Liquid Luv, My Facebook, Randomness

Happy National Coffee Day!!!

It’s here Again!!

National Coffee Day!!!

coffee fairy

So what is all this coffee hoopla about?  Every year, on September 29th, National Coffee Day celebrates the coffee bean and the promotion of fair trade of coffee.   All in an effort to raise awareness about coffee growers.

For me, one of the fun things about this caffeine fueled day is that at my local coffee shop, I can get all of the Free Coffee that I can carry!

I posted on my FB PAGE where you can score on getting your free ‘cup of jo

*a click on the picture will take you right to the link to the article 😉

fb coffee 2015

I have my cup of jo’ in hand.   I’ll wait for you to grab yours.

Hurry back.  I have some Fun ‘Coffee’ Facts to share with you

~1~

The most expensive coffee (in the world), Kopi Luwak, is excreted by a Sumatran species of wild cats.  How expensive is this cup o’ jo?

$600 a pound of coffee.   YEP!

~2~

Coffee is a fruit. Coffee beans are actually the pits of berries that grow on bushes .

ripe-coffee-berries

~3~

Second only to oil, Coffee is most sold commodity around the world.

~4~

How do you like your coffee bean- Arabica or Robusta?  These are the only two kinds of coffee beans.  Thank goodness for the bottomless variety of coffee-based drinks.  The difference in the bean?  Robusta is more bitter and packs twice as much caffeine.

coffee bean

~5~

65% of the worlds coffee is consumed by three countries: Americans, Frenchmen and Germans

globe-people-city-globe

So there you have it!

Nothing like a cup of liquid luv and some fun facts!

Thanks for the company.

…. I’m on my way for a second cup

I Need My Jo

What’s on your list of things to do today?

Do Tell….

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Blog Luv!, Friendships, GIF, Inspiration, Randomness, Relationship, Video, WeekEnd Luv

This is the Summer Happy Dance!!!

Morning Luv-lies,

One More  ‘Shout Out’  for The First Day  of Summer

What are you going to  dance about today?

… Do Tell …

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Goals, Inspiration, Randomness, Strategy, Video

It Better Be Worth It!!!

Hey Luv-lie,

I want to share this hilarious video that I found in my facebook feed  via a random share.  I love everything about this short vid – the great music, the fantastic animation, The spot-on theme.  The hilarity of it all is fresh and welcoming!

ENJOY!

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Food, Friendships, Girl on Fire!, Goals, I am Woman....Roar!, Inspiration, My Weight Loss, Randomness, The Weight-ing Game, Weight Watchers ... The Way I See It

Sunday Weigh-in & Some Fun

Happy Sunday Luv-lies,

Just a short post today.  Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share some fun news with you.

comfort zone

A little over a year ago I started this trek down the path of a healthier lifestyle.  On December 31st 2012 {on a whim.  You know.  Now that I think about it, some of my best successes have resulted from a whim…} I decided that I had had enough of making excuses for not living a healthier lifestyle.  I was tired of referring to the excess weight that I had been hauling around as, ‘Baby fat’.  Who the hell was I lying to {I know. I had been lying to myself and for a loooooong time!}?  After all, ‘my baby’ was twenty-nine years old!  I was tired of not being able to fit into the beautiful clothing that I had purchased {all year!} with the promise that ‘One day I’m going to be able to fit these’.  You’ve made that promise to yourself – haven’t you?  Tired of huffing and puffing after walking short distances.  Tired of eating too much, too late.  Waking up the next  morning feeling like a stuffed pig.  I could go on but I won’t.  This is suppose to be a ‘short’ post.

My ‘whim’ took me first to my local fitness center, where I eagerly signed on the dotted line.  ‘There!’ I thought.  Proudly, I was on my way to escaping this delusion that I had been living – for years!  I returned home, knowing that I was only halfway vested in this journey.  I knew then, like I know now, that I needed a weight loss program that offered me several things.   I needed a program that {amongst other things}:

~  held me accountable for walking the talkBecause, the mouth will say anything.  Enough said.

~ addressed the ‘Why?’ of my eating behavior.  You see, getting to the gym has never been the problem.  controlling the eating behavior has.

~  didn’t promise a short-term, quick fix-it solutionDidn’t get this size fast.  Not going to lose it, and, more importantly, get to goal quickly. Got to put in the work!

~ offered a forum where I could have some face-time with others – in real timeFace-time has a way of not allowing you to hide from the truth.

~ had a long-standing history & tried and true scientific basis for it’s successLongevity has its place.

~ allowed me to eat ‘real’ foodMy food mantra is that, ‘… there’s too much good *read- natural* food out there, not to be able to eat it!

~ that worked, seamlessly, with my present lifestyleYou want to guarantee failure? Implement too many unrealistic changes too fast in a schedule with little to no room for change.

~ taught me that the path to a healthy lifestyle can be measured in many different waysThe scale can not & should not be the only measure of ‘winning’

I’ll stop here.  {I could really go on 🙂

So without much thought *it was a no brainer for me* – I returned home and, because the physical center was closed –  I joined my local Weight Watchers group – via the website. 

green chairs

A year, and some change later {pardon the pun}, the program has and continues to live up to everything that I wanted and needed.  The group that I attend is slowly growing. Over the last year, we have transitioned from individuals gathered in a common space for individual reasons, to a cohesive, supportive, fun, trusting, understanding ‘family’ who at the core of it all, has each others best interest at heart.  I ask you.  What more can you ask?

so here’s the fun part  {it’s all fun. but. you know what I mean}

This morning I arrived to the meeting a lot later than I usually do.  My late is about three to five minutes.  Not today. I was about fifteen minutes late *yikes*.  Not good when the meeting is only thirty minutes long to begin with *crinch*.  It was nice to see all of the new attendees.  My hope for them is that they come back enough to realize that the program really does work – when you work the program.

Since the beginning of the year – yes.  just nineteen days ago – The group has been increasingly interested in increasing the our presence on #Facebook.

*aside* I think that it’s a great idea!  Especially since I spend a lot of time promoting a healthier lifestyle on my Facebook page

See, we have an official Weight Watchers Facebook page; however, it has its limits {at least for right now}.  We can’t wait to share recipes, successes & fitness info.  So our  fearless Leader, Nancy,  suggested that we start another page where we can post pictures and other incentives.  Looooove it!!!

But first, we have to come up with a name for our page!

This is the fun part!  We have until our next meeting to come up with some suggestions.  My mind is going a million miles a minute trying to think of something 🙂

Now, I am really looking forward to this upcoming meeting-  more than ever –  because I can’t wait to hear all of the suggestions! 

Did I say that we are a pretty witty bunch?

#WW Name Our Group Challenge

 So Luv-lies, I’ll be sure to let you know how this turned out.  One thing that I’m almost certain of.  I wouldn’t be late for next Sunday’s meeting 🙂

Do you have any suggestions?

Do tell …..

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Randomness, Video, W.T.W.!!!!? {What the What!!!?}

#GoogleHasMadeYouTubeItsBeee-yotch

 #Luv-lies,
Can we say

#ThankGoodnessIt’sFriiiii-day’ … #Evening!!!!


Long, long #week this week was. You know, one of those #weeks that seems to go #On& On& On&On….

~~~~~

#WorkDayDone?

  #Check! …  #I’mSoOverIt  … #UntilMonday

~~~~~

#FridayNightPlans made?

#Check! …. #I’llNeverTell

~~~~~

#WorkOutDone?

#Check! …. #YeahMe!

~~~~~

#WeekendFun&FrolickingPlans  made?

#Check! …. #DittoAgain – #I’llNeverTell

~~~~~~

W.T.W.?!

#You’reProbablyWondering –  ‘#What’sWithAll of the #Hashtags?

#HasSheCompletelyLostHerMind?

#DoesSheHaveAnyIdea   #HowDifficult  it is to #ReadThisPost  #WithAllofTheseDamnedHashtags?!  #NotToMentionSlightlyAnnoying?

Actually I do.  It’s distracting, confusing and downright annoying – as already pointed out.  So why subject you to this #hashtag — *couldn’t resist* —  cray-zay-ness?

  Well,  from the mouth of a usually grounded woman – ‘Do Tell’?

… and I do …

 Last evening, while hanging out with some of my ‘Tweeple‘  during a Tweet Chat, the conversations were moving along in the somewhat controlled frenzy that I’ve come to find comfort with.  *WOW!  That is one long run-on sentence?!*

Even thought the speed of the conversations can be a bit challenging, I manage to do a decent job of keeping up.  Most folk keep their tweets short and their retweets easy to track.  And so was the case last night.  ….. until this one tweet presented with a ton of Hashtags (#) & Mentions (@) !

Talking about being totally caught off guard and completely loss!  My first question was, – ‘What is this bullsh!gg!ty here!? Quickly followed by a head-scratching –  ‘holy sugar! who in  the tarhill is this person responding to? –  and – ‘why in the h%ll would someone post this kind of tom-foolery ?!

  Come On!

Do you reeeally expect someone to be able to follow this crap?! – *Now I’m shouting at my iPad – sorry Siri*  So glad no one’s around to witness this momentary breakdown….

As confused as I was with this tweet, I stayed put – but blocked all follow-up tweets from that person.  What?  Yes. I. Blocked. Them.  One frustrating tweet was enough for me!  ‘Thank You #Twitter for the ‘blocking’ feature – *a wink & a smile* is in order’

… then I gotta thinking….

… Reading this #Hashtag stuff is maaad crazy!  Wonder what would happen if we were subjected to #HashtagSpeak on a regular!?  I can see myself totally losing it! You? Well, you know that it didn’t take me long to find the answer to that question – oh the beauty of the internet (at least this time)

And

 here I have it …. for your listening pleasure…

*drum roll Puh-leaze*

#HashtagSpeak…. in the flesh… .ala, Jimmy Fallon!!!


{via}

Like I said,  I would totally lose it!

Thoughts?

Do Tell….

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#NaBloPoMo, Inspiration, NaBloPoMO, Randomness

Things I’m Luving Now

Hello Luv-lies,

Happy Monday

I have tons of running around to do today.  Trying to get the house ready for the holiday.  That usually means a trip to some of  my favorite shopping digs.  Have to find new shower curtains, bath rugs, decorative soaps, candles…..  You get the picture 🙂

I’m mostly a brick and mortar shopper.  I prefer to touch things before I buy them – go figure.  Now don’t get me wrong, I spend my fair share of surfing the ‘net for goodies & gadgets.  And every now and then, they’ll be some juicy little tidbit that beckons me to give in to my ‘touchy-feely’ need.

So, while I wait for the doors to open, thought I’d let you take a peek in on the on-line goodies that are inspiring me now::

desk

I  LUVVVV this buffet.  It’s actually called a ‘commode buffet’.  If this is really  a water closet,

I would have to gut all the plumbing and make it a desk.  It is far too pretty to sit on.  Now sitting behind (pun intended :)) …. that I can see!

crochet shoes{via}

These are just toooooo cuuuuute!  I don’t have anyone to gift these to and that’s too bad, because they are too adorable!

retrochristmascardcompany{via}

Don’t you just luv the look and feel of this retro christmas card? There’s something to be said about the peace that come with the nostalgic  ‘June Cleaver’  look. {okay all of you young’ins, click the link to see who I’m talking about}

How long is your Christmas Card list?  Well, fortunately for me, my  list is small enough that I can send unique greetings to all.  And this, my Luv-lies, will be on the must buy/must send list {so many lists!}.  I have the perfect person!

  Do you send everyone on your list a unique card?  Every now and then, I find boxed cards that are toooooo bee-you-ti-ful to pass up.  Don’t you find that today’s boxed cards are far better than yesteryear?  And, Yes! Everyone on the list gets the same card.  Hey. All I can say is “my Friends understand me”.

How many of you Luv-lies have, either sent or received E-Holiday Cards?   *No judgment*  I really like the animated  ones.  And you can’t beat the variety.

I’m thinking….. perhaps next year, I’ll host a holiday card swap :).   Thoughts?

Fun! Fun! Fun!

cuff{via}

A Little arm candy….. must have!  Dreamy….

That’s all.  I’m on my way….

What are you Luving Now?

Do Tell….

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#NaBloPoMo, Girl on Fire!, I am Woman....Roar!, Menopause, NaBloPoMO, Randomness, W.T.W.!!!!? {What the What!!!?}

Menopause is A Real Bee-Yotch!

Good Evening Luvlies,

In a lot of ways, I am truly happy that I have been blessed to live in this day and time.  Now don’t get me wrong, there are times that I get super peeved about some of the shenanigans that I read about and/or encounter.

But today was not one of them.

Why? You ask.

It was my trip to the gym this evening that has me grateful for living in ’these times’.  No, it wasn’t the updated, state-of-the-art equipment that reigns second, only  to the rock hard bodies of the eye-candy that strolls proud as a peacock, displaying hours of their hard work for all to ohhh & ahhh over , but instead the honest, no-holds barred conversations that seem to occur spontaneously, while waiting for the class ahead of mine to end.

The conversations don’t happen on a daily, but every now and then I’ll be patiently waiting beside another woman who just needs to get some ’stuff’ off of her chest…

… today was ‘that’ day…

The conversation started off innocently enough.  You know, the normal pomp and circumstances – “how was your day?”, “couldn’t wait to get to class today”, “I really need this workout tonight”.    You know, all of that kind of stuff….

With all of the niceties out of the way, I made a general comment to this ‘Zumba Sister-friend’ about the temperature in the gym…

and the following conversation ensued….

20131112-234241.jpg

Zumba Sister-Friend (feverishly fanning herself):  Girrrrrrl!  You think it’s nice in here?…. I’m hot as hell in here!

Me: (raising my brows in surprise, wondering where the conversation was going) Oh Yeah?  It feels pretty good to me…

Zumba Sister-Friend (continuing the frantic fanning) : Can I tell you?, since the start of this menopause thing, I get hot as hell!!!  All I want to do is ‘cold down’.….. I want anything ice cold!…. a tall glass of water with a ton of ice cubes spilling over the rim, a fan with a gazillion over-sized blades, an Alaskan glacier, all of the snow on the North Pole!… anything to ‘cold me down’

20131112-234341.jpg

Me: (pleasantly surprised at her candor and secretly appreciative of someone who understands my daily visits to ‘hell’): Don’t I know it!  And it just comes on all of a sudden! No ‘just between us girls’ kinda warning! No ‘you need to get your arse ready, because I’m on my way’ heads up!  NOTHING! Just…. BAM!  One minute you’re good and the next minute – all bullshinanigans break out!!!  All you want to do is climb out of your clothes!

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Zumba Sister-Friend (pointing in the direction of the free-weight area): My Husband doesn’t know what to make of it.  Most of the time, I’m as sweet as apple pie.  But when that inferno reigns down on me, I’m like a friggin’ hungry grizzly who hasn’t eaten in four weeks…and there’s no food insight for days!  This menopause thing is a real bee-yotch!

Me (nodding my head indicating that I am fully aware of her struggle): Don’t I know!  And the thing is, I’ve always heard the b!tching about the flashes – that feeling of standing with your feet nailed to the floor, while opening the oven door on Thanksgiving Day!  Has anyone told you about the exxxx-treme cold that follows!!  I’m talking about the bone-chilling, ‘where’d that heat from that damned flash that I had a minute ago!”  – COLD.

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… To the delight of me and my Zumba Sister-Friend, the conversation continued like this for, at least, another ten minutes.  Both of us quietly grateful to know that we really aren’t crazy… just going through some basic shiggity and tom-foolery that has come to define this developmental stage of our lives….

And when it finally came that time to ‘get our Zumba on’, we strutted into the class like twenty-somethings without a care in the world…..

And, as I said earlier, It’s not every day that

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#NaBloPoMo, Farmer's Market, Friendships, NaBloPoMO, Randomness, WeekEnd Luv

No Problem

one of the few things that I look forward to on the weekend is my Sunday visit to the local farmer’s market.
this market is not your run-of-the-mill super-mega-gigunda market.
it’s your good old-fashioned country market where you’re greeted at the door by a local farmer and the aroma of seasonal fruit.

 a country market where there is a free cup of warm apple cider to cut the chill of a  blustery winter.

  and

  a fresh-squeezed cup of lemonade, sold by the neighborhood children, to quench your thirst in the heat of the summer.

customer-service1

a country market where homemade bread is baked daily and the only thing more tempting than spending an hour catching up on the latest neighborhood happenings is the smell of freshly roasted coffee grounds.

and, although a seemingly small thing, the entire staff is well over twenty-five years of age.

that seemingly insignificant detail makes it more pleasant because you do not have to endure the lackadaisical disposition of today’s youth –
who have somehow managed to escape learning the fundamental lessons of social grace and respectful people skills.

Happy Sunday, Luv-lies

How did you spend your Sunday?

Do tell …..

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