Katy Abram

Yes, I actually do have a conservative domestic diva side.  Today I tweeted out that I was making a batch of homemade laundry detergent, which during my last calculation saved my family about $500 per year. I'm sure now with the increased cost of everything I buy in the grocery store I'm sure this savings amount has increased.

You asked for it!  Here is the recipe a friend gave me.  Our clothes are softer, smell wonderfully and no one has any skin reactions (which in my family is typical with some detergents).

Ingredients:
    1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap
    1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Sode (yellow box)
    1/2 cup Borax Powder (white box)
    32 cups warm water
    2 cap fulls of Tide or your favorite liquid laundry detergent

First use a cheese grater (smallest grate on the grater) to grate the Fels Naptha Soap into a fine powder.  Heat 6 cups water in a saucepan (do not boil).  Add the Fels Naptha Soap and stir until the soap is melted.

Add washing soda and Borax to the sauce pan.  Stir until dissolved.

Put 26 cups of warm water in a bucket (I use a 5 gallon bucket I bought at the hardware store.)  Add the soap mixture and stir.  Add 2 caps of liquid laundry detergent.  Stir.  Then transfer to old laundry containers for storage and use.

Note:  I typically will double the recipe and will use a funnel to pour the laundry detergent into containers.  I store it in a few large plastic ice cream containers (they stack on top of eachother) or in old laudry detergent containers.  Once I empty my laundry container I refill it with what I have in the ice cream containers for easy dispensing.

While watching Senator Santorum's speech after the Iowa Caucus the other evening an amazing event occured:  the creation of McMittens.

Yes, it sounds like a cute little furry animal but alas...it is nothing of the sorts.  Why was it so very important for Senator John McCain to get his mug on television to formally endorse Governor Mitt Romney?  Why John, why? 

My instant reaction was this was a undoubtedly a shot across the bow by the establishment.  In my humble opinion, Mittens is the establishment choice.  They had no idea and were most likely dumbfounded by the rapid ascent of Rick Santorum in the Iowa Caucus.  What is better than attempting to steal the moment of sunshine Santorum was basking in during his speech?

So henceforth now we have the newest addition to the list of wonder twins like Bennifer and Brangelina: McMittens.  How ironic it is that a man who lost to Obama is now endorsing a man who lost to McCain?  I think we've finally hit the bottom of the barrel.  It can't get much worse than this.

***note to my fellow voters.  As much as this pains me, I am in this mindset when it comes down to whomever our GOP nominee will be.  ABO: Anybody But Obama.  So no worries if we end up with McMittens he will have my support, but boy will it hurt.

Knowing some of my Twitter friends have brand new crock pots they received for Christmas I would be remiss to not post my absolute favorite crock pot recipe.  I know this strays from my typical political rant, but diversity is good.

1 Chuck roast
1 packet of Onion soup seasoning (I typically use Lipton)
1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup
1-2 cans green beans
peeled new potatoes (as many as desired)

Place chuck roast, can of mushroom soup and packet of onion soup seasoning in a crock pot. Mix together.  Put crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.
About an hour before dinnertime put the green beans and potatoes in the crock pot.

Thats it.  It is really that simple. My 9 and 6 year olds love it and thats a win for any mom.  Simple and good.  Enjoy my fellow Tweeps and moms!

Look at the items listed below. After viewing the list would you vote for the person who has supported these items:

-Believes "FDR is such a dominating figure because he got things done." And is "the greatest President of the 20th century."
-Supported the individual mandate
-Favors ethanol subsidies
-Once supported fairness doctrine
-Supported tarp & bailouts
-Supports more federal intervention on education
-Opposed Paul Ryan's budget plan
-Voted for the Department of Education
-Supports big government solution for climate change.
-Believes SEIU's Andy Stern is a visionary leader
-The liberal establishment Time Magazine names this candidate their
“Man of the Year”

Who is this candidate?  If this were a Democrat would you vote for him?  As a Tea Party activist my answer is a resounding NO!!!!!

When I tell you who this is do you back peddle and say well you don't understand!  He is a great debater!  Indeed, I am sure you have it figured out by now.  And it looks like you've been Newtered.

The debate about whether we should vote for Newt Gingrich for President has been a very difficult one for many of us.  Most everyone I speak to says they would like nothing better than to see Newt debate Obama, but they do not necessarily see anything beyond that once he would get into office. 

It wasn't clear in my mind until last night while watching Glenn Beck.  Glenn has clearly upset a lot of people lately with his recent thoughts on Newt Gingrich and pointing out that if the Tea Party supports Gingrich they have clearly forgotten what they have been fighting against for the past three years among other things.

I've been watching the backlash from the right, which the leftists are most definitely salivating over.  Leftists could have never imagined such cannibalism in their wildest dreams.  Nonetheless, after much angst and soul searching I know I cannot in any way, shape or form vote for Newt Gingrich.  It all comes down to principles for me.  

I have fought too hard and for too long to push the button for Newt.  It goes against everything fiber of my being and every issue I have fought for and against since 2009.  Do you really think Newt would be able to defend himself during a debate?  I really do not think he can.  How do you defend the indefensible? Would it not be in our best interest to have a candidate who doesn't have to explain away every vote, every comment and every flip flop in their life?  Think about it. You may not agree with me.  That's fine.  I just know I cannot hand the wheel over to progressive light who will continue us down the same tracks we're travelling right now but at a slower pace.

Cut the guy some slack.

Imagine yourself running for President of the United States.  Much of your time would be spent listening to the speeches of your opponents, attending rubber chicken dinners and practicing for your next debate.  Your life would no longer be your own as you are beholden to the schedule your handlers lay out for you.

In a moment, which some are calling an embarrassing, former Senator Rick Santorum is caught watching a football game on his iPad during yet another rubber chicken dinner.  In the video you can hear Newt Gingrich in the background addressing the crowd.

Some call this embarrassing, I call this being human.  Kudos to Rick for attempting to hold onto some normalcy.  I just hope he was watching the Penn State game.

You can watch the scandalous moment here http://bcove.me/c2vu4ks5

Utter chills.

About an hour ago as I was brushing my teeth with Fox & Friends on in the background, country music star Clay Walker was singing the praises of Rick Perry.  Apparently they have been friends for 15 years and now Presidential hopeful, Rick Perry, has asked Walker to use a song off his album for the campaign. 

OK, that sounds great. Until you listen further into the interview.  Walker admits was a fan of Obama's and "thought he had a lot of great ideas when he was elected...I think he had good intentions, but I don't think the change has happened."

Then the next thing out of his mouth is, "I think Rick Perry is the guy who can fulfill those good intentions and that change."

If that is the case count me out on the Perry campaign.

While cleaning out my minivan today I heard words which made me do the happy dance in my garage.  The 11th Circuit ruled that the individual mandate of Obamacare, also known as the bane of my existence, was unconstitutional.  They didn't go as far as Judge Vinson with ruling against the entire notion of this abomination of law but nonetheless it was a win for those of us who have worked tirelessly over the pass two years to stop this invasion into our lives.

During the summer of 2009 I asked Senator Specter, "what are you going to do to return this country back to what our Founders created according to the Constitution?"  This ruling gets to the heart of this question: limited government.  So this government is forcing us to buy health insurance.  My question is this...what else will they force us to do? 

Heaven forbid my child becomes overweight (and thankfully they are not) will the government send them to fat camp against my wishes? 

Since they have shown a disdain for all machinery that guzzles gasoline, will we be forced to trade in our ten mile per gallon 1997 Suburban for a Smart Car?  I'd just love to see how my husband would put his shovel, pick axe, tool boxes and the like in there, let alone tow a 4,000 pound trailer.  But don't worry friends, it's for the environment.  Your business will be fine without the tools necessary to complete your work.

Nonetheless, I will continue my happy dance.  This is yet another huge win for liberty and huge win for the Tea party.  And yes, indeed, this is me saying to Obama and his ilk...

If you won't return this government to governing by the Constitution, we the people will!

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I  did not speak out -
because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for  the Jews, and I did not speak out -
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came  for me - and there was no one left to speak out for me.
 
--Martin Niemöller

First the left smears, then they target, then they actually start to target.  Who are they trying to silence now?  Who have they brought in?  If you are not brought into their fold you will be silenced. 

Sound familiar?  First they came after the town hall attendees who spoke out.  Then they came after the Tea Party.  Now they are coming after innocent people sitting in their cars as they leave a state fair, pulling them to the ground and beating them to a pulp.  Why are we not seeing the real state of the world from the news?

There are riots in Athens, Spain, Lisbon, China and elsewhere. The media has been silent here in the United States.  Why?  I ask you why?

The world is quickly becoming unhinged.  Gold is now over $1,800. (Man I wish we would have bought gold a few years ago.)  Millions of Americans are out of work.  Millions more are milking off the system by choice, voting for those who "get them more stuff."

This is the land of the free...not the land of the FREE (stuff).  50% of Americans pay 97% of the taxes.  We are at a tipping point.

Do me a favor friends.  Prepare for you, your family and friends.  Be a safe harbor if you have the ability.  Lord only knows when push comes to shove who will they run to?  You or the government?  Let it be you.

The debates regarding the debt issue have been heated, but this Monday Congressman Mike Doyle has taken it to a new (or rather old, worn out) level.  In an interview with Politico.com this week, Congressman Doyle stated “We have negotiated with terrorists.  This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money…They have no compunction about blowing up the economy to get what they want.”  

Who could these terrorists be I wondered?  It turns out these individuals who
apparently now hold the country’s checkbook in their hand unwilling to give it
back to Congress belong to the Tea Party movement.

First, I find it humorous that a group once coined as astroturf can all of a sudden have such power.  Lest we forget that the Tea Party did not spend this country near the cliff of default. Nor did the Tea Party obligate the taxpayers to fund turtle tunnels, cowboy poetry festivals and the like.  Tea Party members weren’t the ones bombing police stations in the 1960’s, nor did they join Communist groups who would like nothing more than the demise of this capitalist system.

This kind of rhetoric by Congressman Doyle brings back to mind the horrific shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in January.  The country, as a whole, was shocked by this atrocity.  It didn’t matter what political party she belonged to. 
She was shot down while serving the public.  The act was condemned by all. 
Even Congressman Doyle shared his thoughts with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette saying, “We've been through some tough debates, like immigration and health care, that have caused some people to react passionately. But there's a line."

So the question remains, what is Congressman Doyle’s “line?”  Because calling stay at home moms, grandparents and veterans terrorists seems to me like crossing Doyle’s “line” of civility.

 

I told ya so.

I knew it then and I can clearly see it now.  I am beyond angry right now with the Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett.  During his campaign last year we were told he would govern much like our neighbor next door, Governor Chris Christie.  Governor Corbett has fallen well short of that campaign promise. Actually, I think  h

This weekend Corbett negotiated a 10% increase in pay for the state workers union.  Soon after I read this bit of news I received a call from a patriot friend of mine who she relayed to me a story of a woman she met yesterday who hocked her wedding rings to buy food.  Did Corbett ask as he shook the hand of the union boss to seal the deal "at who's cost?"  When a deal like this is made it is ALWAYS at the cost of someone else:  in this case it is at the cost of the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.

I've found out that the Governor's budget proposal will fill the gap where the federal governments stimulus left off.  $2.4B is now being put on the backs of Pennsylvanians because, again, Corbett has no spine and is no leader.  Governor Corbett has done EXACTLY what the Obama administration was hoping.  Give the states money with the stimulus. Then the state will become addicted and will fill the gap once we stop the flow of cash.  Here in Pennsylvania that is what is about to happen. 

Go ahead Corbett, give Obama what he wanted.  Get a spine is all I can say.  Be a leader.

My final fit goes to the Governor's own agenda.  His first two priorities were: school choice and privatizing the liquor stores.  It has been six months since he has taken office and NEITHER has come to fruition.

The Tea Party movement in Pennsylvania worked wonders last election cycle to deliver a Republican strong hold.  And this is what we ended up with...a RINO.

Let's just pray that he either wakes up and actually leads or is primaried during the next governors race...until then hold on because it's going to be a bumpy ride.