Month: September 2011

AMERICA’S SUPERNANNY NOW CASTING – TEXAS & OKLAHOMA

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Contact: Rebecca Greenberg – 323.904.4680

 rgreenberg@shedmediaus.com

AMERICA’S SUPERNANNY

NOW CASTING –

TEXAS & OKLAHOMA

Families must apply NOW for Lifetime’s all new AMERICA’S SUPERNANNY!

The well-known cable network, Lifetime, is launching the all-new unscripted series America’s SuperNanny, marking the first true U.S. version of the hit global format that will feature an American homegrown nanny. The producers of Lifetime’s parenting series AMERICA’S SUPERNANNY are currently casting families. We are sending casting teams around the country to find the next amazing families for the show. Producers want families from every type of background who are ready for the opportunity of a lifetime—a visit from America’s SuperNanny!
To be considered for the show, please email the Casting Team ASAP and provide the reason why you need help and a recent family photo. Anonymous referrals are also accepted.

Please E-mail the Casting Team directly at: rgreenberg@shedmediaus.com

This guest post is written by Rebecca Greenberg for Redemption’s Heart. No goods or services were given in exchange for this guest blog. 

Even my computer is insecure. Great.

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I saw this message when I logged on today:

You are using an insecure browser! It looks like you’re using an insecure version of Internet Explorer. Using an outdated browser makes your computer unsafe. For the best WordPress experience, please update your browser. Update Internet Explorer or learn how to browse happy.

“Learn how to browse happy.”

I love that.

It makes me wonder though. I mean what does it mean to browse unhappy?

Do web pages compare themselves to one another?

Do systems suffer from server envy?

Is a large bandwidth the result of too much sugar

or an over inflated ego?

Is Joomla a code word for ganja?

Is SQL anything like LSD?

What makes a browser insecure?

Did I not appreciate it enough?

Is sad because Google Chrome is just that much shinier?

I do have to laugh, heaven knows I’m insecure enough. Really – you should have seen me when I found out a guy I knew when I was 15 has since graduated from Yale as well as the Chicago School of  Law and is now an attorney in Utah. Suddenly my whole career achievements paled in comparison (in my imagination at least) and I turned into a blithering puddle of insecurities. It wasn’t pretty, trust me.

I was an exchange student in Sweden my junior year, which is how I met this fellow to begin with.  While I loved being there, it did hurt my overall GPA and my grades weren’t good enough in high school to get into the University of Michigan like I wanted. I wound up graduating with an Associates Degree from a local business college instead.

It does not matter that I ran my own data room by time I was 21, was a Sigma 7 Analyst for Motorola’s board of directors, trained engineers on global network optimization, or that I designed and engineered the SS7 network protocol system for the MCI/Wiltel network integrations including electronic and geographic diversity – no easy feat when you know how incestuous telecom really is. I did all of that before I turned 33, at which point I left my career to raise my family.

When presented with something I label as more prestigious than what I’ve accomplished, I crumble like bad cheese.

Unlike Internet Explorer, my upgrades to security don’t come with a click of a button, although I wish they would. Mine comes with hard work, honesty, self-realization, and hopefully a sense of humor.

How about you?

What things make you feel insecure. How do you deal with it?

This post written by Deana O’Hara for Redemption’s Heart. All rights reserved. september 29, 2011.

An Orgie of Art

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There is nothing quite like having the house pretty much to yourself for three days to create art. Well, except for the aftermath. I spent most of last week creating center pieces for the LWML Fall Festival and my kitchen looks like an agricultural Holocaust took place. Plant droppings (wisps, seeds, and various fluff) are clinging to crevices in my kitchen with the elusive power of glitter. It’ll be a while before the evidence of my artistic indulgence are thoroughly removed.

In the mean time I thought I’d show you guys some of what I did.

Here is all of them — The lines on the table are actually random wheat straw droppings and not scratches.

Candle Holders can double as vases

This one was pretty simple really. To create this look I trim a round Styrofoam ball, add moss around it and just plug in flowers and sprigs until it was full. — I know I drive people crazy when I tell them that. But that’s really what I do. I just “know” when it’s finished.

Use things from Nature. Twigs make a great visual effect by pulling the eyes upward. Sorry about the blur.
Dried Lavender, Eucalyptus and seed pods are great fall finds.
Wheat is a great addition as well. You can't tell, but the feather is really a deep teal.

With the droughts this year, wheat is not only hard to find but also expensive. My girlfriend is a consummate ditch scavenger. I am not. I bought mine at Nettleton Hollow. I totally recommend them by the way. They have a wonderful natural selection that beats out everyone else by landslide for quality, availability and price.

And that in a nutshell is how I spent last week.  Now, to clean up my mess. Until next time y’all.

Related articles

Flying Monkeys

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Does anyone remember that old saying, “Don’t make me call my flying monkeys!” ? Yeah, it’s been that kind of week. My husband is out-of-town and someone told the appliances, the dogs, and my hormones. If something isn’t breaking and I’m not hot flashing in the middle of the night, the dogs are waking me up at 3 am to tell me he isn’t home and we need to search for him NOW. Isn’t that nice of them.

I’m so sleep deprived that it’s quickly becoming one of those people are still alive because I couldn’t afford a hit man kind of weeks. Really and truly. Kinda.

From a medical perspective, I’m really not sure what my favorite part of the week was, getting the girls squished or having the angiogram. Actually I already know — the angiogram has better drugs. Even without the caffeine and nicotine, it still took three doses of  whatever it was they use plus one does of nitroglycerin to get my heart rate to 50. I only started at 70. I blacked out at some point which was entirely pleasant really. The feeling like I just wet myself sensation that comes from the dye – was not pleasant however. Such is life.

Why all the unpleasantries? Because I had an unplanned hysterectomy last year. I’d known about the mass for a while, but it wasn’t a good time — any mom’s out there know how that is? It’s never a good time for mom to go down. So I decided to deal with it later. Later turned out to be Easter Sunday when my husband rushed me to the hospital. (The mass was benign btw)

I missed out on a really awesome U2 concert because of that side trip. SO… I promised to take better care of myself going forward. I’m doing a good job actually — and while it seems like I’m going through a lot of tests right now, they are for my own good.

And that in a nutshell is why I haven’t posted this week. That plus I’m in charge of decorating for a fall fest at church on Saturday and I’ve been creating center pieces to my heart’s content this week.

I’ll be back on Monday – and in the mean time I think I will break out my Flying Monkey — it’s not the best Merlot in the world, but it works.

Have a great weekend you guys.

Lying can lead to depression

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How are you?

Just doing life. I’m fine. You?

Liar liar pants on fire!

Do you know what fine means? Feeling Insecure Neurotic and Emotional.

How many times do you or I have conversations just like that and we’re lying through our teeth? Why do we do that? Fear, Arrogance? Pride? I’m not sure. But we do.

We used to sing this camp song at school called, Going on a lion hunt.

Anyone remember the words?

Goin’ on a lion hunt.

Goin to catch a big one.
I’m not afraid.
Look, what’s up ahead?

Mud!
Can’t go over it.
Can’t go under it.
Can’t go around it.
Gotta go through it. [Make sloshing sounds and move hands as if slogging]

Life is like that sometimes. We might not intentionally go out hunting lions, but we come up on all kinds of obstacles.. and we can either wear ourselves out trying to force ourselves over, under, or around – OR we can go through it.

To tell you the truth, I’m not the best “goer through-er” kind of person. I’d rather see the issue and be over it already. I don’t like feeling raw and I don’t like the insecurity the unknown brings. Nor do I like the vulnerable feeling of letting someone else know I’m going through something hard.

Getting “over it already” is arrogant especially if I’ve minimized what’s really going on. Some life things really are hard.

Curling up and dying rather than deal with the issue is like trying to go under it. It buries you and solves nothing. I know, because I’ve been there — two years of depression. It was horrible. Thankfully – I’m out of that and far better.

Pushing it aside and trying to go around it by ignoring it doesn’t work either.

No.

The only honest approach – the one that gets any of us to the other side is to admit, “this is hard” – and then put one foot in front of the other and trust that you can and you will walk through it one day at a time.

You don’t have to be tough.

Or hold your chin up.

You can cry if you need to.

Laugh when you can.

Breathe in and out.

Stay in today.

And before you know, it’ll be tomorrow, you’ll be through it and you will be stronger.

But it all begins with telling the truth. What you find when you do that, when I do that, is people are far more understanding, helpful, loving, and compassionate than we ever imagined. By telling the truth we find our hope again and that’s a good thing.

This post written by Deana O’Hara for Redemption’s Heart. All rights reserved.

Waiting for Boaz.

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(Not mine) Seen floating around Facebook –if you are the owner of this and you see it, would you please tell me? I’d love to give you credit. Thanks.

To all the girls who are in a hurry to have a boyfriend or get married, a piece of Biblical advice: “Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz.” While you are waiting on YOUR Boaz, don’t settle for any of his relatives; Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheating-az, Dumb-az, Drunk-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, , Goodfornothing-az, Lazy-az, and especially his third cousin Beatinyo-az. Wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yoaz..

Heading for Yukon Oklahoma!

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Me with Michele VanDusen at Yukon Community Theater in 2010

Okay so it’s a little blurry but this photo is from last year’s A Funny Thing comedy night in Yukon Oklahoma. Michele and I were part of a comedy competition last year and have been asked to come back again this year. I am so stoked! Michele placed and while I did not — I’m going for it this year.

I’m new to the comedy circuit and while I felt weird starting stand up in my 40’s I’ve since discovered that I’m by no means the youngest newcomer. I met a gal in her 60’s this week starting comedy and I think that’s awesome.

I got into stand up as a way to overcome stage fright. I’ve been MCing various charity events over the years and struggle when the crowds reach over 50 people. Since doing stand up I can now speak comfortably in crowds much larger than that.

Learning stand up has made me a better speaker, a better writer, and just a lot more fun. Unless I’m trying to take your emotional temperature to assess whether or not I can joke with you, then I’m a neurotic mess. Fortunately those times are few and far between. Stand up has also given me a healthy outlet for my warped sense of humor which is definitely a good thing.

There was a time when telling jokes would terrify me and through practice, patience, time and friends who believe in me, I’ve over come that.

What fears have you faced down in your life? I’d love to hear from you.

This post written by Deana O’Hara for Redemption’s Heart. September 15 2011. All rights reserved.