Are you stuck in a rut in your relationship with your husband or wife? Are you ready to get out of the rut you’re in and put some fire back into your marriage? Is your marriage lacking emotional intimacy, where you feel like your marriage to your spouse has become routine and boring? Are you in a sex starved marriage? Do you ever ask yourself “how do I get out of a rut in my relationship with my partner or spouse?”

If you’ve been feeling sad or depressed that your marriage seems to have become a boring, monotonous routine lifestyle that never changes, it probably means you are stuck in a rut. A relationship rut. It’s time you get out of the rut you’re in, spice things up a bit and reestablish intimacy, friendship, fun and sex in your marriage.

Angela says there is no intimacy in her marriage with her husband of 25 years anymore, virtually no sex at all and the emotional connection or excitement that brought them together is now gone. “Can this marriage be saved?” was her question in a recent email. Angela says she has considered telling their children that she wants a divorce from their father so she can “find someone new, exciting and fun” to be with. Problem is, she isn’t 100% percent sure she actually wants a divorce and wonders if it’s possible to bring back the spark that has been missing from their marriage before it’s too late.

Rodney says “my marriage is boring”, to the point where his marriage to his wife of 18 years has become a sexless marriage. No sex at all for more than three years. Zip, zero, nada. Rodney says he knows for sure his wife is not cheating on him, but the lack of intimacy and sex in their marriage is causing him to think he should just “give up” on the marriage and get a divorce. He says he realizes that “sex in marriage isn’t the most important thing about being married”, but the marriage is nothing more than a day-to-day routine where he feels like he and his wife have become mere “roommates” instead of friends and lovers.

How to Save a Marriage by Breaking Out of the Marriage Routine

Is your marriage boring and dull? A bit too “comfortable” perhaps? If you feel the romance has died in your marriage, or teetering on the edge of the abyss that too often leads to divorce, it’s time you step out of your comfort zone and work towards reestablishing the excitement and fun experienced during the beginning of your relationship. In marriage and life, routine or habit is common and normal. Until those routines and habits turn your marriage into a rut.

“The only difference between a rut and a grave are the dimensions” – Ellen Glasgow

There is no avoiding the fact that couples get married, have children, deal with work and family responsibilities that quickly become part of the routine of living day to day. Understand that there is a difference between routine and being in a rut. When marriage becomes routine, boring and dull, the husband and wife must work together and find ways to fire up their marriage and sex life to bring back the spark that’s been missing in their lives.

Face it, you can never go back to that first kiss moment… that incredible feeling of newly found love. Don’t look back at those times with sadness…look forward to the relationship you would like to have with your spouse and start building on that. Think about the things that initially attracted you to your wife or husband and make it a point to reconnect on that level.

Try new things to get out of the rut. Add some spice to your marriage relationship (and bedroom), and before long you’ll discover that the romance is back in your marriage, and you won’t have those nagging thoughts about separation or divorce anymore.

A boring marriage is not a deal breaker in my opinion. Boredom in marriage is not a legitimate reason to throw away a marriage. Rather than trying to decide if you should stay in a boring marriage or leave your marriage in hopes of finding someone new to fill the void, make the necessary adjustments as a couple to recreate the kind of loving, committed, happy marriage you both want.

If your marriage is stuck in a rut, get your marriage unstuck and on the road to recovery. Spicing up a marriage isn’t that hard. It does take effort, work and time, but the rewards are well worth it. Below are articles that provide ideas, advice, tips and clues into how you as a couple can get out of your relationship rut and get those home fires burning all over again. Are you willing to do what it takes to save your marriage?

• Do Women Want Sex? Reasons Why Women Don’t Want to Have Sex

• How to Please a Woman in Bed, Pleasure and Satisfy Her Completely

• A Marriage Without Regrets – Do You Regret Getting Married?

• Sex Every Day for Married Couples

• Keeping the Fire Alive in Your Marriage

• How to Spice Up Your Marriage

• Why Are Women So Strange and Men So Weird?

• Empty Nest Syndrome With Children Leaving Home

Can a boring marriage be saved? Yes, of course it can. If you are willing to do the work. “It takes two to tango” and each partner in the marriage is expected to participate fully. Happy marriages don’t just “happen” to us. Both husband and wife are equally responsible for putting forth the effort and WORK into the marriage, and that includes breaking through a relationship rut and improving the marriage for both the husband and the wife.

Similar Posts:

• Sex Every Day for Married Couples – 30 Day Sex Challenge
• Keeping the Fire Alive in Your Marriage
• Relationship Deal Breakers – Non Negotiable Boundaries
• “What does it mean to “leave and cleave” in traditional wedding vows? How do you balance “leave and cleave” with honoring your parents?”
• “One Flesh” In Marriage

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! Gobble Gobble! As you celebrate Thanksgiving Day with your family and close friends, be sure to say a prayer for those less fortunate than yourselves, for our military and their families, and those who have recently lost a loved one in death. Here are a few Thanksgiving Prayers and poems collected from the net for your consideration. If you have a Thanksgiving prayer you wish to share, please leave a comment below. Happy Thanksgiving and blessings to all of you as you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day meal celebration with loved ones. Bring on the football game (and then a well deserved nap!)

Thanksgiving Prayer

“Loving Merciful God, We give You thanks for the creation of this world; it is a wonder and a blessing which should give us pause to offer You thanks. Creator, we are blessed by such little-big things as the air we breathe and the water we drink, these little-big things that fill our lives with the elements of living, but are commonly overlooked for we do not always stop to think about the wonders of the world which are working. We know that in Your time and space all will been done to fulfill Your glory, Your plans for us. We are reminded by Your Word in the Scripture 1Thessalonians 5:18 to be joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things for this was Your will for us in Christ Jesus.

It is the daily bread of our lives, the everyday comings and goings, were we must pause to give You thanks. We find this a hard task to do in this present day as we are ever mindful of suffering, pain, sorrow, violence, addictions, greed, universal poverty, incurable diseases, mounting cost, dissenting view points, depression, and very day busy-ness of our lives. We are lost in the endless fear of losing yet another family member or friend. We watch endless newscasts about other people suffering and it is all more than we can bear. We find that our voices matter little to others or we are afraid that we will be heard and have to make time to do the work You are calling us to carry out. We also find that we are held captive to our lives and cannot be thankful for all circumstances. Some of us are carrying around decades old anger and fear which we cannot begin to excavate ourselves from nor find any reason to give thanks or forgiveness. Where is the time to continually be joyful, to pray, to be thankful?

We need Your love and guidance now the same as all Your children throughout the generations has need it. We need, in this season of Your creation to slow us down, giving us the chance to pause in thanksgiving and waiting for the Advent for Christ’s coming into our lives to give us a turning point into even more thankfulness and forgiveness. Help us to be thankful for the chance we are given still to ask for and receive forgiveness.

Help us God to truly lift our voices in Praise so that all can hear the wonders of Your world, from the tiniest voices of a baby’s cry to the thundering masses at a sports game, the quiet whispers of hope being uttered over the sickbeds of our nation to the rumbling desert tanks of our solders defending the innocent on distant shores. Help us fill our lives with thanksgiving and forgiveness as we strive for making this time and place the fulfillment of Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.Help us to realize that in the act of filling our lives with continuous joy, prayer, and thanksgiving that we are making the choice to take the courage of Christ into our lives so that others may find thanksgiving and forgiveness in their “daily bread.” We ask all these things in the Your name, O God, as Christ taught us. Amen.”

Thanksgiving Prayer for those who lost a loved one in death:

“Dear God, we are here to express our gratitude for all your blessings. You have given us so much, not only providing what we need to live, but in giving us yourself. We are richly blessed, and it is right to acknowledge that you are the source of all good things. Yet this day also brings a mix of emotions to us. We confess our thanks, but also our sadness because of the empty place at our table. We know that death and sorrow were not your original plan, but we also know that you use difficulties to draw us closer to you and to each another. Here and now fill the empty places in our hearts and this empty place at our table. Teach us to savor the moments we have with one another, to rightly remember what we have lost, but also to look forward in hope to what we have promised in the future. We say again, ‘Your love is better than life.’ Thank you for all your blessings, for even through trials and loss you always, somehow reveal your goodness. In Jesus we pray.”

Thanksgiving Prayer

“Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You’ve done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.”
Mary Fairchild

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

“Lord, so often times, as any other day
When we sit down to our meal and pray

We hurry along and make fast the blessing
Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing

We’re slaves to the olfactory overload
We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold

But Lord, I’d like to take a few minute more
To really give thanks to what I’m thankful for

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I’m thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they’ll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You’ve blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life’s greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I’m ever so grateful for Your unending grace

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You’ve provided
And bless each and every person invited.
Amen!”

Thanksgiving

“For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

We Gather Together

“We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen”
Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn
(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

We Give Thanks

“Our Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ,
Our Heavenly Father.”
Harry Jewell

I Thank Thee

“O Thou whose bounty fills my cup,
With every blessing meet!
I give Thee thanks for every drop—
The bitter and the sweet.

I praise Thee for the desert road,
And for the riverside;
For all Thy goodness hath bestowed,
And all Thy grace denied.

I thank Thee for both smile and frown,
And for the gain and loss;
I praise Thee for the future crown
And for the present cross.

I thank Thee for both wings of love
Which stirred my worldly nest;
And for the stormy clouds which drove
Me, trembling, to Thy breast.

I bless Thee for the glad increase,
And for the waning joy;
And for this strange, this settled peace
Which nothing can destroy.”
Jane Crewdson (1860)

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I’ve been tagged with the “I’ve Come To Realize” meme on Facebook, which originated as the I’ve Come Realize MySpace Survey from bzoink.com. Colloquium and Ukok’s Place have already done their “I’ve Come To Realize” meme posts, and Judd has a weekly Sunday Stealing series where he “steals” memes from around the blogosphere, including the ‘come to realize’ MySpace survey.

RULES: “Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note completing the 36 “I’ve come to realize” statements. At the end, choose the friends you want to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you or I knew you way back when and am interested in what life has taught you!”

1. I’ve come to realize that my chest-size. . . is a gift bestowed upon me by my mother, although less would have been fine too.

2. I’ve come to realize that my job. . . is a field I got into quite by accident nearly twenty years ago and it pays the bills. I like it most days, but other days…not so much.

3. I’ve come to realize that when I’m driving. . . is a time for peace and quiet as I listen to my favorite music cd’s or radio stations, blocking out the usual stresses and problems I have no control over.

4. I’ve come to realize that I need. . . peace, quiet, love, acceptance, family, friends, structure, cleanliness, order, organization and my adoring husband to flourish in life. He recently told some people that I’m the best thing that has ever happened to him and that he couldn’t imagine life without me. Awww, he’s so sweet and I feel the same way about him.

5. I’ve come to realize that I have lost. . . the ability to accept or tolerate any “B.S.” involvement with my father and one of my grown sons, who were the basis for my article about toxic family members. I haven’t seen, spoken to, or heard from my father for fourteen years now, nor my son for three or four years, and I’m all the better for it.

6. I’ve come to realize that I hate it when. . . false assumptions are made that all or most articles I’ve written here or elsewhere are about people in my life; they’re not. This blog is NOT a “personal blog”. While a few articles found here are about personal experiences from my childhood, previous marriage, my own children or my ex, many if not most have nothing to do with my current life, marriage or relationships.

• I am a member of ConnectContent, where members write articles and link to those within the network with “keyword” links on similar/same topics to help each other build web traffic to their blogs, which has everything to do with post ideas.
• I receive emails from mothers, fathers, children and teenagers on a regular basis who ask me to write a post about their situation or problem, without using their real names. Those emails lead to the articles about who pays for weddings; mother-in-law and daughter-in-law problems; the upcoming and yet-to-be-written son-in-law post, and any/all articles about divorce.
• My ex-husband is THE basis for ALL articles about “helping vs enabling” here, in hopes that a “light-bulb” would go off in his head about 3 of our grown kids who STILL live with him. It came as quite a surprise to me that there are many other parents who are going through the same thing, if not worse. The sheer number of comments and questions on those posts, as well as the numerous emails I’ve received, showed me the problem is more widespread than even I imagined.
• The idea for the article about in-law problems came from a blogger I subscribe to, where I linked to his article on the same subject and expounded on it with my own views, opinions and religious beliefs in regards to my previous in-laws. Communication and relationship-building with people who primarily speak another language brings about all kinds of misunderstandings, hurt feelings and misinterpretations by people who just won’t stop reading into things that aren’t there. This blog is NOT the “life and times”… of me.

7. I’ve come to realize that if I’m drunk. . . It’s a case of mistaken identity because I rarely drink and I never get drunk.

8. I’ve come to realize that money… is simply necessary to pay the bills and live on. Nothing more and nothing less. That’s how I’ve always felt about money, and couldn’t care less about being “rich” or any of the societal materialistic jazz.

9. I’ve come to realize that certain people. . . will never like or accept me as I am, but that’s more their problem than mine. See #5. Life goes on with or without them in my life.

10. I’ve come to realize that I’ll always. . . wish time travel were real so I could go back in time and undo childhood experiences that no child should ever be put through. Although my childhood doesn’t completely define who I am today and what I’m all about, there is no escaping the longlasting effects of having gone through them.

11. I’ve come to realize that my sibling(s). . . are people who used to be a part of my everyday life but no longer are. Life goes on with or without them.

12. I’ve come to realize that my mom… is now 69 years old and is struggling with my almost 80-year-old father’s recent Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis. I love my mother and father, and despite the problems I’ve had with my father over the years, I will do whatever is needed to help my mother and father in their elderly years.

13. I’ve come to realize that my cell phone. . . is a piece of crap and I need a new phone. Last week I received a text message that was sent to me on my Birthday (July 5th) and I just got it last week! An out-of-state friend of mine kept trying to reach me on my cell phone, but my phone didn’t ring at all and she kept having to leave voicemails and have me call her back. Stupid phone.

14. I’ve come to realize that when I woke up this morning. . . we’re officially on Staycation all this week, so why am I sitting here doing this silly meme post instead of out running around with my hubby? Oh yeah, it’s been raining this morning and it’s kinda nasty outside today, so hopefully later today or tomorrow will be better.

15. I’ve come to realize that last night before I went to sleep. . . we’ll be doing some shopping for some bridal shower gifts for an upcoming couple’s shower, and we’re both very excited and happy for the bride and groom.

16. I’ve come to realize that right now I am thinking. . . this meme is too long.

17. I’ve come to realize that my dad. . . is and always will be my dad, even though we’re no longer close. (See above)

18. I’ve come to realize that when I get on Facebook. . . it’s not a complete waste of time like many people say, but is an opportunity to stay in contact with family and friends that don’t live close enough to visit often, as well as the fun social networking aspects of Facebook (and Twitter).

19. I’ve come to realize that today. . . is just another Monday like any other Monday – except for being on Staycation.

20. I’ve come to realize that tonight. . . we may go to the movies to see a popular new movie that is getting great reviews. Not Harry Potter, because we’ve already seen that one the other day and it was great!

21. I’ve come to realize that tomorrow. . . and forever I will love and adore my husband, children, grandchildren, family and friends.

22. I’ve come to realize that I really want to. . . hurry up and finish paying off our debts, sell the house and downsize.

23. I’ve come to realize that the person mostly likely to repost this is. . . YOU?

24. I’ve come to realize that life. . . is too short to stress and worry about things you have no control over.

25. I’ve come to realize that this weekend. . . I’ll be gathering up some baby stuff and posting them on eBay or taking them to a local consignment shop, since my daughter, her boyfriend and their daughter are moving to Chicago within a month or so.

26. I’ve realized the best music to listen to when I am upset. . . Josh Groban or Michael Buble cd’s.

27. I’ve come to realize that my friends. . . love, accept and care about me and have been my friends for most of my life, and always will be.

28. I’ve come to realize that this year. . . I’ve thought about doing something really special with my husband, like making a plan to renew our vows on our next anniversary. I know, I’m such a romantic! We’ve talked before about doing that and it would be fun for both of us.

29. I’ve come to realize that my ex. . . is my ex for very good reasons.

30. I’ve come to realize that maybe I should. . . start working on Christmas 2009 posts since search engine people have been showing up in droves looking for the “hot toys” from last Christmas.

31. I’ve come to realize that I love. . . my husband, friends, family, children and grandchildren with all my heart and soul.

32. I’ve come to realize that I don’t understand. . . certain religions and their beliefs.

33. I’ve come to realize my past. . . cannot and will not define who I am now or in the future.

34. I’ve come to realize that parties. . . are fun unless everyone gets really loud. I don’t mean a little loud – I mean REALLY loud, for hours at a time.

35. I’ve come to realize that I’m totally terrified. . . of very few things, except something horrific happening to someone I love and care about.

36. I’ve come to realize that my life. . . has been blessed in many ways. I’m blessed with a husband who loves and adores me, children who love me, family and friends too. Who could ask for more than that?

I’m not going to “tag” anyone with this “I’ve Come To Realize” meme. If you’d like to participate, feel free.

Click here to see the list of other participants and check out their responses.

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Another year has rolled around and today is my Birthday once again. Happy Birthday to Me! Is it just me or does it seem that Birthdays seem to come a lot faster the older we get? Hmm

Anyway, since I’ll be out of the office and not spending much time online today, but basking in the sun of doing absolutely nothing but fun things with my husband and family, I want to share some articles from other blogs for your reading pleasure.

I also want to welcome new subscribed readers from the DFW area, especially those living in and around Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney TX and surrounding suburbs. Thank you and welcome to Telling It Like It Is!

How to Take Fireworks Pictures – by my friend Todd Morris. I’m not much of a photographer myself, so I appreciate the tips and advice offered on taking good fireworks pictures. Now, if I could just manage to keep my thumb from appearing in photos I take with my digital camera, I’d be a happy camper.

How to Get More Time to Blog – by another friend Michael Martine. Finding the time to blog and post articles used to stress me out, but I’ve come to the personal decision that I write as often as I possibly can and when I have something to say. If I don’t post an article for a week or two, so be it. Readers that are truly interested in what I have to say are very understanding and patient, and don’t mind a brief lull in postings.

Living Your Passion: What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur – by Jeff Nickles. I thoroughly enjoyed Jeff’s article on being an entrepreneur and the “grit” and determination needed to achieve our goals, ignoring the self-doubt or fear of success and just going for it! We really are our own worst enemies when it comes to creating and building our own success stories.

Enjoy your day! I know I will! See you soon!

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“Deaths occur in threes. If one person in your family dies, two more will within a short period of time.” Do deaths come in threes or is it just an old wives tale? There’s been a lot of discussion in the last few days that deaths always happen in threes or celebrity deaths come in threes, and questions about where the “deaths come in 3” tale came from.

My understanding is that the origin of the old wives tale or legend about deaths occurring in threes came from the first world war. When the men would light their cigarettes they knew not to use 3 on a match because the enemy could pinpoint them and shoot them from the light of the match being lit so long.

The myth about deaths in threes is often used as proof regarding “notable”, famous celebrities, but people tend to forget about the deaths of celebrities who may not be quite as famous and well known around the world as others who have died.

Some people also claim that the deaths in threes rule applies to deaths occurring within 3 days of each other, while others claim the myth applies to deaths happening “within a short period of time” according to the legend.

The Wall Street Journal listed some “deaths in threes” examples like this:

• Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the “Big Bopper” all died together in a plane crash in 1959
• Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison all died in close succession in 1970-71
• In 2003, Johnny Cash, John Ritter, and Warren Zevon all died within the same week
• In 2005, King Fahd, Peter Jennings and Robin Cook died within a week of each other
• The following year brought the closely timed deaths of Don Knotts, Darren McGavin and Dennis Weaver
• Heath Ledger, Suzanne Pleshette and Brad Renfro all died within a week of each other in January 2008

2009 Celebrity Deaths

If famous celebrity deaths really occur in threes, then who is next?

1. David Carradine
2. Ed McMahon
3. Farrah Fawcett

Then

1. Michael Jackson
2. Billy Mays
3. ????

“If you are at a graveside and for some reason the there is a delay in the burial, it is a sign that the deceased person does not wish to leave this earth alone and want to travel with someone. One of the mourners present will die soon.” Oh pa-leeeze.

Out of all the recent celebrity deaths in 2009, Michael Jackson’s death has hit me the hardest. Perhaps it comes from the deep and profound connection I feel having been born into the same controlling religion (or cult) as Michael, or maybe it’s because of the abuse Michael himself reported in the “Living with Michael Jackson” documentary interview with Martin Basher as having experienced as a child at the hand of his father Joe Jackson, and the aftereffects of such abuse. Maybe it’s all of that plus his incredible music career throughout all these years, and watching the Jackson Five on television years ago, but I’m a huge fan of Michael Jackson and always will be.

Losing Michael Jackson far too soon, at the age of just 50 years old, came as a huge shock to all Jackson fans. I can’t even imagine what the Jackson family must be going through right now, and seeing devastated Janet Jackson at the BET Awards show and Jermaine Jackson’s tearful interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show shook us all to the core of our being.

Don’t even get me started talking about Joe Jackson’s behavior before the BET Awards show, where he chose that time to promote and hype a stupid record company in the wake of his son’s death. I have no sympathy for Joe Jackson whatsoever, but my heart breaks for the rest of the Jackson family and Michael Jackson’s children, who are suffering deeply and are apparently about to be thrown into a child custody battle involving Debbie Rowe, according to recent news reports.

If the deaths in threes old wives tale were true, then I’d be worried. Having just attended the funeral for my husband’s 84-year-old aunt yesterday along with other family members and friends, if deaths really do happen in threes then all I can say is Uh-Oh, who is next?

R.I.P. Michael Jackson – you will be dearly missed.

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Barbie alternative? Appropriate dolls? Parents are looking for an age-appropriate alternative doll for their little girls to enjoy, especially since Barbie dolls and Bratz dolls, Dora the Explorer (amongst others), have been “updating” the clothes these dolls are now wearing to include inappropriate, racy, “sexy” outfits on dolls for young kids. Meet the Only Hearts Girls by Only Hearts Club, a great alternative to Barbie dolls and Bratz girls. Not only are the Only Hearts Club girls baby dolls that look real, but the Only Hearts girls are appropriate toys for young kids to play with.

What is Only Hearts Club? Only Hearts Club (OHC) is a family owned and operated company dedicated to creating a positive message to children through its line of realistic baby dolls and toys, and have been making dolls for 5+ years. Only Hearts Club Dolls are 9-inch dolls that look and dress like real little girls from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Realistic Baby Dolls That Look Real

Len Simonian, toy and lifestyle expert and president of Only Hearts Club said, “Dolls influence the image and behavior of young girls. From Bratz to Barbie, to Hannah Montana these companies each portray vastly different images through the marketing and ‘lifestyles’ of their dolls.” Simonian added, “Parents and grandparents can play a big hand in determining what dolls their kids buy. It’s up to us as parents of young girls to do our own due diligence about each brand’s messaging.”

The Only Hearts Club mission is to keep young girls age-appropriate while encouraging positive, conscious choices, turning Only Hearts Club into a multi million dollar business. The eight (8) life-like dolls, dressed like real girls, are each supported by its own book with the messaging, “in difficult life situations always do the right thing”. Each doll has its own personality and interests, all with the common goal of true friendship and a pledge to be nice to others.

Only Hearts Club were the winners of the 2006 Dr. Toy 100 Best Children’s Product Award as well as the 2007 Winner of Platinum Award, and has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, as well as in magazines including Good Housekeeping, In Touch and Family Fun.

Only Hearts

Only Hearts dolls are adored by girls because the dolls look like real girls, like themselves and their friends, dress in cool fashions, and because their pose-ability encourages play. Only Hearts Club are loved by parents and grandparents because the brand delivers a wholesome image (cool, yet age-appropriate fashions) and positive message to their girls. The brand is called the Only Hearts Club because it is a group of girls who have formed a club with a promise to one another to “listen to their hearts and do the right thing.”

The Only Hearts company has received countless messages from parents, saying how thankful and thrilled they are to have found a doll that their daughters think is cool and love to play with, and that also provides such a positive influence, especially in light of all the messages and images with which their girls are bombarded in today’s world.

In a Reuter’s interview with the Only Hearts Club president regarding the sexualizaton of children, Len Simonian said, “The sexualization of young girls is currently a huge concern. 10 is the new 15 and 8 the new 13. At Only Hearts Club we work against today’s television and music video culture where girls as young as 6 years old are told to wear revealing clothing, act sexy and chase boys.”

Only Hearts dolls are simply adorable for young girls, as are the other Only Hearts Club toys, furniture and accessories, which includes Only Hearts Club books and a complete equestrian line named the Only Hearts Horse & Pony Club, Only Hearts Club Li’l Kids, and a line of mini plush Only Hearts Pets for kids sold separately.

I’m not sure why, but I noticed there are no 9-inch Only Hearts Club boy dolls in the collection, except for a new boy doll named Trevor in the Only Hearts Club Li’l Kids collection. Hopefully Only Hearts Club will come out with some larger boy dolls soon, because I have a young nephew that would love to have one.

Other Barbie alternatives to consider are the Madame Alexander dolls, Marie Osmond dolls for young kids, and the Corolle dolls and accessories for children.

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Mom Song Kid’s Response to the Mom Song. The “Mom Song” to William Tell’s Overture YouTube video by Patti Hershey is one of the best mom songs I’ve heard, and several moms have asked me when I was going to post the kids response to the mom song by Vanessa Van Petten. Well, hear ya go! For all you Mom Song fans, here’s the YouTube video of the Mom Song Kid’s Response with lyrics! Enjoy!

Mom Song Kid’s Response Lyrics
by Vanessa Van Petten

I am up, I am up, I’m up and dressed
Can I wear this, am I cute, are the boys impressed
Wheres my clothes and my shoes and my backpack at
And, Yes I’m wearing that
No mom, no OJ, wheres the pop tarts at
Wheres my lunch, eww gross, do I look fat?
After school bring me a snack when I get back
And then its homework until I collapse

Watch some TV shows, to us teens its the most important thing of all
Get my TIVO for set up for gossip girls—the coolest show of all
Please remember not to come downstairs when my friends are over here
Just stay upstairs all the time so when we gossip you will not hear
TTYL, Not now, I’m coming, can you drive me there

Close my door, Get out! Please dont touch or mess up my hair
I said thank you, I dont want to, please dont bother me
Theres my cell phone, its a text, Ill have to BRB
LOL, cu later, take me to the mall
Wait one second I have to take this call.

Thats so chill, so cool, oh mom please chillax
ROTFL, oh please dad just relax
I hear breathing mom, is that you on my call
While youre here though can I have money for the mall
Hi mom, its me, Im over at sandys

and I’m wondering if I can spend the night? We’re watching movies
And yes, Sandy’s mom is also here right now,
talk to her, oh maybe shes in the shower so im not sure how.
I forgot my homework, what Im grounded, oh you are so unfair
Were you never young, youre the worst, whatever, and you are always late to day care

Do I have to, I dont want to, can I have some money
Not a boyfriend, were just friends, just an FWB
You dont get me, your so lame, can you drop me off here
I dont want my friends to see you near
My day was fine, and my test was just ok

ill never be like you, my kids will be great
dont read my diary, just give me my privacy
Can I go to the dance, I wont get an STD
Oh and about parents who patrol
about Parental controls

they don’t really work
We know when you lurk
And often cover up
With fake homework
Or IM our friends red parents alert

So I want to tell you that when we say that we hate you
We know
you really want to keep us safe
But can I just make our case
Sometimes we just want a little freedom from your rules
And when you nag us, and tell us to
Take out the trash and clean dog poo
Our only course of action is to roll our eyes at you
Mom!

Brush my teeth, wash my face, fight with mom
Text my friends, ask for money, put my retainer on
I guess its true, I love you
And tomorrow we will do this all again because a moms nags never end
Can I have a later curfew
I need it, just trust me, everyone else does it too
Hey mom hey mom hey mom hey mom, hey mom
I love you, I do, I just never tell you!

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High school and college graduation is coming up quick, and graduates should be congratulated and rewarded with graduation gifts for all their hard work leading up to graduation day. Graduation parties are being planned, and high school graduates are excited about attending prom as well as the before-and-after parties, while college graduates have their own college graduation party to attend in celebration of their achievements.

Parents, family and friends of graduating students are busy shopping for graduation gifts that express how proud they are of their graduate, which can make searching for grad gifts seem rather daunting, as they try and decide what to buy a graduating high school or college student.

Coming up with graduation gift ideas is easier if you keep in mind the graduates future plans after they walk across the stage and receive their high school diploma or college degree on graduation day.

High school graduation and college graduation is an unforgettable occasion that graduates will remember and cherish as one of the best days of their lives. Graduation gifts for him or her that are unique, creative and personalized are at the top of the list of favorite graduation presents for high school or college graduates.

It wasn’t hard for me to buy high school graduation gifts for my girls when they graduated high school and headed off to college, because I knew what graduation gift each of them wanted. All I had to do was go to a fine jewelry store and browse their selection of graduation gifts to find the birthstone jewelry that my girls have always wanted, and they were thrilled with their gifts.

Buying my sons gifts for graduation from high school and college automatically meant shopping for electronics and techie gadgets, due to their interest in technology and computers, as well as their apparent obsession with every type of high-tech device known to man.

Personalized graduation gifts found at stores like Things Remembered, where you can have a special commemorative message engraved, is one of my personal favorites. High school graduation gifts and college graduation gifts have a lot of similarities, and you just have to decide what your gift-giving budget is and shop around for the best deals.

A family friend recently told me she made some homemade graduation gift baskets for her nieces and nephews that graduated from high school last year, and that the baskets were very cheap and easy to make. I’m not the least bit crafty, but if something is inexpensive and easy to make, I’ll give it my best shot.

One of my nephews is graduating from high school this year and going straight to college, so his “grad gifts” of choice included a laptop computer; a small refrigerator that will fit well in a dorm room; a small microwave; an IPOD, a new wallet with money in it; an engraved watch; a large piece of luggage; a new camera and a television/DVD combo set.

Unique gifts for high school graduates are not hard to find, and unique college graduation gifts just might be your graduate would like best, especially when you consider how some of the most typical graduation gifts (money, gift certificates, etc) don’t require much forethought at all.

Whatever you decide to purchase as a graduation gift for someone you know and care about, at least put some thought into it and ask yourself, Would you want to receive the same type gifts for graduation that you’re thinking of giving to a high school or college graduate?

Is someone you know about to graduate from high school or college? Are you planning on buying a gift for the graduate? What graduation gift ideas have you come up with?

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I’ve been tagged with the 7 Things Meme by Todd Morris from Success With Todd, so I thought I’d participate in this meme since I forgot to do the 25 Random Things Meme that circulated Facebook pages not too long ago that I was also tagged with.

The 7 Things Meme Rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Okay, here goes. 7 things about me you may not know, or maybe don’t care to know.

1. The first record I ever owned was Mony Mony by Tommy James & The Shondells. I’m aging myself here, since the record was a Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single of the hit song. For the “last day of school party” in the 7th grade, my image of being a “cool kid” took a serious hit when students were told to bring in their favorite record to play during the party, and Mony Mony was the only record I owned at that time.

2. I’m a music fanatic, and I watch every season of American Idol, once the judges choose their Top list of finalists. I can’t stand watching/listening to the audition shows of people who truly suck at singing, and whose family or friends aren’t honest enough to tell potential contestants they suck, so they don’t embarrass themselves in front of millions of American Idol Fans. For the current American Idol Season 8, Adam Lambert is by far my favorite performer, and I predict the winner of American Idol this season will be a guy.

3. I’ve been on a Baby Shower Gifts shopping rampage lately, since my daughter’s baby shower is scheduled for next month. Checking out baby cribs was the first order of business to check off the baby needs checklist, and we were happy to find a gently-used crib in near perfect condition at a second-hand baby store. I don’t have any trouble coming up with baby gift ideas for my granddaughter that is due in May, and you can bet that having me as a grandma will undoubtedly mean she’ll be spoiled rotten.

4. I spend a lot of time at my computer at home and at work, which is likely the cause of my occasional severe lower back pain and symptoms of Carpal Tunnel, along with a recurring ganglion cyst “Bible bump” on my right hand which may require surgery to remove. Working in the Dental Field for almost twenty years now, as a Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) and Office Manager, I’ve spent many hours working on patients in the dental chair and lifting dental equipment and supplies that were/are too heavy to lift one-handed and now I’m paying for it in more ways than one.

5. My desire to quit my full-time Dental job and get paid to blog as a full-time blogger hasn’t changed, so I’ve been working hard to create more blogs that will help me reach my goal to make money from home and “retire” from my current job. While there is niche money to be made from a niche blog like Telling It Like It Is, I get frustrated when I read “you must have a niche” from bloggers who don’t follow their own “niche or no niche” advice and actually have a no niche blog themselves.

6. Speaking of money, the economy (such as it is) has created a lot of interest in setting goals and becoming smart with how we save or spend our money. Managing debt and saving money continues to be one of the top New Year’s resolutions for many people including me, who are trying to learn how to be frugal because of the economic recession, job layoffs, bank closings and home foreclosures. Even though my job is secure, my husband has been looking at ways to make a few extra dollars just in case he were to get laid off, and he’s been talking about starting a small home based business right alongside me.

7. I do all of my shopping online, except for grocery shopping, and I can’t remember the last time I bought a card or gift for anyone by actually walking into a brick-and-mortar store. Since my daughter announced she was pregnant a few months ago, I’ve been buying baby clothes online (and other cheap baby stuff) and hiding them at a friends house so my daughter’s curiosity won’t get the best of her and she finds the baby stroller that comes with an attached infant car seat that she’s been drooling over. I guess there is going to be a lot of drooling going on soon, and not just from my daughter.

Whew, I’ve completed the 7 Things Meme and my right hand and arm doesn’t even hurt. Yeah me!

Okay, here are the 7 people I’m going to tag with this meme, and hopefully they’ll all play along.

1. Rob from 2Dolphins
2. Rudy from the Rudy Amid Blog
3. RT from the Philippines blog
4. Periapex from Life’s Context
5. Cath from Cath Lawson
6. Jeff Nickles from My Super-ChargedLife
7. Reggie from Fragile Heart

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UPDATED: Who pays for what? Who decides the wedding budget when planning a wedding? Who pays the wedding costs and expenses according to traditional wedding etiquette vs. modern etiquette? Who pays for the honeymoon? How do you go about planning a wedding when you have Cinderella wedding dreams dancing in your head?

Who pays for what is a common question for brides, grooms, and their families when it comes time to begin planning a wedding. If you do an online search for “wedding who pays”, “who pays for wedding” or even “who pays for what wedding”, you’ll find a lot of old-fashioned, archaic nonsense akin to the 18th or 19th century.

It’s about time that brides, grooms and parents begin to pay attention and accept the changes taking place in American wedding customs about who pays for weddings, receptions and honeymoons with open arms, not an open bank account, Credit Cards or loans.

Planning a Wedding On a Budget

According to The Knot Wedding Shop, a popular wedding planning website, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is expected to drop at least 10% in 2009 from the average price of $21,814 for a wedding in 2008. Due to the economy, personal financial circumstances and just plain common sense, engaged couples and families are having to find ways to cut wedding costs while still planning a beautiful, affordable, spectacular wedding that won’t create a financial burden for whoever ultimately pays for the wedding.

“Traditional” rules say the bride’s parents pay for everything but the kitchen sink, except for a little help from the groom’s family, who have traditionally been expected to pay for the rehearsal dinner and groom’s cake. Tradition hasn’t been too kind to the bride’s parents, who have been saddled for far too long with the cost of an expensive wedding and reception for their darling daughter and her Cinderella fairytale-fantasy dreams of the perfect wedding.

This is not the 18th or 19th century, and traditional wedding customs have shifted to a more modern view of wedding etiquette and how wedding expenses are to be paid and by whom. Thank goodness for that! Despite your best efforts, weddings, receptions and honeymoons can easily become very expensive, and no one should feel obligated to accept a financial burden of paying more than what is reasonable or what you feel comfortable paying, if anything.

The days of planning a wedding and reception, then sticking dear ol’ mom and dad with the whole tab are over, but some of today’s brides want to have their cake and eat it too. These brides want what they want and they want it now, and when it comes right down it, some brides use the buzz words “traditionally, parents pay for the wedding and reception” in order to guilt-trip parents into paying for a “typical wedding” they may not be able to afford.

In the olden, “traditional” days, women typically stayed at home and didn’t have jobs or careers of their own and couples certainly weren’t living together as is so common today, but try as you may to remind your son or daughter that times have changed to a more modern view of wedding etiquette, and you will likely see some rolling of the eyes or foot stomping as they attempt to come up with another guilt-trip.

Traditional views and trends have changed to where we now see couples deciding to live together before marriage while working full-time jobs of their own, couples getting married later in life, and the increased number of second marriages and blended families.

This more “modern” trend towards greater maturity before marriage brings higher income levels and the ability for engaged couples to take on a more responsible, active role in paying for their own wedding, reception and honeymoon, according to their personal wedding budget.

Who Pays for What?

That is not to say that parents and families on either side can’t or shouldn’t help pay for or assist in covering the cost of a wedding. If you can, want or decide to pay for or split the costs of your son or daughter’s wedding, by all means do so. Just don’t get caught up in the tangled web of old-fashioned rules of traditional wedding etiquette, or allow your son or daughter to hurl guilt-trips at you when or if you are unable to afford paying what he or she expects you to pay for their wedding.

Which begs the question; Who decides what the wedding budget will be? More traditional, typical nonsense found online, in bridal magazines and wedding books telling couples how to plan a wedding, suggest that couples who have told their parents they are getting married should FIRST: decide what type of wedding they want, create a wedding planning checklist, choose the wedding location, decide the theme, style, colors etc, decide how many bridesmaids and groomsmen there will be, decide the wedding budget and THEN hit the parents up for the money.

Back up the horse-drawn carriage or thoughts of wedding limousine services for a modern-day reality-check. Before the bride and groom jump feet first into planning a wedding, ordering a tiffany wedding cake, picking out his and her wedding bands, or begin shopping for wedding china and table settings, couples should FIRST: have a conversation with each person or family member that is hoped/expected to pay for the wedding in order to ASK what each can afford to contribute to the wedding (if anything), BEFORE making any money-related decisions whatsoever.

THEN you will know in advance how much money there is to work with, and you can plan your wedding around a wedding budget that has been decided by the people who are actually paying for the wedding. Your parents/family may offer to pay for certain parts of the wedding, like paying for your wedding dress, the wedding flowers, invitations or food at the reception etc, or they may offer you a lump sum of money to help cover the overall cost of the wedding.

It is possible that your parents or family may not be financially able to contribute any monies at all; which means the engaged couple will have to pay for the entire wedding themselves. Even if your parents or family cannot afford to pay for the wedding as a whole or in part, you can still have a beautiful, if not spectacular, wedding by searching for creative, inexpensive or cheap wedding planning ideas.

Sources:

Who Pays For What at a Wedding

Wedding Budget: Who Pays For What

Old-School Wedding Etiquette Gets a Thoroughly Modern Makeover

Who Pays For What?

Who Pays For Weddings These Days?

Son’s Wedding…well what do you think?

Related article: How to Plan a Wedding

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