Mama Pajama

Scouting out the Neighborhood

Here is a shot of my boys checking out the neighborhood.  Cameron has a whole gameroom of toys to play with now, but he would rather just climb up to the windows and watch the cars and trucks go by.  As you can see, Buster likes to do this just as much as Cameron does!

Exercise Room

Now that we have an "exercise room", we have literally run out of excuses not to work out.  I have an elliptical machine, and my dad recently gave us his recumbent bicycle.  The other thing that we could still use would be weight benches. We have a few free weights, so it would be great to have a little bench to use with them.

Wedding Choices

Chris' cousin just got married last week.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  Everyone looked great in the wedding party.  The bridesmaids wore yellow dresses, and carried white and lavendar flowers.  Everyone had a good time.  Chris' sister was a bridesmaid, and she was given a beautiful charm bracelet.  The bride had a difficult time deciding what to give out as her bridesmaid gifts, but I think she ended up making an excellent decision!

The Perfect Gift

I hope that we can find something good to get my grandmother for her birthday.  She is so appreciative of whatever she receives.  We will probably give her a gift card that she can use at Walmart or Krogers.  Those are the places she shops, so I know that she'll enjoy a gift card from one of those two stores.   I noticed at my cousin's graduation that she has pearl earrings.  Maybe we could chip in to get her some freshwater pearls.  I'm sure she would love a beautiful necklace that she could wear to church.

Cleaner Air

Does anyone you love suffer from asthma or allergies?  Unfortunately, our air is polluted with a variety of irritants that can really be a problem for those with particular sensitivities.  We all try to keep a clean home, but are we really doing enough?

At our house, my husband and I tend to get our seasonal allergies in the spring and fall.  We have two portable air cleaners, but sometimes I wonder if we should do more.  We usually both end up taking a huge amount of allergy medicine, and don't even get me started on the amount of Kleenex we go through!  Sometimes I think that we should invest in a complete home air filtration system, like  AccuClean from American Standard.  It is supposed to remove over 99% of particles and allergens from the air in your home.   What's really cool is that AccuClean has even been proven to remove more than 99% of the common flu from the air!  Now that's pretty amazing!

Any Motorcycles?

This is Cameron's favorite place.  He absolutely loves watching cars, trucks, school buses, but especially motorcycles!   The noisier they are, the better.  If it wasn't so hot, he'd spend the entire day outside.  Chris even bought us an electric fan that you can attach to the water hose. It shoots out a cool mist.  Thanks Dad. Now I will be able to stay outside a little bit longer.

Cameron's New Room

Here are a couple of shots of Cameron's new room.  As you can see, we went with a "space" theme.  We found the fan at Home Depot, and then it just expanded from there. My mom made the wall quilt and the curtains. Cameron likes it all, but I think the lamp is his favorite. It's a Toy Story lamp that talks before it comes on and when you turn it off.  I like the glow in the dark planets and stars that we put on the ceiling.

Real Smooth...

A couple of weeks ago, while walking our dog Buster (well actually jogging) I fell really hard. I tripped over a lip in the sidewalk (really) and busted up my knees, one hand, and one elbow.  I know I hurt myself much worse when I was a kid, but I guess it takes longer to heal as you get older.  All I know is that I can't wait for everything to heal up!  Even showers are still painful.  Maybe we should get one of those walk in bathtubs. Then maybe I wouldn't have to bend my knees to get in and out!

Mr. Big

Here's a new shot of Cameron.  He's really making a lot of progress lately.  He likes to take walks in his Crocodile Walker and he's been using his parallel bars quite a bit.  If I put them nearby, he'll initiate using them. But if I suggest that he walk across them, he fights me tooth and nail!  He's been sitting up like this a lot, also, which is new.  Tomorrow I'll try to get a shot of him with his new (almost complete) haircut.  That was another battle....

Thursday Thirteen: My Favorite George Michael Songs

I can still hardly believe that George Michael performed on the American Idol Finale  last week (just read the posts below).  So, he's been on my mind all week.  I've listened to my old CDs, and I've even learned his new songs that are currently playing on his website.  (I LOVE THEM ALL - of course) so I decided to list my 13 favorite George Michael/Wham! songs of all time for this week's Thursday Thirteen. 

1. Faith - George Michael

2. Father Figure - George Michael

3. I Knew You Were Waiting For Me - George Michael and Aretha Franklin

4.  Monkey - George Michael

5. Kissing a Fool - George Michael

6. One More Try - George Michael

7. The Edge of Heaven - Wham!

8. Please Send Me Someone (Anselmo's Song) - George Michael

9. A Different Corner - Wham!

10. Praying For Time - George Michael

11. Freedom '90 - George Michael

12. Waiting For That Day/You Can't Always Get What You Want - George Michael

13. Heal the Pain - George Michael

Wednesday Night Delight

Well, I know it has been a week since the American Idol Finale.  But I still can't believe the way the show ended.  I was very happy for David Cook, but I would have been equally happy for David Archuleta.  They both seem like genuinely nice people, and clearly, they are both extremely talented vocalists. But these two weren't the reason I was so excited.

Chris came home from work and casually stated, "you know your boy is on American Idol tonight." Are you kidding me? George Michael???  Why hadn't I heard about it? But, oh yes. It was true.  I had missed the first twenty minutes of the show, so I was afraid that I had missed it.  But then......the final number with the final twelve contestants.....Faith, Father Figure, Freedom '90.....and then George Michael himself singing Praying for Time! Clearly, this was all planned out for my benefit.  Who else loves this guy's music as much as I do?  And Praying for Time is one of my absolute favorite songs.  Thank you American Idol......I needed that. 

George Michael on American Idol

Crawfish Boil

This Memorial Day we decided to have our parents over for a crawfish boil.  Here's Cameron's first look at a live crawfish. He wasn't really sure about all of this, but Buster had fun spinning around and pouncing on his own crawfish (that thought it had escaped).  Chris did a great job getting everything nice and spicy, and we all ate way too many!  But, I think everyone had a great day.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

If you're like me, you absolutely can't live without Clorox Disinfecting Wipes!  What's not to love about them? They are quick, convenient, as well as inexpensive.  I love knowing that I'm actually killing germs instead of just spreading them around with a wet sponge.

I literally have at least five canisters of these wipes around our home. I keep one in each bathroom, one in the laundry room, and of course a few in the kitchen!  My favorite scents include lavendar and lemon.  But the orange ones are also very refreshing.

Seriously, I can't imagine having to keep my home clean without Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. After my son came home from the NICU, we were especially worried about germs.  But, with the help of these wipes, we were able to keep his environment as clean as possible.  We used them to wipe down everything from door knobs to shopping carts.  Clorox Disinfecting Wipes gave us peace of mind during a very stressful time! 

Ragu Fresh and Simple Packets

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love pasta.  I have probably tried nearly every single variety of jarred sauce out there.  But, my favorite is Ragu with Super Chunky Mushrooms.  I was so pleased to receive two types of Ragu's Fresh and Simple Packets in the mail.  What a cool idea!  It's a pasta sauce that comes in a ninety second microwavable pouch.  It was already so simple to heat on the stove to begin with, but now you'll have one less pot to clean after dinner.  Also, this product does not contain any added sugar, artificial additives, or preservatives.  I'm all about making simple, healthy, delicious meals, so Ragu will continue to be a staple in our household!

Father's Day

Father's Day is just around the corner.  I thought about several different fun gifts for Chris this year.  These included a GPS device, tickets to a summer concert, or an autographed LSU football.  But I have already purchased something on ebay that I think he will really like.  He just might read this though, so I can't reveal what it is. I still don't know what we should get my dad yet. What are you getting your father or husband this year for Father's Day?

Patio Fun

Lately we've really been enjoying our patio furniture.  Cameron's favorite thing to do is watch the cars, trucks, and motorcycles pass by.  The weather has been great for the past couple of weeks.  I wish it would stay this way all summer.  Later on we're only going to be able to go outside in the mornings, once the heat really kicks in.  I like watching the birds near the pond, and Buster is really impressed with the dogs next door.  Thank goodness that we have a bark collar for him!

They're Finally Up!

Well, Chris finally tackled getting our new curtains up.  It was a surprisingly painless process this time! Instead of measuring a thousand times to get them precisely centered and at the perfect height, we eyeballed the way they looked at the bottom.  It really worked out well!  I am really satisfied with how the room turned out.  Now we need to put the curtains up in the guest bedroom.

Thursday Thirteen: Golden Girls Trivia Challenge

Another Wednesday has rolled and around, and I realize that I have not posted the answers to my Thursday Thirteen from two weeks ago!  Thea from I'm a Drama Mama was the only person to get them all correct. Way to go, Thea!  But I must add that Malcolm from Pop Culture Dish got most of them right as well.  (His recent pledge to not use the internet on quizzes is quite commendable.)  Thanks for playing everyone! 

Here are the answers from two weeks ago. Click here to see the post.

1. Sarah Jessica Parker and Rachel McAdams were in The Family Stone.

2. Rachel McAdams and Tina Fey were in Mean Girls.

3. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are in Baby Mama.

4. Amy Poehler and Susan Sarandon were in Mr. Woodcock.

5. Susan Sarandon and Nia Long were in Alfie.

6. Nia Long and Sandra Bullock were in Premonition.

7. Sandra Bullock and Ellen Burstyn were in Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

8. Ellen Burstyn and Meg Ryan were in When a Man Loves a Woman.

9. Meg Ryan and Jennifer Jason Leigh were in In the Cut.

10. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kathy Bates were in Dolores Claiborne.

11. Kathy Bates and Hilary Swank were in P.S. I Love You.

12. Hilary Swank and Katie Holmes were in The Gift.

13. Katie Holmes and Queen Latifah were in Mad Money.

This week's edition is just thirteen random questions about one of my all-time favorite television shows, "The Golden Girls."  Thanks to Lifetime, I think I've seen every single episode at least three times!  Please email me your answers at holly_f_smith@yahoo.com.  Do not leave them in the comments section, just because you might get them before others have a chance to play.  Thanks so much!

1.  By what name does Blanche call her father?

2.  In one episode, Dorothy and Rose write a song for a contest.  Can you finish this line from the tune?

"Miami, Miami, you've got style, Blue skies, sunshine, _____ ____ __ ___ ____."

3.  What was the name of Sophia's former retirement home?

4.  What was the name of Rose's hometown?

5.  What dessert did the ladies often enjoy while sitting around the kitchen table?

6.  What was Dorothy's profession?

7.  Dorothy's ex-husband, Stan, finally left her for a flight attendant.  What was her name?

8.  What was the name of Dorothy's father?

9.  What was Sophia's nickname for Dorothy?

10.  What was Blanche's late husband's name?

11. What actress played Sophia when she was younger (1950s)?

12. As a young child, who did Rose believe was her biological father?

13. Just curious, which Golden Girl is your favorite?

Yikes!

Recently I made a startling discovery.  Our mop is over seven years old.  Now before you gasp at how disgusting that might be...please know that I do change the sponge head on it after every few uses.  But still, the thing is old.  I'd like to try a new microfiber mop.  It would be great to be able to throw it in the washing machine after every use.  Exciting stuff, right?

Need a Laugh?

Fun Stuff

Cameron loves cardboard boxes! Recently, I was changing out some of his toys and putting some away in boxes.  He loved playing with the boxes more than his "new" toys.  But, I know this is how most kids are. My husband's grandmother told me that Chris used to love frozen orange juice cans more than his own toys.  Like father like son. 

Ocean Spray Cranergy

I was so lucky to receive two samples of the new Cranergy Energy Juice Drink from Ocean Spray.  Since I love almost all types of juice, I was looking forward to tasting Ocean Spray's newest concoction.  I was expecting it to be tart, but I was surprised to find it light, smooth, and refreshing.  It was the perfect combination of cranberries with green tea extract.  It even contains B vitamins and Vitamin C to help boost immunity.  It also contains Splenda, so it only has 35 calories per eight ounces.  This helps if you're watching calories!  Thirsty yet? 

American Idol

Thank goodness. Jason Castro has been eliminated.  I think he has a nice, smooth, voice and everything.  But he was not nearly as talented as the other three remaining contestants.  Syesha is good, but I think a David will win this year. What do you think?

Cameron's Newest Gadget

Cameron's new physical therapist brought out these parallel bars for him to start using.  This is the next step towards independent standing and then ultimately walking.  We are very excited about his progress.  Hopefully I'll be able to snap a shot of him on it soon. We're also working with him on crawling up the stairs!

Celebrity Addiction

I must say, that over the past year (since I started blogging), my addiction to celebrity gossip has decreased considerably.  Maybe it was the out of control downward spiral of Britney...or the realization that I should probably be outgrowing this stuff.  At any rate, I've had enough drug rehab stories for one lifetime.  I'm also tired of the lack of consequences for celebrities who engage in ridiculous behaviors. 

New Comforter

I just love our new bedding. It was one of those bed-in-a-bag super sets.  It came with several sham pillows, two full sets of sheets, a matching throw, and a set of Euro shams.  It took me a while to figure out which one I wanted, but I'm glad I took my time to pick it out.  We still have to hang the matching curtains...but I think I'll let Chris do that!

Fun Contest

  If you're like me, and you love musicals, you're going to love this!  A big screen remake of Mamma Mia! will be coming to theaters this summer.  Pond's has paired up with this film to hold an 'American Idol' type contest for women over forty.  If you fall into this category, head on over to the Pond's website. Just by sending in a video of yourself with two friends singing a karaoke style version of music from Mamma Mia!, you could win a fabulous trip to see the premiere of the film in London!  Sounds fun to me!

Norton 360

Recently, I was lucky enough to receive new software from Symantec. It's the new Norton 360 version 2.0.  My husband and I always try to keep our computer protected from viruses.  But, we were so pleased to learn that Norton 360 offers more than just the average security and anti-virus protection.  What's really cool about it, is that it also helps us back up and de-clutter the computer.   It even screens against online identity theft, and backs up data and files automatically!  This software was also a breeze to install. 

Now that I am able to use the computer to earn extra cash, I don't ever want to be without it.  With so many spyware and phishing sites out there, it's very reassuring to know that our computer is protected at all times.