Mylotsastuff.com: Not Just A New Years Resolution, A New Way Of Life!

I love my friends.  They inspire me to think outside of “the box”.  They inspire me to want to do better by simply being the change they want to see.

Want to inspire someone?  Be an inspiration.

This decade is a new beginning for us all.  We can look forward as we get older and things around us change, but we will still have our core beliefs in love, faith, hope, and spirituality.  We can rebuild relationships and create a new life for ourselves.  I wish all of us the best…everyday.

Anyhow, my Julie is witty, wise and wonderful.  She is finally taking the steps to be the change she wants to see in her own life.

Mylotsastuff.com is actually a blog and site about getting rid of your lots-of-stuff.  If you are a pack rat, like me, you attach some emotion to the things you hang onto.  The goal is to learn to still have the emotion without having so much stuff.  Trust me, it’s a process.

So, follow Julie on her personal journey to pair down two storage units and a house of stuff to just live with 100 things.  Can she do it?

Check her out here!

Julie A. ponders the life of Ghandi and his 10 worldly possessions. Can she live with just 100 things?

For 10 years, every single day, I have pondered a framed photo of Gandhi’s worldly possessions and imagined owning less than 100 things myself.

Why?That’s what I’m hoping to find out this year as I travel the absurd road between attachments and connections. In the end, my desire to do this may have nothing at all to do with the material world and everything to do with a world I have yet to discover.

My hope is that this experience will be amusing, deep, and surprising. (Though, to be honest I pretty much wish that about everything).

How Rude!: Ivana Trump Is Kicked Off Plane For Using Her Potty Mouth Toward Children

I love it!

What a way to show you’re a classy lady.  Go ahead and shoot your stupid mouth off at a bunch of children who were just a little excited about being on the plane and goodness forgive them for running into “your” space, Ivana.

Is she sick or something?  What would it have cost her to offer the kids a treat or something?  My goodness.  Who ever said that the rich and famous were never jerks?

Calm down.  Whatever you were going through, Ivana, you should have been able to control your self.  Herbal tea works wonders.

Now, parents…If you had  my book “You Suck When You’re Rude: A Guide To Traveling The Country With Courtesy“, you’d know what to do to help you and your children have a better, more passenger friendly flight.

The grandmother of one became even angrier as flight attendants tried to calm her down, allegedly rushing towards the cockpit.

When the pilot asked her to leave the New York-bound flight before take-off, the hysterical Miss Trump refused to budge.

The former Olympic skier and model, 60 …was eventually ‘physically escorted’ back to the terminal by security guards, officials said.

‘From the initial contact until Miss Trump left the property, she was saying “f*** you” to all the deputies and called the children “little f******”,’ said a police spokesman.

‘She was so belligerent towards other passengers and crew that the plane returned to the terminal.’

She had apparently started complaining as soon as she boarded the aircraft, demanding to be moved to another seat in first class.

Passenger Vincent Cone said: ‘She was swearing at the baby.

‘The reason she got so upset was the children and she started screaming, “I want to go back home”.

‘The pilots asked her to leave and she sat back down and refused to leave. Then they went and got a security guy. She kept saying, “Let go of me!”.

‘Everyone was leaning into the aisle, trying to get a good look, saying how crazy she was and how annoyed they were at how she was delaying the flight.’

Read more: via

Who Was Rude: Mary J Blige For Punching Her Hubby Or His Roving Eye?

Women do make jokes about knocking out their man if he’s checking out another woman.

“If I catch him looking at another woman I will knock his ass out…Do you hear me?”

I guess Mary J. Blige joked so much about it that she made it a reality, at least, according to the New York Post.

It’s really funny when it’s a joke, but this is just sad.

Mary J. Blige punched husband Kendu Isaacs in the face at her record release party at club M2 Tuesday night. The singer slugged Isaacs, drawing blood, after she thought he was flirting with a waitress. “She turned to him and was screaming, ‘You’re not going to ruin my night,’ ” our witness says.

Our witness relates, “She was yelling at him, ‘What are you gonna do, Chris Brown me?’ Four of her bodyguards and two of the club’s kept them apart.”

Yes, it’s MJB, but this is tacky-licious.  Why the hell would she do something like this?  Hello…In public?

What happened to having some class and taking care of your business “in-house”.

Mary J., I know that you have been through the fire and have had some tough times, but these public displays of marital discord are not becoming.

Not that I condone what he did.  Yeah, he was flirting (according to you) but there are other ways of handling matters and controlling yourself.

You said you didn’t want him ruining your night, yet it sounds like you had a hand in ruining your own evening, as well.

Who was rude?  I thinks it’s a tie.

Read more: via

Christmas Etiquette: 7 Tips On Gracious Gift Acceptance

You may think “yuck” about the gift or present you got , but don’t say it.

It’s Christmas Day and if you have presents you will open them.

I won’t get too chatty here.  You may be reading this on the way out of the door to head to a family or friends house where you will be opening gifts, keep these important etiquette tips in mind.

Gift Vs. Present: Yes, for those of you that didn’t know there was an actual…actual…actual difference, now you know.  So, what’s the difference between a gift and present?  Another blogger  wrote about this subject as well and I liked what they had to say…

It’s a subtle difference, but we give someone a present because we think they’ll benefit from it, whereas a gift is something they have expressed interest in or would like to buy on their own.

It’s not the “gift” you want, so appreciate and accept the “present”!: Does anyone really receive what they want for Christmas, unless you put your order in early with Santa?  I don’t get what I want sometimes, but I love what I get.  The handmade items, the homemade treats…whatever the gift may be.  I LOVE THEM ALL!  Be appreciative for what you have.  It’s all about your perspective.  Selfish and bratty, are you?  Drop the whine.  If you even got one gift, somebody loves you.  Thank goodness.

BTW, I have no intentions of regifting this year, but like I said before, it’s not a crime…read about that here.

Say “Thank You”: This goes without saying, even though I just said it.  Have some sincerity about it when you say it, as well.  I know a hollow, fake and forced “Thank you” when I hear one.  You do, too.

Appreciation Hug: Hugs are free and a wonderful extension of the appreciation you have for what you have received.  This only works if you are near the person and have a report with them.   I feel a hug is a show of  physical appreciation that backs up the verbal “Thank You”.

What are you going to do with it: If you have someone who was really excited about the gift or present they gave to you, then you may want share with them your intentions of using the gift.  Some people are self conscious and if you know this about them, it may ease their mind to know that the time they spent preparing your gift for you wasn’t a waste or if you received a gift card, share with them what you intend to do with the card.  Again, it may not have been something you wanted, but you can show appreciation for what you’ve received and more than likely, you can find a use for it.

“Aunt Emma, I am going to use the blanket you knitted as a new throw for my favorite reading chair.”

“Cynthia, I am going to buy a new vegan cookbook with the gift card you gave me.  Thank you.”

Thank you card, handwritten: As you know, I am a firm believer in sending actual, handwritten cards and this occasion is no exception.  Send out a “Thank You” card as a show of appreciation of the gifts and presents you received. This should be done for everyone who gave a gift/present to you.

• Here’s a way to make it cheap: Send a postcard as a casual “Thank You” card.  The stamps are .28 cents (I believe) and it gets the job done beautifully.

Next time, go 1UP…?: Next time is right.  If you received something unique that you actually like and will keep and put to good use, try to “1 Up” them next time.  It’s not a competition, but you may feel compelled to give an awsomer (if that is a real word)  gift/present than you received from them.  You don’t have to wait until Christmas, but reference the gift/present they gave you when you give yours.

Merry Christmas,

Seriously!

Alaina Reed-Hall: “227″ And “Sesame Street” Actress/Singer Loses Her Battle With Cancer

For those of you old schoolers out there, you probably remember the actress Alaina Reed-Hall as “Olivia”.

She was the funky and spunky Sesame Street resident with a songbirds voice.

She also played the down-to-earth neighbor of Marla Gibbs and Jackee Harry on the NBC show, 227.

In recent years, she has been seen in a slew of commercials.

Alaina passed away on December 17.  The news of her death traveled slowly, but now we know.  She was 63.

Via

(If you can’t view the videos below, click here and here)

Trivia: Alaina was once married to Kevin Peter Hall, who was played the Predator in the “Predator” film franchise, as well as plain big- foot in “Harry and the Hendersons”.  They were married until his death.

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A tribute video from You Tube.

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Brittany Murphy: Hollywood Has Lost A Rising Star And What We Can Learn From It

I was shocked to hear that Brittany Murphy had passed away and it was out trusted (snicker) TMZ that brought the news forward.

Fans and stars alike are mourning her loss.  I remember Brittany talking about how her mother supported her career and I found a quote about this.

Murphy credited her mother, Sharon, with being a key to her success.

 ”When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me,” Murphy said. “I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn’t stifle any of that. She always believed in me.”

Via USA Today

 Everytime someone with a high profile life (even though she was kind of low key) passes away, there’s usually a terrible feeling associated with it.  I know we all have to die, but when people die that are young, it always adds salt to the wound.

Go forward this holiday season and live…Because you still can.  You can still live to see your family and make-up with those you are fighting with.  You can call and connect with those who love you and those you love.  You can still make plans for your future and you can still take a breath and relax.  You can still eat food or order up your favorite dessert.  You are still alive, so behave that way!

Appreciate this day.  Live it up.  Brittany can’t anymore, but you can.  Do it!  Happy Holidays!

Cyrus Gone Wild: Why Is Miley Cyrus’ 9-Yr-Old Sister, Noah, Singing “Smack That”?

Lyrics:

Smack that, all on the floor
Smack that, give me some more
Smack that, till you get sore
Smack that, oooh

Smack what?

What would a young 9-year-old girl have to smack, you ask?

Nothing.  Absolutely nothing. 

But don’t tell that to Miley Cyrus and you’d never, ever think of saying it to her younger, more impressionable sister, Noah…also known as Noie.

[Can't see the video?  Click here!]

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The song is should be off limits to a girl her age.  Even though there are worse things, isn’t objectifying our young girls and then our young girls objectifying themselves is bad enough.  It’s worse than bad, especially when you have rich kids who’s parents let them do anything.

Can you honestly tell me why this is happening?  Some famous families have standards and would never allow this type of behavior on camera to be posted on the internet.  This is not funny.  It never was and I bet most of  us are wondering what the hell is going on. 

I  have had so many Miley Cyrus posts (and posts about her siblings) sometimes exibiting overtly sexual behavior with “grown ups” (Miley) that is not even funny.

 Actually, it’s gross.  How you you teach a child self respect?  By allowing them to be a child and not behave like a “grwon up” before they actually are one.

Sheep amidst the wolves, Billy Ray.

Here are the lyrics (if you want to call them that) to Akon’s “Smack That”.  Do you really want your kid repeating this stuff?

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10 Gift Ideas That Will Make You Wish You’d Thought Of Them

Here’s a personal list of things that I have given away before.  I loathe buying prepackaged forgettable junk at the store.  I love being creative and trying to create a good memory with what I give for Christmas.  Of course, these ideas can be used at any time of the year.

Keep in mind that the more practical the gift, the more flamboyant the packaging should be.  Make your gift POP!  Ribbons, bows, tissue papers everywhere!  Even using a brown kraft paper to wrap gifts has potential!

I rescue things like scarves, vintage linens, clothes and jewelry from thrift stores or resale shops.  I don’t think everything we give for Christmas has to be brand spankin’ new, but that’s where the creative part comes in.   I have some people who I do buy new things for because I know their personality and they don’t go the thrift store route.  I respect that.

I am sure you have your own fun ideas about things to give at Christmas.

You can post your ideas in the comments below.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays.

By the way:  Regifting is not a crime.  If you receive something and you want to regift it, then go for it.  Read what they do on “Boxing Day” and you’ll see for yourself.  How do you handle explaining why you don’t have the item.  I have said that I gave it to someone who could use it better than I could right now.  See, you can pay it forward.

You Suck When You're Rude By Seriously McMillan

For the reader: What an idea I came up with for a friend of mine who used to skip school.  Not to watch TV or hang out, but to read books.  How many people do you know who skip school to read books?  So, the idea is simple.  I’m throwing in a dash of vintage by going to a thrift store to get her a paper back book on the cheap.  I will wrap the book like any other gift with simple brown paper and some pretty stickers.  Then, inside the book I will write a handwritten note on handsome stationary, then slip in a $25 gift certificate (or card) for a bookstore.  You can get a gift certificate for a national retailer, but I thought it would be super cool to get a gift certificate to a book shop.

Rescue Sleepwear: I really like thrift stores and I have no problem buying things in them to give to my friends.  Now, as I said, some of your friends may be a little shocked that you chose to do this, but it really is no different than buying something for a friend that is used from Ebay.  Anyhoo, If you can find PJs sets that are in excellent condition or maybe even find them brand new at times in at the thrift store.  If not, here’s how to get creative.

• First, check out the thrift store section where the PJ’s are.  I tend to like flannel or fleece PJs.  Look for solid or pattern  for tops and bottoms.
• Get ones that at least match up within the same color ranges.  A solid top with a striped or dotted bottom.  A white PJ tops goes with any bottom.  You know what I mean.
• Buy 3 sets (If you find 3 good sets).  Three tops and three bottoms.  Take them home and give them a good wash.  Iron them according the the fabric setting and fold them nicely in a set of boxes just as you would see in a boutique or shop.
• Get out the pretty tissue wrap and line the boxes before you put in the PJ’s  for a nice touch.
• Spray them with a linen water or a fragrant body spray.  Use a small safety pin to pin on a handwritten tag:   I was rescued just for you. I can still keep you soft and warm during these cold winter night.  With love.
• You can make a tag with some stiff paper, pen or marker, hole punch and ribbon or string.
• PS: You can also do this with a robe.

Homemade Linen Water: It’s better than Febreeze and is all natural.  Invigorating and fresh.  Lightly spray on your linens.  Use as a room spray.  Always test fabric in a hidden spot so there are no permanent stains and to make sure the fabric is colorfast. You can use a clear plastic bottle or a sleek metallic one.  Make as much as you want and give it to anyone you want.  What makes this “cool” is that you can do sets.  So, try using different scents.  Popular herbal scents to use are lavender (my favorite), your favorite mint and rose.  Here’s a great recipe for linen water.
Rescue A Brooch: In this season of pea coats and savvy jackets, I can’t hint of a better way to add a simple sparkle than giving a set of brooches.  How about a set of three vintage ones from the thrift store.  Not just vintage “inspired”, go for the real vintage.  Shine them up with a bit of diluted vinegar and there you have it.  Don’t forget to make sure all the pieces are working properly and the brooches are not falling apart.  I would go overboard to make the gift box so pretty.  I have so much fun putting packages together for rescued items.  You can write on a little card a message about how the brooches were rescued just for the loved one you are giving them to.
Rescue Scarves, Pearls and Necklaces: Same idea as rescuing a brooch.  But, check the individual strands to make sure they are in good shape without broken clasps or too much wear and tear.  Quality counts.  Quantity does, too.  Get as many strands and necklaces as you like for the person.
The Writers Essentials Kit: For those of you who know writers or bloggers, heres a little kit you can put together yourself.  We writers are always using our hands in some way and we are always writing, too, so here’s a way to give a gift that give back.  I like giving things in threes, so here is the kit:

• Three journals: Nice hard cover ones.  It’s up to you to choose the binding you think the person will like the most or give a mix of leather bound, spiral bound or hard cover.  It’s buyers choice but keep the receiver in mind.
• Stationary:  I suggest personalized stationary or you can get the most plain stationary ever and purchase some cool alphabet scrapbook stickers. There are some cool scrapbook stickers out there. Grab a variety and put in a book of stamps.
• Three pens: I don’t need a fancy $50 pen.  Cool office supply pens work well.  Make sure you get the smoothest writing pens with total comfort grip in fun colors, if you like. We writers like to flow when we write and we need our pens to do the same.
• Lotion: Yes, this is the best part of the gift.  Slip in a sampler of lotions.  We are always using our hands and sometimes they need softening up. Three samples of lotion.  You can make them a fancy or plain as you like. I can’t help it, I still love the smell of baby lotion and cocoa butter lotion.  Just pick the lotions for the personality of the person.   Samplers only because they travel well with laptop users who may get dry hands.
• Comfy Socks & Slippers:  Writers (at home) put their feet up everywhere?  Right?  At least, I do.  I love having comfortable socks and slippers when I am writing posts, like this.  I am sure the writer in your life will love this, too.
• Snack pack:  Put together a low calorie snack pack.  Baked chips, grab granola bars or trail mix and juice boxes.  Everyone knows when I writer gets the munchies, we don’t wanna have to look around for a snack.  We grab and eat.

Personal Care Kits: For almost any age and as practical as you want it to be.  I have been making Care Kits for years.  The container you want to give them in is up to you.  I have used those plastic storage containers or a cheap toolbox (for boys or men) or a makeup case for women/girls.  it’s very simple.  You fill the kit with 10 items for the person and their personal care.  I like to use travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant, body spray, small loofa or washcloth for shower time, body wash, lip gloss or chap stick, razors and shaving cream (for adults), nail clippers, nail brush, nail file, hair brush, hair gel (or spray or mousse), hair pins, pony tail holders or clips, tweezers…You get the picture.  That will at least get them ready to get out the door smelling fresh.  You wanted practical, right?

Pie Dish Optional.

For The Baker Wannabe: If you know someone who aspires to prepare the most fabulous baked goods ever…start their training by teaching them what cooking from scratch is all about.  Start with baking because nothing says “I’m a baker” better than the smell of fresh baked goods in the kitchen.   This chef kit should at least have the following:  Measuring cups and spoons.  Mixing bowl and wooden spoons.  Cookbook (I loved learning to cook from scratch with a rescued edition of The Joy Of Cooking from the 1950’s).  Rolling Pin. Real restaurant apron (found at restaurant supply stores), muffin tins & baking sheet, kitchen towel and oven mit.
Extreme Essentials: GO panty crazy!  Put the sock monsters out of business!  Create a boxer collection.  I mean…Just go for it.  Practical gifts have their place and I love getting them.  This is my idea of a gift so practical, you’ll save yourself time and money because you won’t run out of them, you won’t lose them and they’ll be there when you need them.  20 pair of socks and 20 pair of undies, accompanied by a cloth laundry bag. I am serious, folks.  Hit your discount retailer or dollar store.  Now, the cloth laundry bag should be machine washable and handwritten in a fabric pen or marker are the words “Sock & Undies”.  You can handwrite it or make a fancy fabric label and sew it on.  The goal is to keep up with the undies and socks and you can toss the bag in, because it will wreak from smelly socks, every time they wash a load of the undies and socks.  For fun, toss in a sample size of a great laundry soap for the smelly socks they’ll be washing.  Hey, toss in t-shirts, too, if you like.
The Timid Traveler: A friend of mine has a brother that simply complained that he didn’t travel.  He wants to go to Europe and Asia, but he’s needed a push in the right direction.  So, she gave him $100  folded inside an application for his passport.  I say go one step beyond and create a fun passport with silly photos of him asleep and let it show that he’s traveled to places that don’t exist, like Narnia.  Also, buy a real travel etiquette guide to get him started on the path to traveling the world.

Bonus Here!

Supermodel Jodie Kidd: The One That Tiger Woods Didn’t Sleep With

Via: Dailymail.co.uk

With all the names, rumors, photos, texts, messages and videos of all of Tiger Woods’ “indiscretions”, you would hope that he didn’t take on the entire bottle blonde population.

And, he didn’t.  Yes, one got away from Tiger and maybe it wasn’t so mush of a get away.  maybe he was just preoccupied.

Nevertheless, Jodie Kidd’s name has come up into the swirls of the funnel clouds of women that Tiger may have conquered, yet she sticks to her story that she and Tiger never did more than exchange a few words to one another.

Knowing Tiger’s exotic taste in blonde models, it would have been a safe assumption that Tiger and Jodie “hit the course”, but they didn’t.

Thank goodness for her sake, right?

Former supermodel Jodie Kidd is the latest name to emerge in the Tiger Woods saga.

Last night, Miss Kidd, 31, said she was aware she had been linked with the golfer as rumours circulated that she was the British TV presenter romantically involved with him.

Miss Kidd – a former TV sports presenter – confirmed she had met Woods twice but insisted they had never been romantically involved.

She said: ‘I’m aware of the rumours going around about a British TV personality, but I can assure you it’s not me.

‘Yes, I have met Tiger on two occasions.

‘They were both golf related and he seemed very pleasant, but we probably exchanged about three words.’

via

Trashy Hoes Do Speak: Tiger Woods’ Porno Lover, Holly Sampson, Kisses and Tells

This is the most disgusting display of trashy hoe bag-ness I have ever seen.  I am sure there are worse, but I just don’t allow this stuff into my eyes.

This female, because I would never call her a woman or lady, is disgusting.  All I can think of are how many diseases she’s had and how awful she treats herself , and obviously others.  They all obviously suffer from low self esteem.  I just can’t believe that there are females that let themselves sink this low below low.

I blame Tiger, don’t get me wrong, this is just nasty.  Just plain filthy.  She is awful.  Wait, everyone in this video is awful, disrespectful and declasse…I could go on and on.

I know that people cheat in marriages for different reasons, but this is simply gross.