Left, Right, Center

Left, Right, Center – a simple to take along type game of dice and chips. Divide the chips, roll the dice. For an R you give a chip to the person at your right, L the person to the left, C goes in the center pot, and a dot you just keep your chip. You play until one person is left with chips. Easy to play for young kids and yet fun for older…we like to play for pieces of candy.

Bugs

No-see-ums; what??? Well they fit the name because you really cannot see these Florida pests but you can feel them and leave you with little bites and welts. They are most active at night or in the morning during warmer months. These bugs are so small they can go through screens so your first line of defense is insect repellent, and even Avon’s Skin So Soft may work for you. You can also have certain plants that contain citronella or eucalyptus in the area to help repel the bugs.

Tar

Well many people come to Florida to visit the beach, which includes walking in the sand. Just remember this; you may leave with a free souvenir, black tar. Some beaches have tar removal “station” near a water hose but many do not. Different articles claim that 1/3 of baby sea turtles ingest the tar, which can be a result of oil tanks with leaks / spills or from marine transportation and even natural seepage from the ocean floor. For all the years I have lived in Florida on the east coast I rarely have had a tar issue, but if you do mineral spirits / oils can help clean it off.

Flower Power

www.paradisebeachflorist.com if you are getting married in the Melbourne area or need flowers, I recommend this place. Mind you I do not use flowers at all in my life but one of the weddings I attended had theirs done by Paradise Beach and I thought they were beautiful. No 2 were alike and each was done with such uniqueness.

Parks in the Melbourne Area

Rotary Park at Suntree (Rockledge) – oddly we have 2 parks named Rotary. But this one is just a little north of the Pineda Causeway off US1. It’s small but offers a look not many parks have, a view of the river. The park has a playground; it’s closed on Wednesday mornings for mowing, several smaller covered pavilions that you can use unless they are rented, and one large pavilion that can hold 150 for a party, all have grills…and some pretty daring squirrels. The park also has a nice pier with seating and a boarder along the river that you can walk along.
Erna Nixon Park (West Melbourne) – If you are looking to learn something or enjoy nature this is your park, it does not have a playground but offers Florida in a natural state. It is listed as one of the great Florida Birding Trails. I joined my son’s class on a field trip here, went for the Cracker Fest and also went several times to the moonlight stroll to look through telescopes set up by the Brevard Astronomical Society. Erna Nixon has a butterfly area set up, a covered pavilion with some tanks in a room displaying wildlife, and some hands on things. They have guided tours on certain days, but you can roam around yourself with a booklet that gives you lots of information.

Downtown Melbourne

http://www.downtownmelbourne.com/ Of course downtown has a good selection for dining and shopping, below are just a few things, to find out more click the link. They offer holiday candlelight shopping during December and many Christmas items at the Christmas Cottage all year long.
Friday Fest – once a month, the 2nd Friday from 6-10pm, the streets are closed to vehicles and open to people. Businesses stay open later for shopping, tents are set up with food and drinks, crafts are displayed and they offer a variety of things to do for the kids. Check the website for more information.
Off the Traxx (918 E. New Haven Ave.) – a large room, booths and tables to eat on one side of the bar, pool tables on the other, a very large bar in the center, stage and small dance floor to the back of the room. Smoke free. To name a few items on the menu; pizza, crab fritter & dip, crocks of soup, burgers. They of course have drinks, weekends (maybe other days as well?) bands. It could be a little loud if you were going just for dinner on the weekend, so call ahead to check on the events. I liked this place, it’s a nice change from the places we have here.
Mainstreet Pub - http://www.mainstreetpub.cc/
this place has several hang out areas, out back tiki bar, upfront whiskey bar and upstairs lava bar with a variety of food and entertainment with Dj’s, live music and $ beer night. Check out their web site for more info.
Meg O’ Malley’s – http://megomalleys.com/
The name says it all. Malley’s not only offers the typical Irish dishes it has a calendar of events that very often spill out into the streets, which are closed to cars every once in a while. Their annual Meg O’Ween is very popular, but also very crowded!

Cold Day at the Games

Last month I found out that going to a tournament when the weather is cold you have much more to think about besides your camera and drinks. Fortunately I knew driving north for our state finals the weather was much cooler and I packed for it. I tend to purchase cheap gloves at Target in packs of 2; they cost under $2 and off season are much cheaper. Having many pairs came in hand because not only those watching but a few playing needed them. Self heating drinks also came in handy where one field’s concession stand consisted of “soda pop” in the can and gum. These drinks run about $2 and take just a few minutes to heat up, but they are cool so bring extras. A last minute buy from the camping section at Walmart turned into one of my best bring-a-longs "HotHandS-2" a self heating bean bag type of pad. As soon as it comes out of the pouch it is activated and lasts for hours. This was used in the dug out and was great for me to leave in my pocket. I used it when not taking photos and it helped because it was cold the entire day. I have seen them at sporting good stores and sold in larger quantities, they are not expensive at all and well worth it for a day at the field or anywhere else when it may be cold.

2/09 they have them for feet too, and they work, I used them while in NC

Photos

If you come from a family that has had divorces and remarriages, long lost cousins or a really great friend who flew in from Australia you may want to consider writing a list of professional pictures you want. We have a large family and at my brothers wedding my sister didn’t get in any of the posed photos. They were taken all evening randomly but she was dealing with a sick flower girl and no on thought about it until it was too late. At the church family photos were taken but not enough time was allotted, the limo was waiting and the reception, so we left thinking we would gather again but it didn’t happen.
Make a list ahead, have both of you make one, ask the mom to make one and compare, then compile to create one. I will be photographing a wedding in a few weeks and I plan on going by my list, plus taking many random shots as well, but I do not want to forget an important person to the bride / groom.

added 2/9/09 from the wedding that I took the photos, I love this one!

Introducing...

As a person who grew up with an 11 letter last name, 24 total in my entire name, let me tell you if you have unique names in your wedding party you better make sure the DJ knows how to say them. Writing in phonetically might not be all you need to do. This should be done in advance unless you want the DJ to stall while trying to figure out how the heck to say the names of your friends or family. Nowadays all kinds of first names are spelled weird, if so; just spell it the correct way.

Christmas Lights

Most Christmas lights sold now are LED’s. At first I didn’t care for the hue of the lights because they were different enough from the old skool ones that you can tell from a far. Now I am use to them. LED’s are initially more expensive, but they cost less to use and last longer. My husband found some on EBAY last year and purchased some to see how good they were…because they were much cheaper than in the stores. The nice thing about LED’s is that they stay cool no matter how long they are on, and if you read my cheap decorating tips with cotton then you know why cool lights are better.

Christmas Lights

I’m thinking this could be green but maybe to some not. For Christmas I have almost all my lights on a timer. They come on right before I get home (that’s nice) and they go off before I go to bed. How can this be green? Well many people forget to turn them off, especially those outside. I no longer have to think of that. I have purchased enough timers over the years to cover all areas. They get packed away with the lights. I also do not use lamps or lights other than Christmas most of the season. My husband doesn’t care for this type of lighting all the time but Santa likes it!

A/C...love it!

A few years ago we replaced both a/c units in our home for more efficient ones. Being we have a 2 story home it made no sense to run the air to cool the entire house when we are sleeping upstairs so having 2 units were costly but most cost effective. At that time we installed programmable thermostats. If you do not have one, spend the money on it you will save in the long run. You can set your program for weekends and weekdays. I spent many mornings, prior, adjusting the a/c at times forgetting and having it run all day. With these thermostats you do not have to worry about it. Mine allows the temperature to be changed 4 times throughout the day. So it gradually gets cooler towards the time we come home, and the coldest at night for sleeping. They have a “hold” button if you are going to be away then it will stay on whatever temp you set it to. I love to sleep in a cold room and our monthly bills show this year’s reading compared to last, and I am still using less KW than a year ago! My bills are smaller than in the past, which I’m sure is largely due to the newer units but the thermostats help to.

January Picks

True Blue Spa @ Bath & Body Works

Lay it On Thick with Shea Butter
great for dry skin after a day at the beach

Be More Pacific -and-
Tahiti Sweetie with Monoi Oil
both smell like a day at the beach

Update

Currently my youngest brother, Paul 22, is in route to Iraq for his 2nd tour so I will be posting more here soon. During his 1st tour I spent lots of time looking at sites, reading news, and looked up things daily to find out anything to do with his troop, his FOB or his general area. This almost was at the point of an obsession but I did end up with lots of information that we would not have had and I met, through the internet, many nice caring people who steered me the right way. I had an address before Paul knew it and we were sending mail. If anything just keep him and all our troops in your prayers until they all return home.

December Pick

My December Pick
Bath & Body Concentrated Room Spray – love it! This little bottle works so well with just 1 spray. Trust me; spray it more and you will pay. While sharing a suite with 2 other family members in SC during a visit to Fort Jackson, my son took Cherry Blossom to the restroom with him, 3-5 sprays later, we lost count, we all had to leave the entire suite to catch our breath it was so strong! You can find these on sale, but when you see a “seasonal” scent, you better get it because they sell quickly and are usually not replaced. I love all of them, except Cherry Blossom!
Bert Bees Products – after trying a few of these and reading great things about it in the National Geographic Green magazine I put it on my Christmas list. To my surprise I received many of their products. They are pricier than most but are worth it. Try a cheaper item yourself, like the lip balm, which contains peppermint oils, great for cooler weather.

My new pick – is the Shark Steam Mop. This was on my Christmas list and anyone that has been to my house knows why. I asked for the cheaper one of the 2 models. After Christmas I opened up to clean for my New Years Eve party and after putting the entire thing together no steam was seen! I tried and tried, finally giving up and resorting to my old stand by. I got the receipt to exchange the mop to Bed, Bath & Beyond, who gave me no problems but a suggestion. They, and I, noticed that a coupon was not used. So I returned the mop, got a gift card and came back with a 20% off coupon. I upgraded to the more expensive model which has the carpet glider, more pads and longer cord. The price came out to an even purchase. Now that I have used the mop I must say I love it. It is kind of back breaking but I think because you realize how much dirt it gets up so you work more. No chemicals used, just water making it very green and you reused the pads after they are washed. I have watched the infomercials on 2 types of these mops and liked the Shark more because it had a bigger surface for the pads. The carpet glider is nice, I do not have much carpet but I used it where I do. The Shark is not for day to day spills but more for your weekly floor cleaning, and worth the money if you have lots of flooring.

Moving Wall in Melbourne

Vietnam Veterans Memorial – http://www.themovingwall.org/
The Moving Wall is a replica of the wall in Washington, D.C. that makes it way to Wickham annually – usually around April – May for a week stay. During this time the park is crawling with Vets, bikers, miltary and lots of events, so do not expect to find a camping spot open. Over the years it has grown to be more of a teaching tool with equiptment on display and Vets to talk about it. Tents may have art work, pictures or even memorials to K9’s that died during the war, you can even climb on an old boat and sit in a helicopter. This is a great way to show the younger generation what the military used during the Vietnam War and what they lacked. The also have bands play old firmilar war and peace songs well into the night.

In 2002 my 3 year old son wore his Uncle Sam’s Halloween costume that was made for him the year before, combined with his Army fatigues from Fort Bragg (where our nephew was) and carried his (real) ascutic guitar stapped on his back (a Christmas gift). We stayed long past any kid events but weren’t ready to leave. Kaden took out his little guitar and jammed along with the band to the side of the crowd when I was approached by an old rocker. He told me the members of the band, Molly Hachet, wanted Kaden to join them on stage. Within a minute Kaden and I were being shuffled through the crowd to the front of the amitheather where I ducked down but close to him. I turned to look at the sea of people watching and thought “no way will he do anything with all these faces staring at him”. To my amazement I turned back to see Kaden scan the crowd, look down at his guiatar and jam like he was a Van Halen. The people went wild, drunk and all, they loved it. Unfortuanly being the mom, I had the camera and never took a picture because I was so nervous for him. After we were led back to our area and soon had people asking to take a photo with Kaden. That year his photo was taken near a little jeep that goes around with the wall (?), it still can be found displayed. Whether you make it to Wickham or somewhere else to see the Wall, stop and talk to a Vet, listen to their stories and thank them for their service.
http://www.floridaveteransreunion.com/
Will be at Wickham Park April 19-26, 2009

October in Melbourne

Oktoberfest – this annual event is at the Wickham Pavilion but behind BCC not actually in the park. The week before you can always find a coupon buy one get one free admission. Of course it is in October but the dates change from year to year. They have traditional German food among other types, rides, dancing and beer…yes beer. I am not into the German music but love the local bands that play on the main stage. Over the years I have become disappointed in the food choices but I really do not go for the food. We spend one night there with the kids and one with the adults.

Taken 10/08

Wickham Park in Melbourne

Wickham Park is a public county park located at 2500 Parkway Drive, in Melbourne. It offers a variety of things to do outdoors including 2 softball fields, a soccor field (home of the Space Coast United Soccor), an exercise trail, paved roads for walking, running clubs meet here, dog park, camping, freesbie golf, horse shoes, volleyball, pavaillians, 2 lakes, equestrian facilities, archery, and many annual events including the Light Fest, Oktoberfest and Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Memorial among others. I love Wickham Park and go there weekly, whether to hang out and play a game or walk with the girls in my family. We have spent every Easter since 1996 there with a huge egg hunt and yearly game of kick ball. Grills and table are placed throughout the park randomly but you can rent a pavillian for a fee to host a larger gathering. Currently they are building a Senior Center on the west side of the park which will be a nice addition. The park closes at dark unless you are camping. You almost always can see gopher tortises eating in the mid day sun but watch out for geese, ducks and peacocks, they own the place.
http://www.campingspacecoast.com/wickham/index.php a site for more information on camping at Wickham Park
http://www.brevardparks.com/dogs/index.php more information on dog parks in our area including Wickham Park


Took this pic in Dec 08

Christmas in Melbourne

Wickham Lights – I just love this park and have gone there since I was a teen. It hasn’t changed a whole lot but they have made some improvements with additions to certain areas. Something they started several years ago was a light fest during Christmas. This is put on by the park and the Space Coast Rotary Club. It opens usually the weekend of Thanksgiving until the New Year. The cost is for a car load, this year was $10, and you can drive through twice. Lights are on the boarder of both lakes all the way around and the grand finale is a tunnel of multicolor blinking lights. It is something festive to do with the family. If you bring canned goods you can save $2. They do have a hay ride night which I went to this year, but I have to say as fun as a hay ride is to look at lights, it was like waiting to go on the biggest ride in a theme park. We were in lines for almost 1 ½ hours and then our trailer went through at such a pace I missed the whole beginning. I would love to see them offer a walk through the lights one year, no cars, just walkers. Until then pack your car with people and drive through with Christmas music playing and enjoy the sights. *If you have a dog looked under the K9 section for a review on Wickham Park’s dog area

Dining

Of course if you read what I wrote about Disney you would know I recommend staying at their resorts. Eating at them is my next suggestion. You have so many options for all types of appetites. Here are my favorites: Whispering Canyons at Wilderness Lodge, a family style restaurant with hands on fun including pony races. Love this place! We had visited the lodge in the past and love the rustic atmosphere that makes you feel far from Florida with its majestic ceilings that extend to the top story, massive fire place and coziness not found in many other places. During a Christmas trip to Disney we decided to eat Whispering Canyons, which is located in the lobby. We had a very large crowd, I think 20 of us and soon realized to seat all of us together would take too long so we told them we could be divided into 2. We were seated soon. The food is chicken, skillet meals all you can eat served on a Lazy Susan, ribs etc. but save room for dessert because it’s even better. It is a little more pricey then some places but worth it.

The next place I love is the Polynesian. They have 2 great options for dining. First Ohana – we went here with the kids, my brother and his wife a few years ago. Pay one price, eat all you can, keep in mind children’s prices only go up to age 9…since when is a 10 year old an adult? Anyway, you start with bread & salad, and then appetizers of dumplings and wings – remember it is all you can eat so ask for more if you are up to it. The main course is a variety of things cooked over an oak fire including shrimp; steak, pork and turkey…again eat up. The dessert is the best, bread pudding with bananas and caramel sauce. Until then the thought of bread pudding made me cringe, wet bread, no thanks. But I have to say this dessert was to die for. Even my non eating dessert husband asked for 2nds. If you time it right and sit in the right spot you can watch the fire works at Cinderella’s castle from your table. I look forward to going back to Ohana. The other option is The Spirit of Aloha Luau which is outside. This is a fest with entertainment. You sit at a long table with others unless you have a huge party, and courses are brought out. Again this is a pay one price dinner. You start with the salad and bread, not plain bread but sweet island bread, then vegetables, rice, chicken and ribs follow, finally a volcano dessert is delivered to the table. Prior to entering they do take family photos that can be purchased, and fireworks can be seen from here as well when timed right. Make reservations for this meal. Of course the Polynesians has other choices for food but these are the 2 I have been to.

Another place I love, especially for young kids, is Chef Mickey located in the Contemporary – the hotel the monorail goes through. We went for dinner quite a few years back, this is all you can eat buffet, so you pay one price. The main Disney characters (Mickey, Minnie etc.) come to you which is great; you do not have to move except to get your food. Each one stops at your table and gives you enough time for photos. The dessert bar has many options; see a trend in what I like? Again they take a family photo with characters for you to purchase.
As any Disney place, don’t forget to look for the hidden Mickey’s.

Good Night Sleep Tight

Welcoming home a new baby brings on many new challenges and an overwhelming sense of responsibility. I can remember the first night we had our daughter home. Her room was directly across from ours, I could see right into it. I had her vintage Winnie the Pooh night light on, it had an orangy glow. I lay down to sleep and felt my chest heavy with worry. We were now accountable for her life. Of course we had the baby monitor and yes I would put it to my ear to listen to her breathe, then get up and check on her to make sure the monitor was working, occasionally tap her to still make sure she was okay. I think all new parents do that.

While on maternity leave I found it easier to have her in bed with me for a nap, but soon realized that fears would not let me sleep because I was afraid of rolling over on her, her getting lost under a pillow, in the comforter, you name it. So from then on she never slept in our bed. Over time I realized this was the best decision because once you start that habit it may be hard to stop. I know quite a few people who have older kids that still wander into their bed. This can affect many things aside from sleep. My advice is to not start it. Having the kid’s camp out on a Sunday morning is completely different then having them crawl into bed with you on a regular basis. Good night!

The Ol' Vi-vi

My son was a pacifier baby, or as he called it “Vi-vi” - where that came from I have no idea. But he loved his and like many parents we had many back ups just in case. After some time the Vi-vi was no longer cute looking and not just used to calm him down, it was something he relied on and looked for. We decided that it was time to get rid of it when he was around 2-3yrs. old. My son understood when things were broken so we went with that, cutting the tips off each Vi-vi without his knowledge. When he went on his daily hunt to collect them, sometimes sucking on each one just for a little while before going to the next one, he looked at the first one with a very funny look. He then looked at me to say “Vi-vi broke”, I agreed and he threw it away, then on to the next. This continued until he realized they were all gone. In the days following he shed his tears and called out for them, but I reminded him they were broke. Like all other habits in a small child he soon forgot and moved along without the Vi-vi. This is not going to work on everyone, maybe no one but my son, but whatever you do remember they will not take it to college!

Living in Florida with a Dog

I have never been an adult dog owner in any other state, as a kid I don’t remember doing any kind of flea or heartguard type of treatments. But to be responsible make sure you have your dog checked annually and keep them current on all the things they need. In Florida with the temperature you need to be proactive with fleas, and since we have mosquitoes much longer than most places heartguard is a must. I will say that since we started using Front Line or Advantage I have not seen a flea on my dog now or my past dogs – for at least 10 years. It works.
Heartguard is given monthly; well that is how I do it. I write in on the calendar for they year so I do not forget. Obliviously the heavier the dog the more it cost. In 1995 mosquitoes swarmed the Space Coast and were thick well past October. The following January with a new born our dog Lady tested positive for heartworms. We paid for the procedure, that wasn’t cheap, and thought life would go on. Within a week of her treatment she was so ill and had to be put to sleep…in our home no less because she was too ill to be taken into the Vet. So remember to continue giving that pill, it’s such a small price to pay for you pet. http://heartgard.us.merial.com/home/
While I’m bloggin about taking care of your dog, get the Parvo shot as well. My Neeko was just about 9 months old when he tested positive for this new, at the time, disease. It affects puppies more than adult dogs. It can be contracted through feces, so remember to clean up after you dog. Neeko was thrilled to have 3 dogs in the neighborhood visit his yard, and very often at that, but I think that is where he ended up getting it. Read more at http://workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm


Marley @ Christmas

Christmas

Decorating for Christmas and being organized???
Yes, it is possible. I put up a lot and have been organized for years. The biggest reason how? A file in the computer, it may seem anal but it works for me. I currently have 22 totes plus trees, wreaths and more trees and I’m talking large Rubbermaid totes. But I know what is in each one and they are all numbered. Being stored away with many other totes for other holidays numbers didn’t stand out enough so I colored each one. All Christmas has a red / gold stripe and then the number, orange for Halloween and so on. While I pack I keep my file up on the screen and type what is going in each box. Why? Because with so much decorating I may need to find 1-2 items to complete a room. This keeps me much saner and doesn’t take as much time as you may think. I also write myself a note telling me what needs to be replaced, items to purchase or ideas for gifts.

My Aunt & Uncle's Village

New Years

New Years Eve Party
Each year I pick a theme, well not every year but every year for the past 5, prior to that we still hosted a party but no theme. The theme adds something, making it different than the years before. Even if you do the same entertaining, themes make it special in some ways. I will write more on themes and ideas later.
One thing we consistently do is a scratch off ticket drawing. Over the years we have changed the “rules” and have got it down to a science now. Each person contributes on $1 scratch off ticket or $1 value per person. So a family of 5 can put in a $5 scratch off. All names are written down and 3 piles are made with the tickets. This year we had $36 worth = 34 tickets, then names are drawn. Yeah, you only have 3 winners but its fun and only cost you $1. We have had small winners but are still waiting for that year when someone scratches off a big number. Just make sure you explain this ahead and remind people to bring a ticket.
Hosting the party can be costly but don’t be shy in saying “bring a dish to share”, most guests like to bring something and will ask. My family is great about stepping up and going beyond the dish to make sure we have enough. If the party is just a out of the ordinary gathering for you then supplying everything is fine, but if you are the host house year after year with the same people they wont mind. We still have to work on the right amount of food; we always have way too much!
If you are using plastic cups, set out Sharpie markers so people can write their names on them. Losing your drink sucks but it’s not as bad as drinking someone else’s! Also set out recycling bins with a sign telling people to use it. For me it was easier to tell them to put all recycling in the sink and I took it out for them. Of course this works on any party not just New Years.

Marley & Me movie review

We decided to start a new tradition of going to the movies on New Years day, little did we know when we made the plans my sister had to work. Come on…who goes to the gym on the 1st of January, at least recover from the eve before starting that resolution. Anyway we all knew we wanted to see Marley & Me, several of us read the book. Then I started thinking, “do I wanna see a sad movie right before my brother leaves again?” (He heads back to Texas on the 3rd to prepare for redeployment). But the plan was made so off we went. 13 of us from the family went. I was prepared for the inevitable of the story but seeing it on the big screen was hard. I thought the movie was really good, it left out some things that made you fall in love with Marley but the 2 hours had a whole dog life to cover. It is a great movie for a dog person but can be hard to watch if you have ever mourned the loss of one. It made me appreciate my own Marley more. http://www.johngroganbooks.com/index.cgi