Spray-away Monday - A Favorite Things Post

I did not have any luck with my Wii internet connection (numerous) attempts but feel vindicated as it turns out the ethernet plug behind the TV in the living room is dead as a door nail! (whatever a door nail is...) So I was just butting my head against a wall for nothing. The wireless attempts were not successful because I have too many electronics around the TV that interfere with the signal making downloads too slow.

So at least I know WHY it doesn't work. Validation is important you know. I need to know WHY I'm going crazy if I'm going crazy. So I don't go crazy you know...

Which leads me to another Favorite Things post (don't ask me HOW it does, we were just told to have a lead-in to our main topic when I took English and I'm pretty much a stickler for rules...)

So this Monday's post is brought to you by the letter "S" for SPRAYS! Yes, cans of compressed air that make our life easier, more efficient, more bearable...until we can't breathe due to ozone layer thinning, opening, whatever it's doing that someone with a Ph.D., with too much time on their hands and too many research dollars in their pockets, keeps telling us about.

First Spray-of-the-Day:


Sprayway Stainless Steel Cleaner.


I don't know how many of you have Stainless Steel appliance - those gorgeous, gleaming behemoths of modern industrial design without which (we've been told) it is IMPOSSIBLE to resell our residences soemday - but the term "stainLESS" is a misnomer in my illustrious opine. Simply wiping off a spill on stainless steel will leave a streak that glares like pink lipstick on a white business shirt collar! When we moved into our current residence, the builder advised me to use WD-40 to clean all those SS surfaces - works much better than the products in the grocery store or BB & Beyond - but that SMELL! It IS made from fish oil so what do you expect? WELL, my dear friends, I got a can of Sprayway Stainless Steel cleaner, and notwithstanding Vanna White not here to wave her hands at a can of the stuff, while dressed in a lovely evening dress - it is WONDERFUL! Finding it can be a bit of an exercise - I found my first can (you always remember the first...) at World Market. In Keller. Not in Katy. Which means I can't run out of it when I'm home. Only on vacation. But I digress...the stuff is about $6 a can and works on all sorts of things metal. I used it on our outdoor grill, on the fridge, the double oven, the cooktop (stove top, hob, whatever we call in the good ole US of A) and love it! And it doesn't smell. Yeah! Okay, just did an online search and the stuff is available at Sam's Club.

Second Spray-of-the-Day:

Pure Citrus Orange Air Freshener



Jennifer put me onto this one. It doesn't cover odors. It doesn't compete with odors. It gets RID of odors! Forget Oust or Fabreeze or any of those other losers. Unless you have a raging citrus allergy, this is the only spray you'll need! It's full of (surprise, surprise) essential oils from citrus. It's non-aerosol (which I can't figure out since it DOES spray out - but more like cologne does, not in a continuous "if you forget to take your finger off you'll run out in a hurry" spray). You get it at Walmart. Believe me, I have the relatives to, ahem, put this product to the test and it ALWAYS works!

Last but not least, a cosmetic item. Third Spray-of-the-Day:

Bioelements Power Peptide Spray

What can I say about this amazing product? I could say this spray tonic adds youthful radiance with licorice root, white tea, and palmitoyl tri-peptide. It revitalizes skin with renewing peptides, boosts moisture, brightens, and refines skin tone. No artificial colorants, synthetic fragrance or animal by-products. Not tested on animals.

But that would sound like I was reading off of an ad for the product - which I was actually. I got this in a sample kit last Fall and fell in love with it. After cleansing your face, instead of a toner, spritz this cooling spray all over your face and "upper chest" (can't spell that french word "decolleta-whatever") and immediately follow with your moisturizer(s). It makes your moisturizer go SO much further (as in you don't need as much) and it makes your skin feel wonderful! Win-win!! It's a bit pricey at $36 but it lasts a long time.

There are other sprays I use - Pam, hairspray, shoe deodorizer, but they just didn't make the cut not being overly remarkable in my book. So here are my top three for what it's worth. Stay tuned as other "favorites" will be showcased in the near future. But rest assured, you will not get any fashion advice from me - save THAT one for Big Mama.

Happy Monday - is that an oxymoron?

Argh! And DOUBLE Argh!!!

As previously posted, I got Mike a Wii for Father's Day and gave it to him early. We all played it last weekend for Memorial Day as we were all gathered for Luke's 1st birthday. I packed it up and brought it home to Katy and just today brought it out to set it up on our big screen here. Got all the bits put right and then no sound. We have a home theater system which makes me think things MUST be harder than they really are.

I could get picture but no sound. I checked all the audio inputs in the receiver. I double checked them all. I turned off auxiliary components. Pushed more buttons. Figured I'd screwed up the rest of the system totally but by gum, I was going to figure this out!

I finally realized that all I needed was the TV sound - nothing on the receiver - and the TV sound had been turned all the way off. Sigh...simple remedy...involved diagnosis.

Then, at 10:30pm, I had the BRIGHT idea to get the thing hooked up to the internet! Must be simple right? There's an ethernet connection right behind the TV. Just hook it up and get connected. Again. Wrong. I guess that particular connection isn't hooked up to our hub up in the "big closet of unknown security and interent connections to be messed with only by Comcast employees who take three weeks to arrive and charge at least $65 for the first hour" - you know the one? So I tried going wireless - afterall, I have this nifty Airport Express thingie which serves as a wireless adapter for the net. Or so the RUMOR goes...

I hook it all up, click the button to "find an access point" and watch the cute little squares blink on the TV with the very ZEN water music playing in the background, getting very relaxed. All my wireless networks show up! Hurray! So I pick the one I usually use. Asks for password. Uh-oh. Chris set it up a year ago and I've never been able to remember the password. I go to my Mac laptop and through thorough investigative digging, finally figure out how to get ANY password stored on my computer! How nifty - if I can remember how I got to that point at some time in the future. But I digress...

Find the password (and it was SO SIMPLE I was totally embarrassed - right here in my own living room.) Put in password and click "check connection". It's now 11:02pm and I'm thinking "maybe this isn't as simple as I thought'. Watch little blinking blue squares again with zen-like music smug in my ability to trouble shoot only to be brought back to reality with "Error Code:52130 Unable to connect to the Internet. Please see the Wii Operations Manual or visit support.nintendo.com for assistance."

I think I'll just go to bed. This can only end badly if I persevere tonight. Thrown Wiis have voided warranties, I'm pretty sure.

So THIS little piggy is going, "Wii, wii, wii" all the way to bed.

Good night.

Luke's First Birthday

Luke had his first birthday on Memorial Day - which of course made it VERY memorable for us! :) We all converged on Keller over the weekend having almost everyone present to cheer and celebrate this milestone. GG Ann came with us and Tim, Megan, Kennedy and Lleyton drove down Saturday and spent the weekend as well. I gave Mike his Father's Day gift early - a Wii - so we could all enjoy it over the weekend (which we did). Jennifer had a darling dump truck centerpiece with "dirt" cake and cake "cones" - very clever indeed! Being the good "must lose weight or die" Gramma that I am, I resisted temptation to have any but I hear the "dirt" was fantastic. Jason grilled burgers (with REAL cheddar on them - oh, yum) and there were huge bowls of Texas Caviar and watermelon.

It was so satisfying to see all the cousins together, playing, fussing, running, chatting...it is quite exhilarating to have one's "kingdom" all in one place. My spirits were quite dampened on Tuesday when we had to leave to come home. Kennedy spent Saturday night at Jen's house and then Benjamin spent Sunday night at our house. They are entering a whole new dimension of childhood and "cousin-hood". At Sunday lunch, they had the most intense conversation (complete with broad hand gestures) about what had been going on with them that week. I think Tim got a video of it (if so, please share, Uncle Tim!) And all the "next gen" cousins were, at either a year old or ALMOST a year, interacting with each other and playing along side each other. It makes this Gramma's heart quite full to recall the love and affection in those rooms this past weekend.

Luke had much fun with his gifts but I think his two favorites were a popcorn popper push toy (you remember those, right? the ones your parents "accidentally-on-purpose" ran over in the driveway?) and a duck push toy. They became his constant "companions" during the party. He is in some ways a very intense little man - you can see the concentration on his face as he tries to figure out what and how to do/say/imitate something. He has a special fascination with "cheek pops" (you know, when you put a finger in your mouth against your cheek, pull it out fast and it makes that "POP!" noise?). He keeps trying to do it himself or even better, stick his lovely, slobbery finger in YOUR mouth and try to get that noise! I can't do it but Papa Mike sure can. Hey, everyone has their claim to fame!

Luke is also very vocal - many jibberings and jabberings - and some of them intelligible! He's had "duck" down for awhile. Ba-ba for Benjamin. Da-da and Papa - but I think Gramma is going to take a bit longer to master. However, when I walk into the room, he does break out in this HUGE grin and he holds his little chubby arms up for me to hold him and then snuggles down on my shoulder when I do - oh be still my beating heart!



So Happy Birthday Luke. You've definitely wormed your way into our hearts forever. Just like all your cousins have - we are blessed. You are too.

Cheri's Favorite Things...forget Oprah!

I have some of my OWN "favorite things" and, since I don't have a syndicated talk show, dishing with stars and giving away tons of free merchandise to my adoring fans, I'll have to be content with this forum. So, every once in a while, I'll have a "Favorite Things" blurb - wish I could say on a regular, specific day - but that would require organization, thought and time, none of which are my forte these days.


So TODAY, Thursday, May 29th, you'll get the first (hopefully not LAST) Favorite Things listing! And with summer upon us, and all the blog entries I've been reading which amount to POOLS OPENING, I bring you (drum roll) TA! DAH! my first favorite thing: a tinted face moisturizer with 30 (yes, count 'em, 30!) SPF! I got a free sample in an order from www.skinstore.com and it was love at first application! It's called EmergenC Sun 30 Tinted Skincare Moisturizer - made in Israel of all places - and I LOVE it! I was really infatuated with Clinque's tinted moisturizer with SPF15 but know it was just a fling now that the REAL thing has come along. And the price is decent as well at $35 for 125ml (4 oz. I believe). And the SkinStore doesn't charge shipping - free shipping on all orders and you can earn rewards towards future purchases. At Mother's Day, they had store wide 20% off - and for a place that sells Prevage (which NEVER goes on sale most places), that's a decent discount when they have it.
Also by EmergenC is a product that is great if you get red skin - I get a rosier glow than I'd like on my upper chest as well as chin area. So I got the D-Red Nighttime Strengthening Balm (a bit pricey at $69.50) and it's taking care of the problem. I think the 50ml pot will last a long time - several months in fact - and the redness has really started to fade. Plus it feels so cool and refreshing after application.


Another "miracle" product for me is Dr. Brandt's "Pores No More". I use it under my tinted moisturizer (above) as a "primer". Having had oily skin most of my life (which is on the wane as a 51 year old but still there none-the-less), I've always been prone to breakouts and large pores. This product is what I call "pore Spackle", evening out the skin surface so makeup goes on smoothly and flawlessly. It's $45 for 1 oz but lasts several months. It does NOT make me break out and, according to the literature, actually helps PREVENT breakouts!

Those are my beauty "nuggets of wisdom" for the day. I don't know about you, but when an item costs more than $40, I want to KNOW it's going to work and that I can RETURN it if it doesn't! The SkinStore allows returns of used products if you are dissatisfied - they do want you to be happy with your purchase. So let's review - free shipping, returns allowed on used products, free samples with each order, no sales tax to Texas and a rewards program - what's not to love?? And no, I'm not getting paid to tout their store or products. I just know a good deal when I see one!

You've only got one skin - preserve it! Or you just might become...

Just for fun

I've always said that Tim looks a lot like my Grandpa Crawford. I just came across this photo of him and thought I'd put it up next to one of Tim. Both were in their early 20's when the photos were taken.

Interesting, very interesting....

Party weekend!

I'm getting packed and the house ready to lock up and leave tonight for Keller. Luke's turning one on Monday and the big weekend is about to start! It will be my soap opera weekend - "All My Children" will be there and the children are of course "Bold and Beautiful". Ben and Kennedy are almost 4 so are "The Young and the Restless". Enough puns -sorry....

But I will have all the kids in one locale on at least one occasion if not more this weekend. It's rare that they're all together (unless it's Disney but that's only once every 12-24 months at best!) so I get excited when I have all the kids and all five "grands" running around. Jen and Megan both have Nikon D40's and so do I - so I put a dot of red polish on my stuff so I won't get it mixed up with theirs. Although - they probably take better pictures than me so perhaps I should go scrape it off...just in case. :)

I'm also going to give Mike his Father's Day gift early - tomorrow sometime. I think he'll be gone on Father's Day anyway (Amsterdam this time) and I thought we'd all enjoy his gift with him. I doubt he'll be reading this blog before tomorrow afternoon so I don't mind spilling the beans that he is getting a Nintendo Wii and several games. Tim has told us several times how much fun they are especially in groups. So what better application that to enjoy it this weekend with all the kids?? I'm on the fence about getting Guitar Hero though so if any of you have experience with that and any insights/recommendations, fire away! Enquiring minds want to know!

I had to get Mario Kart. I used to play that when we lived in Trinidad and I was trying to get the boys to wake up and get ready for school. It was in their bedroom so I'd sit there and play that stupid game over and over. They would tease me unmercifully because of my tendency to move the controller in the direction I was wanting to go rather than pushing the buttons. So when the Wii came out, Tim lost no time in letting me know that they finally made a game system that worked the way my brain did (so now I know I am a marketable game franchise - nice to know). Will let you know how it goes and if we end up having to have any physical therapy from playing games. Should be interesting...stay tuned.

Well, can't put off the packing any longer. As many times as I've flown, ridden in cars, etc., you'd think I'd have packing down to a fine art. But I don't - I hate it. I should have three lists made up - one for weekend trips, one for week long and one for longer - with all the clothing needs, makeup and toiletries, shoes and underwear clearly listed with quantities. But I don't. I still just wing it each time and end up forgetting something. And I still have this enormous relief when I get in the car/plane and know, for better or for worse, it's over and there's nothing that can be done about it. I don't know how Mike does it with those 7-21 day trips abroad. But then, face it - he's a GUY! No makeup, no "dress" vs "sandals" vs "tennis shoes" decisions. No jewelry decisions. No "we might go out for a nice evening so I should pack a dressy dress and thosenice sandals". No "day makeup" and "night makeup" to pack. His Dop kit is ready to go at any moment complete with shave foam, shampoo, razor, deodorant, etc. in little travel sizes. He has 3 suitcases - weekend, week long and 3 week long sized. When it comes to travel, I do envy the guys - not only because of the clear cut packing but also, think about bathroom stops. They can stand and deliver - no looking for the "cleanest" toilet (an oxymoron if there ever was one when it comes to public loos), no cleaning said toilet when you find it, no frantically searching for a Kleenex with just a minuscule unused bit 'cause there is no toilet paper on the roll...

I have to quit procrastinating and get in there and pack now. I've put it off long enough and Mike will be home in a little over an hour. Will report on Wii reaction - by the kids if husband is less than enthusiastic. I plan to have fun with it anyway. So this little pig will go Wii, Wii, Wii all the way home!

Genetics

I was looking at Luke's birthday invitation on Jen's blog today and was marveling at how much like his mother he looks. And anyone who knows Jason knows how much Benjamin favors him. Timothy is the spitting image of my Grandpa Crawford. And as I've grown older, I've caught my parent's expressions in my face often as well as mannerisms . Genetics - the master "Interior Designer" in the natural laws God has put in place.

Perhaps I spend too much time looking for resemblances. Or perhaps, being an interior designer myself, I am constantly FINDING resemblances. But it really got me thinking about families - and resemblances in both behaviors as well as physical characteristics. Mike and I've noticed that the longer most folks are married, the more alike they seem to look and act. We've noted that our own children have spouses that could be mistaken for siblings based on looks alone. We have our own theories about this phenomenon one of which is the "sync" happily married couples work towards. And to some extent, we find that, for whatever reason - be it obvious or subconscious - people tend to fall in love with someone who bears a resemblance to themselves. And as time progresses, their behaviors, speech patterns and expressions often become eerily similar.

Which brings me to the point of this missive. Often we are known to others because of our resemblance to our siblings and/or parents. What does this say about our lives as children of God? Do we resemble the Father? Are we known by "similar mannerisms"? Can a family connection be made to strangers? By WHOM are we known? And what does this say about how we live our life? And do we resemble our brother, Christ?

As we mature as Christians, we should be finding that more and more we are becoming like the Father. This of course can only happen when we spend enough time being instructed by Him. As new Christians, I'm sure many chafe at perceived "restrictions imposed" similarly to a teenager upset with a curfew. But as we mature and know the Father better (by studying His word, spending time with our Christian brethren - our family! - and putting into practice that which we learn about in scripture), we begin to depend on the wisdom of the security of "restrictions", realizing the safety they afford and the peace they bring.

We are instructed to come to Him "as little children" - which means we are malleable. We do not come with a list of conditions, negotiating our own salvation. We come empty, ready to be filled. We come ready to receive the love and blessings of the Father. And, the more time spent with Him, the more LIKE Him we will become.

So, do others know to whom I belong by any "family resemblance"? And if not, do I realize that, and am I ready to remedy that fact?

And Happy Birthday to Jenjer!

Today is Jenjer's 25th birthday! She is married to Chris and therefore our youngest child. She is mother to Mirai, aunt to Ben, Kennedy, Lleyton and Luke. She worked all through her pregnancy with Mirai and is working full time now - in newly instituted 12 hour shifts no less - while Chris is attending university. Which is NOT easy - especially when said shifts start at 7pm and go through the night.

Even though I did not give birth to her, she's our daughter none-the-less. Mike taught her to drive back before she and Chris were married. She lived with me in the condo in Bedford for several months before the wedding. We planned their wedding together. She LIKES my green beans! (not that there's anything wrong with my green beans, it's just that she really likes them!) And she likes my grandmother's Desert Rose dishes. And she took on Chris - as a life partner - which is something in and of itself! :) (We love you, Chris - we just had to put this in perspective you know...)

After Tim graduated from high school in Trinidad and moved to Austin to go to UT, we let Chris move back to Texas to finish high school. When we moved from Trinidad to London back in 2000, we wanted Chris to come with us and finish high school there, but he couldn't leave Bedford - you see, he'd "met someone" and just couldn't leave her! Let's just say we understand why. :)

So Happy Birthday, Jenjer! We love you! And here's a pictorial tribute...enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Timothy!

Today is Timothy's 27th birthday. Child number two. Firstborn son. The one enough like me in personality that we alternatively push each other's buttons but also often think alike. He's the one that (okay, Megan, brace yourself..."again??") we went to Disney World to "get". He's also Megan's husband, Kennedy and Lleyton's daddy, uncle to Benjamin, Luke and Mirai. He is the one who can play the "rewrite the song to fit the current situation" song game with me. He could be on "Whose Line is it Anyway?" He and I were the personal commentary on all things television and movies like unto "Mystery Science Theater" - LONG before that show ever came on - which could make it very annoying for everyone else trying to watch said TV or movie. So Happy Birthday, son! We love you!

(I hope I got your age correct - I made your brother a year older by mistake on HIS birthday - not a sign of old age; just mild "dyscalculia" I've found out. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.)

And the Oscar for....

...Best Blog Banner (say that fast five times!) Design by a Daughter For Her Mother goes to.....

(drumroll....)

Jennifer!

Thanks for the gift - it's GREAT! But then, look at all those darling faces of my grandchildren - what's NOT to love????