What are the best Halloween costumes you've worn or seen?

Share what made you laugh or cower in fear?

I am not a huge Halloween fan ~ I really enjoy seeing the small children in their cute costumes but find myself annoyed by the older/teen-aged trick-or-treaters.

Perhaps my lack of excitement for Halloween stems from me missing my Mom... My parents used to come to our home every Halloween as Mom loved to see the trick-or-treaters. She would open the door for every bell ring and gladly handed out candy.

This year since the Fireguy is working I will be snuggled up in the back room watching a movie - Perhaps one day I will be excited for this holiday again, but until then I prefer to spend it quietly ~

Enjoy your evening everyone and BE SAFE!!!

Favorite Things - October

Alright my little blogger friends, here are my October favorites; a short list but I have been so pre-occupied it's all I can come up with...

We just purchased this little beauty! It is a Toshiba netbook... Little gal weighs in at a mere 2.8 pounds! The netbooks do not have a CD-ROM/DVD drive nor any other programs. Her primary purpose is internet access and e-mail checking. She came pre-loaded with the new Windows 7, so I was a bit apprehensive but it is super simple! This model has a larger keyboard and raised keys (built more for a man's hand IMHO) which is just perfect for the Fireguy!!

Bio-Oil® is a specialist skincare product that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone.

Bio Oil wont get rid of your stretchmarks... it can only improve the texture and tone of your skin which in turn will slightly improve the look of your stretchmarks.... Once they're there there really is no getting rid of them so its best to accept them as part of you, part of the story of your body, your life...

I use this product and both my kids have used it on scars with fantastic results!!

My last favorite of the month comes with a little story...

On my last visit to the mall I was approached my someone from one of the mall vendors. Somehow he sucked me in to a conversation and proceeded to tell me what lovely natural nails I had!!! Ppppshah!!

Bottom line, he wanted to sell me this FANTASTIC nail care kit for a mere $115!!! When I started to walk away he succumbed and with puppy dog eyes offered me the set for $79, meaning the buffer was FREE!! Still telling my story of 'that is just way too much money' he began to act like he was telling me this BIG secret by now offering me two kits for the $79... Yeah, no I'm still not spending that for a nail kit!!!

I told a little white lie by saying that I needed to get to another store but had to walk right by here again and I would think about... Actually I was headed out to my car, but seriously this guy was a great salesman, but the product was just too danged expensive.

Me, being me got home and began my research on SEACRET as I was really impressed by the look of my nails after one session of buffing!

I found said nail care kit on eBay for as little as $8!!! with a high of $35/40 - So guess what I did :-) of course I bought the $5 set and am completely happy!!

The nail care kit really is a good product for those of you that have natural nails, you will be amazed at the results and they need only be buffed every other week!! The kit includes cuticle oil, nail file and hand cream; which by the way is OCEAN scented...

I think that I shall never see...

Let's face it, I have a confession...

My name is Leslee and I am addicted to flowers; especially those that carry fragrance! I know... you are saying, well why then the picture of a bird of paradise??? Truth is, my family hawaiian vacation begins in a week and my bird of paradise plants in the yard are in FULL bloom ~ I had to share...

I do however boast my gardenias up the front walkway and have added lavender to the mix! Out back I have the star jasmine :-) All things with a pretty smell!

Getting back to vacation - I'm not sure how much blogging I will be able to do, but I will be "Twittering"!!! Follow me at BEAUTEA97 and I can keep you updated with tweets and occasional pics...

Aloha!

Weekend wrap up & Garden help!!!!

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! It was another warm (high 70's to low 80's) weather weekend here in Northern California.

We began the weekend with attending a retirement gathering for The Fireguy's Battalion Chief. Fireman Mike devoted 32 years of service to the department and is now enjoying more time with his family and get's to care for his grandson several days a month. It was so special getting to spend the evening with such amazing friends!

Saturday I spent the day marking off items that are on my pre-vacation to do list. The Fireguy was at a local man made lake teaching water rescue which allowed me time to get so many things done. I am a list maker and feel such great accomplishment striking things off the list. I also had the great task of shopping for and purchasing an early Christmas present for my husband. I finally got him to agree that he would enjoy a netbook!! He can check his email from work and perform research on the internet while he is away from the house. I had a blast setting up the netbook for him so that he could take it to work with him!

Sunday I was on my own again as the Fireguy was on duty. Once I finished up the normal housework I was able to sit out on the patio and enjoy the lovely weather!! I finished up my 'travel folder' for our upcoming vacation which brings me great happiness. Doesn't everyone have a travel folder? Don't you carry around itineraries, car rental information, hotel confirmations and assorted other trip information??? Hehehe...

While I was in the yard I came across my 'mystery plant'. I originally thought it was a rogue squash plant, but there is something growing on it that IS NOT a squash...

It looks like a pod of some kind

The pod is SO heavy, I have to prop up the plant or it falls over

Anyone have any ideas what this is??

2009 Pole Dancing Championships

I found this video on-line, and hopefully none of my blogger buddies are offended, but I look at these women as true athletes!! They are simply amazing !!!! I also happen to love Evanescence ~ Remember to mute my music player at the bottom of my blog to get the complete experience from this video!

100th POST!!!!!

My how time does fly!!

Just 7 short months ago I posted my first blog and here we are at my 100th!!!

I began this blog as a means of sharing my world with my kids who have moved out and are enjoying lives of their own. My blog has also been a great vehicle for expressing myself, journaling my thoughts, if you will. Blogging has been such a guilty pleasure for me ~

Along the way to my 100th post I have met some pretty remarkable friends! People of faith, people with young children and some with grandchildren. I may have even found someone that I share so many commonalities with it is scary!! I am learning more about their worlds and enjoy hearing their thoughts about mine. I have found wonderful recipes and enjoyed amazing photography. I have been sent warm support when needed and have been able to share my life experiences to help others.

Thank you all for reading and I hope you'll come back!

Weekend wrap up

This weekend I had the extreme pleasure of spending time with family ~

Saturday afternoon I met my sister at a church bazaar for their "Apple Hill Harvest Festival". The event was really very quaint and we enjoyed the home cooked goodies also!! My sister & I then visited one of the largest pumpkin farms I have ever been too! So, I have only been to two... but who's counting??? It was so much fun to wander around looking at all of the families enjoying the lovely weather, the children picking out their pumpkins and the smell of warm hay!!

Sunday morning The Fireguy and I met his Mom for coffee at one of our local coffee houses. It was a really nice visit as I had brought my laptop and The Fireguy sharded photos he had taken while visitng his brother in Montana this summer.

Next up I had a 2nd cousin visit from Pennsylvania. We met Linda and my sister at my Dad's and she shared the stories of her 5 children and 9 grandchildren (8 girls and one little prince)! She is one busy lady!! In her spare time she crochets beautiful throws and teaches piano. She has had up to 30 students at a time!!! It was really great to catch up with Linda as she visits California only once a year.

Below is a photo of Linda and me ~

Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Marathons, Birthdays, Weddings and "stuff"

Whew... Been pretty busy around these parts, so I'll try and bring you up to date ~

As previously mentioned, my daughter ran back to back marathons! Besides finishing them, her goal was to qualify for the 'prestigious membership' in the InSaNe AsYlUm of the Marathon Maniacs...

Erin is one dedicated runner and finished BOTH marathons with flying colors;

First up was the Lake Tahoe marathon which totally kicked their tails!! The course was quite difficult but it was offset some by the amazing views of Lake Tahoe!!

Erin and my SIL Chris after the race

Erin finished in the top 25 of the women and was awarded a special jacket and trophy!!!

The following weekend was the Sacramento Cowtown Marathon...

A huge event for this area, boasting about 4,500 particiants!

Erin ran the full and even set a personal record!!

Chris and three additional friends (Dan, Kristi & Larry) ran the marathon relay as 'Team Erin' - Such awesome support!!!

Team Erin and Erin :-)

We love this picture!!! Chris ran back out and paced Erin the final miles.

Notice he is on his iPhone texting ME the updates while running~ He is SO dedicated!!!

Congratulations to both my dear daughter and wonderful son-in-law !!!!

So you are wondering... why wasn't Mommie Dearest at these amazing events??? I would have loved to be, but could not be two places at once ~

The Fireguy and I traveled to Washington to attend a wedding and celebrate our Son's 25th birthday. It was a quick trip but we had a really nice time sitting around in his new home and enjoying each other's company! and eating!!!

Tommy's GF Lindsey served my favorite; Ivar's clam chowder in a bread bowl!!!

Tommy showed us his awesome grill skills on his new BBQ !!!

Dinner fit for the birthday boy!!!!

But of course Momma baked her boy a birthday cake ~

The last couple of weeks have been quite interesting!! Once back home and settled I heard from my dermatologist that the second biopsy results came back clear!!! I am so grateful and feel very blessed!! I'm so glad that I got right on this and am thankful to all of my blogger buddies who sent well wishes and prayers ~

Enjoy the rest of the week - Weekend is right around the corner !!!! YEAH!!!!!

Got Sunscreen??? - Update

I wanted to give you all an update since this post...

My dermatologist performed another excision to my foot in an effort to ensure there are no further 'rogue cells" floating around the original melanoma.

I am typing with my laptop in my lap with foot elevated as I have been for ~ 24 hours now... Unfortunately, your foot does not have much extra skin, so the excision and the attempt to pull the skin together is rather uncomfortable!

I'll keep you posted on the next test results!!

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I'll preface this post by stating that it IS a PSA (Public Service Announcement) ~ But PLEASE keep reading!

Four and a half years ago I lost my Mom to skin cancer (melanoma).
Her diagnosis came very late in the disease process; but we were blessed with four years before she left.

During the time Mom was being treated we as a family became very well educated in the disease, treatments and cancer as a whole. We know now WHAT melanoma is...

This past week I learned that I too have skin cancer; something I have feared since losing Mom. First generations of melanoma patients have a 50% chance of having it too. My dermatologist was my Mom's as well and she too is amazed at the irony that my lesion was also on my left foot; just like Mom's...

I WAS a sun worshiper; loved being tan and when I could not see the sun spent much too much time in tanning beds. D'Oh!!!

My prognosis is GREAT; I caught it very, very early. I am a fanatic about checking myself!!! I will have another 'surgery' this week to excise additional tissue to be tested.

Bottom line my friends is this... Be smart about your skin and your body ~ Wear sunscreen for goodness sake!! and check yourself often and see a dermatologist if you have concerns.

Let me be your informant if you are not informed!