A Bit Concerned

I moved to Central Florida about 6 months ago. It seems almost weekly since I moved I hear another sad story about a child abused, abducted or killed. I know this occurs all over but I hear a different story almost every day. My brother came to visit me from VA a few weeks ago. He is thinking of moving to FL and was researching the crime in this big city. Being from a small town, we are not really used to having crime issues. So he did research and watched the news. He made a statement several weeks ago that has stuck with me all this time. "It seems like you'll be OK in FL if you aren't a little kid. Why do they mess with kids all the time down here?!" How sad yet true. Little girls can't walk to the school bus without an attempted rape or abduction. And then there is the Caylee Anthony story. Now there is another little 5 year old girl missing. Is this happening so frequently only in FL? Or does it happen this often all over? Again, I'm from a small town so I know it didn't happen this much back home. But why does it seem all the major news stories of crime against children come from FL?

Spay Day USA

I'm a little late on this post, but this past Tuesday was Spay Day USA. The Humane Society sponsors this annual event in an effort to bring awareness and inspire people to spay or neuter their pets or even homeless ones. All over the country the Humane Society holds events and offers low cost or even free spay and neuter procedures. This is the only permanent method of birth control for animals and if you read my blog, you know about the feral cat problem that exists all over the world, not just the US. So while I may be late on my post, it is never too late to spay or neuter your cat or dog. Or even a homeless one you may come in contact with. Check out your local humane society location for more information.

Makeover!

I got a new ‘do! I am probably a hair designer’s worst nightmare. I have a ton of long, thick hair. And every few months I get bored with my style. So I go into the salon and tell the girls, “Just do something new! Something trendy.” Right. That’s all I give them to go on. Luckily, I have found a designer who knows what’s hot and trendy and what will look good on me. I met Petra Sondi at a trade show shortly after moving to Orlando. Initially, I just wanted a little change, so at the show she gave me a quick trim and added just a few layers. It was great, I loved it. It was just what I wanted. It was different yet trendy and went well with what I had to work with. But alas, a few months later the desire for something new came along. Time to call Petra at J Bauman Salon. I also had a friend come along who had an idea of how I should do my hair. So we went to see Petra, I threw out my usual “time to change line” and off we went. Even with my vague “kinda, sorta like this” statements, Petra somehow knows exactly what I’m talking about. It’s great. She studies in Europe for the latest trends and techniques along with continuing her studies here in the US. The chopping went on forever it seemed like as I watched long locks fall to the floor. And about an hour later I emerged with a great style! My hair is still long like I want, lots of layers which I love and bangs which are the all the rage. I look like a completely different person and I love it! So while Petra may dread seeing me walk in the door, I love walking in only with a want of change and no direction yet somehow leaving with a great style and a smile on my face!

Attention Proud Parents- Of the furry 4 legged children!

If you are like me and think your kids, ahm...pets, are the cutest out there and you just have to show everyone you meet their pictures, check out peoplepets.com. Its part of people.com but its just a place where you post pictures and stories about your little ones so other members can read. No real purpose here. Just showing off your pride and joy. I love taking pics of my kids and sharing them, so I thought I would share!

more animals

It's Animal Dental Care Month!

February is Animal Dental Care month, oh how fun. If you are a dog owner this shouldn't be too much of a problem. Dogs are much more receptive to brushing teeth than cats. They also have special brushes for dogs that are flavored. So while you dog is enjoying a tasty treat, you can be taking care of his oral hygiene. If you have a cat like me, its not so much fun. My cats won't stay still long enough for me to even think about looking at their teeth. I do give them a toothbrush to chew on and play with in hopes this will do some good. Not sure about that thou. For me the only real option is to take them to the vet to get their teeth cleaned. I'm not a big fan as I do not like anesthesia but I realize their oral health is more important. Other things to check for during this month, look at the food and treats you are giving your pet. Do they in any way promote dental health? One good treat recommended by vets is Greenies. My cats LOVE them and they are good for their teeth, so they get little treats everyday. Also check your pet's breath. If it is too much to handle or causes your eyes to water at the stench, perhaps you should take a trip to the vet. This could be a sign of a more serious problem. Most humans hate the dentist so I'm sure our little furry ones do too, but it is a must. The responsibility of being a pet owner, or a pet Mom in my case, is taking care of their overall well-being. And that includes their chompers!

A Big Let Down

I love trying new restaurants and occassionally new things to eat. After moving to a new state and a big city, I was so excited to try out friend's suggestions. My cousin INSISTED I try this rib place as they had the best chicken strips ever. If you know anything about me, you know I love chicken so I was stoked to try this new place. I checked it out online where the restaurant's web site again boasted the best chicken strips around. The reviews online weren't bad, said prices were decent and food portions were filling. So I went. I was excited and I was hungry. Of course I ordered the chicken strips. As I waited for the food to come, my brother and I talked about the hype of this joint. The food came, it looked great. But oh what a let down. The chicken was dry and the sauces weren't even that good. How disappointing. Maybe the cook was having a bad day, I'm not sure. But I do know I won't be going back to give it another try. What a shame. I've been hearing the hype about this place since I moved here. You MUST eat there! You've NEVER had chicken that good. Riiiight. McDonald's chicken nuggets are better. And I'm not even sure they have real chicken! So I guess my final though is this: we build ourselves up for so much, in my case chicken, and are we just setting ourselves up for disappointment? I guess maybe it could have had a different outcome at a different chain of this restaurant. And I guess I will never know. I left with my hunger satisfied - the purpose of a restaurant, but I feel somehow cheated. And a little let down.