Saturday Meme'rs Unite with Tons Of Pictures

Today’s topic is “6 things you’ve made during your lifetime that you were proud of (can be a craft, a dish, . . . anything).” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . .1-My son! He is cute and sweet and keeps me on my toes. 2-My daughter! She is beautiful, sensitive and keeps me from taking anything too seriously. 3-I make awesome sausage and peppers and lasagna. Unfortunately I don't have the pictures to show but when people are coming over they ask for my specials! 4-For Christmas 2 years ago, I made my honorary niece a scrapbook page on canvas of her and my daughter. I really loved it! 5-I took oil painting classes and really do love looking at the paintings a remembering how I loved to paint. 6-Last weekend I took needle nose pliers and took apart a necklace and one earring that had lost its mate and created some new pieces of jewelry. I loved doing it and hope to make more. Saturday 9: Games People Play1. What was your favorite active game as a child? Manhunt. We played for hours. We lived in an apartment complex when I was 12 and there were so many kids to play with. Slowly the group dwindled down as kids were called in for the night. 2. What was your favorite board game as a child? Life! 3. Tell us about a friend you played these games with in your youth. My sisters. We were all so close in age and didn't always live near neighbors. Sometimes the nearest house was the equivalent of 3 blocks away. We had to play together or be bored. 4. What is your favorite card game? War!

5. What board games do you enjoy now? I like Trivia Pursuit, Scrabble, Scattergories, actually I love games so I would play any and all.

6. Do you play video games? Which ones? Yes. I love playing Wii but haven't played in over 2 months. Trivia Pursuit for Wii is my current favorite but before that my favorite was Halo for XBox.7. Tell us about the friends you play games with now. I play with my husband. I haven't played a video game with anyone else. 8. Do you play any sports now? No! I used to play Volleyball in college but that was the only sport I ever played.

9. What’s your favorite sport to watch? I used to like watching a little more than I do now. These days TV of any kind doesn't exist for me.

Hollywood is Like High School With Money

I just finished the most fun book. Hollywood is Like High School With Money, by Zoey Dean plays out right before your eyes. I totally envisioned the entire thing as I read it.

This is like Mean Girls with Lindsey Lohan and the gang out of college at their first job.

It was awesome. A total pleasure to review this book about Twenty-four-year old Taylor Henning has just landed her dream job as an assistant at a major movie studio. But when her catty coworkers trick her into almost getting fired, she realizes that the old saying "Hollywood is like school with money" just may be true. The thing is, Taylor wasn't exactly a social butterfly in high school-how is she supposed to do any better the second time around?

That's when she meets her boss's popular sixteen-year-old daughter Quinn, and has an epiphany: maybe this teenager can teach her how to use her queen bee tactics to succeed in the Hollywood popularity contest. Quinn comes up with a plan to teach Taylor one lesson a week-everything from "Fake it 'til you make it" to "It's *never* your fault"--and soon Taylor finds herself winning the war against rival assistant Kylie. Until, that is, she's directed to steal Kylie's boyfriend, and something happens that's not in the game plan: Taylor falls for the guy. Now she must do the impossible-- harness her inner mean girl while staying true to herself.

The main character even after pulling a not so nice move is still likable and I would love to see who would play Quinn in a movie.

In a Nutshell: This is a book, you will want to get lost in. It is a quick, chick lit read but a meaty story with fun, well thought out characters, and a balanced storyline. I love all the references to celebrities and Hollywood parties and believe that the book is a lot more non-fiction than fiction.

Thank God It's Friday

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! JOIN IN!!!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

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Breakfast

Do you Twitter or Facebook?

I do both. Facebook was addictive for the first two weeks. Now, I go on with my brand new pink blackberry to see everyone's updates but that is about it. The Twitter thing, well..it's a good way to get my giveaways advertised.
Lunch
What are you looking most forward to this summer?
I guess I am looking forward to spending time with my children and my kids at the lake. It is a great time for my kids and I love seeing my son and husband play in the water.

Dinner
What is the easiest thing you fixed for dinner this week?

Mini shell pasta with cut green peppers, red beans, red onions, escarole, Chorizo and grated cheese. It was awesome. (I should have taken a picture)

Midnight Snack

What are you envious about right now?
I try not to spend much time being envious of anything.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)

Choose happiness and you will be happy!

1. What’s something you will not eat unless you also have ketchup? Nope. I like ketchup but I can live without it.
   
2. What’s something you will not drink unless it is served on ice cubes? No! I am not that difficult.
   
3. What’s something you will not eat unless it is served between slices of bread? No! Geez are there really people who are this difficult?
   
4. What’s something you will not drink unless you have a straw? Geez. Ummm...nothing.
   
5. What’s something else you will not eat except under very specific circumstances? I am an easy person, not very high maintenance. However, I do know people who are extremely difficult. They like what they like and that's it. That's cool but it just seems like too much work.
   

Thanks for participating, and have a yummy weekend!

1. I grew up thinking that I was going to marry Bo Duke (John Schneider) from Dukes of Hazard.

2. Friday 5 was the last website I was at before coming here.

3. Why don't you just answer the question!

4. Blogging helps me relax.

5. Thanks for the memories, dah dah, dah dah.

6. The News can be very off-putting.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing nothing, tomorrow my plans include taking the kids to the dentist and Sunday, I want to sleep past 6:30 a.m.

B As In Beauty Is Like Ugly Betty Meets Pretty Women

Book Description:
Everyone in the world, it seems, is either prettier or thinner (or both) than Beauty Marie Zavala. And the only thing "B" resents more than her name is the way others judge her for the extra 40 pounds she can't lose. At least she has her career. Or did, until she overhears her boss criticizing her weight and devising a scheme to keep her from being promoted. Enter B's new tax accountant, a modern-day matchmaker determined to boost B's flagging self-esteem by introducing her to rich, successful men who will accept her for who she is. As B's confidence blossoms, so do her fantasies of revenge. But will B find true happiness or true disaster when she unwittingly falls for the one guy she shouldn't?

In A Nutshell: I love Beauty! She is witty and funny. A modern caterpillar turns into butterfly if the caterpillar ran into a tax preparer madam. I totally pictured America Ferrera as Beauty while I read B As in Beauty. The story was a great read and I totally recommend it. Beauty meets some interesting characters as she starts her after hours job. During the day she works for Bonnie the boss from hell. You know the kind, we have all had a Bonnie at one time in our career. I unfortunately had more than one. Bonnie takes all the credit and give no respect to Beauty who does all the work!

The book is a great insight into the mindset of corporate America and how our own self image projects to the world around us. How we feel about ourselves mirrors how the world treats us.

I loved Beauty's transformation as her confidence soared and B As In Beauty would make a great movie.

I also love that the book was written by a man. Kudos Alberto. Kudos to you!

Thursday Brings the Memes

I really wish this wasn't so blurry, but it totally depicts the exact moment I took it. My kids had never been to a carnival, and they were so excited to be there with my husband. He is self employed and sometimes it is hard for him to do things like the park, zoo, library, farm with us. So whenever he can do something with us we are all ecstatic. We had meet some friends and I was walking behind talking to my girlfriend, screaming over the noise of the carnival, watching my kids get caught up in the excitement when I noticed them all holding hands. I touched my friends arm and gestured to them. She said, "cute" and I snapped the picture. It was all so noisy and busy all around us but that moment just paused for me.

These shots are all from the local Carnival that came through town two weeks ago. I shot so many pictures that weekend and they look good in color, b&w and sepia.
I love them in Sepia because, while I am 42 and we did have color in our photos when I was a child, the sepia is like my clouded memories of those times.

1. What is your least favorite candy bar? Charleston Chew. My best friend isn't a dentist!

2. If I were to call you, what would you say? "Hey, sup! How the hell are ya".

3. What is your favorite type of leaf? One that makes my table bigger. There is never enough room for all my paperwork.

4. When was the last time you....
- had sex? Well, I never! Duh, last night.
- swam in a lake? Last summer, the end of the season.
- went barefoot outside? I go barefoot all the time. Love barefootin'

ate peas? I hate peas!

5. Since Father's Day is right around the corner, tell us about the person that you are celebrating. I celebrate my man. He is our hero and the one we can't wait to see at the end of the day.

6. Were you dropped on your head as a child? I don't know but, that may explain everything.

7. How often do you clean your toilet? Every single day. There are two males in the
house. If it were just me and my daughter, it would only be done once a week.

8. Have you ever been sunburned? Tell us about it. I have been but it has been years. I started working for a dermatologist when I was 27 or so. There hasn't been a burn since then.

9. On average, how many hours a sleep do you get a night? I'll sleep when I'm dead. I haven't slept more than 4-5 straight hours in over 6 years. It is always broken sleep for one kid or another.

10 How many hours did you get last night? 2 hours, then 3 hours, then 45 minutes.







11. Take a picture of something. Post it.

Here is evidence of a good day. My laptop, a beer, a flower, a bug candle, and my pretty pink blackberry! Nice!
12. Are the bottom of your feet dirty? No. They are just hard and in need of a really good pedicure.

13. Do you know the names of every member of the family who lives next door to you? Only on one side of me. The people on the other side are on the other side of an overgrown empty lot.

Wednesday Memes - Use the Force

I Saw Red!

Mary's Ruby Tuesday is always a fun meme. Life is made up of color and red is usually one of the easiest to spot. Here are my red pics for this week.





In my world of a small, town in New York, a spring time carnival is all the rage.

It's Monday Morning & I've Got the Memes

Little bubble puss singing in the bath is my Monochome Weekly Photo this week.



I wish this wasn't so blurry. Little miss was scared to death. She just thought it was a slide, like at the park. "It was way too fast and way to bumpy for me" was all she said as I got her off. She clung to me shaking. Poor thing.

For Today...June 8, 2009
Outside my window... The sun is coming up.

I am thinking... I seriously need to get off the computer and get the kids to school.

From the learning rooms... Stepping outside the box, I made 4 earrings and a necklace this weekend. It was fun and I loved it.

I am thankful for... My awesome cup of coffee.

From the kitchen... I need some breakfast but I am not sure what I want.

I am wearing... My least favorite shorts and a gray top.

I am reading... B as in Beauty. Review coming soon.

I am hoping... That this day brings great things.

I am creating... Jewelry, did I say that already? Yeah little old me. Making something.
I am praying... for a happy and safe summer vacation

Around the house... Everything needs cleaning. Coat of dust and dirty carpets from no cleaning this weekend.

One of my favorite things... Hanging on the deck with my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week...More jewelry

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

Maria's Space 1st Schools Out Giveaway- Bella Sara Trading Cards/Online Game for Girls

We received two packs of Bella Sara Royalty cards. I had heard of Bella Sara but had no idea how exciting and captivating it would be.

Adopt your own horse! Name, clean, feed, and care for the foal of your choice!


The online game was so much fun. My daughter and I used the code included in the card pack and stepped into a world of magic. Blue water, waterfalls, castles, rainbows and horses. What more can a girl ask for? Each ticket unlocks a different level of access.

We chose a horse, named it, "Princess Ruby" and now we go on daily to take care of her.

By logging in, She feeds it, grooms it, plays games, (we love the bubble game) and my daughter loves the puzzles. There are also tons of printable activities to keep her happy and her bedroom walls and my refrigerator are overrun with her horse artwork. She looks forward to seeing her horse and we can't wait to get more cards.The world of Bella Sara is never ending. Besides the cards and online virtual horse, there is also a series of storybooks, miniatures, or you can continue your play with the Nintendo DS & PC game. You can also find craft and activity kits, puzzles and more!

The best part unlike some of the other virtual pets out there is that your child’s horses will never die and you do not need to continue to purchase additional pets in order to maintain an account. Your child’s account will not expire.

In a nutshell: The cards are beautiful, the message positive, you don't need to take out a loan to continue buying stuffed animals for your child and the website is safe. No user can see another or their information. The Magical World of Bella Sara a fun and carefree place where your child can grow. You have the ability and responsibility to decide the level of interaction with the Magical World of Bella Sara that is appropriate for your child. You can use the parental-controls section of your child's account to turn off or limit his or her access.

Kids 1st Movie A No Go!

On Friday a friend and I decided to meet at the movies for a 2:30 showing. My kids have never been to the movies and I have been dying to take them.

Since they loved Night At The Museum which they have seen 3 times now, I thought Night At the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian would be a great opportunity.

I told them what we were doing, and what would happen. We are going to see Night at the Museum, remember the one with the dinosaur who thinks it's a dog. We will get popcorn and the lights will go off, then we will have to be quiet because everyone is there to see the movie.

All was well; I paid $22.00 (1 adult and 2 kids a 4 and 6 year old - yikes). Another $9.00 got us two small popcorns, I smuggled water in because we love our water and I figured it would be over $2.00 a bottle. It was $2.95.

We sat, all the way up because it was packed. Why the hell was everyone there at 2:30 on a Friday? I thought it would be empty.

My girlfriend and her son were a little late and I lost all the seats around me. I waved her over with my cellphone light. Thank goodness for my new pretty Blackberry.

About 5 minutes into sitting down my son started, "I want to go to the museum." After 100 times of telling him this was a movie about a museum, I started to ignore him. Then my daughter who laughed through every preview started kicking the seat in font of her. The women was nice the first two times she told me then she just started looking at me over her shoulder. I explained this was her first movie and I would keep her still. Umm...sorry lady she is 4 years old what do you want from me??!!!

My son started asking to leave 10 minutes into the movie, then his friend came to sit next to us and he insisted the movie was too silly. To be honest, I have no idea if it was because I was busy holding a snoring 6 year old while making sure my daughter didn't kick the big women in front of me who I'm sure was hating us.

I text my girlfriend who was 3 rows up and explained; one is snoring, the girl is bored and kicking and your son says, "this is too silly" what do you want to do. She was falling asleep herself so we left.

Oh well, maybe next time. So, $31.00 dollars later we walked out of the theatre to spend another $7.00 on pizza for the kids.

Almost $40.00 for an hour and a half of ummm, good old time fun???!!

This part with Jonah Hill as Brandon (pronounced Brundun)were hysterical to me.

Self Portrait Sunday - Week 3

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.

This is my Octo Mom shot!

These pictures were all taken with a borrowed Samsung. Check out the review here

As I stated in my review, the camera has a beauty feature which I used to take all of these. Notice the creamy skin? Yeah, no that's not me, that's the fabulous camera with a little Picnik Ortonish feature added. Love the affect.

Saturday Memes Coming At Ya

Today’s topic is “6 things about your children that you are proud of.” You can answer this with a list of 6 words, 6 phrases, 6 sentences, 6 paragraphs, 6 photos, 6 videos, etc . . .

1-I love that they want to say their prayers every night.

2- I appreciate that they are generally nice to each other. If one is given fruit snacks they want another one to bring to their sibling.

3- When I take one of them somewhere they call out to their sibling, "we're coming Goddess, we are on our way." Or, "here we come, Handsome!"

4-Goddess is a little people pleaser and loves to draw pictures for you. She sends them to you under the bathroom door, "this is for you to keep" or if you tell her to stop screaming or shouting she makes you a picture, "so you are not mad at me anymore."

5-Goddess loves to say, "I love you!" Who doesn't want to hear that?

6-Handsome loves family hugs and encourages everyone to hug each other (a big group hug) as he says, "I love my whole family".

Saturday 9: It's My Party

1. Do you prefer to host or be a guest at a party? I love hosting but get stressed that people aren't having fun. I prefer to be a guest.

2. Would you rather go to a large party or a small dinner party? Either. It is fun both ways. I am fairly shy so the small party is fun but the big party give me more opportunity to fade into the woodwork.

3. What is you worst flaw? Little self confidence. I am good one on one but add a few people and I wilt.

4. What is you best character trait? I generally like everyone and can see the good in everyone.

5. What habit in others annoys you? People who are so closed minded they fail to see past the bridge of their own nose.

6. What qualities in others do you admire? People who are quick witted. I love people who make me laugh and wish I were more like that.

7. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? I would try not to take things so seriously. I am not one of those chicks that can hang with a bunch of girls laughing and cackling away at absolutely nothing.

8. Do you tend to be shy with strangers? It all depends on the situation. I think there are some people in my life that would never think I was shy. I am talkative and friendly but that is my cover-up.

9. Do you prefer to lead or follow in a group of people? I like to fly under the radar but can lead if I need to.

Attack of the Friday Memes - I love My Meme's

1. I'm home.

2. My favorite thing for dinner lately has been nothing

3. Why do I feel like saying, bark! bark! bark!

4. A nice long walk with a friend is so much fun.

5. I could use some good news.

6. When all is said and done, life is good!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to laying on the couch, tomorrow my plans include cleaning and Sunday, I want to sleep past 6:30 a.m.


Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions

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Breakfast

What activities make you lose track of time? Spending time online or reading.

LunchWhat did you imagine yourself being the most when you were little? A cruise director like Julie from the Love Boat. I wanted to meet B list celebrities and show them to the Ledo deck

Dinner

If you could jump into any book what would it be and why? I would jump into Twilight and become Bella Cullen! I want to spend eternity making Edward bite pillows and breaking beds. Yeah baby!

Midnight Snack

What is your favorite thing to fix for dinner? The table, for take out.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?) Just because it's raining, doesn't mean you can't got outside.

Friday 5 for June 5: Bugs

1. What bugs truly freak you out? I hate most creepy crawling things but spiders and the truly unidentifieable ones creep me out the most
2. Which Bugs Bunny cartoon do you remember most fondly? Bugs and that big orange monster Gossamore.  (Bugs was my favorite cartoon when I was a kid).
3. What bugs you most about your life online? That I spend too much waiting for things to load up.
4. Which of your favorite websites seems often to be especially buggy? Picnik
5. When were you last too sick to get out of bed? Ummmm never. Well, not in the past 6 years at least. Moms are not allowed to get sick. It's in our contract.

Thanks for participating, and have a bug-free weekend!