Song Of The Day: Don't Leave Me This Way By The Communards

I loved dancing to this tune. I am having flashbacks just thinking about it now.

Things I Love To Talk About

I am a girl who can usually strike up a conversation with anyone and hold a fairly decent conversation. These are some of the things I love to talk about........

1.) My daughters, Brooke and Alley

2.) My husband

3.) My dog Jedi

4.) My parents dogs......Jamie, Maggie and their parrot Jo-jo.

5.) Books

6.) Movies

7.) Some Reality TV like Big Brother and the show Lost

8.) Movies

9.) Food

What do you like to talk about?

Song Of The Day: Cry To Me By Duffy

This song has been covered many times since the original by Betty Harris' rendition reached #10 in September 1963. Some of the well known covers are by.......The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty.

The song also received renewed exposure in 1987 with its inclusion in the pivotal love scene in the blockbuster motion picture Dirty Dancing. I love this cover version by Welsh singer Duffy.

Cowboy Rap

Gary Coleman had such a promising, start with Different Strokes...such a fall from grace.

Song Of The Day: Come On Eileen By Dexys Midnight Runners

I love this one hit wonder of a tune that has been covered by by several artists including the ska band Save Ferris (which replaced the strings with a horn section)

Deal Of The Day:

Wendy’s currently has a coupon booklet on sale for $2. In this booklet you will find 4 coupons for FREE frosties, and 4 coupons for FREE Fries! Get them for your kids or yourself.

The coupons are valid fromNovember 1, 2009 to December 31 2009.

Note: Limit of 1 coupon per customer per visit.

This Week I.........

Worked a 12 Hour Dayshift

Worked 2 twelve hour nightshifts

Worked 2 8 hour nightshifts (overtime)

Worked out 3 times this week at the gym

Realized Brooke is getting more and more like a teenager everyday as she attended her first boy girl dance at the local church with some of her girlfriends.

Watched more episodes of The Office (season 2) and
Dexter (season 3)

Watched too much TV......Survivor, Hells Kitchen, Series premiere of the Good Wife, Season premiere of Criminal Minds, Vampire Diaries, Season premiere of House.

Went Apple picking with Garth and the girls.

Organized playdates, dinner dates and sleepovers.

Watched my daughters laugh hysterically to this commercial.

Song Of The Day: Then I Met You By The Proclaimers

I like this fun love song about that electric moment when you meet someone and you know that nothing will ever be the same again.

Kids Marshmallow Experiment

The marshmallow experiment is a famous test conducted by Walter Mischel at Stanford University. Kids are given a marshmallow and told they can have one now, or if they wait, they will get a second one in a few minutes.

Song Of The Day: Losing You By Randy Newman

no one....and I mean no one....does heartbreak like Randy does.

Deal Of The Day: Vancouver 2010 Collector Coin Card

Every coin collection needs a home and the Royal Canadian Mint wants to make sure you have one. These handsome collector coin cards are the perfect place to keep your special Vancouver 2010 circulation coins forever.

Deal Of The Day: Toronto Star -FREE Saturday Home Delivery for 3 months

For a limited time, you can receive FREE Saturday Home Delivery for 3 months! Offer limited to new subscribers who have not had home delivery for at least 30 days. Offer not available in all delivery areas. Offer expires October 31, 2009.

Song Of The Day: Love By Keyshia Cole

I like this song about a girl who is in a serious relationship with a guy, and is always trying to do her best, although she thinks that it is not good enough ("I used to think that I wasn't fine enough and I used to think I wasn't wild enough but I won't waste my time tryin' to figure out why you are playin' games what's this all about?"). The guy is cheating on her, but she can't believe it because she is so much in love with the guy.

Ben & Jerry's Launch Ice Cream Flavor

Way to go Ben & Jerry’s!

Some Things I Have Been Checking Out On The Web

1.) Cake Wrecks........My gal pal Sheila sent me this link to this ladies site and I love perusing through her gallery of deformed, distasteful and bizarrely decorated wedding and birthday cakes.

2.) Michelle sent me over here to check out these videos of These very talented singers who are all Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) in Minnesota and they can really sing. They are also funny.

3.) Perhaps you’ve heard of a blog called Matt, Liz and Madeline. It’s a blog started by Matt Logelin that was a way to journal his life with his wife and their new baby. Only…his wife didn’t make it. She died shortly after childbirth and Matt was left to gather himself and raise his daughter all on his own.
It’s a sad story, but a loving story. And his blog chronicles all the fantastic ways he’s showing his daughter how wonderful life can be.

4.) This picture of the saddest dog in the world.

Song Of The Day: Fugitive By David Gray

Fugitive" is the first single from David Gray's eight studio album Draw the Line.
Gray stated in an interview that the title and lyrics of the track were inspired by an image he had of Saddam Hussein being pulled out of his spider hole.

Big Brother Props For Sale On eBay

Michele is now selling some of her items from Big Brother on eBay.
I consider myself a fan of the show but I really have to wonder is there a market for this stuff?

Wowza!!!

This explains so much of her flawed character.

Song Of The Day: Amongst The Waves By Pearl Jam

I love, love, love this song.

A Clever Little Trick That Will Win Admiration From Guys

If this is any indication of how useful this article is I am upset that I don't have access to the other "sexy quirky" tips.

Laugh Of The Day

The Huffington Post recently shared a collection of some of the funniest protest signs. These are a few of my favorites. Now go listen to this song that celebrates in jest.

September Love List

My thoughtful, generous, funny, wise parents, for all the support and love they give me.

My amazing and ridiculously awesome friends.

Jedi, the 9lb wonder dog, who greets me each and every day with joy.

My i Pod shuffle.

Big mugs full of coffee.

Sunny days that aren’t scorchy.

Sleeping in.....which I need to do more of.

Laughing until I can’t breathe.

Candid photos better than any posed picture.

Watching all seasons of The Office......Funniest Show ever!

Dreams of New York.

The Book, The Glass Castle.....Could not put down. I was hooked by page 1.

DVR/PVR(whatever you call it)

Song Of The Day: Daylight By Matt & Kim

Matt and Kim are an indie pop duo residing in Brooklyn, New York. The group consists of Matt Johnson (vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums/vocals). Contrary to rumors, the two are not currently married.

Jewelgurl Gets A Visitor

Link here to see who dropped by to visit my blog.

This Week I.......

Spent time with my parents while my Mom is post op from her knee replacement surgery.

Watched Death Sentence......Good flick that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Collected $150 for the Terry Fox Walk that Garth, Brooke, Alley, Hailey and Uncle Jimmy went in for "Team Jill".......Way to go Team.

Watched He's just not that into you........just okay.

Finished watching Season 2 of Dexter

Began Season 3 of Dexter

Continues to enjoy Season 2 of The Office

Worked 2 twelve hour day shifts

Worked out at the gym three times this week

Visited with my Aunt Patti & Uncle Doug

Hung out with my brother Mark and niece Alyssa

Shopped, shopped and shopped

Attended my Book Club for a book I hated

Finished reading some more cheesy Nora Roberts

Began reading The Glass Castle.......fascinating from the very first page

Watched season finale of Big Brother and jumped with joy when Jordan won

Had Suduko contests with my dad and lost every time

Watched Jay Leno in his new time slot

Watched the season opener for Oprah

Watched the new Dr. Oz show

Watched episode 1 and 2 of the Vampire Diaries

Went to hairdresser for cut and colour.

Song Of The Day: Substitution By Silversun Pickups

I like this simple video of this song that features models in American Apparel Outfits in a church basement playing musical chairs ... looking hot and acting catty. Meow!!

Things I Hate About Travelling

Packing and realizing I packed too much.
Unpacking and being reminded again that I packed too much
Extremely early flights
Crowds
Lost luggage....though this never happened to us yet.
Hotels with no wi-fi or that charge for service
Delayed/canceled flights
Forgetting to pack something essential
When the weather doesn’t cooperate with your schedule
Getting harassed at customs
Not having enough room on your memory card
Room Service costs an arm and a leg
Hotels without enough bathroom sink counter space
Going back home and back to work after you had a great time.

Song Of The Day: Last Parade By Matthew Good

Matthew Good is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer for the Matthew Good Band, one of Canada's most successful alternative rock bands in the 1990s, before dissolving the band in 2002. He will also be the highlight at this year’s Imagine Film Festival at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Formerly known as Whitby Mental Health Centre). Matthew Good will perform a few songs and share his story of living with bipolar disorder during an interview-style presentation. He will also take part in an exclusive meet and mingle event organized by Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health.

Helpful Hints For The Kitchen

To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh.........if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

Use lifesavers candy to hold candles in place on your next birthday cake.



Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Zap garlic cloves in the microwave for 15 seconds and the skins slip right off.

To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.
Sweeten whipped cream with confectioners' sugar instead of granulated sugar.......it will stay fluffy and hold it's shape better.

If you don't have enough batter to fill all cupcake tins, pour 1 tablespoon of water into the unfilled spots...this helps preserve the life of your pans.

Run your hands under cold water before pressing Rice Krispies treats in the pan..........the marshmallow won't stick to your fingers.

Mash and freeze ripe bananas, in one-cup portions, for use in later baking~no wasted bananas (or you can freeze them whole, peeled, in plastic baggies)

Spray your tupperware with non-stick cooking spray before pouring in tomato-based sauces.......no more stains.

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead......no white mess on the outside of the cake.

Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator it will keep for weeks.

Substitute half applesauce for the vegetable oil in your baking recipes~you'll greatly reduce the fat content. (Example: 1/2 cup vegetable oil = 1/4 cup applesauce + 1/4 cup oil)

To ripen avocados and bananas, enclose them in a brown paper bag with an apple for 2-3 days.

Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful, glossy finish.

Place a slice of bread in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corns natural sweetness.

Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

Don't panic if your soup's too salty: Add cut raw potatoes and throw them away once they are cooked and have absorbed the salt. Your soup's saved.

Instead of throwing away a sponge that has a stale odor, simply toss it in the dishwasher and wash it with the next load of dishes. It will come out clean and fresh smelling and will kill any bacteria in the sponge, so it's a good idea to toss your sponges into the dishwasher often.

Make giant ice cubes in muffin tins or plastic margarine bowls. These are perfect for using in picnic coolers or punch bowls. They look pretty and keep your drinks or food cold longer.

Fruit Freshener.....Use 2 vitamin C tablets in a big bowl of water...let them dissolve and stir...dunk any veggie or fruit and it will stay fresh for a couple of weeks and vitamin C won't hurt you either. Try it out on a potato... dunk the potato and leave it out on the sink..it won't discolor... It's the short version of "fruit fresh ".

Cottage cheese will remain fresher longer if you store it upside down in the refrigerator. This slows the effects of oxidation.

To keep milk past it's expiration date add salt. A pinch of salt in a gallon will do it. The salt slows the rate of bacteria growth.

Brown sugar will not harden if stored in the freezer.

Ice cream container sealed in a plastic bag will stop ice crystals from forming when it is in the freezer.

Potato chip bag open again and they're all stale and yucky?? Pop them in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds, let stand for two minutes and they'll be crispy again.

Regarding tomato paste, it seems a whole can of tomato paste is many times too much for some recipes. Suggestion: take a piece of waxed paper, putting it on a cookie sheet and putting teaspoonfuls of the leftover paste on the paper -- another sheet on top and freeze this. When frozen just peel them off and put them in a baggie and when you need a tsp. or tbs. of paste you have it without opening a whole can and there is no waste. OR.... put small amounts in an ice tray and then just pop them out when I need them.

Quick Whipping .........A teaspoonful of cold water added to the white of an egg causes it to whip more quickly while increasing the quantity.

Measuring Honey......Measuring honey with a spoon is easy but getting it all off the spoon is another matter--so first rub the spoon with margarine.

Dropping Cookie Dough.......To get cookie dough to drop without sticking dip the spoon in milk first.

Leftover Pie Dough...... Extra pie dough? Cover it with some parmesan and gruyere cheese and you'll bake a delicious appetizer--at the very same meal with your pie as dessert.

Storing Cake ......If you store half and apple in the container which you are storing a cake, the cake will retain its freshness.

Cheesy Apple Pie..... Don't just serve cheese with apple pie, bake it right in. Spread grated sharp Cheddar on the bottom of the crust before adding the apple filling.

Sticking Cake Layers........ Cake layers sticking to the bottom of the pans? Put them back in a warm oven for a short time. The layers will then come out without a problem. Or, try lining the bottom of your pans with waxed paper

Song Of The Day: Holidays in Spain By Counting Crows

A brooding song by a master of brooding, about cutting bait and running away from all of your problems...."Drown my worries down the drain and fly away to somewhere new."

Top 5 Ways To Show You're A Gentleman

Number 3 is a little bizarre. If Garth stood outside my shower with a towel I would be freaked out.

Song Of The Day: Tunnel Of Love By Bruce Springsteen

I love the line of this song that relects so perfectly the fear and baggage adult lovers bring to a relationship......."The lights go out and it's just the three of us; you and me and all that stuff we're so scared of."

Good Aim

I love the way this professor deals with the class clown.

Song Of The Day: "Here Comes The…" By Butch Walker

This song reminds us heartache is universal, something everyone goes through, and there's comfort in that.

Funny Commercial

Seriously, do you need to be told when your beverage is cold?

Song Of The Day: Murder InThe City By The Avett Brothers

I love the naked honesty of this song.

My Favorite Dog Movies

The Wizard of Oz, 1939. When a neighbour tries to have her dog put to sleep, Dorothy takes Toto and heads into a cyclone. Toto, a Cairn terrier, was paid $125 a week and his appearance in the film gave the the Wicked Witch of the West her best line........“I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!”

Cujo, 1983. Who said great dog movies have to be cute and sweet?

Based on the novel by Stephen King, Cujo is a loveable St Bernard, until he contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a New England town.

Eight Below

Homeward Bound. A touching and captivating film about a group of pets trying to find their way home.

Because Of Winn Dixie. A lonely young girl named Opal adopts an orphaned dog she names Winn-Dixie (for the supermarket where she found him). The bond between the girl and her special companion brings together the people in a small Florida town and heals her own troubled relationship with her father.

Where The Red Fern Grows. This fine family film set in 1930's Oklahoma tells the story of a young boy's devotion to two hunting dogs. His loving relationship to the animals teaches him the qualities of maturity and responsibility.

Lady And The Tramp. A cute, classy "Lady" cocker spaniel escapes from her confining owner and falls for an alley dog, known as the "Tramp", who rescues her from some mean dogs out on the streets

Deal Of The Day: 1/2 Price Movie Combo

Wanna see a movie? Why not go on Tuesday and save some money? Remember the $2 Tuesdays? I use to love that deal.
Currently.....If you attend a Cineplex theatre to see a movie on a Tuesday night you will receive 50% off of admission and 50% off the price of a regular popcorn and regular soft drink.
Read more about this offer from Telus and Cineplex Theatres here.

RIP: Patrick Swayze

After suffering from pancreatic cancer for almost two years, Patrick Swayze has passed away. Survived by his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi, the 57-year-old actor made us bump and grind in 'Dirty Dancing,' went on to break our hearts in 'Ghost' and then turned us in to adrenaline junkies in 'Point Break.' Take a look at Patrick Swayze's life through the years.

Song Of The Day: Colours By Donovan

Such a simple lovely song.

Quick Eye Exam

Use this exam to find out of you need some to help you see better. This is a quick test and should not be used as a final say. Only your optometrist has the tools and skills to perform a valid eye exam.

Rob Zombie & The Blob

I am a huge Rob Zombie Fan and this excites me.

This Week I........

Prepared the girls for back to school.

Jumped for joy when my husband scored us 2 KISS tickets for the Oshawa show.
Baked and decorated a chocolate raspberry birthday cake.
Celebrated hubbies birthday.
Worked 2 twelve hour nightshifts.

Worked out three times this week.
Drove to Brantford to spend time with my parents and help out while my mom recuperates from her knee replacement surgery.

Visited with my brother Mark and my neice Alyssa.
Went shopping.

Continued to watch Dexter Season 2.

Song Of The Day: My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors By Moxy Fruvous

Great fun!!

Trailer: Daybreakers

Two-time Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a researcher in the year 2019, in which an unknown plague has transformed the world’s population into vampires. As the human population nears extinction, vampires must capture and farm every remaining human, or find a blood substitute before time runs out. However, a covert group of vampires makes a remarkable discovery, one which has the power to save the human race.
Daybreakers will be released on January 8, 2010.

While I Was Away

If this really happend it is the best story I ever heard.

If You Are Bored

You can play music on your phone by pressing the buttons......I can't believe I actually tried all these. The Auld Lang Syne one sucks.





Happy Birthday
112163
112196
11#9632
969363

Auld Lang Syne
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321139#
#9331212
321##91

Frere Jacques
12311231
369369
9#9631,9#9631
191,191

Mary Had a Little Lamb
3212333
222,399
3212333
322321

Monopoly City Streets

Come play with me.....
Google has teaming up with board game maker Hasbro to launch a Google Maps version of Monopoly. Monopoly City Streets allows users to compete in a live, worldwide version of the popular game, creating the biggest Monopoly tournament ever played.

On the 9th September, a world of property empire building on an unimaginable scale was launched! A live worldwide game of Monopoly using Google Maps as the game board. The goal is simple. Play to beat your friends (jewelgurl) and the world to become the richest property magnate in existence.

Own any street in the world. Build humble houses, crazy castles and stupendous skyscrapers to collect rent. Which strategy will you employ? Determined drive? Ingenious daring? Intelligent caution? Will you thrive under the pressure of a fast growing global property empire......or will you crumble? Find out if you’ll thrive, or even survive, in the amazing world of Monopoly City Streets.

Song Of The Day: Sugar On The Floor By Etta James

This soulful song was originally written and recorded by Kiki Dee and later covered by Elton John

Things That Absolutely Drive Me Bonkers

People that speed up my street
Fake people
Slow drivers in front of me
Slow people walking in front of me
Spitting
Droopy pants
Shopping carts that squeal, wiggle, or just don’t roll smoothly
Loud cellphone conversations in public places
Not having milk in the fridge when I already started making coffee
Drivers who don’t signal
People coughing around me
Whining
Spilling on myself
Going to the store to get something and coming home with everything but the item I went out for

Song Of The Day: Kangaroo Cry (A Tribute to 9/11) By Blue October

A tribute to September 11th 2001.

Song Of The Day: Still Fighting It By Ben Harper

Sung in the voice of a father addressing his son. This is a beautiful song that takes a bittersweet look at fatherhood and growing older....."You're so much like me, I'm sorry."

Thing I Must Always Have In My Fridge Or Pantry

Garlic
Nestea Zero
Olive Oil
Onions
Cheese
Tomatoes......on the minus side some people believe that because tomatoes contain alkaloids it may contribute to arthritis.
Milk


Coffee
Margarine
Eggs
Yogurt

Song Of The Day: Bitter Heart By Zee Avi

The story goes that drummer Patrick Keeler....one-third of the Greenhornes and one-forth of the Raconteurs was surfing YouTube when he came across a clip of Zee Avi. Impressed he got it into the hands of Brushfire Records execs and before you know it the pint-size, Malaysian-born singer-songwriter is the first solo female artist signed to the surfer, dude-heavy label.

The Man Wall

I have a husband and a few brothers who might enjoy adding this piece of furniture to their home.
This cool piece features room for four TVs — one 52″ and two 26″ units are included ...... a 1200-watt Panasonic home theater with integrated speakers and wireless surround units, two 25-cigar humidors with gauges, a 32-bottle wine rack, a microwave, a live 7-foot sports ticker at the top with built-in computer, a full-size kegerator with tap, an iPod docking station, DVD player, and the ability to control it all via a single remote control.
All for this can be yours for $14,900.

Song Of The Day: Downstream By SuperTramp

As it is my husbands 39th Birthday.....this song is for him. "To know you as I know you now,that is all I need." Like Garth, this song is timeless.

Fads I Don't Get

Dogs carried in purses
Purity rings
Droopy Pants
Disney teen Cash Cows such as the Jonas brothers and Miley Cyrus.


Multiple Body Piercings and the Brandon Boyd earrings that stretch your piercings to an inch.
Using online slang in oral dialogue.
Remaking 80s classics.......ie. Footloose, The Karate Kid, Red Dawn, Ghostbusters.
Men in skinny jeans.
Emo hair.
Men wearing makeup.
Skirts over pants.
Mullets
Fanny Packs

Collage Of Goodness

Things Found On The Web I Like

Song Of The Day: Train In Vain By The Clash

The words "Train in Vain" are never sung in this song. The predominant lyric is "Stand By Me," but since that's the title of a famous song by Ben E. King. The title comes from the train rhythm in the song combined with the theme of being lost. The song deals with loyalty as the singer asks a girl to stand by him.

Back To School

I love this Vintage Tapestry Lunch Box and this Retro Tin Lunch Box.

Take time to check out this list of some of the worst lunchboxes ever although I am partial to the nurse one.

Try to guess the 28 Musicians from these high school photos. My husband guessed them all correctly except for number 7.





Some useful resources:
Grammer Cheat Sheet
Multiplication Table
Reading Log BookMark
Multiplication Chart

Jewelgurls Top 5 Movies About Highschool
1.) Fast Times At Ridgemont High
2.) Grease
3.) To Sir With Love
4.) Breakfast Club
5.) Mean Girls

This Week I.........

Went to Home Depot to get more storage shelves......there is never enough cupboards
Completed the redo of Brookes big girl bedroom.....the teddy bears are gone.
Worked 5 twelve hour night shifts.
Worked out at the gym 5 times.........woohoo!!!!
Finished watching Season 1 of Dexter and started Season 2.......so good
Went to the CNE and had good food, good shopping and good times


Took my Girls for back to school haircuts
Went birthday shopping for my hubby
Chatted with my mom via telephone post op from her knee surgery......she is doing well
Tried a new recipe and hated it......ugh!
Began watching Season 1 of The Office......it must be good as it makes me laugh.....often