Spending the Holidays with Family

 Traveling Down Memory Lane                       

Since about 2 years ago when grandma Cherry passed away, I think about her a lot during the holidays. I was looking at some of the old photos that were posted with her online obituary and I came across one when she was younger. In a way-it reminded me of myself. I never realized it before, but if you look close, I kind of looked like her... With this new realization, it makes me feel just a little bit closer to her again ... 

With an economy already unstable, not only does that make the holidays rough, but sometimes it's still hard not having those that you loved with you during a time that is described as happiness and cheer. 

The holidays is definitely a time for family. And even if there are those in your family who are without jobs this season, or are having trouble struggling financially-you can at least be thankful that you have each other. Spend the holidays with your family and hold them close. A hug is always worth more than a wrapped up gift... 

Save Energy & Money Washing and Drying Your Clothes

Many appliance companies are developing products to help customers save energy and reduce costs in our power bills. Also, with a shaky economy, it is more important than ever to save money wherever we can. 

Most of us do laundry at least a few times a weeks. Those with larger families do laundry almost every day. Instead of doing many small loads, you should always full loads. This will save on money and the cost of running your laundry machine. Use cold water each time to wash your clothes too. Many detergents are now specialized to use with cold water.

To save on money using your dryer, you should take out clothes that dry quicker halfway through the drying process. During warm and sunny days, instead of using your dryer, hang your clothes out on the line. It won't take any energy at all to dry your clothes naturally. Our ancestors dried their clothes this way-why can't we use inherit some of their habits?

If we use these tips to save money and energy when washing our clothes, our wallet and planet will thank us...

Central IL Hometown Poetry Club in the News

I have a poetry club that has been together since 2005.


While we are a small group, we keep on trudging along, trying to bring inspiration and happiness with poetry. We are always on the lookout for new members, and welcome any type of poet with open arms. 


Awhile back, I was interviewed by an online magazine about my club. The magazine centers around taking care of those in nursing homes. I was quite surprised to get the call. I have been waiting for quite some time, wondering if it had ever been published. After not hearing for quite awhile, I pretty much gave up.


Just recently, I found the link while doing some Google research--seeing where my website ranked, etc. The story about my club reading at the nursing home had been published!--back in February....And now--8 months later--I find out....Better late than never!....


It is a lovely article.  You can see the article about my club reading at the Arcola Healthcare Center by clicking on the link below:
http://www.caringfortheages.com/news/ltc-features/single-article/facilities-find-residents-receptive-to-poetry/1b6ebf73d917f373abd0d1109e29933f.html


One of our other hopes of the club is to gain more members... If you are in the central IL area and enjoy poetry or know of others who are, our club is always in search of new poets....Read more about our club at: 
http://www.arianacherry.biz/poetryclub.html

Tuning in to the new Ringer TV show

Guest post written by Anna Castle


I really get excited for the fall season because of two different things, fashion and TV. I know that there will be all kinds of really great clothes filling up shop windows and clothing racks that I can't wait to try on and buy. But I also love watching the new seasons of all my favorite shows in the fall. It seems like there are some really great shows premiering this season too. I've been watching the show The Ringer with Sarah Michelle Gellar in it and I love it so far!


My favorite type of TV show is drama and this one is really fitting the bill for me. I was online reading an interview she did about teh show when I ran across some info on direct tv bundles. I showed it to my husband and after that we decided to change over our internet and tv to one of those bundles.


My husband and I are both wondering what the big thing the bad twin's up to is on the The Ringer TV show

Life, Family and Friends

One moment you are living your life just like you do every day. You take the kids to school, go to work, come home, cook dinner, watch some T.V. or get on the computer and then go to bed. Every once in awhile, you see a movie, have date night with your spouse, or get together with your family. 


One day can change all of that. It can be an incredibly happy day and the next day, you can be shocked with news. I have advice to all of you. Appreciate your friends and family every day-no matter how mad they may make you at times. They are the only ones you have. In the last few years, it just has seemed like I have started to lose those that are close to me in life.  I've lost my grandmother (my father's mom) whom I loved so dearly, I've felt like some of my friends have drifted apart, my father-in-law lost his mother, and some of my family have been really sick.  And now just recently, another special close friend of mine has passed away unexpectedly.


This is what I fear about getting older. Losing the ones that I love the most. You can be going about in life, and then one day-somebody's gone. You don't get to pick up the phone anymore, you don't get to hug them hello and goodbye....they are gone. ....Although, one day, as I believe, we should all meet again in Heaven..in eternity. And I so hope that I do, because I miss so many so dearly...


So remember, tell your friends and family that you love them today.... You just never know when your last goodbye will be....


I've come up with a poem about Life's Philosophy in the thoughts of all of this. Feel free to read it at:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/8991393/lifes_philosophy.html?cat=34

Remembering 9-11....10 years ago.

I don't remember a lot from 10 years ago or the day before on September 10th... But I do remember 9-11.


I remember important family events and some of my daughter's "firsts" as she was just a month from being a year old on September 11th, 2001. She was a little baby, safe from all the worries and disbelief of that horrific day. 


When I first awoke that morning and was told by my husband of what happened, I didn't quite believe him at first. There had to be some sort of mistake. But then just minutes later, I heard of the second attack, and then the Pentagon being crashed into.... It seemed as if the world was ending that day...  I literally sat glued to the television that entire day, watching in silence as the events unfolded...


Being only 20 myself that year, I myself have never seen Americans in such fear. The looks on the faces of all of those from downtown New York were unforgettable. The tears of those who wept that lost loved ones. The looks of worry upon those who held photos of missing family and friends on the news. It was heart-breaking. 


I being an avid soap watcher had set my VCR to record my favorite soap that day. I still have about an hours worth of news footage from CBS from  Sept. 11th, 2001. There hasn't really been a day that I have been able to watch it again. When those two towers fell---it seemed like the end was coming.... Perhaps the end of America and how we were.....10 years ago we felt safe.... perhaps we were naive?.... Or that nothing could touch us. Terrorists that day proved us wrong. Since that day, many of us have grown ...America still hasn't quite recovered, but many of us do look over our backs now.... 


That day is engraved into our memories forever... It was a hard learned lesson that we should have never had to experience. So many lives and innocence was lost.  And now, as the years go by, America can only continue to overcome what happened...and continue to fight back....




Below is a poem that I wrote 10 years ago about that horrific day......


In Memory: September 11th, 2001 



The day that America cried,
The day that we as a nation, almost lost our pride.


‘Tis was a sad and heartfelt day,
I believe that the memories will never fade away.


Our heroes who fought for their lives to save the next target,
The heroes who worked day and night, to rescue the wounded
This was the time that our nation came together as one,
As we united and mourned together of the tragic events that struck our life


America and its generation will never be the same,
Or will we live without fear or pain…
Our minds are grief stricken…
Our hearts are broken…


This is a time for healing,
A time for uniting
A time to pray
Not to run away…


America, our nation, we are scared and hurting for those at war,
For those who lost their lives.
But we as a people,
Shall stand together,
To unite and protect
Our fathered land.

Finding a Job During the Recession

The unemployment rate has barely moved in the United States. Businesses are still hesitant about hiring new staff, and consumers are still holding on tight to their money. There are just a  few new businesses that are opening their doors. Those that were planning to start are waiting just a little bit longer until the economy gets better...


The question is.....When will it get better?


As smaller businesses continue to lose hope and close their doors, it makes the rest of us uneasy. Prices of products and fuel rise, and we begin to wonder where all of that money in our pockets are going. It makes it scary to walk up to that fuel pump-or even buy that gallon of milk that we need. 


Let's face it. Things are just plain scary.


So comes a time when we need to take matters into our own hands. If you are currently out of work and collecting unemployment, there are other small-type jobs or side businesses that you can do while you wait for employment. Perhaps they just might turn into a business and you won't need another job. Or as you find other tasks to do, you can continue a strong work ethic and keep your mind busy. 


All it takes is some planning and deciding what your best assets and job strengths are. Do you like to do landscaping? Or perhaps you enjoy watching small children... What about baking? You could bake birthday cakes. Everyone has their own special talents and the possibilities are endless.


There are still some recession proof jobs that you can do. Not every job requires a boss looking over your shoulder....You can take matters into your own hands and create your own job or small side business....Put your creative mind to work and see what you come up with!.....


Or you can read this article..."Simple Start Up Jobs During a Recession" and get some ideas!....