TMI Tuesday

1. How many speeding tickets have you had? Accidents? I haven't got a speeding ticket yet and I couldn't possibly write the answer to the last part. Not because I have had many accidents but because I am superstitious.

2. Boxers, briefs or commando? It depends on the day, the tides and the sequence of the planets and such. To answer this question would mean one day, somehow I will have to show proof and you just never know which day it might be. *blush*

3. Have you ever had sex in your office or your place of employment? I have had something like sex but not actual sex if we are saying sex is penetration. Are we?

4. Do you or your so own a motorcycle? Do you ever ride one? Do you wear a helmet when you ride? No I do not own one but I have rode on the back of on. Not in a sexy, hog hugging kinda way but as a teenager taking an occasional ride around the back on her cousins fat boy Harley. He would never take me on his bike without a helmet. He's a cop and that would be a crime.

5. Ever been skinny dipping? Yes but it was in a pool and there was only one other person there. I am not sure if what I did was skinny dipping considering I wasn't actually skinny. I was actually quite curvy. So many I would call it curvy dipping.

Bonus: Ever been arrested? Turned someone in/had someone arrested? No, but I'm still young

Ruby Tuesday - Gems And Jewels of the Garden

Last week I took the kids to a local farm and took a bunch of photos of the flowers there. I love taking pictures of flowers and wish I had a macro lens to really get the detail.



The Jewels this Ruby Tuesday are of a necklace I strung last week. I wanted to see if I could do it. I really love the way it came out and the colors of the red look amazing!

Precious Moments Girls Club Pup, Book,

In A Nutshell: Precious Girls Club is something we parents can stand behind. A company that supports teaching values, morals and being a good person is something that the mass media has stopped concerning themselves with. Most companies are appealing to the hip, funky styles that is fine too but there should be choices and with Precious Girls Club we have a choice. There is no reason to rush our children into growing up and I love that Precious Girls Club is all about the virtues I want for my daughter such as kindness, caring, modesty, truthfulness and the rest you can find here.

The website is so much fun and your daughter will love creating her room and meeting the characters of Precious Girls Club especially Katy.

As for the Giveaway I have the Precious Girls Club Book 2 Operation Kindness and the brown dog. It was a tough pick when I asked my daughter which one she wanted to keep and which one would go to a new home she was heartbroken. "Mommy, I don't want one of them to go." I explained that one would be going to a loving home and that we couldn't keep both, she was ok with that. We filmed a beautiful video about the animals and book and she said, she was hoping the dog would go to a good home and that you would take care of it but for some reason the video wasn't on the camera when I tried to load it onto the computer. I was bummed because it was adorable. Oh well, I digress...

Manic Monday Meme Madness

This week we headed to a farm and spent a couple of hours. The kids love it because beside the animals and a wood train for them to climb on, there is a sand box to sit in. We have a sand box but it the kind you stand at and play. Kids love getting dirty.

Damn I loved that show when I was little. We miss you Paula & Carole.

For Blue Monday I am submitting my first batch of hand made jewelry. Blue is my favorite color so I noticed most of the jewelry I am designing, centers around the color blue.

1. what would you say is your biggest blessing ? My two beautiful babies.

2. do you shop on line...Home goods or personal items? Can you tell us what personal items you look for?? I do shop online but mostly it is virtual window shopping and it is no one thing.

3. Name a song from your past that you have always loved. what year was it recorded? Rhiannon & Sara by Stevie Nicks. Anything Fleetwood Mac makes me long for my childhood.

4. If you found out there was a pedophile living in your neighborhood, would you take any action or ignore the fact?? I would watch very closely. I wouldn't like it. Obviously if I know they are a pedophile they must be registered so I would tell everyone I know to be very aware. I don't believe in witch hunts. What kind of action can you take? Bang on their door with shovels and pitchforks, shouting devil words and thrusting up fists? We can't force anyone out of town but we can pay attention and know what they are up to all the time.

5. If you could live in any city In the USA...what would it be. I would like to live somewhere where there is no humidity and the slew of bugs I contend with.

6. what is the one city you wouldn't live in even if you were paid to!? I don't know enough about every city to say that there is a city that doesn't have a good section.
7. If you were strapped for cash would you ask a parent or sibling for money? Nope. Never.

8. what is your most favorite thing to do to relax when you are not working? These days, make jewelry it changes all the time.

Sunday Stealing - The ABC Meme

A – An advantage you have – I can juggle a ton of things at one time.

B – Blue or brown eyes – Hazel

C – Chore you hate – Cleaning the bathroom

D – Dad’s name – Robert/Bobby

E – Essential start of your day – Coffee

F – Favorite color – Blue

G – Greatest thing you’ve ever done that made you feel really good – Nursing my babies until they were ready to be done.

H – Habit you have – Bitting my nails.

I – Issue you hate that the world tries to make you pursue – Too many to think about

J – Job title – Mom, wife, friend, accountant, chef, teacher, doctor, dentist, chauffeur, personal assistant, blogger, reviewer.

K – Kohls or Target – Target. You can get a lot more for your buck.

L – Living arrangements – With my husband and children

M – Music you like – All kinds

N - Nicknames – Ree, hun, mom, chick, ria, ree-ree, grandma, chickleta (sp?)

O – Overnight hospital stay – My appendix op and my cesareans

P – Pet Peeve – Being on time

Q – Quote that you like most – Collaboration not competition

R – Right or left handed – right

S – Siblings – two sisters

T – Time you wake up – when the kids wake (about 6:00 a.m.).

U – Underwear – sometimes

V – Vegetable you dislike – Lima beans

W – What makes you run late – my kids

X – X-rays you’ve had – appendix, neck, back, knee

Y – Yummy food you make – sausage and peppers, better than sex cake, oh everything I do ok in the kitchen.

Z – Zoo animal – monkeys

Self Portrait Sunday #6

Come on, admit it, you look through your photo albums or computer folders and see very few photos of yourself. Maybe it is because, like me, you are usually behind the camera. Or maybe, it's because you never feel you look good in photos so you tell everyone, "don't take any of me."

Join me, putting up your self portrait shots every Sunday. There is only one rule. Link back to me so I can come visit you. I would really love seeing some participants so come and play.
I tried to grab a quick picture today. This week went so fast I hardly had time to think about my SPS. In case anyone joins me, I wanted to make sure I got a post up. If you decide to join me thank you. I can't wait to see your lovely face.

Maria

I Love Saturday

At the farm last week, I feel in love with this baby calf. She isn't that young anymore but look at those sweet eyes. She is kept in a very tiny pen so I doubt she has much of a future although I am trying not to think about that. Isn't she sweet?

Saturday 9: I Want You Back

1. Where were you when you heard that Michael Jackson died? I was in my bedroom looking for my land line because at the same moment my cell phone was going off. My girlfriend was calling with a text message that read OMG Michael Jackson died. When I answered my land line all I could think about is I need to find information and don't have time for this call. We had a brief conversation while I scanned the news channels. It wasn't until Fox News confirmed at 6:30 p.m. that I actually believed it.

2. How do you think that he will be remembered? As a sad, disturbed, misunderstood, interesting genius.

3. What was your favorite Jackson tune? Man in the Mirror


and Smooth Criminal

4. Did you watch the original Charlie’s Angels? Oh yes. If you grew up in the 70's you watched Charlies Angels, had the dolls, the posters, wanted to be an angel and had Farrah hair or wanted it.

5. Did someone you know have that poster of Farrah? Quite a few people. I don't think there was a single boy under the age of 25 that didn't have that poster back then.

6. Did you consider her battle with cancer heroic? I don't know that it was heroic but anyone battling cancer is a hero but I believe it is an individual journey and no one can understand what you are going through.

7. Were you a fan of The Tonight Show Starring Johnnie Carson? No, I knew of it but never watched. I was never a late night talk show fan. I got my news during the a.m. Howard Stern run.

8. Did you like Ed McMahon on the show? See answer #7. However I was sad that he passed away.

9. What else will you remember McMahon for? The Jerry Lewis Telethon (he was a cohost) and Star Search.

Want to join in? Go here to learn how and to view the weekly list Small Talk Six topics for 2009.

Today’s topic is “if you had magical sunglasses, name 6 things you would like to see with them.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

1. I would love to see my mother at various stages of her life. She passed away when I was 12 and seeing her going through her every day life would be a dream.

2. I would like to be on the set of New Moon or Eclipse to see what is really going on there. Being a fly on Rob Pattinson's wall would be a wonderful fantasy. Maybe seeing him in his every day life will allow me to move onto another obsession.


3. If my glasses were really magical and I could see anywhere, I would like to see what it is like in Heaven or even if there is a heaven.

4. Seeing the past play out as a movie before my eyes would answer some of my questions. Was there a God, Jesus, Ark, Garden of Eden?

5. It would be nice to see my sisters and I growing up. Playing together as children and all of our wonderful summers of riding our bikes, playing man hunt, swimming in creeks and just being together.

6. Seeing the birth of my children from a different prospective would be the icing on the cake. I would love to relive their first breaths in the world.

I Need Time Management How about You???

When did life get so crazy. Now that the summer is here and the kids are off I really need to manage my time better. Between product and book reviews, social networking, blogging, mothering, my kids summer activities, my own activities and life I really need to be organized.

I had a chance to talk to Bonnie Joy Dewkett a professional organizer, author, motivational speaker and owner of The Joyful Organizer about some tips for organizing my life. Maybe these tips will help you.

Here is what she suggested:

Take Back Your Time with These Simple Tips

• Clean off your desk completely and start from scratch. Throw away:
  • Unsorted mail (keep the bills)
  • Catalogs you will never order from
  • Duplicate items
  • Copies of something that you have an original of elsewhere
  • Old or unread reading material
  • Internet printouts

o Start your day accomplishing the things that are urgent or left from the night before. If it doesn’t need to get done right away, don’t do it.

o Use your best time, when you are most alert to tackle large tasks. These tasks are usually the tasks we all avoid such as starting a new project, writing a letter, preparing a report etc. However, it is these tasks that make the biggest impact in your day, career and life.

o Use the afternoon hours when you are tired and sleepy to tackle small tasks like returning quick emails and filing paperwork.

o Get your kids involved in time management as early as possible. Ask them how long they believe tasks will take. If they are incorrect, discuss with them how to better estimate the time needed for tasks.

o Set a timer. Use a time for just about every task you do. Sitting down at the computer "to pay bills" can be a three hour process by the time you have checked your email, bought a new scarf, and checked tomorrow's weather. Setting a time will simply keep you on task and give you a clear understanding of how much time you are spending on any give task.

o Start planning summer reading now! IF your kids have summer reading ask them how they want to divide the reading up over time. Develop a plan today. If they are reading chapters, have them create and insert bookmarks at points in the book they can easily read to in a day. This will give them a stopping point without having to look at the clock.

o Don't lose your school routine during the summer months. Although tempting, allowing kids to sleep in every day just makes it harder to get back into the routine of school in the fall.

o If you are overwhelmed by the amount of things you have to do, try this trick. Purchase a basket or container that is about the size of a breadbox. At the beginning of your established work time fill the basket with items that need your attention. (Bills, books, permission slips, broken items, etc). Work until you have emptied the basket. Chances are you will work faster and more efficiently when the end of your work is clearly established. Don't leave items in the basket from day to day and don't add to the basket while you are working.

Thank God It's Friday

It has been so cloudy and rainy for the past four weeks. We get out when we can and take advantage of any moments of sunshine and blue skies.



1. She had a great sense of humor

2. My daughter and guardian angel is by my side, always.

3. I know this: Life has everything to do with you!

4. Please be still.

5. These words apply to me: mother, friend, wife, blogger, women, person, human, sincere, dreamer, and child.

6. For a few moments today the sun was shining.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to making some jewelry tomorrow my plans include visiting with my sister-in-law and Sunday, I want to see some decent weather.

1. Where do you get most of your information about current local events? I read the local paper.

2. Where do you get most of your information about current national and international events? Fox & ABC News I get alerts through email all day.
3. Who in your family always is most likely to know what’s up with everyone else in your family? Me. I believe I am the only one keeping up with and talking to everyone. Odd family thing.

4. Who at work (or school) always seems to know what’s going on? I don't work or go to school so N/A

5. What other kinds of news do you try to keep up-to-date on and where do you get it? I keep up with Twilight, Rob Pattinson news. I can find my information on a thousand online sources.

Thanks for participating, and have a happily uneventful weekend!

Breakfast

What is your favorite part of the summertime? I think it is getting to spend more time outdoors and to do more family orientated things.

Lunch

How was this week different than others? The kids graduation from school. I got to watch my son perform. My husband and I met up with a friend at the spur of the moment, and 3 famous celebrities died.

Dinner

What did you think of Michael Jackson? I thought he was sad and misunderstood. I also thought he was fascinating but so bizarre.

Midnight Snack

What do you have planned for this weekend? I have my sister in law stopping by to spend some time with my kids. They don't get to see much family so I am always happy when they are able to be with family. I grew up with all my cousins as did my husband's family. There were plenty of people to count on and be with. Loads of fond memories. My children don't have that.

Recipe for the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?) Giving things up to make your life easier isn't a bad thing it is the necessary thing and you should have no guilt over it. My schedule had just gotten quite crazy and I had to let certain things go. I knew it was right and didn't spend much time deliberating on it. Just go for it.

Thursday Memes Are Tons of Photos

This week was my children's last days at school before summer vacation. I was lucky enough to snap this hug, between three of the girls in class. Two, will be off to Kindergarten next year and the one in the middle will not see them. They look so cute as they huddled and hugged.


I think this photo says a thousand words because it can have so many interpretations. Is she tired? Does she have a headache? Did something over there upset her? Nope, actually she was just telling me to look at the duck and was about to wipe her hair out of her eyes.

For Thematic Photographic Thursday head over to Carmi to play along with the Cloudy Theme. This is one of my favorite photos from last month. I love the clouds and the angle.

1. Someone knocks at your door. You answer it. It's a kid from the local school selling candy bars for a fundraiser. Do you buy one? I usually say I don't have cash because well, I never have cash. I am an debit card shopper. If kids start walking around with little debit swippers I'm screwed.

2. The end of the world is tomorrow and you are out of milk - do you go buy some? Yup only not a gallon, maybe just a half. My kids love their milk at night and I need it for my coffee too. What would the end of the world be like without my damn coffee? I shudder to think.

3. Have you ever picked up the phone and called someone that you hadn't talked to in years? I am famous for this. I haven't done this in a long time but sometimes on down time (hahahahaa, like that exists anymore), I would grab my phone book, close my eyes and point. Whomever I landed on got a call.

4. Whats on your computer desktop background? This picture of Rob Pattinson. I change it bi-weekly but it is always Rob!


5. What was the very first movie you saw in a movie theater? Oh geez..I have no idea...that was years ago. Sad to say and I wish I knew.

6. If you had to take a 10th grade science test, do you think you would pass? Oh geez. I would definitely fail. Now I really want to take one so I could see for sure.

7. Describe heaven. Ok, cue curtains...heaven is blue and white. People are polite and loving. Everyone is a friend and ....oh that sounds so boring. Everyone looks like Rob Pattinson and wants to spend eternity making me happy. Yeah, now that is more like it.

8. Has a place that you lived ever been infested with some sort of insect or rodent? I used to live with a boyfriend in Newark. He was my first live-in (there were 3-discuss amongst yourself). His family lived in a filthy apartment downstairs. We paid monthly for the whole apartment house to be sprayed but it never worked. Roaches are disgusting creatures.

9. When you were a youngin', did you hide in the clothes racks at department stores? Never.

10. Is there anything in your vehicle that is broken? I don't know what it is but my engine light has been on for over 5 months.

11. What is something in your house that people would be surprise to find? Probably that I have a lot of Wicca type books and herbs that I used to use before children. I dabbled in Rune and Tarot cards and that I have a coffin pocketbook that I adore.

12. Do you agree with the death penalty? Yes. In fact there are a few people that I would pull the switch on myself.

13. Whats your favorite type of bear? One in a cage or very far away from me.

14. Where was the last place you went? I took the kids to the park this morning.

15. What if that person knocking at your door earlier was an adult selling candy bars... would you buy one? I would tell them the same thing. Well, if HE was cute, I might find some change.

Schools Out But An Idle Mind As They Say..

Hey everyone!

Summer is here and the kids are getting out of school for a hopefully, fun, safe summer.

In my house like a lot of my friends homes, we continue to promote school, learning, explorer and fun activities to keep the kids motivated.

I remember when I was a kid, summer came and it was awesome but by the end of July I was bored. My sisters and I sat around looking for our mom to give us things to do. Kids love routine and they love learning.

My son was able to review a KA Reader book entitled Coming Home. We read the story together then went online to the webscene to watch it play out. The characters are cute, funny and colorful and my son enjoyed putting faces to the characters we were reading about in the book. I loved the word patterns used in each lesson and the themes used throughout the lesson.

My daughter and I worked on one of the Busy Preschooler books called Celebration of Letters A and B. What I love most about this type of lesson is that your child wants to learn. We have held "mommy school" for years now. Mostly we work on worksheets, counting, colors and hand play together and my kids expect and want to do it. But some of my friends wait until the end of the summer and want the kids to do some work to get them back into school groove. Kids aren't happy which leads to mom not being happy. With IBW you set the child up and they don't even know they are learning.

We particularly loved the ABC Trace. My daughter had a great time "painting the letter".

I really appreciated that beside a lesson plan there was a visual lesson to go along. Most children are very visual and this helps to push the point home while remaining fun and interactive.

Each lesson book is in English and in Spanish, easy to use and full of opportunities to promote school readiness.

Wordless Wednesday - The Flower & ABC Wednesday

ABC Wednesday round 4 is almost at the end with the letter "W". Come play along.

W is Weathered = At a local farm this week I took yet another picture of this truck on the property. I am sure this truck had a very red apple on it one day but the weather and wear and tear of farm life has made it a very dull, white piece of steel.

And Wagon. This photo is 3 years old. My kids look so little here. This picture breaks my heart. It went so damn fast.

1.) To you, what makes the perfect body the perfect body? No hanging fat, some definition and nice curves. On a women, curves are what make her a women and on a man, I love definition. No flat playing fields.

2.) What part of your body do you obsess about the most? My thighs. I wish they were firmer.

3.) What makes a house a warm, welcoming, comfortable home? Clean, smells good, has loads of personality. Color and texture.

4.) What fabric feels sexiest against bare skin? I like to feel satin and silk against my skin but leather feels good too.

5.) What is the lamest lie you have heard in the last month? "It wasn't me, not me, uh huh." My kids say this at least 10 times a day.

6.) What always makes you feel better when you're upset? Hugs. Give me hugs and I am a happy women.

Ruby Tuesday - Two Gems

Here is my baby girl today at her graduation. She was on the see-saw begging for someone to come on with her. Eventually I walked over and put my foot on so that she could go up and down. Her smile was priceless. I would have moved it all day to keep that smile on her face. That is dirt on her cheek but the mark on her forehead come from a fall at the library on Friday.

Self Portrait Sunday - Week #5

Come on, admit it, you look through your photo albums or computer folders and see very few photos of yourself. Maybe it is because, like me, you are usually behind the camera. Or maybe, it's because you never feel you look good in photos so you tell everyone, "don't take any of me."

Join me, putting up your self portrait shots every Sunday. There is only one rule. Link back to me so I can come visit you. I would really love seeing some participants so come and play.

Here is me and Handsome taken by Goddess. Damn I wish he was in it but I love his little hands on my head and his cute little smile.

Again, with Handsome but his time it was taken by another photo person. She always has a camera around her neck too.

Maria's Space Celebrates It's 4th Anniversary

I know it pales in comparison to what we are really celebrating today, my Grandparent's 68th Anniversary (she says they were married in 1941) and oh yeah, Father's Day.

Can you imagine 68 years together. Owww Fah! Geesh that is a long time. They are both in their 90's and still send me checks for my birthday and Christmas. Cute right? I spoke to Grams today and she was cooking pig skin bracciole for Gramps. They buried two children (my mom and my uncle both in their early 30's) and did a lot of traveling. They eat well and take good care of themselves. I can only pray to live as long as they have and to be as healthy as my grandmother is. She is all of 4' 5 maybe and still hears well enough to have a phone conversation and has never worn a hearing aid) God bless my grandparents and me for allowing me to have them in my life for so long.

She was just telling me how crazy this spring has been and how my mom's birthday, June 13th used to always be the hottest day of the year and that every year she wanted to have a party to invite all her friends over. I live for these little bits of information.

This was the last time we visited my grandparents (Nov 2007).
I hope to visit again in the next month. They live over 2 hours away in either direction
(they have 2 homes one upstate and one in the city).

Soaking Wet Saturday

Today’s topic is “6 things you think the father of your children deserve to have.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

This is easy. My husband is self employed and runs a 20 person company by himself doing every aspect of every job. Hopefully eventually those 20 seats will be taken by actual people but until then he keeps plugging along.

1. He wants a big, flat screen TV (high def)
2. Surround sound to go with it
3. A new van
4. A weekend car
5. A boat, hello we live literally a 5 minute walk to the lake.
6. A Fit wife

Saturday 9: Never Say Never Again

1. Do you like James Bond films? If yes, what’s your favorite? Nope.

2. Are you daring enough to go snorkeling in the water fountain at the mall? If I could also wear a nice, sleek, black, sexy body suit.

3. Do you sometimes hate everything and everyone around you? No. That is a waste of emotion that I refuse to even submerge myself into.

4. Do you secretly or openly believe the world revolves around you? No. I know for a fact that the world doesn't revolve around anyone. We are all the stars of our own reality.

5. Would you rather buy a moped or a Harley Davidson? Harley. Why wrap my legs around an engine on wheels if it isn't a Harley?

6. Do you water ski or ice ski? No, I am a pussy, but I am the first to admit it.

7. Tell us about the last time that you tailgated. About two hours ago. It happens daily around here.

8. What was the last concert that you attended? I think it was Bon Jovi, or was it Aerosmith? Maybe it was Counting Crows. It has been so long I have no idea.

9. What’s the most exotic food that you’ve ate? Sushi

Attack of the Rainy Friday Memes

The sky watch is obvious. The Photo Friday theme this week is "noisy". Both photos fit the noisy theme. My kids running to check out the bee hive and the girls dancing! Noisy!!!

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting something terrible to happen.

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a person who keeps on trying.

3. A hangover and a sour stomach is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.

4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy playing golf and flying in private jets.

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine being affectionate and a balance of romantic love, don't they realize how much sex they would get if they weren't always so vulgar?

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without salt or pepper in it. I mean really we need salt and pepper isn't it the foundation of good spicing?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a good movie, tomorrow my plans include staying in with a good book and Sunday, I want to call all the dads in my life for Father's Day.

Enough of the Rain Already - Thursday Memes

Carmi's Thematic Photographic Meme asked for Green themed photos this week. Here is my green theme. Yeah, I know the song is lame but it was the first thing I thought of when I shot the picture.


Sometimes we get the sillies for no reason and sometimes it is because someone is tickling us with their foot on our belly.

1. Are your ears dirty? Ummmm no. Dirty ears = a ban on Q-tips and that is an absolute no-no in this house.

2. Would you rather be stung by a scorpion or bit by a snake? (Don't say either...no one wants to be in pain, that's the point. Pick one.) I think I would rather be bitten by a scorpion. They are smaller and I wouldn't look like such an idiot for not seeing it near me.



3. Do loud noises make you snappish? (i.e. A loud restaurant, screaming child next to you, booming stereo from a neighbor's house?) Yes! I get a bit snappish if my daughter is screeching or if the radio is too loud. I hate dog barking and kid screaming more than anything else. More so if it isn't from my dog or child.

4. PETA- thoughts on this org.? I think some of them are too fanatical but that goes with anything. People are are TOO passionate can be dangerous.


5. Would you rather be the discoverer of the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot? (Imagination!) Nessie. I am very interested in her and if she exists or not. Is she just some big old viking ship that sometimes comes up or something. Running into Big Foot could be dangerous.

6. When in a public toilet and it's not flushed: do you flush & use or move on to a clean one? Uggghhhh...you weren't kidding when you said this was the worst. Other people's shit is the grossest thing ever. I will not flush I will move on looking for a clean one!


7. Neighbors are having a noisy, party bonfire, what do you do? Curse under my breath for the majority of the night.

8. Do you play Monopoly? If so which version of the game? Nope. I haven't played in years. We have a Star Wars version that I gave my husband over 10 years ago. It was unopened until a few weeks ago but only to see if the figurines were safe to give to my 6 year old. He has a Star Wars thing going. They aren't safe enough (too small) so we didn't.

9. Are you a remote hog? No! There is never anything on TV. We don't ever fight over it because there are too many TV's in the house and neither of us watch these days.

10. Do you like the smell of paint? Umm...no. I don't think so. Maybe if it was picked with a heavy dose of chocolate or Carmel.

11. My questions obviously suck this week. {I've had a bad week.}
So do you think Kimber should have...
~smoked pot before doing these questions? No! I don't get the hype but I have never tried them.
~drank liquid courage? Nope! another thing I don't understand.
~begged Berleen to do them (she's better at them anyhow)? Sure, there that's the one.
~just piss off! I could have done better! Oh hell no. I hardly think I could have done better.

But all the other kids......

We are rounding a corner, my son handsome said to me the other morning:

It has been cold out and in the morning I put him in jeans, he gets out at 12:00 so we change into shorts when we get home. But the other morning when I handed him his clothes to put on he said, "I want to wear shorts to school mom, all the other boys and girls are getting ready for summer."

Why is this such a big deal? Because I have in the past been concerned that he wasn't aware of his surroundings, (he fantasizes too much and sometimes seems confused). He is a two step child. Don't give him more than two tasks at once he gets confused. Hence the reason I held him back from Kindergarten by a year. Anyway, I digress....you could read about that here

It was a big deal because this shows me that he would realize that he was different if he wore his pants. It is cold but still most of the other kids wear shorts and sandals.

This morning, when I told him to put his sneakers on, he said, "Mom, all the other kids will have sandals on."

I explained that it was raining and sandals weren't an option. Besides the fact that the other kids would probably also have sneakers on, but inside I was smiling!

ABC Is Veiny and my Wordless is kicking too!

ABC Wednesday this weeks brings "V". For me, V is veiny. After my last post I think everyone may think I am going to put up a picture of a big, veiny.....leaf...of course that is what you were thinking. You dirty mind readers you!



Even my Wordless Wednesday is a "V" for volleyball of course. Look at that form. For some reason she is running in the wrong direction.

It's a Tuesday Thang! Ten On & Ruby Tuesday

Mr. Gobble has a beautiful, red beard!

10 Things You’d Bring on a Deserted Island

And here they are in no particular order and since I am not staying and this is a total fantasy because I am so on the next plane out of there back to my loving family.

1-Rob Pattinson
2-My vibrator

3-Cases of water

4-My Laptop
5-Twilight (the book)

6-Some good music

7-Loads of Sunscreen
8-A big soft towel (I hate sand up my butt)

9-Sun glasses

10-A wide brim sun hat.

Trident Gives Us A Little Piece of Happy!

If you know me in real life (not in the blog world) you know I love gum! I am not a big candy or mint eater but I love my gum. I have to have gum with me all the time. It might have something to do with my grandmother always having gum for us in her pocketbook. Or maybe I just have a gum thing, who else do you know actually remembers the very first time they chewed a piece of gum? Yup, me, I do, yours truly. I thought I was it too! With my knee high, go-go boots and my 6 year old attitude. Yeah baby, I had it going on!

Attack of the Monday Morning Memes

This is my very first Not Me Monday. I hope I do it right!

• I did not spend 18 hours this week researching my blog, nope not me!
• I didn't spend over $150.00 of jewelry stuff for my newest hobby.
• Today, I didn't eat a burger from McDonalds and then some of my kids fries.
• I did not download as many pictures of Rob Pattinson as I could find on the Internet.
• And, said, Mr. Pattinson's photos haven't taken the place of my children's photos on my Blackberry and my laptop screen saver. Nope Not MEEEEE!

Click the link to be taken to Blue Monday for more participants or to play along.

Here is my little sweety on a swing. There is nothing like a child on a swing. I remember the joy of it like it was yesterday.

Monochrome Monday can be joined by clicking the button above.

Join Mellow Yellow by clicking the button above.

For Today...

Outside my window... rain, rain and more rain. If I lived in Forks, Washington this wouldn't be a problem.

I am thinking... How many hours till bed and where is my man?

From the learning rooms... Jewelry, jewelry and more jewelry.

I am thankful for... my children and my husband's love.

From the kitchen... pasta dishes are my latest crave

I am wearing... jean Capri's and a beautiful blue shirt that now has a bleach stain no the boob.

I am reading...too much stuff to list

I am hoping... For some sunshine

I am creating... Tons of Jewelry to eventually share.

I am praying... for a happy and safe summer vacation

Around the house... Things are pretty clean but the house feels full. Time to purge!

One of my favorite things... Hanging with my husband on the couch at night and our nightly family walks.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Study my craft and read!

Here is a picture I thought I would share with you...

Sunday Stealing

1. What thing is nearest to you ? My water bottle

2. What is your ringtone ? My 4 year old baby girl singing "Don't Let Me Take My Earrings Out."

3. What was the last message in your inbox ? It was from a Mommy Blogger

4. Who is your best friend ? These days it is my daughter. She is my constant companion.

5. What is the brand of your TV ? I have no idea.

6. What schools did you attend? Too many to name. I was in 3 different Elementary Schools. 2 Middle, 3 High Schools.

7. Do you own a MP4 ? A Wah?

8. What song are you listening to now ? I am listening to True Blood on TV in the back ground.

9. Did you kiss anybody in the past 2 days ? I kissed my kids (all day, every day) and my husband (goodnight)

10. Have you ever kissed someone you met in the blogosphere? I haven't met anyone from the Blogosphere yet.

11. What would you want to call if you weren't your current name ? I like my name!

12. Would you be happy if you had everything ? Sure, why not but could I ever have everything.

13. Are you always thinking of someone special? Ummmm...I guess, I think of my children all the time.

14. Tell us of your most desperate dream? Ummm...well you see I am desperately waiting for Rob Pattinson to take off his damn clothes.

15. When did you last laugh till you cried? That has been a while but I love when that happens. I think I was with Clarissa.

16. If you had a crush, would you tell them you love him/her now ? Well, if I am ever in the same place as a particular celeb! No, I totally would say absolutely nothing. I would probably forget my own damn name.

17. If you could be anywhere in the world now, where would you want to be ? Right where I am.

18. When was your heart last broken? Anytime someone disrespects me, makes me feel like a fool, or ignores something that really matters to me, my heart is broken. It has been a long time. It doesn't make as easily as it used to.

19. Whose birthday(s) is/are coming up? My sisters next month and mine the month after.

20. How many email accounts do you have? One

Self Portrait Sunday Week #4

My poor lonely Meme is in week 4 and has only had 1 participate so far. Where is she? Wahhh...

Come on, admit it, you look through your photo albums or computer folders and see very few photos of yourself. Maybe it is because, like me, you are usually behind the camera. Or maybe, it's because you never feel you look good in photos so you tell everyone, "don't take any of me."

Join me, putting up your self portrait shots every Sunday. There is only one rule. Link back to me so I can come visit you. I would really love seeing some participants so come and play.

Don't look too hard but this is natural me. No makeup, no airbrushing, no camera effects. My husband took these pictures. S

Since it is self portrait, and I am occasionally natural....you know the drill

Check out my chins. This is one of those pictures that we usually don't post about ourselves. Sometimes we toss them because it isn't us in our best light, or we don't feel good about how we look. The reason for this meme was to say...hey..this is life. Look how happy we are all. Look how healthy we all are. Who cares if we aren't looking our picture, perfect best. In 20 years that won't matter but what will is that my children and I love each other and it shows in these pictures.

Oh, those decorations I am wearing on my shirt; made by my children in preschool! Aren't they the cutest pins. I love them.

My son and his prized light saber. Star Wars has taken over his life and it has been fun playing into his obsession.
Come on, join me.