Making Memories At The Beach

I am writing about my favorite summer memory. It is a toss up between two of my favorite summer memories. Both were at different beaches. The beaches was Fort Myers and Galveston beaches. I really enjoy making memories at different beaches.

The very first beach trip my teenagers, my boyfriend and I made together was to Fort Myers beach. As we traveled to Florida from Ohio to celebrate my oldest sons birthday, which is June 10th. 

It was the first trip we made as a family. It was the first time my boyfriend visited a beach or swam in the ocean. We had many firsts on that particular trip. We all took turns walking the beach the collecting different shells. We were able to find a couple of shells with crabs. 

I made sure to take him tot he best burger join on the beach called ''Pete's Time Out". The burgers are huge. The portion of a small fry is big enough for two or three people to share.

The other beach trip that is one of my favorite was in Galveston. My boyfriend and I traveled with a few friends. It was the first trip I had ever made without any of my children in tow.

We made it to the beach at night. It was beautiful and breathtaking. I looked up at the moon while walking in the ocean. I could feel the ocean pull. As if it was calling me to come in. 

One of my favorite photos that I have one disk was taken on the beach at night with my boyfriend and I. I want to get it blown up and frame it. Top hang in on my wall.

There was a carnival on the pier that we went too. It was lite up. To where you could see it from a far. While riding the roller coaster, at one point it looks like you will fall in to the water below.  I screamed Bloody Mary. As I grabbed tight to my boyfriend hand. It was magical.

What is your favorite summer memory?

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This blog post was written in part of the monthly blog writing challenge. If you wish to participate or are needing more ideas to write about. You can do so by going : HERE

Photos are from Pixabay.com, a free use photo website.

A Letter From Outer Space

To My Dearest Daughter,

I am here in outer space. I finally made it. Yeah! Remember when you were really little, we would lay in the grass on our backs and talk about our dreams. Both of our dream was to travel in outer space. To travel past the horizon and see if their were lands beyond the moon. Your brothers would laugh to tell us there is no such place. They would tease you telling you to get your heads out of the clouds and stars.

Well, my dearest daughter, you can laugh right back at your brothers. I have so many photos I have taken. I must show you them. There are many worlds out there beyond our own.

Let me tell you of my journey so far :

I sat in my outer space get up, nervous of what I will see. I sat there second guessing myself if I had made the right choice or not. Thinking how could I possible pass up this great opportunity. I looked over at the people going with me. 

I wondered what they were leaving behind. Over the pass couple of weeks I have learned many things about them. Jon left because he committed a crime. He went in front of the judge. Who gave him the choice to go to outer space to experience new things or keep making the same mistakes and go to jail. He decided to try outer space.

Janie was in an abusive relationship. She decided to come to outer space to get away from it. As she couldn't seem to break his grasp. I think she finally took the step in doing what is right for herself.

Olivia is a dreamer and wanted an adventure. She loves it so much she never wants to touch earth's soil again.

I will tell you about the others in another letter. I remember sitting in my seat at take off. Watching as the blue sky disappeared and turned black. The earth getting smaller and smaller. I started to notice bright lights appearing all around us. It was the stars. Up here in space they shine just like street lights. However, they never go out. They always shine. Til they die. That is when they fall out of space. They make room leaving behind a baby star. That grows to be as big and bright as the one before it. How cool is that?

We seemed to float through space for several days before stopping. I originally thought it was a space station. Well, that is what it is called on earth. Up here, it is a place where space travelers go to refresh, relax, eat, fuel up as they are on their way. 

This is out first stop. Where I am writing this letter. When I first signed up for six months. I thought it would be boring. That can be nothing but further from the truth. At the space station alone I have met amazing creatures and experienced new things.  

Depending on where we go to next and what I experience, will depend if my six months will be extended or not.

Remember one thing my dear. One day we will met again. I miss you. I can't wait til I see you again. Let your brothers and the others know I miss them to. Til next time. I hope this letter reaches you in good spirits.

Love,

Mom

The letter arrived two months later.

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Write about traveling to outer space, what is it like, how long til you return.

This blog post was created to keep my creative juices flowing. If you would like to join in, or need help with ideas to write about. You can do so by clicking the word : HERE

Why He Is My Best Friend

I want to write about my best friend. It is my boyfriend. I am going to list why I consider him my best friend above all others : 

1. He doesn't care about our ten year age difference.
2. He doesn't stop talking to me because he doesn't get his way.

3. He has stuck by me side through all the hardships I have faced with my children. Especially my teen daughter who has down right stuck him with her fist when he done nothing wrong.

4. He has made it clear he will not tolerate my children, family or friends walking all over me. Or raise their voice to me.
5. He tells me I am beautiful every day.
6. He finds a way each day to bring a smile to my face.

7. If I want McDonald's at 2 o'clock in the morning. He will drive across town to go get it.
8. He protects me by making sure no else harms me.

9. I can tell him anything and he allows me to say what is on my mind. I don't have to worry about him gossiping or talking behind my back.

10. He was there (and still is) when I really needed someone in my life. Someone to talk to, to hold my hand, give me a hug and tell me everything will be alright.

I could list many more things about why I consider my boyfriend my best friend but I am not going to. I know he has my back above all others. Whether I need a shoulder to cry or a reason to laugh. He is there for me.
I love my boyfriend for who he is.

Who is your best friend?

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This blog post is a part of a monthly challenge to be more creative and write every day. If you want to join in or need ideas to write about. You can do so by clicking on the word : HERE.

Photo © belongs to me rusty2rusty aka Sandy KS. It is photo of my boyfriend who has fallen asleep with one of our dogs Rascal.

I Refuse To Drink The Water

I still haven't made it to the grocery store yet. Yet my family still gets hungry. Yesterday I did not feel good at all enough to cook. My boyfriend, daughter and I ended up going to Kentucky Fried Chicken. As it is right down the street. It was a half hour before the establishment closed. 

My daughter ordered one of those KFC bowls without corn. One days loves an ingredient. The next day she acts like she will die if she taste it. She is also on a kick of not eating any bread. Unless it is pizza or a sub. My boyfriend ordered  a sandwich and mashed potatoes. I ordered the popcorn chicken. Plus, a sweet tea. 

The cashier informed me the sweet tea would be watered down as late as it was. She asked if I wanted something else. I politely told her no. Only the popcorn chicken. She suggest water. I again politely refused. She said she understood. As she had ordered water at a local restaurant the other day and it tasted like dirt.

There were two reasons why I declined to order anything to drink.

1. Only other option was drinking soda. Which I have got away from drinking. 

2. Only water served would be from the tap. There has been a warning issued of algae bloom in our local river. pregnant women, older people, young children, babies, or those with health problems have been told not to go in the river. However the water is drinkable. The cities water source is from the river.

There was no way I was drinking the water or soda. 

The cashier must of thought I was upset because she apologized and told me she only wanted to be honest with me. As she offered me water again. I told her I understood and I appreciated her honesty as I politely declined again. 

She must of thought I was going to complain. As she offered to give us a 10 % discount. I didn't think nothing of it. Til later as I was sitting at home looking over the receipt. I started laughing. As the cashier had given be a 10% senior discount. 

I am almost 45 years old. No where close to deserving that discount. I know I have been letting my natural color in my hair show through. Which consists of black, grey and white. Plus, I don't have a full set of teeth but come on. People have been guessing me younger than I really am. Now it makes me wonder. As I sure do not want to look older than I am. 

I think it is time for me to dye my hair again. I was going to try platinum silver. Now I wonder if it will make look older. Instead of going for a more natural color for my hair colors to blend together. Where I don't have to dye my hair every two weeks. Sigh, what a dilemma!

Have you ever had something happen to you that you later started laughing about?

June 2016 Writing Challenges

1. What would you suggest to add to make the bathroom cleaner? Write about it.

2. Write about something that was lost, stolen, or missing. How did you feel about it?

3. Write about a time you were sick or needy.

4. What is your ideal roommate?

5. Create an About me page on your blog. Tell everyone all about yourself.

6. Write about being organized or disorganized.

7. Write about flooding in your area.

8. Write about your best friend. Whether it be a person or animal.

9. Create a water park with a unique theme. Describe the water park and what would attract customers.

10.  Put your creative caps on and write  a letter to someone telling about your journey to outer space and how long it will before you step foot on earth again.

11. What is your favorite summer memory? Write about it.

12.  Write about getting lost in a zoo. Did you find your way out? What did you do when you were lost?

13. Write about how you woke up to find you have changed in to animal or insect. How did your family react? Did you figure out why you turned it to an animal or insect? Did you end up turning back in to a human or staying an animal or insect forever?

14. Write about the flag of your country. Creative or fact.

15. Write about things that make you smile.

16. Write about beating the heat. Or some thing people did and still do to this day to beat the heat.

17. Write about something or someone you are grateful.

18. Write a letter giving advice to your younger self based on how your life has turned out.

19. How do you feel about an open body of water? Such as a : lake, pond, reservoir, river etc. Write about it.

20. Summer is here. As it gets hotter. Write how you keep your pets safe from the heat.

21.  Write about buying flowers for someone you love. It could be your significant other. A deceased loved one. A family member or friend. Your pet or yourself.. The possibilities are endless.

22. Come up with your own writing challenge. Than do it.

23. List foods that you do not like. Write about being descriptive with why you don't like the food from the smell, taste, how it is prepared etc.

24. Create a story about how you wake up in the morning and your normal routine in the second or third person.

25. Create a new animal. What would it look like, eat, behaviors, size, breeding habits etc.

26. Write about an animal point of view. It could be your pet, an animal in a zoo, your neighbor's dog that barks at the moon, or a stray cat etc.

27. If you won the lottery, write about a business you would create?

28. Write about a movie you would like to see created.

29. Create a tutorial on how to do something.

30. Sum up your month with highlights. What did you write about all month? What was your favorite? Which was the hardest.

What Do You Like On Your Subs?

Yesterday, I over did it by clearing out the shed in the backyard. My oldest son came out and started helping. He grabbed the boxes and containers out of the shed for me to go through. What I did not want to keep, I placed in a pile for my teen son and daughter to put out by the trash cans. 

As once a month in my area, is big pick up. Or some call bulk pick up. Where you can place the bigger items you can't put out for regular trash once a month. Regular trash calls for 4 trash bags, recycling and boxes that have been broke down. Anything other than that, you must wait to big / bulk pickup day. Unless you haul it to the dump yourself.

I like to go to storage auctions. What I don't keep or sell. I tend to take to a thrift shop, give away, or it gets placed in big / bulk pick up. In my neighborhood we have Junkers. Junkers are the people willing to go from trash pile to trash pile picking up useable items to sell. Or metals to cash in for money. 

I over did it with all the moving, hauling, sweeping and sorting I was doing yesterday. By time I sat down. My boyfriend and oldest son started to burn the tree limbs of the tree that was growing through the fence. All of a sudden I was left out back by myself while they bolted.

My boyfriend got called out to help a friend. My son decided he wanted to watch the basketball on cable. Since, he currently doesn't have cable. I stayed out there as long as I could till the fire was getting low. My daughter went out back to the embers were red but fire was no longer burning.

All this work caused me to over do it. My arthritis and GERD is kicking in big time. I wasn't able to lay down til it started getting light. I decided today I was not going to cook at ll. For dinner, I ordered subs from Marco's. My boyfriend and daughter ordered the steak and cheese sub. 

Mine was a little different. I ordered a pizza sub on wheat bread. With pepperoni, pineapple, spinach, green olives and feta cheese. What made it different. I ordered it without sauce. As I am allergic to tomatoes. I decided not to add mushrooms. As this place uses mushrooms from a can. Not fresh ones. To me they taste awful and rubbery on a sub or pizza.

What do you like on your subs?

Kit Kat The Feline

Kit Kat on my daughter's lap.

My family has a new addition. It is Kit Kat the feline. If you are connected to my personal account on facebook, you may have heard about her already.

I don't where she came from. I do know my boyfriend mentioned a kitten showing up at his work for about  a month straight. A couple of times when he went to get in his car, the kitten was sitting inside. I told my boyfriend if it is that little, to catch it. Bring the kitten home. We will see if it gets along with the dogs. If so, we will keep it. If not, we will find a home for it.

We have had Kit Kat for a couple of weeks now. She is my teen daughter's responsibility. My boyfriend and I do remind her to feed her and change the litter box.

Things I have come to realize about Kit Kat. She is a girl. She gets along with people. She tolerates the dogs. She will ignore them. She liked to be in laps and be held. She is partial to women. She pays no mind to my soon to be 2 year old grandson hugging on her. She likes to play. A couple of friends and I think she is between 4 and 6 months old.

My daughter could not think of a name for Kit Kat. I called out a few names til she responded. She responded to Kit Kat. So, the name stuck.

Moose the Chug pays her no mind. Rascal the Chihuahua wirehaired terrier mix, tries to be dominate. However, he also tries to play with Kit Kat.

She can be walking by the couch as Rascal sits on my lap. Rascal swats at her tail. You should've seen the surprise on his face when he realize there was a cat on the end of that tail. He quickly backed off.

Now, I have not had a cat in a very long time. What are some popular toys? Ot treats that would go over well with Kit Kat? I spoil my dogs with toys and treats. I wish to do the same with Kit Kat.

5 Ways To Promote Other Bloggers Without Losing Focus

Photo from Pixabay, a free use photo website.

When it comes to being successful in blogging. You need to be able to read other member's blogs, leave comments and help promote others by sharing on social media. You can't expect to write, share on social media and that is it. That is not how it works. You need to decide if you want to write for yourself or an audience.  You need to draw an audience from other sources. 

One of the questions people ask is,"How do I keep my social networks from losing their focus, at the same time help to promote others?"

There are several ways to do this :

1. Create a Facebook page - You can create a Facebook page for your brand. Where you can share all your writings. Plus, share those who share the same niche.

2. Create a Facebook page for the purpose of sharing and promoting others - I remember when I first started blogging. I created a Facebook page and shared my writings and those of others. I was asked point blank by a successful blogger why I was sharing other people's stuff on my page. She pointed out my page lost focus. That if I wanted to share other people's stuff. I needed to create a page to reflect that.  Which is something I have done in the past couple of month's. It is called "Helping To promote Bloggers / Writers".

3. Join Pinterest  - You can create different niche boards. I suggest creating one to promote the blogs and writings of others. That way you don't need to create 20 million boards that may never be used again. I created a board called "Promote Your Blogs Some More". Where I can share the work of all the blogs I read or want to promote. I also allow other collaborates to add their posts as well.

4. Join Twitter -  This social media site is awesome for sharing your links and those of others. I tend to follow all those who follow me. It is easy to find others with your niche to connect to as well.

5. Join Facebook groups - Join Facebook groups that are related to your niche that you can promote your blogs or writings in. I have one small Facebook group called "Blogging Friends". The group is for bloggers and writers to come together to share their works and others. My main rule is you can share as many writing or blogging links as you want. However, you must share one of someone else's (your choice of which one) on social media. Many members are great at reading, commenting and sharing more than one.

3 Quick Meals When Your In A Hurry

 

Today was my teens last day of school before be let out for the summer. In the summer with the heat rising and air conditioner running. I tend to find meals I can find that are quick to make when I am in a hurry.

My boyfriend also works as a tow truck driver. He is on call. He can be called out at any amount of time. So, quick meals are a must. I have seen him get home from a run to sit down, in five minutes he has to get up and go. As he was called out for another run.

Chicken Alfredo With Broccoli Recipe
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2 cup of broccoli (chopped)
1 cup of red bell pepper (cut in julienne)
2 cup of chicken (cubed)
4 cups of your favorite pasta
3 1/2 cups of Alfredo sauce
1 teaspoon Olive Oil

Cook pasta per directions. Drain. Set aside. In a pan, add all vegetables and chicken. Add 1 tsp olive oil. Cook til tender. When done. Add in pasta and alfredo sauce. Mix together. Serves 4 to 5. 

Alfredo Spaghetti With Carrots & Peas Recipe
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2 cups of Peas
2 cups of Carrots
1 box of spaghetti
 3 Cups of Alfredo sauce

Cook spaghetti per directions on package. Drain. Set aside. Heat vegetables in a microwave safe bowl covered in water for 5 minutes.
Check to see if tender. If not, add for 3 more minutes.
When done drain vegetables and pour in with cooked spaghetti. Add in  Alfredo sauce. Mix well. Serve 4 to 5.

You can cook this in the crock pot, if you wish to make a head of time.

Vegetable Soup Made With Beef Soup Recipe

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2 cups of Carrots (slices)
2 cups of Green beans (I used french style)
2 cups of cream corn
2 cups of peas

3 cups of beef broth

1/2 teaspoon of ginger

1/2 salt
1/4 black pepper
1/2 cup of celery flakes or 2 cups of celery (diced)
1 cup of onion (diced)

Combine everything in one pot on medium heat. Bring to boil. Done. Serves 6 to 8. 

Tip : If not enough beef broth. Add enough beef broth to cover vegetables before boiling.

**New** Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recall

There is a new dog food alert. Please share this message with all your friends and family that may be using the following product : 

Blue Buffalo - Life Protection Formula Fish & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food

The product is being recalled for having to much moisture and the presence of mold.

Customers need to return the product to place of purchase or throw it away. As mold can be toxic and fatal to your dogs.

Any questions or concerns you may have, you may call directly to Blue Buffalo Customer Service at the following number (855) 201-4331. You may call between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM eastern time. Monday through Friday. Excluding major holidays.

Please if you can, pass this information on to other dog owners. Being owned by two dogs myself. I would hate to loose either one because I did not learn about a recall soon enough.