American Idol Title! Who will make the cut?

Who will be the next American Idol?

This Question has fans chomping at the bit week after week! Fox has cornered the market with this fast paced reality show finding America's top vocals and showcasing them every week letting it's viewers decide who stays and who goes!

This season the judges have the option to save someone from going home. So far they haven't used this lifeline! Who could be next to receive it?


Click here for American Idol Karaoke for Wii!

American Idol Top Ten!

Well, we are down to the final ten Idol Contestants! This long haul all the way from try outs until now has been exhausting for me...But so worth the wait!

Here are the Top Ten Contestants for American Idol, Season 8!



Season 8 Top 10










As season 8 of American Idol wraps up we will no doubt be on the lookout for next season's highlights!~

With a cast that has equally talented and well deserving candidates, watching them grow and wondering what they will bring to the stage next is one of this shows best features!

Danny Gokey running in the top fave spot with his "Joe Cocker" sound and his unrivaled background has fans pulling for him all the way to the finish line.

Lil Rounds with a voice hammering out tunes reminiscent of Aretha Franklin herself! A baby girl and family depending on this big break to change many lives! Pap was a rolling stone!! You go girl!

Scott Macintyre amazing us as he takes on this great challenge without the aid of sight and flawlessly entertaining us all the while!

Megan Joy, who is an absolute joy to watch brings an awesome energy to the stage that lightens the mood and stirs the hope in everyone!

Kris Allen, the favorite from Arkansas,(my home state)! Go Hogs! Has a following that should keep him belting it out all the way!

Allison Iraheta!!!! 16 years old!!!Papa was a Rolling Stone!! Awesome!!! Unbelievable! This girl should be there until the end!

Anoop Desai! Fabulous vocals! Great Range! loved the smooth mellow tones this week!

Adam Lambert! Turned it all around tonight!!! Clean cut! Smooth soft vocals! Go Adam!

Michael Sarver...Power vocals! cranks out the sound! Working class guy turns it out!

Matt giraud...Soulful sounds with am impressive range in music and style!

American Idol has become an obsession all over the world! Check out these great buys on American Idol Karaoke for Wii!

Click here for American Idol Karaoke for Wii!






Check back next week for more Idol Chatter!

American idol,Kris Allen

The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield ...Review

A review of:

The Thirteenth Tale
By Diane Setterfield


A tale delicately spun as if the author had insights from centuries of writing!

The Thirteenth Tale is a unique story told through the eyes of Vida Winter, a best selling British author
nearing the end of her life. Choosing Margaret Lea, a younger biographer and book seller who she feels will finally unveil her hidden past. Vida Winter has spent her life telling tales, it is up to Margaret to draw out the truth from an experienced story teller with a soul scarred from years of pain and false truths.

This story is told from such an original angle it kept me pining for more all the way till the end! The beautiful English countryside to mysterious gardens, old money, and a family history sure to captivate even the pickiest of readers. This one will keep you guessing all the way to the end. I can't wait to see what the next novel will yield!

Stephanie McInturff

The Nano, The World's Cheapest Car, Debuts in India

Defying doubters, Tata Motors launches the Nano subcompact with a sticker price of less than $2,000. Is this the future of auto manufacturing?

read more | digg story

A Journey through the looking glass...

As I look into the mirror what do I see?

I see many generations of women who came before me. Recently as I was evaluating myself(a complex self diagnostic!) I realized that I am a clone of my grandmother! Like a ton of bricks falling into place all at once a loud resounding gong! You are Wilma Grace!

I love my mother with all my heart! We have a blast when we are together. Our personalities though similar in some areas are very different. It is great to talk through things and listen to what she has to say. I feel like I am with a sister I never had. A road trip to town with my mother(Cathi), my aunt (Brenda) , my cousin (Christina), myself and Wilma Grace will yield an afternoon of nonstop laughter and lessons one can only experience! Grace being the leader of our troop! On any given occasion she will most definately exclaim to one of us " I am still your mother"! Althought this doesn't really pertain to Christina or I we get the point anyway!!!

The other day when I was visiting my grandmother I notice many similarities in our thought process and patterns of behavior which we always get a good laugh over! It has never occurred to me how much alike we are until this week!

Thursday evening I attended a gathering at a friends house. We decided to all get together, simple, no frills, a few drinks and finger food! It was fabulous! We talked about our lives, told stories, laughed, and reflected on how women should fellowship with one another on a regular basis. Sharing details of our lives connects us and gives us a checkpoint of what other people are feeling and experiencing.

I remember being younger and feeling very disconnected when my kids were babies. I didn't talk to adults on a regular basis! My concerns and fears seemed to spiral out of control and overwhelm me. If only I knew what the range of normal was for that time period in my life!

My grandparents house was always a place of refuge! On both sides, my mothers and fathers, I had wonderful grandparents! Childhood memories of farm life, creeks, breakfast in bed, homemade hot cocoa, and journeys into town to shop are so vivid I can't believe that was over 20 years ago! I identify with Wilma Grace so well because I am soooo much like her! My dad's mom has given me the gardening, cooking, old south genes for sure! My dream for retirement is a farmhouse, large pond, orchard, canning, wide brimmed hat....I'll stop here! Ha!

Wilma Grace taught my mother, my aunt, and myself so many things! Observing her and laying a foundation for the future without even realizing we were doing so. She is always our checkpoint for how to act in any given situation, including losing our temper! I have recently mended the fence with a neighbor I hadn't spoken to since last June! I was just telling my mom and grandma it wasn't a big deal I never see her and aren't around her enough for it to matter. That day God placed her BAM! right in my lane at the grocery store...unavoidable! We said hi and started chatting as if nothing had passed between us. I looked up and said O.K., O.K., I hear you Lord!

As I carry myself from day to day, I am reminded almost from hour to hour what would Wilma or Mary do? Both my grandmothers seem to handle everything with such beauty and grace...(Wilma's Grace seems the perfect title for this blog) !

Wilma has always poked fun at her alter ego..(Grace). We have blamed that alter ego for everything from burning rolls to saying inappropriate things to others...including my grandfather! Grace could get away with things that we would never dream of. She would just exclaim it was "Grace"! As we would all laugh until we hurt!

I feel very blessed to know such wonderful people. That they have influenced my life in such profound ways never ceases to amaze me. We can learn so much from the women in our lives. They have lived through it all. The Journey that we are now taking has been traveled by many. On this journey it would only benefit us to listen to the ones who have gone before us and the ones traveling with us.

From this day forward I am listening, gathering, and always learning from them. Pick up the phone, send an e-mail, or drop by the friends and family that shape and have shaped your life....It is the healing we all need to feed our souls!~

Thats all for now...
In Wilma's Grace

Stephanie

The Gathering! Hanging with the Girls!

March 20, 2009 by Stephanie | Edit

Tune into your spirit by connecting with people who share like interests, beliefs, and children!

I love to hang out with friendly faces and graze! Last night I was invited to a friends house for a gathering. New friends that I know in passing but haven’t ever socialized with . I was fed spiritually and mentally by sharing stories and thoughts about our daily lives!

We were all commenting on how important it is for us to connect with one another. Grounding yourself with others who will listen , comfort, laugh, and share advice with is such a blessing! One that regenerates itself over and over again! A gathering doesn’t have to be fancy and cost a fortune. We usually wait until a special occasion or feel like it has to be over the top!

Call up some old and new acquaintances , invite them over for a glass of wine or Pitcher of Margarita’s! Simple mingling sharing experiences and laughing at life can be such an outlet or “Therapy” if you will! We are planning on making this a monthly event! Very casual, come if you can and if you can’t ….no pressure!

Here is a recipe I took to the gathering!

Tex Mex Chicken Dip

2 cans white meat chicken breast

1 can rotel

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1/2 block velveeta cheese

Cumin powder ( 3 shakes)

cayenne pepper powder ( 3 shakes)

Shredded Mexican cheese blend

Chopped green Onion

Cube Velveeta and put in microwave safe mixing bowl.

Add Mushroom soup, rotel, and chicken….stir

heat until thoroughly smooth! add cumin and cayenne powder.

Sprinkle cheese over the top, thick layer!

Sprinkle chopped green onion over the top.

Add black olives…any topping appealing to you!

Gather, Graze, and Enjoy!!!

Stephanie…over and out!

Freak your garden!

Trick out your Terra Cotta, forage for unusual containers!

Spring has almost sprung!

I love to make things look unusual! My favorite thing to do is use something not for purposes intended. Decorating, planting, and even sewing with things you would not generally use for that purpose.

As spring has forced us to move forward I look to new ways to freak my garden inside and out! Here are a few recipes for aging Terra Cotta that yield amazing results.

Age Terra Cotta

1 cup Lime powder ( from your local garden center)

2 cups water

stir and brush over entire pot. After pot is completely coated spray with water bottle on stream setting letting the lime solution run off.

Allow to dry and sand lightly here and there until you reach desired effect.

Moss Method

Plain Yogurt

Moss Spores ( local garden center)

Stir gently and apply thin coating to entire pot. Allow to sit in the shade for about 10 days. You will see moss beginning to grow!

Stain Method

Liquid or gel stain in a darker color ( Walnut is recommended)

old rag or t-shirt

Dip cloth into stain, rub into pot. Wipe away any excess stain. Continue rubbing into pot until desired effect is achieved.

A collection of pots in various stages of aging will warm up your garden and make visitors feel like they have been there for years!

Also, find unusual containers for planting to add interest to your garden or centerpieces. My next project I am using an old wagon the kids tore up and placing it on top of my entertainment center for an herb garden! Aging smaller clay pots and planting my favorite herbs in them. This will be an ideal sunny spot and be visually unique!

Check out this link for more gardening ideas!

Home Hydroponic Gardening

Thanks!

Stephanie