If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, then my father-in-law and I certainly came from different galaxies. For forty years our relationship resembled a roller coaster ride with its undulating highs and lows. My touchy-feely-emotional ways and his rigid self-righteous attitude were like oil and water – existing together, but with slim chance of permanently blending. Throughout our relationship, he brought out an intensity of emotions inside of me that I never knew existed. But as I matured and gained a better understanding of his modus operandi, I suspected that his arrogance and bravado masked something deep inside of him. Early Monday morning he passed away in his sleep at the age of 90. How do I go about reconciling my feelings for this proud and highly-principled man? How do I remember a man who made me so angry I screamed or who wounded me so deeply I cried? Despite some rough times with him, my best answer is to remember him with kindness. For in the end he was just a man, a person fraught with human frailties, fears, and insecurities, like the rest of us. He was far from perfect, but I believe he did the best that he knew how.
#1 – Notes from the Universe
Every weekday morning I wake up to a “personalized” inspirational email message. Reading these messages, helps me start my day inspired and motivated. It’s a little like having a personal cheerleader. So, if you’re interested in having a little food for thought along with your breakfast every morning, check out and subscribe to Notes From The Universe.
#2 – Ways to Make Your Groceries Last Longer
Freeze and preserve fresh herbs in olive oil. From the Kitchn.com
#3 – Left Brain Vs. Right Brain
This Mercedes-Benz graphic illustrates the inherent differences between left-brained and right-brained people, but it also reflects two different approaches to life – much like the differences between my father-in-law and me. Click on the image to enlarge it.
#4 – Whose Life Is It Anyway?
If your life is not how you imagine or dream it should be, you need only look at who’s in the driver seat – you! Writer and blogger Shelli Johnson wrote a post called, “Need Permission To Follow Your Dream?” regarding her own moment of realization that she needed to take charge of own her life.
#5 – Live a Life Worth Remembering
The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.
Bruce Lee
Enjoy your weekend!
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White Chocolate Popcorn, anyone? This and other tasty edible gifts can be found via links from the blog 
One step out of the front door, one downward dour look, and one step back into the house – I could tell that no amount of coaxing was going to persuade my 14-year-old dog to go for a walk in the rain. Inside, he looked at me with pleading old eyes, as if to say, “I’m not going outside, Mom. The rain is one thing, but this silly raincoat is another! How embarrassing to be seen like this!” Even though I thought he looked cute, I relented and we headed to the backyard instead.
Humans and dogs share a special bond. This series of photos titled, 
Seeing this photo of a 
Have you ever wondered what or who provided the inspiration for some of Norman Rockwell’s paintings? Take a look at 
Isn’t it time you learned that Sharpie pens are not just for writing? Take a look at these 
Looking for an easy-to-make holiday treat? Make these cute
When we truly open our eyes to the world around us, we take down our blinders and open our hearts, too. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted about random acts of kindness, so when I saw these 
What about this? 
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