Lifestyle13

Yesterday I thought about my favorite love songs and of course the next thought was what songs helped me through break ups.  Here are some of the songs that did me some good to listen to through difficult relationship times.  What helped you?

1. Un-break My Heart - Toni Braxton
2. Don’t Speak - No Doubt
3. Since You’ve Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
4. Bye Bye Bye - N’Sync
5. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
6. In The End - Linkin Park
7. Forgotten - Linkin Park
8. She Hates Me - Puddle of Mudd
9. How Do I Live Without You - LeAnn Rimes
10. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
11. I Fall To Pieces - Patsy Cline
12. Cold - Crossfade
13. Broken - Seether

So with Valentines Day just past, it got me thinking about love songs. There are so so so many love songs.  I picked 13 that have moved me over the years.  See if you agree or let me know your favorites. 

In no particular order:

1. Maybe I’m Amazed - Paul McCartney
2. Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
3. Walkin On Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
4. I Will - The Beatles
5. Livin On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
6. No Strings Attached - N’Sync
7. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
8. A Whole New World  - from Alladin
9. Breathe - Faith Hill
10. Have I Told You Lately - Rod Stewart
11. Spin You Around - Puddle Of Mudd
12. I Could Fall In Love - Selena
13. Love Me Tender - Elvis

Have you ever considered buying a franchise and being your own boss?  Check out Entrepreneur.com and the list of top 500 for 2008. The site list more detail and start up costs.

 Here are the top 13:

1. 7-11
2. Subway
3. Dunkin’ Donuts
4. Pizza Hut
5. McDonald’s
6. Sonic Drive-In Restaurants
7. KFC Corp.
8. InterContinental Hotels Group
9. Domino’s Pizza LLC
10. RE/MAX, International Inc.
11. UPS Store
12. Ace Hardware Corp.
13. Jani-King (commercial cleaning)

1. Be better about calling people.  When I think, “Hmmm, I should give ___ a call”, I will try to do it right then and there.
2. Get into better shape.
3. Remember to put things in perspective.
4. Become more informed.
5. Remember that not liking to cook is okay and you don’t have to feel guilty about not being a gourmet.
6. I don’t smoke so I can’t quit, but I resolve not to start.
7. Relax and unwind as much as possible…aka lower stress.
8. Take a vacation.
9. Try to save more,  money that is. 
10. Don’t feel pressured to be something I’m not.
11. Drink more water.
12. Predict the next American Idol winner correctly.
13. Keep blogging and having fun!

1. The Police - 131.9 Million Dollars
2. Kenny Chesney - 71.1 Million
3. Justin Timberlake - 70.6 Million
4. Celine Dion - 65.3 Million
5. Van Halen - 56.7 Million
6. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill - 52.3 Million
7. Rod Stewart - 49 Million
8. Genesis - 46.6 Million
9. Josh Groban - 43.0 Million
10. Rascal Flatts - 41.5 Million
11. Dave Matthews Band - 41.1 Million
12. Billy Joel - 39.1 Million
13. Roger Waters - 38.3 Million

1. It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
2. Carol of the Bells
3. Baby It’s Cold Outside
4. Dance of The SugarPlum Fairies 
5. Do You Hear What I Hear
6. Jolly Ole Saint Nicholas
7. Mr. Grinch
8. Winter Wonderland
9. O Holy Night
10. Here Comes Santa Claus
11. A Holly Jolly Christmas
12. Mela Kalikimaka
13. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

These are my favorites in no particular order…what are your favorites?

Being with the ones you love.

Keeping family traditions alive and passing them to the next generation.    

The smell of cookies and fresh baked bread.

The smell of turkey.

Giving.                                                                              

Hoping for just enough snow.

Christmas lights.

Getting Christmas cards in the mailbox.

Decorating the tree.

Being reminded of what’s important.

The excitement of children.

A day off work.

Remembering Christmas’ past.     

Here are some of the songs from the 70’s that I would happily listen to even now.

• Magic Man
• Bad Company
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• Most Led Zepplin songs
• The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
• Tiny Dancer
• Going Mobile
• Slip Kid
• Lola
• Feel Like Making Love
• Aqua Lung
• Teacher
• Ain’t Talkin Bout Love

Here are 13 songs from the 1970’s that I don’t care if I ever hear again. 

• Escape - The Pina Colada Song
• Silly Loves Songs
• The Night Chicago Died
• Seasons in the Sun
• You’re Having My Baby
• Have You Never Been Mellow
• Muskrat Love
• Delta Dawn
• Baby I’m A Want You
• Spirit In The Sky
• Alone Again Naturally
• Love Will Keep Us Together
• I Write The Songs

There was good music in the 70’s too.   Watch for songs from the 70’s I still like to hear!  Coming soon.

It’s football season!  No better time to snack.

It’s the baseball playoffs!  No better time to snack.

My top 13 best snack foods. . . what do you eat?

• nachos with lots and lots of cheese
• popcorn - cheese is good with this too
• corn chips and bean dip
• cheese and crackers
• strawberries  or grapes
• cheddar and sour cream potato chips
• apples and caramel
• chex mix
• pretzels
• quesadillas
• warm chocolate chip cookies
• banana split
• bagel and cream cheese

So in my previous blog about the “13 Best Sci-Fi Movies”  I mentioned the movie “Serenity.”  I also admitted that I had not seen the full length feature but watched the TV show “Firefly.” 

Over the weekend, I finally got to see the movie.  I have decided to keep in on the list.  This movie is worth a look.  It had me wondering what the main plot was and where the movie was going until almost the end when all the sub-stories come together.   The special effects are very good and the humor reminded me of the Indiana Jones character.   The actors, for me, where mostly unknown, but that did not take away from the acting.

 Sci-fi films are fun to watch.   Here are my 13 favorites in no particular order. What do you like?

• Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith
• Star Wars - Empire Strikes Back
• Serenity ( to be honest I still need to see this but based on the TV show, Firefly, it should be great )
• Back to the Future
• Innerspace
• Independence Day
• The Time Machine
• Men in Black
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind
• Minority Report
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
• Star Wars
• Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure

This is a list of ideas of simple things I’ve done with my kids that all of us have enjoyed over the years.  Kids grow up so fast, enjoy every moment with them. Each of these small times together are not only special moments but an opportunity to help develop your child into the adult you want them to be and to teach life lessons in a subtle way.  You shouldn’t always feel pressure to spend a lot of money to make your child(ren) happy.  I think what they most want is your time and love. 

• Read together or read to your pre-readers.
• Visit your local natural history museum or art museum.
• Visit the zoo in the early morning.
• Go to a baseball game early for batting practice and explain the game. 
• Enjoy a walk around the block and just listen.
• Bake cookies or your favorite family recipe.
• Play a board game.
• Watch a movie, they want to watch and watch them giggle. 
• Attend an event where people are performing live, a concert, or go to the theatre. 
• Let them teach you their favorite video game and then play.
• Play catch or frisbee in the backyard or park.
• Get outside when they are, play hoops, build a snowman or just sit outside and get some fresh air.
• Clean and reorganize their room, with input from them on how to decorate it.  Let them pick out clothes or toys to donate.