Happiness And Fulfillment in Life

What is your idea of happiness and fulfillment in life? How can you say, you are truly fulfilled in life?


Tags: Happiness, Fulfillment, Fulfilled Life

Posted by: Mel Avila Alarilla

Thank You to the "House Of Dior"

This is going to be a bit different than what I normally do on here. I try to stay sweet....and all cotton candyish normally..... when I can. But every once in a while....something "sets me off"...and I must share it :~) HA! This is one reason why I have a blog. To inform people....not just about my family goings on but pertinent information regarding various topics.

I came across this article today while reading the news on CNN's website. It was regarding the very famous French Fashion "House Of Dior" and how they have released Sharon Stone from representing them (only in their China Ads) as one of their spokespeople because of the comments she made at Cannes recently regarding the earthquake in China.Which basically what she stated was something of a suggestion that the "Chinese earthquake which killed at least 70,000 people was the result of bad karma." Her comments have now outraged the people of China, and who can blame them??

Her comments bothered me as well....because we aren't talking about "cockroaches" dying and loosing their homes here....we are talking people.....SOULS....lots of them.
Today I wrote the House of Dior and told them...in so many words a huge "Thank You" for dismissing Stone as their spokes person in China.

Now......I don't wear Dior...I'm not against it...it's just not me nor in my budget.
I think I bought Miss Priss some fake Dior looking earrings once in New Orleans or at the Mall when they were the "rage." However, that is about the extent of my Dior buying experience.

Yet I do APPRECIATE when I see and hear of someone doing the right thing and I TRY to always give them an "applause" of some sort or another. That is why I wrote to The House Of Dior today. Because they did the right thing in opposing the comments of Ms. Stone. Personally I wish they would have gone further and fired her altogether.

What has happened in China is not to be taken lightly no matter what their Government has done through the years and continues to do. It's the innocent people that have suffered under China's regimes and policies and it is the innocent people that are suffering now as a result of this earthquake.

Let me say this as well......while I'm yaking my opinions.....
#1. I am all for a FREE TIBET. I want to see that as much as anyone.
#2. I am well aware of China's Human Rights violations. Check it for yourself at this site.....Amnesty International.
#3. I too wonder if our country should participate in the Beijing Olympics because of these violations amongst other issues regarding China.
#4. I receive many e-mails reporting on the products that come into our country (and others) from China. Especially regarding the social/economic problems that now impact our country. These usually come along with various sorts of boycott information, etc. etc. etc.

I haven't any "pat answers" or easy solutions or any solutions in fact to any of these issues. I just do what I can on my end. Which sometimes to me doesn't seem like enough. I wish I could fix it all but I can't.

In conclusion I want to say that I like what the Tibetans did when the devastating earthquake hit China. They have prayed for the Chinese people......but they also took action and raised financial support for the quake victims and have sent aid to the stricken area.
They didn't curse them or accuse them...didn't blame it on "bad karma" for the way they treated the Dali Lama and their fellow countrymen...instead....they rose to the "occasion" and "served their oppressors."
I think that says alot.

Don't let Hollywood or anyone else speak for you. Speak up for, and on the behalf of others who can't speak for themselves whenever you get the opportunity......even if it's just to write a comment on a website. Wither it be to the "House of Dior or Popeye's Chicken."

Hey we live in Louisiana, we eat that stuff here....and I have called their comment line recently to give a "THANK YOU" to them regarding their drive up window person at the location by my house....unbeknowns to her...I noticed her name on her name tag and scribbled down their "800" number off the window and wrote myself a NOTE to "call Popeyes" right then and there in my truck while waiting for my order to be filled because this little girl was so sweet and helpful!

I'm sure all they ever get called about on those comment lines are bad situations....why not spread some love once in awhile??

It DOES make a difference to someone.
By the way.....the "House of Dior" has written me back a wonderful response.

Frankly, I'm impressed.
So I may just have to go out and buy myself a nice, little scarf or something of theirs. Maybe Dior will donate some of their proceeds to the earthquake victims even. Who knows?

Better yet....I might have to get this Tee Shirt instead...you might want one too!
Check it out...."5o Thousand Shirts"
I will post what they said in a little bit.
Stay tuned.

Wednesday

It's a decent day out today. Right now it's 86 degrees but it feels like 90 degrees....and it's around noonish here. Our "highs" usually hit here around 3:00 to 4:00pm. We've been hitting the
90's pretty much every day lately.
Yesterday the humidity was high, high, high, again. Whew!!!!
This is JUST the begining for us down here.

My "Pool Group" starts back up tomorrow so I am VERY excited about that. Miss Priss and I have been out in the sun every day as it is but this will be so much better for me.

I need to jump in the shower now and get ready for work.

Yep, I do work.....I have a tiny, part time job that I've worked for nearly a year.

It is just "enough" hours wise for me....I only work maximum two days a week and they are so compassionate about my health when I run into a problem and can't work, or can't do as much.
So that's been wonderful really.
The biggest bonus is....I love the people I work with......

Have a great day!

Come join "Rachael's Party"

Rachael
Hey ya'll,
Rachael at "The Rose Room" is having a BLOG PARTY to celebrate her 100th post and she invited me to come along which is cool because I've never been to "Auckland".....HA!

This is a "cyber party" so I'm not exactly PACKING my bags or digging out my Passport which is still valid and needs a "New Zealand" stamp in it but oh well...this is going to be fun and......... not so far on a plane!

Rachael is using this as a way to "meet new friends" and I am ALL ABOUT THAT!
So in accordance with her "party wishes"....here's what she wants me to do and you can do it too if you "join the party!!"

Here are the "party requirements".....you must do the following things on your site:
Rachael speaking here....
"As a way to get to know each better, I thought it would be fun if we showed where we blog from."

Sooooo.....here is where I blog from. It's usually a bit messier than this but we had company over today for a BBQ so I had to clean up the office area.


Rachael again:
The second part of the party is to answer the following 10 questions about yourself, I made it 10 as I thought 100 might be too much!

Here are MY answers to Rachael's questions.....
Relationship: Married to for...hang on folks because I am not even believing this one...married to my husband for "30" years come this October 6th~~! I got married at age 7 you know.
Children: Gabriel aka "Gabe", Caleb, Luke, and "Miss Priss" I never give her real name online because of weirdos...although she is a pretty tough cookie and could beat down someone....she was well trained by those big brothers.
Pets: "Danny Boy O'Shae"
Age: Good Lord did she have to ASK this one!!! Ugh......age...47. But I feel like I'm....say 25....on the inside. Not the outside for sure....that's more like say, never mind.
Star Sign: "I have a Star.....cool! Am I a Star?"
Fave Food: Mexican Food
Fave Drink: Tea....Hot and Cold
House Decor Style: Hummm....is there even a name for my decor style?? Let's see....sort of a "Vintage with a twist of British Cottage something"....with a tinge of ....."Louisiana Old South what have you."
Collections: Tea Pots, Tea Cups, Tea "stuff".....ummm....odd bits and pieces of China. Someone once called their mismatched things...."Orphans"...I love that. "Orphan" tea cups and such.
How Did You Get Into Blogging: Someone I know encouraged me to blog and so I finally started doing it and LOVE it. Even though my kids think I'm the biggest nerd. But they do check it and read it and tell others...hummm. The nerd apple doesn't always fall far from the nerd tree does it now??

Come join the party ladies!!

I Appreciate........

*My Country
*My Freedom...and yours
*Men and Women who lay their lives down for the sake of others...
*Courage
*Honor
*Independence
*Liberty
*People who take "stands" for Valiant causes....wither it's my cause or not.

Let me say right here......I do not like, nor want war.
I don't know ANYONE who does.....

BUT I DO support our Men and Women that have chosen to defend our country and others around this world.

I will never abandon "remembering and praying for them."

The last of the Luke photos.........

I don't know about you all.....but I've had such a nutty week that I haven't even had time to post these last few photos of Luke's graduation as promised....
so finally at 12:12am.....I have a few spare moments to do just that. :~)

Graduation cake......notice the hand holding the last cupcake.
"Miss Priss" had swiped it before I took the photo and it looked like Luke had graduated in the Class of "200" so she held it back in for the photo.
Crazed Don and "Lukie"
Luke wants some cupcakes....ummmmm.

Mom and LukeLuke is already registered to attend College in the Fall at the "Baton Rouge Community College" which has about 9000 attendees.....as compared to LSU's 35 thousand.

We felt it best to "start out small. Besides he was very freaked out by the size of BRCC as it was.....so this works. HA!
Very tired Graduate.....umm...I took this photo when I went in his room to turn off his TV that he had fallen asleep watching. He'd pass out if he knew I had taken this and put it on here...HA! Oh well...
I'm so GLAD this is over...

Gabe flew back to the East Coast today..well Friday that is...he's going to be in Cape Cod for the Memorial Day weekend. Must be nice.

A crabby Gabe....he didn't want his photo taken.

Cheers!

Graduation Day......"it's all about Luke."

Monday was Graduation Day for Luke.......and I have to say that it goes down in the my record book as the the loudest, craziest, most disruptive, disrespectful, non memorable, Graduation that one of my kids has ever had.
Sadly.

The crowd was SO out of control that they had to be warned a couple of times to settle down. Which they didn't and you couldn't even hear the kids that were being called out for dipolmas, names being called.

Don't get me wrong....I am all about the "celebration" but air horns and sirens and God knows what else some of that stuff was....I can't even go there but let's say it was....ummm....."very obnoxious."

I know that sounds mean.....but I've never seen anything like it. I now am already DREADING what next year will be like for Miss Priss at her Graduation. Ugh!!!
Luke afterwards at Boutin's Restaurant

I was so GLAD when it was all over and it WAS over in one hour. They herded those hundreds of Graduating Seniors through that program FAST.
By a few minutes after 6:00pm....we were outside taking photos. Wow.

Then we were all off to go to celebrate!!!

Luke outdoors at the restaurant where we ate that night.

Luke and his best friend Evan.

"Miss Priss, and The Brothers"

Mom and Luke

Mom and Dad and the "new" Grad.

"Miss Priss and Italian Boy"

"Big Brother and Miss Priss"

"The Brothers" arriving at the restaurant. Handsome "Blokes" I must say.


Luke choose for our family to go to "Boutins Cajun Restaurant" after Graduation. It's a very nice and well respected Cajun Restaurant here in Baton Rouge and since we haven't any family in Louisiana we celebrate Graduations this way.....by going out to eat together as a family afterwards.

Figuring out "what great Cajun dish" to order....yuuuummmm.

I hope you can see this it's a bit dark but it's the "Crabmeat Au Gratin" and to die for.....that's what I ordered :~). It was FAB!


The "Mom and Dad"

Outdoor view from the back of the restaurant....it's a small but beautiful swap.
The temp was 90 degrees in Baton Rouge on Monday...believe me it was NO FUN walking in "high heels" to that Maravich Assembly Center...and I thought I was going to die between the walk and the heat...whew!!

But by the time we got to the Resaurant it had cooled down and bit and the humidity had eased up a tad (only just a tad) but actually it was WONDERFUL outdoors.I don't know if you can see them or not..but there are about a bizillion "turtles" in this photo eating bread that someone threw to them.

My husband and our oldest son after dinner.
The "Luke Shrine" and Graduation Cake....which was actually made up of "28 Cupcakes" into the shape of a "Diploma." I saw it at Target on Graduation day while grabbing Luke a "new shirt" since the Gray one he had just BOUGHT the day before wasn't the "correct color" for Graduation....(good Lord people give me a break)...anyway I loved that "Diploma cupcake" cake ideal....
so I bought it. HA!

Ugh. We were full from our great dinner but somehow managed to stuff some cupcakes into our mouths anyhow. Well, at least Miss Priss and I did.

Gabe and Caleb went to see the new "Prince Caspin" movie after dinner. Luke went to his friend Evan's house and Italian Boy came over for a bit but then went to a friend's house to spend the night "cramming for a final" for today at his school.

Miss Priss will be out of school for the summer as of Thursday...and I am thrilled.
Is it "Beach time" yet??? I'm thinking..."oh yes it is."

I will post the rest of the "cake" photos later. It's late.....and I'm whipped after these two crazy days.

Well actually after about a month and a half of crazy days. Or it could be years at this point....I've lost count. Sigh.

We have canceled our 6 day trip to Texas that we were leaving for on ....Thursday .....I'll fill you in on that too later.
Goodnight for now.

i loveth the sun and the sun loveth me (oh, and my haircut!)

Firstly...

I DID IT. I cut it all off. These pics were taken this morning.

Secondly... I had an absolutely AMAZING long weekend...Sunday especially...and all I have to show for it is (what I consider) 2nd degree burns to my shoulders and arms. No joke. I actually gave up trying to put on a regular bra this morning and went for the sports bra, with almost just as much difficulty. I have spent most of the morning lifting the straps off my shoulders every few minutes in hopes of alleviating SOME of the pain...to no avail. I am seriously considering some prescription meds for this. I look like a lobster.

Oh, and thirdly, we have ANOTHER new dog. This actually infuriates me! We were boating all day on Sunday...pulling the boat up to the beach, then taking off up and down the slew for some knee boarding (E was the only brave one!). Well, after a bit this family pops up over the hill into our secluded beach area on ATV"s with two dogs. They hung around for most of the afternoon...their two kids playing with Sadie and the guys tossing the football and rough housing with the dogs. Then...they decide to pack up and leave. Each one riding off into the trails on their ATV's. The puppy went...the older dog didn't. We waited for TWO HOURS and they never returned for their dog. We then placed a note on the log with a rock holding it down and their kids purple shovel sticking straight up so you couldn't miss it. NO PHONE CALL. Then, on Monday we drove for two hours around the neighbouring area and found no one, plus the note wasn't moved at all. I really have ZERO sympathy for a family who just leaves their dog and makes ZERO effort to find him. Honestly, not sure what we are going to do...but even Elvis loves this dog so we may end up keeping him.

Anyone with some wordly advice??? What would Jesus Do?

Sunshine, finally....thank you very much.

We have some "sunshine" and "low humidity" going on right now which is awesome! Because soon..it will be sweltering here. In fact...it already has been and our temps were in the low 90's before that crazy cold front came over last week and brought storms.

The flowers are doing good though...notice though how the birds that live in our patio awning are stripping out the moss from my "hanging moss basket" and building their nests with it. Ughhhh!!
Don't notice however, that we have to powerwash our house.....like very soon. It's "mold" my friends...welcome to Lousiana. Gross I know.
We are used to it.
I just put my "fake" flowers in the French Flower Cart for summer.....I don't really like fake ones. Although I think they do look pretty good in that thing if I might say so....nothing else will live under the carport area because it's soooo shady.
My new "rose tree" that my husband bought me for Mother's Day and I LOVE it...it was blooming so wonderfully before the wretched storms came blowing through. I had to cut the blooms all off today because they were so messed up.
These things are blooming great in this old "crock" I inherited of my Great Aunt Hazel's when she passed away several years ago in Missouri. I loved the crock but didn't know WHAT in the world to do with it.....so I had my husband drill some holes in the bottom of it and have been planting flowers in it ever since then.
My dear husband mowing his brains out. Usually our younger son does this but the grass was WILD because of the bad weather so Don had to come to the rescue since Luke's been working so much this weekend.

I was telling my Aunt Pat the other day in Missouri that we mow every week here. She couldn't believe it. In the summer time....we usually mow twice a week. We mow all winter here in Louisiana. Unless it's very cold....fat chance. HA!
We may only mow once a month in the winter..which is like...maybe December/January....but it gets straggly and nasty if you don't keep it up.
Miss Priss studying...last night. Her Italian "tutor" and homework helper...was exhausted after working 9 hours at his job yesterday.

Miss Priss is CRAMMING big time because she is having final exams tomorrow. And we have Graduation tomorrow night and she can't check out of school early because the important test is 7th hour. Igh. I don't know how we are going to time this all but it will work out. I'm SO glad school is out this week for her. She is wearing me out.

My crazy life.
It's all good though....and I thank God for it.
I've never liked being bored.