Why Some People Should Not Be Parents

It is no secret  that parenting is a tough job. I would like to think that many of us who chose to become parents did not go into it blindly and expect it to be a cake walk, to smell like a bed of roses. Quite frankly it is often like walking on egg shells and reeks of shit! But if you are a good parent (not perfect...perfect parents do not exist and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) you know there will be challenges and you opt to make decisions that are in the best interest of your kids. You feed them a healthy diet, you provide them with all the necessities of life. Discipline is difficult but you do it because you know it will help your child to grow and become a responsible adult. You love you kids unconditionally. They are your world, your light, your everything. You would do anything (within reason) for your children. You do not abuse them physically or emotionally. You shower them with attention and affection. These actions and choices make you a good parent. Sure we often catch ourselves making poor parenting choices, but being the good person that  you are, you make sure it doesn't happen again. Your a good parent.

Then you watch the news and stumble through blogs and social media and are astounded that there are a large number of people out there that are just Horrible parents. Period. Too many to mention, too many to dwell on. From the idiot Mom who leaves her sleeping infant in the car seat while she goes shopping for 3 hours in sweltering heat, to the Dad who beats his toddler to the point that he suffers severe brain damage. There are way too many of these horror stories floating around out there. Which brings me to my next examples of poor parenting ( or just plain dumb ass people ). We have all seen photos like this on the internet. But I thought I would share a few with you anyway, just to drive home the point that some people are just crappy parents.

I am sure that the parents who took some of these photos thought it was cute or funny that the kid was playing with a bong or guns. Its all right to smoke a giant doobie while your kid sits on your shoulders...isn't it? It was funny putting the baby in the microwave. NOT! I firmly believe that people need to be licensed to have children.

10 Secrets of Super Happy Couples......Really?

I have a subscription to Women's Health magazine. Every month I like to torture myself with useless information about losing weight, eating healthy and having great sex. Seriously, every single article is the same over every issue, just worded differently! Yet still I read this rag hoping to learn something new. I wait for that light bulb moment when I can say "That I can do!".

The latest issue of Women's Health magazine had an article in it that just rubbed me the wrong way. I could not help but read it and actually laugh out load all while belittling its author. No offense lady, but really....really? The article is 10 Secrets of Super Happy Couples.

Naturally being a married woman I read this article and immediately formed my own opinions. Join me in rehashing this morsel of stupidity and tell me your opinions!

1. Pretend You Just Met - "Whether you've been together for six months or six years, spend some time each day acting as if you just started dating".  My opinion: the dating days were not all that fun.  Why would I want to revisit them? They were filled with uncertainty and neediness and heart break. Sure the very first few months of a new relationship may be wrought with sexual tension and exploration, but that quickly fades then you find you really don't like that guy. If you do stay and decide you like him then that is awesome!  I was much happier and confident in my relationship after time passed. I figured that if he could tolerate me for this long , he must be a keeper. Then I relaxed and could be myself!

2. Limit Chick Flicks - "Romantic comedies can set up unreasonable expectations, which may lead to unnecessary suffering," says Sean Patrick Hatt, Ph.D., a psychologist in Seattle.  My opinion: No shit batman! Seriously who the hell calls  up a guy she just started dating to come over only to subject him to these sappy movies. If you think that you are feeding him ideas about how to be romantic and a good man, you are not. You would be better off showing  him super hero movies! If you are trying to get him in the mood rent porn. Chick flicks are just lame.

3. Be Beauty to His Beast - "Coupling up with an average Joe (with a beer belly) may be the key to long-term love"....My opinion:  Was I just told to find an ugly guy? Most men are average Joe's they just come in different shapes and sizes.  It shouldn't  matter if he looks like Brad Pitt and you look like a junkie street walking whore! If he likes you and you look like him all is good. Don't lower your expectations just because you thing you have a better chance at keeping a guy.

4. Control the Boozing - "Partyers may be more likely to have commitment issues to begin with, and once they couple up their bonds may be unstable."  My opinion:  I can actually agree with this. Back in my dating days I had a few booze fueled relationships that inevitably went nowhere. Looking back I realize that not one occasion went by where booze was not involved with some of these guys. I never had a chance to see the sober guy, maybe he would not have been so much fun, maybe he would not have slept with my friend if we weren't all drunk!

5. Hold a Grudge - "Provided that your partner is able to bounce back from spats, you'll experience greater satisfaction, even if you tend to stay P.O.'d".  My opinion: I just don't get this one. Seems rather conflicting from what most of us have been told about keeping relationships happy. "Never go to bed mad" we've been told. Isn't a grudge  just an extension of anger. So which is it, settle the dispute and let things go or hang on to it and poison the relationship. I guess it all depends on what the spat was about in the first place. If he left the cap off the toothpaste again...get over it. If  he gambled away the money for your mortgage hold a grudge!

6. Tweet Responsibly - "Avid tweeters tend to have shorter relationships".  My opinion: Another point that I  agree with (which came as a big surprise to me as I never agree with this stuff). Nothing pisses me off more that trying to hold a conversation with a person all while they keep glancing at their iPhone or ask me to wait while they quickly Tweet! My blood just boils. Another thing that I commonly see is that women often Tweet about their partner and sometimes they make their man look like total douche bags....just sayin'.

7. Don't Win an Oscar - "A Best Actress winner is 63 percent more likely to have her marriage end before her category mates do".  My opinion: WTF! Are you serious! If a man does not have enough self worth, self respect and self assurance to have a woman who may earn more money and be more successful than he is, then clearly that powerful woman should not be with that loser. This tidbit while at the very end says to "Encourage and celebrate each other's successes, big and small" is completely correct, it also dangerously implies that as a woman you should strive for mediocrity if you want to keep a man!


8. Burn Bras Together - "Women whose male partner is a feminist report better relationship quality". My opinion:  I am a touch old fashioned. I like my man to be a touch boarish. I don't want to be treated like crap, but I don't want him to be a  feminist pussy who's afraid to speak his mind for fear of offending the feminist me. I have no problem with a woman fighting for equality and rites, but when a feminist starts taking it to the extreme like bitching about terms such as "fireman" or "man hole cover" I don't respect them. Even worse is the wimpy guy standing right behind her agreeing with her stupidity. I think it should be a two way street, he should respect you as a woman and you should respect him as a man.
 
9. Nurture you friends Relationship - "Some people may see another's divorce as permission to change their own life,"  My opinion: Stay out of other peoples business. If your best friends marriage is on the rocks be supportive of her, but don't try to mend it! Just turn all of your good intentions onto your own relationship because that is the only one that matters. Often we become so wrapped up in other peoples problems that we neglect our own relationships.

10. Twist the Sheets at Least Once a Week- "Couples who like each other end up in bed more often."  My opinion: Oh how nice would that be. In order for this to happen though I would have to wake at 2 am and jump him. Sure sex is important to keeping a marriage strong and happy. But sometimes our expectations just do not meet the reality that is our life. Many couples find it difficult to make time for nookie when they have kids always buzzing around, work and household obligations to meet.  Often exhaustion trying to meet those needs sets in. Sometimes sacrificing 30 minutes of pleasure for 30  minutes of extra sleep is just way more appealing.

What are your secrets to staying a happy couple?

Note to Retailers...Mind Your Own Business!

With the holiday season upon us, we are all making the mad dash to retail stores to purchase gifts for out loved ones. I love this time of year, it makes me feel all tingly inside to spoil my kids. I enjoy the rush I get when I know that I found the perfect gift for someone. But one thing I really Do Not Like is when the cashiers at these retail stores always ask you for some form of personal information such as your postal code or email address. Which begs to question...why?

What really bothers me about this process which the retailers claim is for marketing purposes (sure it is) is that the cashier never explains why they are asking for your information. Like brain washed robots they just demand your data and sometimes add please. The only time they explain the reason for asking  is when you question them as to why they are asking for your information! I would think that if retailers want this information to compile a customer profile then they should be obligated to say so directly, honestly and explain that to the customer up front.

I used to give my address and number out until my husband one day asked me why I did. I did not have an answer. It did not dawn on me to ask why they wanted to know my information. I just went with the flow, everyone else gave their info so why wouldn't I...there must be a reason for their asking I thought.  Whatever the reason, you are not obligated to give them your information. So why does everybody do it?

I no longer give my information out and when asked for it I always ask the person at the register why they want to know my personal information. Often times they seem shocked that I even say no. But when I put them on the spot they fumble for an answer. I have been to a few stores that were so aggressive in trying to gain my data that I was stunned. First they wanted my phone number, then my postal code and lastly my email address. Each time I said no but the cashier was relentless!

This practice by retailers has become one of my biggest pet peeves. Seriously, my skin itches when I think about it. It does not bother me that the stores are trying to build on their business, I just can't stand the mindless, deliberate and unattached way they go about it. They should have signs at the check out the explains the reason for the process and also inform customers that they in no way have to comply. Just a thought!

I found another really good article about this topic here, give it a read and see if you will be sharing your information so easily next time.

Clairol Perfect 10 - Product Review

I have not delved into product reviews too much on my blog. Who am I to judge the hard work of the people who put these products out to the public. But then I got to thinking, hey I AM a consumer. It is my hard earned money that keeps these companies afloat! So today I share my first ever product review with you.

Sadly I am one of those women who is going prematurely gray. I started coloring my hair about 10 years ago to cover the odd stray gray. Now it is necessary just to keep myself from looking like an old hag. I am too cheap to go to the salon and pay way too much money for hair color when I can do it at home for a fraction of the price. Maybe once or twice a year, I will treat myself to coloring at the salon. Otherwise it is off to the drug store for me to pick a box of color from which there are way too many to choose from (sometimes too much to choose from is not a good thing). I have literally tried every brand on the market. Over the years I have preferred products made by Garnier and L'Oreal. I am so pleased that the products are becoming more user friendly. They smell less, drip less and now process even faster! I was excited then when I saw Clairol introduce their Perfect 10 permanent hair color!

Clairol Perfect 10 hair color claims to process the color in 10 minutes rather than the usual 20-30 minutes of other traditional products. This sounds great right, especially for a busy Mom or if you realize just before you are heading out for a big night out that the grays are just ways too noticeable. I found myself in just that situation, I had dinner plans with friends and did not want to look like the old hag at the table so I picked up a box of Perfect 10.

Clairol claims that Perfect 10 is "an exclusive advanced color creme formula with micropearls delivers color in less time and with less damage. And it gives you high gloss hair color and flawless gray coverage." The product comes complete with its own PerfectColor Comb for even distribution of the solution. Personally I found the comb useless. It got tangled in my hair and I felt as though I had no control over the way it was spreading.

For me the main reason to color my hair is to cover grays. It is important that a product do a good job of that. Perfect 10 claims that is has "flawless gray coverage" and covers 100%. When I read the directions on the box it said 10 minutes should do to cover the grays but if they are stubborn to leave it on for an extra 5 minutes NO MORE than that! (That scared me a bit....just how harsh is this product?) I left it on for the 10 minutes suggested. While overall the color was nice and rich and glossy, the grays did not cover well. Within 2 weeks of doing my hair my grays are completely visible, I have never experienced this with any other product before.

I am disappointed in this product. I think it was just too good to be true. Sure it is great for the younger gals out there who don't have gray hair. But for those of us who do, this product just did not cut it. I was nervous how the instructions strongly recommend to not leave the product on for more than 10 minutes even though it said you could leave it on for an extra 5 for stubborn grays...well...which is it? Yes or No. I am not convinced that this product is less damaging to the hair. I think the company makes this claim because they are trying to convince you that the shorter processing time will be less damaging. Not so sure about that. In all I would not use this product again. I give it 2 Goddesses out of 5.

Who Said Moms Aren't Sexy!? - It Just Takes 5 Minutes!

by Aurelia Williams


Whether you are a stay at home mom, work at home mom or a mom
that works outside of the home, between running the kids to and
from activities, making dinner, and doing loads of laundry, few
moms have time to pamper themselves. Suddenly, its been six
weeks since you've shaved your legs, your hair has absolutely no
style, and you feel as desirable as a cockroach at the dinner
table. There's just no way you can take time for yourself,
especially enough time to make yourself feel sexy and alive
again, right? Well, you may not be able to spend a week at the
spa, but there are plenty of five minute tricks that can make
you look good. After all, sometimes, knowing that you look good
is the key to feeling great.



If you haven't been able to make it to your stylist for a while,
chances are your hair is getting long and kind of limp. However,
there are hair styles that are sleek and sophisticated and only
take a few minutes to do. Try styling your hair so that it is in
a French roll or a French braid. You won't believe how knowing
that your hair looks spectacular will make you feel.



So, your hair is done, but you still feel a little blah. Are you
wearing a housedress or a set of ratty pajamas? Just because you
can dress down doesn't always mean you should. Instead, look for
easy care separates that go with everything. Make sure you pick
up a few simple accessories, like a matching bracelet and
earrings, too. No matter how hectic your day is, you will feel
like you can handle things if you look put together.



Of course, most women agree that there are few experiences that
are more romantic and relaxing than soaking in the tub
surrounded by scented candles. However, busy moms know that the
second they slide into the tub, there are several children
pounding frantically on the door because they want mommy to help
them and daddy just won't do. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy
a hot shower using your favorite scented bath and shower gel,
though. After you step out of the shower, use a lotion with the
same scent. You'll smell fantastic for hours, whether you're
sorting laundry or taking a moment to flirt with your man.



Finally, even if you only have five minutes to spare, make sure
you squeeze some exercise into the day. Exercising not only
tones your body and helps you look great, but it releases
endorphins that make you feel great, too.


Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article38887.html

Lazy Mom's Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

As a SAHM of 2 and a doting wife to the Italian Stallion, I spend a great deal of time in the kitchen. I am always cooking up some sauce to accompany the evenings pasta. I am not content 'most of the time' with a hum drum meal of just meat and potatoes as I grew up on. I always feel the need to out-do the last menu.
However, I am not much of a baker. Try as I may, I often fail in this area. I suppose that I am too impatient for many of the sweets to come to fruition. Maybe I just plain suck at baking. Either way I still feel the need to provide my family with fresh home baked treats (every so often....I'm not a glutton for punishment).

One of the 'cheater' recipes that I have tried over the years are Kraft's Super Easy Peanut Butter Cookies. I have to say that following their recipe to the "T" has always made me a happy camper but at the same time the inner gourmet in me cries for more. Over the years I have changed the white sugar the recipe calls for to brown sugar. I always add chocolate chips to my dough. But today I tried something a bit different. I added NUTELLA. (this is the point that the angels sing about the glories of this chocolate spread). I will be the first to admit...they rocked! Second to admit is my 6 yr old son who has never liked peanut butter cookies of any sort. These  he loved.

Here is the recipe switch up! Just know that when I did this it was by 'eye', quanto basta....you know when enough is enough.

SCANT 1 cup peanut butter
2 tbsp NUTELLA (add to PB to make a full cup...you judge based on your taste)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chocolate chips (choose what you like...I prefer dark chocolate)
1 egg
1 tbsp flour
pinch salt

Mix all ingredients together well. Preheat oven to 325 and bake for 15-16 minutes or until very lightly browned. Let cookies stand on baking sheet before removing to cooling rack.

Now ladies...tell me how frigging easy is that and I can assure you these are very tasty cookies! Give it a try because on those week nights when you barely have energy to cook let alone serve dessert these little morsels will come in handy!

10 Reasons to Call Off The Wedding

The Hubby and I were invited to a wedding that was to take place at the end of August. Today we received word that the wedding had been canceled. Everyone was shocked at first, but then the rumor mill started churning and shared their theories as to why the bride bumped the groom. "He slept with her sister", "She screwed the best man" or "He beat her". All very good reasons to call off the wedding.

The cancellation of what should have been this couples happiest day in their life turned into a bit of a circus. I must admit, that I too 'wondered' what went wrong. I then spent a little too much time thinking of reasons why I would have canceled my wedding. I had never really thought about it before, I never  had reason to. I guess if I decided to marry a different man that I may have found myself in a similar situation.

So another woman's pain resulted in this list that I compiled of reasons why I would cancel my wedding.

1. He starts wearing your fancy dresses and refers to  himself as Beth. At that point you should seriously consider whether your man wants to be your man.

2. Your man has more intimate time with himself than he does you. This is a good warning sign that your sex life may not be acceptable....or he is into himself way to much.

3. He spends way too much time playing fantasy games on the net. Seriously, if he thinks he is a dragon slayer, move away from  him!

4. Temper! Temper! If you find that your potential spouse has an explosive temper be cautious. Does he act out violently? Does he do crazy things when he is angry like driving recklessly and showing obvious signs of road rage? Does he rant and rave when his favorite team loses the game? Well, that guy needs to see a professional and learn to control his anger....you are not that professional, walk away.

5. Kills your self esteem. If you find that your man constantly puts you down from everything to  how you dress to the way you cook, you may want to put up your radar. Guys who feel the need to knock you down a notch or two very rarely will treat you with respect. You need to take control and put him in his place the first time he does this, if he does not like being told off then remember he is likely embarrassed of his manhood and you just don't need that bullshit.

6. Paranoia. Does he call you constantly throughout the day? Does he always question who you are with? Does he believe that the government is watching his every move? This is the kind of guy who will notice the type of mud on  your car and grill you about why you were in a location where mud like that could have got on your car. He will follow you, check your email and voicemail.  If your mates jealously and lack of trust are causing problems before you say I Do, then you need to evaluate whether losing your freedom and yourself are worth it.

7. He is a Mama's Boy. You know the guy, the one that needs to visit his Mommy daily. She still cooks for him and even does his laundry if you won't do it. This is also a double whammy because this guy will likely have a controlling mother and she likes that he still relies on her. Remember when you get married  you marry your spouses family as well. If this guy spends way too much time focusing on what his mommy wants and she calls your house daily to remind you of his favorite foods, I suggest you proceed with caution.

8. Cheater! If he has cheated on you once, it is very highly likely that he will do it again. If you forgave him for a past trist he will think that you are somewhat accepting and cool and try to repeat the bad behavior again. If the bugger screws another woman before you marry that should be your cue to walk away and not look back.

9. The very sight of him makes you ill! If the man that you once found so desirable, the man that made your heart beat faster, the guy who's smile you could not live without seeing daily starts to turn your stomach the minute he walks through the door, then you've got a problem!

10. He is unstable both emotionally and financially. Often these two issues go hand in hand. With some hard work and maybe a bit of luck, he can turn his financial instability around. But if he is just a lazy bastard who does not want to work and would rather sponge off of you then you have a problem. If he displays signs of being emotionally unstable such as being verbally or physically abusive walk away. Perhaps his problems are a little less severe, such as having a two way conversation with himself several times a day, he dresses his dog in a tuttu or thinks getting a tattoo on his face just like Mike Tyson, then he is a nut job. Cut your losses and save your sanity and bank account.

Marriage is a deep and binding contract that two people should not enter into lightly. You must both be ready to share every aspect of your lives together. Being married means loving your mate even if they are a bit odd. Trusting that his side glances at the blonde waitress will never amount to anything. Knowing that he will always put you first, respect you, understand you and be your best friend.