Fashion picks from Pinterest this week

Stay cozy this fall with the best Autumn pieces to keep washed all season long.

Skinny jeans to wear with boots is an easy staple anyone can wear, with a flowy long sleeve top or cute sweater. A charcoal grey top or heather grey is universally flattering and interchangeable. They're easy to find so you don't end up paying a lot of money and you can wear them with colored leggings and skinny jeans.

This outfit with the cream tank and brown cover up was my most popular pin this week with sixty repins in less than a minute. It's elegant for work, play, or dinner. Easy updo hair or loose curls would bring this look all together but even straight hair and a necklace would bring enough glam. A scarf in the colder temperatures would look nice. If you're worried about bulk in the outfit ditch the purse or try a smaller one. Big clunky bags aren't as hot as celebs try to make them look. You can also go with a tan scarf over a brown one to tone down the outfit a little.

For a rustic feel, add a flannel with dark skinny jeans or leggings and some high boots for a nice look that embodies comfort and style, to replace the old sweatpants routine. This look with the plaid reminds me of a town and country vibe, similar to Ralph Lauren fall collections in the past. Wear the flannel on its own or leave it unbuttoned with a core color tank underneath. White, black, or navy are easy pieces available anywhere for cheap. With a variety of colored flannels, this look can easily be changed up and kept fresh. If you get bored with it, try a navy and green combo with a red handbag and/or tank with it.

Fun, quick, and easy project for Moms and toddlers!!!

My son gets restless when we're busy at home or working. He was driving my husband crazy one day while he was trying to work. I was on the other side of town and waiting for my car in the shop. I pulled up my photo app and edited some images. I added big font in white so he could color and trace the letters as an activity to keep him occupied while his dad worked. My first one looked a little something like this. It took two minutes to make and my son loved it because I made it for him.

Football is back!!!!!!!

Delayed about 45 minutes for a severe thunderstorm warning and lightning but NFL football resumed for the first time to kick off the 2013-2014 season with Peyton Manning hosting the Baltimore Ravens in Denver. 

The Ravens scored the first touchdown of the game and from there it was scoring feast for both teams with the Ravens leading 17-14 at the half. The Ravens also had two collisions from their own players resulting in two injuries. Those players, including Michael Oher, did not return in the game.

Early in the second half, the action picked up including a blocked punt, giving Peyton Manning an instant first and goal. Raheem Moore delivered a stunning hit on Dallas Clark in his quest for redemption after last season's playoff loss. Peyton Manning also had a pass ruled complete to Wes Welker though it actually touched the ground. The Ravens' defense looked to Coach John Harbaugh to throw the challenge flag though he didn't. That mistake quickly cost them a touchdown pass to Welker and momentum for the Broncos. From there the score rose again and Peyton threw his fifth touchdown pass of the night and second to Wes Welker, making the score 35-17 with five minutes left to go in the third quarter.

The first score of the fourth quarter was Peyton's sixth touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas, giving the Broncos a 25 point lead at 42-17. Then after a commercial break, Flacco throws his second interception which is returned for a quick touchdown for Denver--or was it? Wesley Woodyard runs it to the end zone but in a premature victory dance and dropping the ball short of the goal line and his knocked down where is ankle is twisted back. He leaves the field. The potential 32 point lead ends up not to be and the Ravens get a safety and first down. They capitalize with a touchdown to make the score 42-24 while Peyton shakes his head in disbelief on the sideline. Woodyard walked off the field in pain and gets screamed at by Coach John Fox. The Ravens later kick a field goal to be within 15 points of the Broncos with 5:29 left in the game at 42-27.

Peyton threw his seventh touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas for a score of 49-27. Peyton is the sixth man in history to throw six touchdowns in one game. From there the game and commentators switch to the usual “game over, what could have been, and mistakes" tone. With less than three minutes, Flacco has been sacked again and the ball is punted back to Denver where the clock will run out for Baltimore.

The defending champs come to the two minute warning completely defeated and exhausted. Game over and in the record books for all time.

We licked the Liberty Bell

Life is a routine that we follow, never veering from. We do the same old thing at the same old places with the same old people. But the best stories come from the insane moments in our lives when we let a friend drag us on a mysterious trip and you come back telling everyone how you ended up in Philly and licked the Liberty Bell. And you tell them how it tastes like pennies. But at least you have a great story, for life.

Thank you Ted and Barney from How I Met Your Mother for giving us a great reason to shake things up!

Where do we stand in America today?

Where do you feel we are today as a nation? America is still experiencing tough times and we still need more jobs. Are you
A. Part of the Ticked Off People
B. Optimistic we are on the right track
C. Feels there is no hope
D. Blame the current Congress and Administration

Comment away my good people!!

Dorner

When we get upset as humans we have a vast array of actions and emotions that ensue as direct reactions to our frustrations; but rarely do we carry out violence as a response and continue it day to day. In those instances, they turn into headlines and the person is dubbed by society as a crazy mad man as the obvious diagnosis. Such is the case with Christopher Dorner. He wrote a manifesto of racism and being fired from the LAPD but was racism really the source of his rage? He accused his superior of kicking a mentally ill man though all sources and public witnesses deny the allegations.
In his manifesto, Christopher states that self- preservation is no longer important because he died long ago. Before the violence and the stand off with police he felt his soul was already dead. Because he was fired and dealt with racism at work? Maybe he was fired and scorned, not for being a black man, but for being a man making crazy accusations and trying to make whites in the LAPD look bad in efforts to show “see it's not the blacks". Maybe he was fired because of his outlandish actions and attempts to bring others down. He clearly had a desire to sit high and have his skin color be seen in a radical new light. Was he just a crazy man his colleagues believe lied to reverse racial judgements?
When we have bad days or lose our jobs, yes, we do react. Some of us have gone out to get drunk and we do stupid things. Some punch the wall, get into crazy arguments over nothing, or we throw something against the wall. What we don't do is something violent to an innocent relative to our enemy then carry on for another nine days in the same frame of mind. We wake up from our drunken deflection and realize we have to move on and we were morons for acting out. Dorner did not wake up from his pain, he did not see any error or remorse, he did not turn himself in, give up his fight, or even try to cop an insanity plea. He continued to kill and destruct. That cannot be because he was terminated from a position he only held a couple years where he struggled socially.
He became sick long ago, and that's his hate. He hates police for his past and doesn't trust the world anymore either. He didn't put blacks in a better light as he hoped and he was disgraced for the reports he filed that only appeared to be lies against others to defame them so he can be the hero. Maybe that's it. He wanted to be the hero that didn't fit the stereotypical mold of the white fireman saving a child from a burning building. Maybe he wanted to be the big man no one would suspect. Hence the nine day spree and pursuit to the cabin where it all finally ended. There is more to his past than being fired and dealing with racism. Christopher Dorner had respect for no one and nothing. He is only a victim of himself and foolish behavior.

Time to Fire Tony Romo?

If You Are Jerry Jones, Do You Renew Tony Romo's Contract in 2013? The Dallas Cowboys have put contract extension talks with Tony Romo on the back burner until their season ends this year; and the way Tony has played in his recent career and this year especially, those talks may never resume. His contract expires next year. Tony and his offensive line have had repetitive problems with communication, securing the ball, and playing consistently over the past seasons. Last year they were plagued with miscues leading to fumbled snaps and this season is full of not being on the same page. Tony throws one play but his receivers are running a different route and handing those mistakes to their opponents in fumbles and numerous interceptions game after game. Dez Bryant caused a fumble and was partly to blame for one of the interceptions after running a different route Tony apparently called a different route this week. In Sunday's game against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys' problems with communication resulted in four consecutive turnovers including three interceptions to give Eli Manning and his team 20 points, barely into the second quarter. At this rate, Kyle Orton could be quarterback and Brad Garrett could be out of a job. They should also hire someone else to sing their theme song; nothing says “not so tough" like Kelly Clarkson. Closer to halftime, Tony Romo and his front line starting making connections and creating plays for a touchdown and field goal but still struggled to understand who was protecting whom and which coverage plays to follow. Again, communication plagued their chances to be up 14. Instead they were up 10 on the board to close in on the Giants 23 consecutive points before the half. Desperate to make plays and after three straight fails to score a touchdown on the one yard line, Tony ran it in himself for the 6, followed by an exaggerated victory cheer to bring the score 17-23. The question still remains, are his sporadic big plays and only one career playoff win enough to keep him as a solid starter in what is likely the final leg of his career, as he signs his next contract after this season? He's 32 and has never even come close to the Super Bowl. Dallas may be his only option to remain a starter in his next seasons; on the other hand, former Denver Broncos' starting QB Kyle Orton is his backup. Is it time to utilize him more before giving Tony millions more than he might not be earning? As Wade Phillips learned, Jerry Jones will stand behind you to watch every single move. Even if he gives you another chance, by game four a year later, you could still be sent packing. In Sunday's game, Tony did become #2 in passing yards for the Dallas franchise, behind Troy Aikman; though with far less success in wins and Super Bowl victories to show for it. The good news for Tony, is Jerry does hold on two years longer than he should. Tony seems to be injured every year by week 4, then again by December. This year was no different, though he so far is playing regularly for his team. The other saving grace for Tony Romo is his defensive line who stopped the Giants from scoring four touchdowns and forced three-and-outs in the second half. They followed that by setting Tony up for another drive that finally resulted in a touchdown for the Dallas Cowboys to take the lead for the first time in the game. In the end of the third quarter, the score rose to 24-23. Then comes the next problem Tony Romo seems to have: the fourth quarter, particularly when the clock has wound down to less than ten minutes in the game. The other problem is playing Eli Manning, who rocks the fourth quarter comeback like his big brother Peyton. Even when the Cowboys are ahead, previous snap problems and more communication errors, come back to haunt them. If the defense can carry Tony long enough, he might make enough plays to sign a few more years and make a lasting mark in the NFL. His biggest test will come next week against the undefeated Atlanta Falcons at 7-0. Long story short, Tony needed this win against the New York Giants and several more this season. If I'm Jerry Jones, Tony must make it to the playoffs and win at least in the first round for me to re-sign him. So how did the fourth quarter go? At 10:20 left in the game, the Giants were back up 26-24 after a field goal at the end of their drive. This is clutch time for both quarterbacks when the final leg of the game is so vital to both Manning and Romo in their careers so far. 6:50 left to play and the Cowboys turn the ball over again as Felix Jones fumbles. This turnover put the Giants in excellent field position in Cowboy territory with less than 30 yards to go. With about four minutes left and third down and 21 to go, the Giants are held to yet another field goal, the fifth of the game to make the score 29-24. The Cowboys now need a touchdown to win with 3:31 left to play. After the kickoff and three penalties, one on Dallas, the Cowboys have 3:14 to score and secure the win. After a couple first downs, the clock stops at the two minute warning. The NFC East rivals both hold all three timeouts still. The fourth quarter also showed Jason Witten not only makes Tony Romo look good, but he could also help Tony keep his job and give their team much needed wins to make it to the postseason. Now 4th and 1 again for Dallas with 1:14 left, Romo is pushed deep back and intercepted for the sixth turnover and fourth interception. Terry Bradshaw had predicted four Romo interceptions in the pregame show; it's never a good sign when everyone knows you won't show up when it counts. So Tony Romo and his miscues with Dez Bryant and the O-Line in the fourth quarter take their chances of winning again. Or not? Not so fast! In a miracle Hail Mary it looks as though Tony Romo saves the game with a touchdown pass across the field. Then it appears the ball may come back with less than 10 seconds to go. The review declares Dez Bryant's hands hit the ground out of bounds and the pass is ruled incomplete with 10 seconds left in the game and it's 3rd and 6. Dez is injured on that play, Dallas has used all timeouts, and one second left on the Giants' 27. Tony airs it out but it's overthrown; and that's the game!