Friday Flll Ins

1. It's time for a vacation!

2. Home ; it's not a bad place for relaxation

3. I must be insane to keep these people in my life.

4. Being a mother, is the best thing I have ever known.

5. My Life is simply Simple

6. The last time I laughed really loudly was one morning in Clarissa's kitchen when we both laughed so hard we cried. (I love that kind of laughter).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to reading, tomorrow my plans include making some jewelry and Sunday, I want to sleep past 7:00 a.m.

A Thousand Word Thursday

Someone is happy to be at the park. Looking at the other kids from high on his perch he found the hiding place of everyone before running and tagging them all. Smart!

ABC Wednesday - Round 5 - B

B is for.....

BIRDS

BOUNCING

BLACK & WHITE BEACH

BEACH

Snack On The Go - GoGo SqueeZ

GoGo SqueeZ is awesome. I was sent a box of regular applesauce and one of each of the flavored kind on Saturday. They were awesome.

They come in: Regular, peach, strawberry, banana and Cinnamon and none of them were a let down. There is no sugar added, no spoon needed. Simply unscrew the cap and sip away. It is like sucking delicious applesauce up with a straw. Love it! It is so good you feel like you are eating a treat rather than something that is good for you.

These GoGo SqueeZ are great for snacking on the go, lunch boxes or wherever. We took them to the park over the weekend and today I brought two to the beach with me. I asked the lifeguard if he wanted to try one and he said, "these are applesauce? In here?" I told him yes, "unscrew and squeeze." He loved it! He said he would definitely buy and that it was a perfect snack for his lunch box on the beach. He asked for the website which I was happy to give him and now I will give it to you.

 

The Queen's Meme No. 3 is called the Culinary Meme

1. If you could put thyme in a bottle, what is the first thing that you'd like to do? I would spend every day till eternity passes aways, just to spend them with you.

2. Do eggs really crack or do they merely have a nervous breakdown? I have seen some have a nervous breakdown until they crack! So sad.

3. Why are you whipping the butter? What did it ever do to you? I actually have never whipped butter, I do however give the cream a wallop or two now and then.

4. Do your spoons spoon in the drawer? Have you ever noticed? And more importantly, if wooden spoons spoon do they get splinters? My spoons actually hate each other. They never even sit next to their own kind. They usually fraternize with the forks and knives. No matter how many times I have tried to keep them together. As for the wooden spoon, I have no idea because I have the Mack Daddy of the woodens and he usually hangs with Ms. Plastic Spatula.

5. You hear: "Dumpling, my Dumpling, come hither." The candles are lit, the fondue is dipping, the Godiva is pouring, the scallions are steaming and the music is playing.....but wait, the windows are open. Why did you close them? Who left them damn windows open anyway? My central air would just be wasted. Money doesn't grow on trees ya know!

6. Do you need a recipe to cook or are you a bohemian chef? Show us your reckless and wild side in the kitchen. Don't have one? Here's a recipe I made just for you: You will need a spatula, a whisk, a gallon of Chardonnay, a banana and a rump roast. What is the name of your dish? I am a total Bohemian Chef. The recipe, by the way, would be called, Wasted ass and a banana on top! Yo!

7. After dinner, the dishes are so dirty that the dishwasher refuses to wash them.
What did they say to get in hot water? Yo, start scrubbing B'Otch!

8. Is your pot black? No but my kettle is!

9. What is the sexiest spice or condiment in your cabinet? What makes it so? The cayenne pepper because she is so spicy.

10. How much crock is really in your crock pot?My crock is full of crock! She is so full of crock that put her out of my mind until this very question. Oh yeah, I have a stinkin crock pot. I am craving some chili.

One of My Favorite Commentors Gave Me An Award!

I am thrilled and surprised to receive this award from Lorie



Thanks so much Lorie! BTW...how bad am I. I didn't even know you were a blogger. I don't think you ever left a URL on the Google Doc Comment sheet. I just signed up for your email feed.

Sunday Stealing

1. Who was your FIRST date? His name was Peter I think.

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? Ummmm...no

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? Beer at the age of 10 months.

4. What was your FIRST job? I worked in my uncle's office doing office work. I hated it!

5. What was your FIRST car? A 1986 black Camero

6. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? Florida

7. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Peggy Beattie and yes we still talk about once a year.

8. Whose wedding did you attend the FIRST time? My cousin Herbie's

9. Tell us about your FIRST roommate. Her name was Karen and she was a coke head who eventually needed to go. She was dating my boyfriend's brother and when he and I broke up and I started dating another things got ugly.

10. If you had one wish, what would it be (other than more wishes)? To be around to see my grandchildren.

11. What is something you would learn if you had the chance? I would love to play an instrument.

12. Did you marry the FIRST person you were in love with? Hell no!

13. What were the first lessons you ever took and why? I took ballet lessons when I was 3 years old because my mother wanted to see me in a tutu.

14. What is the first thing you do when you get home? Open the door!

Annabelle's Secret: A Story about Sexual Abuse By Amy Barth

Recently I was offered an opportunity through Parent Reviewers to read a book by Amy Barth called Annabelle's Secret. This is a book I wish was around to read when I was a child. As a child of sexual abuse there were no books that confirmed what I needed to know; that the abuse was not my fault!!

The book narrated by 14 year old Annabelle discusses the abuse she suffered when she was 7 years old, the age I was when my abuse started. When a neighborhood boy Joel approaches Annabelle about a secret club, she is very interested until she realizes that this club makes her feel bad about herself and the things she is expected to do. When she turns 11 those bad feelings resurface. Annabelle finds the courage to finally tell her mother who supports her and tells her that the abuse was not her fault.

Amy Barth, takes a very sensitive subject, and in the voice of a child, lets children reclaim their power.

This book should be in every therapists office and given to all children of abuse. Also, a great way for parents to be able to discuss with their children, the dangers of predators and let them know in a very safe, sensitive way about inappropriateness. Someone asking them to take off their clothes or touching them is wrong. They should know to say "no!"

Highly recommended!

Cool Clothes For Your Kids

Like Wear is a really cool company that creates clothes your kid will want to wear. School starts soon and everyone is thinking about back to school shopping. How about a way to get your kids clothes and support your sisters (the entire sales force is made up of moms).

The powers that be sent me out some clothes for my kids to try out.

My daughter received a tank top with Lucky Charms on the front (center picture, bottom row).
She wore it for two days straight and refused to even take it off at night. Thankfully she isn't a dirty kind of kid because I actually had to sneak it into the wash while she was bathing or it wouldn't have gotten washed. This is the first piece of clothing she had that reaction to. She loves her pretty dresses and tutus but always takes them off.

The tank she received is of really good quality and the image nicely done. Not your typical iron on quality.
Ken & Lisa Gold, a husband and wife team created the company together. Beside a great company to purchase clothing your children will love, they also have career opportunities for mom's. If you would like to find out more about this opportunity go here.

Their entire sales force is made up of moms. When you head over to their site, you would search for a representative and check out their site.
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Camera Critters - The Puppy

Here is my baby girl holding Bella, a girlfriend's puppy. Cute right!?

Thursday Thunks

1. You walk into a store and the cashier is being held up by a robber. The robber's accomplice is dead on the floor at your feet with a shotgun laying next to him. The robber does not see you, but the cashier does - what do you do? I slowly step backward as silent as a mouse with my hand up to my ear so that I let the cashier know that I am calling 911, then I run and hide in a corner sobbing into my chest until I hear the sirens.

2. We go to an ice cream shop for an ice cream cone. You say you are buying and I am going to stay in the car. You ask me what I want and I say "surprise me", what kind of ice cream cone am I going to get? If we are in my car, you will get the less messiest; vanilla in a cup with nuthin'. If in yours, the newest flavor on a cone so that I can try it before bringing it to you. Shhhhh...

3. You have a dream that your co-worker, friend or whoever is hit by a garbage truck after they back into a ladder with a black cat on it. The next day you see that person standing by a ladder with a black cat on it and there is a garbage truck driving down the road.... what do you do? Shout, "run Forest run", then I sprint over, tackling them to the ground before opening starting my own show, "I dream the future, so listen up!"

4. What is the most money you've won on a lottery or scratch off ticket? $85.00 or something over 80. It was before kids and now I've got less brains cells so that memory is gone along with all the others I have of LBK (life before kids).

5. A neighbor kid down the street comes to your door and offers to wash all of your windows outside for $10 - do you have him do it? I would, but only if he can do it from the ground by using a really long pole and then I would have him come in to do the inside for the same amount.

6. Go to Google Images. Type in the name of the last movie you saw. Post the first picture that comes up.

For my post on the movie go here.

7. Your local animal shelter calls you and says there are 3 dogs that need an immediate foster home for 3 days. If you do not accept, the dogs are put down that day. Do you take them in? First, if a shelter was to call saying that I would report them. The nerve! Making me feel guilty for not being able to take in an animal. I am in no position to take in a dog of any kind, let alone 3 dogs. I would however say that I would spend the day on the phone trying to help find them a home. Then I would search out the internet for a rescue shelter.

8. What is the messiest room in your home? Well, that would be the family room which is no stairs. It is my husbands office/exercise room. I never go down there except to head into the laundry room directly at the bottom of the stairs. It is a disaster area.
9. Have you ever been to a wedding that participated in a strange tradition that you had never heard of? Nope! But I think all wedding traditions are strange. The whole name announcement thing, the clinking of the glasses with spoons so that people will make out in front of you, the garter thing (what is that all about and who started it?), the dancing with your mom or dad (this is the only time most people ever dance with these people so why at a wedding? Why not have them tuck you in or read you a bedtime story since that makes sense.

10. Name one sport that you just don't get. Football! No matter how long I sit and watched (oh the years wasted), I just don't get it. Why does it take so damn long???

11. What was the last email that came into your inbox about? Something from Twitter Moms.

12. Have you ever purchased anything from a sex shop? Extra points if you tell us what it was....Oh hell yes..Not sure what the point system is but I'll tell you...come closer, closer, can you hear me...it was a candle! Ahhhhhhahaha, if you want to know what else I have purchased prior to the candle you can email me or at least let me know about this so called point system.

13. Go back to that Google Images link... type in the last food item that you ate. Post the 2nd picture it comes up with.

14. Got any bumper stickers on your vehicle? What are they? Nope, I have some sticky stuff from the damn trees above my driveway though.

15. What meme question do you wish was never asked again? Who are your favorite bloggers?

Sepia Scenes and A Thousand Words Thursday

Goddess Can Be So Deep Sometimes

My kids say such sweet things sometimes that I want so badly to remember every single one. Thank goodness for the blog. I love reading back at the things they say to me that I had forgotten.

Monday while driving to my son's swimming class she said, "Mommy, I wish I could fly up to the sky. If I could fly up to the sky, I would dance on a cloud and hug the sun." I totally started tearing up. This kid just makes me so happy sometimes.

Today while putting on her new blue hand-me-down dress from her friend she said, "I'm pretty, I'm really pretty and this is my horse and she can fly and together we fly all over the sky." As someone who never felt pretty as a little girl I am so thankful that she feels this way about herself. I think it has more to do with her imagination and the Barbie Pegasus movie. She thinks Barbie is really pretty.

This weekend at the beach Goddess found a ladybug. She showed her father and I about 5 times each. She begged her brother to come out of the water so she could show him. She carried it around for about an hour dying to show someone. At one point she walked over to some little boy and showed him. When her brother finally got out of the water she met him at the waters edge and said, "Look it's a lady....." then "awww....no..." When I asked what happened she said, that he slapped the bug out of her hand. She was devastated. My son wasn't impressed and slapped her hand from the bottom sending the bug into the water. We never found it and I explained to her that it was probably fine and that the bug fly away but she was devastated and felt responsible. Poor sweetie. Early lesson on how the male race just don't get it sometimes.

I heard her telling her girlfriend yesterday. "No, I can't dance because my mommy will laugh at me." This just breaks my heart because she actually does think that when people laugh at things she says or does that they are laughing at her. It is totally false. We laugh because 1) she is funny 2) she is so deep and it shocks us 3) because she amazes us 4) because she is adorable. This has been explained to her a million times and not just by me. I am just afraid that she will end up with a complex but I don't know how to explain it to a 4 year old. "No one is laughing baby girl, you just astonish us with your wit."

ABC Wednesday - Round 5 "A"

ABC Wednesday is starting Round 5 this week.

Here is my submissions for the letter "A"

Airborne

Amazed

Apples

Animal

Apple Juice

I'm So Happy For You by Lucinda Rosenfeld

I
What I love about it: I love the e-mails that trickle through the group of girlfriends. Reading the emails back and forth was funny and real. I love how everyone spoke nicely and very PC in the email but were catty afterward. Very real life. As much as I despise each character at times, I also liked them. You can relate to all the women in the book at one time or another. I just had trouble figuring out if they were friends or foes.

Feeling envious over a friend's good fortune is ridiculous to me. If you are "true" friends with someone jealousy never arises. It is a wasted emotion anyway.

Women's friendship should be a healthy place to fall. Each women in my life that I call friend, is someone I love and respect and would only want good for. I would never wish someone well and secretly wish differently. Grrrr...

The Queen's Meme

1. You are a guest on the space shuttle. You just arrived on the moon and realize you forgot something back home that you can't live without. What is it and how do you convince them to go back and fetch it? I forgot my kids, without them I wouldn't exist. They are the reason for everything. They are my reason!!!! If I can't take them with me, I pass!

2. Pretend you are a teacher in a rough public school for one day. You have been assigned to teach Manners 101. You have the "challenging bad butt kids" class (remember this is a pretend school and anyway I can't say ass on my blog 'cause it's so unQueenly and I might get fined or something). They are jumping up and down, cursing, and throwing things at you. What is the first thing you would write on the board? "Yo, Now, Sit The F Down, You punk Ass B'Otches!" Then I would high tail it out of there because you said it was a tough school and they are about to kick my Butt (I didn't say it) all over the place.

3. Someone in your family or a friend has started a blog. They think it is anonymous but you have figured it out. They are saying derogatory things about you. Do you tell them or do you read it for awhile? Oh hell no! I would totally read that. The nerve and after all I've done for them.
How would you handle it? Nah, I would ignore it because that is what I do best. I might leave an anonymous comment or two though.

4. If you had one dollar left in your pocket, what would you spend it on? If I had one dollar left I would hold onto it so tight, G.W. would scream.

5. President Obama and the First Lady are coming over for dinner. What do you serve? My speciality of course. Crab cakes, ziti, sausage and peppers and some Better Than Sex cake.

6. You walk in on your lover. They are trying on your clothes. What do you do? Run out crying because it would probably look better on them!

7. Every astronaut must have shots! Choose your vaccination: You only get one and you can't enjoy any of the attributes of the other choices. You choose either: (1) The fountain of eternal youth and sexual vigor but only for 10 years (2) perfect health for a lifetime (3) eternal mind-numbing nirvana and peace of mind (4) unlimited hedonism for one year with no negative consequences. I'll take perfect health for a lifetime please. That whole sexual vigor for only 10 years sounds so damn depressing.

Blue Monday - Me and My Son

Excuse the Décolletage. I love this picture of me and my son taking by my husband. I love black and white with a blue accent and I love how I am watching my son. There aren't many candid shots of me and my kids and this one means so much to me.

Monochrome Monday - The Sand Pit

Here is my baby boy playing in the sand box. Is it the black and white that makes him look so lonely and silent? I believe so, it was a glorious summer day and there was tons of noise all around us. He was up 2 seconds later, running toward the swing set yet in this one moment in time he just looks sad.

New Wii Game Is Great Birthday Party Idea

Looking for something different for your kids birthday? Have I got the game for you! The whole party is wrapped up in this really cool game for the Wii System.

2K Play just came out with a new game exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, Birthday Party Bash, which provides Moms a unique way to throw a memorable party in the comforts of your own home and without paying a fortune.

Birthday Party Bash is a "party-in-a-box" from start to finish and includes 12 ready-to-mail invitations, coupons for party supplies and Duncan Hines, a party-planning guide full of helpful tips and suggestions, and over 20 fun birthday party games, all played on the Wii.

We love reviewing games, especially Wii games! When we received the package we opened before even getting up the stairs. The game, the invitations, the Duncan Hines cake and frosting coupon. Nice! No thinking involved, except you just might forget to send out the invitations. Vital part of the whole party vibe, so don't forget.

The invitations tell everyone to bring their Wii-mote with them which will be necessary because who has 12 remotes?

My son is 6 and we had a family friend over who is 12 and myself well, do you really need to know my age? It's 42.

We all played, and even with the age range it was challenging, fun and we each excelled in different competitions. The competitions include things like Pin The Tail On The Donkey, Birthday Blow Out, Pinata Blast, Potato Sack Race and more. When you first start out, you select a birthday theme. As you play the competitions your party room starts taking shape! My son's preference was the Pirate Room and we still haven't seen all 10 theme rooms because he keeps selecting the same one. Check out some movies of the game here.

After the room is complete all participants Wii people show up in the party room and the Happy Birthday theme plays (my son's favorite part). There is even a banner with the name of the party person in the Wii party room. So cute.

Combining Wii Birthday Party Bash with a good old fashion birthday party will make your kid and their friends very happy. Even the parents can play along!

I highly recommend this game to anyone with a Wii system even if you aren't throwing a party anytime soon.

Sunday Stealing: The Heretic Meme

1. Who was the last person of the opposite sex you lay in a bed with? My husband

2. Where was the last place you went out to eat? Some local joint that we won't go to again.

3. What was the last alcoholic beverage you consumed? A Corona

4. Which do you prefer - eyes or lips? Depends on what we are doing? Are we using them to see, because then I need my eyes. Are we using them do talk or more? Then I would need the lips. You see how that works.

5. Medicine, fine arts, or law? Umm....I love sexy doctors, troubled musicians and shark lawyers. I couldn't possibly pick a favorite. Why is this blog getting so PC today?

6. Best kind of pizza? The kind with cheese, sauce and crust.

7. What is in store for your future? If I could tell you that do you think I would be sitting here wasting my time answering this question? But in the very near future, I see that I will be able to hit "publish post" on this meme.

8. Who was the last band you saw live? Bruce Springsteen and the E. Street Band! Love him live but Bon Jovi was awesome too.

9. Do you take care of your friends while they are sick? I tend to check on everyone so yes if they needed me, I would be there. As long as what they have isn't too catchy because then they are on their own because I know for a fact, most of them wouldn't be repaying the favor any time soon.

10. How many songs are on your iPod? I have about 100 songs on my Sirus MP3 Player. Sweet little gadget.

11. Where is the last place you drove to? My girlfriend's house to check on the dog. Taking care of sick friends, dog sitting...who couldn't use a friend like that?

12. Where did your last kiss take place? It was when I kissed my husband goodnight last night in the living room.

13. What were you doing at 11:59 PM on Monday night? Bitching that I should be in bed.

14. Are you a quitter? I try not to be.

15. Who was the last person you had in your house? My friend Lauri and her kids.

15. What do you think about people who party a lot? (why are there two #15 questions?) I don't judge. Whatever works for you. More power to ya.

16. Does talking about sex make you uncomfortable? Oh hell no! Bring it on sister. Tell me everything and I'll reciprocate.

17. What was the last CD you purchased? Wow, I don't even know (it was like 8 years ago) I think I borrowed a DeBussy from the library three months ago. Oh, I purchased from Amazon the score from Twilight for $5.00.

18. What are two bands or singers that you will always love? I adore Stevie Nicks, Creed, Fleetwood Mac, Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen (that will never change)

19. Which of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of? I think it is human nature to be guilty of all of them at some point in your life.

20. How is your last ex doing? Hopefully he is living a happy, healthy life that brings joy to him and his family. I have no clue but I wish well for every schmuck on this planet.

Saturday 9: Heatwave

1. It’s July. How has the weather been where you are? For me, beautiful!! I love the fact that it hasn't been 109 degrees in the sun. It hasn't gone above 85 this season and that is ok with me.

2. What is the best way for you to beat the heat? I hate the heat! Well, before kids, I would stay locked indoors in one room because we had one air conditioner. Now that I have central air I head down to the lake and let the kids swim. Go figure. Where was central air before the kids? I would sweat my ass off playing SIMS into the wee hours of the morning because I didn't have a laptop to take into the bedroom where the air was. Thank goodness those days are over.

3. “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Do you buy that? I don't give a crap what it is...did I mention I hate the friggin heat. No seriously, I would rather be cold and have to wear a sweater or two. I don't do heat well!

4. Do you like hot tubs or saunas? I love hot tubs but only if there is a pool near by that I can cool down in. In the gym, the pool was right next to the hot tub so you could literally dive right into it from the hot tub or do the seal flop which is what I usually did. That means you hardly even get out of the sauna. You lay your body out as far as you can and slip into the icy coolness of the pool. Ahhh. As for the sauna, no thanks. I can't breathe very well in there and since I don't sweat it is toxic to me. My body doesn't have its own, natural cooling system hence the hating on the heat.

5. What’s the hottest you’ve ever been? Well, you see back in 1993 I was hot! Yeah baby! You know, size 3, bartending in a go-go bar, getting tons of dates...what...oh...not that kind of hot? Well, you didn't explain yourself. Uh....ahhh....*throat clearing* The hottest I've ever been? Oh hell, I don't know, 104.3?

6. How many times do you hit the beach in the summer? We head down to the lake about 3 to 4 times a week depending on the weather.

7. When you were a kid, what did you do in the summer? Like every kid I bitched about having nothing to do. Mostly I rode my bike, played Man Hunt with my friends, explored our quiet neighborhood and slept over my friends house a lot.

8. Surfing. Have you ever gotten on a surfboard? Body surf? I can barely walk steady without being on a board with a very, fast, deadly wave approaching. No and No! Wait, what the hell is body surfing? I have stood on a back or two of a boyfriend who wanted me to walk on their back. Is that what you mean?

9. What’s your favorite summer song? Boys of Summer by Don Henley!!!!

Smooshies Toy Review

Dear Readers,

This past week I was able to try out a new toy called Smooshies™.


We were sent the one in the middle, courtesy of One 2 One Network.

Food 4 Thought Friday

Breakfast

What is looming on your to do list right now? Tons of reviews and video I need to get posted.

Lunch

What was your life like this week? Crazy busy but that is to be expected when I am interrupted every moment of the day.

Dinner

What is a fear you currently have? Something happening to my children or my husband. I would be a lost soul.

Midnight Snack

When is the last time you took time for yourself? Ummm let's see, my son was born in 2003 so, ...2002!

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?) Brush off the small stuff!

Amateur Book Review - Ms. Taken Identity by Dan Begley

Thanks to my amazing contact over at Hachette Book Group I as sent a copy of Ms. Taken Identity by Dan Begley.

This book was the most fun I have had in a long time.

In A Nutshell: Dan Begley should only write Chick Lit. For a first book this is a wonderful read and a damn funny book. I loved everything about it. This book read like a movie. The dialogue was great, funny, witty and real! The character's were likable and attractive even on paper! The storyline different and amazing. I love the banter between the characters and think Dan did a fabulous job in the little details that are so important in chick lit character establishment. I saw Matthew McConoughy as Mitch/Jason! This book should be made into a movie!!!!

Based on the premise of the book and the author's bio, I would love to know just how close to non-fiction this book actually is. Good job Dan! Can't wait for your next book

Friday Fill Ins - July 17, 2009

1. Yogurt and apples make a quick and easy dinner.

2. I'm So Happy for You is the book I'm reading right now.

3. July brings back memories of hanging at the beach

4. Throwing in this question was obvious.

5. They say if you tell your dreams as soon as you wake up you will remember them longer

6. Take time to think it over.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing absolutely nothing tomorrow my plans include hopefully going to the beach and Sunday, I want to sleep past 7:00 damn it!!!

Summer Read Review - Easy on The Eyes by Jane Porter

On Tuesday I finished up Easy on the Eyes by Jane Porter (available July 22). I am realizing how much I have missed over the last 20 years of my life in the Chick Lit department. These book are quick reads and so much fun.

What I loved about this book: It reads like a movie. I could see it before my eyes. The dialogue is witty and the characters are real. I love reading celebrity trash magazines and this book had a nice balance of fictional characters entwined with enough celebrity references to make me smile. If I were to write a book I would totally write my characters running into the likes of George Clooney or rubbing elbows with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

Thursday Thunks - Heterochromia, A Haunted Earth and.....

1. Do you know anyone with heterochromia? Does it freak you out or do you think it's interesting? No I don't but it wouldn't freak me out, it's pretty cool. One of my boobs is bigger than the other and that doesn't freak me out so...

2. Should a 5th face be added to Mount Rushmore? If so, who? No! Mount Rushmore should remain unchanged but if they ever decided to add a face may I suggest Rob Pattinson...yeah Clary that is for you babe. Love ya!

3. If you could live on any planet other than earth, which one would you choose and why? Well, considering that the other planets haven't been proven to be able to sustain life, I think I will stay right here! Earth rocks!

4. We're going to spend the night at a reportedly haunted location, are you going with us? Um....as much as I want to say hell yes...I am the biggest interested pussy around. I would love to watch the hauntings from a distant location.

If so, which reportedly haunted place are we going? If I were to go, I am so going with the guys from Taps and would go wherever they are going!

5. Did you play The Queen's Meme this week? If so, was it fair of The Queen to put Berleen in the dungeon by association with Kimber? (We all know Kimber deserved it, but Berleen?!) I haven't played but if someone was put in the dungeon because of an association I am sure it is for a good reason.

6. What color is the towel(s) hanging in your bathroom? Right now they are brown and cream but I use whatever is available.

7. Tell us something funny that happened to you recently. Ummm...well...unfortunately...there hasn't been anything funny going on here this week. This week was very, very serious. Well maybe it was jumping in the bounce house with the kids this week. Having three kids jump on your back as you try to exist the house is never good especially when there is no way to do it without looking like a fool.

8. We just bought you a cow. Do you kill it & grill it, feed it & milk it, or sell it? As much as I love steak and man I love it!!!! I couldn't eat it if I saw it. I only eat steak because I distance myself from the fact that it actually moo'd once. Yeah P.E.T.A. keep your comments to yourself. I know it was a friggin cow and I support you guys with a check every year but I love it! Sue me. I even order it rare and say, "make sure it still moos when it's on my plate." I know what it is but I try not to think about it. I would milk it! We go through milk here like crazy. I could afford to keep a cow for the amount of money I spend on milk.

9. It's 115 degrees outside (46 degrees Celsius), are you able to go without Air Conditioning? OH hell no! I married an air-conditioning guy for many reason beside love. He will always keep me in the cold.

10. When you visit the zoo do you wonder which animal tastes better with a bit of butter & spices? No, but I do wonder if the monkey would go better with red or white wine.

11. Dog ate your homework/work papers. Does it crap out Shakespeare, quantum physics, or just crap? If I had a dog, he would crap out crap. Probably some silly paper with Maria Loves Rob Pattinson and Maria Pattinson with hearts drawn all around it.

12. We are taking you to a broadway show, what are we going to see? If Les Miz was still around I would see that again in a heartbeat. I never saw Phantom but I also think that is gone. You should just save your money and take me for a drink.

13. Gunshots in your neighborhood. Pop, pop, pop. Do you go out to take a look, or hide? I'm under the bed with my hand over my own mouth to stiffle a scream.

Sepia Scenes and A 1,000 Word Thursday

My Sepia Scenes entry this week is my husband and my son at the beach last weekend. Taking photos of them playing in the water is one of my favorite parts of the summer.



Trying to capture their moments together in the water every year is a mission. I am not sure how much longer my husband will be able to throw the kid in the air. He is 4 feet tall at 6 years old.

Wordless Wednesday - The Gift

Honest Scrap or is it Honest Crap?!?

Well you decide.

I received this Honest Scrap Award from Leslie over at Leslie Loves Veggies

Tell everyone 10 things about you they may not know, but are true

1. I love coffee
2. My husband started out as my "boy toy"
3. My father is gay
4. I have 2 sisters
5. I baptized my sisters two children
6. Watching my girlfriend's daughter being born will probably be one of the best moments of my life.
7. I have about 50 songs on the Sims On Stage that I have sung. I love singing but have never sung live in front of people since I was 13 years old.
   
8. Getting comments makes me happy
9. I love watching porn
10. Photos of Rob Pattinson makes me happy.
    

It's All About The Flower

There is just something about my daughter and flowers. I love watching her turn them over in her hand and inspect everything about them. She is interested in everything. She analyzes things and asks questions trying to figure out how it all works.

I have been trying to teach her to love the flowers without picking them. She loves giving gifts of flowers and is constantly running to me with some little tiny flower she picked.
The newest rule is that we only pick up flowers that have already fallen off and are lying under a plant, bush or tree..but the rule doesn't apply to weed flowers.

I love the color of this one lying against her pants with her little hand holding it and her too long, dirty finger nails. My little girlie tomboy will never be a spot clean girl and I love that about her. She is the girl who loves her dolls and books but also loves to run, climb and kick a soccer ball around.
She is a natural and I love taking pictures of her to capture her facial expressions and total youthful bliss.
Doesn't every girl need a flower behind her ear at least once in her life?

Ruby Tuesday - My Little Jewel

Is this Ruby? Ummm...probably not but she is my little jewel, so there. I love her little hands studying this little flower. She thinks everything is exciting and beautiful. You've got to love that about little ones. They find joy in everything.

Monday Meme Madness

Blue Monday this week is a pair of earrings I made. My Etsy shop will be unveiled on August 13th. These will be for sale then. Like them? They are one of my favorites. I love blue and silver.


Mellow Yellow Monday is, of a butterfly down by the lake. This shows just how badly I need a really good macro. I wish it weren't so blurry. I think it mostly is because I seriously couldn't see, it was so sunny and my contacts kept blurring up. Yeah excuses and regrets are the sign of a loser but it's the truth! Swear.




For Today...

Outside my window... a darkening sky bringing on the stars

I am thinking... how nice it is to sit on the deck with the husband listening to music as we both work on our laptops. Kids are sleeping and the coffee tastes awesome.

From the learning rooms... Life and how there are friends who will let you down.

I am thankful for... the gazebo we are sitting in that keeps the annoying bugs away so we can enjoy the moment.

From the kitchen... not a blessed thing was cooked in it today. Ate on the go and loads of yogurt for the kids.

I am wearing... black yoga pants and a tight green t-shirt with save the earth symbols all over it.

I am reading... Umm..what the heck is that book called? Yikes! I just started it but don't feel like running inside to get it. Review coming, it is really good.

I am hoping... that the kids stay down for the night and to start reading by 9:00

I am creating... loads of jewelry to start selling in August
I am praying... for more of the same beautiful weather we have been getting. Love it!

Around the house... laundry in need of washing and a bedroom in need of dusting but life is too exciting to stop right now.

One of my favorite things... good music, good coffee and the silence of the house at this very moment.

A few plans for the rest of the week... swim, summer school, library trips, beach excursion and more supplies on the jewelry front.

Here is a picture I would like to share with you...

Self Portrait Sunday #8

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 I am this morning waiting for my computer to friggin start up and then outside, trying to smile through some major back pain. For some reason today my back is killing me. It could be from all the hours sitting on a hard chair, sleeping on the floor or from carrying my two children (one is 50+ pounds) as if they weigh nothing. My husband tells me all the time "you're going to hurt your back mommy!" But there I am lifting my 6 year old and carrying him like a baby.


Come on ladies and gentlemen. I know there are a few of you guys on here, I look at the stats from time to time. Jump in the water's fine. Show yourself! I did.

Mr. Linky is not working so please leave your link in comments.

Saturday 9 - Wedding Bells Blues

1. If you have been or are married, tell us about your wedding. If you are not, tell us how would you want it to be. - Well it was not the wedding I dreamed of my entire life. I wanted the small BBQ at my grandparents house in Millbrook, NY. I wanted to get married at the church I attended as a child. Walk to my mother's grave and put my flowers down then head to grandma and grandpa's for a BBQ in my jeans and a tshirt. My mother-in-law really wanted the big wedding. She said no one would go all the way up there and that I should have it at this place she knew where I could get a great price on food. I am not the person that wants everyone looking at her so the whole DJ and dancing thing sucked for me. I hated the music and felt quite alone even at my own wedding. There were a few times when I thought, "should the bride be standing alone at her own wedding?" I am not good in crowds and seem to get lost in the woodwork. Everyone had a great time and my family still talks about the food.

Then one of my guests felt ill and on the way to the bathroom, passed out taking down my 86 year old aunt and the partition wall that separated the parties. The ambulance had to be called and thankfully I had a doctor and nurse there. He was unconscious for only a moment but it was unforgetable. Especially when I had to track down my DJ who was hanging out upstairs and yell at him to play some music so we could get the party restarted. Yes, because I love confrontation. Then my 86 year old aunt who was bleeding from the forehead sat there saying the last time she "had a man on top of her was over 60 years ago". Yikes! Too sad to even think about.

2. What age would you encourage your children to get married? When they are ready but I would hope it was not before 25 years of age.

3. Who got married at the last wedding that you attended? Irene and Joe. They are no longer married.

4. Do you enjoy weddings and receptions? Not particularly. My husband is not that husband who enjoys dancing and I feel like a fool dancing with the other non-partner girls because I know he is watching.

5. Have you cried at a wedding? Yes, but not a real one. One of those fake TV or movie kind. You know, the unrealistic, romantic kind.

6. Would you prefer a lavish event or a intimate ceremony? Very intimate.

7. Have you ever been in some one’s wedding party? If yes, do tell. Yes. I was in my sisters and my girlfriends.

8. Does a wedding make you happy and sentimental or grouchy and skeptical? It makes me happy and sentimental even though I know there are many who feel differently.

9. Why do you think our divorce rate is so high? Because people don't try hard enough. No one wants to see their role in why things didn't work out. Marriage is work and if you stop working at it, it will fall apart. Caring and respect for the person you are married to is key. Oh, and you generally have to like that person. Love and hate are too closely related. I think people who really "like" not just "love" each other stand a better chance of surviving. I also think people fail to notice the little things and wait for those big, grand gestures of love. Failing to really see their partner as a person and not just the person who is there to "make them happy" is one of the biggest problems I see today. I feel that I am in my husband's life and he in mine but I don't own his life.

Summer 2009 Photo Contest at Write From Karen

Karen over at Karen Writes is asking for our favorite summer photograph.

My favorite would have to be the ones of my husband and son playing in the water. In the 1st, taken 3 years ago, my son is 3 years old. The next was taken this summer. I love these shots. I take about 20 of them in different version of play in the water. These are my favorites because I love the water coming off my husband's body. Such a great action shot for an amateur photographer!

Ahhhh...Attack of the Friday Memes

Photo Friday asked for Eyes this week. People talk about my daughter's eyes all the time. Beside being big, brown and beautiful they are always searching for answers. She is intelligent and deep at the ripe ol' age of 4 and I can only imagine what kind of women she will be.

1. The last thing I ate was steak and a seltzer.

2. My Etsy Banner is something I recently bought.

3. When it rains, it helps the flowers grow. Without the rain there is no rainbow.

4. Handsome, my son, was the first person I talked to today.

5. Hugs are Free.

6. I need a better bed for extra comfort.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having the kids in bed early, tomorrow my plans include going to the beach and Sunday, I want to hang out on the deck!

1. Where can you go for a really good bagel, and how do you like yours? No place around here. I like mine salted with cream cheese. Or an everything with butter.
2. What is your favorite style of doughnut? An old fashion
   
3. What’s your favorite flavor of Lifesavers? Cherry if I had to choose. Not really into them.
   
4. What O-shaped breakfast cereals do you like? Cheerios
   
5. How do you feel about onion rings, and where can you get some good ones? I like them. Most places around here do beer batter and those rock!

Here is where I was today. It was a beautiful day. My children and I had the beach to ourselves the entire time. Loved it!

Thematic Photographic - Distant

Here are my son and husband playing in the lake. This is basically what you see if you come to the beach with us. My son flying through the air and my husband's arms extended. They do this forever.

The Thursday Challenge is Celebrating

Thursday Challenge this week asked for:
"CELEBRATION" (National Holiday, Independence Day, Commemoration, Party, Fireworks,...)

Here are my 3 watching the fireworks at the beach. For a full description of the evening, see my post here.