"Jaay’s Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies"

This chocolate chip recipe looks great. I'm not eating chocolate this month, but this recipe sure tempts me! Do you have an amazing cookie recipe to share?I have a pretty good chocolate chip recipe, but I'm always looking for new versions. I like to add a little orange zest to mine--it gives them a citrus kick.

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Couples Mud Wrestling: Better than Counseling?

Couples who mud wrestle together may become closer and happier. Should couples mud wrestle each other? The pros, the cons, and the in-betweens.Have you ever tried mud wrestling? Share your stories, good or bad.

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Banana Hangover Shake

Hungover? But you still need to function? Here's a recipe for a shake that helps the hangover symptoms go away. How do you deal with a hangover?

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Rock the Vote, Yo!

There are people out there who CAN vote, but don't. Can you believe that? My opinion is that you shouldn't complain about the government, politics, or taxes if you don't vote. If you don't voice your beliefs through a vote, I don't want to hear about it! Ready for a cliche?

If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. So, if you don't vote, you are a problem.

Here's the deal: I think we all need to rock the vote. Check out the link in the top right corner of the page. You can click on it to register to vote. Encourage someone else to register. Spread the word. Rock the vote.

I mean...why wouldn't you?

Pictures of Seattle Protests

These are some interesting pictures taken of anti-war protests in Seattle, WA. Check them out and leave comments about what YOU think. What do you think of protests? What do you think about the war between the U.S. and Iraq? Oohh...hotbox issues.

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The Truth About 100 Calorie Snack Packs

Just how healthy are these snack packs? Do they really serve as a healthy snack, or are they helping your waist band grow? This article has a pro/con list for the popular packs, plus asks for your feedback/opinion.

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White House vs. Breast Milk

The Bush administration squelched ads promoting the benefits of breast-feeding. What science the Bush administration chooses to stifle or promote seems to be a matter of politics and economics. Numerous studies suggest that breast milk protects infants from developing certain illnesses and that formula-feeding increases their health risks.This is just another ridiculous move from the federal government! Why is it that profit wins over health and well-being? If you think about, not only are baby formula companies profiting, but so are pharmaceutical companies because these babies will end up with health problems later!Anyway, read the article and tell me what you think (leave a comment here).

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Should You Keep Pictures of Your Ex?

Advice on whether or not it is okay to keep pictures of your ex when in a new relationship. Author asks for your opinion and feedback, as well.

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Hecka Haiku!

Even if you aren't so super into writing...or maybe you don't consider yourself a poet...come have some fun! There's a new Haiku compilation you would, could, should add to!

Check it out here. Yes, click here, or there, or everywhere.

Do you Haiku?

You should Haiku.

Everyone is doing it.

Why don't you?

Sniffle, Cough--Beat the Cold

I wish I could beat those darn colds...but, there really aren't any cures, just symptom suppressants. I don't like any of the over-the-counter, so-called remedies out there. Part of me thinks my body needs to get the rest, so why fake it out with pretend medicine that makes me think I feel better when I'm still sick?
However...if I can't breathe, my throat is killing me, my nose is clogged to the point of exploding--I need some help! There are many natural remedies, but this tea is my favorite.
Click HERE to read more about it. (Garlic, ginger, and honey, oh my!)

Should Women Change Their Names?

Here's a blanket assumption (referring to women who change their names after marriage):

I've got news for you, girls. If you let him stamp his name on you, he is boss.

But, is this true? My answer: NO! Not always.

It always comes back to choice. First of all, a man is not stamping his name on me if I choose to take his last name. Also, it isn't as though I'm just taking his name--it is his family's name. However, if there is no decision making process going on, there really is no choice in the matter.

I think there are some major reasons why women should not change their name.

The Top Reasons Women Shouldn't Change Their Names:

1. Because everyone does it.
2. Because my husband/fiance wants me to.
3. Because I belong to him.

The Top Reasons Women Should Change Their Names:

1. Because I want to.
2. Because we decided it should be our family name.
3. Because I made this choice.

I didn't change my name to my husband's family name until after we had been married for two years. Before I made the decision to do it, my husband and I had a long talk about it. I didn't want to do it because it was traditional or because other people thought I should. Part of me wanted us to have the same last name so it could be easier for our children (I know to many hyphenated kids...or kids with a different last name from one of their parents, although both parents are married to each other).

I told my husband we had three choices: 1) I can take his last name; 2) He can take my last name; or 3) We can take a name together.

Well, neither of us wanted to choose a new last name. And, my last name became legally hyphenated when I was 18 (not by my choice), so I really liked the idea that I could choose my last name. I no longer wanted a hyphenated name--there is so much confusion in society when you have two last names joined together. What really made it easier for me to decide to use my husband's last name was that he agreed to consider changing his name to mine. The fact that we had a discussion about it and he was willing to consider changing his name as well really meant a lot to me.

Who knows? If I had a last name I wanted to keep or he had an awful last name or we both wanted to use a different family name, our choice might have been different.

But, as long as choice is involved, it is okay to change your last name when you get married.

No man has ever put a stamp on me. No man is my boss. No man owns me. I'm not cattle. I'm a woman with a mind of her own and I make my own life choices.

Live Longer, Have More Sex

Interesting article: As we age, sex is still fact of life, study says

The article is about a survey done on older age groups about their sex lives. Near the end of the article, they talk about how there are drugs now to treat sexual disfunction in men, but none for women. Now, is this really surprising? Hm...who has the power and the money? Men. Of course they are thinking about themselves when it comes to sex.
Okay, I'm not really that pessimistic, I am woman, hear me roar. But, it isn't surprising. Which is sad because we live in a time when this sort of thing is silly. Women's health and sexual practices should be getting the same amount of play as men. I mean, come on: unless the men are into other men, they need women to have sex with. It only follows that they should want women to have healthy sexual appetites too. Right?

Maybe they are scared. Women may become unstoppable if we can have true sexual freedom.

Wait, what the hell is sexual freedom anyway? If it isn't lack of time, lack of desire, lack of sexual funtionality, it is some crazy ass, life altering disease keeping us all from true sexual freedom.
Or, maybe just those little things called morals.
Whatever, the article is interesting. I'm happy to know that I'll be a grandma (maybe great-grandma) doing the wild thing! Retirement will have its benefits.

Top News Sources Misspell

These are some great (or gross) examples of some of our top news sources misspelling and/or using incorrect grammar.

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Exercise Plus Coffee May Ward Off Skin Cancer

Although it isn't definitive (but really, what is?), research shows that caffeine and exercise help fight skin cancer. Keep wearing that sunblock, but also go for a run and drink an extra cup of coffee.Anyway, check out the article--it's interesting.

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And...read this article if you want to learn about how Seattle is booming with sexpresso stands. That's right: get a good eyeful of cleavage when you order that healthy cup of coffee.

Man Drives 1300 miles to Burn Down Guy's Trailer in Online Feud

A Navy man who got mad when someone mocked him as a "nerd" over the Internet climbed into his car and drove 1,300 miles from Virginia to Texas to teach the other guy a lesson.This is like road rage on technological steroids. Chalk up another victory for those good old navy boys.

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Women Don't Really Talk More than Men

A new study reveals that men and women speak the same amount of words each day, negating the common idea that women talk more than men. "...LaFrance believes that prevailing notions of the "female chatterbox" have cultural and political roots based in sexism."

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Writing is like...

...a kitten who jumps on the counter.
The more he jumps
the better he becomes,
the higher and further he goes.
He grows, learns, practices
until he makes a clean jump,
a whur of fur and claws,
floor to counter to the highest spot of all:
on top of the fridge.

Wish I could be a kitten.

Cats, Humans Share Ancient Bond

It seems that cats chose to domesticate themselves--and, humans adapted to it. As well, cats have been domesticated since humans began farming and building civilizations. These furry creatures seem to seek out human interaction.

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Stacie's Top Ten Books

I tore my brain apart trying to figure out what my top ten most influential on my life books are.

Wooh. Long sentence.

But, there are so many great books it was difficult to choose. I ended up creating a list not of the best--or most influential--ten books, but ten of many great books.

Check out:

Stacie's Ten Book Choices

Healthy Fast Food?

Okay, so Michal (my lovely husband) has been craving fast food a lot lately. He also needs to gain a bit of weight. He doesn't want to eat a ton of fast food because it isn't healthy, but he doesn't think there is anything wrong with fulfilling his craving once in a while. I figure it doesn't hurt him if the rest of his meals are healthy. It isn't like he eats it once a day, or even once a week. I think he could gain weight healthier with better foods than fast food.
I, on the other hand, can go a very long time without eating any fast food. It is probably easier for me because I don't eat meat. I don't mind nibbling on french fries once in awhile, but that's about the extent of it.
There are times, for convenience (busy schedule, traveling, etc.) or to fulfill a craving, when we end up at fast food restaurants. So, I figured it would be a good idea to learn about making healthy choices when eating fast food--especially if you do it often.
Click Here to Read More About: Healthy Choices at Fast Food Joints
Even if you don't eat fast food, you might find yourself passing these tips on to other people who do.

Help Find Madeleine McCann

Check out this link for more info!

http://hubpages.com/_zstaciez/hub/Help_Find_Madeleine_McCann

I hope she is found safe and sound, but until then: check out her photo and report it immediately if you see anyone resembling this child.

To the First-Born Go the Smarts - Forbes.com

Research shows that higher IQ is determined by birth order, not genetics. The study shows that even when the first born child dies, the second born (raised as the eldest) has the higher IQ. The research strongly suggests that IQ levels are based on social birth order, rather than biological and genetic factors.

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This article is interesting. Maybe because I'm the first born? Ha. Really though, if you think about it, it kind of makes sense. The first born not only learns from parents and on his/her own, but also learns how to teach to a younger sibling. I bet the first born learns so much from teaching.

Schrute Bucks!!

Digg if you saw the office finale. Print out your own Schrute Bucks! If you get 1000 you get an extra 5 minutes for lunch.


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Seriously love The Office! I'm printing out the Schrute Bucks and distributing them around my office--it will at least make me smile when I see these things with Dwight's huge head on them!

Why Do I Write?

The thought of being published is so far from my thoughts right now—or so I like to tell myself. Being published is a dream that always floats around somewhere in my mind. But I honestly don’t know what it means to be published. I don’t believe I ever thought it would make writing, or life in general, easier. As a published writer I would feel entitled to more credibility when telling people I’m a writer. Maybe it will be a way to support myself financially. But the day I realized writing isn’t as easy as most people think I lost all thoughts of being published as a perfect world.

Writing is about me being me. It is about self-exploration and healing and therapy. It is about doing something I love and filling up a place inside that is empty when I don’t write. It is about setting a goal for myself and accomplishing it. Writing is my daily trip to church—my affirmation that I am entitled to a spot in the world, that my life is meaningful. Writing is my daily trip to a therapist who listens without judging, who lets me beat her up or ramble on and on, who leads me to telling the truth. Writing is the one sure thing I have in life. No matter what, I can always write. It will always be there for me and nobody can take it away.

But sometimes it is about other stuff. It is also about having power and being able to reveal secrets. I would love to publish stories about my childhood so I can say: “See? You shouldn’t have done those things. You thought I was a helpless child you can control. You were wrong. Who has the power now?” Except my power won’t be with rules or punishments or violence, but with telling the truth. Sometimes my dream of being published is so I can speak up for those who can’t—to let the voices of the silenced be heard. And when I write all of this and think about it, I realize that I’m going to write everyday, one day at a time, for me. Because I need it. Because I want it.

FITTING ROOM SAFARI

Sized fourteen woman—shops in an exotic land,
a jungle. She eyes the belted waistbands
of size ten tiger striped pants with desire;
snakishly long dresses, tags say six, require
tucked in stomachs, bellies must not expand.
Then, the perfect tube top. Imagine suntanned
shoulders, iced coconut and rum, soft sand.
Size two, bright as a parrot, the entire
top perfectly fits—her arm, sized fourteen.
She searches racks and shelves for contraband.
The saleswoman, size four, doesn’t understand,
but directs her to elephant racks of sapphire
and neon orange striped muu muu type attire.
Full bodied, empty handed, she finds the foodstand.
One salad, size two, please. The price? Size fourteen.