52 Weeks of Happiness - Week 1

What makes you happy?

This week, I am reminded of how happy I am in my marriage. Getting married to Teach was one of the best things I ever did for myself. He was and is a great "friend" beside being my spouse and in my opinion, friendship is one of the most important things in a relationship. After 19 years of knowing him, I can say, I still want to be with him more than any other person in the world. He still makes me laugh and I have more respect for him than anyone else on earth.

If you know me, you know that I hold my friendships very high! Our wedding invitations stated "Today I will marry my friend" and I am proud to say, that I STILL consider my husband, my friend!

I am also reminded of how happy I was when we purchased our home.  My parents had never owned a house and this was a big deal for me. "Bury me in the backyard" was my saying back then because I had moved over 33 times in my life. Now, if you were to ask me if I consider this my final home town, I will tell you, no. It would be OK to move as long as my family is coming with me, I am happy wherever we go.

This was Teach and my first Christmas at house house. Our living room furniture was the chairs from our deck but we were so happy. Our cat and dog were our children and the fire added to the warmth of our home. My how things have changed but, I will never forget how unbelievably happy I was when I took this picture.

Moody Monday - Costumed

We love Halloween and dressing up here. Seeing my kids in costume, melts my heart.

Photo Time: Artistic Vision

Freda's artistic vision is very unique and my submission pales in comparison but, here we go....

Goddess was handing me flowers (yes, we consider these flowers!) and I took a shot of our shadows. I then took a shot of my gift! Presents from wee ones are some of the sweetest you will ever get even if they are to some considered weeds.

Remember this Post?

So, on Sunday 1:30 p.m. a movie crew showed up to my door and for the next hour and a half, I was interviewed for a Twilight documentary. While I cannot go into the specifics, I can tell you that it was thrilling and a bit odd to sit there discussing a Young Adult book while my husband took the kids out for the day.

My Twilight alter was the end of the interview and the most humiliating part. To stand there saying, here is my Twilight ornament or here is my Move Companion book was just odd.

There will be a follow up interview very soon and when I hear more information about where your friendly blogger can be viewed, I will let you know.

Thanks for listening.

Blue Monday & Mellow Yellow Monday - Perfect Together-Loving Sibs!

It doesn't get any cuter than this picture. Can't you just squeal at her little bitty hand on his cheek? Love it!

On her head? A pom-pom. The best part was Handsome dressed up and prancing around as a cheerleader. Don't have any of those photos online. Those are the kind that go into the drawer for blackmail when he is a teenager.

Outtake - That is Goddess under that pom-pom. Love the handle sticking up at the top.

Handsome wanted his picture taken with the pom-pom on his head so bad. How could I not?!

Children's Book Review - Be Careful What You Wish For by D.L. Cocchio

What I Can Tell You:

I know D.L. personally and I read the book Be Careful What You Wish For back in 2003 when she first released it. Last week D.L. and I spoke on the phone and I remembered this book was on my shelf. As I hung up, I grabbed the book and read it again.  It was fun to remember the last time D.L. and I had spent time together we were at the Reinneisance Faire in Tuxedo, NY and I was unknowingly pregnant with Handsome. It was a fabulous day and I must have eaten 3 huge pickles from the pickle guy who walked around with a big barrel selling them for $1.00 each.  She joked that I might be pregnant and I said, "Nah, I really love pickles." 

Emily and Megan are BFF's and spend all their time together. They are almost like sisters and love being together like most girls their age.  While at the Medieval Fair in Sterling Forest they encounter a gypsy who sells them a beautiful gem hanging on a thin, gold chain. The Gypsy explains to them that it was her Aunt Ramiza's and it is an amulet. She gives it to Emily for $5.00 because Em reminds her of herself. She wraps it up and tells the girls she hopes their wishes come true and to "be careful what you wish for."

When the girls get home the girls head upstairs to act out one of their made up plays. They dress up in 15th Century clothing and adding the amulet to the costume, say "I wish were really were in the 15th Century."
Suddenly, they are.

D.L. takes the reader on a journey as the girls get to really see what life was like in the 15th Century. The book spans multiple genres as it is part adventure, mystery, historical fantasy, science fiction and mystical, all wrapped in a pretty children's book ribbon for ages 8-12.

Photos By Goddess

When I finally got around to downloaded Goddess' camera onto the computer, there were some pleasant surprises.

Me...and I didn't have to take it as a self portrait.

Falling Apart In One Piece by Stacy Morrison

What I Can Tell You: 
I read this book last night in just a few hours. Stacy has lived through one of my biggest fears. Being married is hard work. There are plenty of ups and downs in all relationships but when Stacy's husband tells her he's done you immediately want to hate him. How could anyone just decide one day they are "done"? All parties of a relationship have their own reality and it may not be the mirror image of yours. What Stacy does with dignity, humor and wisdom is see her role as her marriage dissolves around her and comes out better on the other side.

Stacy, isn't most of us. She has a nanny for her child, a good paying job, an ex-husband who wants to see his son and shares parenting responsibilities with her. While I believe most woman in the same situation will not be able to relate to Stacy because of those things, what we do get out of this story is that, regardless of lifestyle, divorce is hard. It is devastating to all parties involved and the raw emotion of the journey from marriage to single again, can and will knock you on your ass!

Alphabe-Thursday - U

U is unsuspecting -


Being pelted with a snowball is never fun for the person being hit, but it is so much fun for everyone else.

ABC Wednesday - G

ABC Wednesday
G stands for........

Goofy!
Goddess is one goofy kid. It is one of my favorite things about her.

Two 4 Tuesday - Up and Down

Two 4 Tuesday - Up and down

Do you have a pair of snow pants for yourself? This year I vow to pick up a pair for myself. I am tired of being so cold when I am outside. The kids seem like nothing bothers them when they are laying in the snow for over an hour. I am freezing 5 minutes out.

Tuesday Takes

The kids were outside with their dad playing in the mounds of remaining snow before the rain. I decided to look through one of my scrapbooks. It is so much fun to pull them out over time and remember all the memories that escape while living life.

These pictures are from my engagement photo shoot. We didn't plan on doing one but it came with the wedding package we purchased almost a year before then planned event.

Don't we look like we are like any other couple about to show the world how much we love each other????

Well, after 35 minutes of posing our smiles felt as fake as these ridiculous poses. Do couples really sit around with their fingers on their chins? I think not. This picture when he was posing us, made me feel like he was taking pictures of a brother and sister. Really, do we look like two people in love? Where are the shots of us hugging and making out. Now, that would make more sense to me.

This is how we were really feeling!

Ruby Tuesday - My Heart Shouts Their Name

Happy Ruby Tuesday everyone.

Goddess and Handsome are my heart on legs. I would do anything for them. Once upon a time, I was pregnant with a baby boy and purchased these wood hearts to hang on a door or wall. I knew that eventually we would try for #2 and my plan had been to place their names on the hearts. Here we are almost 8 years later and my kids are still asking when their names will be added to the heart. Well, although the hearts are currently still just red hearts; I have added their names digitally and really love the picture.

All photos are taken by me and available for purchase. Please contact me.