Hodge Podge Wednesday

It's time for another Hodge Podge Wednesday.  Join Joyce and learn more about fellow bloggers.


1. Do you think the world became a more dangerous place on September 11, 2001 or did we just become more aware of the danger? How has your own life changed as a result of that day?
I don't think it became more dangerous, I just think we became more aware of the danger.  I'm not sure my life has changed because of 9/11.  Over  the years seeing love ones pass away, or maybe just me getting older I don't seem to be as picky.  
2. Did you think your parents were too strict when you were growing up? How about in hindsight?   Growing up of course I did.  In which we did grow up in a very strict home.  We were one of those that knew what we couldn't do, but not what we could do.  Now I am so thankful for the way I was raised.   I made some bad choices as an adult but I knew that there was a better way.  Otherwise I would probably still be a sinner, and not knowing any difference.

3. Share one random but candid fact about yourself.
I have to sleep with a fan blowing on me, year around.  Not sure if it's the noise or just the cool breeze.
4. Would your nearest and dearest describe you as simple or far too complicated?
Hopefully simple.

5. What is your favorite stadium or carnival food?
I don't get to many ball games, but carnival food.  Hands-down funnel cake.
6. Tornado, hurricane, earthquake...how many of these natural disasters have you experienced? Which event do you think would be the scariest?
Only a hurricane, and then it was only a minor one.  Back in the late 70's we were far enough from the coast not to get the brunt of the storm.  But we had plenty of rain and no electricity for a few days.

7. Labor Day weekend is approaching so a work related question seems appropriate. Growing up, did your parents assign you regular chores? Were you paid for doing those chores? If you're a parent do you assign chores to your own children? Why or why not?
The only thing I really remember having to do was keep my bedroom clean.  Occasionally I remember dusting the furniture and cleaning the mirrors.  Other than I guess in the Spring for some reason we would scrap the built up wax around the baseboards.
That last question was inspired by a post Mindee wrote on Monday. Everyone go say hi to Mindee-she blogs at Our Front Door and she's funny.



8. Insert your own random thought here.
If you haven't entered my giveaway, you can do so by going here.

Operation Smile Review and a Giveaway

Were ya'll aware that you can rent college textbooks?  I don't have anyone in college but when I was offered the chance to share two great websites, and a giveaway I couldn't pass it up.
Campus Book Rentals makes it very simple.  You search the book you need, rent it, and receive your books with free shipping.   They have a 30-day guarantee.  Any book can be returned within 30 days for 100% refund.  You rent your books for as long as you need them, whether it's quarter, or semester with a 15 day grace period for that last minute cramming for exams.
There's tons of perks. Monthly giveaways, textbook scholarships, shirts, and other prizes. Registration is free and you do not have to be a paying customer to win.



But best of all they support the children of Operation Smile.


 They have officially teamed up with Operation Smile, an out of this world, awesome organization, that performs life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. The long term Improvement in quality of life for the children that receive these surgeries is almost incomprehensible. They have committed to donating enough to cover a minimum of 1,000 life changing surgeries. They hope To beat that number, but it's a significant commitment.



So for EVERY book rented starting now, they will donate a portion of those proceeds to Operation Smile with their sights set on meeting and exceeding their goal of 1,000 lives changed.  So add that extra book to your cart, and consider this goal as you go back to school this year. Thank you for your support.

So what does all this have to do with a giveaway.  Operation Smile has generously offered a wonderful chocolate covered fruit basket.

To enter please leave a comment , telling one thing you read about on the Operation Smile website. 
Deadline will be next Monday, September 5, 2011.

Congratulations.....................

Kathy is the winner of the $25.00 gift card.  Please email me your mailing address so I can get it to blogsparks.
I've been offered another giveaway and it will start Monday so keep watching. 
Congratulations Kathy and thank you to all who entered.

That First House

Guest post of the week by Nestor Nielsen

Buying my first house was a lesson in patience but I'm really glad I held myself together and waited it out. The place I wanted was a short sale so I had to wait forever the bank to come back and tell me whether or not they'd accepted my offer and when they finally did 4 months later I was ecstatic. I moved in about a month ago and I've been really enjoying being a homeowner! There's nothing better than coming home knowing it's my own place and no one else's and I've been making a lot of improvements so far as well. I put in crown molding all over the place and recently went to HD DIRECT TV to get satellite for the whole house and I'm even considering putting surround sound speakers in every room so I can listen to my music no matter where I am. The possibilities seem endless right now and the only thing holding me back from doing everything is the size of my wallet!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

It's Wednesday so  join Joyce over at  From This Side of the Pond.  Grab the questions, answer them and link up with the rest of us. 


1. Using what's in your frig right now what sort of meal would you be able to make for guests who are knocking at the front door this very minute?
Not much in there, cleaned it out Monday.  Just some leftover dirty rice from last night, and plenty of eggs and milk.

2. What is something about yourself that you hope will change but that probably never will?
Being so impatient.  I am a now person.  Maybe it comes from my Mom when we were younger and told to do something we did it right then.  We never said just a minute, or argued that we didn't want to do it.

3. What's something about yourself that you hope will never change?
I would say my faith and love for Jesus, but I hope it grows each and every day.  Other than that I'm drawing a blank.

4. Do you usually send serious or funny greeting cards? Why?
Most of the time I try to find one with a Bible verse or some other nice verse on it.  So I guess that would be serious.

5. Bird watching, shell gathering, or star gazing- your choice for whiling away the hours?
Shell gathering, love to walk down the beach and look for shells.
6. Do you double or triple check things? If so, what?
Most of the time I do.  I always double check that I have my keys, purse, and cell phone before I close the front door when going off.   I always double check that Scott has everything he needs for work, and that Makayla has what she needs for school before they walk out the door. 

7. What's your favorite place for people watching?
The mall, or Wal-Mart.  Some of them makes you wonder did they look in the mirror before they left their house.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

If you haven't entered by giveaway you can do so by this Friday.  It's for a 25.00 Wal-Mart gift Card.

Wal-Mart Gift Card Giveaway

What better way to help stock up for back to school shopping than a Wal-mart gift card?   And while you stock up on your family’s favorites, don’t forget you can earn cash for the participating school of your choice with Box Tops for Education products.    I have clipped box tops for education for several years now. 
Nature Valley, Cheerios, and Yoplait, is just a few that have them. 
So to enter just leave me a comment telling which Box Tops items from General Mills you plan on purchasing.

One winner will be announced next Friday, August 19th.




"Disclosure: The information and $25 gift card to Wal-Mart has been provided by Wal-Mart and General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Hodge Podge Wednesday

Schools back in so I finally have time for Wednesday Hodgepodge again.  Not that school could have much to do with it.  Most mornings Makayla slept until at least 11:00.  LOL
Anyways you know the drill hop over to Joyce's, grab the questions, answer them, and then link up with the rest of us.




1. Share a favorite song lyric.
I better not see 'I can't think of one' on any body's paper. That's an automatic F in the Wednesday Hodgepodge you know.
Well it is hard to think of just one.  hehehe  My family would tell you, I drive them crazy sometime  most of the time  with my singing.  I can hear a word and think of a song, and just start singing.   For example: "crazy"  Crazy, I'm crazy for feeling so lonely, Crazy,  I'm crazy for feeling so blue.  Well you get the point.
But for a favorite song lyric, I would have to choose from my two favorite songs It Is Well With My Soul, and Amazing Grace.  I love the history of the writing of It Is Well.               




2. When was the last time someone yelled at you?
This morning, Makayla did while she was getting dressed for school.  I told her apparently she wasn't getting enough sleep if she was that grouchy.

3. Money, fame, happiness...are they mutually exclusive?
Well there's the old saying money can't buy happiness, and I don't believe it can.  Happiness comes from within.  Money to do for others can bring joy in our lives, like watching our children/grandchildren opening their presents on Christmas morning.  I always try to look for that one special one that I call their WOW present.  One that lights up their eyes and brings out a shrill of excitement.
4. What is your favorite dish to prepare for family and friends that doesn't require turning on the stove, oven or an outdoor grill?
There's not much I make that doesn't require some type of cooking.  All I can think of at the moment is No-Bake Cookies.  Yum!!!
5. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week. What is one thing you could do this week to simplify your life? Will you do it?
I have DE-cluttered quite a bit, but I'm sure there is more I could do.  Will I do it, not totally this week.
6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being 100% and 1 being not at all) how tuned in are you to your country's national political scene?
I would say a 8.  Because if I was totally tuned in, my blood pressure would probably be sky high.  I can't understand how they can justify even considering bothering the incomes of the elderly, or any that are military related, whether currently serving or a veteran.
7. What are your final parting words to the month of July?
It's been a hot, dry one.  Please send cooler temperatures, and some rain.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I should probably be cleaning house, but the mess will still be here this afternoon.

How many do you follow?

I get so overwhelmed when I realize how many blogs I follow.  I think of unfollowing some, but then how does a person choose which ones.  At the present I follow 226 blogs.  There is no way I can read all them everyday and write a post myself.  May be that's why I don't write, I'm too busy reading.  lol
I wonder what is the average number of blogs to follow.  I know others have written about this same subject.  So, how do ya'll come to a happy medium?   I stopped a long time ago following blogs just to enter a giveaway.  Unless it's a blog that really peaks my interest, I'm not going to follow it to try and win.  I also will never ask for followers to win a giveaway on my blog anymore unless required by sponsor of giveaway. 

School started back yesterday so hopefully my life will slow down a little.  Makayla started middle school this year.    Seems like only yesterday I can still remember taking Megan (my oldest daughter) to her first day of Kindergarten.  I cried all the way home everyday for the first week.  Now in just two short years her Emily will start Pre-K.  Time is going by way too fast.  I want the slow, simple life we had when I was younger again.