Texas Tuesday

Welcome to another addition of Texas Tuesday!

This week on Texas Tuesday I want to talk about country music!

Now I am not a HUGE fan of Texas country, probably a big surprise since I love Texas so much!

I do however, love Texas artists & yes, there is a difference.

One of my first memories was sitting at my Nanny's house listening to 8 tracks (yes I'm telling my age).

My cousins, my brother and I could barely talk but we were singing country music songs. It's funny how music will take you to another time and place. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Pat Green

From Waco, Texas has a song called Wave on Wave.

Of course he has other songs like Take Me Out To A Dance Hall 

but Wave on Wave is a song I can never get tired of no matter how many times the radio plays it.

It is one of those songs that catches your attention no matter what kind of music you like.

I love that he makes reference to Waco and Texas in many of his songs.

 

Mr. Kevin Fowler, the man who reminds me of my brother for some reason.

As I am writing this I'm singing his lyrics

"I love the sound of the tin roof on a hot summers night".

One of my favorite songs by Kevin Fowler because it reminds me of a time when I

still knew no evil, my parents were married and we would sit out on the porch when it rained on our tin roof.

It also reminds me of a time when I first found out about Kevin Fowler, right after a very bad break-up.

Kevin Fowler's drinking songs, songs of love lost, heart break, honkey tonks and girls who drive trucks have

made me cry, feel better, grab a cold one and think about all the times I sat on the front porch of a Texas home. Kevin Fowler is what country music and country is to me, he even has a song about that too.

I got to know Miranda Lambert during that same break up.

She empowered me at times that I needed someone to give me strength with her song New Strings and Kerosine. She made me cry and remember my pain when she sang about Greyhound Bound For Nowhere and Take Me Down. Recently, Miranda Lambert did a song Never Get Over You that reminds me of my Nanny. I won't go too deep because I'm having to post from Starbucks and don't want to start crying in front of all the cops in here and them think something is wrong. 

Ms. Tanya Tucker, I can't think of a song of yours I don't love but I especially love

Delta Dawn. I can remember singing this song as a little girl. 

If you still don't think Texas is the best place ever to live, just ask this lady and she will tell you.

"When I die, I may not go to Heaven. I don't know if they let cowboys in. If they don't, please let me go to Texas because Texas is a close as I've been."

Still don't believe me about Texas being amazing, ask the King of Country,

Mr. George Strait....he'll tell you in him millions of songs about how amazing Texas really is.

Power Wheels Giveaway

Hers or His Power Wheels Jeep Event

Hosted by: Mom Blog Society

Co-hosts: Military Travel Mama, Embracing Beauty, Heavenly Savings, Mom Does Reviews,

Mommy Moments with Abby , Powered by Mom, Mom to Bed by 8, Meliaville, and Kat's Cafe

Event Giveaway Dates: July 30 - August 13

Prize: Fisher Price Power Wheels Jeep- His or Hers

Open: Worldwide

If a winner is selected from outside of the US, they will receive a $100 Amazon Gift Certificate

Hers:

Styled after the Jeep Wrangler, this 6V battery-powered single-seat Jeep ride-on features fun Barbie styling. This vehicle features a realistic Jeep design with a rollbar.

Fisher-Price Power Wheels Barbie Jeep Battery-Powered Ride-On:

• Age Range: 3 years and up
• Goes up to 2.5 mph in forward and reverse
• Wheels: plastic
• Brakes: Power Lock Brake System
• Battery requires 18 hours to charge
• Battery charge lasts up to 40 minutes
• Dimensions: 38"L x 26.375"W x 17.125"H
• Maximum weight capacity: 50 lbs
• Adult assembly required
• Assemble in 20 minutes or less

His:

Styled after the Jeep Wrangler, this 6V single-seat Jeep has the Hot Wheels license. This vehicle features realistic Jeep design with rollbar.

Fisher-Price Power Wheels Hot Wheels Jeep 6-Volt Battery-Powered Ride-on:

• Age Range: 3 years and up
• Goes up to 2.5 mph in forward and reverse
• Wheels: plastic
• Brakes: Power Lock Brake System
• Battery requires 18 hours to charge
• Battery charge lasts up to 40 minutes
• Dimensions: 38"L x 26.375"W x 17.125"H
• Maximum weight capacity: 50 lbs
• Adult assembly required
• Assemble in 20 minutes or less

One lucky winner will get to pick his or hers Power Wheels Jeep!

Enter on the Easy Rafflecopter below!

Remember, you can't win if you don't enter.

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Blended With Love is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

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Back To School Blast - Giveaway

Welcome to the Back To School Blast hosted by This Flourishing Life, Tailor Made Momma, and Generations Of Savings. This event features items for all of your back to school needs. Each blog participating is giving away a prize or prize pack with a minimum value of $25, and the hosts are giving away prize packs with a total value of $1000!  

Grand Prize: This Flourishing Life, Generations Of Savings, and Tailor Made Momma are all hosting the grand prizes on their blogs. They are featuring prizes totaling $1000 in back to school gear for all ages. Head on over to their sites to enter!


Our Prize: $25 Gift Card To Target
(I know our district is pretty strict about everything and you get to have fun shopping)


a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: Please note that the Back To School Blast hosts and participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prize, but we will make every effort to help the winner in obtaining it.

Book Review & Giveaway: Mission Possible

Synopsis:  Eva Moskowitz, founder and former CEO of the Success Charter Network in Harlem, New York, and Arvin Lavinia offer real life, class room testes ideas for improving both teaching and learning. After randomly choosing and enrolling neighborhood children in their charter school, these two proved that with the right techniques, any school can be on top in no time. 

I work in the education system, though I am not an educator. I have first hand experience with the challenges our educators are facing to educate the future of America. Teachers are viewed as a babysitter who should be able to control a classroom that is many times overcrowded, thus leaving little time for individual attention. I wish that every parent would invest in their child's education and honor and respect teachers for the many hours it takes to plan lessons, execute learning in the classroom and for trying to find new and inventive ways to teach our children.  Mission Possible shows how in just 3 years a charter school could become on of the top schools in the entire state of New York. The Success Academies operate under one simple rule that the adults are the ones who hold the key to educational success. This is really an amazing book and a must read for anyone but especially teachers. 

It would be amazing if schools would incorporate the teaching methods found in this book.

Want to read the book for yourself? Now you can.






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Book Review: The RX Factor

When I first got the book in the mail I wasn't sure if it was for me but since I said I would read it, I set out to do so and I'm glad that I did.

This is an awesome read for anyone who likes mystery, action or suspense. the book starts out introducing you to Ryan Matthews. Here comes your first twist, he is a former cancer researcher who has a wife battling cancer. Trying to do what any awesome husband would do, he begin working on a drug to save her only to discover the drug accelerates her cancer.

His wife and child end up dying in a plane crash which sends him into a deep depression. Shortly after, he meets Jordan Carver, an FDA researcher who is busy creating experimental drugs in Mexico, the kind the FDA hasn't approved and one of them is much like the drug he created for his wife, the drug that killed her.

Of course I am not going to tell you the entire book! I have to leave you something to read for yourself and you should. This book is the kind of movie I long to see. There are enough twists and turns as any country road out in the middle of nowhere. This is seriously an amazing book!

About the Author:

John Thomas Shaw was born in Qunicy, IL. He graduated from Illinois State University and then relocated to Chicago. After a successful career with a national mortgage company, he co-founded Guaranteed Rate Inc., one of the fastest growing, independent mortgage banks in the U.S. He now lives in Southern California with his wife, 2 children and 2 dogs.
 

Check out what others are saying!

July Journaling ~ July 28th

How do you handle rejection?

I handle rejection well, after all, a lifetime of rejection either prepares you for it or numbs your from it. In my mind I think “Oh well, their loss”.

July Journaling ~ July 27th

What were your new years resolutions last year? Did you keep tehem? Will you make them again?

I answered the n.y.e. resolution post in another blog post. No, I don’t make n.y.e. resolutions and I won’t make them next year either.

Friday Letters

Dear Grown Ups: It's alright to talk about problems you are having, especially with the people you are having them with. It's one of the awesome things about being a grown up.

Dear People From Another City: Mind your own business. When you pay bills here or live here, then and only then do you get a say. Besides, maybe you should get all sides before opening your mouth.

Dear Job: I never thought I would miss you but I am so ready to go back to work. Actually, it's not the work part I miss but my regular paycheck.

Dear State: How do you expect someone to live off of $150 every 2 weeks for unemployment?

(now you understand why I want to go back to work)

Dear Musica: I love you very much and whatever it is that they found on your kidneys, we are going to trust God that He has already healed you.

Dear Lord: I know I complain a lot but I want a good life for my children, not one having to deal with injustice and childishness. I am trusting you for housing and I am trusting you that things work out they way Lexi needs for them too work out. I also pray that you heal Musica. I love my sister and she has been so much to so many and has gone through so much........thank you Lord. Amen

5 Question Friday

Welcome to Five Question Friday!!

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning and LINK UP!

1. What is the funniest thing you saw on Facebook/twitter this week?

There was a political cartoon about Chik-fil-a and same sex marriage. I will mess it up if I try to tell it but it was funny. 


2. What is your favorite Olympic event?


Track and Field
3. Do your kids to chores around the house? If so, what are they and how old are the children? Do they get paid for them?

My children currently do nothing other than make their beds and put their clothes away. When we move in 2 months, they will have chores, some for allowance and others because they are expected. I'll post when I finish creating their system.

4. If you get bad service/food do you complain or keep quiet?

I have a big mouth (unless you ask my dentist or ortho) and I have no issue saying when I've had bad service. If I can tell it's because someone is new, I let it go but if it's just bad service, it's my right to complain.

5. If you could pick ONE frivolous item for your home, what would it be? (massive room sized closet? swimming pool? greenhouse? etc...)

This one is EASY....I live in a house with 5 people of the male gender. I would so have my very own bathroom that only I have the key to and it would have the kind of lock that no one can pick except for the locksmith and I would let NO ONE use it EVER.

July Journaling ~ July 26th

What is your fave fruit?

I can only think of one kind of fruit I have tried that I don’t like, leches. These little things are weird, taste funny and are not for me. I love every other kind of fruit that I have ever tried.

Think About It Thursday

What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

 

One thing I am learning to be in my blog is honest. I will admit I hate going to blogs where everyone has a perfect life, perfect children and all is great because that is not real life. I am very honest with my children but there are some things that we don't joke about in our family.

 

We don't joke about weight. Weight is a personal struggle. There was a point in time where I was super skinny and a time, like now, where I'm not. My husband and ex-husband are both big guys and my boys just got out of the chubby stage so weight is off limits.

 

We also don't joke about homeless people. I have told you guys before I lived in a shelter and it was an eye opening experience. People fall on hard times, some suffer from mental illnesses and others just make bad choices. No matter what circumstances got people where they are, it is our duty to love on them and help them.

 

We don't joke about teeth. I have a messed up grill, hubby has a messed up grill and 4 out of 6 children are either in braces or will be within the next few years. It's a sensitive issue and we don't talk about it.

 

We don't joke about people's sexual orientation. We just don't. I have a sister in law who is a lesbian, another cousin who is gay, my children have a gay cousin and we know a ton of people who prefer the same sex so it's an off limits subject for us.

 

 We don't joke about racism. Want me to ever get on my soap box this is the topic. I don't like racist people, have done what I could to teach my children that people are people and pray that they remember it but in my house we don't joke about race.

 

This was a great question. I think it depends on the household what is or is not something to joke about.

 

It's Ok Thursday July 26th

It's OK that I was happy to testify against a nasty person yesterday in court

It's OK that I am ready to go back to work for the paycheck but not the work

It's OK that I thought about smoking a cigarette after quitting over a year ago

(don't worry, I didn't)

It's OK that I can't wait to move out of this house that has become pure hell and into my own house again

(although I am totally thankful)

It's OK that I don't like every member of my family

It's OK that I love having a super busy schedule...every week and weekend is booked from here until the middle of September

It's OK that I totally have NOT done my diet this week and I think I am going to just quit and focus on healthy rather than skinny

It's OK that I have a hard time thinking of what's OK on Thrusdays

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July Journaling ~ July 25th

What television program are you watching that are just a waste of time?

As I am sitting here writing this my daughter is watching Skinner & Bucket. This is a dumb show but it is killing time while Mom works on blog stuff and the boys play X-box. I tend to find myself watching a bunch of these little shows that she seems to love and I seem to dislike because they are so goofy.