I’m having a slow morning. Can’t think of anything to write or recommend — in fact, I’m kind of on an anti-shopping kick right now. I read a quote yesterday something about ‘everything I have is all I need’ and I couldn’t help but agree. Since I don’t have any good shopping to recommend, I figured I’d share with you a line from a funny article from one of my favorite writers, Pam Houston (you know, author of Cowboys Are My Weakness and Sight Hound, to name just two books), from this month’s Women’s Adventure magazine. There were a couple of passages so funny that I had to read them out loud to my husband (apparently men can also enjoy women’s adventures, well, at least I think he did!). One of my favorite lines from the article is, “What treatment naturally follows an exorcism in a health-and-wellness plan?” You simply must read Pam Houston’s past articles here. I don’t think the current one is available but probably will be after the next issue is published. I think I would really like her sidekick, Cindy. If you’re interested in the mag, you can subscribe here. Don’t forget to check out the giveaways here, too!

Hooray! Two new magazines being published and I like the looks of both of them. Let’s hope the STITCH magazine from Quilting Arts can stay fresh (the other magazines looked a bit old fashioned to me but this Stitch one has potential - I’m definitely going to check it out!). 10% discount on this subscription if you order soon.

Another new magazine: Women’s Running. Can’t wait to check this one out, too! I just love to flip through magazines - snippets of info you can keep one in the car without getting the least bit upset when it’s crumpled and smashed by kids and/or dogs. FREE (actually cute) t-shirt when you subscribe.

Okay, so only one of them is mine. The jumping dog is Marcie (our neighbor’s dog is named after the Snoopy character). We kind of claim her, too, as Cole has taken care of her almost daily since she was just a puppy. Daisy: I do love her. Even if I didn’t touch her for the entire 9 months of my last pregnancy and she has now been banned from the master bedroom since my allergies flared (with said pregnancy). I do know that she is spoiled, however, because other dogs are not even allowed in the house (gasp!). Perfectly beautiful dogs. I do not think I will ever have enough restraint to enforce that. I am a doormat for dogs. Daisy spent the weekend frolicking in the wild and when I was getting ready for my run this morning - with baby and stroller and happy to go sans dog - she looked at me so expectantly that I gave in almost instantaneously. I couldn’t help it. She was so perfectly excited for the run that I was not nearly as excited for - I could not deny her.

I put the pic of Jack in. He’s not a dog but I love him, too (just in case any of you wondered about that!).

What a great idea! I had another post prepared for today but ran across this news item this morning and thought it was worth sharing. Time to clean out closets and gather up shoes - now that I know what to do with them! I know my kids, especially, grow out of shoes quickly. This is even better than donating those old shoes to Goodwill. Of course the rattiest ones should go in the trash but those that have just lost their cushioning for high impact running (as mine do) would be great to donate (since they’re still in great shape for everyday wear). The article here gives many other resources, too, such as shoe recycling by Nike. Check it out!

…is not coming to my home anytime this year. This afternoon, Don came back from a business trip to Houston. He hasn’t traveled for work in about 7 years so I was completely unused to the 24/7 single mommy routine. I went to Target for milk with all 4 boys the other night (quite late which I try to never do with kids) and came home with probably $100 worth of items - most of which was chocolate. When will I ever learn that doesn’t solve anything? Surprisingly enough there was no chocolate left anywhere in the house today - I was sure to share with my four chocoholics. Who invented Cocovia chocolate? I’d like to go back in time and erase that invention. I think it’s the Dove chocolate people - way too creamy. Plus Chocolove candy bars. Why did there have to be a clearance sign over by the chocolate candy??? Also, cereal was eaten for many meals. Hardly any vegetables in sight. All the rules were broken. Good thing he only travels once every 7 years or so or we’d be in serious health trouble. We’re going to have veggies with every meal from now on just to make up for it. In my defense, at least $20 was actually for milk and another $20 went to Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith DVD so there couldn’t have been more than $60 in chocolate! Oh, my, that sounds even worse…I’d better give up now. How much running will it take to burn off this week? I don’t even want to know although I probably need the stress relief. I think a good, long run is in order for the morning. Perhaps I really should buy those socks that have “Run. Chocolate. Repeat.” embroidered on them. They sound right up my alley…