Kylie Ate Cake

Wanna win $90 in Outback Steakhouse Gift Cards?

2011-05-01T16:09:00.001-07:00

Then enter the giveaway over at Divine Miss Mommy for your chance! Outback is giving $90 in gift certificates for you to go out for a night with the girls!

Enter here

Mom Spotted Infantino baby toy Giveaway!!

2011-05-01T13:59:00.001-07:00

Hurry! This ends tonight ~ Mom Spotted is a hosting a giveaway of 6 Infantino baby toys. This is a fantastic opportunity as Infantino infant toys are adorable, great learning tools, and so much fun!

Enter here

Check out Infantino here

Jeep Cherokee Sport Stroller Giveaway from Mom Spotted

2011-05-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Mom Spotted and Kolcraft are doing an awesome giveaway for a Jeep Cherokee Sport Stroller. The review sounds great! Giveaway ends 5/1/2011.

Enter over at Mom Spotted here

Give some love to Kolcraft and learn about their products here

I am a Top Ten Finalist! Please vote for me daily through 12/31

2010-12-28T11:21:00.001-08:00

I am a top ten finalist to be the Stila Girl of the Month. I am super excited and honored to be given this opportunity. Now the winner is up the voters through 12/31/10. I need all the votes I can get. It's a super easy one click vote daily. Please vote for me here . Be sure to select KATE. If you can, please repost this, tweet it, facebook it, and spread the word. Thanks!

Eclipses

2010-12-25T00:52:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays!

I have been on a brief hiatus since the middle of November. Mercury Retrograde came dipping its little frazzled electrical haywire energies into my life way before it's scheduled retrograde dates of Dec 10-30. My laptop crashed and I had to wait weeks for it to be fixed. Then it came back, and started crashing again. PEOPLE- back up your information on your computers especially weeks before MR! I have had quite a doozy of a month...as we also hosted a Full Lunar Eclipse in Gemini on Winter Solstice Dec 21. I don't know how everyone else did but I was hit from just about everything from out in left field. Thank goodness December is almost over! It has been a rough one!

Be on the lookout for the Solar Eclipse Jan 4! Solar eclipses (for me) are usually the beginnings of something new and turn out to not shake my world as much as Lunar Eclipses. But remember...they still show the truth, they still bring new information or events that are out of your control, and they shake things up!

Contests and Future Articles

2010-11-15T09:06:00.001-08:00

Contests and Future Articles

Thanks to some amazing comments and to everyone who took the time to enter my contests….we have 2 winners and some very insightful article ideas. I had a blast reading all the requests you all put in and I love that you guys have been enjoying my articles that have already been printed on the blog. The winners have been contacted and I am in the process of attempting to respond to everyone’s requests for things they would like to see. Here are some of the topics I will be covering over the next couple of months on the website-

The History of Astrology

Born on the cusp- Which sign to read

Pet Astrology

Medical Astrology

Horoscopes in magazines/newspapers

Famous Astrologers

Dating guides for men and women based on sun signs

Compatibility of all signs

The Moon and each planets

Chiron- Why I don’t use it

A Celebrity week – covering different celebrities and their signs

We will also delve into a few question & answer forums and continue to research some good AND bad astrology sites on the web. I will also touch base with a few of you that have emailed me asking chart questions. At this time, I am not doing charts for the public. I have studied sun signs and have no problem giving you some general information on sun sign compatibility. To really take a better look at compatibility, charts need to be done which takes time. Perhaps in the future, I will offer chart reading services but for now, I am enjoying writing the articles.

Astrology Book Reviews

2010-11-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

I decided to do some astrology book reviews here on my blog. Please note that these are just my opinions and feelings and should in no way inhibit you from getting the book and coming to your own conclusions. We are all at different learning levels and understand things in different manners. Consider this when reading any review that is astrology related or not. Depending on where you are in your pace of learning, something might be too advanced for you at the moment or be old news.

I am doing book reviews (not all astrology related) over at my other blog- Library-fi-cation. I have embarked on a journey of reading the books in my local library in order… starting from the lower end of the Dewey Decimal System spectrum. I am reading the books…whether I would have chosen them myself or not..and then reviewing them on my blog. If you haven’t done so already, please check it out, follow me, and subscribe to my newsletter. I will also be running some contests over at that blog in a few weeks. Not only I am doing the blog to educate myself but I hope to inspire people to read and want to submerse themselves in their own reading journeys. Maybe you will be fueled into your own reading journal or blog. To learn has been my main drive in life…whether it has been to learn a Thai recipe or how to work a computer program…and reading is the method I do this in.

K.I.S.S Guide to Astrology (Keep It Simple Series) by Julia and Derek Parker

For beginners, this is a great book that provided a lot of facts, tidbits, and easy to read explanations of the sun signs and houses. I especially enjoyed the history of astrology. However, if this is the first time you are doing your own chart, I would pass on that section unless you are going to use it as a guide in conjunction with another resource. Even I found the chart section to be confusing and the tables in the back are poorly marked. As with most books in the Keep It Simple Series…I love the layout of the information and the cute little reminders and chapter reviews. This is a wonderful book to read for beginners and I highly recommend it for that purpose. If you are going to pursue the chart in the end, I would try another book or online method to start with. Also I would recommend doing your chart for free on the many websites that are available online…then comparing that to the chart you do on your own. More often than not, there are many mistakes made in charting by hand but I can appreciate the effort of doing this…sort of like baking a cake from scratch as opposed to a box cake…but in the end, it can be very time consuming and there is a high margin of error. You can still make your own conclusions and use your own intuition with free online charts as well.

Venus Retrograde 2010

2010-11-01T15:32:00.000-07:00

Venus Retrograde 2010

Venus is retrograde from Oct 8 through Nov 18 and despite what everyone is preaching about…Venus to me is a rehash period in love. Sure… Venus rules beauty and possessions but from my experience, Venus RETROGRADE is about taking a step back in love and giving second chances..IF there are any to be had. During this period we will see old loves, previous one night stands, friends we haven’t spoken to in a long time, and issues of our relationships surfacing in and around us. It’s as if our love and sex lives are on REWIND!!! The most important part of the retrograde period is how WE handle these events. What’s more important than the events themselves, is how we react to them, act upon them, and the way we internalize them. Perhaps an old love has come around and wants to rekindle. Part of this may be because of the memories that Venus retrograde uproots within us during this time period. If Venus is love-centered and has the ability to bring forth love into our lives under normal circumstances..think about what she does when she appears to be going backward. She is digging up old loves and those old emotions/attachments and actually helping you by letting you relive these and make final decisions. Depending on how these people made you feel the first time around, now might be the time to finally bury the old and bring in the new OR start something slowly after the retrograde period if the feeling is still strong then to do so. As you read other astrological information on Venus Retrograde you will see a lot of astrologers pushing you to not make any changes to your appearance or any large home purchases or renovations during this time. Yes, it is true that decisions made during Venus Retrograde may easily becomes ones that you will ultimately regret because Venus in her so-called backwards motion can really put on the rose-colored lenses. She also calls forth previous feelings so perhaps you used to want your bedroom to be pink and then gave that up..maybe thinking it might be too feminine. Well Venus might have you reconsidering that pink and inspiring you to paint the kitchen pink as well. Come Nov 18…you will be wondering what the heck you did. This same rule applies for relationships as well. When old what’s his face comes calling and you think well..maybe he means what he says this time or maybe he really did love me..even though you caught him cheating on you with your best friend…now is NOT the time to think you owe him a second chance. With Mercury going into Sagittarius, the best thing you can do is talk it out with him, let him know how you really feel and bury the hatchet once for all. Otherwise when November 18 rolls around and your little pink heart is out to sea, you will be kicking yourself in the ass for thinking he had changed. I give you permission to roll around in the hay with your old memories but before taking them to the next level and actually getting hay stuck in your hair…I would hold back the reins. Don’t forget to take the rose-colored lenses off and look not only at the good but the bad. For every action, there is a reaction. Think about everyone your decision will affect. So please go through the pics and the old love notes…revel in the fact that an old flame texted you out of the blue..but now is not the time for action. Take it for what it’s worth and keep your little pink heart on shore till later this year. Think sensibly about the choices you make and remember that anything that happens during Venus Retrograde is not likely to stick around for the long haul. I feel it’s a period of last chances, back burners moving forward and desperate attempts in people temporarily trying to make themselves feel better. Ultimately, if you do choose to start something during this time period…it will probably not amount to much so I would only do so if you are comfortable with a very short lived fling. Remember..things are not always as they appear.

If you are currently in a relationship, there may be a roller coaster of ups and downs as you may find yourself wondering what happened to the love and passion you both experienced at the start of the relationship. As soon as Mercury enters Sagittarius, it’s fair game to hash this out and really tell your partner how they feel. It’s hard for Sagittarius to lie and feel good about it so the truth will be put out there. Don’t make any harsh decisions on ending a relationship right now…as you may regret this as well. I advise lovers to lay low for the time being. Work with your own heart on coming to terms with the past and releasing it.

Dirty Dirty Tricks of the Zodiac

2010-11-01T10:40:00.001-07:00

DIRTY DIRTY TRICKS OF THE ZODIAC

ARIES- wah wah wah wah! Why can’t it be about me! I want it now! I don’t’ want to wait! Aries is impatient, a horrible procrastinator, and they are very scatterbrained. If they don’t get what they want, they don’t mind hunting it down to their own detriment. They have many ideas but very few evolve into anything. Most of the time they still work off of family or money given by parents. It’s hard for them to cut the umbilical cord so there is usually some tie to parents whether its money or a living situation. If they are well off, they will live extravagant lives. They will seek attention and when it’s not received, they will sulk and seek it elsewhere. They also aren’t opposed to fucking you (literally or figuratively) and rolling out the door.

Taurus- Controlling!!! I am willing to bet there are more control freaks and people in anger management with Taurus as a sun sign or as a heavy placement in a chart than any others (what an interesting study that would be). I call these my ticking bomb friends. They are usually found having explosions in public, staying late at the office 24/7 to avoid going home, or busy playing victim. Sadly, they express a lot of their anger on those closest to them including parents, children, and partners. They can’t seem to find the fine line of appropriate and not appropriate. A lot of Taurus people will consciously or subconsciously have a chip on their shoulder. And just wait till you get two Bulls in a room together….a lot of foot stomping and bullshit. Relationship wise they can be heavily committed but will always have the roaming eye. God forbid if you do the same though! Consider it WWIII. A lot of Taurus people also are very accident prone…think Murphy’s Law. Anything that can go wrong will. These are the people that will insist that you let them fix something and then find out that it was worse after they fixed it than before. Not detail orientated. Very bull in a china shop-ish!

GEMINI- It’s extremely rare to hear a conversation about a Gemini without hearing “backstabber”, “liar”, “cheater” or “asshole/bitch” somewhere in the same sentence. Inevitably, there will always be someone the Gemini has royally fucked over on their childish pursuit for perfection and self-indulgence. Yes, even you Gemini female fatales have screwed someone over once or twice but the difference between the male Gem and female Gem is that the female will talk herself out of any situation and will have you intellectually confused as to what the hell you were talking anyway. They are masters of deceitful conversation and cover-up humor. They will use this to deflect and turn around any slight they have done to another person. Most of the time, they won’t know what they want and will keep you hanging on while they decide in their own time. If they have decided it’s over….you will never hear from the Gemini unless their world appears to be collapsing around them. They will write you off as fast as they wrote you in…ahem or undressed you.

CANCER- Whine, bitch, moan, sulk in pjs and eat ice cream for days, don’t answer calls, avoid people at all costs, whine, bitch, cry, sulk. Repeat. The zodiac’s biggest victims next to Taurus…god forbid if you combine the two. Cancer is famous for last minute ditches, back outs, and changes in mind and stance. No-show…prolly a cancer who couldn’t bear to bring themselves to see other people right now. Perhaps if all Cancers were on anti-depressants, they could actually have good relationships with other people. They will dwell for years on the hurts and past loves…forcing them to stay in the past. They will seek out people for material possessions and what they can offer them as far as family and security goes. I think a lot of Cancers are really victims..mostly of their own-doing because of the lack of their ability to stick up for themselves. They would much rather hide than face the world when times get hard. I also see that more people that are Cancers have issues with drugs, obesity, and food than any other sign. Masking something?

LEO- Not as controlling in a manner as a Taurus is but definitely next in line…Leo will do it with dirty looks, behind the scenes work, and plain out-right rudeness to your face ESPECIALLY if it threatens their position in a job, their thought out plan for seducing someone, or anything related to their money or possessions. Leo men are some down-right two timing one-night-stand freaks..they shudder in fear of commitment. Looking for a friend with benefits…Leo is your man. Leo women will take out anyone who makes them feel inferior with a dirty look, avoidance tactic, and a pissed off attitude. Leo women can commit more so than their counterparts but they had better rule the roost or you will wish you had never gotten involved to begin with. Leo’s also have an uncanny knack for dramatic flair and acting like they are holier-than-thou. They are also very straight to the point even if it hurts your feelings. I think they are more outspoken and truthful than Sags can be.

VIRGO- Rude and vain….that only covers the tip of the iceberg. Virgo’s are by no means virgins. What they are though are perfectionists and some of the quirkiest people of the zodiac. They don’t necessarily fit into any mold or social group. They are the zodiac’s outcasts but in defense of the zodiac’s meanness..Virgo’s do put themselves there. They will shut people out for years, give up on having relationships even when the right person comes along, and they will continue to shun and pick apart every person that comes into their life. The bachelor of the zodiac is definitely self-imposed. Virgo is fascinated by what they can’t have and will have many love affairs by imagination and infatuation only. They can be in long relationships but if the so-called love of their life betrays them…..it may take them years to allow themselves to love again. Virgo’s biggest fear is of themselves…thus making anyone who does love them..suffer to no end by someone who cannot make themselves happy.

LIBRA- I want to play! I am bored! I need something to do! Libra’s are always on the go and on the pursuit for playtime in a life they consider boring unless they have money and something to get involved in. Every love affair is the biggest to-do in their life and friends will want to hurl every time they hear Libra romanticize about it..which is every 5 minutes. Libra will also attach themselves to you and leave at a moment’s notice without any regret or lengthy goodbye. They can be jealous and possessive of their friends. They can be big babies when things don’t go their way.

SCORPIO- Talk about a fuck over! Scorpio will beat you down, spit in your face, and then even worse…give you the cold shoulder like you never meant anything to them. They will sweet talk you like you are the only man/woman in the world and then move right along to the next person and pretend you don’t exist. Under a Scorpio’s spell, you will be moved to sexual heights but heartbroken when you realize they only used you to get off. They don’t have a problem using people to get what they want, need, or desire whether it be a good lay, money, or a promotion. They can be quite a backstabber! I also believe there are more Scorpio stalkers than any other sign…well maybe Virgo comes pretty darn close…but a Scorpio who doesn’t get what they want will hunt it down and scare it off. Their intensity kills and can easily kill the mood every time they want to hear how great they are.

SAGITTARIUS- Abandonment! Sags have no problem telling you anything even if it hurts your feelings and they also don’t have a problem running away even if means leaving a family or lover behind. I am willing to bet there are a lot of Sagittarius runaway children in the world. They will seek out adventure and will not be quick to leave anyone in the dust who doesn’t find the fun in it like they do. They march to the beat of their own drum even if the drum annoys the shit out of everyone around them. They are also prone to addictions or obsessions. They can be hard workers even if the work they do doesn’t serve them well. They are fine staying in their little niche at a job even if advancement opportunities offer them better pay or more hours. They are forgetful, careless, accident prone, and again..they fall to Murphy’s Law even more than a Taurus or Aries does. Those people that incessantly run out of gas, lock their keys in the car or forget to dry their clothes…Sagittarius! Money burns holes in their pockets like an Aries. They often have child like wonderment and the women will dress like a teenager as they get older and still love fairies. The men will constantly seek adventure and will love the outdoors even to go so far as living in unhealthy conditions and camping in the winter cold despite frostbite. Many Sagittarius people will be comfortable living in apartments and bouncing from partner to partner with little care for responsibilities.

CAPRICORN- User alert! Capricorn will use you even more than a Scorpio. They too will give a cold shoulder and cut you dry when they are done with you. If you can no longer serve them a purpose, they will move on to the next person. They are prey to a pretty face and deep pockets fully of money and family status. People are looked at in terms of what they can do for a Capricorn. Although their work ethic is strong, they will usually be bad with money. Most of this money comes from other people…a parent, a partner, a sibling, or they will hole themselves up in their houses and eat nothing but crackers while cussing at the world..refusing outside help. The grass is always greener on the other side to a Cappy. Their relationships often fail because they become lazy and do not put any effort into them. Very selfish. The women of the Cappy world can go long periods without any relationships because people are quick to catch onto their game. Capricorns are also very slobby. They can live in their messes for quite some time.

AQUARIUS- Not very warm and fuzzy. Aquarius is a hands off kinda person. They don’t form close relationships and are very self-centered when it comes to their own wants and needs. Aquarians can be very addicted to money, shopping, and clothing. They crave attention and will go to whatever means they can find to get it. If Aquarius has followed their path of uniqueness..some of them can be religious fanatics or allow themselves to be completely immersed in a culture, worship an icon, or follow one pursuit of religion to another. It’s hard to pin them down as they bounce from one thing to next without much care for anything else. Aquarius men can be very unfaithful as they are natural born flirts and very flighty. Aquarius women can be more faithful but are in something if they think it brings them status or is what is hot in their world for a moment. Think of it has having something to flaunt on their arm.

PISCES- Pisces men can be mama’s boys to the point that it ruins their relationships with other women. Cancer men will do this too but not to the same degree. Pisces are laid back lovers and find that once they are in a committed relationship sex is not that important to them. This can also affect their love relationships. Pisces whine and retreat from the world almost as much as Cancer does..sometimes even more so. Pisces women can be so obsessed with pity that even their friends don’t stay too long because their supply of tissues run out. Pisces are not overly sexual people and they hide from the world. Their emotional needs can be draining to others. Life is one giant pity party for them. There are actually a lot of Pisces atheists out there as Pisces is too busy complaining and whining..they find that there must not be a God if they have given them this harsh life. Pisces is another sign that falls prey to drugs, alcohol and other addictions. They can often go long periods of time without relationships or stay in bad ones. Their emotions can be highly suffocating to others.

$50 Gift Card Giveaway for all your astrological indulgences

2010-10-21T14:49:00.001-07:00

I have a $50 Amazon gift card to give away so that you can indulge in all of your astrological
desires (or do whatever the hell you want with). Amazon is a great source for new and used astrology books amongst thousands of other things. Best of all, it makes a great Christmas gift.

PRIZE: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.

To enter, comment below with any ideas for astrology articles that you would like to read. This must be done before gaining additional entries.

To gain one additional entry each:

1. Follow me
2. Subscribe by email to my blog
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Like me on Facebook
5. Comment on any of my astrology articles.
6. Enter my Astrology Book Giveaway
7. Blog about this giveaway and come back and post that you did
8. Tweet about this giveway and come back and post that you did

One entry per person please. Contest ends October 31 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hrs to respond to my email. Be sure to include your email with your entry so I have a way of contacting you.

Coming Soon!

2010-10-21T11:40:00.000-07:00

Coming soon ~ An in-depth look at Venus Retrograde 2010. For those of you who have been wondering why all these former flames or one-night stands are resurfacing..or perhaps you yourself have been walking down memory lane with previous relationships....blame it on Venus in retrograde! I also have another contest I will be posting soon for a gift card. There will be more articles being posted as well including Healing the Soul through the Zodiac, Learning to Follow the Moon and her waning ways, and Does he like me or not?- a look at the signs of flirtation in the zodiac geared towards women. Please follow me and subscribe to my updates so that you can receive new postings in your email inbox as they are listed. You can also follow me on twitter. I am working on getting a new facebook fan page up as well so stay tuned.

Astrology Book Giveaway - Ends Nov 6

2010-10-19T05:23:00.000-07:00

I have an awesome astrology book giveaway for readers who have been checking out my zodiac ramblings. The book is Do It Yourself Astrology: A User Friendly Guide to Your Personality by Lyn Birkbeck. It's a wonderful book for new or experienced astrologers. It's simple to use and you can bet that I have my own copy in my library.

The rules to enter are easy. You must comment with your astrological sign and let me know anything about astrology...any thoughts, experiences, fave books, websites, etc.

For additional entries (1 entry each, use separate comment for each entry):

- Comment on any one of my blog entries
- Follow my blog
- Subscribe to my blog by email - right lower corner of blog
- Follow my new blog Library-fi-cation
- Follow me on Twitter

Good luck!

Soul Mates in the Zodiac

2010-10-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

Soul Mates in the Zodiac

Love at first sight, that feeling of meeting your other half, the excitement of loving someone who you feel completes you..these are often things people associate with soul mates. I think more often than not we get caught up in the hype of a soul mate without really understanding the meaning of the connection that a soul mate may bring into our lives. There are two types of soul mates- life partners (general soul mates) and twin souls. Contrary to what we usually hear about soul mates…for the most part, we do not live “happily ever after” with them. Soul Mates are spirits pre-destined to share a lifetime (perhaps even several lifetimes) with us. They have an unseen connection to our soul which is usually felt when you first meet them. This explains why when looking into someone’s eyes you may feel that you are “home” with them or you have an uncanny feeling that you have met somewhere before but can’t place it. Twin Souls have the same effect as Life Partners BUT twin souls almost mirror our lives. Theory has it that twin souls were once part of us…and they are our other half split from spirits when we come to this world. All very adam and eve-ish if you ask me. Twin souls share the same experiences as we do even if they are in a different context. They are about the same age and have gone through most of the same troubles/experiences as their other half. You may go many lifetimes without meeting up with your twin soul. The problem with twin souls is that reconnecting with them can become such ethereal bliss that when they leave (and they always will), the pain from the loss can feel as if you are utterly coming apart. Life Partners are soul mates who are more likely to stay in our lives through some sort of connection..it may be a relationship, marriage, or friendship or even as family. Not all soul mates are love connections as they may even be our same sex, different age ranges, or a relative. At any rate, soul mates come into our lives to HELP us. They come to teach us lessons, to reconnect us with Spirit, and to give us a glimpse of what love can be. Oftentimes, they remind us of where we have been and where we plan on going. To meet a soul mate or your Twin Soul in this lifetime is a blessing. The most important thing to remember about soul mates is that they will come and they will go. During the time they are with us, they will teach us important lessons, guide us to other people we are meant to meet up with, and will show us parts of ourselves we have refused to see. This is why relationships with soul mates can be a catch 22…amazing but extremely intense and emotional.

Based on reincarnation through the zodiac, you may have wondered what KIND of soul mate we might expect to find during our journey in a specific zodiac sign. Pulling from the positive and negative of each astrological sign, we can take a detailed look. Some may look at this as unrequited loves but again, most soul mate experiences are. I will also go into what each sign looks for in love and how they handle their relationships.

ARIES- Aries is a hard sign to keep up with. Not as outwardly seeking as Aquarius is but still much of a go-getter, Aries needs someone who can at least keep up with their ideas..even though some of these may never see the years of fruitation. Aries is also very much in ME ME ME mode so any slight of the limelight being on their partner more so than them, can cause serious difficulties. Leo is often claimed to be the spotlight seeker but I believe that Aries is even more of an attention-seeker than the Lion is. Aries soul mates come to them to stir up this need that Aries may or may not admit to…the need of being babied. By stirring up, I mean bringing forth into the light, exposing, and stealing the attention. Overall, this is a lesson that needed to be learned by Aries but ultimately ends in Aries seeking attention elsewhere. Aries is the first to offer a stranger money, lend services for free or give extravagant shows of love to a partner. They want the partner to rely on them thus believing the partner will never stray since they can offer so many things to them that someone else may not be able to do. This scares many of Aries potential partners away. Just like the smother and emotional needs of a Scorpio, Aries will extravagantly smother their partner and move so fast into things without thinking of consequence, the partner will flee. Aries seeks these partnerships in Virgo, Sagittarius, and Libra.

TAURUS- Taurus usually finds a person who reflects their main caregiver in life. With Taurus being the sign of family and domestic relations…I don’t find this surprising at all. Generally, we do seek out people who remind us of our fathers or mothers but Taurus amps it up a bit. If their home life was not up to par, Taurus will find a new partner to replay early childhood experiences with. Unbenounced to this partner, Taurus will try to find methods to heal themselves or search for ways to gain the love they never received from a mother, father, or caregiver. This emotion of filling an emptiness becomes a need combined with possessiveness and a desire to create more of what they never had. Taurus can easily destroy a relationship by throwing themselves into work, an obsessive drive for accumulating wealth and material possessions, and a controlling manner. Soul mate attractions come by free spirits who are not so concerned with what Taurus is searching for. They want to heal the childhood wounds and although they find comfort in the security Taurus can give, they will ultimately walk away wounded, feeling used, and defeated by Taurus. Most of these relationships can end in a very nasty manner with the Taurus bull never changing or forgiving the soul mate but still loving them beyond belief. Signs they are attracted to for this kind of healing is Scorpio (their opposite), Sagittarius and Aquarius.

GEMINI- The evil twin within Gemini fights daily against what Gemini needs and what Gemini wants. Gemini is usually drawn to a stronger counterpart who can be controlling and limits them. The biggest issue with Gemini is mainly only seen in Gemini men. They are drawn to a pretty face and a perfect body…even if there are no brains or commitment to family involved. Men are generally looking for trophy wives and Gemini women are looking for a men who can stimulate them on all levels..although it usually leads to some sort of seclusion or under- the- covers control in the end. I think for the females the control part is slightly desired by them on some level and they can easily succumb to it because they are so adaptable. Gemini men are quick to have affairs but will ultimately return to their “trophy” even if their mental and spiritual needs are not being met by them. They also continue to subject themselves to the relationship even if deep down they know this so-called trophy makes them miserable. Soul mates attracted by Gemini’s are usually not the trophy types but they provide Gemini with a match of wits or can connect with them on an emotional level. For Gemini men, this would be a tom-boyish or otherwise not as attractive female who can be a best friend to them. For Gemini women…a not so attractive man who has issues (addictions, mental, a lost soul). For the Gemini women, they can sometimes make this work until the men can’t keep up with their need for human contact. They need someone who can work the social scene as much as they can. Soul mates come to Gemini to show them that life is not perfection. You can not judge a book soley by the cover is a lesson for soul mates to bring Gemini. However, usually by the time Gemini discovers this, they are already trapped. Sadly, the youth seeking perfectionist of beauty does not improve with age…for the most part Gemini will never grow out of this until after the age of 70..if they ever do. In my studies, there have been more Gemini cheaters than any other sign. Signs they are attracted to are: Capricorn, Scorpio, Leo, and Libra….well and almost any sign with model looks.

CANCER- I honestly feel that a lot of Gemini men issues roll over to Cancer for the Cancer men as well. The Cancer man will almost always fall for the prettiest girl in the room even if that person has nothing to offer them in return. However, Cancer can hook themselves to someone emotionally for life even if the relationship never works out. They are sentimentalists that attach themselves in a memory-mode to people, places, and objects. Cancer has a bad habit of living in a time warp and the Soul Mates that come into their lives during their Cancer phase are usually the ones that want to shake them out of their shells. Cancer will NOT have this though…they are creatures of comfort and any slight debilitating blow to their home life, emotions, memories, or personal collections will boot you out the door without even a chance. They will then run to what makes them comfortable for fear of risking change. Cancer can have relationships and marriage that last for years…perhaps taking small breaks for indiscretion (emotional or physical) but almost always returning. These relationships do not usually end for the clinging claws of crabby cancers until their mate has the final word and pushes them completely out of their lives. Soul mates will come to the Cancers to save them, to give them hope, to teach them to live outside of the material world, and to show them what real emotion can be..not just coddling. Cancer will relish in this for a small period of time but will become afraid of change and will run. So how do they stay intertwined for someone for so long? These people are usually either signs BEFORE them (aka not as evolved as they are), the same sign as them, OR a sign that is so spiritually evolved that they could care less about attempting to change the poor little crabby. A lot of Cancers will find other Cancers so they feel they never have to change. Sadly, not a lot of growth happens here. Cancer is usually attracted to: Cancer, Aquarius, Taurus, Gemini,Sagittarius

LEO – Leo soul mates are the ones that test Leo’s need for control. If Leo can not control where they deem necessary and be rewarded for their ideas in relationships, they will look for ways out. Leo’s need their egos stroked even on a subconscious level. When this does not happen for a period of time, they will sulk and put down the lion roar in no time. Leo soul mates are also more of a deep friend connection that you almost will not find elsewhere in the zodiac love connection. They need a mate who can push them outside of their little box to find themselves in situations they ultimately can not control thus leaving them vulnerable. This is ultimately a wonderful goal for Leo but a difficult one. I have found that Leo’s can be wholeheartedly commited when they do find their soul mate..to the point of brushing any slights under a rug so that it does not appear to the outside world that they do not have the perfect relationship at all times. Leo’s are drawn to Libra, Sagittarius, and Aries..all fire signs.

LIBRA- The ultimate lover of love. Libra loves to be in love and seeks someone who can be constantly in love them, faults and all. They do expect the opposite sex to control the relationship..whether it be an obsession, a casual romance or a marriage…they subconsciously seek out someone to motivate them, plan for them, and set important dates. Although they crave balance, more often than not, their partner is the one pulling the strings or the one that is the strongest of the two. The soul mate will test them on various levels with commitment, balance, and comfort. Libra can become so complacent that they let their partner make all the decisions, control their friendships, decisions, and career moves. What I like about Libra is that even though control can be a detriment, ultimately the soul mate helps the Libra make choices that benefit everyone. A soul mate for Libra can keep them on task, help them reach mutual goals, and strive for making the relationship the best it can be. Despite Libra’s social butterfly status, Libra is not always as outgoing and friend dependent as some astrologers make them out to be. Sure, they may have a phone book that revels all others but these contacts will be on a high/low contact phase. Naturally, other natal planets will affect this but overall Libra is seeking a friendship in their main relationship. A soul mate will bring this to them and these relationships will look like a brother/sister early childhood connection of contentment, comfort, and goofiness. Libra’s are attracted to Pisces, Leo, Aries, and Scorpio for these connections.

VIRGO- I find Virgo’s to have the most issues with relationships. I believe this to be directly correlated to their need for perfection and their desire for their own life to be in order before sharing it with someone else. There is also a subconcoius desire to withhold emotions and to not lose control on their part. With a potential partner having so much to live up to..this creates the commonly seen scenario of Virgo bachelors/bachorlettes. These times of solitude are sometimes self-imposed but Virgo will fill it with obsessions that are unobtainable. Like a Gemini, Virgo feeds off of communication and intellectual stimulation. Often times, they do not find this in their run of the mill relationships..they are usually found in soul mate relationships. If a Virgo feels trapped as they usually do, they run and cease all communication. It is not often that we find Virgo being pushed away unless Virgo has decided to admit their feelings to their partner and the partner denies them. I see a lot of Virgo relationships where they deny a connection actually being a relationship. The partner leaves after feeling unfulfilled and moves on. When faced with the fear of losing this partner, they will then try to become what the partner wanted only to find the partner is no longer interested and deems it too late for the Virgo to try. Then the Virgo will carry on the relationships in a peusdo manner to the point of obsession…often times, never really getting over the ex-partner. Soul mates will come to test them, point out their obvious hidden emotions, attempt to change them and lure them into coming out of their orderly world. Virgos are not as easily penetrable as other zodiac signs. They can not be swayed or pushed into love. They must come on their own free will and their own times desire. Soul mate attractions are usually found in Gemini, Scorpio, and Capricorn.

SCORPIO- Scorpio can sense a soul mate connection in their very being which makes soul mates meetings distinctive and slightly dangerous for them. The feeling of this soul mate connection can be so overwhelming that it can control many of Scorpios moves and emotions. Scorpio is the only sign in the zodiac that will search a partner’s eyes for a familiar connection..this is easily done for them and can be quite an experience for the partner who is not so sure of Scorpio’s motives. Once a soul mate has been recognized by the Scorpion, they are reluctant to let go of this connection even for many years afterwards. More often than not, soul mate connections are epic fails for them. Could this be because of Scorpio’s dark and mysterious need for a collection of soul mates over a lifetime or perhaps their intensity scares would-be suitors off? Let’s remember that Scorpio’s recincarnation lesson is for the realization that sex is not the be all end all of life. This drives them to research and investigate this lesson for most of their early life into their late 40’s. Soul mate connections come to them in aid of pushing Scorpio to test these boundaries and to show them that despite whatever weaknesses they have come to this world with, they too can be a the phoenix rising from the ashes. The issue with these connections is that they can be overly emotional, sex ruled relationships that are tested daily by the Scorpio. In most cases, the soul mate is pushed away by the overbearing Scorpio who has a tendency to smother OR the soul mate escapes by whatever means to move on with their life..as unpleasant as it may have been before meeting the Scorpion. In my studies, even though Scorpio loses more soul mates than any other sign, they also have more reconnections with them over the years than most. It is hard for the soul mate to leave behind the intensity over time and they will come back for bits and pieces..but never the complete package. When you hear of Scorpio’s having many affairs..its usually for this reason. It’s a reconnection with a soul mate going down memory lane. These affairs..short-lived or not…will still be a burning flame inside the Scorpio soul even if they are in happily commited relationships. Scorpio attractions for these soul mate connections are usually: Virgo, Gemini, Cancer, and Taurus.

SAGITTARIUS- For Sags who often flee the scene of the crime when their freedom is tested and their dreams are barred…when they do love, they can be committed indefinitely. It is only when their pleasure-seeking ways are impeded that they will seek love elsewhere. Sags will usually not stay where they are not wanted and they will not reside in a relationship that is overbearing and non-respectful of their own needs. They can walk away, hands washed clean as if nothing existed prior to this moment. Good for them! At least they have the ability to see when things are going downhill whereas some of the zodiac signs will stay for many years, never seeing the forest for the trees. Soul mate connections come to test Sagittarius and almost plead with them to stay in the NOW and not hover above the clouds. As their reincarnation lesson states, Sags need to try to remain part of the physical world, despite their desire to reconnect with the beauty of nature and that which is free like their souls..rivers, oceans, and animals. Emotional signs are drawn to them to bring out the emotions they so often hide within themselves. It may not be apparent at first but eventually either through the untimely demise of the relationship, new boundaries put in place by the partner or through the partners emotional needs…the normally dormant emotional expressions of Sagittarius will be brought out. Although their emotions do not come close to others of the zodiac..to Sag they can sometimes be overwhelming although their surface behaviors will rarely show any sign of distress. Soul mate connections are usually found in Libra, Virgo, and Leo.

CAPRICORN- I am going to blow the whistle on Capricorn and let the cat out of the bag. For all the information I have read about Capricorn’s ability to find solidity in just about anything..there is a definite fine line between emotional/physical/sexual for them. I am in no way a Capricorn basher. I can clearly see the negative and positive of every sign. Capricorn can be a lifetime committer on the first glance level and they do have a wonderful work ethic that rivals even Taurus at times. One of Cappy’s weaknesses is to attach themselves to a partner based more on what the partner can give them in terms of financial security. They will also catergorize relationships and even friendships on what each person can offer..utilizing each catergorial need as it presents itself in their life. These catergories might be labeled- money, career advancenment, sex, emotional commitment, obsession, free food, fun person to drink with, etc. If it doesn’t fit a need, Capricorn will either pass by or perhaps create a fantasy need from them. Soul mate connections for Capricorn will present themselves by putting up roadblocks to what Capricorn wants from them. Although this will sustain the relationship over time as Capricorn will work hard for what they want…once the partner finds out what secret catergory they have been placed in, they will leave for something less demanding and callus. Capricorn can remain in a relationship for their whole lives or at least for many years..however its usually the other party that pulls the plug and forces Cappy to flash back to reality. Capricorn is next in line behind Scorpio for having the most failed soul mates connections..which for Scorpio and Cappy..you can easily see why. Reconnections with Capricorn rarely happen for that face that once Capricorn has been shunned, it takes a lot of soul searching and understanding on their part to let a partner back into their life. More often than not, if a reconnection is made, the Capricorn will go right back to their habitual way of finding self-serving prophecies about the partner. This becomes a game and usually ends in Capricorn always searching for the next partner to meet these needs through. If a Capricorn is no longer receiving the benefits they initially began the partnership for, they will not hesitate to look elsewhere for that potential. By this point, the current partner has already caught on and can usually one-up them before Capricorn has a chance to sever the connection. I believe Capricorn has more of a little black book than Libra or Scorpio does. Soul mate attractions for Capricorn are usually Sagittarius, Scorpio, Gemini, and Virgo.

AQUARIUS- Do they even have time for love and relationships? A strong point about Aquarius that I love is that they will rarely ever put their own personal goals above another person’s. This makes them the ultimate winner in soul mate relationships. They need someone who can respect that they are a free spirit and they have their own goals WHICH will be met whether their partner shares these goals or not. Aquarius can be either one of two ways in relationships…fleeting from person to person in their travels, rarely settling down OR they can be firmly commited and family orientated. Again, other aspects in their chart will play a good role in settling this dispute. Even in commited relationships, they are still a free bird who has many outside of the home commitments and pursuits. This is all very enticing to a potential partner as on the surface Aquarius is what every person is looking for. They are not very emotional even to the point of being afraid of other people’s touch because its too close for comfort. They are not needy, whiny, or quitters. This is not to say that Aquarius will not cheat but when they do, there is rarely a reconnection with the former partner. The partner is beyond repair of the disbelief that someone so goal and future orientated could have left them to move to greener pastures. Once seriously involved, Aquarius will wear their partner like a boy/girl scout badge of accomplishment. However if you do not in some way, support them in their goals, share the same beliefs, or have common interests..the relationship will deteriorate. Soul mates come to Aquarius to find ways to strengthen their own personal goals and achievements. I like to think of aquarius relationships as healing, inspirational, motivating, and empowering for some partners. Aquarius makes a great teacher…although sometimes the message does not get through to the partner..but Aquarius can open a partners eyes to see the world as something to revel in, experiences, and learn about. Soul mates are usually more set in their ways or disagreeable with the Aquarius at first but over time Aquarius can penetrate them and leave a relationship imprint on their soul that follows them through life..even if the relationship ends. Soul mate connections are usually found in the signs of Gemini, Libra, Capricorn, and Taurus.

PISCES- What I usually find tangled up in Pisces relationships at a deep subconscious level is a mother figure. There is usually a beyond normal mother figure attachment and/or a lack of mother figure entirely. This is especially found in Pisces men. Pisces are ten times more emotional than Cancer and Scorpio put together…they are the zodiacs most tender and fragile creatures. Although they can build an extremely tough exterior, the inside is always too much for even them to handle. This is even found in other zodiac signs that have a pisces moon. As a water sign, Pisces found anywhere in a person’s chart can submerge and flow to almost all areas of their life. It’s that mutable. Pisces is looking to repair/replace/replenish this early childhood issue. Unlike Taurus who will also replay this out…Pisces is not looking to rehash it but rather create a completely new fantasy of what they wish they could had. I hope this makes sense and you can see the difference. Taurus will, like beating a dead horse, act out similar issues whereas Pisces will completely start anew to replace. Pisces men can be found usually with more mature, older women and/or who take on a motherly role. Pisces women will be so engrossed with their emotions that a partner can easily feel left out from the watery depths that surround them daily. Soul mates will come along and stir up these emotions. For Pisces women, soul mate men will come who attempt to save the Pisces female from drowning in their own despair. Pisces will not have this…for what is life without sorrow? Pisces men will seek women who can outdo and provide the motherly figure they so deeply desire. Although this will make the relationship last…the pisces will attach themselves even more fiercely then a Cancer crab’s claws or a Scorpion’s deadly stinger once they learn to trust their partner. This will ultimately over time smother their partner unless the partner is willing to succumb to their succubus ways. If the need is no longer being met and Pisces feels abandonded, as so many did in their younger years, they will seek out with no warning, another motherly figure. The great thing I do love about Pisces is their ability to blend with an already made family more so than any other sign. They love partners that take family seriously and even though they usually appear to be more needy than their partner, most soul mates will be just as needy on different levels. I believe this is usually what completes the connection. People who are what we describe as “rescuers” are often drawn to Pisces until they are so emotionally worn thin that they have to complete their own growth by branching out. These soul mate connections are usually sought in other water signs..Cancer, Scorpio, even other Pisces..some Libra’s and Virgos as well.

Soul Mate Zodiac Quick Guide

ARIES- soul mate will REFUSE NEEDY BEHAVIOR, PUSH ARIES TO PURSUE, STEAL ATTENTION FROM ARIES, AND NOT CODDLE ARIES’S IDEAS.

TAURUS- soul mate will PUSH TAURUS BUTTONS, DRIVE TAURUS TO FITS OF RAGE, RESEMBLE TAURUS MOTHER/FATHER FIGURE IN SOME FORM, EVENTUALLY WILL LEAVE TAURUS

GEMINI- soul mate will ATTEMPT TO HELP GEMINI SEE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, SHAKE UP GEMINI’S DESIRE FOR PERFECTION AND BEAUTY BY NOT MATCHING THAT STANDARD, PROVIDE A BEST FRIEND ATMOSPHERE WHERE THEY CAN BE THEMSELVES, PROVIDE INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION.

CANCER- soul mate will FORCE CANCER TO GO OUTSIDE THEIR SHELL BOUNDARIES, MAKE CANCER EXPERIENCE THEIR EMOTIONS AND DEAL WITH THEM, PUSH CANCER TO CHANGE

LEO- soul mate will PUSH THEM TO BE IN SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CAN NOT BE IN CHARGE OR IN CONTROL, RELY ON THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS, TEST THEIR BOUNDARIES AND DEDICATION

VIRGO- soul mate will PUSH THEM OUT OF ORDER, PURSUE THEM TO THEIR OWN DETRIMENT, URGE VIRGO TO SHOW EMOTION

LIBRA- soul mate will PROVIDE A RELATIONSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP, LOOK TO LIBRA FOR SUBCONSCIOUSLY CONTROLLING RELATIONHIP, KEEP UP WITH LIBRA’S NEED FOR FUN AND HUMOR

SCORPIO- soul mate will PUSH SCORPIO TO GROW AND CHANGE, REFUSE SCORPIOS NEED FOR SEX, DEFY SCORPIO’S POSSESIVENESS AND JEALOUSY, WILL WANT FREEDOM

SAGITTARIUS- soul mate will PUSH FOR EMOTION, WANT SAGITTARIUS TO VIEW SEX AS EMOTIONAL, STRIVE TO KEEP SAGITTARIUS GROUNDED, PUT BOUNDARIES IN PLACE

CAPRICORN- soul mate will NOT ALLOW CAPRICORN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM, WILL EVENTUALLY CATCH ON TO CAPRICORN’S NEED FOR SECURITY AND SELF PRESERVATION, WILL MAKE THE CAPRICORN PURSUE THEM, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT WILL ABANDON CAPRICORN ONCE THEIR SECRET IS OUT

AQUARIUS- soul mate will TEST THEIR COMMITMENT TO GOAL, IMPOSE STIPULATIONS ON THEIR GOALS, FEEL INFERIOR TO AQUARIUS’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND EASY GOING ATTITUDE, ATTEMPT TO GET EMOTIONS MORE ON THE TABLE

PISCES- soul mate will FEEL OVERWHELMED BY THEIR NEEDINESS AND INSATIABLE DESIRE FOR REASSURANCE, MORE THAN LIKELY BE A MOTHER FIGURE, EVENTUALLY FEEL HELD BACK BY PISCES

Sex in the Zodiac

2010-10-18T19:27:00.000-07:00

SEX IN THE ZODIAC- A SULTRY AFFAIR THROUGH THE 12 SIGNS

ARIES- Ready, Fire and Aim…Aries are always ready for a romp in the hay. Passionate..possible. Eager..definitely. They are like children whose eyes are wide open at the possible suggestion of sex however they enjoy the chase. They are imaginative and playful but serious about completing their task. They enjoy people to seduce them. They like the build up and anticipation of sex. They can talk for hours on end as an ongoing prelude to sex. They can talk for hours after sex. Aries are childlike and enjoy the pleasures of body as much as animals enjoy each other and their animalistic nature…unfettered and pure. Aries is forceful with themselves and when they want something, they want it. They will stop at nothing until they get it. This includes the object of their desire. This can be overbearing for some people to the point of driving them away. Commonly found in sexual relationships with Aries is a feeling of conquering another…once conquered, the original object of desire is seen without the rose colored lens and Aries finds another pursuit.

TAURUS- As bullheaded as they might appear and slow to pick up on signals from the opposite sex…Taurus has an almost insatiable appetite for getting off. Looking for almost daily sex that never gets old? Taurus is your match. Taurus is very sensual and is never opposed to touching after sex or giving/receiving back rubs. They are very touch-feely and in love with the human form. Although they are not the most creative lovemakers, they will offer themselves regularly for satisfaction. Being creatures of habit, they will almost never tire of the basic sex positions and enjoy getting their counterpart off as much as themselves. They do not object to trying new things but more often than not, they stick to what they know and expect their partner to be satisfied every time. Even into older age, Taurus can still be found to have much vigor and can easily detach emotions from sex..not in the sense of relationship emotions but they rarely withhold sex when stress and other factors play a large part of their lives. Sex is actually a stress reliever for them. If sex is not readily available, they are not too unabashed to pleasure themselves.

GEMINI- When in a committed relationship, Gemini will definitely experiment with taboo sex. They are generally very good kissers but will withhold eye contact and become lost in their own world. Not emotional lovemakers but will enjoy playful banter and intellectual stimulation. Gemini likes to boss their partner around in a sexual way and control their sexual pursuits. They are not generally the type to snuggle or engage in a lot of afterplay. Gemini is usually more concerned with their own pleasure than that of their partners. They can have a great need for sex in their relationships but if sex is withheld, they will seek it elsewhere. Even if having an affair or several sex partners, they will never let the person at the receiving end of their lovemaking know this or feel it. Although self-pleasurers of a normal stance, they would much rather hold out for the real thing if its available at some point. They are not above using guilt to make their partner feel that they are not sexually satisfied. If sex is not up to their standards they will make other parts of the relationship start to diminish as well.

CANCER- Dubbed as the romantics of the zodiac…they take lovemaking seriously. They also enjoy the whole wining and dining aspect..anything with a little romance to spark their fire. They are partial to first times, first kisses, and taking lovemaking slowly. They are usually never into hardcore sex or anything taboo. They prefer traditional sex and even the men, will love to be held afterwards and engage in some afterglow pillow talk. Unless an aspect is afflicted, they can be perfectly fine with sex with one partner but when they feel unloved and the romance has left their current relationship, they will seek out avenues to feel pleasure. They are sensitive so any blow to their ego, stress, or other outside factors will make them withhold sex until they are feeling more up to par. They enjoy looking into their partners eyes, kama sutra, and lovemaking sessions that can last all night.

LEO- Unless deeply commited, Leo will have many partners if they have decided a relationship is not for them. Sex is sex to them and when you are under their lion or lioness ways, they will make you feel as if you are the only one. They love talking dirty during sex and will often fall asleep, wake up and want more. However outside of the bedroom they can make you feel very lonely and beneath their spotlight. Some leos find sex at the bottom of their list and will control when they give it to a partner…just one more thing they can hold over you. They are also very modest and will not divulge to you how many other partners or who else there may be. They do enjoy getting their partners off so mutual enjoyment is exciting for them. Leo men are big on sex and some will have many partners, oftentimes several at a time.

VIRGO- For as modest as Virgos are made out to be, they can be extremely passionate and intense. They love self-pleasuring during sex and enjoy numerous positions. However pickiness and order still run true for them. The time, place, and environment has to be right. They enjoy being the ones to make the first move so let them. If you push them too fast into sex, they will be turned off. Passion does not always equal love for them. They will withhold emotions for fear of entrapment and they will be afraid to admit these emotions even to themselves. Torrid affairs, multiple partners at one time, and casual sex are not usually their forte. If they have invited you into their bedroom, you have earned their respect and trust. Virgos enjoy legs up, watching themselves, and lots of foreplay.

LIBRA- Sex is playful and fun. Laughing during the middle of sex..definitely not unheard of for Libra. Libras also enjoy watching pornography during sex and replaying this with their partner while laughing at how silly some of the moves are. They are not highly sexual creatures of the zodiac but who doesn’t enjoy sexual pleasure once in a while? They enjoy sex that is on a friendship level within a commitment. It is rare to see libra out gallivanting with hundreds of sex partners..if so..they must have other sexier aspects in their charts. Sex can be very routine for them but also romantic. Libra is also very big on flowers, jewelry, and fancy dinners…this is a pre-sex turn on for them. They enjoy sex in luxurious places and hotel rooms. They know what they like and will gladly share this with their partners.

SCORPIO- Sex with Scorpio is almost a religious experience. It has a presence of being deeper than just sex. They do have an insatiable drive for pleasure which makes them the Zodiac sex star right along with Taurus. If they are denied sex they can start to doubt the relationship and their partners desire for them. The chase is a turn on for scorpios as is sex in the dark, candelight, and sensual massage. To them sex is all encompassing and can easily make or break a relationship. They are into taboo sex and will try almost anything once. They are big on cutting to the chase, whispering, and sex that is beyond romantic..almost reaching a spiritual plane. If an eye connection is not made with them, they will reach into their memories for a scene to play out thus disconnecting them from their partner. Often times they will come away feeling sexually pleased but not emotionally charged.

SAGITTARIUS- There is sex and then there is sex for them…not much difference between the two of them but they will deny this. Usually emotionally devoid, to them pleasure is found in satisfying their partner whether an emotional bond is there or not. Satisfaction is found in mutual interests shared together and the comfort of home life with a partner. Sex is not always on their mind. When they do engage in sexual activities..it either serves a purpose or is based on a partners need. This is not to say that sag is not sexy..for Sagittarius is very much a taboo lover. They also love sex in unusual places..mostly outdoors under the stars, in a tent, in an elevator. Sex that is not routine is exciting to them and if it is expected from their partner, it will not be as enjoyable to them for the most part. Waking a partner up while they are sleeping is a big turn on as is pornography, sensual movies, and early morning sex.

CAPRICORN- Capricorn loves to learn new things about sex and is a wonderful student. They do like to think that they are highly skilled and emotions do not have to be involved for them to enjoy themselves. Capricorn feels that sex is a duty sometimes and they like having a job to do for their partner if they are in the mood. They are big on oral sex usually and can easily forget their own needs. They also need reassurance and will openly ask their partners if something feels good or if they did a good job. Their ego is important in a sexual relationship. If crushed, they will work harder to appease their partner. Sex will take the back burner to their outside the bedroom duties but they can be passionate lovers if need be. Not above withholding sex or taking their partner for granted.

AQUARIUS- Slow to warm up, trusting their partner is important. They are not overly mushy-gushy or sentimental. The biggest issue for them is finding and making time for sexual pursuits. They do not have an issue making a partner wait for sex in the beginning of a relationship. They take their time and get to know their partners on all level before getting sexually involved. For the most part, they are very faithful and are best one on one. Building a relationship is more important to them than the sexual aspect..they believe this comes with time. They are experimental and enjoy learning about sex on many different levels.

PISCES- Perhaps it is the trait of the last sign of the zodiac but again a connection and relationship is also very important before sex is. They can be passionate lovers and will have more than likely studied sexual positions and romance movies for years before experimenting themselves. Sex is not complete without a close bond with someone. They will enjoy activities with their partners outside the bedroom more than sex but when the mood does strike them..they will allow themselves to succumb to their partners whim. Pisces men especially don’t mind being controlled and told what to do in the bedroom…this is actually a turn on. Woman on top is favored. Praise and ego stroking is important. They like partners to lead them and initiate.

Reincarnation through the Zodiac

2010-09-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

I had an in-depth conversation this past weekend with a friend about past life astrology..thus prompting this post. If you believe in reincarnation with astrology this will shed a little light on how I feel we move through each of the phases of the zodiac and the lessons we are meant to learn. I believe strongly in past lives and the zodiac phases intertwining with it is just the icing on the cake. Again these are just my personal beliefs..what happens at the end of the zodiac can be interpreted anyway you like. I like to think that we move on to missions on the Other Side but again...very open to interpretation. We come here with lessons to be learned....a very general idea shared with many different religions and beliefs. Considering how much astrology shapes us...each sign gives our souls a different map and overall plan with its own lessons. Perhaps we do not learn these lessons as a first time in a sign..thus prompting us to continue rebirth in the same sign UNTIL those lessons are learned and fully explored. I also think that your rising sign, moon sign and the other planets are continuations of lessons previously learned or a small dab of what's to come..thus leading us to fully conquer the positive and negative of each sign before returning home.

ARIES- Ahh the baby of the zodiac. Welcome to the WORLD! Just like a newborn baby..Aries can be demanding, whiny, impatient, and absorb a lot of energy from others. Aries wants to be the center of attention in a commanding way and has about as much patience as a little kid in line for the ice cream truck. They also come into this world with that optimistic and naive present infant glee. They are quick to take on many things with an adventurous carefree attitude and just jump right in...of course with the lack of providence. I like to also think of Aries as rebellious..perhaps rebelling against its own birth therefore creating that driving force that pushes Aries into the world like dynamite. Firecrackers...yes very much so. They can be the life of the party, full of humor, hard workers, and party people till the day they die. They have a ferocious appetite for life so I think one of the lessons of Aries is to battle that rebellious child attitude and the intensity they take on in life. They need to strive to move past their childish behaviors and learn that patience brings great things. WAIT is a word Aries is unfamiliar with...wait to make decisions, wait before making a move, be patient with yourself and others. The world doesn't owe you anything and you can't be mad at the world for creating you. Aries school lesson is to be content with birth, explore with childlike wonder but move quickly from baby onward. The positive of Aries is amazing and when that energy is controlled...Aries can be one of the most successful people of the zodiac. Aries is easily overwhelmed by the world they have entered which is why most of them run around with their heads cut off...busy busy and very indecisive.

TAURUS- No one is as committed to family as Taurus is and I think this comes after Aries has accepted their birth, connected to the World and is ready to move past their SELVES to explore the things around them. Taurus is a physical sign that is ready to taste, touch, feel, roll in, stare at, and fondle just about everything. No longer are they being breastfed, held in their mothers arms, or looking at the world with newborn eyes...they are ready to explore it with their senses..just as a toddler or young child plays with pots and pans on end and likes to be very tactile. They want to make their place in the world by creating a family, a home, and be an integrative part of all of it. Even though these sound like adult level things..Taurus still operates from a small child perspective. The small child digests these things, has temper tantrums, doesn't understand the emotional or spiritual part of life..and still wants their grilled cheese sandwiches with cookies and milk and cupcakes and lollipops. Taurus loves the finer things in life or so I have read...I think what they enjoy is coming into a material world. Now the child sees TOYS and understands that with a begging manner and perhaps a flutter of the eyelashes..they can have these things and BOY do they want them. Taurus is quick to fly off the handle and is very stubborn, arrogant, and they plant their feet in the ground like a child who taunts, "You can't make me!" Taurus, when focused on accomplishing their mission, are hard workers, solid people to have around, and devoted fathers/mothers. But I think for most of their life they are focused on the material...what can they HAVE and what can they ACCUMULATE. The Taurus lesson is to revel in the material world but learn that possessions are not as important as they think they are...this includes possessing people as well, which Taurus has a quirk of doing. Let Taurus have its play things but in the end, he will have to learn that there is more to life than the cycle of work, buy, work, buy, work, buy.

GEMINI~ Oh boy Gemini.....the pre-teen/teenager of the zodiac in my mind...equating to about 10-15 yrs old. They like shiny new magazine quality things (especially men) and they are wonderful monkey see-monkey do's..pretending to not be guided by others but its the respect of the pack that they crave. Gemini has some run offs of possession issues but for the most part they are evolving into creative individuals who are learning to connect with others, use their minds independently, conquer peer pressure, and handle with ease their new found change into adolescence (opposite sex, porn, etc). They are witty,talkative (lots of questions), they enjoy learning, and they can also be rebellious like an Aries but in more covert ways. Gemini's lesson is to learn that there is more to a pretty face. Gemini's have a rough path..especially since they have to deal with their evil twin...the one who wants to be Aries, Taurus, and Gemini all balled into one. Some Gemini's master their twin early on...beating it senseless and holding it hostage. However if they don't, it can rear its ugly head later on in life...causing an already flighty Gemini to try.. really try... to relive their teen years all over again. In my study of astrology over the last 15 years, I have learned that Gemini men are no good...at least not for me. Again, teenager of the zodiac..what do you think of with teenagers? Tactless relationships, drinking, cheating, stealing, rebellion, impulsiveness, recklessness, lack of common sense at times. They are ready to explore life on their own but not entirely. I know all you reformed Gemini's are ready to strike up a serious conversation about my discriminatory marks but if you think about it seriously, you will see the patterns. Gemini needs to learn that life can't always be fun, relationships are more than mental stimulation (void of emotion), and that teenagers all need to start acting like adults at some point in their lives. Gemini needs to explore the ability to learn, to think for themselves and put what they absorb into practice. If they can do this...they will be ready to move onto the next level.

CANCER~ When I think of Cancer, I think of a teenage girl in her pink room in the 60's making hearts on a notepad...wishing Johnny Lee loved her back..I have no idea why. The Cancer soul has been born as an Aries, began to touch the physical world as a Taurus, explored coming of age in Gemini, and is now ready to enter an emotional aspect of everything else they have learned. They are here to experience their first love, first kiss, first date, and be sentimental dreamers who never let go. By this point, they have learned certain mechanisms making them a crab...they are "FEELING" now and when the the world overwhelms them..which is often...they retire to an imaginary "pink room" full of all their blankies, family photos, memorabilia, and trophies. Although they are capable of feeling true love now...much of this love is family centered. It's that infamous gulp of graduating high school and moving out to go to college...the "why can't i be a kid all over again" struggle. Cancers reconnect very well with all stages of the zodiac they have already progressed through...often times looking back spiritually with fond memories. They are deeply connected to possessions (but out of a connection of the past), they are extremely emotional, and they struggle to find a place in the world...or a new shell to crawl into. I believe there are more emotionally confused Cancers out there than any other sign...it's just TOO much for them BUT as a lesson for Cancer, they most explore all depths of the emotional swimming pool even if the water is way too deep. Cancer's lesson in essence is to not let emotions rule their lives. They also must learn that to move forward, they have to let the past go. Material obsession should be conquered before moving to Leo.

LEO - After mastering birth, material, mental, and emotional, the zodiac goes through a know-it-all phase. Leo is proud, confident, bold and damn right pushy about it all. Leo now feels that they can control everything around as if a wand has been handed to them and they just finished Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I like to go easy on Leo and think that they are just trying to help the lower classes move along faster by putting on a dramatic play and reenactment of previous zodiac lessons...so let's think of them as middle masters of the zodiac who are taking a break...sorta like the now more common break between high school and college. the struggling new adult who insists they don't need help. During the phase however things from previous lives gets regurgitated and Leo is quick to fall prey to a pretty face, fear of emotions and dependency (having been through the hell of cancer-"once bitten, twice shy" syndrome) and so they reside in the EGO and oh what an inflation it is. Living with only SELF in fear of what else the world may hold..Leos become very self-centered, egotistical..acting mostly out of fear..which of course, they would never want you to know about. Leo's lesson is to not be afraid anymore...which reminds me of the Cowardly Lion..how appropriate. Leos have to get back on the saddle, graduate from high school bullshit, pull their head out of their own asses and merge the animal primal instinct with remaining a human.

VIRGO - Leo bks come back ready to face the world but they become shy, timid, tender footed, and calculated. Virgo gets all its ducks in a row and decides how best to start moving forward even if that means sacrificing the material, the mental, the emotional and the control. Now Virgo wants to control smaller spaces....giving up the need to be the center of attention..Virgo wants it their way or no way at all. Sounds like a Leo you say? Virgo gets down to details, explores the meaning of life at a surface level, and decides to evolve in a manner that is almost too hardcore for most. This is the first level of the zodiac in my opinion where we start seeing the blending of what we have learned. The five main ingredients to the souls experience is material, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. We have already gone through 3 of those and here in Virgo we start the beginning works of blending towards culmination. We also see the start of exploration in solitude. Many Virgos are content with themselves. This is an important part of adulthood...the ability to love thyself and to be alone and happy within your own space and soul. Virgo has accepted that we are just souls in physical bodies and now they realize they must to do some general housekeeping. I don't want to act like there are no lessons for holy little Virgo but you gotta at least be proud of how far they have come :) Virgo's lesson is to not take life too seriously now and prepare to start learning to really relate with people. Virgo can be so involved with their own progress that relationships yet again fall to the side. I think for a lot of Virgos..it's at the bottom of their bucket lists. Focus on thy own self is fantastic but blend baby blend.

LIBRA - Finally we are starting to evolve more and Libra is all about achieving balance...or at least trying to. Libra takes a step out into learning from others, savoring relationships, and tries to be the peacemaker. Life is fun again...and that fun is found in interacting with the human race. Embracing love now, Libra can come fully out of the self and live in the world of interconnectedness. With some of Virgo's cautious ways still in this new sign's footsteps, Libra doesn't try to make too many waves. She is outgoing, pleasant, easygoing, and Ms. Popularity. Libra has to learn that they can't be in love with falling in love. Life isn't always roses and chocolates and best friends. Use this energy of interaction with other souls to learn what others have gone through in order to elevate your own soul. Make use of the scales to weigh out decisions, see each side to the story and to be fair and easy on yourself. After Virgo's harsh criticism of self and others.....Libra is a breath of fresh air when it comes to letting others be who they want to be. Libra to me is a delightful sign and another stop along the zodiac to enjoy life as it is.

SCORPIO - Here we have left Libra behind in the dust...as we explore the dark areas of life. We can not experience the whole idea of this World without knowing its deepest darkest crevices. One might think that Scorpio should be down further on the chain...perhaps between Taurus and Gemini...but the Scorpio soul is so much more evolved spiritually. As we reach Scorpio we are filling the final gaps the of the 5 ingredients to the purpose by including spiritual and physical. Scorpio teaches us birth, renewal, and explores death. We start to think of why are we here, where do we go, what's our purpose and this becomes the ultimate breath of a Scorpio. Scorpio explores sex to a level that no other sign does. She discovers that sex is the ultimate spiritual connection between two beings and when you roll that together with everything learned along the way, Scorpio can take relationships to absolute heights. However on the dark side, Scorpio easily falls prey to addiction, jealously, possession, and manipulation. She must experience these things as the final major lesson before crossing over to the end of the zodiac. I honestly believe that out of all the signs...if there is one zodiac level that flunks more academic souls than others...it would be Scorpio for there are 3 levels of Scorpion souls. There is the serpent (the low life, lying, stealing, affair having thief), the Eagle (learning to master the lessons), and the Phoenix rising from the ashes (the ultimate resurrection and goal of Scorpio). Where's the typical Scorpion depiction here you might ask? I believe the Scorpion is always part of the 3 levels...for all Scorpios will be protective, determined, and ready to sting in order to protect themselves and others. Scorpio's lesson is to survive and to soar out of their own demons with raging spirituality and at least several of life's mysteries solved. Oh yeah..and they better get all their passion released for sex cuz after this sign..it seriously diminishes..as this is the beginning of passing back over to the other side. I also feel that out of all the signs, Scorpio will start to meet twin souls here in this phase which will give them a glimpse of returning with their other half. It's almost a reconnecting point to check in with each to see how they are doing on their paths.

SAGITTARIUS - Sex has taken a back seat in the sense of it being anything more than a physical need. We are now preparing to leave the material world...we are going back to our roots to connect with Earth. So strange how we could have already spent 8 zodiac cycles (who knows how many times?) and have been so disconnected from the energy of Mother Earth. Sag takes us back there to the beginning of time...warriors of nature who live off the land, speak to animals, heal with the plants, and are the most effortless carefree spirited souls. Sagittarius has become excited to be where they are at. They are appreciative and eager to take a back seat to the hum-drum of life to now explore it's adventures. Although this is a very important process of the zodiac evolution...Sagittarius needs to find a balance between fun and adventure and still keeping one foot in the material world..at least for now. They are philosophical but forgetful. Sag needs to discover new land and make peace with the Earth but they also need to remember their responsibilities. I firmly believe there are more broken-home/adbandoner Sag parents out there than any other sign. Sags are quick to move on and move past...sometimes to their own detriment. To them life moves too fast to be tied down....Sags need to anchor themselves to something because they aren't done yet.

CAPRICORN - The starting to slow down phase..think of Capricorn as life in the age of 50-60. We are so content with ourselves (or so we think) that we start seeking solitude. Capricorn to me is the strangest sign of the whole zodiac. Although they are loyal (for the most part)and almost always ready to settle down and commit...many Capricorns inflict a bachelor/bachelorette life upon themselves subconsciously...even for years. Capricorn looks back on the world and starts to PANIC! Did I work hard enough? Did I make enough or have enough? Did I find enough people to love me? What if I did it all wrong? It's a sad last attempt to rectify and also a zodiac sign that pulls some of the negatives from previous levels as back ups. This is what gets me about Capricorn. Is it a before I die kinda impulse? Caps can be very jealous, have highly addictive behaviors and sadly will never ever change, in essence feeling that there work here is done. There is no soul evolving going on behind the scenes for Caps that I can see happening. Don't get me wrong..I don't want to make them out to be a bad apple in the zodiac but they are more like grumpy old men....yelling at the kids for being too loud, pissed at people that haven't had to struggle like them...angry at the world for making them old and ever-changing. Capricorn's lesson is TO experience the solitude yet learn to look back and reflect..the make the necessary changes. Again another sign behind Scorpio that I feel may be repeated often. It's like a black hole for some, Although Caps can be excellent workers..again here we also see things taken to the extreme. Capricorn should be a time for gathering the nuts for winter so to speak but then doing personal growth on their end that prepares them for the last 2 signs.

AQUARIUS- Here we see detachment in every sense of the word. We also see a deep desire for learning all there is to know about the world...there is also a lot of accomplishment found in Aquarius..usually of the weird kind. There are many Aquarians that take the offbeat path and find unusual ways to live their lives. They can be extravagant, avant-garde, and new age. They do not attach themselves to much..which is their real purpose and lesson...to be emotionally, physically, and mentally detached from people, possessions, and even the Earth. The time has come in this sign to move into the spiritual world and leave all else behind. I could see being in love with an Aquarius as being difficult as they are very much free spirits. I find in Aquarius that many of them relive past lives. Floating into the spiritual world from the physical, they find many past links to previous lifetimes and that will be their driving force in this one. Many history buffs, reenactors, and devoted religious people are the sign of Aquarius and I believe these are past life connections.

PISCES- Lastly, we enter Pisces and exit the physical world. We now live in an emotionally-charged spiritual world that makes us highly evolved, extremely intelligent and eclectic humans who's souls actually reside outside of our bodies. We have one last goal...and that is to find peace. We make peace, we forgive, we love, and we teach others how everything is connected to one giant life force. Many special souls are in this last phase...mentally challenged, physically challenged, autistic children, and even artists. We now know we are in this world but not of this world. Although we thought we left emotion behind..the emotion is showed by the abililty to self-sacrifice many necessities and to shed our old wounds, addictions, grudges, and demons. Now we can return to where we came from...having learned our lessons here. Perhaps there are more important lessons of becoming something else but for now..we know we have experienced all worldly desires and conquered them. We have become all signs and hopefully have left some positive mark on the world for more souls to have divine experiences.

Venus and Mars in Scorpio Sept 2010 - Jan 2011

2010-09-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

Venus is in Scorpio from Sep 8 2010 to January 7 2010. WOO-HOO! Nevermind the fact that it will retrograde in Oct..that's a whole 'nother bag of worms (and another blog post). Anything in Scorpio excites me to no end...why why why...cuz Scorpio is my blood. Venus conjures up love, attraction, magnetism, and centers herself on relationships. Relationships+Scorpio---shiiitttt I should know all about this....it's the driving force of my whole being. So if we look at people who were born with Venus in Scorpio...we find a soul who is highly intense, dramatic, determined, and romantic. They can be passionate to the point of obsession...smothering their coveted object of desire with sooo much attention that they can scare them off. However the interesting thing..at least what I have heard..is that once the Scorpio backs off and puts her stinger between her legs...the once coveted object sorely misses the intense love and attention they once received (usually folks..unless there were restraining orders involved). Scorpio is also the natural born detective and master of secrets. However, Scorpios are driven to succeed, highly intelligent, very spiritual, and devoted. The flip side to Scorpio is the jealously, possessiveness, secretive demeanor, and interrogating suspiscions. I think what we will see coming out of Venus in Scorpio ESPECIALLY with Mars entering Scorpio shortly thereafter on Sept 14.....is an explosion of white hot HEAT...smoldering and burning everything in its path..sometimes leaving scars..other times creating emptiness to rebuild upon. The relationships in our lives will change...our feelings toward and in our relationships will evolve perhaps almost by flipping a switch. We could turn into the lower evolution of Scorpio serpents and become overly jealous and obsessive towards our partners..with little to no reasoning OR we could decide to rendezvous in some down and dirty Scorpio waters of devilish sex, affairs, secret hoarding and craziness. Haven't you read the astrology websites warning you that SECRETS will be exposed over the next couple of months?? Shame on you! LOL Now now...I don't want to sound all pessimistic because Scorpio has some beautiful tantalizing spiritual aspects to it. The best part is that OUR RELATIONSHIPS will become more EMOTIONAL. We will break through barriers, tear down walls, and come hell or high water...be spewing out to others as well as being on the receiving end of emotional depth. I think people's emotions will change...they will either set their eye on someone and be driven by an unknown force to capture their heart (even if they only saw you as a friend or passed you by before without a second glance) or...perhaps they will look at an old relationship and finally be compelled to release it forever. For Scorpio's are all or nothing..it's either black and white...but never ever ever ever gray. My advice would be to use Scorpio's power in your relationships to reevaluate, open up, become vulnerable, and reconnect. Now would be a great time to try some kinky sex with your partner, burn those pictures and letters from an old boyfriend/girlfriend still pulling on your heartstrings, go out on the town and feel the magnetic Scorpion pull, cease old relationships/friendships that no longer serve a purpose, or work up the Scorpio "ain't afraid of nothing" dare devil balls to make the first move. Venus and Mars floating around in Scorpionic ecstasy will be a give and take, a masculine and feminine....take it as a time to create, destroy, revel in, and rebuild..like Scorpio's do best...a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Writing

2010-09-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

i write. i don't talk much. I just listen for phrases, words, sounds i can connect with...things that make sense in my head. the world we live in is fucked up, achingly beautiful as it is, and i try to recapture that beauty in words..words that outlive people, civilizations, institutions. words inspire, instigate, spur memories, images, associations, and synapse pulsations. words hurt, soothe, demand, create, teach, entrance, romance, pervert, unite , and divide.

words be powerful........

i started writing as a young girl to survive a spiritually blighted landscape. i obsessively devoted my life to writing after my father left when i was twelve. it was the only way i could stay sane. i learned to give up what i see. i see a lot. i taught myself to believe in words, colors, truth, astrology, and good sex.

oh yea and coffee...

Buffalo Chicken Dip

2010-09-09T18:59:00.001-07:00

I apologize but I am having issues with pics right now so I apologize for the baren posts. I am hoping to have it fixed by Monday. Anywhoo...I also tried this dip last week from Big Red Kitchen. I heard people talking about this dip but hadn't tried it yet. I love me some buffalo wings and I do enjoy spicy food. Needless to say I was reved up about this recipe. I have compared the recipe against other similar ones and they are all about the same...minus the debate of using blue cheese or ranch which I think is just a personal preference. I had never heard of anyone buying wings and getting a side of ranch till I moved out west to Arizona. On the West Coast, you have to ask specifically for Blue Cheese. Stranggeee. I made this dip with ranch and that might have had something to do with my disappointment. I think this would have been way better if I had made it with blue cheese and LEFT out the chicken. The chunky chicken was a weird texture combo for me. I heard people tear this dip up so I think my taste buds just might be weird. Try it and let me know what you think.

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Beer Braised Beef and Losing Weight

2010-09-09T11:24:00.001-07:00

There's nothing like the smell of onions and garlic cooking on the stove.... This week I have attempted to throw myself into making meals again. An 8 yr relationship tossed to the curb has had me eating out and nuking shit in the microwave. YIKES~! Although I have managed to maintain my 50lb weight loss since mid-2009..all that is about to change!

I have a very unhealthy obsession with food blogs. Food porn takes up a great deal of my weekly internet black hole. I think the hardest thing is fighting the devil in my head that screams for butter, sugar and good ol' grandma made food...and trying to listen to the rational olivia newtown-john "let's get physical" sweat-band wearing guru that tells me to cut out sugar and watch carbs. Yes, its true..I lost 50lbs last year doing Atkins and amazingly I did not put all weight back on as I have in the past. Granted.. 8 years worth of tears, almost becoming homeless, loving and losing, and struggling with who the heck I had become and wanted to be...kept me from dipping into the fatso bowl. I had so many moments of not wanting to eat anything and living off coffee...like that's good for you lol. But my inner soul mama wants to make my own butter, concoct creamy mac and cheese, and try every damn brownie recipe this side of the Mississippi River. I am damned if I do and damned if I don't try.

This week marked my first official trip back to the store with a typed ingredient list and a master meal plan in over 9 months. Kylie and I tried these recipes and I will let you know which ones were winners and which ones were runners up.

First of all....let me tell ya who's food blog I am sampling this week. I am more than likely going to spend quite some time devouring these recipes. I dabbled in some of her recipes back in 2008 and fell in love. Please note..this weeks food blog spotlight is not for the faint-hearted. If you are dieting or have some weird aversion to butter...don't even attempt this recipes. My number one fave food blog is The Pioneer Woman. I have been following her for a couple years now and for the most part...drool over everything she does...from the food porn to the silly humor in her writing. She's real and she's down-to-earth which I adore. I also am head over heels for her blog style of photographing everything she does which for people like me makes it a hellva lot easier to actually recreate these.

This week we did:

Beer Braised Beef with Onions - I LOVE this! Even Ky tore it up! It made the house smell wonderful plus I got to do some dutch oven cooking which is always fun...especially with Le Creuset. I got beef that was almost 3lbs and used Miller Lite...hey hey hey it was cheap and available. As a side we did exploded mashed potatoes. Pioneer Woman has a recipe similar to this but I make my regular homemade mashed potatoes (family secret) and then add the bacon, green onions, and shredded cheese. They are similar to my favorite dive's exploded potatoes ~ Frisco's in Frederick. Definitely would make this if I had company :)

Fried Round Steak - I should of known I would not be impressed ONLY because I have had fried round steak...country fried steak..whatever the hell ya wanna call it..before at the request of my now ex-boyfriend. I did not grow up in the country so until I met him..I had never EVEN heard of country fried steak lol. Not a big fan of it..it's OK but nothing spectacular. For some people, I could see how this would be a comfort food..perhaps taking them back to childhood memories but for me, my memories are void of this. I liked that Ree used only flour and not egg to coat these. They were light and as fried round steak goes..not too shabby. If you or your hubby or domestic partner...luvs country fried steak...then this recipe is for you. We served with veggies in a rosemary sauce.

Smashed potatoes - I varied this slightly and served with the beer braised beef. Definitely a huge hit! Highly recommend this recipe if you love loaded baked potatoes. Goes great with anything or you can eat it alone..out of the bowl...like I did.

For the line up for the rest of the week into the weekend...I still have a layered salad, chicken with lemon penne pasta, mushroom swiss sliders with homemade onion rings to do and bean and beef burritos. I will post those results by early next week. Kylie is going away for the weekend so I won't be doing so much cooking.

My goal after unloading the fridge and freezer for next week is to try some healthier meals. I will see what I come up with...probably going to hit up my favorite low carb food blog for some ideas. If you are trying to lose weight..there's definitely some substitutions you could have used for these recipes so feel free to screw around with them.

Learning Astrology

2010-09-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

I can still remember the day I stumbled upon the astrology section of the library when I was 13 years old and found Linda Goodman's Love signs. AHHH...the glory of it all. Linda Goodman is still my hero and bless her little heart in heaven, she was my first astrological love. Since that moment, I have immersed myself in astrology books..but never really studying deeper than our sun signs. WOW! There was so much confusion even 10 years later as to why some people totally fit their signs and others not so much. I knew there was something hiding beneath layers but I wasn't quire ready to explore it yet. One super fun thing about 2010 has been my reconnection with astrology in a more organic way. Although the charts and some of the terms are still too way over my head right now, I feel that it's all starting to make more sense slowly but surely. I take one aspect and thoroughly investigate it for a month or two. Baby steps is what I feel I am doing. Something I read that struck me the most was ~to learn astrology one must really study the moon and how it affects their own life. I have been doing this since March 2010 with astounding results. I have to admit...even though I have wholeheartedly fallen in love with astrology from the moment we met....I have always believed in a sun sign but was very skeptical of horoscopes and daily/weekly/monthly predictions. I found it to be very generalized and vague. I opted to see for myself by following over 30 different sites daily and making calendar notes. I have utilized Google Calendar which I adore and made notes based on what different horoscopes predicted and then an account of what actually happened. What is great about Google Calendar is that I set it to send alerts to me via my Blackberry so the day before..I will receive reminders about what is to come. So far in my 6 month study, I have narrowed my 30 plus sites down to about 2 or 3 reliable ones and a handful of fun ones which I will share with you shortly. Please note that this has been my experience. To truly connect with an astrologer..I invite you to conduct your own 3 or 6 month study and see what has been true for you. Despite a website looking cheesy or corny or filled with uber amounts of advertising..I gave them all a fair chance. Here are the ones that blown me away and stood the test of reliable (90% accuracy or higher) over the course of the last 6 months.

1. My absolute fave - Susan Miller. Her monthly reports are to die for and by the first of every month I am anticipating savoring her predictions and updating my calendar. She also allows you to read previous months to compare. If I had to pick my fave living astrologer...Susan Miller tickles my fancy.

2. Very corny/junky ad site but shockingly...seems to be true for me almost all the time. HipScopes offers weekly love forecasts and daily text messages that you don't have to subscribe too. I have been shocked as shit about this site but keep coming back to it because week after week..it has been true. I rely more on the weeklies than the dailies. Fun site overall.

3. AstroStyle ~ another suprising one. The website is a lil too purty for me and romantically sickly with all the uber girly pictures but I like their monthly updates. The dailies are touch and go so take those with a grain of salt. I actually was totally siked to read the Astro Twins book when it came out but was not as impressed with it as I thought I would be. Maybe I should give it another shot. Add to bucket list....

4. Jan Spiller ~ always seems to compare well with Susan Miller (hmm something fishy here LOL) but beautifully written as well. Again, no luck with dailies but the monthly is very informative and generally true.

5. Chrissie Blaze ~ another good astrologer. Short monthly horoscopes but good.

6. Kim Allen ~ very impressive monthly predictions!

I am sure there are some I am forgetting but these are my faves that I visit often. Again please start your own tracking and see what you discover. It's important to mark dates that there are major planetary changes....Can you see these planets affecting your life? My answer has been yes and it totally blows my mind.

I look forward to doing some more posts to share astrology information with you. I am a work in progress with it but I would love to learn right along with you. If you have any suggestions of sites that are always true for you..email me and I will test them out for several months.

Raspberry Cream Pie

2010-09-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

K and I made Raspberry Cream Pie today as a special refreshing end of summer dessert. It was fairly easy to make and it tastes super yummy. The only problem we had was with the crust sticking to the bottom after it was done. If anyone has any suggestions or variations please let me know.We also used 2 cups of raspberries which in my opinion was way too much. Stick to the 1 cup otherwise it becomes a little too tart and overwhelming.

Ingredients

25 whole Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
1 cup (generous) Raspberries
3 Tablespoons Sugar
2 containers (6 Ounce Each) Raspberry Yogurt
1 package (3.4 Oz) Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (get small box not big one)
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
Extra Raspberries For Garnish

Preparation Instructions

To make the crust, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crust cookies in a food processor (or smash in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin). Stir in melted butter until all combined. Pour into a regular pie pan and press crumbs all over the pan and up the sides. Bake for 3 to 4 minutes—just long enough for it to set. Cool crust completely.

Place raspberries on a plate or in an empty pan. Smash them with a fork, then sprinkle on 3 tablespoons of sugar. Stir together and allow to sit for 15 minutes.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine raspberry yogurt with the instant vanilla pudding mix (just the powder itself.) Beat on low until combined, about 1 minute. Pour in heavy cream and whip on low for 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Turn mixer on medium-high speed and beat for two minutes, or until mixture is thick.

Turn off mixer, then fold in raspberries until just combined. Pour into cooled pie pan and spread evenly. Freeze for two hours, or until very firm. Cut into slices and top each slice with cookie crumbs, dollops of whipped cream, and extra raspberries. Keep in freezer, allowing time to thaw before serving.

Cupcake Swirl Giveaway

2010-09-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

You know how I love anything cupcakes! This adorable giveaway ends today so hurry and enter over at Jamie's Precious Peas. Enter to win an adorable cupcake party set! I hope to win this for K's b-day party this month :)

Glide Bikes Giveaway!

2010-09-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Be sure to enter the Kids Glide Bike Giveaway over at Leslie Loves Veggies! It ends today so get your butt in gear and go over to enter. These are awesome bikes and are a great way for a child to learn to ride. Thanks for the giveaway Leslie!

Back again!

2010-09-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I posted and I apologize! I've had a series of events that sorta just stopped all creativity for awhile. I ended my 8 year long relationship (which was long overdue), I left a very respectable job in search of finding myself, and I spent one too many evenings staring at the emptiness I felt was my life and trying to decide which move to make next. But alas!- I am back and want to start writing again. When I originally started this blog almost 2 years ago, I had fantasies of it being about reviews and giveaways (hence the spiffy heading). However, what I have learned about myself is that I should never corner myself or carve too deep of a niche that traps me..cuz inevitably I will break free with wild abandon. I am ever-changing and evolving. I want this blog to be about ME and not in the vain sorta-way but about things that I like. I like reviewing things and giving my opinion but not because someone paid me to. I have taken on several new interests this year which just goes to show WHY I should not limit myself as a mommy blogger or a spend-thrift kinda person. I am much more rounded than that. I no longer spend my days as a housewife researching the most environmentally conscious products online for my child. I don't get to make 3 course meals for a family each night. My life as I knew it turned upside now and I get to go back to where I need to be....back to ME!

Grilling Contest ~ last day to enter!

2009-07-27T06:40:00.001-07:00

Last day to enter this awesome contest over at Mom Start ! Giveaway Offer (for 1 lucky winner)

* 3 Glove samples
* $50 gift certificate to grocery store of their choice to buy food/drinks for their own Patio Party

You can check out Mom start here

And playtex here

Win Tupperware

2009-07-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Enter to win Tupperware http://bit.ly/4rVJ7

Mud Bug contest

2009-07-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Enter to win a cool new gadget for kids from The Mud Bug ~ http://theblackcell.com/blogs/?p=28943

Awesome Subway giveaway!

2009-07-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Check this out before it ends ~ awesome Subway giveaway from Experimental Mommy http://www.thenotsoblog.com/2009/07/subway-giveaway

Last chance to enter Low Carb Giveaway Contest

2009-04-22T21:24:00.001-07:00

Don't miss out on some great LC books for your kitchen! Contest is open through April 24! You only have 2 more days to enter :) Good luck!

The deaths of April

2009-04-20T17:59:00.001-07:00

I always thought Fall was a time of death and reinvention..at least personally. This year Spring has shown me differently. There have been numerous "deaths"...physically and metaphorically for me this April that have affected me personally. First there was the untimely demise of eBay for me. eBay has been a huge part of my for many years and I have slowly watched it become less and less of an auction site. All of the changes starting with the increase of fees to the changes in feedback and made the site go downhill. I clung with all my might to the last little strings of hope...pushing the naysayers negativity away. I wanted to believe that eBay wouldn't fail me. I wanted to believe that my way of extra income would continue to support me for years to come. However this month I have learned it's finally time to let go. I have never had such horrible sales as I have had recently. I had two refunds which I couldn't argue about in fear of negative feedback. I had one person claim they never rec'd their package. Half of my stuff sold for not even close to what I could have sold it for on Craigslist...and I have never had so many buyers with so little feedback buy from me. I have one person who never paid. Since they have no fear of retaliation from me, they flat out told me they couldn't afford to pay and would just pay me my ebay fees. WTF??? Damn, I wish I could do this...just bid like crazy and then tell people..opps I am a little low on cash this week..how about I pay you next week? Goodbye my friend. I am ready to move on.

Myspace ~ At one point in time I was changing my background like crazy....adding friends..pimping my music player but then I discovered Facebook! I still have my page up and I still log in occassionally but I am now updating facebook from my blackberry daily.

Francie Billotti Wood and her three children in Middletown,MD ~just breaks my heart. I knew Francie from freecycle and she had shared some clothing with me once upon a time. My prayers are with the family and I hope they have peace. And since no one else is going to say it..I guess I will ~ Chris Wood - I don't care whether your job sucked ass or not. I don't care whether you were depressed and banging some whore on your many business trips. We can sit here and blame it on your antidepressants, your hard life, your recent job change..but in the end, there is no excuse for what you did. You didn't even give your children a chance to experience life...to fall in love...to dream of adventures..to have their own children. You beat them, you stabbed them, you shot them, you cut them...Chris, you were a pussy...not a man.

California Tortilla ~ April 14th only!

2009-04-13T17:56:00.001-07:00

The password this week is "FACE" to receive your FREE taco at California Tortilla.

April 14th ONLY!!

NO purchase necessary!!

Homemade Easter

2009-04-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

By choice this year we opted to have a very intimate Easter. Sometimes by doing things out of habit, a special moment becomes dulled by routine. We even made Kylie's Easter basket about 10 times smaller than usual. With only a few pieces of candy, one LPS bunny. a handmade doll to treasure for a lifetime, playdough and stickers...she was a happy camper. It was nice for once to not go overboard

I went to Martin's yesterday and got everything I needed for our quaint meal for $30. I did skimp on getting flowers for our table so Kylie and I decided to make our own. Using cardstock, glue, and straws we created flowers from tracing our hands.

Then we made the peach tart!

The ham turned out fantastic and I am sad to say that we were so hungry that we totally forgot to take pics of it. We used an amazing recipe found here . Kylie and I had so much fun slathering on the preserves and brown sugar. I got a 7 lb ham..the smallest one I could find which of course could have fed 3 more families. To say the least, we have mad amounts of leftovers which I shared with family. We put 2 cans of pineapple slices in the bottom of the roasting pan and then smeared the whole ham (and under the slices) pineapple preserves and peach preserves. To finish it off we covered the whole thing with packed on brown sugar. It was simply divine! After 1.5 hours, the ham was just falling off the bone!

We finished it off with warmed Peach tart with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream!

To end the day, we had an outdoor easter egg hunt where Kylie was the princess of the whole show!

Baking Soda Rocks!

2009-04-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

And here's why ~ there are over 20 different uses for baking soda! Not only is it 'green" but it's insanely cheap! Here are 20 uses for baking soda taken from the latest issue of All You magazine~

1. To put out a grease fire, scatter baking soda over by the handful to extinquish flames.

2. Stash an open box of backing soda in the fridge to absorb odors (replace every two months).

3. Clean the dishwasher and coffeemaker by running an empty cycle with baking soda.

4. Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your bath for an at-home spa treatment.

5. Polish jewelry with a paste made of water and baking soda. It’s safe on both silver and gold.

6. Scatter baking soda in the kitty box, then add litter on top to keep smells to a minimum.

7. For instant relief from bug bites, sunburn and poison ivy, mix baking soda with a little water and apply it directly to the sore.

8. Make a fluffier omelet by adding 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for every three eggs.

9. Pour in one cup baking soda followed by one cup hot vinegar to quickly unclog the kitchen drain.

10. Fight dandruff by tabling the shampoo for a few weeks and massaging your wet scalp with a handful of baking soda instead.

11. Gargle with baking soda or use as a mouthwash.

12. Soak toothbrushes in a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup water; let brushes stand overnight for a thorough cleaning.

13. Make DIY kitty litter; Mix a small box of baking soda with 3 inches of sandy clay.

14. Use baking soda to brush your pets’ teeth.

15. Scatter baking soda on icy sidewalks - it’s not as corrosive as salt.

16. Discourage weeds by sprinkling baking soda into the cracks on your driveway and walkways.

17. Surround Fido’s food bowls with baking soda to keep pests away.

18. Sprinkle baking soda on the sink and tub, and scrub with a sponge.

19. Have heartburn? Create an antacid by mixing 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda with 1/2 cup of water.

20. To clean a toilet, add 1/4 cup baking soda to the bowl, swirl, then scrub.

Want 500 more uses for sodium bicarbonate? Vicki Lansky wrote the book “Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun, and Frugal Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought Of” available from Amazon.com, $8.95.

Friday Frugality

2009-04-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Get 25% off at the Disney Outlet with code BONUS25

Get a free sample of Natrol Carb Intercept Sprinkles to Go, click here

Get a free sample of Huggies Pure & Natural, click here

Get a $1 coupon on V8 Juice, click here

Get a $1 coupon on V8 V-Fusion, click here (we love this stuff)

Get free samples of Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care.

Buy 1, get 1/2 off one on select Xbox 360, Wii, & PS3 video games at ToysRUs.com though this link

My lack of posting lately

2009-04-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my lack of posting lately. Kylie has been sick all week and it's been a struggle to get much of anything accomplished. I promise to be back on track starting today :)

Another one of my sister's creations~!

2009-04-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

We love this handmade bag my sister made for us! I have an infatuation with tote bags..I guess because of how handy they are. There's nothing like stuffing a tote bag with library books and going along on your merry way! My sister made this bag for Kylie and we think it totally ROCKS!

Ribbon bag

2009-04-07T11:19:00.001-07:00

New creation hot off the press except this one is from my momma! She even made the flower out of ribbon!

My sister loves me!

2009-04-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

I received an awesome package from my sister yesterday full of fun goodies. She knows how I love Philosophy so each year I get a new yummy product. This one is Waffle Cone and I can't wait to use it. I also can't wait to use my reuseable shopping bag :) My sister is a raw foodie and the only thing I have really attached myself with that she makes are dehydrated strawberries. I love how they taste! She sent me a bag full of them and some strawberry fruit roll-ups she made. My sister loves me......

If you are broke and need to make fast cash ~the pro's and con's ~ HOW TO MAKE MONEY FAST

2009-04-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

I am so sick and tired of hearing people complain that they are sooo broke yet they live in a house full of CRAP! Yes, I said it...CRAP! People's houses are being repossessed, their car's are being taken in the night and they can't afford to pay for groceries.....I for one have been in this situation and I know how it feels to want to do something but you feel limited. Sure, starting a business, selling handmade items or investing in a money-making scheme sounds good but it takes MONEY which when you are really down and out, you don't have. Sometimes you barely have cash for gas and milk. I personally know people who would rather have something repossessed than go without their cable tv and their cell phones. As a mother, losing a cell phone would be really crappy for me but definitely not the end of the world. I also would rather have food for myself and my child as well be able to afford clothing for her than have bill collectors chasing me. Electric is pretty darn important too but of course, we can all rationalize what means more to us than others and our lists would look pretty varied to be honest.

For those of you out there that are struggling to make ends meet and you can't get a second job to do so....this article is for you. This ain't your momma's go make a lemonade stand and squeeze those lemons till your hands hurt article...and it's not going to tell you to be unethical and steal either. It's for real people who need real money really fast. And it all starts right in your own home. No need to buy anything....

1. REASSES YOUR BELONGINGS ~ Being a pat-rack is a disease...an illness and it's a sign of some pretty serious pyschological issues. Sure, your mother left you some family china and some beautiful quilts...totally understandable. BUT if you save everything little thing even if it's broken, out of date and hasn't been used in 5 years just because you can't let go of anything...that's a problem. What you need to ask yourself is: do I lose my house OR do I decide to lose things in my house that I could probably do without? Remember, we only THINK material things make us happy and if we are spiritually evolved, we will know the truth that they don't. When we die, we can't take our collection of cars with us and we can't take a closest full of clothes from 10 years ago that we are hoping we will one day fit into.

And let me say this....I know that getting rid of something to pay a credit card bill is just giving into the man or whatever else you might think but sadly, until you can be totally free of debt and own your house outright, you have to play their game. We ARE caught in a never-ending cycle of work, pay bills, shop and do it all over again but until you get out from under it, it will consume you entirely. This plan is for paying your bills and making extra cash to get out of the holes we are in..not for buying a big screen tv or putting a down payment on a car. THINK about how much longer you will be scrapping by to get those payments under control too. Trust me, I know first hand how this viscious cycle works and I don't want to play the game anymore.

If you are seriously starving and can't pay your bills, you need to sell your stuff. No questions, no hemming and hawwing. This starts with toys your children don't play with anymore, clothes you and your family can't fit into anymore, furniture that is taking up space in the basement, insane collections, ..anything. If you can LIVE without, sell it.

You clean this stuff up, photograph it with a camera (borrow one if you don't have one), and you post this stuff online. I prefer Craigslist.org as it's totally free. Ebay is another method however you need to research your items before you put them and see if they are selling. Ebay charges a fee but you don't have to pay it upfront which is good because you can take your profit and pay afterwards. Also, the buyer pays for shipping so other than packaging supplies which be obtained from the post office for free, there isn't much you need except pictures and a free Ebay account. There are also numerous yahoo groups for classifieds that you can sell on..you just need to research them online and sign up. They are free as well and you can reach a lot of local sellers that might become regular buyers. A little bit of googling and researching and you can have hundreds of dollars in one week. You can sell almost anything using any of these sites.

2. There are free websites out there that are legit ways to earn money. The only one I have had any success with personally is Treasure Trooper. I like the way the site is set up and they make it kind of fun. You can do small offers where you can earn money for surveys and such and then you can do trials which will earn you more money. From there, you can start referring other people to sign up. I spent a lot of time on this site last year and made quite a bit of money. It helped me pay some important bills. The only thing I recommend is writing down the dates of when to cancel the free trials as some of them might try to bill you afterwards. I never had this happen..it never cost me a penny for any of the money I got except I did spend $10 on business cards with my referral info on it. I then passed them around and left them in public places which was good because that $10 turned into over $300 without much effort.

So by this point, you will have a super clean house and will have sold almost everything you have to pay your bills. You will also have made some extra cash online at Treasure Trooper.

In the meantime, here are some other great resources for getting by until the money comes in.

Angel Food Ministries ~ provides food relief to those in need

Freecycle~ Get rid of and get things passed on from others in an effort to keep things out of the dump

Start Sampling ~ free samples

And on a last note, think of something you can offer to others. Do you know how to work on cars? Are you the cleanest person around who loves to make thing shine? Do you know how to sew? Use a skill you already have to make money. Off to help someone do something for a small fee. Advertise for free on Craigslist that you can repair small engines.....sell the baskets you have made but are sitting around collecting dust. Chances are, you have a valuable skill that you just aren't putting to use..NOW IS THE TIME!

My project today

2009-04-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

This is what Kylie and I made today...we quickly stuffed it with library books after making it. I can't wait to use it next week :)

My very small Aldi complaint list

2009-04-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

So far I have been just amazed with the prices and the quality of the items from my weekly Aldi trips. Occasionally I will go to Martin's or Weis just to grab a few quick things since they are closer for me. When I do, I get so mad at myself for not planning my meals well enough. I go in these "other" stores and I am just astounded by the prices. One small plastic bag of groceries and some drinks can cost me $30!!!!! I try to use coupons when I go but most of the items I don't have coupons for OR I do and it still doesn't make a difference.

My last trip to Weis ~ the girl said, "Thank you! You saved 99 cents today." Damn, I wasn't sure if I should do cart wheels or hug her! I mean...really 99 cents...holy shit! I even asked her to repeat the figure cuz I wasn't really sure I was comprehending the incredible savings...."99 cents" she repeated. Woo-hoo!

What's even better than that was the trip PRIOR to that one...the one where I waited in the customer service line for 15 mins to get my super special one of a kind club cards. Ya know, the one that gives me just orgasmic savings....the one that if I don't have, causes a massive mayday at the check out counter..sends everyone scurrying for a club card..to the point of even asking the person behind me in line if the cashier can use theirs just so I can save 99 cents~! My time waiting for you find the card isn't even worth 99 cents my friend....

So I finally check out and the cashier tells me..."thanks for shopping at weis. you saved 2 cents today." Like why even bother telling me this?? you should have a holding point....like you can't tell someone they saved unless they saved over $5. this DOES not make me want to be a Weis shopper. I am convinced they make money solely on people going OH crap..I forget something for dinner or potluck emergencies. not to mention, this store is open 24 hours so I am sure they get a lot of condom sales and whip-it cans flying off the shelves. I dunno who in their right mind would make a conscious decision to shop there. And this is just my personal opinion...I hope I don't offend anyone.

Back to Aldi's......I have really pleased for the most part. I have not had anything spoiled or anything like. I have just made a few purchases that didn't agree with my family's taste buds. Here is that list ~

Lumberjack smoked sausage ~ I was prompted to buy this from a very nice man with a whole row of gold teeth. he said he drove all the way from across town to buy this ONE thing. I think it was a combination of being blinded by his bling-bling and agreeing to buy for fear he would try to engage any further convo, but I politely said " oh sounds great..we will try them. thanks!" Us scorpio's are never blatently rude...only in our minds lol. These things are HUGE and I am sure to any single girl, they might conjure up nice "sausage" images but they weren't as tasty as I hoped they would be. Then again, I am no smoked sausage conniesour.

Kirkwood Teriakyi Chicken ~ My daughter and I made this meal together. In essence, all you do is microwave or heat up this frozen mix of chicken and this sauce however it was so much more than that. I made rice to go with it and some veggies...the front of the box looked sooo good. I heated it up in the microwave which was no biggie however what emerged looked NOTHING like the box. Even Ky said "uh mom, where's the chicken?" There were about 2 pieces of chicken in the whole thing and a strange thick sauce that was way darker than in the pics. It didn't even taste like teriakyi to them. Wasn't bad enough to return but we decided we wouldn't purchase it again.

Canned mushrooms ~ there were a no-go...take it from someone who knows canned mushrooms...not good at all.

I am halfway torn on their pre-made wings..we have the BBQ and the Buffalo...they are OK but probably not a fave of ours.

FAVE things thus far that I will continue to buy ~

butter, milk, eggs, cheese, sour cream, garlic, onions...basic staple items
granger beef crumble bag ~ we get about 3 meals out of one bag
kids snacks like fruit roll-ups, cookies
the frozen pb&j sandwiches..ky loves these
frozen veggies esp the green beans
we also like the line of fit (low-fat items) they carry

Dedicated or just plain crazy?

2009-04-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

I walked my 2 miles in the pouring rain today. I told myself to think of it like "walking the dog." If the dog has to go out, you gotta go ~ rain, snow, ice...whatever the weather. Now I can officially cross "raining" off of my list of excuses. I didn't melt and it didn't even slow me down. I even have the soaking wet running shoes drying in my house to prove it.

Do you want to win yummy cupcakes??

2009-04-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

Hop on over and enter to win Yummy Cupcakes at Mommy Googles. Very cool site and delicious giveaway! These cupcakes are tasty and adorable!

Awesome Contest!

2009-04-01T19:28:00.001-07:00

Enter to win a JVC camcorder @Mommasreview - new chances to win every day! http://mommasreview.com.

Hurry! Contest ends Friday!

Foreign Stamps are being added to shop

2009-04-01T16:07:00.001-07:00

Lookie-Lookie~

My foreign stamp magnets are being added to my etsy shop. These are a lot of fun...and I have sprinkled them from my mother's fridge, to Boston and back. I love these magnets and I think you will too. You can visit my shop to purchase them.

Family Circle April 2009 knocks my socks off!

2009-04-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this cover yet? I have to say I am insanely impressed with Family Circle this April. I get this magazine as a freebie from OLS but rarely ever read it. This month spiced things up totally for me. I am MADLY in love with the pastel cupcakes on the front. I am going to have to make some of these for the preschool at Easter time.

Also in this issue I found a fantastic burger recipe that I am dying to try (sans the bun)!

Southern Pimento Cheese Burgers

If the title alone doesn't conjour up dreamy smells of summer barbeques and ice cold margaritas..I dunno what will!

Makes: 4 servings Prep: 20 minutes
Bake: 5 minutes
Cook: 22 minutes
View Nutrition Facts
Ingredients

* Pimento Cheese:
* 1 cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, at room temperature
* 1/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, at room temperature
* 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
* 2 ounces jarred diced pimento peppers, drained
* 1 tablespoon bread and butter pickle juice
* 1/2 tablespoon creamy horseradish sauce
* 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
* Honey Slaw:
* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 1 tablespoon honey
* 1-1/4 cups shredded cabbage
* 8 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon
* Burgers:
* 1-1/4 pounds ground chuck
* 1/4 pound cured and smoked country ham, finely chopped (or chopped in a food processor)
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 4 potato hamburger buns, split
* 1/2 cup crushed kettle-cooked potato chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375°.

2. Pimento Cheese: In a medium bowl, combine cheddar, Monterey Jack, mayonnaise, cream cheese, pimento peppers, pickle juice, horseradish sauce and mustard; mix until well-combined.

3. Honey Slaw: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, honey and cabbage; mix until well-combined.

4. Heat a 12-inch nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp, flipping once. Drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off almost all of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving a very thin layer.

5. Burgers: Combine the beef, country ham, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form into patties to fit the buns.

6. Using the same grill pan, cook the hamburgers over medium-high heat for 8 to 12 minutes, turning once, until internal temperature registers 145° on an instant- read thermometer for medium-rare.

7. Meanwhile, place buns on a rack in the oven. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly toasted.

8. Assembly suggestions: Spread a generous amount of Pimento Cheese on the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom, place a thin layer of Honey Slaw. Top the slaw with a burger, 2 slices of bacon and crushed potato chips. Add the bun tops. Place the completed hamburgers on a nonstick baking sheet and bake in the oven for 1 minute. Serve burgers on warm plates.

Chaos ~ french film

2009-04-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

My brother recommended that I watch this movie called Chaos. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first. I am not into foreign movies and I don't get down with subtitles. I am glad I caved because it was a very interesting thriller. The acting was great and it kept my interest from the start. I would give it 3 1/2 to 4 stars out of 5..that doesn't sound great but it's still a worthwhile look. There were parts of it that reminded me of Crash which I really really liked.

Winners!

2009-04-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

I love winning days :) It's so much fun reading all of the posts and watching Random.org picking the winner. The best part is sending out the YOU WON email! We have tentaive winners for the contests that ended last night. They have already been notified.

Rock n' Rags Giveaway ~ MAC MOM
Lush bath bomb and angel delight giveaway ~ AngelaH

Congratulations! Thanks to everyone who entered...I love the comments, suggestions and anecdotes. You guys are awesome! There will be more contests coming so please stay tuned.

There are 2 days left to enter my 15 Min Low Carb Giveaway!

Also, my other current running giveaway can be located here! It's a crazy kooky chance to win a huge lot of Low Carb items :)
Don't forget the additional methods of entry! Almost all of my contest winners have won from additional posts of either following, subscribing or tweeting about the contest. These give you a one-up on winning!

My Ikea table

2009-03-31T12:28:00.001-07:00

Another Craigslist find! I am so excited :)

Malört ~ schnapps flavored with wormwood

2009-03-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

I am enjoying some laughter today from this awesome blog post over at The Presurfer!

I have never tried Malört and after this..I think I might just out of curiosity.

Check out this blog post which links you to a Flickr photo pool of people who drank Malört for the first time ~ this is fun stuff!

Contest Reminder

2009-03-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

Guys~ you only have today and tomorrow to enter my contests. This is just a reminder to get in on the action! Don't forget~ you can get extra entries for following me, subscribing, and tweeting/blogging about the contests. Good luck everyone!!

Bread can kiss my ass

2009-03-27T21:21:00.001-07:00

So I am reading the TRUTH about bread and I am pissed off! This American staple is killing me..it's killing you....it's insane and all along the government wants us to believe that our bodies need bread? It's baked into sinister delights such as cinnamon bread, slathered with cream cheese in the form of bagels, served up next to eggs as a morning must have and it's served as a hard piece of crap that's gonna break my teeth with my Panera Soup...shit the place is called Panera BREAD! AHHHHH! Bread is addictive. There is no doubt about it. I am wading my way this this awesome book my raw foodie sister sent me called 12 Steps to Raw Foods by Victoria Boutenko. Being a low carbie..I already knew bread is down right crappy for your body. What I didn't know, surprised me.........

Scientific research shows beyond a doubt that wheat contains addictive substances.

There are opiates in wheat that equal 1nM (nanomole) of morphine. While 1nM is really just a trace, it's still pretty significant to the central nervous system. The amt is also from a trace of wheat so those opiates add up especially when you are eating loads of wheat products. These opiates give us a feeling of pleasure and well-being. When it's said that we eat to numb the pain, this wasn't far from the truth.

Wheat is also dependency-forming and the opioid peptides from wheat notably influence our hormonal functions.

Of course we all know that bread is defunct of any nutrional value...this is old-school business. What we now need to realize is that we are literally sedating ourselves with food and causing an addiction....a neverending cycle which turns into spending, eating, medical issues, spending, eating, medical issues. We are raised on bread, we are thrown bread baskets left and right and an American favorite is a sandwich with bread. Grrr...makes me mad.

Hot Rod

2009-03-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

"Who do you think would win in a fight between a a grilled cheese sandwich and a taco?"

"GRILLED CHEESE but only if it's a fair fight"

Although this movie did not get great reviews, I thought it was pretty darn funny. For any RAD fans, you will see some references in the movies as well as a parody on Footloose. I have watched this several times and each time I just laugh even more. The music is hilarious and even though it's all pretty corny and far-fetched.it's cute. Not to mention, Isla Fisher is uber adorable in it.

So yeah...just trust me..watch it

Alice in Wonderland 2 part series

2009-03-26T08:09:00.001-07:00

New additions to the online store!

Eye Candy

2009-03-26T08:04:00.001-07:00

The awesome dishwasher magnets can be purchased from inkjet. The stickers are from AC Moore.

~Rocking Roller Party~

2009-03-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely invitation for a roller skating birthday party last Saturday. Kylie wanted to make a tutu like hers to give as a gift. She included her own handmade card as well. We had a great time! This was Kylie's first time on skates so it took some back-breaking strength to try and hold her up...there were legs sprawling out every which way, splits going on and failed attempted for reaching for the railing.

Accepting Personal Responsibility

2009-03-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

Until you are willing to accept personal responsibility for everything in your life, you have not yet awakened. When you accept personal responsibility for everything in your life, you and your world are forever changed and you have the power of the Universe in your hands. It is impossible to be a victim… once you know that you know.

Great sites for deals of the day

2009-03-25T09:23:00.001-07:00

There are loads of websites out there where you can find what the deal of the day is. Some of them have great forums as well. This is not a complete list but can easily get you started.

www.dealsucker.com/
www.dodtracker.com/deals/
www.froomb.com/
www.zerodaydeals.com/
www.edealinfo.com
www.fatwallet.com
www.bargainjack.com
www.mybargainbuddy.com
www.gottadeal.com
www.dealighted.com
www.funtasia.net
www.fishingfordeals.com
www.slickdeals.net
www.flamingoworld.com
www.dealnews.com
www.woot.com
www.globalthriftshop.com/thriftycorner
http://www.greendealsdaily.com/

Travel Deals

http://mydealday.com/

Auction Deal of the Day - eBay

http://www.auctiondealoftheday.com/

Amazon Deal of the Day

http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/

Game Giveaway of the Day

http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/

Theme Ties Deal of Day

http://www.wildties.com/ties/WS216617.html

Another Low Carb Giveaway!

2009-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

WOO-HOO~ Another low-carb giveaway for all my friends out there! My first low-carb book giveaway has been receiving a lot of entries. It's still running up through March 31 so if you haven't entered please go ahead and do so now.

This giveaway is a little more MASSIVE!!!!! so get ready for some serious low-carb tools :)

PRIZE: The Low-Carb Day Planner book, Extreme Lo-Carb Cuisine by Sharron Long, The Ultimate Low-Carb Diet Cookbook by Donna Pliner Rodnitzky, The Low-Carb Cookbook by Fran McCullough and a rare, hard to find issues of Low Carb Living magazine which is now out of print.

To ENTER~

To enter this rocking low-carb giveaway, enter a comment below. You can say anything..why you want to win....why you want to low-carb...you can say Hi, you can tell me I totally rock!..whatever floats your boat (in case taste naturally) and be sure to leave me your email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.

For 1 extra entry each:

1. Follow me
2. Subscribe (enter your email to receive updates on new posts I have made)
3. Grab my button and come back and let me know where you stuck it!
4. Blog or twitter about this giveway and come back and let me know that you did and where I can find it. Be sure to put a kick-ass link back to me.

Contest ends April 24 2009 at 11:59pm. One entry per method per person total. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond or another person will be picked.

Thanks everyone and good luck!

Tackle a pile Tuesday!

2009-03-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have been a subscriber to Cindysporch for awhile and I am always inspired by her emails. Today is "Tackle a Pile Tuesday!"

I conveniently found in this in my inbox as I was already cleaning and sorting in my craft room...hahaha which has become a dumping ground for boxes of things I haven't had a chance to go through yet. When I saw the title of the email...I thought OK..I can definitely tackle one pile. My style of cleaning is all over the place. I usually go back and forth and make an exercise game....walk one thing over here, walk back, walk one more thing over there but as I am sure you can imagine, it does get tiring.

We can each tackle ONE pile today even if that pile is freshly laundered clothing out of the dryer. I think one pile is wimping out so personally my goal is to tackle 3 piles today. And might I add that tackling does not mean, moving it to another location or hiding it elsewhere. You go through it, you toss stuff, you organize and you sort. You put things where they belong....if you could do this once a day, you would be ahead of the game.

Let's all take on the day!

Tuesday Thriftiness

2009-03-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Print a coupon for $4/10 Weight Watchers Smart Ones

Awesome guarantee to get in on but hurry up~ Try any flavor of 52oz Welch's AquaJuice and if your kids don't like it they will refund the price up to $4. Print your name, address with full zip and a brief explanation as to why your kids don't love it and mail along with the original receipt with purchase price circled to Welch's AquaJuice Guarantee offer, PO Box 1075, Grand Rapids, MN 55745-1075. Purchase must be made by 3/31/09 and pm by 4/15, must be received by 4/22/09.
(I tried this a month or two ago and we didn't think it was that bad.)

Get free samples of Kerasal products at www.kerasal.com

Print a coupon for free 12 pack of Diet Pepsi Flavor wyb two Diet Pepsi 12 packs. I think you can only print this coupon twice and make sure your store takes internet coupons.

Another internet print out (can only print twice) Print a $3 coupon on Renuzit Crystal Elements Starter Kit or Pouch (12/31/09). Click on "promotions"

Some Kmarts are doubling coupons this week. You can check on their website to see if your local ones is doing so. Great place to use up your coupons and score big!

Print a $1 coupon on FiberOne Yogurt, click here.

Get a free sample of Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash, click here.

Get a free sample of Kotex Ultra Thin Overnight Pads with Wings, click here

Print out a $1 off coupon on Seventh Generation Baby or Cleaning product.

Print a .55 coupon on Country Crock Calcium. ( I love Country Crock to be totally honest!)

Get 2 free issues of Redbook, no credit card needed, click here

My Holistic Health visit

2009-03-23T21:37:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of recently visting Healing Waters Wellness Center in Smithsburg, MD. What an incredible experience! I am honored to have worked with Linda and I thorougly enjoyed my session with her. She has an amazing energy and she really connects with her clients. This was my first time using the BioFeedback LSA and I was really excited about it. Overall, I would highly recommend her services!

The office was really calming with lovely music and flowing water...her secretary Susan rocks! I spent over 3 1/2 hours with Linda and felt moved by the screening and the energy connection she made with me. I am going back soon for some energy bodywork by her husband which I am really looking forward to.

Definitely worth checking out! Her services not only include the health screening and nutrition analysis but they also offer reiki, reflexology, massage therapy, ION foot cleanse and more.

More craftiness from yours truly!

2009-03-23T21:36:00.001-07:00

Little Toast Magnet

2009-03-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

2009-03-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Let us all think about this and take action

2009-03-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

As we approach yard sale season, Easter and more...let us think on this!

Words can't even describe how this video makes me feel...it sums up everything I have come to know already in this lifetime. Its very inspirational and I hope by watching this, you can feel the urge to take action and change your belief system.

I credit my sister for finding this and sending it to me. We were in discussion yesterday about how horrible it is that our lives revolve around buying the next big thing, working 40+ hours a week and being in this horrible rat race.

I told her: I don't want to live a lie anymore! My purpose of coming here was not to sit at a desk in an office with 100's of other people, with leashes around our necks for my whole life. It's not me, it will never be me and I am going to be one pissed off person if I die after loaning my life to a corporation to mold me and bend me any way they choose. What happened to family, what happened to farming, what happened to the joys in life that weren't found in xboxes and synthetic drugs? I get soooo angry and saddened sometimes that it's hard to bear. Here are some truths I have learned:

I am a spiritual being having a physical experience
I am in this world but not of this world
Money and possessions are not the be all and end all of me
Simplicity is better
and most of all..there has to be a better way

The Story of Stuff

i will not stand immersed
in this ultra violent curse
i won't let you make a tool of me
i will keep my mind and body free
bye bye minutiae
of the day to day drama
i'm expanding exponentially,
i am consciousness without identity

i am many things
made of everything
but i will not be your bank roll
i won't idle in your drive-thru
i won't watch your electric sideshow
i got way better places to go

i will maintain the truth
i knew naturally as a child
i won't forfeit my creativity
to a world that's all laid out for me
i'll look at everything around me
and i will vow to bear in mind
that all of this was just someone's idea
it could just as well be mine

i won't rent you my time
i won't sell you my brain
i won't pray to a male god
cuz that would be insane

and i can't support the troops
cuz every last one of them's being duped
and i will not rest a wink
until the women have regrouped

Mail Goodies!!

2009-03-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

I love getting the mail especially when I have some awesome goodies coming from friends!

2009-03-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Eric Carle Google and Yummy Taco Mac n' Cheese

2009-03-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am so digging Google today! Have you checked out the Eric Carle Google logo? If you haven't, you better to do before tomorrow morning when they change it. I love it! I love Eric Carle!

I made some awesome Taco Mac n' Cheese using this recipe . It seemed to go over really well with my family and it was defintely under $5 to make. I kind of tweaked it but I love the $5 dinners website so I tried to stick it as much as I could with what I had on hand. I cooked up my Granger beef crumbles with some diced onions, then added some garlic. I made my Kraft mac and cheese as directed. Then I poured some chili seasoning into the ground beef along with a can of diced tomatoes with jalepeno's and some leftover spaghetti sauce from the other night. I mixed all that up and added the mac and cheese and served. It smelled really good and it was fast and easy. All of my food items naturally came from Aldi's.

Little Red Riding Hood Series ~ tricked out dominos

2009-03-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here are my upcycled domino magnets. These will be for sale on my Etsy shop in the near future. This is my "Little Red Riding Hood" series. Little Red Riding Hood is one of my favorite childhood fairy tales. I love how naive Little Red Riding Hood is to not recognize the wolf. I think this relates to how we refuse to see others faults....and it's a tale of opening your eyes to your surroundings. Sure, there are lots of sexual overtones in this story but it's open to interpretation. I think it's a story of how we cloud our judgment and we believe what we want to believe even if it brings us to our untimely demise.

This set includes 6 domino magnets perfect for your fridge.

My tissue box cover

2009-03-19T10:30:00.001-07:00

This is why you're fat

2009-03-19T06:02:00.000-07:00

My cousin sent me this website simply because he loves to make me laugh....and because he knows my food porn addiction LOL. Honestly, most of the pics made me either laugh or feel sick to my stomach but I have to admit the deep-fried grilled cheese kind of made my mouth water.

This is why you're fat

My new bookshelf

2009-03-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

Finally Jer got me my bookshelf after many years! I am slowly getting it together and deciding how to fill all it's nooks and crannies. I am uber excited! I have been wanting the Ikea Expedit bookshelf for years :) I plan on getting one more for my living room...hopefully that won't take another couple of years lol

How to save money and clip coupons the RIGHT way!

2009-03-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

There are tons of websites now that preach about how to save money with coupons and almost all of these sites are super informative. I am even a member of some of these coupon sites and frequent them often, so I am in no way bashing them. Some are out to make money off your subscription and others are free but at any rate, you can easily get your fill of coupon saving deals anywhere on the internet. HOWEVER, over the past 4 years I have learned more about coupons than I could ever imagine. I have lost money, saved money, spent money and tossed out bins of expired coupons. I have spent hours searching forums and cutting coupons exactly on the dotted lines...I have arrived at stores at 6am to get the deals...I have held up numerous line making sure the cashier rings up each coupon precisely...and although I have saved some money, I have also spent more than I would of, bought too many things that expired, thrown out lots of stuff I never used AND wasted countless hours I could have been making money only to save $12. Is your time worth $12 an hour?

I am an eternal deal seeker..I know this, it's in my nature. What else do Scorpio's do than dig and dig and find secrets?? I am the girl digging in bins, rummaging through yard sales and digging up dirt online. If there is a diamond in the rough, I will find it. So naturally, my obsession with couponing got way out of hand. Literally every Sunday, I would spend 5 hours preparing to go to the store. Even now, I can't go past a coupon and not feel the drive to take it home or attempt to use it. However, it's like an addiction and admitting this is the first step to recovery.

Coupons are like money and it's true..who the hell wants to throw money away? But if it's not something you would normally buy, then it's wasted money. I don't normally buy Hanover's frozen veggies....just because it might be on sale, doesn't mean I need to stock up on it and spend $4 while saving $8. That's still $4 I spent that I didn't really have to. Usually the store brand comes out to equal the same price..usually being the key word. Don't get me wrong, there are things you can get free which obviously are worth going after but if you are spending $20 in gas to drive around to 5 different stores to get it all, what have you honestly saved?? And how many hours have you wasted of your time to do so??

I try to be more selective now. I don't judge anyone who clips every coupon and goes after every deal..I have been there, done that. I don't have the time or patience anymore. I have found that I save more when I only buy things I really need and I only go to one store every two weeks or so. For someone like myself who works, has several hobbies and a family, my time is very limited. If I wasn't so scatterbrained, I could probably spend more time on clipping coupons.

Here are my coupon clipping rules for anyone trying to REALLY pinch pennies!

1. Do not pay for coupons unless it's something you always, always buy and it rarely goes on sale. For instance, I always buy Splenda. It rarely goes on sale and I don't normally shop at the store that sells the off-brand of it. If I see coupons for a dollar or less, I will purchase them in bulk. I have no know that they can save me an enormous amount to do so. I think it's crazy to see people buying coupons for almost what they are worth. Coupons can be scored for free at recycling bins, on freecycle groups, coupon exchanges on yahoo groups and from your friend and family.

2. Only clip coupons for products you can use and do use on a daily basis. Make sure it's something you would buy otherwise.

3. Always bring your coupons with you so you can use them in the heat of the moment.

4. Use a free site like www.afullcup.com to research sales and check your store ads.

5. Always pair a coupon and sale together unless you absolutely have to!

6. Find which stores have the best prices. Personally, I buy all my paper and cleaning products at Target. I love their store brands and even their grocery items are really good deals without sales. Aldi has the best all around prices for me however they do NOT take coupons. Taste and quality is important too and both Target and Aldi rock my world.

7. Trade coupons when you can and give away ones you don't want..it's good Karma. You never know who needs denture cleaner...

8. Always read the coupons correctly and make sure you understand them. Make sure they have not expired..see how many items it's for, etc. Nothing sucks more than getting to the cash register and realizing it won't ring because you read it wrong.

9. Coupons for saving 50 cents off 4 items is a media trick. Add it up my friend...50 cents is not that great and you have to buy numerous items which you might not have needed. Stick to coupons good on one item...especially if you can double them. It's such a better way to do it and you get more bang for the buck.

7. Try to use coupons at stores that double or even triple coupons. Martin's locally doubles all the time..but they also have higher prices on things.

Personally, WEIS stores blow! I don't care for Food Lion anymore...their produce is a joke to be honest. They are also a smaller store with limited options. I have found decent prices on meat there before but you have to be careful.

Outside of grocery stores, there's also CVS deals with coupons but to get started doing that, you have to spend spend spend to get ECB bucks. Then when you use your free ECB's, it's just like getting back some of the money you originally spent. I try to stay away from ECB's as I have spent hundreds of dollars doing this and have nothing but some make-up to show for it.

And my last rule is make meal plans and google leftover items in your cupboards. What use is all that food if you aren't going to use it? Clean your food stashes out monthly in the pantry and weekly in the fridge. Try to use everything before shopping again.

I may not have a stockpile right now and I might not have saved $40 on coupons but I have saved a load more than that by shopping at Aldi's this past month. I have used almost everything and was still able to try lots of new things without spending 8 hours doing coupons.

I still clip my coupons for anything I might buy at Target or Martin's IF I happen to be out that way but I always always always pass my leftovers to someone else to use.

What I am buying right now

2009-03-18T06:30:00.001-07:00

What I am watching right now

2009-03-18T06:14:00.001-07:00

Dame Edna just arrived in the mail from Netflix!!! I am so excited :)

Legit Work at Home jobs for real people like us

2009-03-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

Everyone has been asking me how I make money working from home outside of my job. This will probably turn into a series of posts but for starters, there are REAL work at home jobs out there if you know where to look. A LEGIT work at home job will never ask for money up front or have you pay to pass a test or anything like that. In my experience, MLM (multi-level marketing jobs such as Avon, sex toys, etc)will not make you tons of money. I am not saying it doesn't happen but it's rare. It's not something to bank all of your income on. Speaking of which, my # 1 rule is NEVER PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET! Sure, you could limit yourself and say well I make extra money on Ebay or I work at factory making doughnuts (yummy!)...but any of these things might not pan out or last forever. Hell, look at Ebay. I was selling like crazy on Ebay in it's heyday in the late 90's and early 2000-2003. Now Ebay has become a BUY IT NOW land of flea market new crap and the rules have changed. They have made it harder for sellers and the sales are down. If you put all your eggs in that basket, you'd be screwed. You always have to look for ways to make extra money and use the skills you have. Even if you don't make careers out of work from home jobs...even if you decide to do a texting job for 4 months and make $1000 on the side from it..that's $1000 you didn't have before.

Here are some known places that hire for work-at-home jobs. Some of these places may have gone out of business or might not be hiring right now. This is not a complete list..just a snippet of the places out there. You can look at www.wahm.com and www.workplacelikehome.com for more info on working from home.

Customer service phone work jobs:

Accolade Support www.accoladesupport.com/openings.html
ACD Direct www.ACDdirect.com
BRG Research Services www.brgathome.com/applyhome1.php
Connect2Agent www.Connect2Agent.com
eCallogy www.ecallogy.com (Utah Only!)
Grindstone www.Grindstone.com
JetBlue Airways www.jetblue.com (Utah )
LiveOps www.liveops.com
Niteo Services, Inc. www.niteoservices.com
NTI Central - www.NTICentral.org
O'Currance Teleservices www.ocurrance.com (Utah)
Secure Call Management www.sciathome.com
Service 800 www.service800.com
Sterling Testing Systems www.Sterlingtesting.com
Support Freaks www.supportfreaks.com
Time Communications www.timecommunication.com (St Paul, MN)
Ver-A-Fast Corporation www.Verafast.com
VIPdesk www.Vipdesk.com
VoiceLog www.Voicelog.com
Willow www.Willowcsn.com
West at Home www.Workathomeagents.com
Working Solutions www.Workingsol.com
XAct Telesolutions www.Xactservices.com

Transcription / Coding jobs:

Amphion Medical www.amphionmedical.com
Accurate Typing www.accuratetyping.net
Accuscribe www.accuscribe.net
Axolotl www.axolotl.com
Health Services www.healthsvc.com
Medquist www.medquist.com
Morning Side Partners www.morningsidepartners.com
MTjobs www.mtjobs.com
OSI- Transcription www.ositranscription.com
Rapidtext www.rapidtext.com
RTO stat www.rtostat.com
Spectra Medi www.spectramedi.com
Talk 2 Type www.talk2type.net
Tiger Fish www.tigerfish.com
Transcend Services www.transcendservices.com
Trans Health www.transhealth.com
United Tran www.unitedtran.com

Data Entry: I need to add that there doesnt seem to be many companies that hire for this kind of work. The ones that do are sometimes very difficult to get because it is a very competive field that A LOT of people are applying for. Dont let that discourage you from submitting your application or resume though.

Working Solutions http://www.workingsol.com/home.htm (they do more phone work but also hire for data entry)
Key for Cash http://www.keyforcash.com/?ReturnUrl...pg_signup.aspx
Palm Coast Data http://home.palmcoastd.com/pcd/pcdwe...d_t_index.html (CITY OF PALM COAST FLORIDA ONLY)

On Site Discovery http://www.onss.com/careers/
Cypher Contractors http://www.cyphercontractors.com/
Executive Secretaries http://executivesecretaries.com/careers.htm
Connect Plus LLC http://www.connect-dataplus.com/index.shtml
Axion Data Entry http://www.axiondata.com/
Net Transcripts http://www.nettranscripts.com/

Depending on the state you live in, you can check these out as well.

1-800-Contacts https://jobs.1800contacts.com/careers/index.asp
1-800-Flowers http://ww22.1800flowers.com/template...e8&page=9000#1
Ansafone http://www.ansafone.com/personal.aspx
ARO http://www.callcenteroptions.com/careers.asp
Auralog (Limited States) http://www.auralog.com/us/Customer_S...esentative.htm
Blue Zebra (appointment setting) http://www.bluezebraappointmentsetting.com/Careers.aspx
Catalog Teleservices http://www.catalogteleservices.com/main.html
Channel Blend http://www.channelblend.com:8080/eng...ns_aviable.php
Cloud 10 http://www.cloud10corp.com/
Connect2Agent http://www.connect2agent.com/c2aplus/careers.asp
GE Call Centers http://www.gecallcentercareers.com/
Hire Point TeleTech http://www.hirepoint.com/athome/index.html
InfoCision http://www.infocision.com/Careers/Pa...kFromHome.aspx
Jet Blue (yes the airline) http://www.jetblue.com/about/work/
J. Lodge http://www.jlodge.com/Employment.html
U-Haul http://jobs.uhaul.com/job_detail.asp...23698&%20mode=
XAct TeleSolutions http://www.xactservices.com/company/careers/

Are you good at writing?
Life Tips http://www.lifetips.com/about/careers.html
Helium http://www.helium.com/
Associated Content http://www.associatedcontent.com/
Constant-Content http://www.constant-content.com/area...guidelines.htm

Low Carb Peanut Butter Cookies

2009-03-17T12:45:00.001-07:00

Here is the recipe for the awesome low-carb peanut butter cookies I have been snacking on lately. Now please be aware that these are crumbly..you can't expect them to taste and look just like REAL PB cookies. However, when this is like a huge splurge to your diet, they taste like heaven. Watch out~ they are addictive!!!! I mean it!!!

Ingredients

* 1 cup peanut butter
* 1 cup sugar substitute ( I use splenda)
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1.

mix ingredients in a small bowl.
2.

drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet and press down with fork
3.

bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until set. I do about 15 mins and they turn out super crispy, your oven might vary so start watching around 12 mins.

Fashion Feen

2009-03-17T12:27:00.000-07:00

I get totally sucked into Paula's blog~ Fashion Feen. Then again, I am a huge celebrity gossip fan. One minute turns into 5 mins and then 20..grrr...go check it out for yourself.

Regrets

2009-03-17T11:06:00.001-07:00

It is never necessary to regret anything you have done from a place of not knowing, or from a lack of tools or from a genuine heart. Acting with intention, based on the truth to the same degree that you know it, honors your integrity and requires forgiveness of self as you awaken to greater truths.

2009-03-17T11:05:00.001-07:00

If you are aware, you have everything.
You are alive, and you are in eternity.
You can see the dance unfold before you.
You know that everything,
every word and decision has a consequence,
either positive or challenging and none of it captures you.
Instead you simply make decisions and take actions that uphold
the grace and dignity of your own soul.
It is never about anyone else.
The quality of your life, depends upon one thing -
your level of awareness.
Once you have reached out beyond yourself,
you can begin to know that everything is a loving
teaching designed to move your soul forward.
The edges, separations, judgments and divisions soften
and are less discernible, less important.
There is only one of us
and nothing can be gained or lost in that.
Everything is simply love teaching us to be love.

Aldi's Score!

2009-03-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

I went to Aldi's after officially clearing out almost all of my unused items. We managed to make a good bit of stuff over the weekend so most of the fridge was cleaned out (minus the beer :(

I did a shopping trip and as you can see, I got quite a few things. I got the basic staples for us (butter, cheese, milk, etc) and then some! I grabbed Mahi-Mahi, Tilapia, NY strip steaks, ground beef, Flounder, Kraft Deluxe mac n' cheese, canned sodas, fruit snacks, juice, cookies, and more! My total was $70!!! Here is just a snippet of what I brought home. I did also grab one of Aldi's new skincare products.. the Q10 face cream. I will try this tonight and let you know what I think of it. It was under $5 and comes in cute packaging. PS ~ never go to Aldi's without the handy-trusty IKEA bag..this thing is monsterous and holds insane amounts of heavy things. I use it for EVERYTHING!

Congratulations to the winner of the Intuitive Reading Giveaway!

2009-03-17T10:56:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to gkstratos! She has won a free 3 question Intuitive Reading. Thanks to everyone who entered. It was a great success so I will be hosting another one next month. Stay tuned for more giveaways coming this week :)

Work in progress

2009-03-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! I have been crafting, cleaning out everything from my fridge and cupboards and decorating my craft room. I am getting closer to the Grand Opening of my Etsy store and as soon as it's live, I will post the information here.

My diet is going fine. I had a couple small mishaps (mostly just hidden sugars) that I will try to be more careful with. Haven't weighed myself yet so it's hard to tell how much I have lost. My energy is great, I don't feel as bloated and I am not driven by my hunger anymore. I am struggling with meal plans, variety and drinking enough water.

I promise to post more this week...the last couple of days I have been so busy multi-tasking that it's been hard to juggle everything. I hope to be back in the ring this week :)

The Attack of the Hello Kitty Toaster and Dumpster Diving in the rain

2009-03-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

I don't have any pics of the bitch...but my Hello Kitty toaster attacked me this morning. Sliced my left index finger right open. I hid her in the cupboard and I am so mad that I am not letting her out for weeks. It's a good thing she doesn't have a mouth.....otherwise the neighbors would start to wonder. Luckily, I had some Littlest Pet Shop band-aids on hand or I wouldn't be typing this.

I had the pleasure of going Dumpster Diving with my friend Weird Chic last night. It was drizzling and had rained most of the day so we were skeptical but eager. After several hours of hitting some local stores, we returned with 3 giant bags full of Granola bars, a picture frame, a children's lamp shade, a kids sticker book, some lace fabric, and one unmarked canned good. I have asked Weird Chic to host a contest to see who can guess what is in the mystery can so please hop on over to her blog and post your guess. My guess is creamed corn and hers is chunked pineapple. Of course, we both laughed when we thought of the worst...canned dog food. Speaking of dogs, we also scored a couple bags of dog chews. I will be passing these on since I don't have any animals. Overall, it was a pretty interesting experience..a little scary but we pulled it off. Weird Chic has no fears....this girl has guts! She was the first and only one to jump inside the dumpsters and she wasn't squeamish about taking things home. I give mad props to her for running the show. I am sure she is going to post about what a wuss Kylie Ate Cake is but oh well...lol

Low carb Nachos

2009-03-14T14:47:00.000-07:00

I whipped these up really quick the other night using Mission brand Carb Control tortillas and shredded Mexican Style cheese. I added a chipotle flavored salsa and sour cream. They hit the spot!

The beginning of my craft room

2009-03-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

I have broken ground on my craft room over the last couple of days. It's still a work in serious progress...still boxes to be unpacked, art work to go up and shelving to brought in. I snagged a purple Ikea desk off Craigslist and bought these adorable wall stickers at Target. The green pillow is my fave and I the owls are a handmade gift from my sister. Still lots of work to be done...

Do you love your crockie as much as I love mine?

2009-03-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

I love Stephanie's website ~ A Year of CrockPotting! If this doesn't get you inspired for organizing your fridge and cupboards, I don't know what will. Beware..this site makes you hungry....come on girls..let's fire up them crockpots!!!!!!!!!!

Weekly Fridge Zen ~ the art of reorganizing and calculating

2009-03-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

It's that time again...my food supply is getting low..but I am too lazy to shop. I am also trying to pinch pennies so it's imperative that I use what I have before I go looking for more. Wise words if I must say so myself. Now don't be scared..I am going to post pics of my life in food.

On a weekly basis, I try to make use of everything I have without buying any extras. It has been hard since I started Atkins since almost everything required one missing ingredient that I DIDN'T have! I made two small trips to Weis (grrr hate hate hate that store) last week and ended up spending an extra $40 in groceries. That is not good :( Big mistake...and it was made worse by taking my daughter who begged for candy and cookies and oh look ma, i need this for my lunch. I do shopping alone...period.

What I strive to do is make a list of what I have available to use....all my freezer items, fridge items and canned goods. As you can see, I don't keep stockpiles of food in my house. I hope to use everything up quickly. I like things that look slightly sparse. Too much food is not good..if you fridge is so packed that you can't fit one more thing into it..or you have containers of take out everywhere...OR you can't even place a small tupperware container somewhere..anywhere in there...FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!!! SOMETHING HAS TO BE ROTTING IN THERE and that's not kosher for the rest of your food. Pinching pennies and conserving are all good but let's be realistic. I get on my mom all the time when I visit her. Here are some random things I have found recently in her fridge (sorry ma!) ~

a half eaten sandwich kylie had 3 weeks ago when she came to visit
a small dixie cup of 3 sips of juice leftover from a week ago, no lid
one green bean cooked in a ziploc baggie
cups of chipotle guacamole, brown in color

I mean WHO does that?? My mother is the cleanest person I know..you could eat off her toilet, lick her spotless sink and here in the deepest darkest depths of her fridge are the scariest things that no one should keep around. I do not find mold in there but she doesn't think that microwaving something 18 times again and again and again has any affect on the safety of the food. I mean, just let it go.....don't save mcdonalds french fries for next week..they taste like ass 20 mins after they cool down...we all know that!

This is my freezer and as you can see, there's lots of room in there. We have some Popsicles, corn, mini pizzas for kylie, meat and such. Not too much going on and lots of potential. Also take note of the meat box in there..the white thing..that holds about 8 chicken breasts...from the time my mother bought frozen meat off the back of a truck that came to the door..yes, this is true...and embarrassing..$300 worth of meat..she doesn't even like meat that much. So alas, I stole this from her. A lot of my stuff is from Aldi's and as I mentioned before, I am quite pleased with their off brand items. We also have some bags of hot wings which sadly are breaded. I plan on using all this meat by next weekend, cooking the corn on the cob for dinner tonight, making my SO eat this breaded crap so I won't feel obligated to and the cheesecake..well i have a hot date with that tonight, sans the crust of course.

Now the door of the freezer..really sparse. However I am going to use all this! Pepperoni for extra on the mini pizza's and a snack for me..moving that down to thaw out. The frozen meals are for SO's lunches and there are frozen mini pancakes for Kylie. I have been putting off using these as I don't have any syrup but she will have to do without. I have honey..maybe she will eat honey on them. Hell, why not? With a small pat of butter, they will rock. Also PBJ sandwiches for her lunches..great cuz I am plum out of peanut butter..cuz i ate all that last week. Me and my sneaky low carb tricks!

Moving along to the inside of the fridge....

In here we have...left over pasta that SO refuses to eat again...tortellini is my fave and if I can't have it, someone else will. Sometimes I stare at it..and dream..wishing my diet allowed even one small taste. Notice the beer and take note.this is not mine. Apparently it's for someone Jeremy is working on a bike for...long story...the short story is that shit is moving out ASAP as it's taking up too much space. The one lone beer was mine..but only for making bratwurst with last week. No need for it now. We don't drink beer. There's my leftover Mahi-Mahi and broccoli that is my lunch for today. Also we have some leftover potatoes that will go into a breakfast meal along with eggs and the bacon. I have been using the bacon for some things though but I don't like the maple taste of it. I used it in my low-carb mock cauliflower and my massive cheeseburger. It also has some mad insane shelf life so I feel no pressure here. The ham is going to made into something shortly..that's on the list for this week. I am thinking of doing a breakfast for dinner thing...omelets with ham and cheese, potatoes (not for me)..something like that. I am pretty confident I can clear most of this out. And of course, tea..our fave. I use my Mr. Coffee tea maker almost every other day making this lipton concoction. I use Splenda..even when I wasn't dieting. We have adjusted to the taste and prefer it over regular sugar now. I use Splenda for everything. I also try to drink a lot of water which I usually keep at room temp cuz I am lame. I also have some chicken boobies thawing out for this week as well. I will see how many meals I can get out of those. The ONE thing I am clueless on is this small container on the far upper left that I got from Aldi's last week. It's processed pasteurized cheese spread...Parmesan prosciutto. Sounded interesting and fancy..even better with crackers. However, I am a little disappointed. It's very strange inside...weird texture. So I will be seeing what I can do with this without using crackers since that would set me back two weeks of low-carbing. I will make SO some tonight as a snack on crackers and see what he thinks. I would hate to toss it.

The side door is kind of uneventful as side doors go but probably more loaded. I am running dangerously low on butter so I have to watch how I use that. I love cream cheese which is why you see so much over there..plus it's a staple in a lot of LC (low-carb) dishes so I stocked up. Do not mix cream cheese and chicken..I learned this the hard way from recipezaar. I made something in my crockpot one time that was mixture of cream cheese and chicken..to this day, I want to vomit thinking of it. We all felt so bad about it that we stomached eating it but no one went for seconds. I ended up tossing it. I have also tried stuffing chicken with cream cheese..again, a no go. I like my cream cheese just like i like my men..cold, salty and stiff. When ya start breaking it down and warming it up..it just ruins it for me. Now cheesecake is an exception to EVERY rule..I don't care who you are...that's tasty!!!

I have a wide assortment of bottles..half this shit, I don't even know what it is so I will be doing a full inventory of these and seeing what I can do with them. If it's something I can't eat and they won't eat, I am tossing it. Easy as that! It will be an adventure to see what's left down here and what I can do with it.

Now it's starting to feel like the Dame Edna show LOL! If you haven't seen Dame Edna, watch her here and don't tell me I didn't warn ya! Dame Enda rocks my world :)

My cupboards are a little hectic, more than I would like them to be. Lots of soup...not sure why I am hanging onto this. If I can't use it by this weekend, I will donate it. I love soup personally but low carb just won't have it. Kylie won't eat soup not even chicken noodle..what a strange child. I also have tons of little packets..for things that I "think" I might need...of course when was the last time I roasted a WHOLE chicken..I mean, honestly, I can go to Martin's and get a cooked one hot and ready for less than $7. So I do have some housekeeping to do here. I also have lots of pasta packets which Jeremy enjoys. I also have spaghetti, another old favorite of mine. Hmm..this cupboard needs to be cut in half..so let's see if I can do that this week as well. I will do some googling on soup and what I can make with it. Also, some other ideas of using pasta. Of course, notice..the lack of food for me to eat in here. I can't think of one thing in here I am allowed to have. Wait..I was wrong..Splenda.

Argh!!! Look at all this bread! This is ludicrous! Who needs this much bread? I clearly overdid it last week. Since I have nothing else to use with the rolls right now, I think I will freeze them. The bread will have to be used for ghetto garlic bread this week or toast or I will make heart eggs..you ever made those? Use a cookie cutter and make a heart in the toast, then fry an egg inside of the heart. Very fun and cute. I will do that...as soon as I find my cookie cutters. You can use any kind of cookie cutter you want really or just make a hole in them. This cupboard has more irrelevant things in it..some low carb barbecue sauce I have never used, more canned goods, etc. Need to google some of these things as well to see how I can use them. And to the right is all of my cupcake goodies..sprinkles, cake icing and more. Just in case Kylie's school needs baked goods..or because I am a cupcake suckah!

I also have coffee samples..which I get as freebies. I keep these around and put a little in the bottom of my trash bags..it's my own odor protector. Makes the kitchen smell like yummy coffee. Once in a blue moon, I will make something that has coffee as an ingredient but mostly, these are a housekeeping thing. I drink coffee but not much and I don't brew at home..never liked it as much as I love restaurant coffee..never quite as good.

This cupboard needs no explanation..simply put..it's junk...all of it.

So what I do now..is GOOGLE. I google recipes on everything I can find until I find one that I have all the ingredients for. I try to use up everything I can..and if I can't, I pass it on or toss it. It will liberate you and you will learn new things..new dishes, new tastes. See what you can find in your fridge or cupboard? What is expired that you can toss out? What kind of room can you make? What recipes can you use this week? It also helps to make a weekly menu plan so you stay on task.

Giveaway!!! 15 Minute Low Carb Recipes

2009-03-10T16:46:00.001-07:00

Since my blog has been looking "thinner" these days and I have been sharing my low carb story..I would love to offer to a lucky winner a new copy of the 15 Minute Low Carb Recipes by Dana Carpenter.

PRIZE: Paperback copy of 15 Minute Low Carb Recipes by Dana Carpenter.

To enter, comment below with why you want to win.

To gain one additional entry each:

1. Follow me
2. Subscribe
3. Blog about this giveaway and come back and post that you did
4. Tweet about this giveway and come back and post that you did

One entry per person please. Contest ends April 3 at 11:59pm. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will have 48 hrs to respond to my email. Be sure to include your email with your entry so I have a way of contacting you.

A reminder!

2009-03-10T16:43:00.001-07:00

Last chance for the Intuitive Reading giveaway! Ends March 13 so you only have a few more days to enter. Don't forget I am also running a LUSH giveaway that ends March 31 and Rock N Rags has a giveaway for an awesome baby onesie that ends March 31 as well. If you are a member of Online-Sweepstakes, you will find my St. Patty's Day LUSH giveaway under Member Only MOC's and that ends March 17th.

Please spread the word on these giveaways and be sure to comment that you did.

My take on the movies...

2009-03-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some movies I have watched recently through Netflix.....

The Orphanage ~ watched this last night, i am not into scary horror movies but this one was slightly more realistic to me. I love ghosts and spirits so it looked interesting. It was slow starting and the subtitles were kind of annoying but other than that, it was pretty good. The ending was surprising and a little creepy..especially with all the lights turned off.

21 ~ I liked the mathematics of it..i totally suck at math and people who don't are intriguing. overall, we liked it. if i knew how to count cards, i'd be in vegas right now. kate bosworth is not as uber hot in my opinion..she's very stick thin and there is something plain about her. kevin spacey is awesome which made this movie ten times better.

Penelope ~ I really liked this and thought it was cute. I was into it from the second it started. A fun romantic comedy..don't care for Christina Ricci but the leading guy is a hottie. Not really as moral of a story as I thought it would be but for a lazy afternoon, I had fun. The pig nose was really gross, I have to admit. Reese had a very strange role in this and I was confused on how she played such a back burner character.

I already watched all the seasons of Heroes and was very disappointed. Season 1 had me insanely hooked but I couldn't keep up with the episodes. I watched all of them on netflix in a matter of days to see what I missed. About midway through season 2, the show got really lame. Season 3 was even worse and I totally lost interest. I hate to say it but I won't be watching more of it. My sister is begging me to watch Lost so I will be getting that shortly.

Right now I am digging all my CSI episodes..I have been watching Season 8 and Season 9, not really in any particular order.

Loaded Mock Potatoes!

2009-03-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

I lub lub lub mashed potatoes especially Grandpa Jim's mashed potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese. Since that would be an untimely cause of the end of my low-carb diet, I decided to make mock mashed potatoes with cauliflower. I am not a big fan of cauliflower in its own right..but when mixed with the right ingredients..it's takes on the flavor quite well. I used a basic bag of steam fresh frozen cauliflower from Aldi's..microwaved it and then put it in a mixing bowl. I added a tiny bit of butter, some sour cream, bacon crumbles and shredded cheese. I then put it back in the microwave just to warm it a bit more. It turned out fantastic and really filled my craving for loaded potatoes!!!!

Rock N Rags Baby Tie Onesie Giveaway!

2009-03-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

I first discovered Rock N Rags as I was cruising around Etsy late one night checking out children's clothing. I totally fell in love with the punk-rock look of these amazing tie shirts! I also adore the pink girls skull shirt. As a young mom, I love dressing my kid in stylish clothes that match ME! These are unique high-quality clothes made by a mom (Jenn) who loves having her children wear fun fashions that stand out!

Adorable onesies with ties on them!!! ~ say no more! Not only does she sell clothing, but she also has a wonderful assortment of hair bows! Best of all, her prices are very reasonable. I emailed the shop immediately and told Jenn how much I lub lub lub her creations! She was flattered and generously agreed to giveaway one 3-6 month

Blue Polk-a-dot Tie Onesie

to one lucky Kylie Ate Cake reader!!! I am stoked and uber jealous.

I had the lovely pleasure of speaking with Jenn and here is what she had to say about herself and her shop:

"First and foremost, I am a wife and mother of two beautiful children. They are my motivation and inspiration. I am a little bit skater & a little bit rock and roll. I have always loved to make things and now that I have kids I love making stuff that makes them stand out. I started making bows for my daughter and have been selling them locally at boutiques. I have been looking for something fun to do that would include my son. I had the idea to put a tie on a shirt one Sunday when my son refused to wear his tie. My son is 3 and loves attention, the first time he wore his first tie shirt, several people asked him about it and told him how cute it was. That was all he needed, now he loves his tie shirts, and the line has evolved from there.

PRIZE: One 3-6 month Blue Polk-a-dot Tie short sleeve white onesie from Rock N Rags!

To enter you must visit Rock N Rags on Etsy and heart Rock N Rags as a favorite seller and come back here and let me know that you did so.
If you don't have any etsy account, it's easy and free to sign-up.

For extra entries you can:

1. Follow me on blogger
2. Subscribe
3. Leave a comment on one of my posts
4. Blog about this giveaway and link to Rock N Rags and Kylie Ate Cake (be sure to come back here and provide me with your link)
5. Tweet about this giveaway
6. Comment on an item from Rock N Rags that is your favorite

Contest ends at 11:59pm March 31, 2009. One winner will be chosen by Random.org. Winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Be sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win.