So, back to the chocolate!

I have had a few inquiries as to the actual health benefits of chocolate. So here they are:

• They are full of antioxidants. Which keep the artieries from clogging, promote healthy blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Chocolate stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain which reduces ones sensitivity to pain.
• The psychoactive compounds in chocolate can lead to a feeling of general happiness and well being, and even inhaling chocolate was found to induce a sense of relaxation (and by inhaling they mean smelling, not smoking).
• And one of the surprising benefits of chocolate was the small amount of caffeine in chocolate which increases cognition. (See, chocolate makes you smarter!)

The only downer is the article included things like, "Chocolate is not as beneficial as eating a large salad or a piece of fresh fruit" or "a higher concentration of this is found in blueberries" yada, yada, yada... The most interesting piece of info though was that dark chocolate doesn't contain the harmful fats in it as opposed to milk chocolate. The article said that once ounce of dark chocolate a day is sufficient for the health benefits without adding too many calories. Not sure what once ounce equals, but I bet it isn't the whole bag, bummer!

Originally, for me any chocolate was chocolate. As I've gotten older (cause I'm so old) I have gravitated more towards dark because it isn't as sweet. As far as what brands of chocolate I like, Ghirardeli is ALWAYS good, I also like the Lindt truffles, and Dove chocolates. There is one other kind I REALLY like, but I only know it by the package, I'll have to get back to you on that one, but it's got like little bits of like raw chocolate shavings in it, and I don't know if that's why, but they are REALLY good. So now, excuse me while I go get my chocolate fix, I mean, take my daily vitamins... I'm just sayin' {with a wink}.

Chocolate...Good!

Last week I had Jenna into see the doctor. She had pink eye and an ear infection. Bummer, but she loves the medicine so all is good (mostly cause she'll remind me and I don't have to think about it much).

While in the waiting room, we started looking at magazines. And Jayden grabs this magazine and plunks it down on my lap. The main headline? Something about chocolate, so I look at the name of the magazine and it's called "Conceive". I had no idea, they DO have a magazine for just about everything.

It caught my interest, so I looked it up and the article was all about the great things that chocolate can do for our bodies. I KNEW it. I have heard all along people say that chocolate is good, (I've said it myself) but here was the scientific evidence. All that I needed. Pure justification as to why I SHOULD have a little bit of chocolate everyday. Of course, all of the evidence was based on Dark Chocolate (55% cacao or more). However, that doesn't bother me, I LOVE dark chocolate.

So my suggestion to all of you is to go out and get yourself some. And then have one piece (that's the kicker - when you have too much it starts to lose it's goodness) everyday, religiously, like a vitamin. Cause if it's good for mom's preparing to have a baby, it's good for all the rest of us right? Right. I'm just sayin'.

Twilight

So I thought that I would give the Twilight Series another shot. I read book 1 and 2 a while back and stopped there. Why on earth did I stop? Bella. She bugs the heck out of me! Seriously, is it just me or does anyone else want Edward to dump her and run?

I just finished book 1 (again) yesterday. And while there are some things that I picked up on the second time around, and while I still read it in a short time (I started it on Friday night), and while I still like the vampire characters, I still can't stand Bella. It keeps me wondering what Edward sees in her.

My main reason for not liking her is she is so dang whiney! And I get enough of that from my kids to last me a lifetime. I do not need to hear it from her during my fun reading time. I don't know what happens in Books 3 and 4, but right now I am screaming at Edward to just bite her and turn her into a Vampire already. Pah-leeese! And do it quickly because she isn't getting any younger. And later on she won't be able to do the highschool thing with you over again in 20 years when you are 17 still.

It's like that whole Benjamen Button thing. Older women with younger men creaps me out. That includes you too Ashton and Demi! Why is it that when a teacher dates her students people get all up in arms about it, yet when a 40 something goes after a 20 something everyone is all, "You go girl!" about it? Afterall, the 20 something teacher and 17 year old student are closer in age.

This post kind of ended up in a different spot than I intended. It must be the fact that I am trying to be good. (Yet I am failing miserably.) I am trying to be nice and not say things that I shouldn't. So, I think I will go back to reading book 2 and hope for Bella to be a vampire. Although as with my kids, I am sure that when or if she gets what she wants, she will find something else to complain about because I think when it comes down to it, some people just like to complain. I'm just sayin'.

Facebook vs. Blogger

I am hearing more and more lately that people are switching from Blogger to Facebook and it makes me sad. I have no desire to go the facebook route. It seems less secure in the privacy arena. From what I hear you have to "accept invitations" from people to be your friend so that they can view your stuff. However, I may have known them in high school, but I don't know what they are up to now.

They could totally be the creepy guy next door (not literally, I have really good neighbors here) that sits in his undies and steals people's identities or worse. Not to mention that I didn't graduate with the best group of people. No offence to the good people that I did graduate with, you guys were great! It's just, my senior year one of my teachers told me that in their staff meeting, the principal said that in the first look at getting graduation numbers, only 107 were eligible to graduate. Out of 350 or so, that is crap! They said that they hadn't gotten the make-up numbers yet from adult school, so they did expect it to go up. But still really? That many people didn't have their stuff together enough to be graduating without adult school.

Then, a year later I went and visited some of my old teachers when I was in college and was told about the 'wonderful' kids I had graduated with. There was the girl that was aparently some really great stripper. Who was in so much demand that she was being requested all over the valley... nice. Or how about the guys who were busted for smuggling drugs across the US border.

I hear people talk about facebook and stuff and honestly I worry about it. It seems like it is just a forum for flirting. And not in a good way. I wouldn't be surprised if in the next little while we start hearing about people having affairs because of facebook. I know that there are some people who are 'friends' on facebook with their friends husbands, and that just weirds me out a little.

I know that honestly I am not an 'expert' on the facebook arena, and I could be wrong, but still I am not comfortable with the whole facebook thing. I would love to hear from you Facebook people about why you like it or what its done for you, but for now I think I will just stick to my blog... I'm just sayin'.

{Just so you (any high school friends who may read my blog) I did have some great friends in high school - afterall there 107 (I really don't know why that number has stuck with me for so many years, but for the record, I checked in my journal and yep, that was the number) of us that did allright.

The Problems with Cleaning

Since the kids have been out of school for MLK and then for a teacher grading day (end of the semester was last Friday) I thought it would be a good idea to begin Spring Cleaning. So, I started in the kitchen. I cleaned the ovens to start with, I still have one more rack to clean, and then I cleaned out the microwave and the cooktop. What's the problem with that you ask? Now I don't want to cook anything in them because I don't want to get them dirty. Those oven racks seriously suck to clean.

Then, I decided to do the floor. You know, not just the normal job, but a really GOOD job. And I wiped down the cabinets and everything too. Only remember Jayden's little throw up problem. Yeah, he got coughing and it made him gag, and well, my floor and cabinets are no longer as clean...

So why do we even bother? I'm just sayin'.

Sometimes I just say too much...

Why is it that I always find myself saying the stupidest things? And then after saying them just not shutting up? Why do I then feel like I need to explain my stupidity and thus make myself seem even more stupid. Next time I just need to after saying something stupid say, "Did that sound as stupid to you as it did to me?" and then just shut up, leave it alone and never address the subject again. For as long as I live... and then pray for the intelligence necessary to not make the same mistake again... I'm just sayin'.

Boys

In light of the events of the last blog, Melissa and I had a little chat about boys. She was telling me that it drives her crazy how the other girls will do completely stupid things just to impress the boys. Which I have to add in the fact that I have always been able to tell what boy she is kind of liking at the moment because she starts to act kind of funny herself.

The whole conversation though, made me think that I am not ready for the Boy-drama just yet. After all, she's got 5 more years until she can date. I jsut remember though myself that there was more drama before I could actually date than there was when I could date.

So, here is my words of wisdom on boys that I passed on to Melissa which having said she'll probably completely ignore/forget once the occassion arises, but oh well...

1. Whenever you like a boy, don't act differently. So many girls seem to get all silly and stupid and lower their intelligence just because they think that's what they like, but when it comes down to it, the want a smart girl right?
2. Never change your opinion just because the boy thinks differently. Why do girls do that (me included, I was guilty of this in Jr. high/High school)? I remember one guy (cause I didn't consider them boys then) who said something totally rediculous, and I went along with the whole thing because I didn't want him to think that I didn't think like him. But I didn't and that's what makes relationships really great right, is being able to discuss the things that you differ on. If we were the same it would be boring.
3. Don't assume because a boy is talking and being really friendly with your friend that he likes her and not you because we all know that it is easier to be friendly with the friend than the person you actually like because what if the girl doesn't like you back and rejects you? The friend is safer. Now this one has always just been a theory of mine, but I REALLY think I am right on this one.
4. This one I didn't share with her yet, for obvious reasons... she's not there yet, but sometime I will. That is, when you are dating (to find a husband) if you get bored of someone, move on. Cause when you meet the one, you don't really ever get bored. You maybe settle into a routine, but it's not like you actually get tired of being around the person. I have known many people that wasted time just being bored with someone, but not breaking up because they didn't actually hate the person. Why can't you break up nicely and agree that it just isn't going anywhere and still be friends?

So what do you think? Would you add any or take any off the list. Because I am certainly new at this and don't profess to have all the answers or maybe even the right ones. I'm just sayin'.

What makes a good friend?

The other day, Melissa proved her point... maybe she is smarter than me afterall.

One of her friends came up to her and told her that the boys were making a list of girls that were fat and Melissa was first on the list. I know, will she ever get a break? Or is this what it's going to be like for the next several years? You've seen her though, she's by no means 'fat'. She's got somewhat of a tummy, but if you look at pictures of me when I was her age, so did I until I hit puberty. And honestly, it isn't really a tummy, but I'm being real here.

So, after informing me of this incident, Melissa said that she would have rathered that her friend not tell her at all. She would have prefered to just stay in the dark. Well, this got me thinking. I started to think about what would be the good friend thing to do. Do you be honest with your friend or not? And I debated this in my mind for quite a while.

Later when I was tuking Melissa in bed, I told her what I had been thinking about. That I was debating about what the good friend thing to do in that situation would be. Do you be honest with your friend, or protect their feelings? So I asked her, "What do you think?"

Her reply? A good friend would have stood up to the boys. A good friend would have told them that it wasn't true and to knock it off. Good answer, and you know what Melissa, maybe you're right. Maybe (just maybe) you are smarter than your Mom. I'm just sayin'.

Yeah, whatever makes you feel like less of a skank...

I've already confessed that I watch trashy TV, but last night kind of took the cake. First of all, it was the dilema of the century because there were so many shows on and I HAD to tape 24 for the hubby, so I was left watching 3 different shows all at once. It was the one time that I was actually wishing for the picture in picture feature.

So, first of all The Bachelor... It is kind of ironic to see a girl sitting in the trashiest bikini of all time smile and call some other girl a tramp. Kind of the pot calling the kettle black huh? And then in the first episode, the girls were all supposed to 'vote' for the girl they all don't like the most, and then they go and give her a rose, so she stays. However, last night then, the girl who got the second-most votes, goes off on the girl with the most votes about how everyone can't stand her. Did she forget in just one-weeks time that everyone doesn't like her almost as much as they don't like the other?

The next show that had me just shaking my head, was Momma's boys. It seems like everyone on that show has either posed for Playboy or Penthouse. One of the girls who has been open about it for a long time said that her family is happy about it, so why can't everyone else? And in her own words, said something like we are all born naked and walk around naked, she just gets paid for it. Um... yeah... that makes it better. Then there's the girl who was Penthouse pet of the year in 2008 and she has been keeping it a secret. In her defense, she at least realizes that it may not be the best thing to do for a good reputation, but at the same time, what is she thinking? It's going to come out sooner or later, and what then? She's already seen all of the other girls kicked off for the same thing. But maybe he'll like her more and just excuse it because after all, he likes her more (only she hasn't seen how much we've seen him 'liking' the other girl too).

I know, why do I waste my time? I am thinking the same thing right now, but I like watching other people be stupid and I like being in on all the secrets and them totally in the dark. What I really want to know, is while all the guys are condemning the girls for being trashy, why aren't any of the girls condemning him for kissing all of the girls, isn't that just as trashy? I'm just sayin'.

What do you think?

Maybe it's just me, but I think that there are a lot of married couples out there who look an awful lot like each other. So much so, that you look at their kids and can't quite tell who they look more like, mom or dad?

So what does that say about those of us who marry someone that looks like us? Are we conceited? Did we find our spouse so attractive because they remind us of ourselves?

I know that there is more to an attraction than looks, but what do you think? One more thought before you answer though. I know for me, I see some 'odd' looking couples and really my first thought is how did they pair up because they really look a little weird together, yet I think nothing of it if there is a similarity between the two of them be it they are both beautiful people or ugly people. I'm just sayin'.

The junk is gone

That's right, it has taken me a month, but I have officially 'de-junked' my house. I went through all of the kids' clothes, their closets, their toys, you name it, I went through it. And it is gone. I took a bunch to the DI the other day and I have to tell you, it is a good feeling. The funny thing is the kids now have like half of the toys (I did put some of them in the storage room to hold onto for when Jayden gets older) and they don't seem to care. We cut the Barbies down in half, and Jenna has still been playing with them everyday. Only now, when it is time for her to clean them up, she doesn't whine so much.

So, even with all that, doing the dishes and laundry still sucks. Wouldn't it be nice if we could toss out like half of the dishes and clothes that we have? Only that wouldn't work out so well because then I would have to do MORE laundry so that the clothes they do have were always clean. And, then I would be doing dishes by hand all the time so that we have something to eat on.

The one thing that amazed me most dejunking the house, was how much trash piles up in the most bizarre spots all around the house. Every place I cleaned had a least one kitchen sized trash bag full of complete trash. Like why do my kids keep the tags off of their clothes? I cut them off, and usually toss them in the trash, but it was unbelievable how many I found in all of the kids closets. And I think that we need to have the kids toss their church pictures right in the garbage before they get in the house. That was the other thing that amazed me - how many pictures and stuff they had from church just put on a shelf in their closets. I wouldn't dare say we shouldn't have the kids do those things because giving the kids a paper and some crayons makes teaching primary bearable.

My final question though is where do all of the barbie and polly pocket shoes go? We only had matches for only half of the shoes that we have owned. You would have thought that after moving all of the couches to vacuum under them and vacuuming under the cushions in the couch, that we would have found a least some stray shoes, but nope, not one. So, where do they go? Occasionally I find Jayden with one in his mouth, so did he swallow them? I don't remember seeing any in his diapers. So that is the question of the century. I'm just sayin'.

New Year Quiz

I stole this from Sher, her answers were fabulous and mine not so much so because 2008 was kind of depressing for us.



{Side note: We thought that 2008 was going to be a better one in light of Melissa's 2007 cancer scare/blood problem, but we were poorly mistaken. When talking with a friend over the weekend, we said that we were hoping 2009 was a better year for us and he said, "Yea, it can't get much worse can it?" Yeah, it can, but we hope not! - Cross your fingers, knock on wood, etc.}



A New Year Quiz-



1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Get sued. Except it wasn't me that was sued it was Steve, but what happens to one, happens to the other right?



2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? One of my new year's resolutions last year was to be a better blogger - um it took me until April to get around to that, but I think I've done pretty well. I can't remember any others, so I guess the answer to that is a big no! This year, you read I already made one.



3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Lisa and Heather which I still think you guys are crazy, but to each his own. Motherboard did too, and regardless of what other people say, having a baby gives you every right to take a break from "stuff". My next door neighbor did too. Good thing because some day Jayden is going to need a friend. Melany gave birth and she's the winner, she did it in Spain and I am sure that their hospitals are just as good as ours, but the thought still scares me. Brooke my SIL did too. I am sure there are others I am forgetting, but isn't that enough? I'm just glad it wasn't me.



4. Did anyone close to you die? Not close-close, but my SIL sister died and that was close enough for me. All though I would like to see my Grandpa die soon. And no it's not morbid, he's been without his wife a long time and I would like ot see them reunited soon and before he gets to needy.



5. What countries did you visit? Does LA count as another country? Just kidding...



6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Steve having a regular paycheck.



7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why? The day Steve quit his job and all of the crap that ensued after that.



8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving Jayden's first year without his getting majorly hurt and without being poisoned.



9. What was your biggest failure? Man, this is a toughy because I wouldn't say I had one big failure, but several small ones. I won't divulge those because that would ruin the perfect image you all have of me.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I broke my toe kicking my bedroom door, hurt like hell for about 6 weeks, but I guess you could say I deserved that one. I never went to the doc, I just assume I broke it since it hurt so long, and I couldn't move it. Besides that, we all got the flu in October and that is always fab.

11. What was the best thing you bought? I bought Steve a TV for his birthday. Which was a very good thing because shortly after Steve quit his job, our family room TV went out, and we put the TV from our room in the family room. That TV was the first one Steve and I ever bought and we bought it off Steve's brother for like $25 since it didn't have closed captioning.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My kids and hubby of course, they put up with me!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? No comment...

14. Where did most of your money go? It went towards surviving.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? We took the kids to Disneyland.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? I don't know about that one.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier I think?
b)thinner or fatter? THINNER! It is taking me a long time to get rid of the 'Jayden-fat' as I like to call it. Also I am running a half-marthon this month, so that might have something to do with it.
c) richer or poorer? Poorer, starting out with a new company will do that to you.

18. What do you wish you'd done less of? Complaining

19. What do you wish you'd done more of? Being thankful

20. How did you spend Christmas? At home with my family and then at my Mom and Dad's.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Besides still loving my hubby and kids, I found a new combo that I really like - Diet Coke and 70% Dark Chocolate. You gotta try it, but I don't know if I'd call it love.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Can I plead the 5th? I kind of watch TV I am sure my parents wouldn't approve of. You know, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, The Bachelor, Momma's Boys, ER, need I say more?

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Sher said that she couldn't think of anyone that she dislikes, um I can think of several, but none that I would care to mention.

24. What was the best book you read? I would have to say it's a toss-up between A Thousand Splendid Suns and Blink (it's the nerd in me).

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Discovering that Jayden REALLY likes music and it has increased his vocabulary and ability to speak by a lot.

26. What did you want and get? New running shoes (but I bought them myself). Oh, and I guess the credenza Steve bought me for my birthday that is in the entry way.

27. What did you want and not get? Do I have to chose one? I want a guitar and a pedicure - have you seen my feet?

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Mamma Mia, I REALLY like the music.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? {Shouldn't that read how old are you?}
I can't remember what I did, but I turned somewhere in my 30's. Won't say specifically for the whole cyber-terrorist thing.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Steve not being sued.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Lacking

32. What kept you sane? Going to my happy place mentally

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Mitt Romney

34. What political issue stirred you the most? The props in California and Arizona

35. Who did you miss? My friend Melany. I haven't seen her for a very long time.

36. Who was the best new person you met? There are a lot of people that I have already met, but I have really liked getting to know them more through blogs.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Heavenly Father is mindful of us ALWAYS and if we listen to His promptings life may not be great at the time, but we'll come out on top at the end.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "I got a brand new attitude and I'm gonna wear it tonight." Pink- So what. I have definately learned a bunch this past year, but heres to a better 2009!

You are welcome to copy this on your blog, I would love to hear your answers!

Resolutions

The funny thing about New Years Resolutions this year is everyone says their only resolution is to simplify and then have a list of about a hundred (I'm exaggerating of course) things that they are going to do to simplify. But that's it isn't it? Simplifying means doing a bunch of things differently than you already do. And why is that?

I think in some ways, we have gotten our lives totally out of hand. I really try hard not to over schedule my kids. They have just one activity that they do, and then piano. However, when you add in all of the homework, chores and church stuff they got to do, it gets a little much. Not to mention that we are trying really hard to read our scriptures everyday, which I know, {gasp} we really haven't done that one hardly at all.

So, what is my New Years Resolution? To spend each moment of my day in the best way possible. So when I am faced with a choice as to what to do with my time, I want to do whatever would be best at the moment. For example, if I am faced with some dirty dishes or laundry yet am so cotton-picken' tired, a nap just might be the best use of my time. However, if there are those things that just HAVE to be done now, I will choose to do those first instead of blog. We'll see how it goes.

I did add one rule to my list of blogging rules though. I have this list of rules for blogging so that it doesn't overtake my life. The rule I added was I have to be dressed and showered before I blog. I absolutely H.A.T.E doing the everyday things. I hate showering, I hate having to brush my teeth, I even loathe washing my hands after I go potty. I know, you think that's disgusting, but I didn't say I don't do it, I just said I don't like doing it.

Jenna's got excema. It isn't as bad as I've seen some people have, but she gets these patches of dry skin on her arms and hands, and especially during the winter I have to make sure that I rub some steroid creme on her arms daily. And that drives me nuts because it won't end. My only hope is that someday she is old enough and responsible enough to do it herself.

So, I know there is really no rhyme or reason to this post, but so be it. Maybe you learned something about me today... I'm just sayin'.

It's a toss up

I am still debating over what to post about. I have a couple of thoughts as I have been reading other peoples blogs, and I am not sure which one to do...

I guess I'll start with the...

OK, here is goes, my thought I will call Grieving 101...

Some of you know, we had a baby pass away eight and a half years ago. Which is crazy to say because I can't believe that it has been that long ago. I remember it like it was just yesturday, but then there are things that I can't remember that happened two days ago. But I think that has something more to do with the nature of the event, but anyway.

When this whole event took place, I could always tell those who had lost someone close to them and those who didn't. And for the sole reason that those who had never lost anyone said too much. And I realize that the things that were said were meant to be helpful, but some of the best intentions just came out plain mean. For example, those who would say, "I guess this was meant to be." Now I fully believe that there is a time and place for everything, but come on! Don't tell me that it was just meant to be like I should just get over it. Or one person who said, "Don't you feel lucky to have a child who doesn't have to go through the yucky stuff in life?" Yeah, I feel real lucky. There were MANY others, but these were to two most frequent and ones that made me feel the worst.

Those who had lost loved ones, simply said, "I'm sorry." Or "It sucks." Because that is right, it does suck and for someone to just acknowledge that it sucked, or felt bad that it had happened, made me feel better. I didn't need anyone to try to give me any meaning as to why it happened, or tell me that I was "lucky to have one of Heavenly Father's best spirits" come to me (on that same note, so do girls who have their babies at 14 years old and put them in a dumpster for them to die - I know that sounds callous, but when you just lost a baby, this is what comes to mind -what can I say? you're mad. Not to mention that it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with her.) You just need the simpathy.

Honestly all of the comfort and stuff comes from powers way outside of what a human can offer. So don't even go there. I will make one exception though, sometimes you may feel entirely inspired to do something, and then you should do it. However if you finding yourself saying, "Self, what should I say?" Then go to the simple "I'm sorry" or "It sucks" line.

Another thought I would pass on is that real plants and flowers stink because when they die, it sucks all over again, you kind of associate the plants dying with the person dying and well you get the picture. We did have some neighbors get us a tree to plant in our backyard, and one thing we really liked about it was that it bloomed every year on her birthday. That was always fun to see. And no, when we moved we didn't take it with us. And I am OK with that because I can still think about it blooming every year on her birthday. That and we plan on getting another one just like it and putting it in our backyard here.

But really, the main thing I would tell you when dealing with someone who has lost a loved one is just to offer the simpathy and then let them be. You know, send a card in the mail or take a treat over (I remember some really good friends of ours brought over this batch of orange rolls and one night Steve and I ate the whole thing and actually did felt a little better in fact, it is a fond memory of mine), but don't stay too long or insist on talking if they don't feel like it. It sucks that things like this happen and that people have to deal with this kind of stuff, but hopefully this helps out in the future, I'm just sayin'.