New Year's Resolutions

Why wait for New Years to make a resolution? New Years resolutions are about setting goals. Each year we promise that we will stick to something and each time we fail. So, why make a New Year’s resolution? It is important to set goals. But remember to make your goals realistic and achievable. Success comes from persistence. Don't wait until New Years to get motivated. Do away with the with the New Year's resolution. Nothing is stopping you from making resolutions anytime during the year. Success can be on your side when you take daily steps to reach your goals.

Happy New Year

Rose DesRochers

Taking Advice to Heart

I'm enjoying my vacation. I've gotten to spend some valuable time with the children and with Shawn. I really need to work on relaxing and winding down. I have let so much pile up. It has stressed me to the point that I was no longer enjoying my online time. I needed the vacation. However, I regret logging on to the computer yesterday and today. Sometimes I feel like a celebrity for once again I made the cover of the Gossip Magazine. As soon as my fingers touched the keyboard, I was defending myself and why? Why did I bother replying?

Todays-Woman.net was built around a hobby,interest and passion for writing. Making it a community takes hard work and dedication. Within the Community, I have the opinion of 664 members. They understand me and I appreciate them for that.

In the blog that I replied to, I only have the opinion of one person and that opinion doesn't even come from someone that knows me on a personal or professional level.

If you could offer one piece of advice to yourself what would it be?

The advice that I would give myself would be, "Rose everyone comes into life with a purpose. You know your purpose. You spend far too much time proving your worth to others. Stop, those who have gotten to know you and respect your talents already support you. Keep the faith in yourself and your community. You are doing your best and for those who appreciate you, that is good enough. Now log off the computer and enjoy the rest of your vacation."

Would you look at that, it's clear that I have actually been listening to my members all along.

Rose DesRochers

Money Can't Buy Love

I was motivated to write this because someone recently insulted me. A few weeks later, he showed up at our door with a Christmas poinsettia and a gift for my son. I couldn’t accept these gifts. All I wanted was an apology. I just wanted him to acknowledge that I was very hurt by his words. I wanted him to know that he couldn’t purchase forgiveness with a gift.

The situation reminded me of a woman who has gone through life thinking that she can buy love and affection. She manipulates everyone around her. What does it mean when a price tag has been set on your own life? Her entire exist is measured by what she can purchase. I can't make sense of it all anymore.

They say absence in ones life makes the heart fonder. In this case, she is asserting her authority with her credit cards because she feels guilty and is trying to make up for the absence by buying love.

“Love is a gift. You can't buy it, you can't find it, someone has to give it to you. Learn to be receptive of that gift.” --Kurt Langner

I realized that the more I think about forgiveness, love and respect the more complex it seems. I have spent too many years trying to please her. This woman is far too judgmental.


The value of her life is measured by what makes her look good. Holidays are about being with family and friends but in her eyes it is about the perfect gift and the perfect meal that makes up for the absence that she has in her family’s life during the entire year.

Some of the most valuable lessons you learn in life are lessons like these. Love, forgiveness, kindness, and respect for others cannot be bought in stores.

Love is not abuse.

Rose DesRochers

Cranium's Award-Winning Games

If you are looking for a fun game to add to your board game collection, I highly recommend Cranium. This game is definitely worth the purchase. My children received this game as a Christmas present and we played it as a family on Christmas Eve. I personally like the singing parts, and the acting parts. It was so much fun to watch my daughter act out karaoke bar and watch my husband act out back seat driver. Of course we all tried to avoid the word-worm card. My son hated spelling those words backwards as much as I hated drawing with my eyes closed. We all learned that my son is a terrible hummer. This was a game that challenges us but had us all laughing. No matter what your talent is, you will love this game as it incorporates drawing, singing, Trivia and spelling. Purchase Cranium today and then grab your family for hours of outrageous fun.

Rose DesRochers



From Toysrus.com & Amazon.com


Editorial Review

Spell a word backwards, hum a tune, answer a multiple-choice question, draw with your eyes closed, and more when you play Cranium. Unlike games that focus on only a few skills, Cranium offers 14 talent-tapping activities designed to bring out the best in you and your friends. Cards from four decks, color-coded to match each of the crazy characters--Star Performer, Creative Cat, Data Head, and Word Worm--describe activities that teams must complete in order to advance around the board. If you choose a Sculptorades card from the Creative Cat deck, for example, you might be asked to sculpt a hamburger from lemon-scented Cranium Clay while your teammates try to guess what you're creating.

To win the game, teams have to make it to Cranium Central--the large purple brain in the center of the board--and then successfully complete one activity from each of the four decks. The result is that the team with the best combination of abilities comes out on top. With its wonderfully diverse set of activities and top-notch design (artwork by illustrator Gary Baseman decorates the colorful board and decks of cards), Cranium offers the best of all board game experiences--and it's a whole lot of fun, too! (For 4 or more players)

I Can't Imagine Life Without Him.

Rose and Shawn DesRochers

Statistics show as nearly 60% of teenage marriages fail within the first five years. It's difficult to tell a teen that their love isn't going to last. For a lucky few their marriages stand the test of time.

Shawn and I were young when we married. Our faith in each other and our commitment to our marriage has been strong enough to survive the hand that life has dealt us. We have had our struggles and after 17 years of marriage, my husband and I are more in love than ever.

Another one bites the dust

I swear I get the strangest IM's ever or maybe I’m the strange one. My moderator Penny suggested that I write a booklet on how to handle mashers, wolves, idiots and basic jerks who IM me, hoping to get a rise out of me.

Perhaps that is something that I could do. I wonder if a book regarding men and the internet would go over well. What about permission, you know copyright issues. Would I need to go to the loser and say, might I make a fortune out of your stupidity.

Anyhow, here is one conversation from November.




torontomale4fun: Hi there, do you like to dress sexy when you go shopping?
Rose: Hi There, no I like to dress as a man when I go shopping.
torontomale4fun: lmao
torontomale4fun: so what do you wear?
Rose: An old lumber jacket, jeans and wearing a baseball cap—along with a couple days beard growth.
Rose: I'm a truly ugly woman who enjoys dressing like a man.
Rose: Maybe my crossdressing is me trying to get in touch with my masculine side or perhaps I have been hit on by so many male egotistical pigs I wanted to know what it would be like to dress as one when I went shopping. In any event my children and husband suport my crossdressing. How did you know that I like to dress as a hot sexy male when I go shopping?
Rose: Hello torontomale4fun are you there? oh my is a cross dressing male not what you had in plan for fun? Oh no where did you go?
Rose: Eek, I think that he blocked me. Another jerk bites the dust. News at 5.

Ta Ta For Now

Rose DesRochers

Random Acts of kindness

As an incentive motivator at my son’s school, when students get perfect on their weekly spelling test, they receive points. The points can later be used as cash.

Yesterday my son came home from school and handed me this little guy.



I just started crying and gave him a big hug.


There is no limit to how we touch people’s lives. My son touched mine with the surprise of my new bear. Now each time that I look at him sitting on my computer tower, I’ll think of my son’s random generosity. My son sets a fine example for everyone to follow, as he puts others before himself.

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted"

Today I will commit a random act of kindness, will you?




Rose DesRochers

Busy as Bees

I'm going to be very busy, the next week or two. Shawn and I are going to take a few days off. I want to take the kids skating and tobogganing. We put up our Christmas tree yesterday.





We really need to get those outdoor lights up. We were going to do it today but Shawn’s Aunt and Uncle stopped in for coffee. So I'll have to add that to our to-do list. Everyone knows the stress from last-minute shopping, and every year I say, “I’m going to finish my shopping early this year” and every year I wait until the last minute. So Tuesday it is off to the stores. I’m dreading it but I only have half of the children’s list left to pick up.

Well I better get my Today’s Woman newsletter out. High Ho High Ho. Yup, it's back to work I go!!!


Rose DesRochers

Christmas Pageant

Tonight, the church had their Christmas pageant performance of Candy Cane Lane. I've never enjoyed a Christmas program as much as this one. My proudest moment came towards the end of the pageant, when my son had his moment to shine. My son was playing the role of a train conductor named Casey. He sang the song, “You Gotta Grow.” I thought the children all did a great job and all in all, “The Christmas pageant” was an enjoyable evening. He has two more performances on Sunday. It is so hard to believe that another year is almost over. I will probably post some pictures of the tree tomorrow.

Rose DesRochers

Grinch Steals Christmas!!

Christmas, is normally the season of joy. The city gets brighter, with outside lights and Christmas displays. But the mood in the Quinte area is one of disappointment and for good reasons. The Grinch is stealing our holiday spirit. A number of outside Christmas ornaments are being taken from displays. It’s really sad that some thief would do this at Christmas time. I'm sure that this is all some prank, but the residents of Quinte are not laughing.

As The Years Pass By

Today was a tough day for me, because it's the anniversary of my Mother's death. Today marks four years since my mother passed away, but today also marks 17 years that my husband and I have been together. Though I mourn and grieve my Mother’s absence, I celebrate the love of my husband. I thank him for his understanding, affection, and moral support; and above all for loving me. Love is hard to find and I believe once you find it, it is worth keeping.


Rose DesRochers

Never Can Say Goodbye

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my Mother's death. I watched the battle that my Mother went through, trying to live one day to the next. In the end it left her wishing for death, but she held on for me. They say that time is the healer. I have come to terms with the reality of her death. I think I'm able to accept the changes. But, I'm not able to say, goodbye Mom. My Mother's death has affected me a great deal. I know that few people can understand my grief. On the 4th year of her anniversary, I can honestly say that I'm able to cope. But I don't think my pain of loosing her or the grief will ever fade.

Rose DesRochers