April Fools' Day Pranks

Maybe you'll find inspiration to play a prank on someone tomorrow. 

#1: The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest

1957: The respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of viewers were taken in. Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow their own spaghetti tree. To this the BBC diplomatically replied, "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."

#2: Instant Color TV

1962: In 1962 there was only one tv channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white. The station's technical expert, Kjell Stensson, appeared on the news to announce that, thanks to a new technology, viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception. All they had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their tv screen. Stensson proceeded to demonstrate the process. Thousands of people were taken in. Regular color broadcasts only commenced in Sweden on April 1, 1970.

#3: The Taco Liberty Bell

1996: The Taco Bell Corporation announced it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens called the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. Their nerves were only calmed when Taco Bell revealed, a few hours later, that it was all a practical joke. The best line of the day came when White House press secretary Mike McCurry was asked about the sale. Thinking on his feet, he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold. It would now be known, he said, as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.


#4: The Left-Handed Whopper
1998: Burger King published a full page advertisement in USA Today announcing the introduction of a new item to their menu: a "Left-Handed Whopper" specially designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans. According to the advertisement, the new whopper included the same ingredients as the original Whopper (lettuce, tomato, hamburger patty, etc.), but all the condiments were rotated 180 degrees for the benefit of their left-handed customers. The following day Burger King issued a follow-up release revealing that although the Left-Handed Whopper was a hoax, thousands of customers had gone into restaurants to request the new sandwich. Simultaneously, according to the press release, "many others requested their own 'right handed' version."

#5: UFO Lands in London

1989: On March 31, 1989 thousands of motorists driving on the highway outside London looked up in the air to see a glowing flying saucer descending on their city. Many of them pulled to the side of the road to watch the bizarre craft float through the air. The saucer finally landed in a field on the outskirts of London where local residents immediately called the police to warn them of an alien invasion. Soon the police arrived on the scene, and one brave officer approached the craft with his truncheon extended before him. When a door in the craft popped open, and a small, silver-suited figure emerged, the policeman ran in the opposite direction. The saucer turned out to be a hot-air balloon that had been specially built to look like a UFO by Richard Branson, the 36-year-old chairman of Virgin Records. The stunt combined his passion for ballooning with his love of pranks. His plan was to land the craft in London's Hyde Park on April 1. Unfortunately, the wind blew him off course, and he was forced to land a day early in the wrong location.


#6: Flying Penguins
2008: The BBC announced that camera crews filming near the Antarctic for its natural history series Miracles of Evolution had captured footage of Adélie penguins taking to the air. It even offered a video clip of these flying penguins, which became one of the most viewed videos on the internet. Presenter Terry Jones explained that, instead of huddling together to endure the Antarctic winter, these penguins took to the air and flew thousands of miles to the rainforests of South America where they "spend the winter basking in the tropical sun." A follow-up video explained how the BBC created the special effects of the flying penguins.

#7: The Skyforest Orange-Bearing Pine Trees

1950: Motorists driving along the scenic Rim of the World highway near Lake Arrowhead in Southern California discovered that the pine and cedar trees lining the road had all grown oranges overnight. The transformation was the work of the residents of the nearby town of Skyforest, led by the cartoonist Frank Adams. They had crept out during the night and strung 50,000 oranges in the trees along a one-mile section of the highway. The fruit was left over from the recent National Orange Show in San Bernardino.


#8: Drunk Driving on the Internet
1994: An article by John Dvorak in PC Computing magazine described a bill going through Congress that would make it illegal to use the internet while drunk, or to discuss sexual matters over a public network. The bill was supposedly numbered 040194 (i.e. 04/01/94), and the contact person was listed as Lirpa Sloof (April Fools backwards). The article said that the FBI was going to use the bill to tap the phone line of anyone who "uses or abuses alcohol" while accessing the internet. Passage of the bill was felt to be certain because "Who wants to come out and support drunkenness and computer sex?" The article offered this explanation for the origin of the bill: "The moniker 'Information Highway' itself seems to be responsible for SB 040194... I know how silly this sounds, but Congress apparently thinks being drunk on a highway is bad no matter what kind of highway it is." The article generated so many outraged phone calls to Congress that Senator Edward Kennedy's office had to release an official denial of the rumor that he was a sponsor of the bill.


#9: The Great Comic Strip Switcheroonie
1997: Comic strip fans opened their papers on April 1, 1997 and discovered their favorite strips looked different. Not only that, but in many cases characters from other strips popped up out of place. The reason for the chaos was the Great Comics Switcheroonie. Forty-six comic-strip artists conspired to pen each other's strips for the day. For instance, Scott Adams of Dilbert took over Family Circus by Bil Keane, where he added a touch of corporate cynicism to the family-themed strip by having the mother tell her kid to "work cuter, not harder." Jim Davis of Garfield took over Blondie, which allowed him to show his famous overweight cat eating one of Dagwood's sandwiches. The stunt was masterminded by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott, creators of the Baby Blues comic strip. When asked why he participated, Scott Adams noted, "You don't get that many chances to tunnel under the fence."

#10: Viagra for Hamsters

In 2000 The Independent reported that Florida researchers had developed a Viagra-like pill to treat sexually frustrated pets, including hamsters. Veterinarians were said to have greeted the news with derision, but the article pointed out that there are few things as sad as a pet suffering from feelings of sexual inadequacy, noting that "It's not unknown for a guinea pig to sit in its cage thinking, 'I haven't had sex for months. Am I so unattractive?'." Owners were instructed to simply grind the pills up and sprinkle them in the pet's food. Laying some newspaper down on the floor once the pills began to take effect was also advised. The pills were to be marketed under the brand name Feralmone.


#11 - Fart Spray

It looks like a can of air freshener…but it is far from it! It's Fart Spray, and words cannot describe the disgusting and awful smell that is released when you spray this can. They don't call it Fart Spray for nothing!

#12 - 3 Snakes in a Can
 When one snake just won't do, try this can of King "mixed nuts." When your unsuspecting pal lifts the lid to sample the salty fare, they'll get a shock in triplicate. Three wire and plastic snakes fly from the can with such force, even people expecting it are surprised. There's a reason this classic is still around: It still works! So reach back a few decades and rediscover a gag that's still got a lot of miles on it.

#13 - Itching Powder
Itching powder is a great way to quickly and effectively get back at people who are just plain annoying. Simply take some itching powder, inconspicuously sprinkle it down some annoying person's shirt, and stand back to watch them scratch like crazy!

Wellness Wednesday Week Five

Total Weightloss - 12 pounds
     One of the main reasons people give up on diets is things don't happen fast enough. Realistically, there are many things of which determine your success. Just because I've made the decision to live a healthier lifestyle doesn't mean I'll suddenly be thin.
     It's a lot of hard work. Living with a disability is difficult to say the least. Unfortunately, by gaining so much extra weight my body is rebelling. Swelling is a huge problem for me. Yes, I've lost 12 pounds, but I still have this issue to contend with.
     I've tried to do a simple routine each day but, but my body isn't allowing me to do this.  I have a hard time sitting for too long, but standing isn't an option for any length of time either.  So what am I to do?  This would be the point I'd normally give up, sink into depression, and eat...and eat...and eat. 
     Thank God my newfound determination is not letting me do this.

     I remember, every time I talk to my doctor about my situation, she asks the same question. 

  "Are you walking?"

      I can't go out on my own for a walk. It's just too painful right now. I'd be afraid to get so far, and not have it in me to walk back. I don't have a treadmill, or a gym, or a swimming pool...  
     I do have floor space, I do have the motor skills, so why not work with what I have?
     I have a 3 inch high step, it's actually supposed to be used in the bathroom, and has a rubber mat like texture on the top of it. to prevent slipping. I put it down on my living room carpet and there is no chance it is going to slide out from under me. 
     Every morning after the girls leave for school, I will turn on my music, and walk. I don't want to overdo it and end up on the couch recovering for days, so for two weeks I will do this for ten minutes every day. Five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night, stepping up and back down repetitively using my step. 

     I'm sure some of you think five minutes isn't going to do anything. I look at it as forming a healthy habit. I'll add five minutes every two weeks. If I find my endurance level increasing, I'll challenge myself accordingly. Once I  have built up the stamina and strength, it will be time to take my morning walks outside. I'll start slow, a walk around the apartment parking lot. Right now, there wouldn't be a hope in hell of me doing this, but it's my goal. 
I will succeed. 


Until next week, be healthy & happy. 

Earth Hour

Today, Saturday, March 26^th at 8:30 lights will switch off around the globe. Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney Australia when over 2 million people and more than 2000 businesses turned their lights out for one hour in a stand   against climate change.  A year later it became a global movement with over 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Landmarks such as Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Coliseum take part, standing in total darkness for one hour as a symbol of hope. 
 So what will you be doing during Earth Hour?




If you have a significant other it offers the perfect opportunity for a little romance by candlelight.

 Even if you have kids you can make Earth Hour fun. When my kids were younger they were always fascinated by candle light. Why not light a few candles and tell some ghost stories, or spread open a blanket on your living room floor with a pre-made picnic lunch. What a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time with your family.
I hope you take the time to participate. It’s only for an hour, and it shows how much you care about our world. 
 More Info HERE

Elizabeth Taylor

Thursday Thirteen

Rest In Peace Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was well known for her career in movies, her many husbands, but most of all her beauty.

1- Legendary Hollywood actress and violet-eyed beauty Elizabeth Taylor, who captured hearts in “National Velvet” to launch a film career that spanned five decades, has died aged 79
2- She first married hotel heir Conrad "Nicky" Hilton in 1950, but their marriage only lasted nine months.
3- In 1952, she married actor and second husband Michael Wilding, with whom she had her first two children.


4- Jan 6th, 1953 This is one of the first pictures of Elizabeth Taylor with son Michael Howard Wilding, son of Taylor and English actor Michael Wilding.

5- Just a few months after divorcing Wilding, Taylor married the man she called her first true love - Hollywood producer Mike Todd. After only 13 months of marriage, Taylor's third husband was killed in a plane crash in New Mexico.

6- While mourning Todd's death, Elizabeth turned to his good friend, singer Eddie Fisher, for comfort. Their new relationship blossomed even though Fisher was already married to Elizabeth's good friend Debbie Reynolds. Taylor and Fisher married in 1959 and divorced five years later.

7- Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet.

8- While filming 1963's "Cleopatra," Taylor met Richard Burton, the man who would become the second great love of her life. The pair met when Taylor was married to Eddie Fisher and Burton was married to wife Sybil Williams.
I think I will remember her most for this role. She is stunning as Cleopatra.

9- After Burton and Taylor divorced their respective spouses, they wed on March 15, 1964. They divorced in 1974 and remarried again in 1975 - later divorcing again the following year.
                                                                                                                                                                    

10- The pair starred in 11 films together, including 1966's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" for which Taylor won an Oscar.

 11- In 1976, Taylor married her sixth husband, politician John W. Warner, whom the actress helped in his 1978 campaign for the U.S. Senate. They divorced in 1982.

12- In 1990, Taylor met her last husband, Larry Fortensky, who was only 37. The pair met while both undergoing treatment at the Betty Ford Center. Taylor and Fortensky married in October 1991 at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, in Santa Barbara, Calif. In August 1995, the pair announced a trial separation and divorced in February 1996.

13- We will always remember...

Wellness Wednesday Week Four

Total Weight Loss = 12 pounds

I'm actually pretty surprised I lost any weight as I fell off the wagon on a couple of occasions. Night time snacking is still my downfall, especially with teenagers in the house. The great thing about trying to lose weight is you can't start fresh the next day. No sense beating yourself up about being human. 

I am really looking forward to nicer weather so I can get outside more. I've definitely had enough of staying indoors. It's time for it to warm up out there. I've added Popscicles to my grocery list. When I'm craving sweets, these do the trick for me. At 40 calories each I can even feel like I'm cheating and have two *wink

I'm sorry this isn't a longer post, but I've been writing like a mad woman the past week or so. I hope to have my next Elle Laudan book ready for submission by April 1st. 

So, it's after midnight here in Southern Ontario. 

It's time for this chick to say good night. 

Until next time, 

Be Healthy & Happy. 

Please stop by my new found friend, Rogues blog as she participates in Wellness Wednesday.Do you want to join us? 

Sample Sunday - 03-20-11

Welcome to My Blog and Sample Sunday

Blurb:
Lizzy would give it all back just to hear her mother's voice one more time... the house, the furniture...even the money. Regardless, her heartless stepfather is determined to take what he feels is rightfully his. Handyman, Adam Woodward rides into Lizzy's life and vows to keep her safe, but is it enough to stop the cold, callous determination of Ben Stokes?

Having read Iron Horse Rider, and now In Your Eyes, this reader will be waiting with great expectation for more biker stories to come from a very talented author. ~ Night Owl Reviews

 Excerpt:

                  Lizzy tossed and turned all night long. Images of Ben stumbling up the stairs, drunk, kept her awake. At four in the morning, she decided not to spend one more night in his house. 

       Even if it meant keeping all of her things packed until they were finished painting her cottage. Sleeping on the floor was a much more appealing option than jumping out of her skin at the slightest sounds. It’s just a matter of time before he comes back. He made it crystal clear that I’m not welcome here anymore. 

          In the wee hours of the morning, she moved all of the boxes she’d backed out onto the front porch. Lizzy took extra care to go over every inch of the farmhouse. Adam would have to help her with the furniture. 

          The bed her mother shared with Ben could go out with the garbage for all she cared. She stripped her mother’s quilt and a set of hand-embroidered pillowcases from the bed. For as long as she could remember, the china cabinet had been a part of their decor. Her mother used to spend Saturday mornings polishing the innate wood scrolling along the sides. Despite how beautiful the piece was, there was no way it would fit in her tiny cottage. She’d noticed the crude shelves where Edi displayed all of her good china.

          Someone had taken the time to cut and stain long planks of wood and bracketed them to the wall. Hopefully she’d accept the cabinet from her; she’d hate to have to leave it behind. Ben wasn’t the type to appreciate the beauty of its craftsmanship and would probably sell it for booze money.

                     She took in all that she had accomplished. Stacks of boxes filled the once empty hallway. Next to the front door, her trusted friend sat on a chair, and she crossed the distance to pick up her guitar. Lizzy walked outside and sat on the swing. With her eyes closed, she played a Gaelic tune from her childhood. Near the end of the song, she opened them to find Adam leaning back in the seat of his truck with his own eyes shut, seemingly lost in thought or asleep.

                     Adam jumped, banging his knees on the steering column. “Shit!” His cheeks turned red.Lizzy giggled behind her hand. “I’m so sorry,” giggles riddled her voice, “I seem to have made a habit of startling you.” 

                     He climbed out of the truck sporting a lopsided grin and stopped at the bottom of the steps. “Good Morning, Lizzy. What’s with all of the boxes?”

          “I can’t spend another night in this place.” A sense of urgency quickened her pulse. “I know it’s a lot to ask…”

          Adam raised his hand. “Say no more.” He began loading boxes into the truck without question.

          “You’re the best, Adam,” she shouted out from behind a pile of boxes.

          In very little time, the truck was filled to capacity. They’d still have to come back for another load. 

          Lizzy quietly prayed, “Just one more hour…that’s all I ask. Keep him away for just one more hour…”

          She chattered nervously the entire drive to the cottage. Although Adam nodded at the appropriate times, he seemed preoccupied. They reached the cottage, and he stood behind Lizzy. She squealed and spun around to face him.

          “How? When…?” she screamed.

          “About four this morning,” he laughed, “I had some paint left over from different jobs—no b-big deal.”

          “No big deal?” Lizzy threw her arms around him. Guilt tapped at her conscience. “It is a very big deal! How can I ever thank you?”

          “I-I’m glad you like it,” he stammered, flustered at the sudden display of affection.

          Lizzy laughed and ran back inside the cottage. She twirled around the freshly painted room. “I couldn’t have picked nicer colors if I’d chosen them myself.” She dropped to her knees and ran a hand over the shiny hardwood floors. “I can’t believe you did this all alone!”

           “Well let’s get those boxes in here and go and get the last load of your stuff."

          Lizzy rubbed at her eyes and stood. “Of course, you’re right.” Heat flooded her face. “You must think I am so silly.” 

        “Not at all, Lizzy. I’m very happy you’re so pleased.” 

       In record time, they stacked the boxes in the center of the room away from the fresh paint. Minutes later, they drove back to get the last of her belongings. Luckily, they were able to load all of her furniture and a few odd boxes on the truck without incident. 

       “What about this?” Adam pointed at the china cabinet in the hall.

        “It was my mother’s,” she explained. “I really don’t have room for it. Do you think your Ma would want it?”

       “You’re kidding? She’d flip her lid—are you sure?” 

       “Very sure!” She smiled. “Why don’t we move it out on the porch? You’ll have to come back and get it, okay?” 

        “We’ll unload this, and I’ll come back. I don’t think we should leave it here for too long.”

        “You’re probably right. I imagine Ben isn’t going to be too happy when he decides to come home.”  

        A mixture of emotions swam around in her head as she looked back at the old farmhouse. Not every memory of the farmhouse was tainted by Ben’s callousness. There were a lot of good times with her mother she’d carry in a special place in her heart forever. Memories of Ben’s anger and foul mouth she swore to leave behind.

       As Adam parked the truck, she could no longer contain her excitement. She laughed loudly, staring at the cottage she now owned. However, a small part of her couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about the lengths to which Adam went to paint and save her the expense. She had more than enough money to buy paint.

        One day I’ll make it up to him. For now, it’s best to keep up the façade. The last thing I need is for Ben to find out about the money. A couple of half-truths and well kept secrets were a small price to pay to keep his filthy paws from her inheritance.

       Adam set down the last box, leaned against the open kitchen doorway, and wiped his brow on the sleeve of his tshirt. “I’d better be heading back to the farmhouse to get the cabinet.” 

       Lizzy rose up on her tiptoes to hug him. “Be careful,” she whispered and kissed his earlobe before realizing she’d done it. He sucked in an abrupt breath.

       “Lizzy,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. He held her back just far enough to gaze deeply into her eyes. The depth of sincerity she saw in his gaze excited her and made her heart thump madly. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked. 

       Every nerve ending in her body prickled under the intensity of his words. Never had she felt so aware of her body and the affect he had on it. 

     

       Adam placed his lips on her forehead, lingering longer than necessary. He pulled back abruptly. “I better go.” 

       Lizzy thoroughly enjoyed the newfound power of her sexuality. “If you think it’s best.” Her smile broadened as he jogged over to his truck. He cleared his throat noisily as he slid in behind the steering wheel and turned the key in the ignition. Adam pulled away from the cottage without looking back. 

       “Wait!” She jumped down the front steps, waving madly at him from the side of the road. She watched the brake lights come on and ran up the road to his driver’s window. “I can’t believe I forgot Slomo.” Her words came out in short, breathy spurts. “Can you bring her back with you?” 

       “Slomo?” 

       Lizzy laughed. “My cat. You’ll probably find her hiding out in my bedroom. The poor girl is probably wondering what’s going on.” 

       “What color is she?” 

       “A big ol’ fur ball of orange and white.” Worry creased her brow. “Maybe I should come with you.” 

       “I’m sure I can handle it.” 

       Lizzy patted his hand. “Okay.” 

       As soon as his taillights disappeared around the bend, Lizzy ran back to the cottage and stepped inside. 

       “Look, Mama,” she cried, hugging herself while turning around in a complete circle. “I’m going to be okay. I hope you’re pleased.”

       Lizzy sensed her approval. The sun shone through the window, reminiscent of the warmth she felt whenever her mother had entered a room. No way would I have been able to accomplish all of this without Adam’s help. How am I ever going to thank him enough? 

       Luckily, she’d written on each box. She easily found the one marked KITCHEN and hoped to find  everything she needed to put on a pot of tea for Adam. It was a small gesture, but she hoped he saw how much she appreciated everything he’d done for her and how much he’d come to mean to her. 

I hope you enjoyed this sample of, 'In Your Eyes'

Thank you for stopping by.

Available in Ebook & Print 

I invite you to visit my website and sign up for my quarterly Newsletter. I'm always giving something away to my subscribers. 
In Your Eyes is also featured in The Indie Spotlight, where you will find another excerpt.
For more samples by some talented authors, type in #SampleSunday in the search bar on Twitter. 

Wishing you Miles of Smiles :) 

                                         Adelle Laudan

Lucky Charms

Thirteen Lucky Charms

1- Acorns
In Norse folklore, both the Acorn and its bearer, the oak tree, bring good fortune.

Thor, the god who created thunder and lightning with his great anvil and hammer. Because the oak tree attracted lightning, it was sacred to Thor. Thus they believed that the Acorn, the fruit of the oak tree, was always spared the god's wrath, and so they began putting a lone Acorn on their windowsills to protect their houses from lightning's wrath.
2- Rainbows
Rainbows are considered lucky, because we all know, if we find the end of the Rainbow, there will be a pot of gold

3- Dolphins
Dolphins are considered lucky in many different cultures, including the Ancient cultures of Greece, Sumer, Egypt, and Rome.

For Christians and Native Americans, the Dolphin is a symbol of protection, and its image is said to bring good luck. Ancient sailors who spent months or even years out of sight of land, found the sight of Dolphins swimming around their ships to be the first sign that land was near.
4- Turtles are believed to have Power over all kinds of Bad Magic.

A Turtle symbolizes mother and Mother Earth. Turtles are also said to symbolize Longevity and one's Hope and Wish for a long life.
5- A Buddha charm or statue is thought of as being lucky, especially if you rub the Buddha's belly.

6- Dream Catchers
Dream catchers, from Native American culture, are considered good luck, because they catch the negative images from dreams.

The Legend of the Dream Catcher
A spider was quietly spinning his web in his own space. It was beside the sleeping space of Nokomis, the grandmother. Each day, Nokomis watched the spider at work, quietly spinning away. One day as she was watching him, her grandson came in. "Nokomis-iya!" he shouted, glancing at the spider. He stomped over to the spider, picked up a shoe and went to hit it. "No-keegwa," the old lady whispered, "don't hurt him."
"Nokomis, why do you protect the spider" asked the little boy. The old lady smiled, but did not answer.
When the boy left, the spider went to the old woman and thanked her for saving his life. He said to her, "For many days you have watched me spin and weave my web. You have admired my work. In return for saving my life, I will give you a gift." He smiled his special spider smile and moved away, spinning as he went. Soon the moon glistened on a magical silvery web moving gently in the window. "See how I spin" he said. "See and learn, for each web will snare bad dreams. Only good dreams will go through the small hole. This is my gift to you. Use it so that only good dreams will be remembered. The bad dreams will become hopelessly entangled in the web."
7- The Number Seven
The number Seven is considered lucky by many different cultures and religions.

In Christianity- *Seven represents self-sacrifice and higher virtue. It appears repeatedly in Scripture in such things as the seven lamps of the temple, seven wise and seven foolish virgins, and Christ's feeding of the multitude with five loaves and two fishes. The early church taught that belief in God brings seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, honor, glory, blessings, strength, and godliness. 
*It is believed that the seventh son of a seventh son has the power of healing and that the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter has the gift of interpreting dreams. 
 *In the mythology of Japan, there are also Seven Gods of Fortune.
8- Horseshoe
A Horseshoe symbolizes good luck, power of evil, good fortune and fertility.


Some legends say, that a Horseshoe "'Pointing Up" will gather your Luck, whereas "Pointing Down" it will shower you with Luck.


9- Four Leaf Clover
The Four Leaf Clover is a popular Western symbol of luck, probably due to its association with St. Patrick's Day
Four-leaf clovers do exist, they just are not as common as the three-leaf variety. If you find one, it's considered good luck. Legend goes that when Eve had to leave paradise she took a four-leafed Clover along for Good Luck.

10- A Wishing Well
A wishing well is a place where you toss a coin (another symbol of good luck) and make a wish.

*The ancients believed that a token gift to the gods would keep the wells from running dry. Many believed that the gods of the sea could be kept happy if a few coins were occasionally thrown their way. *A custom observed all over the world, says that if you look for your reflection in the water and then make a wish after throwing a coin into it, the wish will be granted. But when in Rome, remember that their sea gods will accept no less than three coins.




11- Sapphire
The sapphire has been a symbol of good luck since the most ancient of times.

* The Greeks believed that to wear the sapphire was to invite the favor of the gods. * In the ancient Middle East, this blue stone was believed to have supernatural powers. It was said to have been the centerpiece of King Solomon's ring. * In India, it has the power to bring health and wealth. * Among its other powers in other parts of the world are the ability to repel spiders, to protect virgins and to turn away envy.

12- Cat's Eye
The Cat's Eye clears all obstacles and helps one to move ahead in life. It also wards off the Evil Eye, Ghosts, Spirits and negative planetary influences.


*In India, if one carries a cat's-eye stone, fortune will never diminish. Among gamblers, it is thought to bring luck in games of chance. * It protects one from unforeseen losses in business or profession, and ensures financial stability, by guarding the owner's wealth.

13- Ladybugs
The Ladybug is considered a harbinger of good luck and prosperity. It shall free you from day to day problems.

*Wearing a Ladybug amulet or having a live one land on you will brighten your day, give you patience with those around you, and most importantly, lessen your burdens. *Killing a Ladybug is considered bad luck. *If one lands on you when you are ill, it takes any illness away. *If a Ladybug lands on your hand and then flies away, it said to be good weather on the following Sunday.

Wellness Wednesday Week Three

  Weight loss to date = 8 pounds

Here we are, week three of my lifestyle change. I have to say it seems to be coming quite naturally of late. It really helps not having the 'go to' food in the house. I'm doing my stretches every morning and my body is slowly letting me do it without being in too much pain. Another week and I will try a few basic exercises and see how it goes. 
The Uncle Ben Rice pkgs are a great find in the past week. They make a nice meal and I'm comfortably full after eating it. It takes 5 minutes, which is so nice while busy with my edits and promotional efforts. I am trying to set sights on August when I have a big book signing event as incentive to lose some weight. 
Until next week, 
Eat Healthy & Be Happy.