Mama Pajama

Thursday Thirteen: Who's That Girl....and what was she in?

This week I want to change things up a bit. But first, I need to share the movie gurus that answered all of last week's edition of Connect the Actors.  Malcolm and pjazzypar answered all thirteen correctly. Way to go you two!!!! And, thank you so much for participating.

This week I want you to connect the actresses by looking at their faces only (no names given).  The answers will still be the movie title that connects the actress with the following one. Please note that there are 14 pictures, but only 13 correct answers. The thirteenth answer will be the title of the movie that connects #13 and #14. Ready to play "Who's That Girl...and what was she in?"

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.  

14.  

Personalized Gift Idea

These days, it seems that our kids have everything under the sun.  But as we all know, personalized gifts are always more special.  This is why I was so thrilled to receive a personalized Veggie Tales CD with my son's name included in each song.  Just to be able to see the look in his eyes when he heard, "If Cameron likes to talk to tomatoes, if a squash can make you smile..." was just amazing.  Cameron is three years old, but even younger children would love to hear their names included in the songs.  If your child has a particular favorite character, such as Elmo or a Disney Princess, other personalized CDs are also available from which you can choose.

Another fun option is to get personalized books for your child.  Your son or daughter will love to see and hear their name incorporated into each story.  We have a book like this for our son, and he just lights up every time he hears his name.  Like many other children his age, Cameron's favorite thing in the entire world is to be read to. This makes personalized books the ideal gift choice for him.  You should definitely look into finding a personalized book or CD for that special child in your life!

We're Back!

I haven't had internet access for the past week, but now it's back up and running!  Here's a shot of my boys looking out at the lake.  Cameron loves to watch the cars and school buses go by.  He is really enjoying the beautiful weather.  I hope it lasts!

Cool Office Furniture

I don't know about you, but I love great OFFICE FURNITURE!  Doesn't this chair look super comfy?  We're kind of limited with space right now, but if we had a big office I would definitely find a spot for a chair like this.  Spacify.com has so many cool choices to help you make your office fit your own unique personality. Check out their site to find great deals and fantastic furniture today!

American Idol

Well we're getting down to the wire!  I really loved Michael Johns, but I also like David Cook to win this year.  I've had his version of Mariah Carey's "Always Be My Baby" in my head all week.  Seriously, who would have thought that this would be the perfect song for him? But I really thought he did an outstanding job.  Here's the Youtube video in case you missed it last week.

Our Poor Carpet

Between our six year old dog, and our three year old son, our carpet has taken quite a beating.  We have thought about replacing the carpet with hard wood flooring, but we are not ready to do that just yet.  I'm afraid that we are going to need to get our carpet cleaned by a professional steam cleaner within the next few months. 

Shoes

I have to admit that like most women, I love shoes.  I really don't have that many, but I love to shop for them.  There's something about wearing a great new pair of shoes that can just lift your spirits.  Since I have been sorting through our closets recently, I have found several pairs of shoes that I am going to donate.  I mean, who really needs thigh high boots anyway?  (Those were a hand-me-down gift from a friend of mine who knew I had big feet.)  I'm all about getting rid of clutter these days, and so now I have room for more sandals!

Cleaning Frenzy

Lately, I've been cleaning like a maniac.  With the weather getting warmer, it just puts me in the mood to get the dust out and to spruce up the house.  I've been doing lots of touch up painting as well, since the walls have taken quite a beating from Cameron's Crocodile Walker.  I want to buy one of those air cleaners that are supposed to reduce the allergens and dust in the air.  But, first I need to figure out which one is the most efficient for the price. 

Insuranced Out...

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel insuranced out?  Living near the coast, we have to get flood insurance on top of all the other normal kinds of insurance.  Of course, it's really a good thing.  It would be quite disastrous if something happened and we lost our home or car.  And, of course, medical insurance is a must.  I need to look into getting a life insurance quote as well.

The Heat is On

Wow. It is so hot today!  I'm afraid that our beautiful spring days will soon be coming to an end.  Before we know it, the temperature will be at least 90 degrees until October.  But, I would much prefer the heat to extreme winters!

Bedroom Sets

Are you interested in finding new furniture to spruce up your home?  I just found some really unique and affordable BEDROOM SETS that I really love.  We are going to eventually get a new set for our guest bedroom, so I have been checking them out lately online.  Spacify.com has a huge selection of bedroom sets that includes leather, storage, and wood platform beds. Check out their site today!

Heads or Tails

This week's theme for HoT is Heads: Direction.

In which direction should I take this?  I definitely have no sense of direction (just ask my husband).  I guess I'm going to have to rely on my good pal, Youtube, to come up with something worth watching...

The following didn't exactly qualify, although it's a country video that is so bad that it's funny (and I do like country music).  Check out Billy Currington's video for "Good Directions".

Fantastic Answering Service

Don't you hate it when you call to make an important appointment and you end up getting someone at an answering service that is unfriendly and/or unhelpful?  For example, last week I needed to speak with our pediatrician about getting a prescription for Physical Therapy for my son.  While I love our doctor, I was not very thrilled with the answering service.  Some of the people that work there are not helpful and can sometimes be quite rude.  On the other hand, the answering service that another one of his physicians uses is quite friendly and supportive.

Well, now there is simply no excuse for poor service from an answering service.  Map Communications has been providing a fantastic Answering Service for the past seventeen years.  If you are in charge of finding the perfect answering service solution for your business, you should definitely check them out.  I don't think that some people in the business world realize how important it is to have well qualified, courteous, and knowledgable receptionists to take calls when they themselves are not available.  Regardless of the business you are involved in, customers and clients expect to get accurate and reliable information every single time they call.  With Map Communications, your company will receive this kind of service at all times.  It could really improve your company's bottom line, as well as its reputation. 

Teeth...Ugh

I am so annoyed with my teeth right now. I can't chew on the right side of my mouth (after my dentist replaced an old filling).  Plus, after breaking another tooth, I have to be really careful not to eat anything sticky or too crunchy. Although, it is probably good that I can't eat candy.  But now I have adopted another bad habit of eating oatmeal cream pies as my dessert.  I can't wait until my mouth feels back to normal.

Mother's Day

With Mother's Day just around the corner, most of us are trying to think of the perfect way to make this a special day for our mothers and grandmothers.  It is hard to come up with something like this every year!  But, this year I already know what I will be giving my mother.

I found beautiful birthstone jewelry that I know she will just adore.  The Bow Birthstone Baby Shoe Pendant/Charm is something that I know my mom will love. She already has a charm bracelet that holds special charms she has received over the years.  What's really neat about it is that I was able to have my son's name and birthdate engraved on the sole of the shoe.  Also, I was able to choose white gold, which is her favorite.  It even has a small diamond set in between the birthstones in the center of the shoe. 

My grandmother has a very special birthstone ring that she received many years ago. It contains the birthstones of all five of her children.  I have always liked this idea, and I am glad that I have found a way to give a similar gift to my mom.

My Son and the Sun

Cameron really loves being outside and playing with his new climber. The only problem is that his eyes are very sensitive to the sun.  Even with his sunglasses on, he does not like to be out in the bright light.  He prefers to play outside around 7pm, when the sun has almost set.  It is amazing how different lighting makes such a difference for him.

Credit Today

Most of us all have at least a few credit cards.  In today's society, having credit cards makes life so much easier.  Practically every business establishment not only accepts credit cards, but actually encourages you to use them at their store.  They allow us all to make quick and easy purchases at all of our favorite places.  What I like about using credit cards, is that when I make online purchases I can feel secure in knowing that I can challenge any charges that show up on my bill. It gives you peace of mind knowing that if a problem arises, you won't be held responsible for paying. 

But then there is, of course, the flip side to using credit cards. You have to be really careful about paying off your monthly balance so that you do not accumulate huge amounts of interest.  Sometimes we all get into a money crunch and it is very easy to choose to neglect your credit card balance when you are in a bind.  But, of course, this is not a smart financial move. If you are interested in reading about credit, you should check out yourcreditnetwork.com.  You will find informative posts discussing the world of credit, and how to use it wisely!

Thursday Thirteen: Connect the Actors Part VI

This week's game is 'Connect the Actors Part VI'.  Can you connect Shirley Temple to Sean Astin through films?  The answer for each question will be the movie title that connects the actor for that number with the following one.  Just in case my directions sound as bad as I think they do, here's an example series:

1. George Clooney

2. Brad Pitt

3. Susan Sarandon

4. Sean Penn

The answers :

1. (Think - George Clooney stars with Brad Pitt in...)  Ocean's 11   

2. (Think - Brad Pitt stars with Susan Sarandon in...) Thelma and Louise 

3.  Dead Man Walking

I realize that some of these might have more than one answer, so any true connection that I can prove with IMDB will be counted as a correct answer. Also, please note that there are 14 actors listed, but only thirteen answers.  The thirteenth answer will be the movie that stars both Josh Brolin and Sean Astin. Please do not leave your answers in the comments section. If you would like to play, just leave me a comment letting me know, and then e-mail me your answers at: holly_f_smith@yahoo.com.   I'll post the answers on Monday morning.  Good luck and have fun!

1. Shirley Temple

2. Lionel Barrymore

3. James Stewart

4. Alfred Hitchcock

5. Anthony Perkins

6. Lauren Bacall

7. Kathy Bates

8. Jack Nicholson

9. John Lithgow

10. Janine Turner

11. Sam Shepard

12. Denzel Washington

13. Josh Brolin

14. Sean Astin

Answers to Connect the Actors Part V

Malcolm of Pop Culture Dish and Anna of Beth and Cory's Mom got all 13 answers correct. Way to go you two! (Sorry for the extremely long delay - I just realized that I never posted them on Monday like I promised!) Click here to see the original post.

Here are the answers:

1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High

2. The Last King of Scotland

3. Atonement

4. Pirates of the Caribbean

5. Edward Scissorhands

6. Parenthood

7. Philadelphia

8. The Terminal

9. America's Sweethearts or High Fidelity

10. Must Love Dogs

11. Unfaithful

12. Pretty Woman

13. Charlie Wilson's War

Thanks for playing!

This week's theme is Heads: Tip or anything that rhymes with tip.....Love the new banner Vixen!How about zip...zip it...zip it good....I have always loved this clip from Austin Powers.If you want to participate in this meme, you should go to the all new Heads or Tails site.

Something Different

We've had most of our furniture for about eight years. Most of it has held up very well, but we did buy a couple of cheap kitchen pieces that are made out of particle board.  They look nice on the outside, but if you don't open the drawer correctly, the bottom will fall onto your foot. Also, all the handles need to be replaced.  I'd love to get a new one from the furniture catalog I just got in the mail.  My toes have had enough of that bottom drawer!

Never Too Early

We have been thinking about setting up a couple of different savings accounts for our son.  There are so many ways to invest these days, but for now a traditional account is all he needs.  We obviously want to make sure that he will always be taken care of, and that is why we are already saving for his future.

Retirement

Since my dad has retired, my parents have been able to do a bit of traveling.  Chris and I are trying to convince them to take a trip to Colorado.  They could fly into Colorado Springs and then drive around to Rocky Mountain National Park.  But they are also interested in going to Branson, Missouri.  There are a few Branson condos that look really fabulous.  I think they would have fun either way!

Product Review: Lice MD

As a former elementary school teacher, I completely understand the problems that lice create.  They can be quite a nuisance, spreading rapidly among unsuspecting children. They also cause so many unnecessary absences, which results in missed learning opportunities.  Thankfully, there are products out there to treat and get rid of lice.

Lice MD is a patented medical breakthrough solution in the treatment of lice, eggs, and nits.  The great thing about Lice MD is that it is pesticide free!  It is non-toxic, safe, as well as odorless.  It also helps prevent any re-infestation.   Only one application is needed for even the longest and thickest hair.  You can learn more about this product here.

Lice are extremely common among children.  Lice actually prefer clean heads of hair, so having lice is not  a sign of improper hygiene.  They basically just crawl from one person's scalp to another by direct hair-to-hair contact.  But, they can also spread from sharing combs, headphones, pillows, hats, or other personal items. This is why children in daycare and school settings are very succeptible to picking up lice. 

My head is feeling itchy just thinking about these little creatures!  Thankfully, I've never had lice.  But, if anyone in my family did pick them up, I would feel very comfortable using Lice MD.  Not only is it pesticide free, but it's also free of dyes, perfumes, and harsh chemicals.  The fact that Lice MD is hypoallergenic is fantastic for those of us with sensitive skin! 

Here's a shot of Cameron just waking up from his nap.  I don't think I could get his hair to do that again if I tried. He likes to play a little game, pretending to still be asleep. But, as you can see, his smile makes it pretty obvious that he's really awake. 

Playing Outside

Cameron and I have really been enjoying the beautiful spring weather.  He loves his new climber that he received from his grandparents (especially the lookout telescope)!  He has started scaling down the side of it and getting on the slide head first. 

Here he is just enjoying the breezy weather and watching Buster chase the mockingbirds out of the yard - as usual.

Great Gift Idea!

Are you interested in creating wonderful personalized mothers day gifts this year?  Photofiddle.com lets you make beautiful artwork using the photograph of your choice!  You can use a recent photo, or they offer free scanning if an older picture will be used.  You can choose between oil, watercolor, collages, and more.  Check it out to create the perfect gift for your mom!

Cameron Update

Cameron had a major workout this morning with his new PT. She is just wonderful.  I wanted to take a shot of him in his newly modified walker (no more forearm troughs!) but he is too tired out for that at the moment.  He walked a few houses down in the street with it and didn't mind that it was much more difficult.  I'm so proud of him!

Great for the Body and Mind

Have you heard about Jung Su Won Martial Art Academy?  Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim teaches KI RHYTHMS, so that you can tap into a pure, powerful life force (or Ki Energy). What a great way to relax your mind while also getting a great workout for your body. Check it out today!

Cameron's Latest Obsession

Cameron does not really enjoy brushing his teeth. He generally fights the whole process. He knows that if he keeps coughing, Mommy will stop so that he won't throw up.  But, if I can distract him with a song I can usually get in his mouth pretty well.  Last night "B-I-N-G-O" was a real hit.  He loves the whole song.  It's working to settle him down with everything from brushing his teeth to eating.  But it's funny, when I try to change the lyrics to "Buster" or "Cameron was his Name-O" he looks at me with disgust. Let's stick to the real thing Mom...

Music Lessons at Home

Have you heard about the Amadeus Home Music School?  They provide excellent music lessons to fit around your hectic schedule.  Master musicians will come out to your home for one-on-one music lessons.  You will find teachers from this program in every state!  If you are serious about taking music lessons, you should give them a call today!

Big Brother

With only five houseguests left (Ryan, Sharon, Natalie, Sheila and Adam), things are sure to get ugly in the coming weeks of Big Brother.  Last night "Crazy James" was given the boot, and I think Natalie might be next.  The funny thing to me is that the only original "couple" left in the house is "Sheila and Adam".  But when the show started, they really couldn't stand each other.  I must say that I like Adam now.  I'll be happy as long as Natalie doesn't win. She really gets on my nerves.   

Web Directory

Most of us are trying to earn at least a few extra bucks through our blog.  One great way to draw blog traffic is to get listed in different web directories.  I have tried to spread the word about "Mama Pajama" in several different ways.  But, another way to get more traffic is probably just leaving comments on other people's sites that you enjoy.  (I must admit that I have not been the best blogging buddy lately.)

Dirmania.org is a free web directory that is organized by different categories.  If you meet their requirements, your site can get listed in as little as twenty four hours!  Their site is a free business web directory that is also one of the strongest providing excellent free web directory advertising.  Most of us are interested in improving our general rankings.  Dirmania.org is one way to help improve those rankings.  It is a great solution for small companies and websites.  This directory could really help boost your business.  It is really a win-win for everyone, since it is free!

If you are interested in increasing your site traffic, increasing business, or just boosting your rankings, you should definitely check out Dirmania.org today!  What do you have to lose?

To My Blogging Buddies:

I just wanted to drop a little note and apologize for not returning very many comments. We've been really busy lately around here, so I just haven't had much time.  Thanks for stopping by, and I promise that I will be around more in a week or two!!! 

Great Materials

Have you heard about the new Virgind HDPE Pellets? HDPE stands for HIgh Density Polyethylene.  It is a very recyclable plastic that can be used for things such as snack food packaging, whipped topping tubs, detergent bottles, and garbage containers. Since most of us have access to recycling centers now, there's just no reason not to do it.  We have a recycling truck that makes weekly roadside pickups.  We recycle things like plastic two liter soft drink bottles and milk jugs.  But, my dad recycles almost everything.  The last time I saw his pile to be recycled, I was quite surprised by some of the items that can now be recycled. 

Friday Fun

Tonight my mom is supposed to come and babysit so that Chris and I can go out to dinner. He is all decked out in a cute outfit for an evening with his MeMe. We're going to use a gift card that we received for Christmas from the folks Chris works with.  I'm so glad that it is finally Friday!

Best Solution

It is really difficult to know which mortgage lenders to use when purchasing a home.  You have to watch out for deals that seem to be too good to be true.  Because, as my husband would say, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."  Adjustable rate mortgages may seem like the best solution, but in the long run they are definitely very risky.

Skin Issues

I have been wondering which acne treatment is actually the best.  I have used lots of products over the years, but have yet to find something that works wonders for my skin.  While my issues are not severe, they are still bothersome.  I thought for sure that at almost 31 years my acne days would be over.  I guess I thought wrong!

I Have the Power!

With all of Cameron's toys, he loves this one the best.  He knows that it holds special powers.  Every once in a while the volume on the television will suddenly disappear or go to up to deafening levels.  It's easy to see why he loves this thing so much!  Plus, all boys are in love with remotes, right?

Great Opportunity

Ask yourself this question: Does your home want to be in the movies?  A location library that has been booking homes and businesses for filming in California, is now expanding. They have over eighteen years of experience working on films such as Wicker Man, Rambo 4, and Day of the Dead.  If your home is chosen, you could make about $3000 a day!

Naps Are Awesome...

Here's a shot of Cameron taking a great little midday siesta.  For the past few weeks, he's decided that naps are ridiculous, but Mommy has been paying the price.  As the night goes on he gets crankier and crankier...and then the hair pulling begins. Hopefully we're in for a more peaceful evening today!

Cutest Pet Contest!

BringYourPet.com is hosting a Cutest Pet Contest.  All you have to do is complete the registration form and then email a photo of your pet by April 30, 2008.  Their staff will narrow down the choices, and then visitors to the site will choose the winner!  If your pet wins, you'll receive $200 and the photo will be shown on their site.  What a fun contest! I can't wait to send in a photo of Buster...but which one?

Thursday Thirteen: Connect the Actors Part V

This week's game is 'Connect the Actors Part V'.  Can you connect Sean Penn to Philip Seymour Hoffman through films?  The answer for each question will be the movie title that connects the actor for that number with the following one.  Just in case my directions sound as bad as I think they do, here's an example series:

1. George Clooney

2. Brad Pitt

3. Susan Sarandon

4. Sean Penn

The answers :

1. (Think - George Clooney stars with Brad Pitt in...)  Ocean's 11   

2. (Think - Brad Pitt stars with Susan Sarandon in...) Thelma and Louise 

3.  Dead Man Walking

I realize that some of these might have more than one answer, so any true connection that I can prove with IMDB will be counted as a correct answer. Also, please note that there are 14 actors listed, but only thirteen answers.  The thirteenth answer will be the movie that stars both Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Please do not leave your answers in the comments section. If you would like to play, just leave me a comment letting me know, and then e-mail me your answers at: holly_f_smith@yahoo.com.   I'll post the answers on Monday morning.  Good luck and have fun!

1. Sean Penn

2. Forest Whitaker

3. James McAvoy

4. Keira Knightley

5. Johnny Depp

6. Dianne Wiest

7. Jason Robards

8. Tom Hanks

9. Catherine Zeta-Jones

10. John Cusack

11. Diane Lane

12. Richard Gere

13. Julia Roberts

14. Philip Seymour Hoffman

Go Away Rain!

After several weeks of gorgeous weather, I know I shouldn't complain about the rain.  But today I had plans to take Cameron out for a walk and to weed the beds in the backyard.  Hopefully it will blow over fairly quickly. 

Preferred Health Resources

These days, it is important for all health providers to find an excellent Medical Billing Company.  For the past ten years, Preferred Health Resources has been providing reliable medical billing. If you make business decisions for a health provider, and you are interested in getting the highest return on claims while maintaining a high level of patient service and support, this company is worth checking out today!

New Amsterdam

Have you seen the new Fox hit New Amsterdam?  I love the premise.  Basically, the main character, John Amsterdam, is a New York detective that also happens to be immortal.  The show is full of flashbacks to centuries earlier, where John remembers events that unfolded in his extraordinarily long life. With New York's rich history, the producers do a great job of creating historically accurate settings.  It comes on Monday nights on Fox.  If you haven't seen it, you should check it out!

New Comforter

Since we just got our master bedroom and master bathroom painted two weeks ago, I have been wanting to get a new bedroom comforter set. I had originally painted it a shade of gold that was just too dark.  Now it's more of a light tan, which we like much better!  I would also like to find a set of matching curtains.  I have always liked Waverly Bedding sets.  My first choice would be something similar to the picture above.  We actually have a Waverly set now, that has shades of sage greens, gold, and white.  It is nine years old, but it has held up remarkably well.  We have two matching valances that also match the comforter.  For the curtains, I bought forest green panels.  The set has survived four moves, a West Highland White Terrier, and a toddler.  So, I have a lot of confidence in Waverly products!

We are planning to move our old set to the guest bedroom (since it is still in great shape) and get a new set for our master bedroom. I still have not decided on the exact pattern, since there are so many from which to choose!  But it will probably be something with a yellow and green base.  I like red as well, but my husband can't stand it! My mom just bought a Waverly set that is deep maroon with a gold paisley pattern.  I just love it! She found Waverly valances to match, and it has really transformed that bedroom. 

Cameron still has his baby set in his room, but eventually we'll be getting him a "big boy bed".  Right now though I like the fact that he is trapped in his baby bed if he wakes up during the night.  When he is older I am planning to get him a nice Waverly comforter set.  You just can't beat the quality for the price.   

American Idol

Are you keeping up with American Idol?  I have been really impressed by the contestants this year.  Since I love Dolly Parton, I really enjoyed tonight's performances. My favorite was Michael Johns' rendition of "It's All Wrong, But It's All Right".  Who is your pick for this year's American Idol? 

Answers to Connect the Actors Part IV

Malcolm of Pop Culture Dish was the only one to correctly identify the connections between the fourteen actors listed this week.  Way to go Malcolm, once again!

Here are the answers:

1. The Fugitive

2. La Bamba

3. Courage Under Fire

4. Glory

5. The Cable Guy

6. The Holiday

7. Gattaca

8. Reality Bites

9. Daddy Day Care

10. Another 48 Hours

11. I'll Do Anything

12. The Muse

13. The Fisher King

Mortgage Solution

Most of us have at least one form of debt.  But wouldn't we all like to learn How to TERMINATE Your MORTGAGE and Live Debt Free!  If you are interested in paying off your mortgage much more quickly than the typical fifteen or thirty years, you should check out this site. 

New Therapist

Well, we met Cameron's new PT last week, and she'll be starting working with him on Friday.  We are sad to have lost our other therapists, but we're also exciting to get to work with someone new.  She'll be making home visits, so we're really thrilled about that.  At three years old Cameron is now eligible for the public school preschool program for children with disabilities, but we are not ready to send him to school yet.  In a few years we might change our minds.