. vegetable beef

7. chili

8. chick pea

9. pasta fagioli

10. shrimp gumbo

giving thanks

In this season of giving thanks, there are many things that I want to remember to be thankful for. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. husband

2. son

3. daughter

4. parents

5. sisters

6. health

7. home

8. food

9. friends

10. too many blessings to list in just ten!

New Year's Day Half Marathon

I came across a half-marathon in my area on New Year's Day. I am thinking about doing it. After looking at it, I think I can. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. in the area

2. not on a Sunday

3. a great way to start off the New Year

4. run/walk event

5. no time limit

6. 13.1 miles

7. a great challenge

8. something new

9. not too expensive

10. will add more meaning to my workouts

vocabulary activities

My daughter has moved from spelling to vocabulary this year. In the past I kept a list of spelling activities to vary from week to week. She has not been enjoying her vocabulary book, so I wanted to put together a similar list of vocabulary activity ideas. I came across a website with some good ideas. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. use or lose (use the word six times in a day)

2. lotus

3. concentration

4. pictionary

5. balderdash

6. poem

7. word pyramid

8. crossword

9. use in comic strip

10. word cube

Fall Fun

It seems that everyone loves fall. The weather starts to cool off and time outdoors is pleasant. Here are a few of my favorite fall activities:

1. go for a walk

2. collect leaves

3. gather pecans

4. play catch

5. bike ride

6. read a book

7. tree bark rubbing

8. go to the farmer's market

9. bake

10. eat the autumn goodies

and still more ideas for a literature study

As you can see, we have lots of fun with independent literature study units. This will be my last list for now of ideas to use with any book. Maybe some of my favorites will help you come up with some ideas too:

1. write interview questions for a main character or for the author

2. illustrate a favorite scene from the story

3. make a mobile of items important to the story

4. act out a scene from the story

5. before you finish the book, stop reading and write down your own ending for the story. Then finish reading the book to see what happens

6. create game show questions and answers about the book

7. A-Z sentences (write one sentence starting with each letter of the alphabet about the story. there will be 26 sentences.)

8. design a brochure/pamphlet for a location in the book

9. make up a test to give others about the book

10. make up game show or board game questions about the story

more ideas for any book study

Since we love book/literature studies, I like to have a lot of different ideas to use. And as children grow and change, it's good to give different things to try. Here are some more ideas to use with any independent book study:

1. write a poem (you can give a certain kind if desired-haiku, cinquain, etc) about a certain person or object in book

2. write a song about the story

3. write a book review

4. give an oral book report

5. draw a poster encouraging others to read the book

6. change the ending to the story (but must stay true to the story too)

7. compose theme music for the story

8. research the author and write a brief biography about him/her

9. make a word find or crossword puzzle about the story

10. make a character silhouette for one of the characters

literature study ideas for any book

I wrote before about why literature studies are one of my favorite approaches to children's book studies. Here are a few of my favorite activities to include on these type studies:

1. organize a folder with cover page

2. brief summary of story

3. write a journal entry as one of the characters

4. create a collage of symbols and pictures important to the story

5. cook a food mentioned in the book

6. make a shadowbox of an important scene in the book

7. design a jacket for the book

8. place a review of this book on Amazon.com

9. watch the movie version of the book and write an essay comparing and contrasting the movie to the book

10. memorize an excerpt from the book and recite it

independent literature study

It's been a while since I gave my daughter an independent literature study. She is currently working on one for the book Tuck Everlasting. Here are my favorite things about these types of studies:

1. a fun, different approach

2. the child works independently

3. the child is responsible for his/her own work and choices

4. provides many different types of activities for completing one project

5. the child has some choice in how and when to complete each assignment

6. allows for some creative expression

7. while still getting in some of the core objectives

8. encourages the fun of reading

9. works well for variety of ages

10. teaches the child to manage his/her time in order to complete project by due date

relief dinner

Today our church did a relief dinner for some folks hit hard by the recent hurricane. Here are a few of my favorite things about helping with that:

1. helping those in need

2. seeing all of us work together

3. seeing some of the kids work

4. being thankful for our blessing

5. more than enough food

6. making spaghetti to share

7. making homemade cookies to share

8. having my nephews help me make the cookies

9. seeing how far we have come since the storm

10. seeing how much more needs to be done....

Galveston Restaurants

A list of businesses opening today in Galveston, TX was released on Galveston.com. Many restaurants will be open now, or will be by Nov. 1. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Casey's Seaside Cafe

2. Joe's Crab Shack

3. Landry's

4. Rainforest Cafe

5. Fish Tales

6. Chili's

7. Shrimp N Stuff

8. Saltgrass

9. Tortuga's Cantina

10. Pappa's Pizza

local yellowpages

As I become more and more dependent on my trusty internet service, I tend to use it to find even the most basic information. I literally use it like a local yellowpages . I love finding all my info in one place. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Doing a local search to find what I need close by

2. having all the information in one spot is convenient

3. I like to read reviews about places I want to visit

4. We love finding new local restaurants to try

5. accurate driving directions are a must

6. business hours are very helpful

7. business contact information is often needed

8. available 24 hours a day

9. free

10. it's fun to leave my own review after visiting a local business

dad's out of town

When my husband goes out of town, I really don't like it. But this week I have tried to find a few of my favorite things about it anyway:

1. not much cooking

2. the whole bed to myself

3. hearing his voice when he calls

4. knowing he misses me too

5. ordering pizza for dinner

6. going back to bed after my son leaves for school

7. learning how to juggle my schedule

8. I actually like doing a workout in the middle of the afternoon

9. getting a lot of reading done

10. knowing he'll be home tomorrow!

an unofficial break from school

My son starts back to school tomorrow. First day back since Hurricane Ike hit. Here are a few of my favorite things about him going back:

1. back into a routine

2. back into a work mentality

3. things are starting to calm down and return to normal

4. get back to some of the things he loves (basketball)

5. hopefully they will not have time to do some of the silly/"fluff" stuff

6. really have to buckle down and work

7. he's done pretty good about studying at home

8. no damage at his campus

9. he is packed and ready

10. the rumor is they won't have to make up these days!

Journey to the Center of the Earth

We finally saw this 3D movie today. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. no bad language (there is one play on words that nearly crosses the line though)

2. fun family adventure

3. the female character was pretty well covered up

4. the 3D was fun

5. no 4D effects (like air shooting out from under seats)

6. great way to spend the afternoon

7. good for the whole family

8. cute male lead character

9. family friendly

10. sparked a discussion of the book

cleaning the church grounds

We have been cleaning at the church building today following last week's hurricane. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. many workers makes lighter loads

2. good for us to work together

3. good for the teens to help out

4. good way for younger kids to work too

5. the community sees us out there working

6. gets the grounds looking nice

7. good exercise

8. the weather could have been hotter

9. good way for adults to model behavior for the younger crowd

10. it was nice when the "afternoon crew" came in to relieve us!

DriverSide

If you are like me and drive a car with over 200,000 miles on it, you need every available auto information you can get. That is what DriverSide provides. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. a compilation of nearly every available car or truck resource

2. free access

3. find the best mechanic

4. know exactly what to pay for repairs in your town

5. find parts and accessories specific to your car

6. list your car for sale for free

7. get automatically notified for recalls on your vehicle

8. participate in forums

9. see reviews on 2009 cars

10. meet others who own popular vehicles

staying for the storm

It is always a tough dilemma to decide to stay through a major storm or to evacuate. Living in a zone of voluntary evacuation, we wavered a bit in trying to decide. In the end, we decided to stay, board up and ride it out. I am glad we did. Here are a few of my favorite things about staying:

1. neighbors pitching in to help prepare our homes

2. neighbors helping each other clean up

3. neighborhood cook outs each night following the storm (since we had no electricity, we had to cook all our food before it spoiled)

4. getting to know our neighbors better

5. working together to help our neighborhood and community recover

6. being here to clean up immediately after the storm passed

7. being able to clean out my fridge before it smelled too bad

8. the small gathering of church family following the storm

9. no traffic around town/very quiet!

10. we even slept with our front door wide open immediately following the storm!

Apple Tree Kids

Each school year our congregation prints out the names of all the school aged children in the church. Every child's name is printed on an apple. The apples are laid out for everyone to choose one. Members of the congregation spend the school year praying for and befriending that particular child. Here are a few of my favorite things about "apple tree kids":

1. I know somebody else is also praying for my kids every day

2. make new friends

3. the kids make new friends

4. provides mentors for my kids

5. added moral support

6. brings together two generations

7. keeps us all on our knees, praying together

8. kids feel a part of a bigger family

9. gets folks thinking of others

10. helps make us a stronger church

upcoming activities

As we get into the new school year routine, there are upcoming activities I am looking forward to. Here are a few of my favorite upcoming activities my kids are involved in:

1.piano

2. volleyball

3. more volleyball

4. basketball

5. more basketball

6. theater auditions

7. maybe theater practice

8. drive time

9. reading my son's articles

10. seeing my nephews' projects

catch the latest news

I just came across a new service that may be valuable to many folks. If you are like me, you don't have time to watch the news. Now, Asyncast Corporation, creator of Rocketron, has developed a way to listen to the news you miss. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:



1. hands-free on your mobile phone

2. navigate with voice-command

3. skip the stories you don't want to hear

4. no software to download

5. no tiny text to read

6. works on any phone for those on-the-go

7. limited advertising

8. ads limited to seven seconds

9. free for listeners

10. a truly personalized version of the news

cross training

I like to do different stuff as part of my work out. It keeps it from getting old and keeps my muscles "confused" so they can be better built up. Here are a few of my favorite ways to exercise:

1.cycle

2. swim

3. run/jog

4. walk

5. elliptical machine

6. stair stepper

7. trampoline

8. pilates

9. spinning class (indoor/stationary cycling)

10. weight training

my flickr album

I thought it might be fun to put up some of my favorite photos from my flickr album. I have most of these posted on other blogs. So for a nice diversion, here are a few of my favorite photos:

1. July 17, 1987

2. Venus Flytrap

3. out my back door

4. Egypt cookie map

5. canopy tour

6. nature walk

7. ginger lily

8. homemade pizza

9. Remember the Alamo!

10. bluebonnets

gadget inspecting

I have some family members who love to order gadgets from TV infomercials. I have to admit, I have been known to see something advertised on TV and been inclined to learn more about it myself. Now there is a site where I can do just that! Here are a few of my favorite things about this site:

1. get the latest gadget reviews

2. check out today's hot stuff

3. get breaking news

4. get the Top 10s in every category

5. watch "stuff on tv"

6. listen to gadget podcasts

7. read gadget news blogs

8. join the forum

9. vote in Gadget Awards and WIN!

10. get great gadget info before I buy

first day of school

Today is the first day back to school for kiddos around here. It's not always my favorite day, but here are some of my favorite things about it:

1. back into a routine

2. new clothes

3. new school supplies

4. excited kids

5. excited teachers

6. fresh, new outlooks

7. learning new stuff every day

8. new opportunities

9. reminiscing

10. looking ahead

web hosting rating

As my sister and I have been doing a little more talking about owning our own websites (I already do, she is thinking about it), we have many questions. And yes, even though I already own a couple of websites, I am so new at it that I am still learning and need all the web hosting tutorials I can get! So I am happy to find websites that share info and knowledge about web host providers. Here are a few of my favorite things about one I recently found:

1. learn about Top Ten Providers

2. get the scoop on the Top Providers for 2008

3. get tips for choosing a domain name

4. find some truth about cheap web hosting

5. read articles related to topics I need to know about

6. learn about payment options for an e-commerce site

7. find the rating for my provider

8. advantages and disadvantages of shared hosting

9. discover options for multiple domain hosting

10. the info is free and available anytime!

cooking frenzy

I spent a lot of time in the kitchen yesterday. On Saturdays, we have our favorite dinner and dessert which takes some time to make. And we have lunch at church today and company coming on Tuesday. So I spent time preparing as much as I could for those upcoming events. Here are a few of my favorite things I cooked:

1. homemade pizza

2. oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

3. snickerdoodles (ok, my family's favorite)

4. chocolate peanut butter cookies

5. deviled eggs

6. chicken for chicken spaghetti

7. whipped cream

8. easy berry cobbler

9. leftover hamburger

10. my daughter's frozen burrito!

Olympics

I have been watching the Olympics as have many of you. After a week of staying up bleary eyed and missing some of the things I wanted to see, here are a few of my favorites (even if I had to see them on tape the next day!):

1. opening ceremonies

2. team gymnastics

3. Phelps' first gold

4. all around gymnastics

5. Phelps' 1/100 of a second win for gold

6. Dara Torres and team bid for silver

7. Phelps and relay team for gold

8. 100 meter dash

9. indoor volleyball

10. trampoline

Contemporary Bedroom Furniture

I am not quite ready for new furniture yet, but as I was browsing the internet a few days ago, I came across a place that has some really cool looking Bedroom Furniture . I looked around at some of the things they have to offer. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Tokyo 656 Modern Platform Bed

2. Selex Blok Red Walk-on Modern Platform Bed

3. Wynd Modern Platform Bed

4. Selex Brisa Red Modern Platform Bed

5. Fly Modern Bedroom Set

6. Enter Bedroom Set in Ferrari Red

7. Austin Bunk Bed

8. The Modern Library kid's Modern Bedroom Furniture

9. PJ Modern Stool

10. Klick Desk & Chair Set children's Contemporary Bedroom Furniture

8.

Putt Putt

The kids actually agreed on an outing today. We couldn't decide what we wanted to do, so we went to play Putt Putt golf. Yes it was HOT but we had a good time. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. only played one course

2. not crowded

3. I made two holes-in-one!

4. I won!

5. going in to cool off

6. ordering a large cheese pizza

7. the .99 cent salad that came w/ the pizza

8. medium drinks for the small price

9. visiting, reminiscing, talking with my kids

10. coming home with $3 left!

Gourmet Gift Baskets

I just found a website with some really great gift basket ideas. If you are like me, sometimes finding the right gift can be a challenge. But this site offers many great choices, from flower baskets, fruit baskets, wine baskets, balloon baskets and gourmet gift baskets . Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Urban grill set with recipes and music

2. The New Yorker gourmet gift baskets

3. A World of Thanks

4. The Mediterranean

5. The Chocolate and Fruit Orchard

6. Gourmet Extravaganza

7. Back to Nature

8. The Epic gourmet gift baskets

9. Seeds of Life

10. Little Froggy

new bike

I got a new bike this weekend! It's really great and I think I am going to really enjoy it. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:





1. RED!!

2. perfect fit

3. in between a mountain bike and a road bike

4. half the price of a road bike

5. more gear options

6. allows me to go faster

7. lighter

8. smaller tires

9. the gears work properly

10. my husband said I'd earned it!!

new phone

Well, I just got a new cell phone. It's a long (unexciting, non-blog-worthy) story, but needless to say, it's done...I don't really like the color that much but there are some things I do like. Here are a few favorite things:

1. new!

2. upgraded

3. built in camera

4. bluetooth compatible

5. holds music

6. free to other AT&T customers

7. unlimited texting

8. see the address book more easily

9. more stuff on here than I know what to do with

10. the kids know how to use it all!

Web Hosting Geeks

I recently started two blogs on my own domain. I am not sure yet if it was the "right thing" to do, but I think it will be good. My sister is toying with some ideas of her own and considering getting a blog or two under her own domain name as well. She asked me about the web host that I used. I know so little about it all that I was thrilled when I came upon this web hosting site. Here are a few of my favorite things on
WebHostingGeeks:


1. find web hosting reviews on the top ten sites

2. my web hosting site made the top ten list!

3. get independent reviews of the best web hosting

4. find out the cheapest web hosts

5. learn about free domains for life

6. read customer reviews

7. add your own review

8. learn about multiple domain hosting

9. learn about business website hosting

10. free

a busy Saturday

Wow! We have really got a lot done today. Everyone really pitched in so that has helped. Even though cleaning is not a lot of fun, I do enjoy having a clean house. And my husband went to work out with me today. So, now that I have time to recount the day, here are a few of my favorite things:

1. my husband and I got to work out together

2. swimming

3. cycling

4. spin class

5. jogging


6. I learned to change my own bike tire


7. everyone helped clean house today

8. even the ceiling fans got cleaned!

9. clean window sills too!

10. time to blog

in the kitchen

I've gotten to where I like to cook. I especially like to bake. I have my favorite tools in the kitchen too. And some that I think could become my favorites. Here are a few that are my favorites or could become my favorites:

1. I love the silicone bakeware that I have

2. Air Bake bakeware

3. everyone thinks my can opener is cool

4. we love our juicer

5. I love my chopper and use it all the time

6. blenders and smoothie makers are a must for us

7. I prefer a pastry cutter over forks!

8. the mini scrapers are invaluable

9. my stoneware

10. my electric teapot

things to see in D.C.

The other day my friend told me they will get to go to Washington D.C. in the fall. (What a great time to go!) She asked me the top three things to see in D.C. I said "only three??" She told me they won't be there that long (they are going for a conference) so what would I recommend. Since I could not limit it to just three, here are a few of my favorites:

1. Lincoln Memorial

2. Washington Memorial

3. Capitol Building

4. FBI building

5. Ford's Theater

6. Jefferson's Memorial

7. Arlington Cemetery

8. Mint

9. Smithsonian (as much as you can--flight, natural science, history, etc...!!)

10. Vietnam Memorial


(I would add the White House and the Archives as well, if I can just lump all the memorials together, or just say "the mall" as one item....)

Repair Pal Directory

Our main car has nearly 200,000 miles on it! This is good, but it can also mean that at any time I might need to find a car repair shop . Now this is easier than ever with the RepairPal directory. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. easy

2. Are you looking for a San Francisco car repair shop? Simply type in your zip code to find one!

3. find local repair shops with no hassle

4. read ratings and reviews on local repair shops

5. get car repair estimates on what the repair should cost

6. play the auto quiz

7. independent and unbiased information

8. find Toyota repair

9. use the auto repair encyclopdia

10. free!

driver's ed

My son just got his learner's permit this week. It has been a huge thing to watch him DRIVE!! Here are a few of my favorite things about driving school:

1. completed in a few weeks

2. learns the laws and the proper way to drive

3. save money on insurance

4. other instructors and they teach good driving habits

5. he's got friends in his class

6. the instructor is a coach

7. fun watching his excitement

8. his first time to drive into the city won't be with me!

9. online scheduling

10. pretty soon he can run errands for me!

baby gifts

There are so many people I know having babies. I have gotten to where I keep a stash of gifts, so when there is a birth, I have one on hand! I have found that ShopWiki also offers Baby and Toddler items. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. diaper bags always make a perfect gift, and there are some really stylish ones these days

2. I loved using a baby carrier when my children were infants

3. strollers are a very nice gift, maybe from a group of friends or hostesses

4. a high chair is used for a long time and is always a much appreciated gift

5. bibs, spoons, cups and plates always make a nice gift package

6. infant clothes are fun to give and receive

7. a baby gym or play mat

8. activity centers provide fun for baby and a nice diversion for mom

9. nursery furniture would make an extra special gift

10. toys and books

cookies

My kids and I made up quite a few batches of cookies today for our upcoming Vacation Bible School. I love cookies. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites today:

1. chocolate chip

2. oatmeal chocolate chip

3. chocolate chocolate chip (there is a theme going here!)

4. peanut butter

5. sugar

6. snickerdoodles

7. almond

8. brownies (cookie or cake?)

9. pumpkin

10. yes, Oreos

The Prompt Writer Blog

Christine has brought back one of her favorite blogs. It is her first blog. It is called Prompt Writer . It is filled with all sorts of great ideas for writing prompts. I am going to use some of them with my daughter this fall. Here are a few of my favorite ideas she has listed:

1. NAVA

2. monthly theme ideas

3. Bible verses

4. From the Memory Books

5. In the Beginning

6. On the Market

7. In the News

8. Time and Place

9. Titles

10. What Would Happen If....

Disclosure Policy

Well, I just noticed after all this time that this blog does not have a disclosure policy. I like to have one and rather than go out and find one to copy and paste here, I'll let this post serve as my own personal disclosure policy. Here are a few of my favorite reasons to have a personal disclosure policy:

1. it lets the reader know that some of the posts I make are actually paid for by sponsors

2. it lets the reader know that I am going to be "up front" about posting ads throughout my blog, letting you know that I will only post my own opinion of the product, service or website, even if I am paid to write about it

3. it keeps me from having to post a disclaimer each time, and serves as a once and forever statement that I do write sponsored posts

4. making it personal is more fun than just a copy and pasted version

5. I think it's only fair

6. I don't like when I read through a blog and don't know that there will be ads throughout

7. it's fast and easier than having to look up stuff

8. it's my own words

9. it's free

10. it's done!

the new campground

The new campground was good. Of course, anything would have been better than where we'd been going the last few years, but this place was nice. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. big kitchen

2. a/c in the kitchen

3. many stoves, meaning we could cook all the food at the same time!

4. walk in fridge

5. not having to store any food in our cabin

6. bathroom in the kitchen area

7. a/c in gym for kids in afternoon

8. lake

9. pool on site

10. reusable trays, glasses, utensils

stainless steel products

I came across a website today for stainless steel products. It looked pretty interesting. Here are a few of my favorite things I found on the site:

1. stainless steel shower shelf

2. chrome magazine rack

3. blomus stainless steel wall mounted cd rack

4. blomus stainless steel fireplace set

5. mounted wall hook and double hook

6. stainless steel umbrella stand

7. blomus stainless steel teaset

8. stainless steel magnet board and key hook

9. stainless steel paper towel holder

10. blomus stainless steel firepit

fourth of July

This year, we have had a lazy fourth of July...I love it! Here are a few of my favorite fourth of July activities:

1. long workout

2. nothing pressing to do

3. laze around together

4. make dessert

5. read

6. read some more!

7. eating out

8. spend time with family

9. usually at least one good history show on TV

10. watch fireworks

church camp

We are heading off for church camp tomorrow for a week. I am not a huge proponent of church camps, especially for younger kids, but I thought I would go ahead and list a few of my favorite things to get me in the proper mindset:

1. seeing old friends

2. seeing how the kids how grown and matured

3. my husband is director so I know things will run fairly, smoothly and fun

4. our whole family will be here this year-daughter's last year, son is a jr. counselor, me-cook, husband-director

5. new campground is sure to be better than the previous one

6. pool on campus

7. learning new things

8. seeing the kids have fun learning about God

9. nice to get away

10. only five days

Mr. Toad's Mad Adventures

My daughter is in another summer children's theater program. It is based on The Wind in the Willows, billed as Mr. Toad's Mad Adventures. Here are a few of my favorite things about this production:

1. free-didn't even have to buy slippers!

2. great experience

3. love the costumes-each child is dressed like a different animal

4. the director is great at casting

5. Badger acting like an elderly person

6. the weasels

7. the field mice

8. the foxes

9. seeing some of the kids grow up

10. seeing my daughter be so depended on

online shopping

I've gotten where I like shopping online even more than I did before. I can find almost anything I am looking for and there are some great reasons to shop online. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. save gas

2. do it anytime convenient for me

3. no traffic

4. no crowds

5. no lines

6. no pushy sales people

7. find great stuff, including women's clothes

8. unique items like this bottlecap belt

9. find eco-friendly items

10. find required summer reading books for my son

Blue Lagoon

We went diving yesterday at Blue Lagoon Lake in Huntsville, TX. This was our first trip here and we all really enjoyed it. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. fairly close to home

2. fairly inexpensive for a day trip

3. even though it was full, it did not seem overly crowded

4. nice area

5. clear water

6. calm water

7. warm water

8. great place for swimming and snorkeling between dives

9. the kids playing and swimming together

10. my husband and I went on one dive w/o the kids!

student loan site

The other day while riding in the car, my husband and I were talking about young adult kids living at home. The conversation turned to student loans and how many young adults are almost unwilling to take out a loan for their college education. We began pulling our kids into the conversation, to see what they thought about the issue and to be able to voice what we think and desire for our own kids. To us, college loans are a fact of life and a way to help better yourself. Yes, it takes time to get them paid off, but that is the way of it. So when I came across a website which talks about Federal Student Loans, Private Student Loans and Student Loan Consolidation , I naturally thought of that conversation. Here are a few of my favorite things from the website:

1. take 60 seconds to get started

2. get between $1,500 and $40,000 a year

3. available year-round, you can apply anytime

4. search for scholarships

5. financial aid calendar

6. repayment calculator

7. NextPath Newsletter

8. student loan blog

9. financial aid advice

10. one on one counseling from Education Finance Advisor

lake diving

Today we went scuba diving in a lake. Now, that might now sound too fun for seasoned divers, but for us newbies, we need all the practice we can get. Since it's been one month since our certification, we decided we better hit the water to make sure we remembered everything. Here are a few of my favorite things about lake diving:

1. close to home

2. make it a day trip

3. more affordable

4. no boats

5. get good practice

6. not too deep

7. calm water

8. great place to play while waiting between dives

9. great place to bring the family

10. gained cofindence

planters

I don't have the green thumb that my mom, my granny or my grandpa have. I have never been able to keep anything growing for very long. I sure wish I did. I would love to have some pretty flowers or tasty vegetables growing around my home. I even found some really pretty planters that I would love to incorporate into my gardening. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. window box planters

2. I love the personalized planters

3. outdoor planters for the patio

4. standing planters

5. thimble pot planters are cleverly cute

6. geospheres

7. the corner planter is nice

8. maybe an indoor planter stand would work well for my peace lily

9. tiered planter stand

10. a fountain for the garden would be a nice touch

summer evening

Summer is here and the family is BUSY! I am here home alone again. And I don't quite mind! Here are a few ideas of some things to do on a quiet summer evening.

1. enjoy the evening sitting outside

2. sip a cool drink

3. get lost in a good book

4. blog!

5. actually get something done, like laundry! (in between the pages of the book, of course)

6. listen to music of your choice

7. or just listen to the quiet

8. make the week's menu

9. work on photos/scrapbook/hobby

10. take a bath!

garage floors

A few years ago, we had looked into maybe painting our garage floor. Or doing something to it. We never actually did. But today I came across some great ideas for garage floors. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. high quality garage floor epoxy

2. I love the designs and colors you can use with the epoxy floor system

3. colorful interlocking floor tiles

4. no floor prep necessary for those floor tiles!

5. roll out garage floor mats

6. those floor mats are easy to clean!

7. these mats are also great for mud rooms

8. many of these products also work well in a commercial garage

10. get help in ordering the right products for your garage design

a little time away

Half of my family has been gone this week. That is not something I like or enjoy. But I try to look on the bright side and see the advantages of the time semi-alone. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. no real cooking!

2. time to clean

3. time to blog

4. stay up late, if I want

5. sleep late if I want

6. go where I want when I want

7. time alone with my daughter

8. time to read

9. quiet

10. not as many phone calls

bad credit repair

Most of us who have been around any length of time know that bad credit is not a good thing. We also know that it is easy to fall into at certain times in our lives. Maybe just getting out of school, or paying school loans, or starting a family, or a job change or layoff, or unexpected medical bills has put a strain on your finances and your credit. Knowing how to repair credit is a good thing. And getting back on your feet with good credit is a great thing. Here are a few of my favorite things about bad credit repair:

1. having a good credit report

2. get approved for a home loan

3. no high interest rates

4. get a credit card, and with lower rates

5. get a car or truck loan

6. start a business

7. go back to school

8. low health insurance rates

9. lower auto insurance rates

10. credit repair just makes you look better!

ebay

I came to love ebay several years ago. I think many people feel the same way. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. can almost always find what I am looking for

2. good prices

3. can often find unusual and/or hard to find items

4. easy to purchase

5. pay with paypal

6. I can sell things here

7. make a little cash to replenish my paypal account

8. great place to get the perfect gift items

9. usually have great people to work with

10. wide range of products for sale/auction

ceiling fans

It seems as if our spring time stayed cool a little longer than normal. But the last several weeks have sure made up for it. As summer officially approaches on the calendar, the heat ever increases. That is why I love ceiling fans . They seem to really help to circulate the air. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. keep the air circulating

2. help keep the room cool

3. allow us to keep the air conditioning at a higher temp

4. allow us to sleep cool through the night

5. provide just the right amount of "white noise"

6. add value to the home

7. there are some great new styles

8. modern ceiling fans add the right touch to new homes' decor

9. some great natural looks with fanimation fans

10. some folks even put them on their porches for outdoor enjoyment

haircut

It has been so long since I got my hair cut. Boy, I needed it. I was able to get in right away with my regular girl yesterday and I feel better. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. not too short, not too long

2. cooler

3. off my neck

4. when swimming, it did not get into my eyes

5. not getting tangled so easily

6. can still pull it back if needed

7. I was able to get it done right away

8. my girl is back to work (she had been off to have a baby)

9. she has not changed her price for me in years!

10. looks so much better

local search

When I want to go somewhere that I have never been, I love to find out the information before we go. Finding directions and information and even reviews is always helpful.And being able to do a local search is ideal. Local.com is just such a site. It's a virtual local yellowpages . Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. local businesses information

2. hybrid of citysearch, yelp, yellowpages, and superages

3. always available

4. easy to use

5. FREE!

6. get driving directions

7. find hours and contact information

8. write your own reviews of local restaurants and businesses

9. get your own business listed

10. all this on one site!

seeing old friends

Last night I stopped by to see some friends that I have not seen in probably a year! It was a nice visit and I realized how much we have missed them. Here are a few of my favorite things about reuniting with old friends:

1. good to catch up on what's been going on

2. reestablishing connection

3. they fixed me dinner!

4. seeing the kids

5. visiting

6. having someone to share common life circumstances with

7. sharing new ideas

8. finding ways to help each other

9. it just feels good

10. brings back fond memories

school's out

My son is virtually out of school for the summer (one more final to attend, but it's journalism and will be a headline writing activity!) My daughter has been done for a week. Here are some of my favorite things about summer:

1. no school!

2. more free time

3. attend some exercise classes

4. less structured days

5. time to read

6. time to blog

7. catch up on some projects

8. trips

9. sleeping late and/or naps

10. summer activities

ways to go green

Lately everyone is becoming more and more "green minded". A while back, my friend Trick Falls pointed to some sites that are showing simple ways for us all to take some practical steps in "going green". I am still learning and finding ways, so my steps may be baby steps. Here are a few of my favorite ways to go green:

1. using reusable bags at the store

2. taking my own bags to the library for books

3. reusing plastic bags whenever possible-my favorite, catching the juice pulp!

4. carpooling

5. reusing water bottles

6. composting

7. turning off lights when not in use

8. recycling

9. buying recycled products

10. learning more and more ways to help make this a better world for our kids

Memorial Day 2008

Today was a nice day for our family. We had my cousins bring my granny over to my parent's and my other grandparents made it over as well. My sister from across the ocean was even present today. Here are a few of my favorite things about today:

1. all my living grandparents were there

2. seeing my sister

3. the kids playing on the slip and slide

4. lots of good family and friends in attendance

5. chips and dip

6. brisket

7. fresh fruit

8. warm day outside and cool air inside

9. relaxing

10. a game of Scrabble to end the day

homeschool sports

It looks like my daughter will not be playing club sports. She is going to try out for the homeschool volleyball team. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. cheaper

2. good experience

3. coaches who have played, some at high levels

4. good atmosphere

5. good sportsmanship

6. competitive

7. Christian environment

8. afternoon practices

9. new friends

10. fun

trade show accessories

It seems as if summer is a good time for conventions, trade shows and other special events. Here are a few of my favorite things about Camelback trade show displays:

1. one stop shopping for trade show exhibits , displays and trade show booths

2. find extras like truss, banner stands, table covers and table top displays

3. large variety

4. custom options available

5. graphic tents and canopies available

6. choose overhead and hanging displays

7. affordable

8. portable

9. great for any size business or show

10. items available for shipping today!

YMCA sports

My daughter is wanting to get into "club" sports. These are private sports clubs who practice a lot and play every weekend. I am good with all that, but not the prices!! I think I have appreciated YMCA sports a little more now! Here are a few of my favorite things about YMCA sports:

1. close to home

2. cheaper than private club sports

3. less demand

4. meet more people

5. shorter season

6. if you don't like the coach/team, it will be over soon enough and you can move on to another team

7. friendlier people

8. great place to get a first taste of a sport

9. open to nearly all ages

10. no Sundays

insurance for business

Something I had never thought about before is the need for insurance coverage by corporations and businesses. I am sure that like everyone else, they too look for the best rate and the lowest prices. I just came across a site that offers a look into insurance plans for businesses . Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. find the best rates and plans with an online quote

2. done anytime, anywhere at your convenience

3. competitive affordable insurance policies

4. lower your premiums

5. insurance policies from all major companies

6. insurance rates for upper level management

7. harassment discrimination protection

8. commercial policies for consulting agencies

9. quotes for small and medium sized companies

10. this quote service is offered free of charge

Magic Kingdom

It is so hard for me to choose my favorite attractions in Magic Kingdom. After our most recent trip, here are a few of my favorites:

1. Cinderella's Castle

2. Buzz Lightyear

3. Splash Mountain

4. Thunder Mountain

5. It's a Small World

6. Peter Pan

7. Swiss Family Robinson Tree House

8. Pirates of the Caribbean

9. Space Mountain

10. Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor

Epcot

After spending a day in Epcot, I was reminded of all my favorite things. There were still a few things I would like to have gone back and done. Here area few of my favorites:

1. Mission Space

2. Test Track

3. Journey Into the Imagination

4. sending an email home

5. Nemo ride

6. Soarin'

7. the boat ride in Mexico

8. cannelloni in Italy

9. pastries in France

10. Illuminations fireworks show

Hollywood Studios

Having spent the majority of the day at Hollywood Studios, we had time to find our favorite things. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Tower of Terror

2. Rock N Roller Coaster

3. Indiana Jones Stunt Show

4. Star Tours

5. Great Movie Ride

6. Lights, Motors, Action Stunt Show

7. Mickey Mouse

8. Honey I Shrunk The Kids playground

9. 50's Prime Time Cafe

10. Fantasmic

Animal Kingdom

As we only did a few things in Animal Kingdom, this may not be a truly fair list. I am sure there are some things there that would be added to my favorites list. I might just list them too! As for now, here are a few of my favorite things in Disney's Animal Kingdom:

1. Festival of the Lion King

2. Everest Expedition

3. Dinosaur

4. Primeval Whirl

5. The Tree of Life

6. It's Tough to Be a Bug

7. early morning extra hour

8. Finding Nemo: The Musical (did not do this trip)

9. Khali River Rapids (did not do this trip)

10. Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade

Pop Century Hotel

Having just returned from a trip to Disney World, it is hard to narrow down the top ten things I loved most. I will probably submit several "favorites" lists here. Today, here are the top ten things I loved most about our hotel, the Pop Century Resort:

1. the nostalgia brought on by the decor

2. the items from each decade in the main lobby

3. the stair wells at each wing

4. the Mowgli and Baloo statue

5. bus service to each park

6. Memory Lane

7. the Mickey Mouse towel

8. bus service to and from the airport

9. there was always something to eat

10. the hula hoops and sidewalk chalk for the kids while waiting for bus

Forbidden Gardens

We were able to visit Forbidden Gardens to see the replica terra cotta army and Forbidden City and learn some more about Ancient Chinese history. Here are a few of my favorite things we saw and learned:



1. the clay soldiers



2. learning more about the actual burial site of Emperor Qin

3. learning about the Forbidden City

4. walking through the model of the Forbidden City



5. seeing Ancient Chinese weapons

6. learning about Chinese architecture



7. learning about the city of Suzhou, it produces 96% of the world's silk

8. seeing shoes of women whose feet were bound, 3" long



9. the emperor ate with silver tipped chopsticks-the silver would react with any poisons in the food, turning the silver a different color



10. good tour guide

at the in-laws

I have been able to spend two days this week at my in-laws house. Today I had both my young nephews with me. They have never been to a place like this. It reminded me of some of my favorite things about their place:

1. five acres seems like a really big yard to a city kid

2. even kids can drive the tractor (riding lawn mower)

3. kids get to experience a little "danger" in a safe environment

4. fishing in a pond catching little perch is exciting for city boys

5. getting good and dirty

6. run around without a nagging mom (or aunt) right be hind you all the way

7. sliding down a fire pole from the loft in the barn

8. learning about plants in the area

9. they have some beautiful new bamboo

10. getting a little "pampered" in my older nephew's words

To Kill A Mockingbird

I just finished reading "To Kill A Mockingbird". This was the only book I liked in high school from the required reading list. That being said, I have not read it since then. I had forgotten much of it. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. told from a young kid's perspective

2. Atticus-he is the same in public as he is in private

3. Jem-watching this boy turn into a young man through the story

4. Scout-what you see is what you get with this gal!

5. Dill-full of imagination and fire

6. Calpurnia-the balancing effect she brings to the Finch family

7. Tom Robinson-just tryin' to do the right thing

8. Miss Maudie-doing what she can to help Jem and Scout grow up

9. Boo Radley-comes to the rescue when it really counts

10. There is just one kind of folks. Folks. Treating them badly is like shooting a mockingbird.

Lone Star Triathlon

Well, I did it! I finished the triathlon and had a great time doing it! Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. the goody bag

2. doing this with friends and family

3. my mother in law and daughter coming down to cheer us on

4. the END of the swim

5. the cycling route

6. the encouraging crowd and crew members

7. the announcer

8. GREAT weather

9. beating my time goals

10. I DID IT!!

weekend retreat

This week has flown by so quickly I can't really wrap my mind around it! The retreat last weekend went well for the most part. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. seeing old friends

2. working together with a great team

3. my daughter's last year as a pre-camper

4. beautiful weather

5. good food

6. easy menu

7. hearing the good things the kids had to say

8. knowing my son (and even my daughter) got some good things out of it

9. the baptism afterward

10. it's over (for one more year)!

A Night on The Beach

I took the kids to the beach tonight. Luckily, our day went so crazy that we could not make it out until dinner time. I say luckily because it is spring break around here and when we got to the island, the traffic was horrible! And the seawall was crowded! But not long after we arrived, most everybody else started leaving. Here are a few of my favorite things we did tonight:

1. relax

2. enjoy the waves

3. eat dinner on the beach

4. watch the kids have a mud fight

5. watch my daughter actually playing in the freezing cold waves

6. walked out on the jetty

7. watched the moon rise over the ocean

8. enjoyed the beach at dark

9. watching the seagulls and the brown pelicans

10. taking pictures

Livestock Show

After visiting the livestock show this year (for the first time in several years) I was reminded of a few of my favorite things about taking the kids up there. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. free passes

2. bring in your own food and drinks

3. picnic tables located throughout, even indoors

4. longhorns

5. rabbits

6. newborn animals

7. spinning demonstration

8. pig races

9. free transport across the grounds

10. stick horse rodeo (we missed this due to weather!) :(

Kemah Boardwalk

Yesterday we spent the afternoon as a family visiting the Kemah Boardwalk. We have not been in several years, and it was a pleasant way to spend some family time together. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. the sights and sounds of the boardwalk

2. great photo opportunities

3. seeing all the sailboats

4. the Bullet

5. Pharaoh's Fury

6. nachos at Cadillac Grill

7. the giant giraffe in the Kandy Store

8. strolling along the boardwalk

9. a pleasant, relaxing day

10. being together as a family

track

I've never been involved in track before. But my son just started the track team at school. It has been a good experience so far. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. required to go to tutoring/study hall two to three times a week

2. practice after school

3. only one meet a week

4. no Saturday practice

5. coaches are encouraging

6. teammates are nice/friendly

7. he is making new friends

8. he is discovering new talents

9. he is learning some new things

10. he is experiencing some success at it already (three medals from two meets!)

triathlon training

My husband, son, and I along with a family friend and some new friends from the YMCA are going to do a sprint triathlon at the end of next month. We have been wearing ourselves out to get ready. Here are a few of my favorite things about the training I'm doing:

1. learning some new tips and techniques

2. making new friends

3. working hard

4. lots of good sweating

5. a feeling of accomplishment

6. makes me feel better

7. keeps me young

8. a great topic for conversation

9. setting a difficult goal that I hope to reach

10. doing it with others is more fun

paying online

A couple of months ago, my blogging friend Sire talked about how important it is for businesses to accept payment online. I know that if I am looking for something online, I would like to be able to pay for it online. www.aplusmerchant.com understands this and is making it easier for businesses to accept online payments. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. simple to go from an internet search directly to purchasing

2. no hassle of going store to store

3. get what I want when I want to get it

4. Accepting Credit Cards on Website is easy

5. no sitting in traffic

6. an Internet Credit Card Processor alleviates a lot of paperwork

7. knowing the site is secure puts my mind at ease

8. saves time

9. accepted by most online businesses

10. shop anywhere in the world



brought to you by your friends at www.aplusmerchant.com/

Remembering the 80's

I got one of those forwarded emails today about being a child of the '80's. Yes, I was a teen in the 80's, so some of the stuff on the list I was already "too old" for. But it got me to thinking about some of my favorite things of the 80's:

1. The Cosby Show

2. Family Ties

3. "Where's the Beef?"

4. "I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up!"

5. Asia

6. Care Bears

7. Rubik's Cube

8. graduating from high school

9. going to college

10. meeting my husband!

last game of the season

Tonight was my son's last basketball game of the season. Actually, the school they were playing did not have enough players to make their B team tonight, so some of the B teamers got to suit up with the A team. They got to play for the last minute of the game! Here are a few of my favorite things about the last game of the season:

1. get a break (ha!-track starts Monday)

2. get to watch my son try a new sport

3. hopeful sights set for next year

4. no more 6 am practices

5. one down, just a few more to go

6. get to meet new coaches

7. meet new parents

8. see new athletes

9. watching track will be a new experience for me

10. successful season

Bats

I am not too crazy about rodents-whether they can fly or not. But we have been reading about bats. I know they are good for the world, and they are pretty cool. Here are a few of my favorite things I've been learning:


click to enlarge this picture-you will see thousands of bats heading out at dusk to catch some insects-the large object is a hawk trying to catch some bats


1. eat insects

2. make nurseries to keep their babies

3. can make their tail membrane into a little basket to catch the pup when it's born

4. very cool to watch as they come out in droves at dusk

5. harmless

6. gentle

7. clean

8. almost all are rabies free

10. nearly 1000 species

Chinese New Year

Tonight we celebrated Chinese New Year a little early. Our Chinese friend had a family member in town who is leaving tomorrow, so we wanted to celebrate "Reunion Dinner" while we were all together. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. all being together

2. the visiting family member getting to celebrate with us

3. holding the new baby

4. fried rice

5. fish

6. stir fry veggies

7. fruits

8. reading our fortunes

9. chocolate covered fortune cookies

10. watching all the kids have fun playing together

Harlem Globetrotters

Last night, we taped a televised game of the Harlem Globetrotters. I have not seen them perform in several years. My son actually told me the game would be on last night. Tonight we all sat down together to watch it. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. a pleasant way to spend time together

2. a fun show

3. entertaining players

4. watching the audience reactions

5. seeing all the little kids that got to participate

6. seeing some great basketball fundamentals

7. seeing the kids appreciate the good basketball skills

8. my son telling me about some of the old players he's read about

9. hearing about a more recent former player who is pretty hot in the NBA right now

10. pure silliness!

Chinese food

I am not real crazy about Chinese food. I never have been. But when my sister moved to Asia, we were able to visit. Since then we have been to visit several times and each time learn to like the food more. Last night, my husband suggested we go out for Chinese. My daughter and I were a bit skeptical, as we don't really enjoy American Chinese food (well, she doesn't like any of it...) But we did anyway. Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. it smelled good when we walked in

2. nice decorations

3. once we got seated, our food was served very quickly

4. my meal was really good-noodles and shrimp

5. my son really enjoyed his sweet and sour pork

6. hot tea

7. my daughter even ate!

8. free dessert-orange slices

9. better than a hamburger

10. sharing our fortunes after the meal

travel swap

I have never been part of a blog swap before. Yesterday I signed up for the travel swap at kelly's place . I guess since I've never done it, it might be difficult to tell my favorite things about it. But here are a few of my favorite things I am looking forward to in this swap:

1. meeting new friends

2. finding fun new blogs to read

3. I'm having fun deciding on the things I want to include in my swap package

4. I am thinking of what kind of vacation I'd like to have this year

5. thinking of vacation during January is kind of fun!

6. I am remembering many good trips I've been blessed to take

7. virtual travel is free!

8. no minimum cost restriction

9. anticipating receiving a package

10. it's FUN!

If you want to join, please hurry, as sign up closes tomorrow, Jan. 21!

staying in bed

Yesterday after my son left for school, I went back to bed for an hour. I think I would like to have a day to just stay in bed for the whole day! Here are a few of what I think would be my favorite things about staying in bed:

1. staying in my pajamas

2. reading

3. napping

4. no cooking

5. no cleaning

6. no talking to anyone

7. no demands

8. quiet (I would hope!)

9. time off from everything

10. don't have to make the bed

Pinhole

There is a blogger I've virtually "known" for a while now. He goes by the name "Pinhole". He sure does have a way of seeing things and his blog is always lots of fun. I see that he is handing out awards again, or at least one to share. I wanted to share a few of my favorite things about Pinhole and his blog :

1. he is funny!

2. he is very talented

3. he has some great designs

4. he definitely has a perspective about everything that I would never have other wise seen

5. he is a good writer

6. always good for a laugh

7. and yet always makes you think too

8. he is a good story teller

9. his comments are as entertaining as his posts

10. reading his blog is free entertainment ;)