Aspartame what say you?

Okay so here is something that is throwing me for a loop, What do you know about aspartame? I did a search on Web M.D.and saw both sides, it is bad, it is not bad! So which one is it? My kids like the drinks that have aspartame in them, like Fresca, and the flavored waters. But I have heard it is bad. So what do you know about that, and besides web M.D. is there somewhere else to check on something like that?

Dont forget the lyrics.

Have any of you watched this show. The other night I tuned in right on time to see the contestant get engaged on national T.V. Her boyfriend had it all planned out. She was freaking out, and then she walked away with $350,000. What a night for her. I like the show, and I think my sister Stephanie should go on. She is a great singer, and she knows all kinds of music. Anyway, the show is cute, and last nights was really neat.

5 Minutes for Mom at it again.... II

So if you have not been there lately I would really suggest heading over there. They have a baby phonics giveaway, a DVD loaded with music and phonics for you just learning to speak babies. They are also giving away Kabba Mikey, i think that is how you spell it. It is a boy in Tokyo, cartoon, superhero DVD, looks pretty cute. And the greatest of the week, drum roll please, ANOTHER DYSON VACUUM. This time it is pink, and the proceeds of the giveaway, $400, goes to breast cancer awareness. Dyson just gives it to breast cancer, pretty awesome. So go now, when I entered I was 885. Maybe that will be a new lucky number.

The Marine.

This is a poem being sent from a Marine to his Dad.For those who take the time to read it, you'll see a letter from himto his Dad at the bottom It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops. This poem is something the marines want to roll over the US.

THE MARINE



We all came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.
In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country From all terror around.

Peace and not war, Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.

I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
and protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,
I don't complain,
I don't whine.
I'm just one of the people
Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine.
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you've won .

Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.

But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You'll stand when the fight's done .

By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

March 23, 2003
Hey Dad,
Do me a favor and label this "The Marine" and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US ; I want
every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway. You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly
understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech. "When the time comes to lay
down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I
welcome it." Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what
I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will
be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.
Aaron

Please let this marine (and all our military) know we care by passing his
poem onto your friends. I originally got this in my email, and I thought what a better way to bring attention to 9/11. I do not know if Marine Aaron is real, but this did make me stop and think. If you like, you can copy it and post it, or email it to your friends and family. Remember all our troops today! Do not forget.

Our Anniversary.

Today is my anniversary. We have been married for 8 years. We have a really neat story about our wedding and first date. 9 years ago he took me out to eat at Joes Crabshack, I really like that place. The atmosphere is very fun, and our kids have always enjoyed going, although we have only been there twice with them. Anyway, on our first date he bought me one of their Tye dyed shirts, of course I still have it. Now while we were there I saw one of my sisters friends who was celebrating her birthday, and over the process of the next year my husband and I got engaged and set a date. When it was time to send out the invitations, I gave one to my sisters friend and she said "Oh that is my birthday." So a year later, to the day, of our first date is when my husband and I got married. Neat isn't it? The other thing that happened that I felt so clumsy about, I slammed my finger in the car door. And he wanted to pour alcohol on it. It seems like our finest days always have a bit of "ouchiness" that comes along with it, and if you have ever talked to me about our wedding day, or if you were there, you know exactly what I am talking about. Anyway, it is a good day all and all. We have been through a lot together, and I cannot wait for the day when our kids are grown, have kids of there own, and hubby and I are old and grey, and we can look back on our lives and say that "It is good." Love you hubby.

My growing baby.

So the news of the new baby is exciting for my family. My 9 year old does exactly what she did when I was pregnant with my other 2. Rubs my tummy, gives it hugs, talks to the baby. My 5 year old of course follows big sisters lead, and loves on my tummy. My 1 1/2 year old, lifts up my shirt and points to my belly button and says, "Baby" then lifts up her shirt and looks at her belly button. I think that is soooo funny. It makes me laugh every time she does it.

Not just Martha Herbal Contest.

This is a neat contest. You will get a $25 gift certificate to a online herbal shop. Now for me this is great because I am interested in making my own bath salts and things but in order to do it right you are suppose to use good essential oils, and it seems this would be a good place to get them. So Hop on over to Not just Martha, there is a button on my sidebar, follow the instructions and get yourself entered into this contest. Okay Ciao.

Thankful Thursday

So another Thankful Thursday, I keep forgetting that it is Thursday. So today I am thankful that my growing baby and I are fine. I have been on bed rest for almost a week. I went to the Doc. this week and got an ultrasound and my Rhogam shot. Have you ever seen a picture of a 6 week old baby, it looks like a little peanut. 2 bumps, one is the head and one is the bottom. That is it. I cannot tell which is which. If I had a scanner, I would upload it so you could see. So thank God that it is all fine now. I just cannot lift more than 10 pounds and I am still going to take it easy for a while.

Okay, so I have found another contest to share with you. This is hosted by Crazy Hip Blog Mamas and Missys Tempting Tarts. Hop on over to Crazy Hip Blog Mamas and see all the details for the contest. What these tarts are is smell good things, because I do not know if they are wax, I am assuming that though. Anyway, you will get to choose some, then you can burn them in your simmer pots, and smell up the house with something other than soiled diapers and burnt popcorn. If that is something that happens in your house anyway. So hop over and check it out.

September declared new jean month for Fried Okra.

Megan, at Fried Okra needs our help. She needs a new pair of jeans and wants to know our favorites. If she chooses your jean you get a gift card to a store like Gap or Kohls. (Hop over and see the rules.) Okay so here is my opinion. For price, I was lucky enough to find a nice fitting pair of jeans at Wal-Mart. They are Boot-Cut, perfect for my huge snow shoes for winter, if I get to wear them than, just finding out I am Prego and all. Anyway, the brand is Faded Glory. Did not know that until I looked at the tag. Then the 2nd option is truejeans.com They will send you a tape measure in the mail and a booklet to find your true fit for jeans. They have numerous styles, boot cut, flare legs, or straight legged. Plus I received a 15% off coupon, so you save money also. To be perfectly honest I have not tried truejeans yet, so I do not know the price range, but check it out. Maybe it is not to bad. So there you have it. Those are my 2 suggestions, and the one place I would not go is Ambercrombie and Fitch, I bought a pair of jeans from them once and the butt tore after just 2 times of wearing them. I have never shopped there since. I have other reasons too, but that is another story for another time. Good luck with the jean hunt, most important is have FUN!!!!! CIAO.

I have been slackin'!!!

I have been slackin' on letting you all in on the 5 Minutes for Mom contests. They have something every week, so always check it out. Today there are 2 books and a Little Einstein video. So hop over and leave your comment and Good Luck. And I will try and keep you posted.