<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409</id><updated>2011-07-30T16:33:11.885-07:00</updated><category term='exercise'/><category term='halloween'/><category term='pta'/><category term='Tennis'/><category term='weight loss'/><category term='discipline'/><category term='family'/><category term='mom stuff'/><category term='breast cancer'/><category term='fun'/><category term='new blogger'/><category term='moms'/><category term='girl scouts'/><category term='kids'/><title type='text'>simplynotso</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>18</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-889401909204187144</id><published>2009-10-17T09:50:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-10-18T14:43:27.349-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='fun'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='moms'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='weight loss'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='family'/><title type='text'>Weight Loss: What Not to Do</title><content type='html'>Some of you may already know these secrets but for others(you know who you are) these may be revelations:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1.Do not awake at 3 am and eat all the cookies in the house with a large glass of milk.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;2.Do not live off of Margaritas with salt.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;3.Do not stand up while you eat(simutaneously yelling at your kids to sit down).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;4.Do not eat and drive.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;5.Do not shove food in your mouth so fast that you hardly chew it.(Also a safety tip)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;6.Do not go to the gym and sit and drink coffee on the couch for 2 hrs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;7. Do not eat peanut butter out of the jar in large heaping spoonfuls.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;8. Do not put blue cheese dressing on pizza that you don't like so that you can eat more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;9. Do not schedule your day around your meals.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;10. Do not sit on your As* all day reading blogs and twittering.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Please feel free to add some ideas in your comments. Have a healthy day(or at least just Don't do one of these things)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-889401909204187144?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/889401909204187144/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=889401909204187144' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/889401909204187144'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/889401909204187144'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2009/10/weight-loss-what-not-to-do.html' title='Weight Loss: What Not to Do'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-2610447503718358113</id><published>2009-01-09T16:31:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-01-09T16:39:28.413-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Wii Fun!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SWft93bUZnI/AAAAAAAAAEU/gMx-BTfMeLA/s1600-h/wii+remotes.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SWft93bUZnI/AAAAAAAAAEU/gMx-BTfMeLA/s200/wii+remotes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289457934476273266" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; I know that I am a little behind the times but Santa brought us the Wii this year. We love it! Now we are spending night after night having family Wii challenges! We also got the Wii fit. BEWARE it is brutally honest and my Wii person blew up like a tic after my first test. But since then, each day my graph has gone down. If I don't have the time to go to the gym (which is often). I just hop on the Wii and get a little exercise while trying to beat a computer. The competition is fierce.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Anyway, if you do not have it yet, you have to get it. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-2610447503718358113?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/2610447503718358113/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=2610447503718358113' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2610447503718358113'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2610447503718358113'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2009/01/wii-fun.html' title='Wii Fun!'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SWft93bUZnI/AAAAAAAAAEU/gMx-BTfMeLA/s72-c/wii+remotes.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-767223602902269106</id><published>2009-01-03T20:49:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-01-03T20:54:39.667-08:00</updated><title type='text'>No Caffeine for me after 3pm</title><content type='html'>WOW! I am up and ready to go. I am at my sister-in-laws and had some coffee with her at 4pm and am wired! I have already been on Facebook, Blogger and shopping on Pottery Barn. My 13 year old nephew is wondering when I am going to bed(I wonder why?) The wine I am drinking to counteract the coffee is not working. What to do?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-767223602902269106?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/767223602902269106/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=767223602902269106' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/767223602902269106'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/767223602902269106'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-caffeine-for-me-after-3pm.html' title='No Caffeine for me after 3pm'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-2360787611135494155</id><published>2009-01-02T17:28:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-01-02T17:34:41.644-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Flushed Away</title><content type='html'>I need help.&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;My 4 1/2 year old son will not stop flushing things down the toilet. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Yes, the other day I found my Michael Kors watch glistening in the porcelain God.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;He has been doing this type of thing since he was 2! But it used to just be toys or too much toilet paper.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;ANY ADVICE???&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-2360787611135494155?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/2360787611135494155/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=2360787611135494155' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2360787611135494155'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2360787611135494155'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2009/01/flushed-away.html' title='Flushed Away'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-3566549081761416830</id><published>2008-12-28T06:18:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-12-28T06:30:42.144-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The fun never ends...</title><content type='html'>We have had a week of non stop fun with family and friends. My house is definitely feeling the neglect. I spent so much time getting it together prior to the holidays and my husband was amazed at how organized and wonderful it looked! Since this is his busy time of year, he only could enjoy Christmas day festivities while the kids and I have been having sleepovers, playing the Wii and enjoying lots of playtime. Now, the house is in shambles but there are a lot of smiles on every one's faces, even my husband....but I am awaiting the soon to be FROWN:(  Maybe I will do an "hour of power" before the next party! &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Whoops, no time I have got to get in the shower! Have a great day.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God Bless Him!!!(or me)&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-3566549081761416830?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/3566549081761416830/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=3566549081761416830' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/3566549081761416830'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/3566549081761416830'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/12/fun-never-ends.html' title='The fun never ends...'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-1492462328454977749</id><published>2008-12-27T17:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-12-27T17:01:18.937-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Macbook</title><content type='html'>I got a new Macbook from Santa.....so I am back in business! Posts to come....&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-1492462328454977749?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/1492462328454977749/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=1492462328454977749' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/1492462328454977749'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/1492462328454977749'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/12/macbook.html' title='Macbook'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-8562379935575333189</id><published>2008-11-03T05:03:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2008-11-03T05:13:40.595-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Sew....</title><content type='html'> I am visiting my wonderful sister. Some of you may know her,(she spends a lot of time drinking diet coke and hitting small yellow balls). Thank goodness she did not pick teaching as a career!LOL&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;She had me bring my new sewing machine so I could learn the basics of threading. After a small tutorial, she left me to thread on my own. When she returned, I had only thread the bobbin. To which her reply was, "You could have not done it more wrong!"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;P, I am so glad I still have you:)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-8562379935575333189?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/8562379935575333189/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=8562379935575333189' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/8562379935575333189'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/8562379935575333189'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/11/sew.html' title='Sew....'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-2171391183293659643</id><published>2008-10-28T16:29:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-28T16:47:40.463-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Stitch Bitch</title><content type='html'>  Recently I decided to teach myself to sew. My daughter wanted to be a pumpkin for Halloween and all you can find in the stores are infant and dog pumpkin costumes. I certainly am creative enough to come up with what I would do for a pumpkin costume, but lack the art of sewing. &lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;  I researched a little online then bid on a basic sewing machine on &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;ebay&lt;/span&gt; and won. Well, today I ventured into Joanne Fabrics and walked into the "lion's den" of sewing. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; My machine has not arrived yet, so out of curiosity I was browsing their machines. A F** Bi***was sitting eating in the middle of all the machines and not so politely said, "Can we help you?" (we must have been the small child that she ate for lunch) I then proceeded to explain my situation to her. She responded with, "We don't sell those here and it is probably a toy for the price that you paid." I then asked her what she would recommend for a beginning sewer. She then gave me a lecture on buying on &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;ebay&lt;/span&gt;. She actually said,"BUYER BEWARE!!! Most of the time things on &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;ebay&lt;/span&gt; are HOT and that is wrong, you should not support crooks by buying their HOT items." She repeated HOT about four times, at which point I actually found myself chuckling and defending &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;ebay&lt;/span&gt;. Then she said that I should just buy some remnants to practice stitches and probably will not want to even sew again after starting on my piece of crap &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;Janome&lt;/span&gt; 3125. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;After such a warm welcome into the world of sewing, I strolled over to Borders and bought Sewing for Dummies and am now at home waiting for my crappy purchase. God help me if I have to go back and buy fabric!!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-2171391183293659643?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/2171391183293659643/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=2171391183293659643' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2171391183293659643'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2171391183293659643'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/10/stitch-bitch.html' title='Stitch Bitch'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-2631651829616792961</id><published>2008-10-26T17:26:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-26T17:40:58.546-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Ugly Duckling</title><content type='html'>   I am always trying to save some time in the morning....you know a few extra minutes of sleep. &lt;div&gt;Well, a few weeks ago somebody complimented me on my hair, on a day when all I did was wash it and put it behind my ears. Well, this gave me the green light to do this way too often:) Anyway, last week I actually "did" my hair and boy did I hear it! "Did you get your hair highlighted?", "I love your haircut!", "Your hair looks great." Now I realize the original compliment was probably because that person did not know what to say! There goes my extra 20 minutes of sleep.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-2631651829616792961?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/2631651829616792961/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=2631651829616792961' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2631651829616792961'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/2631651829616792961'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/10/ugly-duckling.html' title='Ugly Duckling'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-6622393113920401183</id><published>2008-10-23T18:10:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-23T18:11:19.672-07:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SQEgpNpOSmI/AAAAAAAAADs/wMFEbBUdnGw/s1600-h/button.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260521732154739298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SQEgpNpOSmI/AAAAAAAAADs/wMFEbBUdnGw/s200/button.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://mardissidram.blogspot.com/2008/10/sitting-pretty-studio-watercolor.html"&gt;http://mardissidram.blogspot.com/2008/10/sitting-pretty-studio-watercolor.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-6622393113920401183?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/6622393113920401183/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=6622393113920401183' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/6622393113920401183'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/6622393113920401183'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/10/httpmardissidram.html' title=''/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SQEgpNpOSmI/AAAAAAAAADs/wMFEbBUdnGw/s72-c/button.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-665942633102002721</id><published>2008-10-16T12:22:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-16T14:59:11.948-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='halloween'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='kids'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='family'/><title type='text'>Boo!!</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SPe39SZ4AuI/AAAAAAAAADk/2j1qCYfMQnY/s1600-h/ghost_boo.gif"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257873353518613218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SPe39SZ4AuI/AAAAAAAAADk/2j1qCYfMQnY/s200/ghost_boo.gif" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Have you ever been Booed?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This is our second year in our new neighborhood and we were pleasantly surprised by Booing last year. If you have not done it, you should try it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What you do is come up with a catchy Booing poem(or google Booing and you will find one)copy it several times, fill a bowl with fun treats for kids and ring your neighbors doorbell and leave it before they see you. What my 4 year old says is "ding,dong,ditch" which he probably learned from his 11 year old brother. We take some treats that we like, add something new then Boo! someone else.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Have Fun!!!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-665942633102002721?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/665942633102002721/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=665942633102002721' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/665942633102002721'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/665942633102002721'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/10/boo.html' title='Boo!!'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SPe39SZ4AuI/AAAAAAAAADk/2j1qCYfMQnY/s72-c/ghost_boo.gif' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-1137219130483752400</id><published>2008-10-13T15:57:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-13T17:21:29.138-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Tennis'/><title type='text'>Tennis Anyone?</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SPPgHOEcMZI/AAAAAAAAADU/cwrt3y9HLRE/s1600-h/tennis.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SPPgHOEcMZI/AAAAAAAAADU/cwrt3y9HLRE/s200/tennis.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256791604711928210" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As some of you know, my sister is an avid tennis player. I however, being the youngest, did not get the luxury of tennis lessons as a child. So, I watched her play and fooled around(not literally)with the ball and racket and occasionally play with some friends. I really enjoy it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have been giving some thought to joining a league. I even have called to play with a pro at my club to try to get a rating. Now, with all my sister's interesting stories and DRAMA, I am hesitant. So, I began asking around. Today, a woman that I do Basic Training with said that she is taking a year off because of all the craziness.She was a captain for nine years and said it was so crazy that she needed a break from it all. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I need some opinions. Do I just continue to play casually or throw myself to the wolves? I do like a little competition, but is it worth the headache?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-1137219130483752400?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/1137219130483752400/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=1137219130483752400' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/1137219130483752400'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/1137219130483752400'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/10/tennis-anyone.html' title='Tennis Anyone?'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SPPgHOEcMZI/AAAAAAAAADU/cwrt3y9HLRE/s72-c/tennis.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-3573021134266409260</id><published>2008-10-06T17:55:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-06T17:58:11.161-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Squeeze that OJ</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-size:180%;"&gt;OJ deserves the big squeeze. Karma, dude. Why are they &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;separating&lt;/span&gt; him from other prisoners? So he does not get what he deserves? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-3573021134266409260?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/3573021134266409260/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=3573021134266409260' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/3573021134266409260'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/3573021134266409260'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/10/squeeze-that-oj.html' title='Squeeze that OJ'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-7901271252575261509</id><published>2008-09-29T16:21:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-29T17:14:25.407-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mom stuff'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='discipline'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='girl scouts'/><title type='text'>Busting the Brownies</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SOFthb4rPYI/AAAAAAAAACM/TceKTGXm4As/s1600-h/brownie.jpg"&gt;&lt;img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251599061679291778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SOFthb4rPYI/AAAAAAAAACM/TceKTGXm4As/s200/brownie.jpg" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I was very happy when my daughter told me that she wanted to join the Girl Scouts. The thought of sweet little girls sitting around a camp fire singing songs, doing crafts and giggling softly ran through my head. I was excited for both of us because as a child I also wanted to be a Brownie. As a matter of fact , I still have the wooden Christmas Tree napkin holder that I made at my one and only meeting. All of my hopes and dreams of being a Girl Scout were quickly fizzled by my 2 older sisters who taunted me with how "uncool" it was. Yes, they are 4 and 5 years my senior and EVERYTHING that they said, I believed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Looking forward to my daughter's first year, I contacted the woman in charge of our local troops. I quickly learned that this Brownie group was led by a co op of mothers, so I would have my Brownie experience with my daughter! Brownies is held immediately after school in a classroom. I went to the first meeting to observe. Wow! These nine little girls were screaming, jumping on desks, climbing under desks, climbing the walls(okay the a/c units attached to the walls) but really out of control. There were 2 women leading and several older girls assisting. Yes, they did calm down, a little for the "project of the day" but overall it was OUT OF CONTROL!!!!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Now, don't get me wrong, my daughter can be pretty wild at home but in every organized setting ,since day 1 she has been praised for her excellent, quiet behavior(which she does not get from her mother). Now I see why, if these are her peers. I try not to judge , but there was one girl that everyone was feeding off of who was extra "energetic". I thought to myself, boy she needs some discipline. We all know that we should never judge and I soon relearned this lesson.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;After a long discussion with my daughter about how the other girls behavior was unacceptable and that it should not be allowed to happen, she agreed. Well, who do you think was scaling the top of the desks when I came to pick up at the last meeting! Yes, my sweet baby! Of course, I immediately called her down and explained to her that she would no longer be a Brownie if she wanted to act like that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Let me ask you, fellow bloggers, am I being too harsh or does someone need to get control of these 6 and 7 year old girls. I know this is supposed to be fun, but someone is going to get hurt and certainly badges may not get earned. LOL. Besides the fact, how am I going to lead these crazy kids:) HELP!&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-7901271252575261509?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/7901271252575261509/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=7901271252575261509' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/7901271252575261509'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/7901271252575261509'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/09/busting-brownies.html' title='Busting the Brownies'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SOFthb4rPYI/AAAAAAAAACM/TceKTGXm4As/s72-c/brownie.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-5816792875854430773</id><published>2008-09-22T17:43:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-22T18:13:59.543-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='breast cancer'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='exercise'/><title type='text'>Motivation,Determination and a Pulled Muscle</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNhByvd-FBI/AAAAAAAAABg/7Rf-43SxwUE/s1600-h/breast+cancer.jpg"&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNhByvd-FBI/AAAAAAAAABg/7Rf-43SxwUE/s200/breast+cancer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249017705691747346" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Well, it happened, when you jump off the couch and suddenly shock your body, it will retaliate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yes, ten years ago I did do an &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"&gt;Olympic&lt;/span&gt; &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"&gt;triathlon&lt;/span&gt; but that was 10 years ago and even then it was difficult. Anyway, &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"&gt;apparently&lt;/span&gt; my &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"&gt;piriformis&lt;/span&gt; is not happy and I am having upper leg/hip pain to the point of limping, so I did not go to Basic Training in fear of being injured further. I am icing,soaking,taking Advil and resting. I will go back on Wednesday, especially since the thought of an amazing woman that I met there is haunting me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This 41 year old woman looks amazing! But of course the first thing you notice about her is that her head is shaved. She is fighting Breast Cancer. Six months after giving birth to her last child she was diagnosed. Luckily, it looks like it was all contained, she had the lump removed and now she is going through 33 days straight of chemotherapy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt; Does she miss basic training for this? NO! She says that the exercise and the friendships have really helped her through it and the group supports her with helping with meals,babysitting and cheering her on during her really bad days. The &lt;span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"&gt;camaraderie&lt;/span&gt; is really touching. Now that is a MOTIVATED and DETERMINED person with a lot of strength and I can not let a little pulled muscle bring me down.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-5816792875854430773?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/5816792875854430773/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=5816792875854430773' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/5816792875854430773'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/5816792875854430773'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/09/motivationdetermination-and-pulled.html' title='Motivation,Determination and a Pulled Muscle'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNhByvd-FBI/AAAAAAAAABg/7Rf-43SxwUE/s72-c/breast+cancer.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-8263125284194910652</id><published>2008-09-21T07:29:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-21T07:38:06.416-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mom stuff'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='family'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='pta'/><title type='text'>PTA Punch</title><content type='html'>&lt;div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;object height="350" width="425"&gt;&lt;param value="http://youtube.com/v/aK7jGfu7SPE" name="movie"&gt;&lt;embed height="350" width="425" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://youtube.com/v/aK7jGfu7SPE"&gt;&lt;/embed&gt;&lt;/object&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-8263125284194910652?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/8263125284194910652/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=8263125284194910652' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/8263125284194910652'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/8263125284194910652'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/09/pta-punch.html' title='PTA Punch'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-4941097419237967057</id><published>2008-09-21T06:25:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-21T18:54:35.960-07:00</updated><title type='text'>To PTA or not to PTA that is the question?</title><content type='html'>   Now, the purpose of this post is not to scare anyone away from the PTA. Actually, it is the opposite and I certainly do not think this video is an accurate example of most PTA interactions, at least in my experience. Recently,  I was at back to school night and one of the mothers in my daughter's classroom was inquiring about a phone directory and said, "I really want a directory but don't you have to join the PTA to get one and no one joins the PTA"(giggle). Well, I am on the board of the PTA, yes in a small position that enables me to help but not be over scheduled. Our school just opened 2 years ago and we are still building our PTA membership. She then turned to the teacher and said, "Let me know if you need anything, I just sit at home all day doing nothing."(which also makes me cringe because as a SAHM I would hardly say we DO NOTHING!) &lt;div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Needless to say, the phone directory is sponsored by the PTA and everyone can get one regardless if you are a member of the PTA. My point is, you can join the PTA for 10.00 to contribute and don't have to DO ANYTHING or you can take some of your downtime and give a little to your children's school, you choose. But don't brag about DOING NOTHING in the same breath as I WANT a directory and NO ONE joins the PTA! &lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt; My experience so far with the PTA has been very positive. I have met some nice people, I get to know the staff at the school at a different level(which can be very helpful) and I am a part of enhancing my children's experience. Believe me, at first I was hesitant to get involved since many people discouraged me. One woman I quote said, "Join the PTA, I mean if that is who you want to hang out with!" What! Are we in the movie Mean Girls? Give me a break, just joining the PTA does not mean that is who you have to socialize with. But really, what is wrong with meeting all kinds of people and "hanging out" with many different types of people. Is that not what we want to teach our children?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-4941097419237967057?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/4941097419237967057/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=4941097419237967057' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/4941097419237967057'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/4941097419237967057'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/09/to-pta-or-not-to-pta-that-is-question.html' title='To PTA or not to PTA that is the question?'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6747508066347981409.post-8517423634038471213</id><published>2008-09-20T16:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-09-21T18:34:08.793-07:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='new blogger'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='mom stuff'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='weight loss'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='exercise'/><title type='text'>Nothing Basic about this Training</title><content type='html'>&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNWUHvcso-I/AAAAAAAAABY/6tNBCgqKsv0/s1600-h/Drill_sergeant_screams.jpg"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNWUHvcso-I/AAAAAAAAABY/6tNBCgqKsv0/s200/Drill_sergeant_screams.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248263801487008738" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www4.army.mil/OCPA/uploads/large/2006/CSA-2006-10-27-102332.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Well, I did it , I had a great year of relaxing, enjoying margaritas, parties, trips, family adventures, and even my fair share of life's little stresses. Unfortunately, along with all that came 20 not-so-lovely pounds, yes 20 in a year!!!! So with no breast feeding ahead of me to shred the ugly bulge I had to do something drastic. That is what brings me to Basic Training and a man named Andre, who likes to torture us Moms (and a few brave Dads) with his smiling face and exercises that literally bring you to your knees. I have to ask, what did we do to you Andre? Really, we were just taking care of our families, volunteering at school, making dinners, doing laundry, keeping up on current affairs, carpooling, blogging, working, enjoying friends and trying to be green. So, we did not make time for exercise and now we are paying. I am discovering muscles that I only heard  about in Anatomy and Physiology. I never actually wanted to feel them!! But I do, and I will return on Monday, 3 days a week for the drudgery, because in the end, after the hour is over I feel better, energized and ready to take on whatever comes my way. Goodbye 20!!!&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;BUCK UP ALL YOU READERS AND GIVE ME A COMMENT, I NEED ENCOURAGEMENT HERE!!! Or get down and give me 20:)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6747508066347981409-8517423634038471213?l=simplynotso.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/feeds/8517423634038471213/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6747508066347981409&amp;postID=8517423634038471213' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/8517423634038471213'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/6747508066347981409/posts/default/8517423634038471213'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://simplynotso.blogspot.com/2008/09/nothing-basic-about-this-training.html' title='Nothing Basic about this Training'/><author><name>simplynotso</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14972386921057961872</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNpJiaLgUHI/AAAAAAAAABo/nfYA44-3X-M/S220/s.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IBfnsNUilmQ/SNWUHvcso-I/AAAAAAAAABY/6tNBCgqKsv0/s72-c/Drill_sergeant_screams.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry></feed>
