Every NEEDFUL Thing (or 10 anyway)

Ohhh. Kay... So, today we are going to try a new McLinky Monday party called:

10 Things You ABSOLUTELY Can't (or at least wouldn't want to) Live Without

hosted by The Real Housewives of Oklahoma



The rule is these are THINGS... not people...

Ok, so careful thought here and this is what I have come up with :

1: My iPhone... seriously, I killed it a few weeks ago and couldn't do ANYTHING right! It holds my brain. Who are we kidding - it IS my brain. I use it for pic/vids, date timing, scripture/lesson reading, meal planning, project management, FB/web surfing, bratty kid incentive/punishment, ebook reading... I'm trying to learn to blog from it, but that is going slowly. It is for sure my #1 top needful thing.

2: My laptop. It frustrates me, angers me, baffles me... but I would be so disconnected without it. I love Blogger, and FB, and all my fun bloggy buddies! Our family's entire Christmas gift making/giving came from this silly little device.

3: Evidently, the "/" key on my keyboard. Wow. Do you realize I used it FIVE (5) times in the last two items above?! Dang! LOL

4: Our new Sony BluRay/DVD player with Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu. I have yet to get our new HD box from Comcast, so this little diddy has saved me from those dreaded "Mmmoooomm, I'm booorrreeeddd..." outbreaks. On most nights, I turn on an episode of America's Funniest Animals, or Search Funny Cats and Kids after the masses have finished reading for the night. We giggle, we *Gasp*, we all whine when it's bedtime. Yup, I wouldn't have it any other way!

5: My iPhone holder+car charger+FM transmitter. I ♥ this puppy because it does everything I can't do! It is illegal to hold a cell phone while driving in my state and, while it is not as wonderful as my mom's Parrot hands-free, with this little diddy I can use my speaker feature and still be legal. It transmits my favorite songs/audiobooks/conference talks through my stereo and gives me a little ambient noise...to drown out the fighting in the backseats!

6: Our FREEZER! It seriously saves the life of my family on a daily basis!!! We have five hungry bodies in this house.... and sometimes that number nearly doubles on weekends. I couldn't afford to keep my kitchen on the mostly unprocessed and healthy side of things if I didn't have a freezer to keep all of my fabulous, natural, fresh (at purchase) local chicken breasts in. Or the tasty enchiladas and casseroles that we love to make... Mmm!

7: ZAYCON FOODS CHICKEN! *read above* They are a great company, dedicated to honest business and healthy, high-quality foods for cost conscious families. They sell cases of local, fresh chicken for a GREAT price (currently approx. $1.48/lb) and I tell. you. what! These chicken breasts are HUGE... and so super tasty!!! Check them out and see if they have a delivery location near you!

8: Scrapbook MAX! Digital scrap booking software. It is SO easy, so fast, and so fun! Did I mention it's also a fraction of the cost of other commercial editing programs out there? I learned about this great product from My Computer is My Canvas who uses it exclusively to do all of her digital designing. I use it for gift labels, recipe cards, scrap books, crafting.... basically all things paper. I can use practically any digi-file I have purchased both from Scrapbook Max! and from other sites. It is a very easy - my kids use it! I love it!

9: My piano! As a singer, I NEED music! I love to hear my Ladies playing their practice songs, I especially love to hear them play Primary songs and Hymns. I love that they can play... because I cant. Oh, I can plunk out my part - almost in time- if I have to. But that is a sad, sad day... when I have to! Still, I have thought of getting rid of the bulky upright and replacing it with a smaller digital version, but there is something so peaceful about the resonance of the plucked strings. I know why Beethoven was so in love with his music... my daughter is playing Für Elise this month! *sigh*

10: JET DRY dishwasher additive! We are going through a time right now, as the different detergent companies are trying to formulate better cleaning detergents without the use of phosphates in them.... supposedly the phosphates do something to the environment.... but really, what's a few dead fish, compared to clean dishes in my home - really?! Ok... I'm not a total jerk, I don't litter. I try not to waste water. I try to conserve energy. I am actually an advocate for natural, plant-based products with fewer chemicals. But I am SO SICK of grey film and white powder all over my dishes. That is where Jet-Dry comes in! Four washes after filling my reservoir and my glasses and pots are SO SHINY! No nasty film... no teeth clenching etching. We even put a baked on nasty casserole dish in and WOWZAS! It's like new again! I'm so pleased! Click here for a coupon offer from FINISH®

So there you have it.... Today's "Gotta Have" list. Some things change ... lots of things don't... but that's why this is so fun! 

So, come on and post your own list!