Highlowaha

Movin' On Up

2010-02-18T06:11:00.002-06:00

If you've wandered your way into our blog you may be wondering where all the action is...easy answer it is at the House of Shine!!!

We've moved to a bigger, nicer, newer HOUSE and we'd love to have you join us.

Change your bookmarks to www.houseofshine.com and come on over to explore!

Funny Bone

2010-02-17T04:00:00.000-06:00

Have I mentioned, I'm dyslexic?

Don't feel sorry for me, though. I get by just fine. Sure, I trevni srettel semitemos, tub tsom reven eciton.

So cashing in "Ahas" for "Hahas" was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned.

Heather, our trusty Free For All camera woman assured me there were plenty of "hahas" tucked away in unseen Friday footage. Funnier than the mermaid? Funnier than the three of us sporting our bling while rapping?

Hard to believe, but take a look...

Oh, and here is me sporting my new bracelet. Thanks to my fierce competitors, Cheryl (Belt #1) and Heather (Belt #3) for consistently raising the bar and testing my shine.

Needless to say, the fierce didn't show up in your inner competitor yesterday. Not a single person brought us a visitor. That means, tune in later in this week to get a second chance at winning the Rise and Shine tool belt.

Signing off until tomorrow... Anniversary Day!

Belt It Out

2010-02-16T04:00:00.023-06:00

What kind of blog would Highlowaha be if we dedicated an entire day of our Anniversary Week to "lows?"

Heather, Cheryl, and I understand that lows are a fact of life. We get the whole what-goes-up-must-come-down, silver lining, darkest-before-the-dawn thing. Still, when brainstorming how to spend Anniversary Week, the three of us never got comfortable with showcasing "lows."

On January 22, Kat, saved the day. This loyal reader suggested that a competition between me, Cheryl, and Heather would be a fun addition to our Anniversary Week celebration.

Today's competition is titled, How "Lowe" Can We Go? It allows us to revisit November's Cookie Cutter Challenge when I created a Writer's Toolkit in order to showcase the screwdriver cookie cutter.

Each of us was given one $0.77 tool belt from Lowe's Hardware Store. Our challenge was to create a tool belt using the theme, "Shine" - something we think this blog knows a little something about. Before we get to the pictures, some important things for you to know.

First, each reader should vote in the poll below for the tool belt they like best.
Second, the reader who draws the most visitors to our comment section today will win the Shine tool belt voted #1.
Third, the other two tool belts will be given away as the week goes on.
Fourth, Heather, Cheryl, and I are competing for something shiny of our own. Get a glimpse of the picture at the end of today's post.

Shine #1

A little mascara and pretty feet are all a girl needs to conquer the world.

Shine #2

Rise and Shine

Start Your Day Off BRight!

Shine #3
Spread Shine
People who Shine let others know when they do!

Cast your vote in the poll below. Will it be Shine #1, Shine #2, or Shine #3?

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Who will shine Brighton? Cheryl, Heather, or Claudia? Polls close at 10:00 CST.
Signing off until tomorrow...

Flying By

2010-02-15T04:00:00.002-06:00

I spent last night watching the Men's Olympic Mogul Skiing. If you watched then you how thrilling it was when Alexandre Bilodeau finally won a gold for Canada and how proud we were when Bryon Wilson won a bronze for the United States.

I kind of like the idea of using mogul skiing as an analogy for today's post.

Like mogul skiers, Heather, Cheryl, and I are standing at the top of the slope, taking deep breaths in and then slowly, calmly exhaling out. Our year of hard work and commitment brings us to a moment feeling every bit as important as the Olympics - Highlowaha's Second Anniversary.

We want the gold. We want to reach Saturday's finish line and be greeted by all of you jumping up and down in the stands, cheering us on. But, between now and then we have some moguls to maneuver and, with a little luck, a few aerial moves that should leave us all flying high.

Tuesday we will weave in and around "lows" - Highlowaha style. Wednesday we will take creative liberties with classic Highlowaha "ahas." Thursday will feel like coming Home, because one thing remains certain: no matter how much the world around us changes, the 18th of each month is reserved for reflecting on our "highs," "lows" and "ahas." I won't give away too much too soon, but suffice it to say, we will finish the work week strong.

Don't forget about Saturday. Saturday we will stay true to our Yellow Envelope Project, except this week you will drive things!

This week is going to pass in record time.

Deep breath in; slowly, calmly exhale out. And we're off.

Yellow Envelope Project: Harker Heights

2010-02-13T07:48:00.009-06:00

Talk about shining. The Olympics is chock full of athletes who shine.

I decided, as someone who supports, studies, and scours the planet for people who shine, that it was my responsibility to watch the opening of the Olympics. I like to soak in as much shine as I can, as often as I can.

Sorry we're off to a later start than normal this morning.

Last week I got a good dose of shine. I went south to Killeen, Texas to reconnect with a friend of mine from graduate school. Debbie's husband, Robert, is in the military, so Killeen, Texas is just one stop along a long list of moves she and her family has made. Recently back from a year in England, I was anxious to reconnect with my friend of more than twenty years.

Sometimes, as is the case with people who shine, their brilliance has an uncanny way of illuminating the things about ourselves that we wished shined brighter. Debbie is the epitome of generous. She has accepted her role as a military wife and does it with such grace, such energy, and such enthusiasm, that it is every bit as inspiring as the troops oversees who are fighting to keep us safe.

Debbie has four kids between the ages of five and eleven. She has six schedules to manage, four car pools, two cub scout meetings a week, soccer practice, class mom responsibilities, and because of her husband's rank in the army, a leadership role among military wives that would rival most of our full time jobs. No joke.

Her kitchen is like Mission Control. Like clockwork, they get up, eat breakfast, dressed, and get out the door. The school bell, is also Debbie's signal that she must be off to the races. She has five hours to squeeze in meetings on military base, menu planning, grocery shopping, volunteering at the school, running errands for Robert, shuffling kids to and from activities, attending military functions, and oh, by the way... unpacking more boxes from their recent move, while also sewing costumes for her daughter's 100th day of School Celebration.

Debbie is the kind of strong and independent woman that makes it possible for our troops to travel oversees without having to worry about how families are faring back home. In fact, the only time a tear rolled out of Debbie's eye was when we briefly talked about Robert's deployment to Iraq come September. Even a star as bright as Debbie must feel the enormity of having to fly solo with four kids, while also managing the inevitable worry that comes with a husband at war.

Debbie is precisely why we developed the Yellow Envelope Project. No bells, no whistles, no awards, or accolades. Debbie just wakes up each morning, her feet hitting the floor, shining at everything she does and brightening - illuminating - her corner of the world.

Please join me in sending her a yellow envelope. Those new to the game, it's easy.

Write Debbie a short note telling her you think she shines and thanking her for making her corner of the world brighter. Place it in a yellow envelope - or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers and yellow stickers. Place the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address, and mail to the address listed below sometime before next Friday.

It's easy, you'll feel great, and Debbie will be reminded that shining is worth it.

Debbie

101 West Great Plains Trail

Harker Heights, TX 76548

Signing off until tomorrow...

Rubbish

2010-02-12T04:00:00.007-06:00

Our Friday plans were foiled. Heather, Cheryl, and I were scheduled to meet last night so we could tape today's Free For All Friday video. Eight inches of snow later, we wimpy Texans decided to stay home instead of braving the wet and slushy roads.

I promised the blog wouldn't fall apart in the absence of our much anticipated video and that, somehow, I would pull out an extra blog post for the week. Void of a real topic, I resort to writing about what is on my mind - good, bad, or boring.

First. Creativity is everywhere. Look at what some of my neighbors whipped up last night.

Second. How do you throw away a garbage can? My husband and I have been trying to throw away a garbage can for weeks. At first we tried placing the old garbage can in the new one, hoping they get the hint and figure out the can itself was garbage. No go. Then we tried printing "garbage" in black sharpie on the side of the can. Still no go. Got any suggestions?

Third. Today marks the culmination of the latest Target Challenge. A recap of this creative game for Highlowaha's newbies. I purchase an item from the Dollar Bin at Target and then present it to Heather and Cheryl. Testing their creativity, these women u se the item to do something clever. Then you the readers vote on who made best use of the item. I've recently decided to get in on the action, so check out all three and then vote on the one you like most.

Entry A

Inspirational Quote

Entry B

Cupcake Stand

Entry C

Dishwasher Magnet

Fourth. When all else fails, it's Free For All Friday. What do you want to talk about?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Dragons and Cupids and Tigers, Oh My!

2010-02-11T04:00:00.003-06:00

Raise your hand if you knew Valentines Day 2010 was the same day as the Chinese New Year.

It's a dilemma for someone who loves holidays as much as I do to decide how to handle a double decker kind of day.

One year Matthew's birthday fell on Easter. Obviously, we couldn't not celebrate both, so instead we turned Matthew's party into an Easter Egg hunt. Then there was the year I graduated with my doctoral degree during Mother's Day weekend. Graduation isn't exactly a holiday, but after three years of rigorous work and giving birth to a dissertation, I intended to celebrate like it was a national holiday. My mother, mother in-law, and I compromised. We celebrated graduation and motherhood while receiving manicures and pedicures from a local spa in Athens, Georgia.

So snubbing the Chinese New Year simply because we Americans can out commercialize the rest of the world didn't seem right.

Luckily, the Chinese love the color red as much as Cupid.

Matthew and I decided on a compromise for his classmates. Traditional red Chinese envelopes made from felt (not paper) and filled with a mixture of Chinese tokens and good old fashioned American chocolates. Kids get their much anticipated candy and China, a civilization dating back somewhere around 67,000 years, gets the respect it deserves.

And don't think I won't milk this one on Sunday night when I suggest we eat Chinese food for dinner. How about you? What will you be doing on Valentines Day? And, are any of you Celebrating the Year of the Tiger?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Get to the Point

2010-02-10T04:00:00.007-06:00

Side note. Has anyone else noticed Ray Wattson roaming the front page of our blog sporting all kinds of construction equipment? Monday a blue print, yesterday a ruler, today a shovel. What's he up to?

Food. That's the thing that holds today's blog topic together.

First food of old. Does anyone remember last April when we hosted our very first Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge? I was tasked with using a porcupine cookie cutter to celebrate Earth Day. Most memorable was the "sharp" (no pun intended), but anonymous reader who was kind enough to point out that I packaged my porcupine cookies in plastic bags. All while I had the nerve to ask, "What quill you do to help save Mother Earth?" Ouch... literally and figuratively.

The high of the day, however, was when one of our oh-so-creative-readers suggested using the porcupine to celebrate Valentine's Day. Her slogan, you might have guessed, was... "I'm stuck on you."

I know a good idea when I hear one, so I couldn't wait to bake up my very own batch of pink, red, and white porcupines. This will make the perfect treat for all the teachers and helpers at Matthew and Jack's school.

Next. More food.

Monday Struble Suds provided a great recap of Highlowaha's Super Bowl Snack Throwdown. Cristine shined like Howard Cosell, giving a play by play of Kate's Frito Fantasy Candy versus Ray's Two Bean Lettuce Wrap. Nobody commented. Nobody.

I am going to venture to say it's because the team we were all rooting for (Team Kate) didn't win. It's like the Yankees and their billion dollar pompous baseball team swooping in and winning the World Series again, when other teams are harder working and far more likeable.

But we must be good sportsmen - or women. So, hard as it may be... Congratulations Ray Wattson on your winning recipe and for earning the title as champion of Highlowaha's Second Annual Snack Throw Down.

And now, painful as it is.. May I present to you your limited edition Super Bowl.

Speech. Speech.

FritoRay here. So, what can I say? I'd like thank all the little people who helped make this possible. Thanks to the patrons of Struble Sud's who recognized that children, because of their size, should only get half a vote. Thanks to the gallons of beer for spurring on the festivities. Thanks to Kate, who overestimated the sophistication of the beer addled midwest pallet that will unthinkingly select any snack with sausage in it over any snack without. Thanks to the Commissioner of the league. Thanks to my hairy armed sous chef. And a special thanks to Matt and Christine Struble for................

Now about this bowl. I've been thinking about this bowl. My friends have told me that I should keep this bowl and enjoy it as a symbol of my greatness. I think this is too shortsighted a viewpoint. It's a really cool bowl and blessed with my image; but, I'm fortunate enough to have several mirrors in the house. I'm thinking what Kate and her blog needs is a little, well... me. A little Ray Wattson. So, Kate, I'm going to have Claudia send you the bowl. I know, I know, I don't have to do this. And, yes, I am the coolest. Stop stop stop. Just take the bowl. You can owe me one.

FritoRay Out.

Bad Apple

2010-02-09T04:00:00.004-06:00

Can we all agree that sometimes trying to shine means taking a chance only to fall flat on your face?

Today's post was supposed to be great. It was supposed to shine and to provide you with another fun idea for Valentine's Day. It was supposed to showcase the great apple-shaped basket I found on sale at World Market for $1.38. Eyes in a basket with a note attached saying "You are the Apple of my Eye." It was supposed to be witty... maybe even clever.

It wasn't supposed to look more like a creepy Halloween treat than a romantic Valentine's gift. Or a April Fools joke more than a thoughtful gesture. But, alas I failed.

Sometimes we try to shine and we fail. It's o.k. though. There's always tomorrow.

Don't want to wait until then? Make a suggestion to improve my failed attempt. And, if you think that's useless, let's play Scrabble. Using the letters above U*R*T*H*E*O*F*M*Y, form a word.

Make a Fortune

2010-02-08T04:00:00.003-06:00

It is my good fortune to bring you today's Valentine's Day gift idea. Four dollars and about forty minutes. That's what you'll need to create you own.

Using a glass, trace a circle onto poster board. Cut out.

Trace and cut circles from red and pink sheets of foam

Place glitter in one bowl and Craft Foam Glue in another.

Using a craft brush, apply foam glue to half of foam circle on both sides.

Dip both sides in glitter.

Let dry.

While drying, cut stripes of paper and write Valentine messages.

Put slip of paper in center of foam circle, parallel to line of glitter. Using your hot glue gun, glue in two places. First, glue glittered end of circle to non-glittered end. Pinch until dry.

Second, fold foam in half again and use a clothes pin to pinch inside pieces.

Set aside and let dry.

Place in decorative container with a few pieces of holiday candy and present to your special valentine... or day care provider, office colleagues, neighbors, or kids.

Special Note: Struble Suds called last night to say that sometime later today, they would post results from our Second Annual Snack Throw Down. Visit them at their site to see whose recipe reigned supreme.

Signing off until tomorrow. And hey... how about sharing a few ideas for Valentine messages we could include in our fortune cookies.

Yellow Envelope Project: Superbowl Edition

2010-02-05T23:59:00.002-06:00

You want to send a Yellow Envelope to someone who shines?

Send it to me:

Ray Wattson

House of Shine

Apt. #218

Anytown, USA
I'm freaking Raydiculous! This isn't going to be a Throw-down. It's going to be a Beat-down. Introducing.....FritoRay's Superbowl Two Bean Lettuce Wraps - homage to lettuce wraps with a little Texas flair.

The best part about this dish? No cooking. Well, that's not true. It wouldn't be the Superbowl without sausage. So I threw some in at the last minute. All you vegetarians out there take note. Sausage is optional.

Here's the recipe. Read it and weep.

1 package cole slaw mix

1 can kidney beans + 1 can black beans

1 package of breakfast sausage cooked.

1 can of Ro*Tel

Mix

Add 6 fistfuls of crushed Fritos

Couch filling in Iceburg lettuce wraps

Munch a bunch

So what'll it be, Kate's sweet Fantasy Frito Candy or my savory Two Bean Lettuce Wraps?

Here's the Scoop!

2010-02-05T04:00:00.004-06:00

Hey Sports Fans! Cheryl Here! I hope you are having a great week. Today I will be wrapping up my painting workshop and headed home. I need to rest up.

In two days Super Bowl XLIV will be kicking off. If you've been hanging around this past year you'll know that the Super Snack Throwdown Super Snack Bowl challenge is on between Kate and Ray. And all this Frito talk makes me want to share a recipe with you. It's a good one.

And since Claudia gives pretty much free reign on my Free For All Friday's- away we go....

Today's recipe is Black Bean Salsa. This is a really tough recipe so pay close attention to each step. I mean it! Pay attention. Your Super Bowl Party is on the line.

First, start with one of these. Open it up and take a drink. Ah!

Unless you're under the age of 21. In that case, open one of these and take a drink.

Here are your ingredients sitting all together. Aren't they pretty. Ooh. Aah.

Let's get started. First up: 2 (15oz) Cans Black Beans - any brand you like. Open them up- drain and rinse.

Throw them in a big bowl.

1 (17oz) Can Whole Kernel Corn - that's what the recipe calls for but my store doesn't have 17oz cans so 15 ounces of corn will be just fine.

Drain the corn. You don't have to rinse it. I just wanted to show you that there is none of the can juice- water? - whatever - in it.
Throw the corn in with the beans. Hey! That kind of looks like the Saint's uniform colors.

The recipe calls for 2 Large Tomatoes but I always use Roma tomatoes because they're so easy to seed.Seed and chop those red beauties up. I wound up only using 3 of these.
Throw them in with the beans and corn.

Next up is 1 Purple Onion. This purple onion was on steroids so I only used half of it. Just gauge for yourself how much onion you want in it.
Chop up the purple onion and throw it in with the beans, the corn, and the tomatoes.

1 Large Avocado is all the recipe calls for but I never know if the large is large enough and I like avocado so I used two mediums. I know I'm making it more difficult for you. Hang in there.
Chop up the avocado and add it to the beans, the corn, the tomato and the purple onion.

You'll only need 1/8 - 1/4 cup of chopped fresh Cilantro but you'll have to buy this whole bushel of cilantro! I'm not angry even though the rest of the cilantro will go bad in my refrigerator because I don't cook.
But go ahead and chop up that cilantro. I just pick off the leaves. No stemmy stems. Bleh! And throw that cilantro in with the beans, the corn, the tomato, the purple onion, and the avocado.

3 to 4 tablespoons of lime juice - 3 tablespoons is 1/4 cup. I measured. These three fresh limes equaled 3 tablespoons.

See.

Pour that fresh lime juice over the beans, the corn, the tomato, the purple onion, oh- you get the picture! Throw it in the bowl. Where's my beer?

Now, pour out 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar. You got it. Add it to the mix.

1 teaspoon of salt & 1 teaspoon of pepper

That picture didn't turn out Bu you know what to do.

Let's see... all you have to do now is mix it up.

At this point you'll want to chill it for a little bit.

Did I say tough? I meant to say easy!

Okay- but I didn't use the secret ingredient- Frito!

Here you go! Get the Scoops and dive in! I'm going to tell you something. Don't count on any being left over! I have never made this recipe and had any leftover.

Say, "Ah"

So what are doing for the Super Bowl? Hanging with friends? Going to a bar? Making a Super Snack? And most importantly who are you cheering for?

I'll go ahead and tell you have to cheer for the Saints or the two monkey's I'm raising will tie me up and lock me in the closet! Go Saints!!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Scarecrow

2010-02-04T04:00:00.005-06:00

I'm not going to lie, this morning my head is full of stuffing.

Initially I considered doing a fun little segment on Superbowl Sunday. Then I took a sneak peak at the post Cheryl has in store for us tomorrow and I decided there was no way my idea could live in the shadows of her brilliance.

So desperate am I for some creative inspiration on this rainy, dreary, I'm-so-over-it-Thursday morning, that I decided to consult with Roger von Oech. Roger is Highlowaha's trusted friend and author or the Creative Whack Pack, most often seen trolling our site on Wednesdays. But, desperate times, desperate measures.

Each card in Roger's Whack Pack contains a principle about creativity. The idea is to whack your idea with a card from his pack and, by virtue of applying his creative principle, improve the quality of your original idea.

I drew a card wondering how one of von Oech's creative principles might work in the absence of an original idea. Here's what I got...

See the Positive. The human mind, "notes scientist W.I. Beveridge, "likes a strange idea as little as the body likes a strange protein and resists it with a similar energy." When you judge new ideas, focus initially on their positive ad interesting features. This will counteract a natural negative bias, and help you to develop more ideas. What's positive about the idea?

I have no choice but to ask myself, what is positive about my having no idea?

Richard just walked by and said, "It's positive, because it makes you appear human." I'm pretty sure there's no question among readers as to whether or not I am human. But, Richard loves me and he hasn't had coffee yet. What can I expect?

How about...

It's positive because you'll get through the post faster and you'll have a couple extra minutes to spare.
It's positive because in the absence of something new to think about, you might actually reflect on something old.
It's positive because it reminds us that new is not always better and there's room for tried and true.
It's positive because, having no idea means my brain is declaring today a holiday and, as is usually the case after holidays, that it will come back better and more refreshed.
It's positive because my lack of idea might prompt one of you to jump in and share one of your ideas...

Do I finish with an invitation to join me in the comment section and to share one of your ideas? Or, maybe you'll help generate more reasons why my lack of ideas is positive. Or, maybe someone takes a hand at applying von Oech's creative principle to a totally different idea. Or, maybe I scrap the whole meet-me-in-the-comment-section thing and end with something trite or witty. Here's the thing...

I have no idea.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge: February

2010-02-03T04:00:00.008-06:00

I inspired myself with all of yesterday's mumbo jumbo about getting off the merry-go-round and doing things differently. I've decided this month we will select the cookie cutter for our monthly Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge a little bit differently than we do normally.

Newcomers, once a month Highlowaha readers put me to the test. I select a holiday worth celebrating and you, the readers select a cookie cutter from the Fancy Flours website that you think I should have to use. The key is to find the cookie cutter you think I will have the hardest time incorporating into my celebration. My job is to bake them, decorate them, and package them.

This month you vote on both - the cookie cutter and the holiday. Check out the polls below.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Now for the cookie cutter...

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

The holiday and cookie cutter receiving the most votes will be my winning combination for the month of February. Tune in at the end of the month to see what I have come up with.

Signing off until tomorrow....

Shine: Back to the Future

2010-02-02T04:00:00.004-06:00

Dust off your notes from last week. It's time to revisit our commitments to dreams so important we named our years in their honor. My year for instance is the Year of the Book. Robin committed herself to the Year of Me. Kat's year is named the Year of the Schedule, Katie the Year of the Phone, Lindsay the Year of Yoga, Peggy the Year of Balance, Holly the Year of Organization, and so many more.

If you haven't dedicated your year yet or you've had a change of heart and want to rename your year, no worries. Now is the time. We have eleven months of thought provoking fun ahead of us.

We'll take our cue for today's topic from Groundhog Day - the annual celebration for which we have come to know and love February 2. It is not only the day that weathermen gather to see if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow at Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, it is also the holiday around which the hilarious movie Groundhog Day was based.

Murray plays Phil Connors, an egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during a hated assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, finds himself repeating the same day over and over again. After indulging in hedonism, Murray's character begins to reexamine his life and priorities.

One, two, three, JUMP.

That's right I'm making a leap.

In her book, "This Year I Will..." M.J. Ryan poses the question, "How do you get off the merry-go-round of doing the same old thing again? How, oh how can you have faith that this time will be any different?" Like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day, how can you assure this year's dream won't result in failed attempts again and again?

I talked about writing a book at least two years ago. I started off last year with a renewed sense of promise and even told a few friends of my plans. Two years later and still no book. Holly, I am assuming you didn't wake up this year suddenly wanting to be organized and Kat, I assuming you've been in search of a schedule that works for a while. The question is what will make this year different for Holly, Kat, me, and... f or, that matter, for the rest of you?

Ryan maintains, and I agree, "we have a wealth of information and experience from the previous attempts , no matter how many those may be, to draw on this time." Rather than believing that nothing can be done about failed attempts, she suggests that successful people view failure as an opportunity to learn new things. When people have a "growth orientation" (as opposed to the previously described, "fixed orientation") they focus more on developing new strategies for success and less on simply giving up.

For example, I've learned quite a few things from my last two failed attempts to write a book. I've learned:

It's never going to happen if I try squeezing writing time into my already busy schedule.
I get easily distracted by other ideas and projects.
A year goes fast.
I have allowed the magnitude and unknown elements of this project to intimidate me.
I am most productive in the morning.
It helps me to have an outside person to whom I feel accountable.
I am more successful when I carve out some time every day, as opposed to big blocks of time periodically.
I excuse lack of progress on my book by reminding myself of the time spent writing my blog post each day.

How about you? What does your Groundhogs Day scene look like and what can you learn from it?

Signing off until tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2.

Psst...

2010-02-01T04:00:00.009-06:00

Hey Kate,

FritoRay here. Get that Polaroid of yours ready. You made it to the Superbowl. Just barely, though. That was neck and neck. Gotta love some buttery crust around a kielbasa. Nice touch. Okay, so here's the deal. I'm tempted to change the rules again, but I'm afraid that Michelle friend of yours might lose her mind. So, we'll use the same four criteria Heather, Cheryl, and Claudia laid out at the start of football season.

Your secret ingredient, in case you haven't figured it out yet is Fritos.

Who are you competing against? Why, none other than the King of Krunch, the Colonel of Corn, Master of Muncha a Bunch and the Deacon of Dip. Yours truly, FritoRay. Kate, you better leave all that sweetness behind. This is the real deal. You're going to have to dig deep. The Deacon of Dip is going to dish out defeat and you're first in line at the buffet.

You've got until Friday at midnight to post your recipe, so Struble Suds can get busy in their test kitchen. This is for all the glory......and of course the hand painted Highlowaha super bowl. Good luck Kate, you're going to need it.

What about the rest of you? Other than rooting on Team Ray in the Second Annual Snack Throw Down, what will you be doing Super Bowl Sunday?

FritoRay out.

Yellow Envelope Project: Georgia

2010-01-30T04:00:00.002-06:00

The recipient for this week's Yellow Envelope Project seems particularly fitting considering we just finished celebrating, National Have Fun at Work Day.

Those new to the site might wonder what we mean by the, Yellow Envelope Project. The project was created to recognize everyday people who reject the status quo and opt for excellence. Recipients of our Project shine and, because they shine, their corners of the world are brighter

This week's recipient was nominated by a fellow colleague. The nominator described their office environment as serious and corporate. A strict dress code is in place, rules exist about what items you can and can't have on your desk, and no promotion is granted to an employee until the spouse is interviewed (I suppose so the company can assure there is mutual understanding about the "real order of things").

Today's winner of the Yellow Envelope Project is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy environment. Below is brief description of what makes Brace deserved of our recognition.:

"Brace singlehandedly brightens up our entire office. She pushes the envelope by decorating her cubicle for every holiday. She also surprises people in the office by decorating their cubicles for special events such as birthdays, promotions, and people getting engaged and having babies. She is a one woman show. Brace uses her own money to do special things, since our office would never support the activities. A while back I received a handmade birthday card from Brace and when I opened the card, out poured a bunch of confetti. Brace makes work fun. She shines and that's why I think she deserves to be a winner of the Yellow Envelope Project."

Telling Brace she shines is easy.

Simply take five minutes to jot her a short note. Tell Brace you heard about her thoughtful gestures and that you think it is great she spends time brightening her corner of the world. Put your note in a yellow envelope - or a white envelope decorated with all kinds of yellow markers and stickers. Write the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address and mail it to the address below. You'll feel great about doing it and you will make her day.

Join me, won't you? Even feel free to throw in some confetti.

Brace
1 Cedar Run
Apartment F
Dunwoody, GA 30350

Signing off until Monday...

FFAF: Inspire Your Heart...

2010-01-29T04:00:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday, Highlowaha fans! Cheryl here.

Sunday, January 31st is National Inspire Your Heart with Art Day. Quite fitting for a girl who will be driving down to next to nowhere Cypress Mill, Texas that very day to embark on a week long painting workshop with a fabulous artist named Bob Burridge. I've been planning it for over a year now. I hear his classes are fabulously inspiring and they fill up quickly so you can imagine how excited I am. I will be eating, sleeping and making art for 5 days straight.

I have no doubt that I will be well on my way to completing my 2010 resolution next week and inspiring the rest of the year to follow suit. (Jessie- your piece WILL be finished next week!!) I can't wait for this new experience.

But, what does that have to do with you. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

I could, of course, go on and on about all the wonderful art out there. Old and new. The Internet provides us with such great resources to discover and purchase art. Just scan Etsy or PapernStitch for lots of great artists.

And art covers a broad spectrum. Photography, watercolor, ceramics, jewelry making, weaving, knitting, cooking, sculpture. Music is a form of art and one of my very favorites. Dance is a form of art. Shoot, kamasutra is the Art of Making Love! Whatever form of art you love I hope you will celebrate it on Sunday.

I was chatting with a friend that said in that sad voice, "I'm not artistic." That's all well and good but it doesn't stop you from appreciating it. On Sunday, just take 20 minutes out of your day and embrace your favorite form of art. (Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned kamasutra.) In the comment section, tell us what form of art you appreciate most? What inspires you? But before we run into the comment section, I have a little project for you.

It's another little Valentine gift for your loved one. Many years ago I attended a wedding shower where the hostess made a sign for the bride and groom. On one side of the sign it said Yes. On the other side it said No. It's a gift for the bedroom when you need to communicate with your honey. My version is a small pillow you can leave on your bed.

Do I need to spell it out for you? We're still PG-13, right? It's for the bedroom, wink, wink. It's an easy way to communicate your mood, wink, wink. Oh hell, let's get on with it.

I chose to work with felt because 1) I had a lot of laying around my house and 2) it holds its shape and is super easy to work with. Especially if you're not a seamstress. If you are a natural with needle and thread or a sewing machine, please feel free to adapt this to your skill level because it could be really cute. But, I'm telling you- this simple one is CUTE if you'll excuse me for bragging on my own work.

1. Cut out two squares of fabric the same size.

2. I drew the words yes and no on paper. You can use the computer if you think you're not artistic enough. I wanted my letters to touch so the stitching would flow from one to the other.

3. Cut out the words on paper. This is your pattern. Your template.

4. Turn the words backward on another contrasting color of felt and trace with a Sharpie and cut this out.

5. Using embroidery floss, stitch one word on each of the felt squares.

6. And embellishments like this cute little heart. Hi cute little heart. You inspire me.

7. Once both sides have their words stitched to them place them back to back and start stitching around the edge. I used double width of floss for the edges. Just tie a knot at the end and stitching the thread up through the middle of the two fabrics so the knot is hidden. Go to town around the edges.

(Note: I did not stitch the edges with the stuffing in the middle. Why make things more complicated trying to hold it in there?)

8. When you get nearly all three sides done, throw some kind of stuffing in the middle. I had Polyester batting laying around (did I do that right Claudia? Laying?) so that's what I stuffed in the middle. (And honestly, I could have used more.)

9. Finish sewing the edges, put it on your bed, sit back and wait for your honey to come in and see what you're mood is. Is cute, yes?

Glad you agree. But maybe your sweety deserves more than just a simple yes and no.

Maybe YOU want to add some spice to your life and in your bedroom. Go ahead. I dare you. Instead of just yes and no... why don't you put Yes on one side and OH YEAH on the other.

Your sweety will thank you for it. I promise.

Don't forget to tell us in the comment section what form of art inspires you most.

My job as cupid is done here. Signing off until tomorrow...

You're Fired... Up

2010-01-28T04:00:00.003-06:00

Are you like so many Americans, trudging through the work week, counting the minutes until quitting time? You might even like your job, but still you find yourself breathing a sigh of relief on hump day, followed by a happy dance on Friday.

There is an art to keeping work fun. It takes some... well, work. Having fun at work means remembering colleagues birthdays, hosting pot lucks, tuning into the highs and lows of your office mates, laughing over favorite t.v. shows, baking extra cookies for the break room, pulling pranks, declaring theme days, rewarding one another for work well done, and so much more.

Last month we decided to tackle fun in the work place, by partnering with Fancy Flours to celebrate, National Have Fun at Work Day. As is usually the case, readers voted on which cookie cutter I should have to incorporate into the celebration. This month the dragon was the winning cookie cutter.

Work Day Drag-on?

Fire up and...

Now it's your turn to slay the drudgery. How you'll make your work place more fun tomorrow?

P.S. If you're eyeing my dragon cookie because you know the Chinese New Year is coming up and you want your very own, don't despair.

Win your very own dragon cookie cutter. Visit the comment section and recommend other occasions for which it could be used. Add a slogan and earn brownie points. The person Cheryl, Heather, and I agree came up with the best idea and slogan will win his/her very own dragon cookie cutter.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Kate Wins in Overtime

2010-01-27T04:00:00.008-06:00

I used to think I worked hard bringing you a blog post each day.

Then I began recapping highlights from Highlowaha's Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down. Now I know... I am a slacker. It is Lauren and Kate, our favorite foodies who competed this entire football season, that are true All Stars.

These two women cooked seventeen recipes over an eighteen week period AND competed in a week of half-time activities. They exemplified creativity and skill as, each week, Kate and Lauren worked to incorporate the secret ingredient voted on by our Highlowaha readers. We challenged them by selecting things such as asparagus, wine, pineapple, and everything in between.

Little did we know when we put these two women head to head, exactly how well matched they were. Both fierce competitors, both fighting week after week, and both taking their turn as leaders of the pack.

The only thing harder than creating their weekly recipes might have been judging the weekly recipes. Recipes were judged on (1) creative use of the ingredient, (2) most likely to be eaten first, (3) best photograph, and (4) reproducibility. Struble Suds, Beantown Baker and you the readers were our esteemed judges for the first fourteen weeks. The foodie who earned the majority of the votes won the overall vote for the week.

At the end of the regular season the score was: Kate, 11 votes vs. Lauren 7 votes.

9/11/09, Sausage
Tie: Lauren: NE vs Buffalo Sausage Balls Kate: Pizza Pie Poppers
9/18/09, Mushroom
Winner Lauren: Marsala Potato Skins
9/24/09, Cheese
Winner Kate: 4th Down Poppers with Sweet Apple Mustard Dip
10/2/09, Potato
Winner Lauren: Sweet Potato Hummus
10/09/09, Sour Cream
Winner Kate: Punting Pumpkin Pies
10/16/09, Asparagus
Tie: Lauren, Frittata Bites. Kate, Asparagus Wrap Up
10/23/09, Black Beans
Winner Kate: Blitz this Black Bean Kielbasa Soup
10/30/09, Hamburger
Tie Lauren: Cheeseburger Kabobs Kate: Tackling Tex Mex Bruschetta
HALF TIME WEEK LONG CHALLENGE: Winner Kate (2 points)
11/13/09, Cayenne
Winner Kate: Triple "S" Snack Sacks
11/20/09, Tortillas
Tie: Lauren, Cheeseburger Quesadillas. Kate, "Lime Backer" Tortilla Chicken Strips
11/27/09, Wine
Winner Kate: "Wine" Receiver Fondue
12/4/09, Onion
Winner Lauren: Brie Stuffed Mushrooms
12/11/09, Pineapple
Winner Kate: Upshot Brownies
12/18/09, Turkey
Winner Kate: Turnover Turkey Ring

Post Season Play: During post season play, Struble Suds and Bean Town Baker each still cast one vote. But, it was the third vote where we switched things up a little bit. Heather, Cheryl, and I agreed to make each recipe and to appoint a panel of celebrity judges who collectively cast the third vote. During play offs, each competitor earned a point for each vote they received - meaning each competitor could earn upwards of three votes per week.

1/8/10, Worcestershire

Lauren: Sloppy Joeys, 2 votes.

Kate: Drop Kick Chip Dip, 1 vote

1/15/10, BBQ Sauce

Lauren: Mesquite Chicken Pizza Sticks, 2 votes.

Kate: Bowl Game BBQ Nachos, 1 vote

The score going into this week's competition was Kate 13 vs. Lauren 11.

In true Lauren and Kate form, it was a contest to the bitter end. The first two votes rolled in earlier this week. Bean Town Baker voted for Lauren. That makes it Kate, 13 vs. Lauren 12. Struble Suds voted next. Their vote went to Lauren, making the score heading into last night, Kate 13 vs. Lauren 13. A TIE!

Recipes were made, dishes tasted, and votes were cast.

The final score is...

1/22/10, Kielbasa

Lauren: Mom's Super Easy Kielbasa Bites, 2 votes

Kate: Inside Pocket Sausage, 1 vote

Kate, 14 vs. Lauren, 13

And the crowd goes wild! What a season it was down to the bitter end.

A true and heartfelt thank you to all the people who helped make the Second Annual Super Bowl Snack Throw Down work. First and foremost, thank you to Kate and Lauren who have been troopers and good sports throughout the entire competition.

Thank you to Bean Town Baker and Struble Suds who graciously accepted our invitations to be guest judges and who provided thorough critiques each week.

Thank you to Heather who really did most of the organizing and to Katie K. who generated many of our weekly polls.

Cheryl, your picture collage is, of course, first rate.

And to Michelle and all the other fans who turned out every week interested in the outcome, thank you.

But wait...

Don't go yet. Tune in next week to find out what secret ingredient Kate must cook with and who she will be up against in Super Bowl XXXXIV.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Got a Minute?

2010-01-26T04:00:00.009-06:00

Whether you are new to our site or a veteran reader who knows exactly what to expect given the Shine logo, there is something in today's post for you.

This week, by the way, is National Take Back Your Time Week.

It's kind of fun to think about taking back your time. I have images of myself marching right up to my three year old son, stomping my feet, and saying, "Give me back the fifteen minutes I had to fight with you about brushing your teeth this morning." Or, how about the person who still uses checks. Wouldn't you love to tap him on the shoulder and ask for the five minutes back you just wasted standing behind him in the check out line?

Truth is, gaining time is a little like losing a bad habit. You never real lose a bad habit, you simply replace it with a new one. The same is true with time. You never really get time back, you just gain more by managing what you have better.

So, if you are Cheryl and this is the Year of Art or Lindsay Marie who is committed to the Year of Yoga, or Peggy all revved up for the Year of Balance, or me determined to make this the Year of the Book, or anyone else excited to make something new happen in 2010, then taking (or making) time is an important topic.

Our friend and companion for the next year, M.J. Ryan, pulls no punches in her book, "This Year I Will..." She explains that, "Falling into the no time trap when it comes to exercising is really like saying to yourself, 'I don't want to work out.' "

And since few of us would admit to such unabashed laziness, we must explore how to steal back the time necessary for making our dreams a reality.

I'll be brief, so I don't end up owing you time.

I lose time when I allow myself to check email and read blog comments throughout the day. I take back my forty wasted minutes when I only check in twice a day. The extra time could be pages towards my book.

I lose time when I stay up late watching Iron Chef on the Food Network. I take back the time when I go to bed at a reasonable hour and am able to wake up thirty minutes earlier. Thirty minutes is just enough time to fold and put away a load of laundry or to edit what I wrote the day before.

I lose time when I don't plan my week in advance, because small pockets of free time are frittered away contemplating what I could be doing if I just had a couple minutes. Taking 30 minutes at the start of the week, to generate a list short tasks, could generate upwards of 70 minutes. That time could be used for reading books about publishing books.

Ryan reminds us, "Time is one of our most precious resources, Even if you can carve out only fifteen minutes a day to devote to your new habit, that's ninety-one hours over the course of one year."

Tell me how you might steal back some time in order to get what you really want this year?

Make it good and your name will go in a drawing to win your very own $25.00 Planner Pad - the best calendar on earth. And if you live close by, I'll throw in a lesson on how to use it.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Box of Shine

2010-01-25T04:00:00.013-06:00

I love writing a daily post where the pictures can do all the talking. I feel like today is one of those days.

Yesterday a small gathering of women joined me to send boxes of sunshine. Our goal? Put a ray of sunshine in the mailboxes of family and friends around the country.

We called the party, Box of Shine.

Theme?

All things yellow!

Each guest brought twelve yellow items and boy, did they get creative! Starbursts, handmade yellow fortune cookies, beautifully packaged yellow jelly beans, seeds for yellow flowers, yellow tea bags, bumble bees, happy faces, yellow toiletry items, m&ms, yellow note cards, calendars, pencils, post-it notes, and MORE!

All I had to do was supply:

Boxes, tubes, and mailing envelopes...

Packaging tape...

Ribbons and stickers...

Shred...

Scissors, notecards, and markers, and...

Fun stickers to decorate the outside of our packages (compliments of Cheryl).

Include yellow food (compliments of my culinary friends)

Some decorations

Insert great company...

Put it all together and what do you get?

It was a great afternoon of friends, fun, and food - topped off with 31 boxes of shine.It might be mid-January and cold where you are, but for a brief time yesterday at my house it was warm and shining!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: Atlanta

2010-01-23T04:00:00.002-06:00

It's been a week and I'm still thinking about Sanjay Gupta, the CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, whose work in Port au Prince on January 17 exemplified what it means to shine!

I know we pride ourselves on using the Yellow Envelope Project to recognize every day people who do extraordinary things and that you might not think Gupta is an "ordinary" guy. It's true he is regularly on t.v., but t.v. or no t.v., I maintain he is a deserved recipient of this week's Yellow Envelope Project.

Despite other doctors and nurses leaving, due to alleged security issues, Gupta stayed overnight as the lone doctor on duty in a Port au Prince field hospital. Gupta shines because he listened to his conscience instead of giving into fear. I want to know, if the tables were turned, there would be compassionate people like Gupta, willing to pitch in and do their part. Click here to get the full story.

Please join me in sending Sanjay Gupta a short note in a yellow envelope. Tell him what you think about his staying to tend to those 25 patients. Tell him he shines!

Remember to print the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address. Final note: it would be nice to have a good showing this week, as I am sure his inbox is full and we want our envelopes to get noticed.

P.O. Box 105366

One CNN Center

Atlanta, Georgia 30348

Signing off until tomorrow...

Free For All Friday: Technical Difficulties

2010-01-22T04:00:00.006-06:00

T.G.I.F. everyone!

Click below, but don't blink. We experienced quite a few technical difficulties while taping, so who knows how much of today's video will actually transmit.

Don't forget to visit www.thebreastcancersite.com and to click on the words, "donating a mammogram." Get 10 other people to visit and help provide mammograms to underprivileged women.

Finally, win the unclaimed rooster cookie cutter by sharing suggestions for fun ways we might celebrate Highlowaha's upcoming anniversary week. Coming your way in mid-February!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Labor of Love

2010-01-21T04:00:00.003-06:00

Months and months ago I did a post on a concept explained by Malcolm Gladwell as Concerted Cultivation. In his book, Outliers, Gladwell shared research showing that children whose parents cultivated their skills and interests ultimately outperformed children whose parents did not.

What Gladwell was saying - in Highlowaha language - is that a child's inherent talents and gifts will shine brighter when their interests are supported by parents.

I'm here to say that Concerted Cultivation or shining or whatever you want to call it takes time and is tiring.

In December my middle son gotten bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. He sold pine cone ornaments in our neighborhood and $22.00 later got a taste of what it feels like to be a boss. I think he decided it suited him well. This, of course, was right up Richard's alley, as he's an entrepreneur and could cultivate til the cows came home. He and Richard held lots of business meetings, one of which was Richard explaining to Matthew that, in order to continue making money, he had to "feed the roots."

Mostly Matthew didn't want to hear much about "feeding the roots" and instead wanted to blow his whole wad of cash on Bakugons and candy. Finally, after some additional cultivation from me, Matthew decided it would be acceptable to part with $6.48 to "feed the roots" of his business and create our next product.

Valentine cards with a twist.

But, first...

Here's where the theoretics of Concerted Cultivation meets the realities of implementation. Who do you think was really helping Matthew trace, decorate, stencil, cut, glue, and stamp his 40 handmade Valentine cards?

You got it.

Oh, and by the way... fifteen minute increments. That was the longest a work shift could last before Matthew was ready to move on to something new. About the same amount of time it took to get all the supplies out and set up.

But, right on schedule Matthew's cards are done and he's ready to start selling. According to him, "Two dollars per card or as much as you are willing to pay."

Take a look.

White puzzles mounted on hearts of either red or pink card stock and then decorated with complementary hearts cut from stencils.

Each puzzle valentine was placed in a brown bag, along with a decorated white envelope. Brown bags were stamped with pink and purple DO-A-DOT paints from Crayola and a white heart (compliments of mom) reading, "Thrill Your Valentine to Pieces."

Instructions are placed on the back of each bag to assure ease of use.

A small display showing a "Before" and "After" shot.

And, of course, the 0h-so-important-carrying case that allows Matthew to peddle his wares through neighborhoods, parks, his school, and - if he has it his way - through the grocery store with Richard on Saturday morning.

Matthew is excited about the prospect of 40 valentines at $2.00 a pop, but he is also excited to donate $0.50 per card sold to Haitian Relief (that's a Concerted Cultivation conversation for another blog post).

Me? I'm excited for this second little business venture to come to its natural cultivated conclusion. I also think I'll make a concerted effort to have Matthew's next project involve wood, nails, a jig saw and the sundry other tools taking up space in Richard's half of the garage.

Limited edition cards. Get yours today.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Bon Voyage

2010-01-20T04:00:00.004-06:00

Pola, our favorite exchange student, leaves on a 4:50 p.m. flight this afternoon, so closure has been on my mind. Today's post started out as a review of last night's dinner and a short segment on the importance of formally bringing closure to community.

Years ago I co-authored a work book for student leaders and the final chapter was dedicated to suggested activities someone like an resident assistant could do with students on her floor. Whether with an exchange student or a group of 70 residents, the principles are the same...

Organize a celebratory event, chock full of balloons and themed decorations.

Serve food, since food has a magical way of bringing people together (hamburgers were Pola's request for her last American meal).

Facilitate an interactive activity, allowing people to share their feelings and memories.

Top it off with a little comfort food to soothe the pain that comes with sadness (apparently brownies are uniquely American),

A keepsake to commemorate the experience, and of course...

a final photo to document your cherished time together.

A recap of principles and a tribute to Pola is how today's post started.

Really though, this post isn't about closure. It's really about the time spent together that makes closure between people seem warranted. We got to host Pola for 104 days and in that time she became part of our family. We got to know that she loves ice cream, hates waking up early, loves spending time with her girlfriends, but could do without our dog May Day. She got teased by Richard and Ricky, jumped on my Matthew and Jack, spoiled by her U.S. grandmas, and doted on by me - the only other girl in the house.

She became part of the family.

We laughed when Richard paid her $10.00 to finally make a decision in 30 minutes or less, listened when she cried about missing home, cringed when she put milk in her orange juice, and watched with admiration at the discipline required to earn "A"s in classes not taught in her native language.

Last night we brought closure to Pola living in our home. The truth, though, is that our connection to Pola is just beginning.

I think that's the way it's supposed to go with real communities, isn't it?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Happy Hunting

2010-01-19T04:00:00.016-06:00

For some of us, today is our first day back to work after a long weekend.

What better way to start the week than with a health dose of SHINE?!?!

It seems we are in good company. The Secret Society of Happy People declared this week, Seventh Annual Hunt for Happiness Week. As is the case with happy people who shine, they are no slackers. Click here to check out their website.

But, do more than check out their website.

Commit right here, right now.

Commit that this week you will do something in pursuit of happiness.

Write in a journal * splurge on a treat * flip through a fun magazine * get your blood pumping * introduce yourself to someone new * pay a compliment, make a coffee date * take a walk with a loved one * day dream, fill your house with the smell of chocolate chip cookies * do a favor for someone, flip through old photographs * reconnect with an old friend * send a package, de-clutter your home * meet your postman, learn something new about yourself * name your year(!) * find some quiet time * do something daring * write a letter to someone you would like to meet * check something off your to-do list * tell your family you love them * swing on a swing * color in a coloring book * find shapes in the clouds * play a board game * pamper your feet * listen to a favorite CD * Print the word, "Shine" somewhere in sidewalk chalk...

What will you do?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Psst... It's That Time

2010-01-18T04:00:00.004-06:00

My sensitivities are heightened.

Highlowaha's familiar monthly ritual feels especially important this month. As I watch the devastation in Haiti I am reminded, that despite how busy our lives get, there is always time to be interested in the well being of other people.

Those of you new to our community should applaud yourselves for your impeccable timing. You joined us on the one day of the month when we replace regularly scheduled creativity, inspiration, and personal development with "highs," "lows," and "ahas."

Rules of play are easy.

Join our comment section and share you "highs" for the month (best things that happened to you); "lows" for the month (worst things that happened to you); and "ahas" (things you've learned).

That's it. Easy peasy.

I'll get us going...

Highs: Temperatures in the high 60s and sunshine; exciting professional opportunities for me... (and actually for my husband too); visiting with my parents and sisters; seeing the musical, Memphis; showing New York to our German Exchange Student; Christmas through the eyes of my children; finally ordering drapes for our kitchen; sharing exciting news and coffees with friends; preparing for ground to be broken on the infamous Beeny pool; American Idol, season 9 has started; finishing a project I've been working on for quite some time; and the Yellow Envelope Project.

Lows: The obvious devastation in Haiti; thinking about all the Haitian orphans; my youngest son moves on from his favorite teacher, beginning today; Our German exchange student leaves on Wednesday; bottomless laundry baskets; a sick family friend and aging parents; life's inevitable disappointments; and dry feet.

Ahas: We have three brains and our emotional brain will sabotage our thinking brain if it thinks it can keep us from discomfort or pain; history of Festivus; a GREAT book I can't wait to share with you!; I am disciplined and good at managing my own time; and I have way more "highs" than "lows" in my life.

Your turn. Hope to see you in the comment section.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: Haiti

2010-01-16T04:00:00.002-06:00

A small departure in the color of today's envelope.

If you are anything like me, you are consumed with what is going on in Haiti right now. I sit staring at the t.v. screen, overwhelmed by the devastation they are forced to endure, and struck with the enormity of work that is to be done.

I'm left thinking the Haitian situation looks helpless and wondering what my small, gesture could possibly to do impact the gravity of their situation. But, part of shining is not absolving yourself from being part of a solution, just because the problem seems bigger than something a single person can fix.

About the only thing I can think to do is donate money. My check seems infinitesimal in relation to their problems and I don't even know that my donation will be used for its intended purpose. But, it's all I know to do right now and not doing it would seem a little like passing someone on the street who was crying out in pain. I like to think I wouldn't turn my back.

If you haven't already, how about using today's envelope to send the American Red Cross a small donation? The amount isn't important - $5.00, $10,00, $25.00, or $218.00. Today's gesture is more experiencing the high of what it means to SHINE!

American Red Cross

Haitian Relief Fund

P.O. Box 37243

Washington, D.C. 20013

Signing off until Monday.

Come Spin the Wheel of Love

2010-01-15T04:00:00.000-06:00

Have you started thinking about your sweetheart? It's time to do a little bit of planning. You have one month from yesterday to think of how to tell your loved ones how you love them. I am not a card maker and there are way more qualified than me to be telling you how to make this card.

Hi Peggy.

But here's the idea. I saw the photographed Menu Wheel on Design*Sponge. And, honestly I didn't think much of it. It was designed for a wedding reception as the menu. Cute but I didn't think I had to make it. Then I saw this design on You Are My Fave where Melanie had taken the above design and transformed it into an invitation to a baby shower. This is where I fell in love. And when I thought I fell in love I thought of Valentine's Day and I've been waiting to share it with you.

Melanie thought her invitations were too homemade looking but I think they are adorable. Now, she said to email her if you were thinking of making them for tips but I didn't do that. And, I didn't follow the instructions at Design*Sponge either.

I just gathered my materials and went for it. So gather some supplies. I had Valentine's Day paper, poster board, little cardboard hearts, scissors, some heart, heart brads, glue, a compass or something to draw circles.

I drew a circle using the compass. My pink paper was thin so I glued it to poster board for more support.

For the second sheet of paper I just eyeballed how big I wanted it to be in reference to my first circle. I wanted to leave about a quarter of an inch on the edge of the large circle so I could write the beginnings of a message there. I used the cardboard heart below as my arrow.

I tried using two hearts as the shape for my window but I didn't like the way it looked so I just cut a regular window. Then cut one last smaller circle and a heart. Centering the hearts proved to be a bit of a challenge but I'm not one of those perfectionist people so I just assembled it as close as I could get it. The cardboard heart on the side points to the beginning of the message.

The second part of the message will show through the window you cut. Now both Design*Sponge and Melanie printed out their messages and glued them to the wheel. But, I like the homemade charm of it and just wrote the messages in marker.

So on the edge below I wrote, "You make me happy when..."

The second part of the message is revealed in the window...

Assembling the front part of the wheel to back part with the brad was also a little difficult and mine spins a little caddywampus but that's okay. It made me laugh.

So, what will you be telling your sweetie this Valentine's Day?

And, you've seen three versions of the wheel card... a menu, an invitation and a Valentine's Day card... what other great ideas can you share with us?

Signing off until tomorrow...

Diagnosis

2010-01-14T04:00:00.006-06:00

Dust off your notes from last week and get comfortable.

Today we will continue thinking about how we will shine in 2010. It is true that the introduction of this topic coincided with the new year, but this work is in not like the same old empty resolutions you have made in the past. Shine 2010, is an experience designed to help uncover some of the things standing between you and your dreams and to begin chipping away at them.

Shine 2010 is less about resolutions and more about how to live your best life.

If you are excited by the possibilities, but haven't joined us until today, revisit posts from January 4, 5, 6, 7, and the video from January 8.

We'll start today's activity with a short personal story. It will help illuminate a point made in M.J. Ryan's chapter titled, "What Need Is Being Served By What You Are Doing Now?"

I lived in a house with loving and devoted parents. My father was an English teacher and my mother stayed home during most of our formative years. Later she worked as florist in a New York City. Somehow my parent's were able to make most things work on their modest wages. There were piano lessons for my sister Ellen, dance lessons for Ann, school uniforms, summer camp, cultural experiences in the city, healthy home cooked meals, braces, and the list goes on.

Money was a stressor though. I knew it was, because I could hear my parents talking at the kitchen table long after they thought we were asleep. I overheard phone conversations where money was a topic of conversation and, though young and self-centered, I understood that the expense of Ann's ballet, Ellen's private college tuition, and my after school activities amounted to more than most teacher salaries could handle comfortably. They worried about money, so I worried about money.

In retrospect, I think my childhood experience taught me to believe money is scarce and that I should be thankful for what I have.

My parent's experience with money has shaped me and even influenced my decision making. I grew up appreciating my steady job in higher education. I knew I might never get rich in my chosen career, but rich was in no way what I was striving for. Like my father, I was proud of being an educator and enjoying the modest, but stable benefits of working in education.

It worked for a while.

In 2007, a move from Kentucky to Texas meant leaving my job and being unemployed for the first time in my life. Surprisingly, when I left the job I was not upset. Time in the field slowly made me more impatient and more discouraged than when I first started working. I was ready for the break.

Then I met all of you. I started this blog and realized I loved being creative, I loved writing, and I loved being the impetus for people coming together in community. I loved reading in the morning, writing in the afternoon, and generally controlling the way I spent my days.

But how impractical. Money is scarce and I should be thankful for the opportunities I've been given. I needed to look for a job. Besides... it's work that matters, it's steady, the insurance is good, and higher education is what I received all my formal training in.

I began pounding the pavement and, after a only a few disappointments, found a position in higher education that I believed would be a good fit. And, for the most part it was.

At least for a while.

Slowly I realized my days as part of the administration were filled with more red tape than writing and my creativity was more about circumventing systems than it was about creating value. I grew increasingly aware of the disconnect between how I was spending my days and how I wished I could be spending my days. Time made it more clear that, my ideal career was no longer as part of the administration. It really is as a consultant, teacher, trainer, writer, and researcher.

How impractical, though. Money is scarce and I should be thankful for what I have.

Still, I left my job for the chance to build my dream career. This time by choice and fully aware it would mean doing without extras afforded by a steady paycheck. I am nervous, but I am also more invigorated than I have been in a long time. I wake up each day ready to read and write and committed to turning my decision into my dream. The Year of the Book.

Now to the point of Ryan's question - What need is being met by what you are doing now?

There were a number of needs being met by my career in higher education - the chance to work with students; believing I was shaping future citizens; working with smart, motivated people; driving up to work on a college campus every day; the status of holding titles valued by others; the ability to relocate easily if interested, and, of course, a steady paycheck with little chance of ever being unemployed.

But....

As pointed out by M.J. Ryan, in her book, This Year I Will...", we unknowingly do things that run counter to our goals and dreams, because our actions fill some need. My returning to work and staying in the position for as long as I did, filled my emotional need to feel financially safe and secure. Ryan explains, "Because we are not conscious of what we are doing, the strategy we chose to solve the problem eventually becomes a bigger problem than the original one."

Here's what that looks like for me...

"Because we are not conscious of what we are doing, the strategy (taking a stable job at a university) we use to solve the problem (stability over pursuit of passion) eventually becomes a bigger problem than the original one (fear of not having enough money)."

Understandably, some of you will want to dismiss my example, because you are stuck on my having the choice to leave my position and pursue something different. Duly noted.

So, forget about me and my Year of the Book. Let's make this about you and your year.

What need is being served by what you are currently doing... but that you hope to change in 2010?

Phew! That's a workout.

Signing off until tomorrow...

B.Y.O.B.

2010-01-13T04:00:00.009-06:00

My sister and I shared bunk beds. She on hers and me on mine, Ellen and I dreamed for hours about what life would be like when we were adults and finally calling the shots.

Our parents lived on wheat germ, nuts, grilled vegetables, homemade yogurt, and lots of raw broccoli. Our dreams, therefore, were about junk food. And, lots of it!

We insisted we would eat ice cream every day. We wold have Hostess Twinkies in our cabinets, Mallomars in every cookie jar, soda flowing freely from all our faucets, and chips always on hand. Breakfast, the most important meal of the day, would start off just right - with sweet cereal in big bowls. Yes, we dreamed about the day we would have our own homes and could finally stock our cabinets with the good stuff.

We didn't let our parents unfortunate health habits dissuade us. Every Saturday the family made our weekly trip to Bohaks, a supermarket in the next town over. Each week we wandered the aisles, looking longingly at all the fun treats - not the Fruit Cocktail and shortbread cookies my mother called dessert. When we got to the Sweet Cereal aisle it was always the same plea. "Just one box. Come on. We'll never ask again. Pretty please, with sugar on top." Ok, maybe not "the sugar on top" part. That would be adding insult to injury, wouldn't it?

January 13, 1973. Thirty-seven years ago. That was the year my father buckled. Standing right there in the cereal aisle, he conceded. Yes, to sweet cereal. One box on this one day each year.

I haven't missed a Sweet Cereal Day since.

Even while I was in college living in Manzanita Hall, where bottomless canisters of sweet cereal could be found everywhere and my parents could be found nowhere, I still only treated myself to sweet cereal on the much anticipated January 13. Wherever I go, so goes this favorite family tradition. New York, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, back to Georgia, Kentucky, and then back to Texas again.

Today I celebrate with my boys. One box Captain Crunch. One box Sugar Smacks. One box Coco Puffs. One box for breakfast. One box for lunch. And, one box for dinner.

Join me, won't you? But, it's B.Y.O.B. (Bring your own box). Which box of sweet cereal will you be bringing?

Signing off until tomorrow when I should start coming down from my sugar high!

Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge: January

2010-01-12T04:00:00.001-06:00

Psych.

I bet many of you returners thought we forgot about this month's Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge. Not a chance. We simply bumped the challenge from its regularly scheduled time slot, so we could make room for last week's mini series, Resolutions 101.

We're back, baby.

Challenge Overview. Each month I select an occasion worth celebrating. You, the readers, get in on the fun by scouring the 600 + cookie cutters sold on Fancy Flours' website. The goal? Select the cookie cutter you think I will have the most difficulty incorporating into my celebration. You might think airplane for National Ice Cream Month, A porcupine for Earth Day, a mermaid for my husband's birthday, or a rooster for Festivus. All are good examples of the lengths to which our readers have gone in challenging me to think outside the box.

My challenge. Incorporate the winning cookie cutter into my celebration for the month by baking them, decorating them, and then packaging them with either a winning slogan or presentation.

Let the fun commence.

This month we will be celebrating National Fun at Work Day, scheduled for Friday, January 29. Have your own fun at work today by clicking here and voting on the cookie cutter you think I should have to use this month. Remember, keep it fun. Make it hard.

Once you've decided, jump into the comment section and cast your vote. The cookie cutter receiving the most votes wins.

And while you are at it... how about sharing other ideas you might have for making Friday, January 29 fun at work (especially if work is at home!). If we're lucky, maybe Heather will jump in a describe her recent Office Olympics (for which her team received the silver medal!).

On your marks, get set, vote!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Paper Chase

2010-01-11T04:00:00.004-06:00

It's not often I reference a book from more than 20 years ago, but when I read that today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day, I knew precisely what I wanted to do and whose help I would need.

Name, Barbara Hemphill. Book, Taming the Paper Tiger.

I was a Resident Assistant in college, always on the prowl for a good floor program. Managing paper (especially then) was a relevant and good life skill for the 75 residents living on my floor. So, I took the work of Barbara Hemphill and turned it into an award winning floor program. Eventually I developed a reputation, and even a following, for my presentation of Hemphill's no-nonsense approach to managing the paper in your life. I presented her material in graduate school, at conferences as a young professional, and still - even today - you might find my boys strapped to chairs, forced to listen to me rant... and rave.

There are 198 pages of no-nonsense ideas packed into Hemphill's book, but today I am only sharing two pages - five points.

Go directly to your closest stack of papers. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.00. Ask yourself these five questions and prepare to be ruthless:

Is this only for my information and now I know it? My mother is great about sending me parenting and work-related articles from the New York Times. When an article arrives, I read it and then pitch it. Same with magazines.
Does this information exist elsewhere? In 1989 this was a more legitimate question. Now, in the age of Google and search engines, this question is reserved for items such as contracts, receipts, warranty information, etc...
Is this information recent enough to be useful? Old menus,to-do lists, advertisements, promotional materials, and schedules are of little value. Pitch them.
Under what circumstances would you want this information? If your answer is "just in case" then pitch it. If you don't know exactly how you would use the information then it is unlikely you will remember you have it or be able to find it should the time ever come.
Finally, what is the worst possible thing that could happen if you didn't have this piece of paper? If you are willing to live with the consequences, toss it immediately.

If you are interested in knowing what Hemphill says you should do with what's remaining, gather forces and make noise letting me know. Otherwise, I will leave it at this, assuming I would be preaching to an already organized choir.

One more point. Hemphill's book is 21 years old. If you are anything like me, the desk top on your computer could be every bit as messy as your physical desk top - even more! What advice would you share for organizing the files, emails, and other data accumulating on your computer?

I would suggest printing off today's post and presenting it someone you think should be celebrating "National Clean off Your Desk Day," but it seems a little ironic. Maybe with an additional note saying, "Start Here."

Signing off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: New York

2010-01-09T04:00:00.001-06:00

My affection for educators is starting to show, isn't it? Two weeks ago we recognized a first grade teacher and now, two weeks later, the Yellow Envelope Project has set it's sights on yet another dedicated educator.

Before we introduce this week's recipient, a quick run through of how it the Yellow Envelope Project works. Each week the Yellow Envelope Project honors someone who shines and who, in turn, makes her community a brighter place. We a small, but committed force for good, each commit to writing a short note recognizing their excellence ("I-heard-what-you-did-and-I think-it's-great type thing). We agree to send our notes in a yellow envelope (or white decorated with yellow stickers or markers) and to put the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address. Mail within the week, so you're ready to go again next Saturday.

Below is a brief explanation of why Lynn should be this week's recipient...

My son switched schools last year after my husband and I split up, and was placed in the classroom of the most wonderful teacher I've ever met. We quickly realized that he was behind in reading especially, since the expectations were much higher in his new school. Mrs. Lynn Cheche Baker took him under her wing.

Now a year later, he is doing so well, because of her hard work and dedication, and because of the other wonderful people we've been working with. She tutors him still, every Tuesday. She has several students who come to her house for lessons- some even ride the school bus to her house.

She has recently had to take on the care of her father, as well... so her already hectic schedule has become even more so. She is still cheerful and dedicated to making these children succeed in school, and loves them all so much. My son tells her that he loves her when he leaves, and she does the same. For anyone to motivate my 10 year old ADHD child, and change his life, such as she did, deserves recognition!!

Lynn's address is...

Lynn Cheche Baker

7144 Mutton Hill Rd.

Auburn, NY 13021

Signing off until Monday...

Free For All Friday: New Year, New You

2010-01-08T04:00:00.002-06:00

T.G.I.F.

We are warming up in the new year (a figure of speech, as it is a chilly 26 degrees outside right now).

We don't have a lot of ground to cover, but it's a good start to the new year. Don't miss our update about the Super Bowl Snack Throw Down...

Signing off until tomorrow...

Smarty Pants

2010-01-07T04:00:00.001-06:00

Recap.

All this week we've rolled up our sleeves and worked hard to set the stage for a rewarding 2010. On Monday we named our years - committing to the single thing we most want to achieve. Tuesday we outsmarted our Emotional Brain by generating a long list of easy, fun, new, and different reasons why attaining our goals is a good thing. Wednesday we got a boost of confidence while taking a long stroll down victory lane. We reviewed all of our past successes and reacquainted ourselves with the skills and strengths that have served us so well.

We will finish the week strong by getting S.M.A.R.T.

After today we will continue providing insights and suggestions, but the schedule will be more sporadic. Keep your eyes open for the great logo pictured above. When you see the yellow bulls eye, you will know what is in store.

For now...

I cannot set you free until I at least know you've taken these next few steps, as suggested by M.J. Ryan in her book titled, This Year I Will....

Here we go.

Goal and dreams are far more likely to manifest when they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Bound. Sounds obvious and intuitive, I know. But, amuse me and play along. It's one thing to think you get it. It's another to actually do the work.

Again, we'll use me and my Year of the Book to illustrate.

Specific: First of all, you recognize my goal for 2010 was not something general such as "Find a more fulfilling career." or "Live my dream as a writer." No, my goal is specific. Write a book. Next year at this time I will either have done it - or not. You must make sure your goal/resolution for 2010 is specific.

Measurable: For me, measurement is easy. I've either written a book or I haven't. Write it and render myself successful. Don't and start beating myself up. Yet, not all resolutions or goals lend themselves to measurement as easily. Let's take a look at a few of your goals.

Cheryl, Year of Art

Measurement is fairly straight forward. She's either created some art or not.

Chaotic, Year of Cards

Also, fairly measurable. She might set a goal for a particular number of cards she wants to create or, better yet, a certain number she plans to sell.

Robin, Year of Me

Robin's is a little harder to measure. Robin's goal doesn't lend itself to the same kind of measurement as either mine, Cheryl's or Chaotic's. Instead, we might ask Robin to assign a number from 1-5 indicating how well "me" is being taken care of right now. Say she says "1.5." Her measurable goal might be to move from 1.5 to a "4" before year's end.

Achievable. This element of goal setting is a question of being realistic. It is not realistic for me to believe that next year at this time my book will be sitting on a shelf somewhere in Barnes & Noble or that my agent will have booked me on Oprah's final episode. Instead, I will set an achievable goal - Complete a book that is ready to mailed to publishers for review.

Relevant: While my stated goal was not to "find a more fulfilling career" or "live my dream as a writer," the fact that I would like to be a writer is precisely what makes it my goal work. Writing a book is relevant, because it directly relates to my future career goals. If yoga, decorating your house, art, balance, talking on the phone, organization, and the many other goals listed on Monday do not REALLY matter to you, then they are not relevant and they will be too easy to drop. If I am describing your situation then, quick abandon ship and establish a new goal for 2010.

Time Bound. This, according to Ryan, refers to creating a time in the future when you will be "done" Again, mine is easy. I must be done by December 2010. Book finished. Peggy's Year of Balance, on the other hand, is a little trickier. She's working on a goal she hopes will persist for the rest of her life. Instead, she might create milestones along the way. "In six months I will have...." Or, "In eight months my reported level of balance will move from 2.5 to 3.5."

No time boundary no completion. Simple as that.

Watch how it works.... I will finish today's post in 25 words or less.

Go to the comment section and share some of the work you've done on your S.M.A.R.T goals. Inquiring minds want to help.

Join the -

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

2010-01-06T04:00:00.003-06:00

Things are heating up as many Highlowaha readers are getting into thick of discovering how to make their resolutions and dreams come true in 2010.

It's not too late to join in, but you have a little catching up to do. Read below.

Review for Those Just Dropping In

Inspired by M.J. Ryan's book titled, This Year I Will, our community has already engaged in two activities - with the promise of many more as 2010 progresses. On Monday we considered "soul resolutions," and named our years. I named my year the Year of the Book. Others followed suit with the Years of Decorating, Art, Family, Balance, Cards, Organization, Routine, Yoga, and many more.

Yesterday we worked to outsmart our Limbic Systems. Sounds serious, I know. While the Neocortex (our third brain) is busy generating all kinds of creative ideas about changes we'd like to make in our lives, the Limbic System (our second brain) automatically puts the kibosh on anything that might cause you pain or fear. The temporary discomfort involved in creating a new habit is just enough put your second brain in a tizzy.

The only solution, as advised by Ryan, is to outsmart your Limbic system. We do this by selling it on all the easy, fun, new, and different benefits of meeting our resolutions. I, for instance, decided writing a book would allow me to meet new people while sitting in Starbucks four hours each day, provide me a flexible schedule, improve my writing skills, give me cause to do something I already enjoy, leave behind a legacy, and meet Oprah.

Onward and upward. Day 3.

Cheryl, Robin, Lindsay, Mandi, Holly, Heather, and all you other folks who anted up with a resolution... today we must work on your confidence. Sounds hokey, I know, but the truth is you must believe it to achieve it. Tony Robbins, look out!

Confidence, according to Ryan, keeps our emotional brain out of fight or flight fear AND serves as a reminder to our thinking brain (Neocortex) that we can achieve our goals. Yes, confidence is key.

Let's use me as an example. I want to write a book in 2010. It is essential I have confidence in order to complete the process, yet writing a book is something I know nothing about.

Void of genuine confidence, my Limbic System will kick in and fill my head with all sorts of reasons why I can't pursue my goal. I'm busy with three kids. I'm not an expert. Hours invested over the next year will be time wasted if nothing comes of it. There's probably already a book on the topic I am interested in. I'm not that good at punctuation, anyway. It'll never be a best seller. I have no idea what I'll even do with the book once it's written. What do I even know about publishing? Oh, and the list could go on.

Solution. Develop a Competence Inventory.

Think back to 4-6 accomplishments you've had in your life time. Write down the skills and strengths you employed in order to achieve each. Once completed, analyze your list to determine which skills and strengths you used repeatedly.

Your confidence will grow when you realize those very same skills and strengths - when employed - will allow you to successfully achieve your goal for 2010.

I'll get us rolling.

Accomplishments include completing my Ph.D., posting a blog every day for almost two years, sailing on Semester at Sea, establishing a Women in Research group while living in Kentucky, finally got drapes in my dining room; and bouncing back after a tougher than expected transition to Texas.

I went through each accomplishment and listed which skills and strengths I employed repeatedly. In the end, I determined the skills and strengths that will serve me best in successfully writing my book are: my ability to focus, my discipline in setting and sticking to a schedule, and my willingness to take initiative.

How about you?

What accomplishments have you had in your lifetime? How can you use the same skills and strengths responsible for past achievements to help you reach your goal for 2010?

Hop on Board.

Join the journey.

Brain Teaser

2010-01-05T04:00:00.007-06:00

Science 101: We have three brains not one.

First. The Reptilian Brain: Breathe in, breathe out. This is the oldest and most instinctive part of ourselves. It is the part of the brain responsible for our breathing, our heartbeat and all other body functions. It repeats behaviors over and over, never adapting and never learning. The goal of the reptilian brain to preserve life at all costs.

Second. The Limbic System: This is the second brain. This is our emotional brain, concerned with feelings. The emotional brain isn't very smart. It understands "pleasant" or "painful," and "safety" or "danger." The limbic system moves toward pleasure and away from pain.

Third. The Neocortex: This is our thinking brain - the place where we decide we want to do something different.

Pay attention. Here's the big point...

Big Point. Depending on what our desired change is, how it is presented, and what we've done in the past, our Emotional Brain may not cooperate. Remember our Emotional Brain scans for pleasure and safety. According to Ryan, "That is whey we so often "sabotage" ourselves - If the change seems like it's too scary, too hard, or no fun, your emotional brain is going to work against it."

Solution. Get your Emotional Brain to cooperate with your Neocortex by figuring out what will be fun, new, easy, and different about developing this new habit or achieving this new goal.

Today's activity. Spend some time mulling over this question. What could be easy, fun, new, and different about creating this new habit of yours? Jot some notes on the paper you tucked away after yesterday's activity.

But... according to Ryan, "Allow your creative thinking to percolate over the next few days. The more you can find what is fun and enjoyable about what you want, the more your emotional brain will cooperate."

Never Too Late: Some of you jumped on yesterday's activity like white on rice. Others participated but didn't post, and still others are slow adopters riding the wave to see if it's worth the effort. It is.

Kudos to all of you who jumped right in and named your year. Of those willing to share in the comment section, so far it seems we have:

The Year of the Book (me)

The Year of the Phone (Katie)

The Year of Art (Cheryl)

The Year of Yoga (Lindsay)

The Year of Organization (Holly)

The Year of Decorating (Heather)

The Year of Balance (Peggy)
The Year of Me (Robin) and

The Year of the Card Company (Chaotic).

Our questions. We want to know, what could be easy, fun, new, and different about...

writing a book

mastering the telephone

producing art

delving into yoga

getting more organized

decorating my home

achieving balance
focusing on self; and

launching a card company?

Who wants to start? Join us in the comment section and share some of your preliminary thoughts about what's easy, fun, new, and different about your resolution - or anybody else's for that matter.

Holly... Being more organized will free up time, create less stress, and make your home more aesthetically pleasing.

Join the Journey.

On Target

2010-01-04T04:00:00.004-06:00

Make this year the perfect 10 that it can be.

Grab a piece of paper and pen and meet me back here in a minute or two. Today we're talking resolutions.

Don't ignore me. I know you are thinking, "I don't set resolutions, because I never end up keeping them." I know that's what you're thinking, because Cheryl was at my house for dinner last night and that's exactly what she proclaimed.

But, like Cheryl, you shine. You won't ignore me, because deep inside hope springs eternal and you believe all things are possible - even your capacity to make a dream come true.

Got your paper? Good. You'll be working with this same sheet of paper for the next four days, so once we're done for today, find a good, safe place to store it until we meet again tomorrow. With a little effort on your part and a touch of luck on my part, you might just learn something this week.

Side note. Highlowaha has been undergoing a slow evolution over the past year or so. We've gone from dealing exclusively in creative ideas to periodically delving into the art of shining and, on occasion, sharing an inspirational story or two. I like where we're going and I hope you do too. This week is a formal acknowledgment of the direction in which our community is already moving.

I just finished a book by M.J. Ryan titled, This Year I Will...: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True. While admittedly I enjoy self-help books, even a jaded skeptic could find something of interest in these 220 pages. But, no need to rush out and buy it. That's what I'm here for.

The plan. Each day this week we will do something interactive based on readings in Ryan's book. Then, a few times a month, for the rest of the year, I will do follow-up segments to address the more than forty other interesting points she makes. In fact, you will know we are doing follow up each time you see the great looking logo (designed by Cheryl) at the top of the post. If you are a willing partner and have an interest in shining, I know you will get something from out time together.

Let's begin.

Soul resolutions. Ryan maintains resolutions such as, " lose ten pounds by June", "live a more balanced life", or "learn to play the guitar" are doomed for failure because they are not, at their core, soul resolutions. Soul resolutions are based on saying yes to your deepest longings. Example. Instead of "Lose ten pounds by June," it might be "Care for my body so that I can continue to feel the pleasure of being fit and fully alive as I grow older."

Below is Ryan's suggestion for how to arrive at your soul resolution:

Write every goal you think you'd like to accomplish in the next twenty years. Write as fast as possible.
Then write the number of years you want it to take (one, five, ten, or twenty).
Circle the top four one-year goals that you want the most.
Write down some things you may need to do that you don't want to in order to make these goals happen.
Choose the goal that you are willing to do the hard things for.

Bottom line. In the words of Ryan, " What do you care enough about to apply the necessary elbow grease? What do you want badly enough to keep front and center in your life? To make sacrifices of time and energy for?"

Me? I want to write a book.

Later in her book, Ryan suggests naming the year. She maintains that, "by naming the year we give our thinking something to crystallize around, so we increase the likelihood of doing what we intend."

For me, Claudia K. Beeny, 2010 will be the Year of the Book.

Your turn. Take some time. Respond to the four bulleted questions/points listed above. Mull over your answer and then visit us in the comment section to tell us what you intend to name your year.

Change starts here. Yes, it will take time - maybe even 30 minutes. But, you're worth it and the investment you make will make the rest of the week a whole lot more interesting. There are no shortcuts to fulfilling your dreams.

Join the journey.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: Florida

2010-01-02T04:00:00.003-06:00

Start 2010 off right. Make a resolution that you'll join this committed group of readers in carrying out our Yellow Envelope Project. The rules of play are easy.

Each Saturday I submit the name of someone who shines in his or her corner of the world. Their contribution might not be massive - no fifteen minutes of fame, no feature on the Today Show, no write up in the newspaper, and no fancy award presented or statue is erected. What makes these people shine is their willingness to improve their corner of the world while expecting no recognition.

Take five minutes to write a short note, thanking our recipient for making her corner of the world a brighter place. Place your note in a yellow envelope (or a white one, decorated with yellow markers). Print the words "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address and be sure to mail it sometime before another name appears next week. Then, sit back knowing your gesture will work some magic.

Recent news coverage of happenings in Afghanistan and Pakistan are unfortunate reminders that our soldiers are still in harms way. Please join me in honoring today's recipient, Kristin. Kristen, together with her friends, is doing her part to make a difference in the lives of our overseas soldiers.

She is awesome, Kristin and her friends have become involved in Operation: Baking Gals in recent months and bake for soldiers oversees monthly. She loves sending mail to friends and family to brighten their days, so being selected would make her month.

Kristin's address is...

Kristin
5400 26th St. W Unit I-138
Bradenton, FL 34207

And, for a little icing on the cake... feel free to send us an email to info@highlowaha.com nominating someone you think is deserves to be recognized through Highlowaha's Yellow Envelope Project. All we need is a first name, and address, and a short paragraph explaining what makes your nominee shine!

Signing off until Monday.

Psst...

2010-01-01T04:00:00.004-06:00

I'm sharpening my barbs. Get ready, cause you know what's coming.

Meet me here next week, ready to commit.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Rose Colored Glasses

2009-12-31T04:00:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow marks 2010.

If I may, I must add something to your list of things to do in 2010. See the Broadway musical, Memphis! This is a MUST see. I've seen my fair share of musicals and plays over the years, but few of them have made an impression on me in the same way Memphis did. If you can see it on Broadway, all the better. If not, track down a roadshow or even a version done by your community theater. Whatever you do, try to make it your business to see this thrilling show.

Now, for a favorite Beeny tradition.

Richard and I spent our first New Year's together in 1998. I returned from New York days earlier and unwittingly picked up a fun pair of New Year's glasses. It was the whole end-of-the millennium-thing, so 1999 New Year's glasses seemed especially cool.

I had no idea when I bought them, that snapping a family photo while wearing New Year's glasses would become a family tradition.

A year after our first New Year's picture, Richard and I sealed a capsule at our wedding, with the promise to break the seal at a black tie affair in 2024, surrounded by all the same people who attended our wedding. I became fixated on how great a pictorial display of family photos would be at our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary party.

I don't know how many other photos we'll have, but we sure as heck will have at least one from each New Year's Eve. Before packing the photos and the glasses away each New Year's Day, I take a moment to type a short description of what we did and who we were with.

It's been fun to reminisce about how we've spent the past ten New Year's Eves. Some years festive and social - surrounded by family and friends. A couple other years Time Square and a Broadway show. Still others more subdued, joining neighbors for Chinese food and board games, and then of course there were a couple of years Richard and I had to set the self-timer on my camera because we literally did nothing but sit at home. Always something different, but always fun. Check out a few of our pics below.

So how about you? How will you be spending this New Year's Eve? Black tie and champagne or board games and Chinese? Or, is it something in the middle?

Pola, Matthew, and I arrive back in Dallas at 3:45, so New Year's Eve in our house will be Chinese with a dash of R & R. New Year's glasses included. How about you?

Signing off until next year!

Serendipity

2009-12-30T04:00:00.005-06:00

Shameful, I know.

Pola, Matthew, my sister, and I visited New York's infamous cafe, Serendipity, yesterday and I buckled.

I ordered the Forbidden Broadway Sundae. It's forbidden because it's a full blown slice of chocolate Blackout cake, ice cream, hot fudge, and topped with whipped cream!

What did I tell myself with each bite slipping past my lips?

"Next year. Next year I'll get serious and deal with the damage done in 2009."

With 2010 only two days away, what have you thrown your hands up at - promising to be better in the new year?

Lest you think I am only capable of enjoying sweet treats, take a look at a few photos I took inside this fun, wildly creative, space. It strikes me as the PERFECT meeting place for Highlowaha readers. Taste of USA, 2010? Anyone, anyone?

Signing off until tomorrow...

How Do You Measure?

2009-12-29T04:00:00.008-06:00

It's getting closer to New Year's Eve. For me that always means at least a little bit of reflection.

Months ago Katie sent me my CD of the Month and on it was a song from the musical, Rent. The CD stayed in the disc player in my car for months and, believe me when I tell you, it wasn't uncommon for me to repeat the song six or seven times before finally giving in to the next song in the line up.

Somewhere along the line, I decided this song from Rent that I love so much - Seasons of Love - would be the source of a Highlowaha post somewhere around New Year's. With only two days left, today is the day.

If you've never heard the song, give yourself a treat and sit back and listen. If you know the song, give yourself a treat anyway and listen to the song. Then...

Tell me...

How do you measure a year in the life? 525,600 minutes, daylights, sunsets, midnights, cups of coffee, inches, miles, laughter, strife, or seasons of love?

Me? How do I measure a year in the life? I'd have to say blog posts (though Cinnamon Dolces are a close second)!

Now it's your turn. I'm anxious to hear your what you have to say.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Nooks and Granny's

2009-12-28T04:00:00.003-06:00

This might be the shortest blog post in Highlowaha history. I arrived in New York yesterday and am about to embark on three solid days of sight seeing with my German exchange student, Pola.

Conserving energy is the name of the game.

I love returning to my New York home. When I walk in the door I am instantly reminded of how great my mother's taste is and what a knack she has for making simple things look beautiful. Since my sisters and I have grown up and moved out of the house, my mom doesn't embark on a full-fledged tree every year (thank goodness, since then she could relinquish her ornaments to me). Instead, she creates festive nooks and crannies in unsuspecting places around the house.

Take a look at a few...

This is on the coffee table in the living room

This is the front window of the study. Greenery, gold balls, and small gold trees.
This is a small lamp stand (I cut off the top of the picture). I love the look of overflowing jewels.
This was tucked away on top of the coat closet! Extra points if you notice the pot with the flower pens.
This is a picture of the window sill in the kitchen.
This chandelier is hanging over the dining room table. The picture SO is not doing it justice. Trust me when I tell you it is beautiful
This small bowl of glass ornaments sits in the corner of the dining room
I could go on. I didn't photograph the branches and red glass balls perched in the stairwell, the large icicles and snowflakes hanging from Pola's bedroom window, the Santa Claus on the dresser in my room, or the crystal wreath hanging in the bathroom.

My mother is one of a kind. She has a great sense of aesthetics and an amazing eye for that which is tasteful and elegant. Coming home to such a beautifully decorated home is one reminder of why my mom shines!

Before holiday decorations start being put away, tell me about one of your favorites. Me, I've gotta go. We have a 9:20 train to catch.

Yellow Envelope Project: Grapevine, Texas

2009-12-26T04:00:00.005-06:00

I've decided to high jack the plan for today's Yellow Envelope Project.

We'll still do the usual - recognize someone who lights up his corner of the world by shining brighter than those around him - or, in this case, her. Even our method of recognizing our recipient will be the same. A short note, sealed in a yellow envelope (or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers). The words, "Yellow Envelope Project" placed in the return address, and then mailed sometime within the next six days.

Easy peasy.

So what's different? Today we will take a short departure from the list of nominees we have been working our way through.

Today I've made an executive decision that Ms. Fowler must be this week's recipient of our Yellow Envelope Project. Ms. Fowler is the first grade teacher of my nephew, Anthony. She's been teaching for twenty-three years and, while twenty-three years might (for some) be code for burn out, this is not the case for Ms. Fowler. After twenty-three years, she is energy and experience personified! Ms. Fowler knows her stuff and has command over her first grade class in such a way, that General McCrystal would be suitably impressed.

But here's what really makes Ms. Fowler shine. Anthony wrote an essay for class and in the essay described his family's holiday traditions. Ms. Fowler not only read the essay, but is so attentive she wrote a personal note telling Anthony how wonder it must be to spend Christmas in a house where there are so many wonderful traditions. Anthony - thoughtful child that he is - immediately invited Ms. Fowler to spend Christmas Eve dinner in his house with his family.

SHE ACCEPTED! Ms. Fowler made a guest appearance at Anthony's house on Thursday night. And, as you might expect, Anthony felt like a rock star introducing her to grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. First grade teachers already hold a special place in most of our minds and hearts, so a first grade teacher who shows up to your house for Christmas dinner has got to be in a league of her own.

I spoke with Ms. Fowler for a period of time before dinner, but it was immediately clear there was something pre-ordained about her career as a teacher. She was positive, energetic, calm, and pleasant beyond measure. She is exactly the person with whom you would want your six year old child spending the day. Ms. Fowler and I would have spoken longer, but she had to excuse herself so she could watch Anthony make the dinner salad. She knew from previous conversations with Anthony that making the salad was his nightly responsibility and she wanted to be sure to catch him in action.

If I spent eight hours of my day with twenty three six year old kids, I'm pretty sure I would be "otherwise engaged" when an invitation was presented to spend Christmas Eve with anyone who was under the age of... say, 35.

Not Ms. Fowler. She showed up at Anthony's Christmas dinner and made him feel as magical as Santa himself. Join me in letting Ms. Fowler know she shines, because she makes time for priceless memories and makes young people feel important. I don't know her home address, but maybe the spotlight we shine on Ms. Fowler will be extra bright by sending it to the main office at her school...

Ms. Fowler

First Grade Teacher

Grapevine Elementary

1801 Hall Johnson Road

Grapevine, TX 76051

Signing off until Monday, when I'll be coming to you from New York.

Rayndeer Games

2009-12-25T04:00:00.000-06:00

Ho Ho Ho. Can you believe we're having a White Christmas in Dallas? Yesterday it was 70 degrees. Today, snow. That's Texas. Gotta love it. I've been beaming on snow for a week now. I love the Law of Attraction. All you have to do is think it and low and behold it's snowing in Dallas. Claudia's inside doing last minute Christmas stuff. I had to come out, sip on my coffee and enjoy my handiwork. I can't stay long. I'm expecting my snow bunnies to show up any minute. You didn't think my only wish was snow did you? Dream big baby!

Did you check out my antlers? My boy Donner gave me a set. Donner means thunder? Blitzen means lightening. I've been telling everybody. It seems that I'm the only one that didn't know this. Even the kindergartners look at me strangely when I tell them. Oh well, what are you going to do? Oh, gotta go. I think I hear my snow bunnies. What about you?

What's Santa bringing you this year?

That's A Wrap

2009-12-24T04:00:00.008-06:00

So you think you can wrap? Apparently not.

Cheryl and Katie were my only takers for today's contest which pretty much means I have the floor to myself.

That would be great, but it presupposes that I have already wrapped my gifts. And since Christmas morning is more than my requisite twelve hours away, the assumption is not safe.

Lucky for all of you I do have a gift I'm giving this holiday season whose wrapping is not only done, but is worth talking about. It's for my niece Frankie.

Frankie loves Fancy Nancy. She's got the same curly hair, adorable smile, sassy personality, and above all else, fancy sense of style. I decided long about November, I was going to load Frankie up with all sorts of glitzy and stupendous accessories. If she's going to hang with Fancy Nancy, after all, she has to dress the part.

As cute as the rhinestone tiara, bracelets, compact case, clutch purse, necklace, rings, and other glitzy accessories are, the truth is gifts are only as good as their packaging. In this case, the packaging might exceed the gift itself. Joann's Fabric had Fancy Nancy material on sale, so I scooped up the last yard, gathered some trappings, and zipped over to my friend Judy's house. Judy is magical with a sewing machine, so look what she was able to whip up.

What l love most about this handmade Fancy Nancy Cone, hanging from lavender ribbon, and with a big bow, is that the packaging is functional. She can hang it over her bed post or inside her closet door and use it to store all kinds of chatchka, including things such as ribbons, hair bands, socks, Barbie Doll clothes, lip sticks, etc.... It's packaging that keeps on giving. It didn't photograph perfectly (I'm limited) and it still needs a luscious lavender boa hanging from it, but you get the gist.

Check out the accessory I am most excited about giving Frankie (made for toddlers!)....

Hello!?!?!! I want to be Fancy like Nancy!

The fun doesn't stop there. Check out the fun wrapping creations submitted by Katie and Cheryl....

Before signing off, either tell us about the coolest packaging you've seen this holiday season or... just tell us how you're spending the day. I'll be wrapping and enjoying a Starbucks.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Wake Up Call

2009-12-23T04:00:00.007-06:00

Wake up! Today is Festivus and we've got some complaining to do. A few weeks ago I announced Highlowaha would be celebrating this favorite Seinfeld holiday. Little did I know you would saddle me with a Fancy Flours ROOSTER cookie cutter to help get the party started.

The Christmas holiday gets snowmen, elves, Santa Claus, and Rudolph. Me? What do I get? A rooster. I want to lodge a grievance.

That's right. Festivus, according to Seinfeld is set aside for the airing of grievances and I've got quite a few

Why did I get stuck with a rooster? I'm a city girl. How come Tera, Julie, Maureen, and Montana Kelly never show their faces anymore? Whose reading this blog anyway? Why is my skin dry? Why do I have no sense of direction and a bunion on my left foot big enough to warrant its own shoe? Why are the hard boiled eggs stinking up my refrigerator, and why don't cashiers know how to make change?

I could go on. Why does my husband leave the "twist ties" around the hangers of his dry cleaned shirts? Why does my teenage son think cleaning his room means throwing everything in a heap at the base of his closet? Why must my youngest son strip down COMPLETELY each and every time he goes to the bathroom, and why does my laundry multiply...exponentially?

Why? Why? Why?

Cockadoodle-do-something! Share a grievance. And while you're at it, tell me this.... Which of our blog posts in the last year stunk like the eggs in my refrigerator? Don't try feeding me a cockamamie story about how they were all good and don't worry about ruffling my feathers. Come February, we're presenting do-overs for the 18 worst posts of 2009, as voted on by YOU!

Don't be a chicken. Lay it on me.

Think you could do better than me with the rooster? Well, lay that one on me too. Share another occasion when you might use the rooster and let me hear you slogan. The proud winner rules the roost and wins the cookie cutter.

I'm out. Ba Humbug.

Signing off until tomorrow....

Flavorites!

2009-12-22T04:00:00.008-06:00

Still searching for a fun gift idea?

I'm giving my exchange student, Pola, a fun gift this holiday season. Maybe you'll like it enough to share it with someone you know and love.

Pola loves Ben and Jerry's ice cream, so being in the states where grocer's freezers are fully stocked with all 57 flavors of ice cream, is like a dream come true. Thing of it is, Pola is so polite and unassuming she's kept her affections for Ben and Jerry a secret up until last week. With only five weeks left, before Pola returns to Germany, I must make up for lost time.

On Christmas I will present Pola with a coupon, entitling her to one pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, each week from now until she leaves. I've printed off a list of flavors, allowing Pola to rank order her top five choices. Of course her list will be perfectly packaged with

The Classic Tie Dyed T-Shirt AND...

A PINT LOCK!!!

(a must have when you live in a house with me)

My idea for an ice cream lover's Pint of the Week (or should it be "weak") is fun, but certainly no more fun than...

Peggy's Card-of-the-Month (COTM): For the very reasonable price of $36.00, receive a handmade card a month in your mailbox. Once received, you make a date with yourself to send the card to someone in you life with whom you would like to stay in touch. As I said last year, it's like the gift that gives twice - first you get a fun envelope in the mail from Peggy and then you get to pass the handmade card along to the recipient of your choice. I did it last year and I've already signed up for my 2010 allotment. This year I asked that each card have a coffee motif, as I am going to use them when I invite 12 strangers to coffee.

And...

Katie's CD of the Month: I love music, but I stopped keeping track of who sings what and which band is which long about time Billy Joel hit the scene. Katie on the other hand... Katie could moonlight as a DJ. She has a pulse on all the latest and greatest music, and as an added bonus, we have similar taste in music. Last year for Christmas she agreed to send me a CD a month with an array of different songs and musicians. Like clock work the CDs arrived each month and immediately I would pop them in my CD player and head out for a long drive. My year is up, but thanks to her generosity, I was able to renew for another year.

How about you? What ideas do you have for an Of-the-Month gift you can give? Or, maybe not of-the-month. Maybe it's six times a year, quarterly, or even semi-annually?

Do tell. Some of us might still be looking for gift ideas and heck, you might even get a taker!

Signing off until tomorrow...

Second Annual Give 'Em The Boot

2009-12-21T04:00:00.003-06:00

Cassie P. Come out, come out wherever you are!

Today we set the stage for the Second Annual Give 'Em the Boot Contest and you've got the coveted prize. The contest is compliments of a creative and long lost reader, Kristen. We're not sure where Kristen ran off to - or her sister for that matter, but no worries, they left behind this fun Highlowaha tradition.

The "Give Them the Boot Award." goes to the reader who has the funniest, most outrageous, or most hideous holiday story... about a family member or holiday guest! It could be anything from a crazy family feud, an aunt or uncle's distracting quirk, an office mates horrible display of table manners, and everything in between.

Today is Monday. That means family will start rolling into town any day now or... you will be loading up your cars, knowingly and willingly driving toward family mayhem.

Here's how your family drama can actually pay off.

Be on the look out for a great, but unfortunate, holiday story about the family you love to hate (or is it hate to love). Feel free to even stir the pot in search of the perfect story. Monday or Tuesday of next week, we will open the floor for readers to share their best - meaning, most hideous - holiday story from the season. The story readers deem most unfortunate/unbelievable will be named winner.

The winner is presented a beautiful, glass ornament shaped like a cowboy boot. You get to be its keeper for the year - displaying it in your office, your kitchen, your entrance way, or stuffing it in your box of ornaments until next season. Whatever you decide, handle it with care. For, the boot must get passed along to next year's winner in early January 2011.

Today is National Ba Humbug Day, so let's get busy celebrating and, at the same time, warm ourselves up for this year's Give 'Em The Boot Contest. What friend, relative, or co-worker are most sure is going to push your buttons this holiday season and why?

Let her rip.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: Indianapolis

2009-12-19T06:56:00.004-06:00

Running late today. Last night Richard and I were out later than normal doing a little Christmas shopping and taking in a movie. I love weekends in December!

And yet, I know there are a lot of people for whom life is not is not as simple - especially at this time of year. All the more reason to participate in this week's Yellow Envelope Project, a project dedicated to recognizing people who shine in their corner of the world. Think of it as taking a name from an Angel Tree and then generously giving a gift (only for this there is no trip to the mall, it only costs $0.44, and it takes less than 10 minutes).

If you are new to our blog, the rules of play are simple. Write a short note to the person's name listed below.

Read the short excerpt below, written by the person who nominated Ann for the Yellow Envelope Project.
Write a simple note thanking Ann for shining,
Put it in a yellow envelope or a white envelope decorated with yellow markers or stickers
Address using the address listed below
Place the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address, and
mail sometime between today and Christmas Eve.

Here we go...

I would like to nominate Ann Hannan. In addition to Ann being a wonderful wife, daughter, mother, daughter-in-law, sister, and cousin, she takes extra time to be with her friend Angela who is going through cancer treatment. Angela used to help take care of Ann's son Ben who has Spina Bifida. Now Ben is old enough to be in day care while Ann works part time.

On her days off, Ann might be seen taking Angela to her Chemo treatments, or taking her out for a day in a pretty park or just out to lunch. Ann also helps with Angela's 6 yr old son, if the chemo leaves her weak.

Ann's address is:

Ann Hannan

5036 E 68th St.

Indianapolis, IN 46220-3927

Signing off until Monday...

Free For All Friday: So You Think You Can wRap!

2009-12-18T04:00:00.013-06:00

I'll be quick. Take a seat. You'll need it for today's video. Word.

Announcements:

Snack Throw Down: We will not vote on a secret ingredient this week, as we are giving Kate and Lauren two weeks off, so they can tick something off their holiday lists. We will resume our Snack Throw Down in time for post season play.
Shine Ball: Brian won the Shine Ball by coming closest to guessing the number of Christmas lights on my tree, without going over. There are a total of 2000 lights on the Beeny Christmas tree. Cassie, you were pretty darn close.
Click Below: Click below to hear about our latest contest.

Pick yourself up off the floor and stop laughing! Today is the 18th and we're waiting to hear your high, low, and aha for the month. I bet I can guess at least one of your highs... or is it a low? Hmmmm....

Signing off until tomorrow...

Making Change

2009-12-17T04:00:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking about it. The reaction to Monday's post, that is.

Reactions were mixed. I, of course, was the most unforgiving - proclaiming all high school graduates should be able to add and subtract, even when feeling pressure from a long line of holiday shoppers. At the other end of the spectrum were generous readers, filled with grace, and happy to give Ms. Borders the benefit of the doubt.

Some highly evolved person could probably reconcile the whole thing. But, me? I'm just curmudgeon - intent on not lowering the bar, just so no one has to feel bad.

Then on Tuesday something happened. I got insight.

Richard and I walked around the block with Matthew, in order to make good on an agreement we made with him a few weeks back.

Matthew is an entrepreneur in the making - a mini Warren Buffet, if you know what I mean. It started about a year and a half ago with a lemonade stand. Then it was $1.00 an hour for helping grandma clean her pool. After that it was a bake sale, then selling blown up latex balloons, and then dog treats. He's even taken to roaming our house with a brown bag, picking up unused toys and chatcka hoping to set up his own garage sale... or variety store, as the case may be.

This month it was pine cones. Grandma New York came to visit and showed him how, by adding glitter and a silver cord, pine cones could be turned into beautiful, environmentally green ornaments that catch light. Matthew and Grandma made a batch and immediately he was intent on selling them.

Richard and I put it off as long as we could. Both of us are self conscious and neither of us was too excited about standing along side Matthew as he knocked on doors selling his wares.

Kids have a funny way of getting us outside our comfort zones.

Matthew barreled up to neighbors doors - fearlessly! "Want to buy a pine cone?" he said. "Fifty cents or you can give me more." Embarrassed at his suggestion the pine cones could be worth more than fifty cents, I quickly qualified... "No, Matthew. The going rate is $0.50 and if you buy the little ones, we'll give you two for fifty cents."

He was upset with me and made it perfectly clear. "Stop it mom. What happens if they want to pay me more? Stop telling people the pine cones are only fifty cents!."

And, he sold to everyone and anyone who would listen. Gardeners busily working along side the road; teenage boys, who clearly could care less, but were caught walking toward their tricked out trucks; little kids playing ball in the culdesac; business men working from home; stay at home moms; and the list went on. There was no one Matthew wouldn't ask and it never occurred to him to be nervous, self conscious, or that anyone should be anything short of thrilled to buy one of his priceless pine cones.

Matthew was fearless in a way that Ms. Border's was not.

When did Ms. Borders, like the rest of us, stop being fearless and start being fearful? When did the change happen and why? Was she seven, ten, twelve, eighteen, twenty? At what point along the way did we go from being fearless like Matthew to being too fearful to make change?

I don't know when fear set in for Ms. Borders (or to me for that matter), but I don't like it.

Matthew made $22.52 cents on Tuesday doing it his way. Left up to me and my more timid approach he would only have made $8.50. You don't even have to do the math to know Matthew had the right idea. But... I know you will...

Signing off until tomorrow...

S'more Please

2009-12-16T04:00:00.001-06:00

About a month ago I received this Micro S'more Cooker from a friend who met the inventor. She thought I might get a kick out of using it with my family. Boy, was she right.

If you are still looking for a fun, but inexpensive, gift idea for neighbor; distant cousin - twice removed; mom with whom you share car pool; or your child's class holiday exchange, then read on.

Only $9.95 makes it worth hearing s'more.

The Campfire Classic... graham cracker, chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker artfully placed on the base of the Micro S'more Cooker.

Place top of cooker over the ingredients onto the base. Place in microwave. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Done! The boys loved watching the marshmallows expand in the microwave and there was virtually NO mess. They gobbled them up and begged for s'more.

Even better. The Micro S'more Cooker comes with a Recipe Guide. Below is the Maple Syrup Swirl - the s'more of choice for Pola, my exchange student. Vanilla wafer cookies, maple syrup, cinnamon, and marshmallow. Yum.

We all agreed it looked like an egg, sunny side up.

Pola said it tasted way better and she wanted s'more.

My s'more of choice was Peppermint Kiss - 2 graham crackers, Peppermint Patty, Marshmallow, and chocolate kiss. Yum, I had s'more.

Ricky had the Peanut Butter Choco Cup (Graham Crackers, marshmallow, and broken up pieces of a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup) and Richard had the Raspberry Kiss (2 graham crackers, raspberry preserves, marshmallow, and chocolate kiss). They couldn't believe how yummy the s'mores tasted and how easy they were to make. They both had s'more... and then s'more again.

For $9.95, the Micro S'more Cooker "stacks" up well against other fun family gifts.

Wait, there's s'more. According to this Micro S'more Cooker ad, you can get 2 Cookers for $9.95. What s'more could you ask for?

Still wanting s'more? Join us in the comment section and share a s'more recipe we could add to the Recipe Guide. Mine? Banana Split. Graham crackers, slice of banana, chocolate, marshmallow

Signing off until tomorrow... when you can come back for s'more.

Get Cooking

2009-12-15T04:00:00.008-06:00

If you were around last year, you remember me saying Christmas stockings are where it's at. I love them. I love the challenge of finding relevant, creative, and useful chatchka that fit within the measurements of a Christmas stocking.

This year I had an idea I thought I would share.

A pack of yellow note cards, a book of stamps, some stickers, and pen tied together with yellow ribbon, and an invitation to join Highlowaha's weekly Yellow Envelope Project. It's the perfect gift for so many people - people who have everything they need; people who appreciate the art of letter writing; people who shine; and people who get into a great Random Act of Kindness like we do. Any one of those people would love this bundle of good will all wrapped up in a yellow bow.

But the idea is half baked.

I tried and tried and tried to come up with an inspiring note card explaining the Yellow Envelope Project gift. I ditched inspiring for a rhyming poem and then, unable to get my creative juices flowing, finally settled on a recipe card. But, it was an hour and fifteen minutes later and, by that time, I was already tapped out.

I need help.

Lend me a creative hand and let's see what we can cook up. I'm looking for a clever recipe card, explaining our Yellow Envelope Project gift. Or, take a shot at writing a rhyming poem or an inspiring note card.

Below is my, I've-been-at-it-far-too-long-and-need-to-get-on-with-it, attempt. I know you can do better.

Recipe for Shine
1 package cards with yellow envelopes
1 book of $0.43 stamps
1 sheet of return address labels, reading “Yellow Envelope Project”
1 pen
Dash of fun stickers
Pinch of bright markers

Set yourself up for a bright new year. Check highlowaha.com each Saturday and receive the name of that week’s recipient of the Yellow Envelope Project. Take 1 card, mix with fun markers and write a note recognizing the recipient for shining in his/her corner of the world. Put in envelope. Add one stamp, one return address label, and place in local mailbox. Let be delivered to one unsuspecting, but pleasantly surprised person. Enjoy. Serves up to 52 people.

I have a Yellow Envelope Project package all wrapped up and ready to go. If someone comes up with the winning recipe, I would be happy to send the cards along to the person of your choice.

One more thing.

My stocking is empty. Fill it for me today, by sending the first name and address of someone you think would be a worthy recipient of the Yellow Envelope Project. Remember, we don't worry about awarding all the people already being recognized on the news, in the newspapers, or winning awards in their communities. We focus on recognizing all the little things people do, that going unnoticed by most, but that make a big difference in their corners of the world.

Get cookin'. Send his/her name to info@highlowaha.com

Signing off until tomorrow...

My Two Cents

2009-12-14T04:00:00.002-06:00

Start the week with something inspirational and end it in a rant and the week is a downer. But, start the week on a rant and end it with something inspirational and the week builds to a crescendo.

Today a rant, with the promise of something inspirational before the week is out.

Friday afternoon I visited Borders to buy a book. The man beside me was buying a stuffed animal and was being checked out by a woman in her late-thirties.

His stuffed animal came to $9.73. He must have given the clerk a $20.00 bill, but not before she made the fatal error of opening her register before calculating change. Note the sarcasm in my voice. Flustered, the clerk scurried down two registers and pleaded with my salesperson to help her calculate change. "I was an English major," she joked. "I don't do math."

Here's the rant...

I've worked in higher education for a number of years... and so have many of you. Even if you haven't worked in higher education... don't you think the average American should be smart enough to make change? Shouldn't there be a limit to how little we can know when we graduate from high school - never mind college.

Say yes or our standing as an educated nation is in jeopardy.

If the stuffed animal is $9.73

plus $0.02 = $9.75

$0.75 plus $.0.25 = $10.00

$10.00 + $10.00 = $20.00

$10.27. That's how much change he should have gotten.

This former History and Political Science major implores you to find just one child and to teach her how to make change.

For that matter, tell us - what else is it imperative we teach our children? The difference between laid and lain? When to use "me" versus "I"? How to read an analog clock, versus a digital clock? The seven continents (yes, I know there is discrepancy as to whether there are actually 5, 6, 0r 7 continents)?

Tell us. Our nation's standing depends on it.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Yellow Envelope Project: North Carolina...Again!

2009-12-12T04:00:00.000-06:00

If you are like the rest of America, you are spending more time than normal shopping in malls these days. That's what makes this week's Yellow Envelope Project recipient so timely.

Because this man shines, he took an otherwise mundane job (working in one of a million American malls) and used it to brighten the day of a single customer. Read below...

"I would like to nominate the nice man at the Tropical Juice Bar. I went there on Friday to redeem a free smoothie since my frequent card was full. He saw I was having a rough night and upgraded my small to a large without charging me. Yesterday, the boys and I had a few errands to run at the mall, so we stopped by to get a smoothie to share. (It's one of the sweet treats I can share with them due to food allergies!!!) The same guy was working. I ordered my small strawberry, pineapple, kiwi smoothie and asked for three straws. Instead, he gave me my smoothie and 2 more filled up half way for the boys...at no extra charge. It's nice to have someone recognize that the little things are what make people smile!"

A single gesture brightens the day of a single customer. That customer, in turn, nominates the Juice Bar employee to be selected for the Yellow Envelope Project. We send the employee a complimentary note and, in turn, our day is brightened.

That's how the Yellow Envelope Project works. It's worth every bit of the $0.43 and ten minutes it will take you.

The rules of play? Send a short note to the address below, letting him know that, small gestures like his make a big difference. Slip it in a yellow envelope or decorate a white envelope with yellow markers. Put "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address. Mail early in the week (before the post office closes today is ideal, but I can settle for Monday or Tuesday).

Kate submitted our Juice Bar friend, but didn't know his name. You can either send as is... or maybe - just maybe - Kate will post today telling us if there is a better way to address our envelopes. If we don't hear from her, use what we have! Void of a name, I am guessing they will post them on a bulletin board in the back office. Then ALL the employees will read our gestures of kindness.

TROPICAL JUICE BAR

419 CROSS CREEK MALL,

FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303

Signing off until Monday...

Free For All Friday: Friends, Fashion, and Fun

2009-12-11T04:00:00.016-06:00

It's that time of the week when you get to settle in and watch our weekly Free For All Friday Video.

Don't miss:

Meeting our visitors
Winning the unclaimed Shine Ball
Casting your votes for the Super Bowl Snack Throw Down AND...
The Target Challenge, and
Finding out if you won this week's Altoid prize.

And don't miss the conclusion of Highlowaha's Fashion Week, by checking out the clip below.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Signing off until tomorrow...

Black Dress: Take Four

2009-12-10T04:00:00.001-06:00

If you've been with us all week, you are tired of my intro (or as my five year old would say... the Prologue). So, skip the next paragraph. If you're tuning in for the first time this week then... where have you been? And, read on.

Cheryl, Heather, Katie, and I decided to see what our creative muscles are really made of. We put ourselves to the ultimate fashion test. Four women, four black dresses, each seeking two outfits. Each of us visited Charming Charlie's in Grapevine, Texas committed to finding a Day Look and a Night Look suitable for all the December festivities to which we were sure we would be invited. My outfits debuted on Monday, Cheryl's on Tuesday, Heather's on Wednesday, and today - last, but definitely not least, comes Katie's.

Katie entered Charming Charlie's with two criterion: First, her outfits must be practical for the busy (and poor) life of a graduate student. Second, no belts.

We obliged one, but not the other. Take a look.

A belt! The sales woman paired a black jacket with Katie's dress and then immediately belted it. Maybe, at first, Katie was stressed at the idea of it, but then... pure success! Look at how fabulous Katie looks with her belted dress, her casual fun shoes, and the bag big enough to hold a notebook for class. I can't imagine her day shoes won't be a huge hit among our shoe lovers.
As a graduate student, if Katie is going attend a holiday celebration, after a full day of classes, assistantship, internship, studying, and working on class projects, then she's probably got no more than seven minutes to transform herself from Day Look into Night Look.

Lucky for her, Katie is young and beautiful and in a way better position to pull it off than someone like me who would prefer to spend the day primping in a spa. All Katie's sales clerk did to transform Katie from Day to Night was make a quick switch of necklace, bracelet, earrings, and shoes (all things that could be whipped right out of her glove compartment).

So there it is. Four dresses, four days, and eight looks. It was fun and, though I can't speak for the other three women, I'd have to say the real beauty of this experience was getting to dabble in new looks and to experiment with the possibilities of what could be. I've spent a life time creating all kinds of rules about what I can and can't wear based on my "body type" and the image I have of myself. Hats aren't me; no leggings; no skinny jeans; big scarves make me look clumsy; I can pull off classic, but sexy would be laughable; chic is for tall and skinny women, not me; pointy shoes will make my legs look longer...

Where the heck did I get this stuff? And you too for that matter.

Tell me. What won't you wear because of a fashion hang up you have? And, don't leave me hanging by not making any comments. Otherwise I'll really think I'm a whacko.

If you think the fashion fun is over. It's not. Tune in tomorrow when we pull one more thing out of our high fashion sleeve.

Signing off until then.

Black Dress: Take Three

2009-12-09T04:00:00.003-06:00

If you've tuned in for the past two days you know that Cheryl, Heather, Katie, and I are doing an experiment. We are testing how creative we can be with a simple black dress. Our partners in crime for this week's fun were the patient and diligent women from Charming Charlie's - a color coded accessory store, the likes of which you have never seen.

Each of us arrived at the store sporting our own black dress and excited to create our own Day and Night looks. We featured my dress on Monday and Cheryl's dress on Tuesday.

Today we feature Heather and her little black dress. It's a beautiful and flattering dress that, of course - in Heather fashion - she found for a steal!

Heather was decisive in a totally different way than Cheryl. Cheryl zipped around the displays, aptly picking and choosing items she knew would achieve the look for which she was striving. Heather, on the other hand, zipped around store decisively evaluating the clerk's selection of accessories for her. "Ok." "Um, maybe." "Hmm... I'm not sure." And, "Aahh.. no thank you."

When all was said and done, Heather and our clerk negotiated just fine and Heather was able to walk away with two fun outfits. Take a look...

My personal favorite.. the leggings under the dress with fun ballerina slippers. How about you? What's your favorite part of Heather's Day outfit?

Heather's Night look also suits her well. It's not overdone and, while the pieces aren't matchy-matchy, they certainly compliment one another. I'm a big fan of the blue scarf and the black drop earrings.

Of the four of us, Heather is the most simple and typically sports the fewest amount of frills. It made her transformation the most fun to watch.

P.S. I ran into Heather at daycare one day last week and she was wearing fun black leggings with a pretty dress.

Which brings me to today's question... what's the most recent fashion trend you've adopted?

Signing off until tomorrow when Katie makes her big debut.

Black Dress: Take Two

2009-12-08T04:00:00.005-06:00

Those who tuned in yesterday know this week we are putting some creative energy into the little black dress. Four dresses, four women (Claudia, Cheryl, Heather, and Katie), and two looks for each of us - one day and one night.

I went first sporting a simple black dress from Ann Taylor. The able (and patient) attendant traveled the store selecting items we agreed would add pizazz to my simple dress. Check out yesterday's post if you want proof of my transformation.

Today, Cheryl.

Here's what's great about Cheryl.

While Heather, Katie, and I - all convinced the attendant packed more fashion savvy into her pinkie finger than the three of us have combined - helplessly followed the attendant around the store, Cheryl had the clerk following after her! It was a sight to behold. Visions of that scene from Pretty Woman wouldn't be too far off.

Cheryl quickly latched on to two items she loved (one day and one night) and used them to architect two fun and fabulous outfits.

The cornerstone of her Day Look... the colorful purse pictured above. Somehow, Cheryl intuitively knew she could add a colorful necklace, simple earrings, a complementary bracelet, and (my favorite item) the quilted Channel looking belt, and be ready for work or a fun outing with friends.

The inspiration for her Night Look... the beautiful magenta shirt that turned her dress into a skirt! Now, that's creative! Notice, not too much going on. Earrings that make a statement, an understated bracelet, and a purse that adds just the right touch of color. What Cheryl isn't sporting in over-the-top accessories, she makes up self assuredness that she knows what she is doing. A luxury Heather, Katie, and I can't afford.

And the shoes... well, the shoes are a show stopper, aren't they? What's the equivalent of an hour glass shape for feet? I'm not sure, but Cheryl's feet come close.

So there is Cheryl - a vision of beauty. All revved up and ready to be the hit of her office's holiday party.

Tell us, which of her items is a must in your book? And, are you attending any office parties this year? If so, tell us what you'll be wearing. Inquiring minds want to know.

Signing off until tomorrow when Heather goes from denim to diva!

Age Before Beauty

2009-12-07T04:00:00.004-06:00

Cheryl, Katie, Heather, and I (the Highlowaha foursome) had an idea. Flex our creative muscles to see if we could have some fun with fashion. It's an area we've never really delved into - unless of course you count the day I wrapped myself in 100 scarves and neckerchiefs. Hardly a fashion statement.

Truth is, Cheryl is the only one of the four of us qualified to make commentary on fashion. Heather swears by her broken in blue jeans, I own more fleece than is right for a woman in her forties (including pajamas), and Katie flips for her flip flops - regardless of season or temperature.

The one thing on which we all agreed is that, everyone needs a simple black dress in her wardrobe.

That's where we started. Each of us with black dress in hand, meeting up at Charming Charlie's, where capable attendants created looks suitable for our days and festive enough for December nights.

Monday through Thursday of this week, we will share the transformation of each of us in our black dresses. First, a day look and then a look for night. Worth mentioning is that none of our accessorizing exceeded $70.00.

I'm going first, because we agreed that age should always precede beauty.

My day look was fun, because I would normally never consider myself a leopard-print-kind-of-gal. The light jacket pictured above is classic in cut and style, but with a touch flair. From there, I was able to venture out into dangly earrings, a gold purse, ballerina shoes, a chunky ring, and a gold chain link belt - all things I would NEVER have selected on my own. Perfect for work or a holiday luncheon.

Check out my shoes! Me in silver glittered pumps! What?! But, here's what I love. The rest of the outfit is square in the center of my comfort zone - black dress, pearl necklaces, pearl earrings, and a pearl bracelet. The satin bolero jacket isn't something I would have picked out, but I liked it immediately. Same with the clutch. It's not something I would normally spend money on, but it finishes off the outfit nicely.

Tell us a few things. First, do you have a black dress and, if so, could it use an accessory lift? Second, of all things pictured, what's the one thing you think I just must have - or for that matter... would you like to have?

Signing off until tomorrow when you get to lay eyes on Chic Cheryl!

Yellow Envelope Project: North Carolina

2009-12-05T04:00:00.001-06:00

The Yellow Envelope Project seems especially timely during the holiday season, doesn't it? As you are addressing greeting cards to family and friends, consider mailing a card to the woman whose name is listed below. It will make her feel good and I'm pretty sure it will make you feel good too.

Newcomers... The Yellow Envelope Project is part of our Rayvolution. We at Highlowaha are convinced, when you catch someone in the act of shining and encourage their excellence, that together we can make the world a brighter place. Readers nominate everyday people who they think are deserving and each Saturday we select the name of one person to be the recipient of that week's project.

Your task? Take five or ten minutes to send a short note letting this week's recipient know you are appreciative for the difference she makes in her corner of the world. No bells, no whistles, no big pay check, or award - just selflessly making a difference in the lives of others, because it's the right thing to do.

It is my privelage to introduce to you this week's Yellow Envelope Project recipient - Debbie.

"My son was born at 23 weeks. Once we were discharged, Debbie was placed as my case manager who I ccontacted for any referrals needed. She served as a liason between me an the insurance company. Any time I called, which averaged about once a week, she was on top of the task. I have always said she goes above and beyond. It difficult having a mircropreemie turned special needs child, but she has made at least one apect of it much eaiser."

Debbie

Peds Case Manager

Womack Army Medical Center

Building 4-2817

Fort Bragg, NC 28307

One more thing. Send it in a yellow envelope or in a white envelope decorated with yellow markers or stickers AND... put "Yellow Envelope Project" in the return address.

Signing off until Monday.

A Braid of Fun

2009-12-04T04:00:00.022-06:00

Hi there! I'm Linda, the Craft Addict over at Craftaholics Anonymous. I'm excited to be here to show you how to make these super simple Braided Fabric Bracelets.

These make fabulous gifts for girls of all ages. And they are even baby proof for us new mommies. {my little man loves chewing and drooling all over these. And I don't mind one bit because I can just pop them in the washer}I made these because I found myself sans-accessories more often than not with a teething baby. So I decided to make some baby-friendly bracelets to add some personality to my wardrobe again.

This gray knit fabric bracelet was made with scraps from my flower skirt.

All you need is a little scrap fabric to make these.

Ok, now that I have spent the last 5 minutes trying to sell you on them, here's how you make them!

Cut 3 strips of fabric 2"x 12".

Sew all 3 pieces together.

Braid the 3 strips together. Do it slightly loose so that there is a little 'give' to it so you can pull it on and off your wrist.

Pin and sew the ends together when you're done braiding.

Then sew both ends together to create a loop.

And there ya have it. Simple as that. You could add a yoyo and button, if you wanted to get fancy.

It was fun meeting all of you! Hope you come by and say hi. I have all kinds of crafts, tutorials, product reviews, and giveaways over at Craftaholics Anonymous. Be sure to check out my Reader's Tutorial Week Dec. 14-18. I have over 10 tutorials lined up that you don't want to miss!

Happy {crafty}Holidays!

Snowball

2009-12-03T04:00:00.006-06:00

That's the thing about a fun idea. It snowballs.

The decoupage pumpkins started out that way. First a pumpkin, then a menagerie of other Halloween creatures. A few weeks after Halloween came Robin's Thanksgiving turkeys and a couple more weeks from now, who knows how many paper mache Christmas balls or Santa heads will be attempted.

I feel the same way about our treat balls, turned Shine balls, and now - for the holidays - turned snowballs!

Truth be told, I gave this idea to Heather a few weeks back. Her last name is Snow and I couldn't resist the idea of Heather giving them as stocking stuffers to all her nieces and nephews. Snow balls. Get it? "Snow" balls.

I crack me up.

I used only white and silver trinkets when making this snowball - quarters, chocolate kisses, a charm, tic tacs, fortunes, and a variety of other chatchka.

Want to try your hand at making one, but can't remember or weren't around last time I described the process? Have no fear! Listen up and I'll tell you why.

Tomorrow, thanks to Katie, I am guest blogging on a site called, Craftaholics Anonymous. In light of the holidays I am teaching Linda's reader's how to make our Shine balls. After checking out her craft on our blog tomorrow, hop on over to her site and get a refresher course on how to make a Shine or Snowball.

And, yes there is more. At the center of the Shine balls I'm featuring on Linda's blog tomorrow is a sterling silver charm that says, "Shine." Perfect for a silver chain or a black cord. I'll give one Shine ball away to her readers, but I've saved the other for one of you. Tune in tomorrow to find out how to win it.

Signing off until tomorrow when our group gathers here and then heads over to Craftaholics Anonymous.

Evolution

2009-12-02T04:00:00.009-06:00

I might have mentioned Zoomorphs last year as one of my favorite gifts of the season. If so, today is a repeat - and a breach of my self imposed rule about never repeating the same idea twice.

But, if it's true and I already shared Zoomorphs, then let it serve as a true testament to what a great gift I think these are for young creative minds. It's a year later and this toy is still going strong in my house.

In fact, if I worked in an office and had a steady stream of people coming in and out, I would be tempted fill my candy dish with Zoomorphs. What a great conversation piece it would be endless amounts of fun for your office mates.

The concept is easy. Animal parts designed to be interchangeable. Take the head of a feline and combine it with the body of a zebra, the legs of a cheetah, elephant, dinosaur, and zebra. Top the whole thing off with a pink tail and what do you have?

How about a Pink Zephtahsaur?

I know what you veteran moms are thinking. Is she crazy? Those insidious hunks of plastic will be strewn around my house in minutes... no seconds. In cushions, under couches, stuck in lights, wedged in drawers, and tucked in the bed sheets. Forget it!

Ours are stored in a kitchen cabinet, so I can bring them out in the evening while the kids are waiting for dinner to be ready. No muss, no fuss.

Today is Wednesday, so I thought I'd whack your thinking a bit. Take a look at the creatures below and try naming them. You'll see what I mean about this toy being fun.

Here's one.

Now two.

And then three.

Try your hand at naming all three or select just one. How about a Starbucks coffee, on me, to the person who comes up with a name that my boys think is most clever?

P.S. $16.99 for this box of endless fun and creativity.

Signing off until tomorrow....

Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge: December

2009-12-01T04:00:00.003-06:00

Yesterday we closed out November's Cookie Cutter Challenge, featuring a Fancy Flours cookie cutter shaped like a screw driver. I used the cookie cutter to celebrate the end of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and 55, 190 words later, there is much to celebrate! With a minor twist of the screwdriver, we even generated a fun Christmas present idea or two. Check it out.

Today you decide on the cookie cutter I must somehow incorporate into December's holiday. If this month follows suit, your suggestions for a cookie cutter to match my holiday will go together about as well as peanut butter and anchovies or salt and pancakes. That is to say... not at all!

You should know that while you are busy making sure I have my work cut out for me, I am having a great time selecting each month's holiday. This month was no exception. In fact, this might be one of my favorites so far. I laughed and laughed and laughed after stumbling on this holiday. Meanwhile, Richard couldn't believe I had never heard of it!

This month on December 23, we will be celebrating Festivus, a holiday created on Seinfeld in response to the commercialization of Christmas. The slogan is, "Festivus, a holiday for the rest of us". Festivus Festivities include three components:

Festivus Pole: It is an unadorned aluminum pole, apparently in opposition to the commercialization of the decorated Christmas trees.
Airing of Grievances: where the celebrant tells their friends and family all of the instances where they disappointed the celebrant that year.
Feats of Strength: where the head of family tests their strength against one participant. Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned.

Want to know more about Festivus? Click here. Or, for a real laugh click here and watch part of the episode.

I have absolutely NO idea what I will do with this holiday or your cookie cutter for that matter, but bring it on. Click on the Fancy Flour website and select the cookie cutter you think I should have to use. The cutter receiving the most votes wins. In the event of a tie, the winning cutter will be selected from a hat.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Cookies with a Twist

2009-11-30T04:00:00.003-06:00

Today marks the LAST day of NaNoWriMo - National Novel Writing Month and the focus of this month's Fancy Flours Cookie Cutter Challenge. My friend, Susan, will be the recipient of this month's cookies, as she was brave enough to join me in undertaking this crazy adventure. Write 50,000 words in 30 days.

The rules of our cookie cutter challenge are simple. At the start of each month I announce an occasion we will celebrate. Readers visit Fancy Flours to vote on one the 600+ cookie cutters featured on their website. I then incorporate the winning cookie cutter into our celebration. You spare me no mercy, typically picking cookie cutters totally unrelated to my celebration.

I gave this month's entry a little "twist" that I think you will find perfect for the holiday season.

We'll call this month's entry... Can We Build It? Yes We Can! Getting 50,000 words on paper is only the foundation of building our best selling books. I used the screwdriver cookie cutter as the inspiration for my Book Writer's Tool Belt. Inside are all the "tools" Susan will need to begin editing her masterpiece.

Check out what I've included: a small book of daily inspirations for writers, red pens, a gift card for a cup of inspiration, post it notes, chocolate, aspirin, a small gift card for the ultimate book lover, and of course a batch of my yummy cookies.

And, because packaging is everything, I gathered all of her items together in a $.77 tool belt from Lowes.

Here's the "twist" that I think you will like. You could create a Tool Belt for just about anyone on your holiday list. Know a Scrapbooker? What about paper, scissors, stickers, glue, and a hole punch?

Know someone who interested in sprucing up his apartment? How about paint swatches, a picture frame, a decorating-for-dummies book, and a gift card to a local accessory store?

Ice cream lover? Sprinkles, an ice cream scoop, a gift certificate to Baskin Robbins, sugar cones, ice cream spoons, ice cream stickers, and cherries for on top?

Fore! How about a golfer? Golf tees, score cards, a golf towel for his bag, golf balls, ball markers, and new spikes for his shoes.

One more. This is fun.

Sewing. Needles, thread, scissors, a new pattern, a pin cushion, and a gift card for fabric.

Cake decorating, fishing, knitting, hunting, fitness, cooking, coffee lover, tennis, guitar player, or gardener. We could go on for days! This is a fun, fun way to package just about any present you have in mind.

The screwdriver cookie cutter is icing on the cake, regardless of your tool belt theme. Just add a tag reading, "Cake Decorating with a Twist," "Building the Ultimate Scrapbook," or "The Nuts and Bolts of Golf." There's a slogan for whatever belt you create.

Win today's cookie cutter by suggesting yet another hobby for which you could stuff a tool belt and tell us which items you might include. Submit an idea in the comment section and your name will go in the construction hat for a drawing to be done tonight at 9:00 p.m.

Signing off until tomorrow when we select the cookie cutter for December.

Yellow Envelope Project: Noah

2009-11-28T04:00:00.003-06:00

A minor adjustment to what is quickly becoming a favorite weekly ritual of Highlowaha. Normally our community comes together on Saturdays to participate in the Yellow Envelope Project. The project is our attempt to recognize someone whose small acts makes their community a brighter place.

Not so today.

About ten days ago, Matthew, Jack and I went to Hallmark to buy a Christmas card for Noah Biorkman, a five year old boy who I learned about through another Highlowaha reader. Stacie forwarded a link telling of Noah's battle with Stage IV neuroblastoma. His parents were asking people from around the country to mail Christmas cards to Noah early, since there was a chance he would not make it to Christmas.

We should have sent the card the day we bought it, but Richard was out of town and nights are always more hectic when he is gone. Then I got busy with family... and life... and daily posts for Highlowaha.

Then came Thanksgiving and all the preparation that goes into hosting guests. And then, yesterday. Well, yesterday I had to go Christmas shopping. Right? Because gosh, what would happen if I stopped long enough to consider, while I am out deciding between Legos and Transformers, that there was a family in Michigan clinging to every last, precious moment they were given?

Last night I finally made time for the three of us to send Noah the card we purchased. I pulled Noah's name up on the internet to confirm the mailing address.

Imagine my sadness when I read the most recent headline, "Noah Biorkman Passes Peacefully." As it turns out, Noah passed away on Monday, November 23 in his home. Our singing Christmas card still sits in the Hallmark bag - too mad at myself to do anything with it and too embarrassed to explain to the boys why we can't mail it.

Life is fleeting. I read in the initial news clipping explaining Noah was terminally ill and that cards should be sent before Christmas, in the event he didn't live past the holidays. So what was I thinking and why didn't I send the card right away?

I know why. Because I'm pompous and full of myself. It didn't occur to me that Noah would die before I decided it was time to send his card. I was so busy getting all the "important" stuff done that I let the life of this little boy disappear before my very eyes.

I'm mad and disappointed in myself.

So today. Today, in honor of Noah Biorkman, I would love it if you would send a card to someone who is long overdue for a message from you. You might even already have a stack of unused cards - purchased, but never mailed. If so, perfect. Join the club. Use one of those cards and send it to the person for whom you initially purchased it. And, if you feel like it... put it in a yellow envelope anyway or decorate it with yellow stickers. That will be our secret.

Do it today. Don't wait. Life is fleeting.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Hindsight is 20/20

2009-11-27T04:00:00.010-06:00

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and that everyone is officially ready to roll into the holiday season! I say, "roll," because if you ate what I ate yesterday, then today you are, in fact, rolling!

But first... today is Free For All Friday and we have some voting to do. In the right hand column of our blog, cast your vote for the secret ingredient of your choice (mushrooms v. pineapple), as well as the person you think had this week's winning recipe - Lauren or Kate.

Then...

Check out the post below and get ready to Free For All.

You might remember after Christmas/Hanukkah last year, I asked readers to brain dump all the things they wanted to remember not to forget THIS holiday season. In exchange, I promised to publish your ideas the day after Thanksgiving, helping to assure holiday season 2010 got off to the right start.

Here is what you said in no particular order. Read through and remind yourself - maybe even find a new idea or two.

Peggy wants to better organize her holiday decorating tubs. Better labels; similar things stored together; and label the box containing ornament hangers!
Cheryl wants to finish her Christmas Countdown Calendar; get Christmas shopping done in July; Host an Open House party; Get decorations and wrapping paper organized; be sure to have mistletoe, so she can chase her sons around the house with it; and maybe have some outdoor decorations.
Claudia wants to remember to replace some of the activities on her Twelve Days of Christmas Activity Tree with more simple things like Christmas jokes and puzzles.
Katie wants to remember to make Reindeer Food for her student staff and her fellow hall directors.
Anonymous suggested not throwing away wrapping paper this year and using it to make gift tags for next year. Simply cut out the images and rubber cement them to bright colored card stock.
Peggy added that you could also use old Christmas Cards to make gift tags.
Michelle wanted to remember to get a holiday picture taken with her new, five month old, babies. She also wants to figure out a fun way to record their first Christmas.
Kat wanted to be sure to remember to do photo Christmas cards this year and to host a cookie exchange with friends. She added that her mother-in-law has a fun idea... she takes a fun photo of everyone she spent Christmas with and then sends it out as a New Year's card!
Heather had a long list including items such as: if traveling have family wrap a picture of presents for children and have actual gifts mailed directly to your home; pick up kids Christmas clothes right after the season ends; go see Santa early (TODAY!); take time to stage fun photos with kids in holiday pajamas and cookies.

The idea for last year's post was the result of Matthew receiving Magic Reindeer Dust from a classmate. I loved the idea, but was concerned I would lose or forget it. My idea worked like a dream, because one year later... here is the recipe - safely tucked away in a post from last holiday season.

To make... fill festive cellophane party bag with oats, sprinkles, and sparkles. Attach the following poem:

Magic Reindeer Dust

Come December 24, as Santa flies here from the North,

Here's what you do, it isn't hard.

Just sprinkle this stuff in your yard...

The sprinkles and sparkles draw old Santa near

and oats attract his eight reindeer...

Then just you wait - they're on their way

P.S. Happy Holiday

Magic Reindeer Dust prompted the idea for Snowman Soup. Check it out. To make... combine 1 package hot chocolate mix, 3 Hershey Kisses; 10 miniature marshmallows; 1 candy cane. Place in small ziplock bag or new mug. Attach the following poem:

Snowman Soup

When the weather outside is frightful,

Snowman Soup can be delightful.

May it warm your spirit and your soul

Let it Snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

When you feel a chill or "brrrrrr"

Use the peppermint stick to stir.

Add hot water and sip it slow.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

I, for one, was glad to see this list of holiday reminders. I did not remember the Magic Reindeer Dust idea, but now that I see it again, I will certainly use it as an inexpensive gift for Jack and his classmates (I have another idea in the works for Matthew's class).

If the idea works for Christmas and Hanukkah, could it also work for Thanksgiving? Is there something you wish you would have remembered sooner when preparing for this year's Thanksgiving? If so, tell me before you forget. If I get enough ideas, I will present them next year on the day after Halloween.

Don't like my Free For All topic? Jump in and pose your own.

Signing off until tomorrow...

Psst...

2009-11-26T04:00:00.002-06:00

PaRayde, here! Just hanging out high atop the Macy's Parade. Last year it was Rayflower reminding us of our Thanksgiving traditions. This year it's me....a 200 foot tall floating beacon of shine. See that big smile on my face? That's the helium. When I talk, I sound like a Chipmunks record on 78. For those of you youngsters out there, a record is what we had before CDs. Record players had three speeds. 33 rpms for full size records, 45 rpms for small records and 78 rpms for the really old records. Still confused? Google it or get over it.

Where was I?

Oh yeah, Thanksgiving. I guess we should talk about what we're thankful for. Here are a few things that I'm thankful for:

I'm thankful that somehow, after all these years, Macy's has been able to keep this parade going. Can you imagine how many times a select few Shining individuals have had to convince management that it was more than just a marketing tool and that there was no way to calculate the Return on Investment. How many times has this parade been saved from the chopping block I wonder? Way to go Macy's.

I'm also thankful for the men and women who are in harms way in the military, while we eat ourselves sick, watch football, and try to keep Uncle Mikey from hitting the twelve beer mark before dessert. Semper Shine!

I'm thankful that some Shining inventor came up with the Widget that keeps my Guiness Draught bubbly and fun.

I'm thankful for traffic attorneys that have kept me out of court and out of class. You're worth every Shining penny.

The last thing that I'm thankful for is............

homemade yogurt and granola. You thought I was going to get sappy didn't you? Hah. Never.

So tell me, my fellow sultans of Shine. What are you thankful for?

Horn of Plenty

2009-11-25T04:00:00.013-06:00

After the success of our paper mache Halloween treats in October, I thought I would take a reader's suggestion and try making a paper mache cornucopia. Then I learned, through my creative sister in law, that I could make an edible cornucopia. Hmmmm.... flour and soggy newspaper or pastry and whip cream? I decided I'd go edible, so today I share a variation of Cassie's chocolate cream-filled dessert. Check hers out by clicking here and then check out mine below...

I am no chef - pastry or otherwise - and even I thought it was super easy.

Purchase Puff Pastry Sheets in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. I found mine next to the refrigerated Pepperidge Farm Cakes.
Roll tin foil to be cone-shaped. Note: The size of your tin-foil cornucopia will determine the size of the cornucopia you bake. While my sister in-law made each of hers small enough for one per person, we decided to bake two large cornucopias and let the family share one for dessert. I image you might be able to get three or four cornucopia's per Puff Pastry sheet.
Place on cookie sheet and bake according to directions on package - approximately fifteen minutes.
While waiting for the pastry to bake, whip your cream

Slice fresh fruit

Let cornucopia's cool for fifteen minutes then pull tin foil out from center.
Once cooled, fill cornucopia with whipped cream and fresh fruit. Or... vanilla ice cream inside the warm cornucopia could also have been yummy. Either way, this dessert would look great centered on your Thanksgiving buffet!
Dig in!

Now a chance to toot the horn of Highlowaha - specifically Cristine and her friends at Struble Suds. Back in the fall, Struble Suds accepted our Dine By Design Challenge in a big way! They raised $302.00, so we could grant a family a Gift of 218. After some consultation with Cristine, we decided to adopt a family in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Sunday, Heather, Cheryl, and I delivered the packages and, I must say, it felt great. Here's what we were able to do. We filled a basket chock full of things such as a new Thanksgiving table cloth, brass candle sticks, tapered candles, linen napkins, and a $150.00 gift card to our local grocery store, Tom Thumb. In addition, we purchased them a turkey, bought them a turkey platter, and later on today a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers will be delivered to the family's house!

I'd say together, Highlowaha and Struble Suds, made one family very happy this holiday season.

Good work, everyone.

Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for our Thanksgiving fun.

Signing off until Turkey Day...

Dressing the Turkey

2009-11-24T04:00:00.002-06:00

Have no fear. Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away, but you still have time to whip up the perfect centerpiece or hostess gift (make it to the end of today's post and discover at least one more fun way you can use the idea being featured today).

Stuff one brown grocery bag with crumpled newspaper (notice my use of yet another brown bag!). Set stuffed bag aside.

Using one package of brown tissue paper, cut into long strips. My package contained ten sheets of paper. I doubled my sheets and then cut them into three smaller strips for a total of 15 strips (10 sheets/by 2 per fold x 3 strips per fold = 15 strips). Holding strips horizontally make 1.5 -2 inch cuts along the full length of each strip. Set aside.

Sketch a turkey head onto orange foam or card stock. Double the foam or card stock, so you have two cutouts (a front and a back). Using a google eye or markers, place eyes on the turkeys head.

Assure the head stands up straight by inserting a dowel or stick between the two sides of the head. Hot glue two sides together.

Insert dowel into the brown bag.

Running the full length of the brown bag, glue strips of tissue paper to the brown paper bag. I used hot glue, because it is faster. If doing with kids Elmer's Glue will work fine.

Slightly overlap strips on top of one another. Repeat on both sides.

Affix strips to top of the bag, carefully working around the turkey's head. Once the sides and top are covered, you should have used 13-15 strips of brown tissue paper.

So far so good.

Cut feathers from fall colored construction paper. I used red, orange, and yellow. Fold bottom about about an inch and add glue.

Attach feather to the turkey's back. Hold in place while glue dries.

Pieces of feathers might need to be glued to one another in order to assure they don't flop to one side or another.

Voila! The turkey is done!

Yes, it would make a cute centerpiece. Yes, it would be super cute "stuffed" with a small house warming gift for your hostess (maybe dish towels or potpourri). But... it could also make a super cute pinata for the kids to break after dinner is over.

Gobble any other ideas?

Signing off until tomorrow...