Why You Should Vote for Candace Cameron Bure on DWTS...

 I stopped watching Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) many seasons ago.  I used to watch it in the early seasons but I stopped watching a few seasons ago.  It used to be a fairly family friendly show (it airs during the 8:00 family hour on the east coast) but in recent years it has gotten progressively more inappropriate.   Some of the dancers are performing in barely more than their underwear.  It is mostly the outfits on the female dancers that have crossed the line.  

So why have I started watching again?  Candace Cameron Bure!  You may remember her as eldest daughter DJ Tanner from Full House.  You may have watched her as a kid or may have a daughter now like mine who watches Full House in reruns before bed at night.  

Candace Cameron Bure is a Christian that is not shy about her faith.   On the show last night she performed in a modest dress (pictured below) and in an interview during the show stated that she planned to be a role model and wear modest costumes.  She is a woman who has the courage to stand by her morals and stand up for her faith.

 

She was also quoted as saying that she wants to be an inspiration for other moms,  "I want to represent all the moms out there and inspire them and encourage them," she explained. "I'm just a woman, I'm not any different than all the moms out there -- my priority is my family, my husband, my kids and so this for me is truly just a joy. It's something I've never done and to get the opportunity to do this is fantastic. I'm just going to enjoy every moment. We're working hard of course, but I'm thrilled to just be able to work hard and do this." 

Last night, Candace and her dance partner Mark finished 2nd after the scores from the judges.  The way the show works, one couple is voted off each week.  The couple with the lowest scores goes home.  The score is a combination of the scores from the judges and the votes from the viewers. That is where you come in!

You need to vote for Candace!  I am voting for her for several reasons:

1.  She works really hard and does a great job dancing.

2. She is a Christian that is not afraid to share her faith.

3. She wants to be an inspiration to other moms out there.

4. She is a champion for modesty.  You can be modest and still look beautiful and be successful.

5. She is bring the "family" back into what used to be a family show. 

Without your votes, her strong finish with judges will not be enough to keep her in the game.    I would love to show the mainstream media that it doesn't take a skimpy outfit to win at this game, that morals and conviction can win as well.  I want Candace to show that the talent and hard work are what matters not the sex appeal. 

Join me in voting for Candace and her family values!

 

Happy 69th Anniversary!

 

Happy 69th wedding anniversary to George and Barbara Bush!  Wow!  That is a long time!  They were married on January 6, 1945.  Barbara Bush says that she married the first man she ever kissed.  

 They hold the record for the longest presidential marriage by a long shot!  Second place goes to John and Abigail Adams who were married for 54 years.

In order for Aaron and I to be married for 69 years, I will need to live to be 102 years old and Aaron 103!

Admiration for Angelina

 

I have never been a big fan of Angelina Jolie.  I don't really like her movies or her acting.  I also don't always agree with her lifestyle choices, but they are hers to make.  That being said, I admire her.   I have always admired her work with refugees around the world and her heart for orphaned children.  Yesterday I heard the news that made me respect her even more.

If you haven't heard, Angelina had a preventative double mastectomy.  She chose to remove her breast tissue to reduce her chances of getting fatal breast and ovarian cancer.  She has the "breast cancer" gene which means she has an 87% chance of getting cancer.  

Not everyone with this gene will die from cancer but Angelina's mother did.  Her mother died at the young age of 56 from ovarian cancer. Angelina did not want to leave her children motherless.  She knows what it is like to lose her mother way too soon.

So why do I bring this up?  I am frustrated with the people in the "natural" community that are critical of her decision to have a preventative mastectomy.  They feel that there are plenty of other preventative measures out there such as changing her diet, eating a vegan diet, trying herbal remedies and waiting to see what happens.

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that none of these people have the "cancer gene" themselves and are probably not cancer survivors either.   They can claim that they would take a natural approach if they had the gene but it is easy to say that when you aren't facing death's door.

I respect Angelina's decision.  I can say that I would make the same choice in her shoes.  I know that because I had breast cancer.  I was diagnosed in May 2012.

 When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I chose to be tested for the BRCA gene too.  I am so thankful that my results came back negative.  I do not have the gene.  While waiting for my results I had to decide what I would do if the results came back positive.   I knew that I would have the preventative mastectomy so that I had the best chance of survival.  I am a mother too.  I thought about my children.  I understand how extremely difficult that decision must have been for Angelina. 

The people that prefer the "natural" approach also criticize those of us that choose chemo and radiation treatments over a diet change and herbal remedies.  Don't you think that with all of the money that Angelina has that she didn't thoroughly research every single option available?   Don't you think that she had dozens of doctors and researchers looking for her best case scenario.

After hearing all of her options she chose to physically alter her body and remove her breast tissue.  I give her credit for making the decision that she thought gave her the best chance of surviving this and being there for her children. 

I think that no matter what "community" you side with, the natural or the medical, that you should show Angelina some compassion and not judge her choice.   I think that she is brave and serves as a positive role model for other women that may face this choice. 

Men and Candles Don't Mix

 

The Yankee Candle catalog came in the mail today.  It was one of those catalogs with the scratch and sniff pictures inside.   Front and center on the cover was their new line of "Man Candles."  The main attraction is their new "MMM, BACON" candle.  It smells just like you would think it would.

Is that really necessary?  I get that they are marketing for Father's Day,  but seriously?  Do scented candles and men really mix?  I know that my husband is already not a fan of scented candles.  Would he more inclined to light a candle that smells like bacon?  I think not!

According to the Boston Business Journal, the "man candles" made up 10% of sales in 2012 while they were out on the shelves for a limited release.  I can't imagine who would buy them.  Last year's scents included, "2x4" wood scented candle and the "Riding Mower" grass scented candle.  

What's in the works for next year's "man candles?"  Maybe "sweaty socks" or "flatulence flurry" or maybe even "armpit aroma?"

Let's just say that in our house the only bacon scent you will smell will be coming from our stove top!

You Didnt Think I Could Keep My Mouth Shut on this One?

Just in case you have been living under a rock.... I am going to tell you why I am no longer giving any of my money to the man pictured above.   I am ashamed at myself that it took me this long to officially boycott them.

Who is he?  He is Mike Jeffries, the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch.    There are several brands associated with him and Abercrombie & Fitch:

 Why will I be boycotting these brands?

1.  "Anyone who’s been to Abercrombie & Fitch in the last few years has probably noticed that they don’t carry XL or XXL sizes of women’s clothing because they don’t  want overweight women wearing their brand."

Just because you wear an XL or XXL, it doesn't mean you are overweight.  It may just mean that you don't want your clothes to stick to you like Saran Wrap!  When I was 5'8" and 120 pounds (by no menas overweight) I wore an XL shirt.  I have broad shoulders and I didn't feel comfortable in super tight clothing.

2. “He doesn’t want larger people shopping in his store, he wants thin and beautiful people,” Lewis said. “He doesn’t want his core customers to see people who aren’t as hot as them wearing his clothing. People who wear his clothing should feel like they’re one of the ‘cool kids.’”

Seriously?!?  So we should be teaching our daughters that if they are over a size 10 that they can't be cool?  Is that the definition of cool, under a size 10?  

3. He was asked if he was bothered by the fact that he was excluding "fat people?"

 
“In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids,” he told the site. “Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely. Those companies that are in trouble are trying to target everybody: young, old, fat, skinny. But then you become totally vanilla. You don’t alienate anybody, but you don’t excite anybody, either,” he told Salon.

There are so many more inflammatory quotes from this man that I won't even bother to copy and paste here on my blog.  You can google, "inconsiderate jerk" and see plenty of his offensive quotes.

 

I don't shop in any of these stores for myself but I do have nieces and I do have two daughters.
So where should you shop if you need a trendy alternative?

1.   American Eagle offers sizes up to size 18

2.  Forever 21- They print John 3:16 on their shopping bags as a demonstration of the owner's Christian Faith.   They also have a brand that carries sizes up 3X (size 20).

3.  H&M also carries larger sizes up to XXL

  In an effort to present full disclosure, I am a size 8 in pants and an L/XL in tops in most stores.  I am not personally offended because he criticized my size.  He did not discriminate against a size 8. I am offended because he is making fun of people and creating an atmosphere that will cause low self-esteem in the already vulnerable pre-teen age group.

"Do unto others as you would have them do to you." 

Luke 6:31  

   

The Best State to Raise Children?

Which state is the best state to raise children? 

The Winner is..... NJ!!!!

If you have never lived in New Jersey you are probably shocked.  What does the rest of the US know about New Jersey?

The Jersey Shore

 They are actually from Staten Island, New York. 

The Sopranos

All Italians are not in the Mafia.  

I would know.  

I am married to an Italian.

 The Jersey Turnpike

Not all of New Jersey is like what 

you see on the Turnpike.

Our motto is the Garden State.

 The Real Housewives of New Jersey

 There is nothing real about these housewives. 

 The actual median household income in NJ is $68, 342. 

  Almost none of the housewives in NJ live the 

excessive lives that these ladies do.

 What is New Jersey really like?

 We experience all four seasons

 We are 30 minutes from the beach and the boardwalk

We are less than an hour to ski

 The county park system has free waterparks

 

 We live 30 minutes from a great zoo.

 It is just an hour drive to an awesome aquarium

New Jersey hosts a hot air balloon 

festival every summer

We live just a short drive from NYC 

and all that it has to offer.

Most of all I love living in New Jersey because it is home.  It is where I was born and raised.  It is where I chose to raise my children.  Just remember don't judge a state by what you see on TV!

You can read the entire report here.

The Mother Who Says her Children are her Biggest Regret

If you haven't heard, there is an article that has gone viral written by a woman who says that having children was the biggest regret of her life.  If you haven't read the article, you can read it here.  

To sum it up, Isabella Dutton (pictured above) writes that having her two children was her biggest regret.  She says

 "I resented the time my children consumed. 

Like parasites, they took from me and didn't give back"

It is shocking to read it.  If you are a mom, your mind immediately goes to your children and you think, "I would never say that!"   

 Truth be told, we have all had those moments where we wonder what our life would be like if we had not had children.  I would be lying if I said that I hadn't.  Those nights where all three kids are sick and I am mopping up poop and vomit, yes, I have had moments where I may resent the fact that I had children.  So what is the difference between this woman and me?  

For me, those moments are rare and I can "snap out of it." I understand that my feelings of resentment are temporary and that the reality is I would never want to be without any of my three children.  Does that mean I never need a break from them? No!  It just means that even when I have reached my limit, I still love them and I am so grateful to have them in my life.

Isabella Dutton is different than me because her feelings are permanent.  She never "snaps out of it" and realizes that her children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord.  Her feelings aren't rare, they are constant.  

So what is wrong with this woman?  She says

 "I felt completely detached from this alien being who had encroached upon my settled married life and changed it, irrevocably, for the worse."

To anyone that has experienced post partum depression, that quote sounds eerily familiar.  She clearly is suffering from it even though she says that she isn't.  She has never faced it and definitely needed some form of counseling or medication.  There is no shame in that.  I suffered from PPD after my first child was born.  

In addition to the PPD, I also think she is suffering from something else.  She says 

 

"What I valued most in my life was time on my own; to reflect, read and enjoy my own company and peace of mind. And suddenly that peace and solitude wasn't there any more. There were two small interlopers intruding on it. And I've never got that peace back. It was not that I seethed each day with resentment towards my children; more that I felt oppressed by my constant responsibility for them. Young children prevent you from being spontaneous; every outing becomes an expedition. If you take your job as a parent seriously, you always put their needs before your own."

With my  "armchair psychologist degree," I  diagnose her with a selfish and narcissistic personality.  She is too concerned with her own feelings and desires to care about her children.  She is unable to get past the fact that she has had to alter her own schedule for these "interlopers."  She is unable to see this change in her life as a positive one since she is so obsesssed with her own wishes.  She is a person who truly should not have had children.

Rather than be angry at this woman, you should feel sorry for her.  She has never truly experienced the joy that comes with raising a child.  She has missed out!  She can never get those years back.  Feel compassion for her children who never had the experience of unconditional love from their  mother. 

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire!

Lance Armstrong is a liar!  I am watching Oprah's interview with Lance Armstrong as I type this blog post.  I don't follow cycling or watch the Tour de France.  I have no interest in the sport of cycling whatsoever.   But as an American, I have the right to be disgusted by him.    He represented our country and he cheated while doing it.  He claimed to be a role model for our children.

Below is an excerpt from his website.  The red remarks are mine.

Lance's Story

If scripted by Hollywood, the story would be dismissed as trite melodrama: A deadly disease strikes a promising athlete. Despite desperately thin odds, he manages not only to beat the affliction but also to return to the sport and win its top prize, not once but a record seven times. Unbelievable, except it's true. (Really?  He has the audacity to keep this on his website)

But the story doesn't end on the finish line at the Tour de France. His experience made him a part of a cancer community, and motivated him to unleash the same passion and drive he does in bike races to the fight against cancer. (I can speak as a cancer survivor that I do not want him as the role model or representative of the community)

Since he made history in 1999, he has won the tour six more times, and has become one of the most recognizable and admired people of this era. (Now he is one of the most arrogant and shameful people of this era)

What is his punishment for lying, committing perjury, cheating and doing drugs?  Will he serve jail time?  Will he have to repay all of the companies that endorsed him and paid him to represent them?  Will he need to return the millions in prize money that he "won"?

What happens to the people that came in second to him?  They were the true winners.  Do they get to sue him for cheating them out of the titles?  

He is a coward and a bully.  Why should anyone believe anything that comes out of his mouth?   His "apology" comes across as arrogant and insincere.  What is the right punishment?  I know that whatever it will be- it will not be enough.