Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Why I Like Facebook.....

I'm not quite sure why there are so many critics of Facebook out there.  I find it very satisfying to click on my homepage and have messages, see what my friends are doing, and even have people request to be my friend.   It is very good for the self-esteem.  I guess it relates to my love of getting mail.  I guess I even like junk mail because if my mailbox is empty, I'm disappointed.  But my favorite type of mail is a hand-written note...and a check (of course!).  It's a sad observation that there are fewer and fewer hand written notes these days...and I think that's where Facebook fills that need.  I get mini notes all the time!  I love being able to carry on a discussion with my friends, near and far, and know what is going on in their lives.  I have heard people say that people who like Facebook are self-absorbed because they post updates about themselves, but I think that's a very limited view of Facebook.  Sure, I post updates like the others, but I LOVE reading my friend's updates.  I have also heard that it's a time-waster.  That is most definitely true, for some; but I know a lot more people who waste much more time doing other things (e.g. TV, video games).  Lastly, I'm a very social person.  If I have too many days in a row, by myself, I start to get depressed.  Others energize and refresh me!  So thank you Facebook...you can be my friend anytime!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Why Is It So Dang Hard To Pick A Baby Name?


Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.  ~Thomas C. Haliburton


I was looking up baby names for my niece today.  Out of 1,000 names, there were 6 they liked.  It seems that many names conjure up a person who is annoying, who is a demon-kid, or doesn't go with the last name.  And, of course, my whole family also had their opinions of the names that were read off the list.  I was thinking to myself, How in the world did I come up with my own kid's names? There is even a professional service that, for $49.99, will send you name suggestions with some information you input.  I also saw a name generator that will give you 30 names when you input three you like.  Other important ideas to consider are:  If a mean childhood nickname can be made from that name; If that initials spell something embarrassing (e.g. P.U.S.); or how many kids at one time have that name.  I sub for a class with 2 Haileys, 1 Kaylie, 1 Jadee, and 1 Shaylee....It gets confusing!  My niece's last name is Lesseg, which eliminates lots of names.  Anything that ends with an L sound or is too rhymy doesn't go with it.  I am of the opinion to find a name and sit with it until the baby is born ,but, and this is important, don't tell anyone!  EVERYONE has an opinion of every kind of name!  If you Mom or Aunt Margaret don't like it, you are back to the drawing board. Pick the one you like and let the name be a surprise!  At that point, everyone will know there is no turning back!  This is my advice for Amber!  Although I do know of an angel named Janice!  Ha! Ha!.....

P.S. How about we find out the gender of your baby and leave the name a surprise?   I would really like to know!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Yum!

I made these today:





These are called pancake puppies....my friend called them hushpuppies....Whatever you call them, they are good!  Here is the link!  I didn't make the blueberry kind.  I used plain Krusteaz pancake mix and added chocolate chips...yum!  That is syrup in the middle.  And...they are deep fried....bad for you, but good.

Today was a good day.  I was in my pajamas until after lunch, which is not like me!  It usually bothers me to stay in my pj's that long.  I was tired though, and welcomed the idea of not having to do anything!  I was able to go through some of my stacks of papers that seem to procreate overnight on the flat surfaces of my house!  While tidying the house, I found my Christmas wrapping paper that I bought from the school fundraiser, many little tiny toys, a purple highlighter, and 1 missing glove!  It was a good and productive day!  Now I am going to begin wrapping!  I need to mail my Christmas gifts to Washington because we are headed there for Christmas come rain, snow, blizzard, etc.  Like this:

 This is video from our last Christmas trip to Washington in 2008.
  Well, I'd better get wrapping!  Enjoy the season!



Janice

Friday, November 19, 2010

I Have Seen It All!

Yesterday, in my mailbox, I got the weirdest catalog. It is a really expensive Barbie catalog called Barbie Blonde. My daughter was sitting on my lap looking at it and exclaimed, "That is really weird!" This is an actual item for sale and it's priced at a whopping $9,000!  It is made of Barbie hair!  I think it's creepy!



And there's more! There is an actual house decorated like Barbie's dream house that is life size....Note the beautiful chandelier!


It seems like someone has too much money and is looking for anywhere to spend it! As my friend Teri would say,"Sheesh!" I am curious as to how I, of all people, became their target audience. I won't pay more than $10 for a Barbie!

And The Winner Is.....



This is the Christmas card we chose for the Shutterfly promotion. That was so much fun, and 50 free cards turns out to be a fabulous deal! If you are a blogger, I say you take them up on it. Here is the link, one more time! This was my favorite card hands down, and I can't tell you why I didn't include it in my favorites! Thanks, Deanna, for taking the picture! We liked how the green ribbon ties in the trees in the background.
Janice

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Christmas Card Season!

EVERYONE knows that Christmas card season starts before Thanksgiving if you are going to do it right! It takes time to get the right picture, weather, and all of your family gathered together. The good news is that's the hard part! Picking your Christmas cards through Shutterfly is so easy! I'm going to tell you my favorites! I tend to be a fan of the Folded Greeting Card. I think they feel more substantial and I like to put them on display!
I thought this one was pretty! I like traditional elegance!



It is also important to choose a card that is appropriate for your particular picture. My picture this year is casual so I liked this one! I liked the bright colors!


If I had multiple pictures I would have used this one!


I prefer the sentiment "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings", but you can find many choices in every style on how you choose to say it! There are Holiday Cards, Christmas Photo Cards , and even Birthday Cards to choose from!

I also like the idea of being able to order a Personalized Mug of my child's mug, or even a Calendar to look at all year long!

If you are a blogger and would like to share your favorites and get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, click here!

Happy Christmas Card Shopping!
Janice

Disclosure-Shutterfly is not paying me for my opinion about their cards. They are giving me 50 free cards for posting my favorites! All opinions are completely my own!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Spinning In A Million Directions

Do you ever have so many projects going at once that you forget how many you have altogether? That's me right now. I am room Mom for both of my girl's classes and that has come with many fun jobs, first of which is our Fall Harvest Festival. For one class we are doing a pie walk...the other a fishing game where they throw their fishing pole behind a tarp of water and see what they get. I've been making notes to parents, fishing poles, signs...and I still have to work the event on October 22. Then on top of that I wanted to make some crafts to donate to our holiday shop at school so I am also painting some picture frames, gluing on some ribbon and jingle bells. A week after that my niece and I are having a Halloween Bunco Party so there are unfinished decorations and supplies sitting around for that. Ugh! It looks like my house threw up Halloween and Christmas! But to be honest, even with all this clutter I'm having great fun doing it! I love to be busy and I certainly am! Next on my list is thinking up something creative for our Christmas picture that we are taking on Sunday...any ideas to make our picture unique?
Love ya,
Janice

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Melancholy

After a LONG break, I decided to post something. I'm feeling sort of melancholy today, and I thought I'd try my hand at an acrostic of some of my thoughts. Here is an acrostic poem for you:

Monday was a long day and I'm still suffering the effects today.
Exercise is elusive in 100+ degree heat.
Love should be a decision and not a feeling.
A good friend doesn't make you feel bad for not seeing them in a while.
Never give advice without all the facts.
Chores are a necessary part of life.
Happy moments are unplanned.
Old folks don't feel so old in their mind.
Love can be shown through gentleness.
You'll never know how much your kindness may mean to someone.

I've just observed these lessons in the last two days. Life is full of wisdom!
Love you all!
Janice

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Changes for the Sheppies!

We are planning some big changes in the Shepard house. First, we put our house for sale (and already got 3 offers) which proves all the HGTV home staging shows have paid off! Second, we are contemplating moving back to WA sometime soon. Andrew can do his job from anywhere he has online access, which is anywhere! We love and miss our town and friends of Anacortes so much! I still have some medical stuff to take care of and if I move I'll have to come back every three months for a while.

Another change in the works is that Noah is going back to public school next year....can't take another year...enough said! My hat goes off to you homeschoolers! I am just NOT cut out for it!

We would appreciate all your prayers on these issues because they are major stressors right now! We are just waiting for God to give us the green light!

We pray God's blessings on all of you!
Love,
Janice

Friday, January 22, 2010

Crazy Weather!

This has been a crazy week of weather. I posted a picture on Fleur-de-Mobile. We have gotten more rainfall this week than we get in a year. We are supposed to get something like 20 inches of rain this week. Wow! My house has taken a beating. We discovered we have a leak in our roof. It's a bummer...but someone else has it worse than I do somewhere. Adding to the craziness, I had to drive to 5 separate Dr. appt (4 mine!) this week. When we woke up this morning, we had a few inches of snow! Who knew? Of course school got canceled...and the kids got soaked...several times! It was a good day in all and the crummy weather gave me the excuse to soak in the tub and put on my pajamas early. I hope you are all cozy and warm at home with the ones you love.
Love,
Janice