So yes, it's Christmas Eve Eve and my house is going crazy. I am no where done getting ready for it. I have presents to wrap. I can't send the kids outside because it's -30C every day. I can't even handle going outside and with the wind it's so much colder.
And the presents...they are just sitting waiting for me to wrap them. I just never get an ounce of peace in the house to sneak off and wrap them. And in this small apartment where am I going to really sneak off to? May be the bathroom would be the only place that I could actually get away with it, to bad it's so tiny.. :)
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and gets to where they need to be safe and sound. And if you are having a delay at the airport you can write me a letter in the comments. Ha ha...
Besides the celebrity gossip writing gig I do, I also do surveys. In the last couple of ones I've had to do I have had to sign a confidentially agreement before I could do it. So, I know about new products others don't know about. I think it's so freaky! But I have seen before with a movie, I had to watch two trailers and tell them which one I liked better. I have seen the trailer in the public now and can't remember if they chose the one I liked or not.
Don't ask me to tell you about the new products...don't they know I can't keep secrets? I gossip for a living...I have to tell everyone everything! Okay, I am pushing publish now before I give away the secrets of everything I know!
This week is going to be so busy for me. I don't have my shopping done and I haven't wrapped not even one present yet. The kids are off on Friday for two weeks so I have to get going QUICK!
When I was growing up my mom and I were really into music. And our favourite song to sing? The 12 Days Of Christmas...Canadian style...so here is my most favourite Christmas song of all.
The last couple of weeks have been rough for me. It was the anniversary of my Grandfather's death and I don't feel I'm any closer to being over it than when I found out. He was more like my dad than my grandfather. I miss him a lot.
And last week I stopped writing for the blog Go Smell The Flowers, they were really my first blogging friends here so I'll miss them. I was going to leave at the end of the month but I was getting sick and tired of getting beat up by the trolls so I left. But, because if it I can spend more time here.
I really want to get this site going and even switch over to a .com for it soon. I would love to have a place where mom's can feel like they are understood. I hope I can do that.
I am horrible at trying to eat cheaply...I always think that good food has to cost a fortune. But here as some hints to help me and other's to save money and eat healthy.
I am a little obsessed with Twilight. I'm in the process of reading the third book now. I have to say it's a great get away for me at the night. I'm just sad that someday I won't have anymore to read. I would be content to just read their story for the rest of my life.
See more on Twilight at my celebrity gossip site TEN Gossip.
I saw this list over at P2P today and I had to copy it...anything in italics I have done...
1. Started your own blog - way too many too count! 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland/world -I've been there twice 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis -I took one to school one day (they liked that one better than the snake I took) 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning -My mom sucked sometimes at cooking 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort -I lived in the snow belt...I have made so many! 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse - of the moon 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person -I used to live close to it 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke (badly) -we had karaoke at my first wedding reception 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business -Freelancing is my business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book -I was a ghostwriter but it was still published 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car - our van. 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone - 99. Been stung by a bee
Finally someone has listened and are pulling Bratz dolls from the shelf after Christmas. These dolls were released in 2001 and even Dr. Phil said they looked like hookers. And we all know Dr. Phil is right about everything!
The popular line of fashion dolls has been found to infringe on Mattel's Barbie dolls and will be removed from store shelves after Christmas.
In the lawsuit, Carter Bryant, the creator of Bratz, was found to have come up with the idea for the dolls while working for Mattel. As a result, the manufacture of the more than 40 kinds of Bratz figures has been banned. The entire Bratz business has sold $3.1 billion in dolls in seven years. MGA will also need to pay $100 million in damages.
But this won't solve all of Mattel's problems...Hannah Montana dolls are still out there! But this is still a great start!
I never realized changing a blogger template could change everything else so drastically. Mom's Out There is written by me (and a guest writer) when I have the chance. I dreaded coming over here because the template was gross. But finally I got a hold of this one. I have been dying for this one for almost a year now. I do no promotion on this site. If people come and see me that's fine. I love my loyal readers and they are so much better than thousands. :)
I have a cold...it's horrible...stuck in my lungs and I can hardly breathe. I have had problems with my breathing and almost died a couple years ago because of it. I just hope I can ride it out and not have to go to the hospital where I would have to wait 12-24 hours to be seen by a doctor.
Yeah, I'm tired...really exhausted actually...I can't believe it. By mid day I think I'm going to fall over because I can't keep my eyes open. NO...I'm not pregnant. It's impossible...but you now that exhaustion is like when you are 11 months pregnant.
The weather has been going up and down, giving me migraines. And I think my body is just saying...I will not have anymore of it. I wish I could lay down and sleep...forever if it's possible.
So who's joining me???
P.S. I am obsessed with Twilight...I finished the first book last night. TENGossip, my other site has lots on the movie. Check it out.
This is from another one of my favorite blogs, Engrish Funny. I don't know why I laugh so hard when I see these silly signs! This is one of the better ones. How would I have an Octopus to present?
I have to admit...I am itching for a baby. I hate it when it gets like that. That's all you can think of is a baby. It consumes every minute of your time! But, I can't have a baby. I had a hysterectomy last summer because I had Endometriosis. I am thinking now I really didn't think the decision over. I was told I could only have one kid...I have two now. I was very lucky that I got pregnant at all. So lately, I well up in tears thinking I was stupid for doing that. What if I want a baby so bad...how can I get rid of that feeling?
My daughter had ADHD. She is a handful. I know there is no way I could handle another baby anyways. But, now that I can't make that decision for myself I feel ripped off...
I have been fighting with our kitten for forever to get a picture in the pumpkin. But finally...after about a hundred shots I got it. So HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone.
I saw this video earlier about 5 great things you can get at the dollar store. I know I live at the dollar store pretty much. Here are their 5 suggested things...
Cleaning supplies - Look for products like laundry detergent and liquid drain opener. You may not see name brands you recognize, but that’s ok. The Good Housekeeping Institute says most dollar store cleaning products have the same ingredients as name brands — although some may be slightly more diluted.
Gift wrap, tissue, ribbons, bows - You can save a pretty penny shopping for gift wrappings. In fact, you might find this stuff at up to 80% less.
Snack food - Check out potato chips, peanuts, chocolate and candy. Hey, if you’re heading for big dental bills, might as well save a buck or two on the causes.
Dollar store shampoo - Hair care experts say most shampoos will clean your hair just fine - there’s only minor differences in a brand’s ingredients and concentration.
Kitchen supplies - Spatulas… measuring cups… can openers… melon ballers… skewers for the grill: basically anything without a blade is a dollar store deal — that could save you up to 95%!
I also say that Scrapbooking supplies is another good one. You can find gems in there!!
I have been changing a lot of things around here...in my life I mean...so I thought I would for sure change the look of my blog. I thought it looked crappy for a long time! And now that I am drifting back to the personal I wanted something nice to look at. So bare with me while I fix up the sidebars.
Seriously...this is sooo funny I can't stop laughing. Why does it have to be so funnY? I read this blog every day. It's a great pick me up. Just ask my friend, ConfessingGirl, I always send her the funny ones!
I want to know who ever thought that video games would be a fun thing to bring into the house? Men and their video games piss me off...So Saints Row 2 is in our house...and can't be played around the kids. And besides if they got in the way we would all get yelled at. And just now...just now...is the swearing and throwing the remote at the tv. I HATE IT!
Why do they feel like they need to control everything...they get mad if the game is too easy and then they get mad when the game is easy. Really people...make up your mind...and leave me out of it. Thank goodness I have my laptop...or I would really go crazy!
Today my daughter showed me that things change. She made her first batch of cookies today that she made for school. I didn't go in the kitchen at all. She served them to me on a plate so I could taste them and then I looked to see how her clean up was. I was totally amazed! Kids grow up so fast. How can I turn on the brakes?
I think my arm looks amazing. I am so happy that it is finally done! And then times like today make me so mad. Does it look so horrible that people have to treat me differently? I went to pick a pack of smokes for my husband at the store. The lady looked me up and down. I was dressed up in a nice silk shirt and jeans and my makeup was done. I was just like any other person. You can see my other tattoos but of course they aren't as huge as that one. I was like whatever. Maybe she will smile and say that my arm is nice. I'm not used to having to have a conversation every time but I guess that's my own fault.
I asked her for two packs of smokes...she kinda puts her nose up at me and then asks for I.D. Now, you have to be 18 here to buy smokes so I was like in my head...you know I am over 18, I have tattoos all over the place. But I listen and get my license out. She checks it over...I am 33. So I think she has nothing to even worry about. She wouldn't give me back my license but says. We don't have that kind so I don't know what you want to do...I reach over take my license back and walk away.
Why couldn't she tell me that before she asked for my I.D.? Probably because she wanted to treat me differently. Honestly, tattoos are so mainstream now. And if I wore a long sleeved shirt and jeans no one would ever know. So why treat me that way then? It's a fish on my arm...it's not a naked woman...it's not guns...it's not a skeleton. But, even then...why do I deserve to get treated different because of my ink?
I found this site today...and all I want to do is play with it. How cute does my new cat look?? Spots was just hanging around. Make your own magazine at MagMyPic.
I know I am so sick of not being able to find free movies...I want to download them and watch them on my TV, but now I have found the place. I Wanna Download...and right now you can get free membership too. Try them out. You won't be disappointed!
Would you like a free glue stick? Just go here to get it...It's part of a program that gives you free items to try out as long as you have a blog and you post your review on your blog. I would love to be able to do this. So sign up now.
So this is my arm sleeve in it's third stage. I still have two more sessions to go.
I was at my favorite mom bloggers blog tonight, Cheaty Monkey, and I thought I better come here and send you some love. I miss talking to you all. But I only have so much of me to give.
But, I finally have the guts to talk about my tattoo. I was really excited to get my arm sleeve. I have wanted a koi fish for years now, and I know that I was ready to get a huge tattoo, I have five little ones already. So the last session, really really really hurt. I lasted maybe an hour and it was heavy duty shading. like all the green in the picture. It was tolerable...until he got to the top of the shoulder.
Someone nailed the sound for me. It sounded like a drill that a dentist uses, but on your shoulder. It vibrates like crazy throught that bone... Now, I was going in every three weeks to get work done on my sleeve. It would just heal and then I was in right away for another session. But now, four weeks has gone by and I say. Hold up...I need to wait one more week...and then I hope next week I'll be okay.
After, that session it hurt...and it didn't stop for a week and a half. Now, the hurt is like a really bad sunburn, times a million. After feeling that for a week I'm not really keen on going back. I have two more sessions left and I the last time I went into the parlor my artist was so happy to see what he had done. That makes it a little more worth it...but still super scary.
I got to get the courage to go through with it...then it will be done...and I probably will hold off getting another tattoo for about 4 years instead of 2. :)
I had said a couple of posts ago how frustrated I was that I couldn't get my son to go to sleep by himself at night. We would have to lay down with him until he was asleep and then we would fall asleep and it would mess up our schedule.
Well, I finally did it. He goes to bed all by himself now. I tell you the first night was really hard having him crying but really...he cried for an hour the first night and then the next night 15 minutes and then the next night not at all. I would stand by the door so he knew I was there and he could see me. The next week I stood on the other side of the door where he knew I was there but couldn't see me. This week I tuck him in and say I'm in the living room so you know I am just down the hall and he is fine with it. I can't believe that it actually worked!
So, how are you? I'm just fine. I think someone hates me...a lot! I have been hacked at my other site Taylor's Entertainment News for the third time! Yes, you heard me. Every time I have had to rebuild it again. This time I have had enough. I am moving on. I have a new website and a new host. I will get them to leave me alone somehow right? I don't want them to win and for me to give up!
When your site is hacked it's like losing everything you have worked on just gone. Like someone breaking into your house and taking that favorite ring of yours. You feel like someone took your heart. I feel so horrible that I am attached to something like that but what can I do? I post on that blog at least three times a day every day. It's my heart and soul.
But I will rebuild again. I have had some amazing support. I know people really care about what has happened.
So, the lesson is to never give up. We can all do what we have set to do... :) Later on, I'll tell you all about the new site.
This is a crazy freebie...A full year's free subscription to a magazine...FREE...
They seem to have different ones all the time on there...yesterday Woman's Day was on there...today it's Family Fun and Bassmasters.
Here's the link. (It says it only delivers to American addresses but it accepted it when I put in my Canadian address...I will keep you updated on that!)
Today...was all about patience for me. We are on our third day of rain in a row. The kids are starting to get antsy. So when we were at the grocery store earlier I already knew my son would cry and cry for that toy he wanted. My husband usually gives in...but not today! I told him you need to say no and stick with it...or else you will only make the big mistake worse. So, my husband stuck by it...except he ignored everyone else too. We walked out of the store ... WITHOUT...the toy that my son was crying for.
On the ride home he screamed and screamed...I was so proud of my husband for not losing his patience because I am sure he was near to it. My son would stop....and then start up again. He carried on into the house until he realized, no his Daddy would not say, "Come on, let's go get you something." If he did I would be so mad! But, I tell you hearing my baby cry is so hard...all you wanna do is hug him forever. But, if you show him that he'll know he'll get anything out of you for the rest of his life.
Now, to solve the problem with us having to lay down with him every night to sleep...maybe we should take it one day at a time....
It's the long weekend here in Canada...Victoria Day is on Monday. (Queen Victoria's Birthday! But England doesn't even celebrate it but we do!) So we went to one of the local theme parks here in the city.
I got to ride a roller coaster for the very first time. (I grew up practically at Canada's Wonderland in Toronto...and never went on a roller coaster once!) So today I went on the one here...it was amazing. I'm glad I didn't let my fear stop me this time!
"Mom, is this cheezy enough for them?" "Well, it isn't Mariah Carey so it will have to do!"
"Mom, what do you think of this one?" "I think it wins the award to me!" "Mom, look I am holding up this elephant...I hope they are happy!" "I hope so honey!!"
My son and I played at the park this week because my daughter was off to camp. I had so much fun playing and laughing that he wants me to go back with him next week too!
I was skipping work the other day ... I went to a neighbors house and she so wonderfully put songs on my Ipod. (I got an Ipod for my birthday!!) Even my emzy.collins music!! But I digress...
So while she was playing with my Ipod I was playing with her son...He was so cute. He would just laugh and laugh at me. What a pick me up to the down days I have been having lately. Just having someone else laugh at you is an awesome feeling. And besides...when I left her house he stayed there and I went back to my own quiet house.
It's kinda scary I won't ever have a baby running around my house anymore...but the next little babies will be my grandchildren...and how fun will they be???
I've been meaning to write this post for two weeks now...and finally have enough guts to go through with it. I have been a fan of Ghost Whisperer for awhile now...BUT...now the last couple of shows have been really hard to watch.
My grandfather died in December. I didn't get to go to his funeral because...well it was a family issue and I lived so far away. Anyways, I feel sometimes it's really not helped my grieving process. I still think my Opa is here, and when I think of something I wanna tell him and I go pick up the phone I have to remind myself that he isn't around anymore.
So now, Ghost Whisperer is back with the new shows. And now I am different. That show kills me every time I watch it. I cry and cry at the end when the loved ones get to hear a message from their loved ones. What I wouldn't do to get a message from my Opa...
Is this something that should really be out in the world? A padded bra for 7 or 8 year olds? OMG! I know that life is hard enough they don't need to wear padded bra's to make themselves into something they aren't.
UK superstore Tesco is drawing negative attention for selling a plunging padded bra designed for 7- to 8-year-old girls. Fashion lecturer David Morris called the bra "salacious"; some moms are "shocked" and find the bra "appalling." But in true business-speak-spin, A Tesco spokesperson says: "It is a product designed for girls at that self-conscious age when they are just developing. It is designed to cover up, not flatter, and was developed after speaking to parents. It is described as a padded bra for trade description reasons." Because, you know, it's a padded bra. Which will make an 8-year-old's breasts look bigger.
I love to read...and I am a little disappointed that this freebie is only in the States. Wouldn't you love to review books for a company before the book is even out on the shelf...well here is your chance!!
Harpers Collins Publishers: They have three catagories: Adults, Childrens and Teens. You pick the book you want to review they send it and you have a month to read it and review it.
So I did it...I ventured into a world so unlike my own. The movie theatre! I tell you I have never been to a big city theatre before!! And I have lived in this big city for 8 years now! It's weird how you buy the tickets yourself. WEIRD! And then the food is way overpriced! For the three of us to go it would have been $100 easy. But oh no, we got in free!
So we sat at the movies with our large popcorns and large drinks in hand...Ty says...mom...I have to go to the bathroom. We were in the middle of the aisle. Now I'm a little freaked out when people sit beside me so I didn't really want to go. But we did.
The movie started and the kids couldn't get over how huge the screen was.
It's after Easter and I have ate way too many of those damn Cadbury Eggs! I eat one and I can't stop until they are all gone. So I found these dieting rules that I know apply to me!
• If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.
• If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled out by the diet soda.
• When you eat with someone else, calories don't count if you don't eat more than they do.
• Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake.
• If you fatten up everyone else around you, then you look thinner.
• Movie related foods (Milk Duds, Buttered Popcorn, Junior Mints, Red Hots, Tootsie Rolls, etc.) do not have additional calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.
• Cookie pieces contain no fat — the process of breaking causes fat leakage.
• Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something. Examples are peanut butter on a knife while making a sandwich and ice cream on a spoon while making a sundae.
• Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are: spinach and pistachio ice cream; mushrooms and white chocolate. NOTE: Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color.
• Foods that are frozen have no calories because calories are units of heat. Examples are ice cream, frozen pies, and popsicles.
I haven't posted here for awhile and now that I finally finished a condensed version of my personal story on my blog, I think it's time I write about it here, too. I would venture to guess that most readers here are moms who are with their children, everyday, caring and loving them.
I hope you realize that being with your children daily is a tremendous pleasure and privilege that no one should take for granted. I know from personal experience as I am a non-custodial mom. I haven't always been in that role, but it is a title I've unfortunately "owned" these last seven years.
I'd be interested in what thoughts came to your mind in reading that? Perhaps you have met other women who are in similar situations. Perhaps you know women who were drug addicts or had their kids taken away from them due to child neglect. My situation is none of these. I am an intelligent, loving, healthy mom who has joint custody of her kids but for whom I feel the court system didn't serve my children's best interests. My children live 1,000 miles away from me. Unfortunately, it is a story that is more often being told in the United States.
My life as a non-custodial mom has been difficult, full of judgments from all kinds of people, lonely, and heart-wrenchingly painful for my children. There have been a lot of tears on all sides during these past seven years.
Being a non-custodial mom doesn't make me less of a mother. It took me some years to realize that. Intellectually, I knew it to be so, but psychologically, I blamed my actions (and inactions) for my non-custodial state. I lived with regret for awhile, but soon learned that I could be the best mother I could be by taking care of myself and forgiving myself for things I did or didn't do.
Upon reflection, it was the same advice I intellectually gave myself and didn't follow when I was a custodial mom, always doing everything I could for my kids, my husband and ignoring my own needs. How many times do we as mothers put everyone else's needs before our own? I know we all know the answer to that one!
So rather than get into the details of my story, you are welcome to review it on my blog in a series of four posts I wrote called Life Challenges: What Led Me Here (Parts I-IV). It was a bit long, so I had to break it into 4 parts!
My experience and self-growth has led me to where I am now: in a position to serve other moms who are facing a similar situation or who are fearful of losing their children. While I was going through this, I leaned on a lot of other women who are part of a non-custodial mother's listserve group on Yahoo that helped me a lot.
Now it's my turn to give back. If there are any other non-custodial mothers out there, I'd really love to hear from you. If you're moms who are blessed to be raising your children by your side everyday, I'd love to hear from you, too.
I am sooo embarassed!! I really am...I just have to confess! I tried to fix my daughter's door and got it all wrong! My daughter has this cheap door up for her bedroom door. It keeps falling apart...and we have to keep putting it back together. So yesterday, when it fell apart I told my husband I would take care of it because he had to work and stuff.
So there I was gluing it together, feeling proud because once again I would kiss his butt in fixing something. I had hoped when it dried that the door would line up and I would be able to put the pins in and it would be all good. But, I thought..."I'll think about that later..."
My daughter was just about to go to bed and she said she would help me put the door back..GIRL POWER!! So there I was all proud of myself...and then it happened. The pins didn't line up. I would have to put the door up upside down!!!
I still haven't told my husband...he hasn't asked...he is just happy the door is up...but when he finds out ... he will laugh...and say..."Yup, men can do a better job!"
First of all, I have to wish everyone a Happy St. Patricks Day! I am Irish...so you know what that means!! KISS ME... :)
Second.....some people are soooo dumb some days....
I get this phone call on Thursday...and it goes something like this...
RING! RING! (I look at the call display and it's the school, both of my kids are home so I don't know why they would be calling...)
Me: Hello. Caller: Hi is this Taylor? Me: Yes. Caller: Hi Taylor, this is such and such school calling. We have your son, Ty, here in the nurses room he's not feeling good. Me: What? He's there? In the nurses room? (He's standing in front of me!) Caller: Yup, he has a sore tummy.
Now I tell you, I was confused...I was thinking how the heck can he be in two places at once??
Me: Ty is right here, though. Caller: Laughs nervously.....Oh, I guess I have the wrong Ty. Me: Okay.
OMG!!! What a deal that could have been, what if I went to pick up Ty and it wasn't my Ty?? What a mess that would have been.
I started working at Backseat Cuddler in January. I love dishing about the latest celebrity gossip. But now...I have started working at a new site. Knocked Up Celebs...it was just born a little over a week ago...so go visit.
So yesterday we went out for a walk...the weather has been so nice and warm out there was no way we could stay inside. So here are some more pics from yesterday...
I have been having trouble downloading pictures so this is as good as I could get... But if you click on them you can see them bigger.