To Keep Her Happy . . .

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing. Proverbs 18:22
Fix her breakfast in bed.
Tell her you love her.
Admire her (let her see it in your eyes!)
Compliment her.
Tell her you love her.
Surprise her with a present.
Open the car door for her.
Take her out for dinner to a nice restaurant.
Thank her for cleaning your house.
Tell her you love her.
Call her.
Make sure she's got the best house and car that you can reasonably afford.
Buy her flowers.
If you can't afford to buy flowers, buy one.
If you can't afford to buy one, pick some wild ones.
Say your sorry when you speak harshly to her.
Tell her you love her.
Thank her for the good meal.
If it's not good, then thank her for fixing a meal.
Encourage her to pursue her interests.
Make sure she knows she's the light in your eyes.
Wash the dishes (or load the dishwasher)
Help her make the bed.
Talk.
Try to understand even when you don't.
Give her a card--doesn't have to be expensive--just give her one--or make one!
Give her a break from the kids for an evening, an hour, or at least hire a kidsitter & take her out for icecream!
Tell her you love her.

Ladies, did I miss anything? Let me know, and if your idea is a good one, I'll send you a nice bookmark depicting either my romance or my mystery. How's that for motivation?



If you're like me, you hate to clean the car in winter. Brrr! Too, too cold. But once the warmer weather hits us, I don't mind doing it. Kind of enjoy it. Well, here's a few hints about taking care of that car:

1) Wash your car in the morning or evening to avoid water spots. (Once they form, it only takes a week or so for them to begin etching into the surface which makes it harder to buff them out.

2) Be careful of the cloths you use to wash it. Lambswool is great to use. Steer clear of harsh detergents that can damage your vehicle's finish.

3) Those pits in the paint at the front of your car? Thought they were rock chips? Nope. Bugs did it. Use a protective coat of polymers several times till you have a build up. Then apply sevderal times a year after that. Bugs and dirt will wipe right off.



Quote:
Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile.

Blessings.

If I Were A Millionaire . . .

Have you ever thought about it? Actually, I'm talking about becoming a muli-millionaire. Overnight. Now that's big money!

Hubby and I were discussing our options last night. (just in case this fabulous idea ever happens! A girl can't be too careful!)

First, of course, we'd give our contributions.
Then we'd invest about half of what was left of our earthly treasure.
Then (are you listening, family?) a cool million to each brother & sister in our families.
Secondly, we'd pick out a few choice good friends and give some to them.
We'd make sure our mothers are taken care of--no worries--for the rest of their lives.

Then . . . hubby and I would travel. Do some mission work that we've always wanted to do. See more of the world. We'd always be on the lookout to help worthy souls. There's a lot of needs out there, but to find the legitimate ones is another story.

Now for the fun part . . .

I'd buy a pink elephant.
I'd buy all the flowers in the world for my garden.
I'd begin collecting more rocks.
I'd buy an airplane.
I'd buy all the antique cars I wanted.
I'd buy myself into getting published (yeah, truly I would)
I might buy an island, for us, and friends and family who need to get away for a bit.
I'd help all the little children in the world--that I could--to have a happy life.
I'd pave my driveway!
I'd take photography lessons.
I'd buy a grand piano.

If only . . .



Updating your kitchen cabinets hints:

A beautiful kitchen is the heart of any home (even for those of us who spend most of our cooking time around the microwave!) Time spent together in the kitchen can bring a family closer together and make wonderful memories (although my own memories of doing dishes as a teenager are less than pleasant - something about dishwater being 'disgusting!') Turning your plain kitchen into something special isn't as hard as you might think. Here are a few simple ideas which can make your kitchen a designer showcase.

1. To give your cabinets a special flair, use three different stains. Use one lighter stain on the upper cabinets, one slightly darker on the drawers and an even darker one on the bottom cabinets. Add a little pigment in a primary color (red, blue or yellow) to add an additional dimension and a little 'pop.'

2. To add a little flair, take out a few drawers and insert low baskets in their place. You will probably have to remove the middle drawer slide or side slides, but that is easily done with a screwdriver.

3. Want to update your backsplash? Use beadboard! Have your local home improvement store cut it to length and attach with nails or adhesive.

4. Tired cabinet doors? Cut out the middle of the doors, leaving a two inch edge all around. Stale fabric panels to the back of the doors. Cover the staples with fabric trim glued with a hot glue gun. You can use any fabric from elegant to country, stripes to plaid, or gingham to quilted.

5. Update your cabinets with special memories. Attach frames painted or stained to match the cabinets to the front of each door. Fill the frames with family photos or your children*s artwork. Or highlight a special collection such as vintage handkerchiefs or postcards.

Sit back and wait for the compliments!


Quote:
I wish I had a box--the biggest I could find,
I'd fill it right up to the brim
With everything that's kind . . .
Grateful words for joys received
I'd freely give away.
Oh, let us open wide a box
Of praise for every day.


Blessings.

Brain Teaser:

This is only for all you smart friends. See if you can figure out what these words have in common:

banana
dresser
grammar
potato
revive
uneven
assess

You know yet? Try again. You'll kick yourself when you discover the answer! (But maybe not, I hate brain teasers! I suppose cause I'm not smart enough to figure them out! Laugh. But then, I always come up with an answer; just not the right one!)

What I want to know: who sits around and thinks of these things? Don't they have better things to do then waste their time on things that befuddle, confuse, annoy, and twist our minds?

Now if they'd spend their time writing something entertaining (like a novel! Grin. Or even a poem or a short story, or even--something nonfictional), that would be worthwhile.

And people get big money for these things. Think of all those people who write cartoons. What about those who write jokes for entertainers. I wish they'd spread some of that filthy lucre to good souls like . . . uh hmmm . . . me!

Wonder what it takes (besides talent) to start a career in nonsense? Maybe I'll sign up.



Spring Hint: With spring almost here, many people are gearing up to paint a room, more than one, or even some outside work. Here's some things to think about before you begin.

Color can be a tricky beast.

Like a chameleon it can change depending on several factors and can even make the space or room look completely different in size and tone. Color can:

· Change depending on adjacent color

· Reflect onto adjacent color

· White or beige will take on the tint of an adjacent color

· Differing adjacent colors will appear more intense

· Cool colors and tints will make a space appear larger

· Warm colors and shades will make a space appear smaller

· Cool colors and tints make an object appear smaller and lighter in weight

· Warm colors and shades will make a space appear smaller

· Cool colors and tints make an object appear smaller and lighter in weight

· Warm colors and shades make an object appear larger and heavier in weight

· Contrasting colors contract space

· Similar colors or values expand space

· White, grey or colorless spaces are poor choices where people are to gather and interact

Answer: In all the words listed, if you take the first letter, place it at the end of the word, and then spell the word backwards, it will be the same word. Duh!


Quote:
Friends are angels who lift our feet when our own wings have trouble remembering how to fly.


Blessings.

Real Love . . .

I know this couple that displays their . . . affection? love? sexual needs? something . . . in public.
Does that sound like I'm coming across as a prude? Nope. Not at all.

(Now I want to be careful. Explanation: I write this blog backwards. From the bottom up. You didn't know that? Anyhow, since I wrote in the hint section about possibly making a list for men . . . well, you get the drift, I don't want to name all the things necessary for a man to keep his companion's love, here, and right now.)

So, with that out of the way . . . back to the first paragraph. Is a display necessary to declare a couple's feelings for each other?

I like honesty and not caring what others think about you . . . to a certain degree. I like the small, warm and caring things that one of a couple does for the other. I like not being afraid to show the world that I love my man and he loves me.

But I do despise a show for just a show. People trying to convince friends that their love is the greatest, that their feelings are deeper because of the display they're putting on. As if a display is needed to prove they have love.

Love should be precious, cherishable. When it comes to a person, don't handle it lightly. It's not--in spite of all the comments, songs, and jokes--a joke. It's a beautiful thing.

I like the quietness in my hubby's manner, that confidence that he doesn't have to lay it all out there for the world's inspection. He knows what he feels, he shows it to me. He lets others know it when he wants to. He respects me, uses manners, and--I believe--cherishes me. He strives to fulfill my wants, needs and desires. Is that not a greater love than (in my opinion) the cheap display that's put on, for display sake only?

Where's the confidence that comes with knowing you love and are loved?




Okay. I know that Valentine's Day has passed. I know many people aren't into "romance." But does it ever hurt to cultivate it? To encourage it? It's a good way to keep that love of a man! Although this is aimed at women, some of you men could write your own list. (Want me to do it for you? Now that's an idea . . . for later! Laugh!):

A B C's of Being a Help Meet

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

Admit when you are wrong
Be positive
Cuddle
Do it his way
Encourage him
Fix his breakfast
Give back rubs
Hug often
"I love you" should be said many times daily
Joke around in a playful manner
Know his needs
Listen to him
Manage your home well
Never hold grudges
Open your eyes in the morning and smile
Pray for him
Quit nagging him
Reminisce about good times
Show respect and honor
Trust, and earn his trust
Understand his need for reverence
Vulnerability is a feminine trait; cultivate it
Wink at him!
X is for private times
Yearn to please him
Zealously guard him with your love

And enjoy your love together "through the years."


Quote:
Love puts the fun in together . . . the sad in apart . . . the hope in tomorrow . . . the joy in a heart.



Blessings.

The Wonder of Living

Skip down and read the quote I used today on this blog. Now, take a minute to think about life, and your life precisely.

Of course, I realize that for many people (me, too!), spiritual faith comes into play here. It is the anchor, the stronghold of our lives, the "what" (or who) that gives us a reason, a focus for our being.

Make sense?

But aside from that, what gives you pleasure in living? Esthetical feelings. That warm fuzzy feeling. The exhilaration of being alive. What do you really like about your life? Enjoy doing?

I have one friend who raises a certain brand of dogs. She does it well, makes money on it. You can see the love for her canine friends in her eyes. She works hard at making this a success in her life, but she also gets pleasure from it. It's that extra something that provides the needed "fun" in her life. (Work though it is!)

I have another friend that is an excellent pianist (been jealous of her ever since I've known her! Grin!), plus she sings with her husband. But something must have been missing. Somewhere along the line, she needed something else to make her life a little more interesting. She went back to school, became a nurse. Loves that career! Gave her fulfillment.

Another friend is just a homemaker (and the word "just" does not belittle her homemaking skills). She does it well. She has a love for children, feels an obligation to bring joy into children's lives and hearts--so much so that she adopted two children--and this was after raising her own brood--and did a good job of it, too! Successful? Joy? Sure, probably plenty of it, along with the weariness of mothering two active children.

For me, writing (I can hear you! You knew what was coming, huh?) I wrote when young. Wrote in school and college. But . . . I didn't pursue it as a career, as the joy in my life. Thus, I occasionally I'd feel that niggling thought: you're not doing what you're called to do. Or . . . You won't live forever, when are you going to accept the ability I've given you?

I know the failings in my own life: the tendency to crowd my life with activities and things. The stress I live under. The weakness of not enough determination--sometimes. The weakness in fearing failing and rejection. Why did I wait almost too long?

The joy of creating something worth reading, the satisfaction in finishing a 90,000 novel--or 45,000 novel! The fun in research. The ability of taking separate words and connecting them into a book. AH!

Then as a bonus you have times:

Sitting with someone you love reading together.
Traveling down a highway, listening to a good tape, watching the beautiful scenery.
Playing with your children or reading a book to them.
Watching their faces light up when they first see the Christmas tree.
Hearing your son say, "He's my brother. I love him."
Watching the sun rise or the moon set.
Watching the moon through the treetops.
Reading the adoration in your dog's eyes.
Hearing your loved one say, "I love you."
Feeling that love without words.
Feeling the fear and dread when someone you love is in danger (why is that a blessing? Because you have someone to fear for)
Washing the car together.
Soaking in a hot tub.
Seeing a newborn (child, animal)
Experiencing the excitement of getting ready for a vacation.
Anticipating an evening out with friends.
Watching the city lights.
Seeing the lights of Albuquerue in the distance.
Feeling the ocean waves hit you, suck at you, getting you wet.
Feeling the ancientness of the Native Americans.
Living. Breathing.


One of my very best fun things to discover is a new breakfast dish that I really like. Love fixing them, too! Thought you might enjoy this breakfast recipe hint for today!

Make Ahead: French Toast Bundt Pan Breakfast
(created by Leslie Sausage)
(a cross between coffee cake and cinnamon rolls!)

12 (very cold) unbaked dinner rolls
2 eggs
1/3 c liquid hazelnut coffee creamer
1/4 c pancake syrup or honey
3 T butter, melted
2 T sugar
1/2 T ground cinnamon
1/2 T vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Buy frozen rolls or make the rolls yourself; but this works best if the dough is still very chilled from the refrigerator before the dough starts rising.

Cut rolls in fourths. Combine the other ingredients in a bowl. Dip rolls in mixture and place in Bundt pan which has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Pour remaining mixture over rolls.

For make-ahead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at this time.

When ready to prepare, loosen cover and let rise at room temperature until rolls rise to the top of the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees f for 35 minutes. Invert onto a serving platter. Drizzle with syrup and powdered sugar. Slice and serve with additional syrup.

Hint: Don't eat too many!



Quote:
The wonder of living is held within the beauty of silence, the glory of sunlight . . . the sweetness of fresh spring air, the quiet strength of earth, and the love that lies at the very root of all things.


Blessings.