Pocketful of Bliss

Our 2nd Wedding, Courtesy of Jeromy

2011-08-16T17:25:00.006-04:00

Yes, finally, I'm posting a new blog entry! About time, right? It's been so crazy busy in my part of the world, with so many changes to get through, and blogging had to be put on the back burner for a while. But last night, my little Jeromy did something so incredibly sweet and thoughtful, that I couldn't not share with everyone:

First though, a little background: hubby and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary. Yay us! We've been married for seven wonderful years, and it just keeps getting better. Seven years ago we went to City Hall in Baltimore and got hitched, just the two us. We didn't have a full-blown wedding, we decided to keep thins very simple. Although my wedding day has always been one of the happiest days of my life, I do have some girly-girl in me, and I've always dreamed of having an actual wedding. The kind where I get to wear the pretty white dress. Jeromy, my lovely ten-year-old boy, has known about how mommy and daddy got married, and he knows that I would someday like to have a wedding, one he gets to be part of.

Imagine my surprise when last night, right before hubby and I were about to go out to have dinner, I was summoned to the basement in our home. As I descend the steps, I hear the wedding march being played on an electric guitar. I reach the bottom of the steps, and am floored by what I see: pink and blue and white streamers, flameless tea-light candles, and Jeromy in his best dress shirt and tie, strumming the wedding march on his electric guitar, and my husband, waiting for me at the 'altar'. He finished playing his song, stood up on the step-stool, and, well, he married us! He had this whole speech written out, and it was just the sweetest thing anyone has every done for us! It went something like this:

"We are gathered here today to celebrate the remarriage of this couple, or in my words, mommy and daddy. Now before we get started, I'd just like to say a few words. Now ever since you two met, face to face, it was love at first sight. There have been good times and bad times. With the love you two share, it will ensure that through the years to come there will be many more good times and very few bad times

So after seven years of marriage, do you mommy still take daddy as your husband? *I of course said yes as I tried to keep from bawling my eyes out!* And do you daddy still mommy as your wife? *And of course he said yes!*

So with the power vested in me by this family, I still pronounce you husband and wife. Now I wish you a happily ever after. You may kiss the bride!"

And yes, hubby and I kissed. And yes, I cried, because I couldn't believe the lengths my little baby boy went to do something so incredibly sweet and loving. Too often as parents it can be so easy to get caught up in the growing pains our kids experience. But every once in a while, such as in cases like this, our kids can make us forget all our problems and all the nonsense in our world, and they show us the meaning of pure love, and remind us of what's really important.

I have to admit that after having been 'married' by our son, hubby and I don't know if we ever really need to have a wedding like we've planned on. Because truth is, nothing can top what our little boy did for us.

70th Birthday...

2011-02-01T17:23:00.005-05:00

Finally, my "off-week" is here (technically it started yesterday), and I get a break from work and the sleep-deprivation that comes with it! I'm hoping this will allow me some time to get some crafting and blogging done (who cares about cookin' and cleanin' right?).

My awesome dad, whom I featured in a POST a few months ago, is having a milestone birthday this year. As of this Friday, he will be 70 years young. Funny thing is, he really does look and act younger than that age! He's incredibly active, and having retired twice already, he just can't seem to sit still; if he's not working, he's not happy. I've been wanting to get back into card-making for a while, and what better way to start of my crafting year (which is really the same as the calendar year, I just think calling it my crafting year has a nice ring to it) by featuring the hand-made card I put together for my super-awesome Dad. Here it is:

At first I didn't think the dark red would work with the blue and gray tones of the paper and cardstock, but looking at the finished product, I really like how the red pops. I've never been a big "stamper", and I'm just starting to dabble in that particular technique. On this card, I used two different clear vinyl stamps to add the HAPPY BIRTHDAY sentiment, and the CELEBRATE star. I practiced a couple of times at first, and I actually didn't like the results of my first tries. But then I read this tip somewhere:

When using clear vinyl stamps, it helps if you place the paper/cardstock on a crafting mat.

I'm not exactly sure of the science and physics behind it, but it worked. I think I did a pretty ok job, and I think with practice, I'll get the hang of applying just the right amount of even pressure to assure my stamped image is clear enough without looking too "heavy". Overall, I was pleased with my results here. Yea, I think my dad will like it...

Stay tuned! I have quite a few family and friends with winter and spring birthdays, so I'll have lots of cards to whip up. Hopefully I'll get to share more paper-crafting techniques along the way. And of course, if YOU have any you wanna share with me, I totally welcome it! Until next time...

✽ HAPPY CRAFTING! ✽

Playing Catch-Up

2011-01-22T21:21:00.005-05:00

✿ OH YES WE DO! ✿

I can't believe that my last blog post is dated August of 2010! Yikes! I guess that's what happens when life gets a hold of you. To say that my family and I have undergone some transitions would be an understatement! I won't bore everyone with all the details; suffice it to say that my becoming a working mom, along with continuing to be a homeschooling mommy, has definitely affected the dynamics in our household. With hubby still laid off, my finding a job that I can work from home was truly a blessing, but there was a definitely an adjustment period. It got a bit rough at times, but it was never anything we couldn't handle.

With all of this going on, blogging had to placed on the back burner for a while. Now that our little family have settled into the new groove, the madness of the winter holidays behind us, and as I become better at multi-tasking and time-management, I'm determined to get back into my blogging. I still have so much to share with everyone! I did some brainstorming, and these are just a few topics I think I'll blog about:

✽ Foodie Finds
✽ Homeschooling Adventures
✽ Mommy Adventures
✽ Scrapbooking
✽ Photography
✽ Other crafting
✽ ...and whatever else life brings my way!

So here's to successful blogging...for me and for all you other fabulous bloggers out there! Stay tuned, I'll be back soon!

A Light In The Dark!

2010-08-10T19:56:00.004-04:00

It's been said over and over again: God works in mysterious ways.

That has proven to be true yet again! For those of you who have been following my blog, you may have noticed that from time to time I will sort of disappear from the blogosphere. Sometimes it's because life just catches up with me and there's just no time to post. Or, sometimes it's because I just can't come up with anything thought-provoking or clever to post about... I believe we call that BLOGGER'S BLOCK, right?

And there are the moments when I sort of UNPLUG myself for awhile because there are not-so-great changes in my life going on, and the only way I know to cope is to isolate myself and sort of hole up in my own little world. Those are the times when I feel like the walls are just closing in on me, and all I want to do is curl in the fetal position and hide from the big bad world. Ironically, these times when I feel so down and alone are the times when I pray the hardest and call on God to help me out. And true to His form, He answers! Let me explain a little...

About two months ago hubby dropped some alarming news: there was a 99% chance that he would have to take a voluntary layoff at work due to cutbacks. Though he would still be bringing in some income, it would mean a serious paycut. We both agreed that this meant that I would have to find a part-time job. Originally, we thought that a part-time job that I could later give up when he goes back to work would be ideal. But, there was the problem of finding a job where I could work in the afternoons or evenings so that I could still homeschool our son during the day. Well, I'm sure most of you won't be surprised when I tell you that job availability is SLIM PICKINS out there! As time went on, I got more and more nervous, so much that I was literally giving myself stomach aches. It got to a point where I was convinced that I would have no choice but to get a job during the day, which would mean having to put my boy into regular public school. It was just so much change all at once!

And then, A LIGHT IN THE DARK!

It started with me responding to a job listing posted on Craigslist, and has now culminated in me landing a job that is PERFECT for me and my family. I will be working with a nurse staffing agency as an On-Call Coordinator. And guess what? It's an evening job! And even better...I GET TO WORK FROM HOME!! How AWESOME is that?!

So needless to say, I'm ecstatic, and for the first time in two months, I'm breathing normally. Not only will my family and I make it through this financially challenging time, but this is actually a job that I can keep even after hubby goes back to his full time job. I get to keep homeschooling our son, which is so very important to us. Life is good!

What lesson did I learn? That despite how scary and uncertain life gets, God always provides a way for me and my family. Thins happen for a reason. Were it not for my hubby having to be temporarily layed off, I wouldn't have gone job hunting, and I wouldn't have found this great job opportunity. Funny how life works out like that, right? I start training for my new job this coming Monday, and rest assured I will be sharing this experience with all of you. It's been more than five years since I've been employed, so re-entering the workforce will definitely be interesting!

It's official, he's a ROCKSTAR!

2010-08-08T01:00:00.001-04:00

I can't think of a better topic to blog about for my "blogging comeback" than my son's rock-and-roll debut...

Yup, it's official! My boy Jeromy is DEFINITELY a ROCKSTAR! Last week he was invited by his uber-cool guitar teacher, Mr. Rogel, to play guitar with his band at a gig. Jer was soooo excited and honored to be invited, as this was the first time he was going to be able to play with a band, AND it would be his debut LIVE performance. As nervous as he was, he just kept working hard and practicing. He had to learn two songs: "Knocking on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan, and "Blue on Black" by Kenny Wayne Shepard. He had less than a week to learn his part for both songs, including a solo for "Knocking on Heaven's Door", we are all a bit nervous about whether he would be ready. There were times during his rehearsals and practice when he struggled, but he kept going. And the night of the gig, my baby boy ROCKED!! These are pics from that night, an awesome Sunday night when Jeromy shined:

Where does the time go?! It seems like I blinked, and all of a sudden my little baby boy has turned into a Rock-N-Rollin' young man. Needless to say, hubby and I were so very proud of him. Our nine-year-old Jeromy playing at a real gig, with professional adult musicians and a fellow guitar student (named Joe, who was in high school), just rockin' away on his guitar. That was definitely one of the proudest moments of my life. But even more importantly, it really choked me up to see how happy he was to be up there, doing something that he absolutely loved. Jeromy did an amazing job, and we can't wait for the next time he gets to perform.

We're so proud of you Jeromy!!

Father's Day: Interview with Jeromy

2010-06-20T07:15:00.001-04:00

I wanted to do something different for today's post. With it being Father's Day, I wanted to come up with a way to pay tribute to my oh-so-awesome hubby, Fred, and at the same time make our son, Jer, a big part of it. Then I thought, why not do my very first interview, and have Jer be my guest? Pretty cool idea, right? So here it is, an interview with my nine-year-old son, showcasing how cool and awesome his Daddy is:

Ok Jer, are you nervous at all about being interviewed for my blog?
Um, no, not really...maybe a little, 'cause I'm not sure if people reading it will like me.

Oh, don't worry about that sweetie, those who read my blog already like you. So I guess my first question is this: looking back, what is your very first fun memory of your Daddy?
Probably when we were at the Baltimore Zoo. The cool memory I have at the zoo is the two of us going in the turtle shell, sitting on the lion statue, and feeding the birds in the giant birdcage. I was like, three or four.

Cool! Ok...now, how do you think your relationship is with Daddy?
I think my relationship with Daddy is special because we've really bonded.

Great! Now how strong do you think that bond is?
Oh, like, bigger than the universe! It's really strong.

That's really awesome. If you could pick one thing that is your most absolute favorite thing about Daddy, what would that be?
That he's a total goof-ball! And that he loves me very much.

Ha ha! Yea, he's pretty goofy. What is your favorite thing or things to do with Daddy?
Um, swim in the pool, we go out to play pool, whenever we have our own father-son time.

What are some things you guys do during father-son time?
Well we eat man-food, and we watch WWE wrestling together, and sometimes we play PlayStation or Wii. Oh, and sometimes we [NERF] sword-fight.

What are some cool things that Daddy has taught you to do?
He's taught me how to play pool...ummm, he's helped me learn how to use tools, and he's taught me how to ride a bike. He showed me how to throw a football, and how to hit a baseball.

Right. And you and Daddy do martial arts together. What do you think about how the two of you do that together?
Um, I think it adds to our bond. Because every time we go [to class], we train together, we work together, work side by side basically. He's a good teacher, and he's calm...most of the time!

In martial arts, what's your favorite thing to do with Daddy?
Um, the grappling...yea, definitely the grappling.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how special would say your Daddy is, with 10 being the highest most uber-special?
Oh, a number way bigger than like, a million! That number is so big, it doesn't even exist.

Wow! That's pretty big. Now, in all of your nine-and-a-half years, what has been the coolest and most awesome gift that Daddy has ever given you?
Definitely the KISS concert...yea, definitely when he took us to the KISS concert. Nothing can top that.

When you get older, do you hope to be like Daddy?
Oh yea.

In what way would you like to be like Daddy?
Um, be a hard-worker, be a good family-man, teach my kids things.

So I assume that you think Daddy is a pretty awesome dad?
Oh yea, he's the best dad in the world.

What are some things about Daddy that makes him such a great dad?
Um, we do a lot of things together. Even when has to work a lot, he always makes time for me. And he's just the best dad in the world. I couldn't ask for a better one. We laugh together, we have fun together...NOTHING can break our bond.

What's one thing that you haven't learned to do yet, that you want Daddy to teach you one day?
Drive a motorcycle!

Ok...now give me three words that best describe Daddy?
Um, ok...I actually have four: funny, loving, caring, and easy-going.

Alrighty then. Ok, so to wrap it up, tell me what Father's Day message you would like to give to Daddy today...
Um, I would say this: Daddy, I love you, I care about you, and you're the best daddy in the world. I couldn't ask for a better dad than you.

❤❤❤

And there you have it folks, my very first feature interview on my blog! Thanks for reading, and I bid all the Dad's out there a very Happy Father's Day!

Number 30: Relationships

2010-06-17T22:56:00.013-04:00

Number 30: What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?

I was perusing the list of questions on the 5,000 Question Survey, and for some reason this one jumped out at me. But before I continue, let me make it very clear that I am in NO WAY shape or form a relationship expert. My answer to this question is based on my own personal past experiences; I don't claim to have perfect relationships. In fact the exact opposite is true: much of what I've learned about relationships is based on having experienced the good, survived the bad, and endured even in the midst of the plain ol' ugly.

So as I was thinking about the different types of relationships out there, such as marriages, boyfriends and girlfriends, parent-child and other familial bonds, and close friendships, and what I have learned, I came up with a list of five key ingredients that I feel have been essential for me when it comes to maintaining healthy and productive relationships. So here they are, in no particular order:
HONESTY... "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters," by Albert Einstein. Yea, there's a reason the man is known as a genius, besides the whole theory of relativity thing. To me, honesty is vital, and I don't just mean being honest with the other person, but being honest with yourself. I really believe that without a basic yet strong foundation of honest-to-goodness trust, then there's nothing to build on. Can the truth hurt sometimes? Absolutely! But you know what? I'm the kind of girl that if I put on a butt-ugly outfit, I'd actually be mad at you if you let me go out in public looking butt-ugly, instead of telling me, "girl, I love you, but that outfit is SO not working for you! Now please go change!" Believe me, I'd rather know the truth straight from the get go, and I think most of us would too. Even with my son, I try my darndest to give him truthful answers, no matter how difficult the question and/or subject might be, and of course I explain things to him in a way that he will understand at his level. [Seriously, just wait until I post about the time my 9-year-old son asked me what a stripper pole was! Try explaining that one without blushing and cringing!]
COMMUNICATION... “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place," by George Bernard Shaw. Simply put: say what you have to say, openly and honestly. Don't assume that the other person should just KNOW, because guess what? He or she is not a mind reader! Seriously, unless the person is a true psychic, they don't always know what's going on in your head. Say it, write it down on paper, text it, Facebook message it, record it as an mp3 file and add it to their favorite iPod playlist, or even video tape your statement with you cell phone camera...whatever it takes to get your point across, just do it! Because at the exact moment that communication ceases, the bonds holding your relationship together slowly start to fray and weaken. Sharing is caring, right? So share your feelings, your thoughts, what's bothering you, etc. And if you don't, you can't blame the other person for not "just knowing", that wouldn't be fair.

LOVE... “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in," by Morrie Schwartz. I mean really, need I say more? We have relationships because we have love to give, and we want to be loved in return. It's all love baby! Give love, be open to love...BE LOVE! (yea, borrowed that last one from Jason Mraz)

FAITH... "Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof," by Khalil Gibran. And when I say faith, I'm not just talking about faith in God, although as a Christian, I believe my faith in God not only helps me sustain good relationships, but is very essential in my life in many ways. When I say faith, I mean have faith in yourself, in those you love, and have faith in something that is bigger than the both of you. Have faith that your bond with each other is strong enough to withstand the ups and downs. Have faith in yourselves that you are worthy of one another, and that the value of your relationship is worth the risk of possible disappointment(s). Because we in fact are NOT perfect people, and yes we all make mistakes that can drive the people around us absolutely bananas. These mistakes can really rock a relationship at its very core. But if you both can maintain your faith in each other and truly believe in why you are married or together or friends or family in the first place, then you can make through to the other side. Don't always assume the worst in people, it makes for a stressful time.

HUMOR... You gotta laugh! Life is just too darn short to not laugh. I actually had to learn this one from my husband. My Freddie laughs at just about everything, which of course I know is just how he deals with it. He laughs even at times when it gets him in trouble, like when I'm irritated with him or when we're in the middle of an argument. Oh yea, imagine how infuriating it is when I say to him, "don't you dare laugh!", at which point he proceeds to burst out in the most annoying guffaw! But you know what folks? That humor is one of the many things I totally love about my man. My hunka-hunka burnin' love has taught me the value of always finding a way to laugh, even when it seems like life couldn't get any worse. That humor has saved me from ending up in the loony bin, I can't even tell you how many times!

So there's my take on the key ingredients of a good relationship. Now for any of you who are rolling your eyes because you think I'm over simplifying the dynamics of human relationships, I'm really not! Obviously there are a great many facets to any relationship, and I freely admit that there's a very real possibility that I'm totally full of crap. And like I said, I DO NOT have perfect relationships, and I don't know how to have a perfect relationship, or that even such a thing exists! I mean really, if I knew the exact scientific formula to a successful relationship, first of all I'd be richer than Oprah and Dr. Phil combined, I wouldn't have had the mind-numbingly large number of bad breakups in the past [can you say restraining order? TWICE!], I wouldn't have literally cut an ex-friend of mine completely out of my life less than a year ago, and I wouldn't have a sister than I'm estranged with. So again, clearly, I am no expert! All I know is, when I look at my wonderful marriage, my current close friendships, and the incredible bond I have with my parents and [most] of my siblings, the five things I listed above are all the common factors that blend together to create fairly harmonious connections. Do things sometimes go off the rails? Of course they do! But again, for me, I keep coming back to the basics. And when I do, you know what? Life goes on, and life is great!

And of course, I'm dying to know: what do you think of my list? Am I spot on? Am I full of it? What would you add to this list?

*photos courtesy of this SITE

LOOKING FLY!

2010-06-17T13:09:00.006-04:00

One of my favorite things about blogging is getting all the wonderfully kind comments from my fellow bloggers. It's so encouraging to have people give you encouragement and positive critique. So to all of you who have left such lovely comments, a huge THANK YOU to you! You all give me a reason to continue my blogging adventures!

If you've been following my blog, you may have noticed that I recently gave it a makeover. I went from a 3-column format to a 2-column format, which I think made my blog look a little less busy and cluttered...simple is always better right? I also chose a different background and banner to fit the spring/summer season. Plus, I just LOVE the color scheme. One of my uber-favorite bloggers, Lemonade Makin' Mama, left me the sweetest comment about my blog's new look:

"Okay your blog is looking FLY! I'm loving all the pretty colors and fun!"

Maybe it's just me, but I find it so cool to have my blog, which is basically an extension of myself, referred to as FLY. It's such a retro way of saying YOU'RE FABULOUS! So thanks to you Lemonade Makin' Mama, for making my day FLY as can be!

Now I have to give credit where credit is due. I owe a big THANKS A MILLION to Megan over at SHABBY BLOGS, who loves us bloggers so much that she creates amazing backgrounds, buttons, banners, and other FLY blog stuff, and she lets us use them for FREE! I don't know about you, but FREE is my favorite F-word ever (well, after the word FUDGE that is). It's really thanks to her creative genius that I was able to achieve such a FLY look on my blog. So if you're looking for a way to vamp up your blog, go check out all the free stuff she has made available. It's really priceless what she has to offer. Just click the button above and it'll take you to free blog design heaven!

I'd love for you to share with me:
Have you ever received a blog post comment that totally made your day?

*rainbow photo courtesy of this SITE

An unexpected guest...

2010-06-15T13:50:00.006-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I got a phone call from one of my oldest friends, Audrey. She and I went to high school together in Alaska, were in the same graduating class, and we were the best of friends, and in many ways still are. Although she still lives in Alaska and I'm in Maryland, we still manage to stay close. We haven't seen each other in almost ten years, so imagine my surprise and excitement when she calls to tell me that she is on the East Coast for her sister's wedding in Virginia, and the she and her family will driving up to Baltimore this Wednesday, and would I like to get together.

Are you kidding me? Would I like to get together with a very dear friend that I haven't seen in almost ten years? Um, YEA!!

So the plan is they will be driving up from Virginia early Wednesday morning, and we're all going to spend the day together, probably the evening too, before they have to fly back to Alaska on Thursday morning. One of the things we've planned is a trip to the Baltimore Aquarium, which the kiddies will love. I'm so very excited follks!!

Because my mama ingrained in my head long ago that your house has to immaculately clean before you have guests over, I've been scrambling around like crazy trying to make the house spotless. Not that my house is a total dump, it's actually in good shape considering how much I hate to clean. But when I know I'm having company over, I tend to go a little nuts and neurotic (yea, like this is the only time I'm neurotic!), so I've spent the better part of today on a cleaning frenzy.
And is it weird that I'm nervous?? I have no idea what I have to be nervous about, considering this is a gal who I have so much history with, someone who has seen me make some incredibly stupid decisions and make a complete butt of myself, and she remained a true and loyal friend throughout. She was the kind of friend that brought me ice cream at work when a boy broke my heart, and who would listen to hours of whining when another boy broke my heart. She is the most non-judgmental person I know, so heaven only knows why I'm nervous about seeing her. Could it be because she will be meeting my hubby and my son for the first time? Or because the last time she saw me I was about 115 pounds, and now I'm...well, not THAT weight anymore. I've never been to a highschool reunion, but I imagine this is what it feels like before you go, where you get all jittery and anxious because you're not sure if the people who knew you back in the day will think you're a total loser. Yea, I know, its ridiculous to think like that. I'm sitting typing this post, and I can really see how absurd I sound. But then again, another way to spin it is that I wouldn't be nervous if she wasn't important to me.

Now that I've take a long enough break to get this post up, I'm gonna go back to ~~inhaling bleach fumes~~ my cleaning. Here's hoping I can channel my nervous energy into the cleaning process!

Tell me, do YOU ever get nervous when you're about to meet an old friend you haven't seen in a while?

*photos courtesy of this SITE

What's one more anyway?

2010-06-13T22:05:00.004-04:00

Back in November of last year I posted about how while some husbands bring home flowers, mine brought home furry four-legged felines (say that super-fast five times!). Well, here's the thing: HE DID IT AGAIN!

My husband is a steelworker, and the mill where he works is this sprawling area near the water. There are always at least a dozen feral cats around there, wandering about. Why doesn't someone just call animal control you ask? Yea, I don't know the answer to that one either, so we'll leave that for another post. Any-hoo, hubby comes home one night and tells me about this little cat that he thinks might have been a house-cat that was abandoned. He told me that she was acting super-scared all the time, and unlike the regular feral cats that roamed around, she was UBER-friendly. For the next two weeks hubby would tell me all about this lovable kitty, how she was getting bullied by the other 'street-cats', and how he thought she probably wouldn't last long. Now believe me, I knew where this was going folks. And as hard as I tried to fight it, I somehow knew deep down that this cat was going to end up at my house.

Then for the pièce de résistance, hubby decides to take a cell-phone picture of said kitty, and THAT WAS IT. I was done...I was hooked...I was bowled over! And now, she is part of our crazy little family. We decided to name her Pebbles, because the coloring of her fur coat reminded me of a pretty pebble I would find by the waters edge.

This is Pebbles after we gave her a bath. Yea, I know, she looks pretty rough...

But she cleaned up really good!

And she even likes helping Jeromy with his school work!

So yes, my family has grown by one. She's become a lovely addition, and so far she seems to have adjusted well. I'll admit that at first there were some concerns on my part: the extra vet bill, extra cat food, would all the animals get along, etc. I figured that despite all that though, why not? What's one more anyway? We were able to rescue a homeless animal, gave her home, and she's given us love and companionship. What can go wrong?

I think I'm getting the hang of this Paper Crafting thing...

2010-06-13T11:58:00.004-04:00

Is it weird that I love paper? I mean, I really do! My husband thinks it's a little strange for me to go ga-ga over something so simple. I honestly can't tell you why I like it so much, I only know that I do. I love all kind! You should see how I go nuts at the crafts store when I'm in the scrapbook paper section, just looking at all the beautiful designs and dreaming of what I can do with them. I also LOVE stationary. I think that started when I was a kid growing up in the Philippines, and Hello Kitty was all the rage. My sisters and cousins and I all collected Hello Kitty stationary, and I guess it stuck with me all my life.

Any-hoo, I've been very preoccupied with this whole paper crafting thing. I've been churning out scrapbook pages several times a week, and I'm now venturing into making cards. I've made a few in the past, but I didn't really put as much effort into it as I have been lately. I don't have pics yet of all the projects I've completed, but I did take pics of one that I was particularly proud of. This is a graduation card for a very lovely graduate, Kim, who is the also the daughter of my bestest friend, Lisa. I chose the color scheme because she loves pink, and also because it was very vibrant. Hope you like 'em!

Front view...

Detail view of the "diploma" I constructed by rolling up some white paper
and wrapping a small strip of hot pink around it.

Wouldn't YOU have just loved getting your diploma wrapped in a hot pink ribbon?

Drink Capri-Sun? You might want to reconsider...

2010-06-11T22:10:00.003-04:00

Ok, before we go any further, I need to give you all a little disclaimer right now: if you get queasy or nauseous easily, I do not suggest clicking the link that is located at the end of this post.

Now that I have that out of the way, I will now share with you all some information that came across my Facebook news feed. One of my friends posted a link to a woman's photo album which consisted of photos of what she and her family 'FOUND' in a Capri-Sun pouch, at least besides the juice. In her photo comments, this mom explains that her family had purchased a box of Capri-Sun at a BJs Wholesale Club. When they got home, they opened up the box and took out one pouch. They noticed that the pouch was leaking, so Dad (her husband) immediately took the pouch to the sink. When he did that, he literally felt something firm and large INSIDE the pouch. So they cut the pouch open, and were VERY unpleasantly surprised. They of course took photos of IT, and the mom posted them on her Facebook, and the album is open for everyone to see. According to what I have read, she had contacted both the Centers for Disease and the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA said they did not think this was a serious enough issue for them initiate a recall. The couple have since sent out a sample of IT to an independent lab for testing. As far as I can tell, they are still waiting for results.

As I'm not completely sure about internet copyright laws, I didn't want to post any of the pics here, since I don't have permission to do so. So, I did the next best thing, and posted a link to the photo album containing the pics. It's open to everyone, so even if you don't have a Facebook account, you should still be able to see the photos. But please BE AWARE: VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED! The photos might gross you out, so be prepared:

CLICK HERE
TO SEE PHOTOS

I don't know exactly what KRAFT, the manufacturers of Capri-Sun, are doing about this situation, or if they are making the public aware of a potential problem, but I felt duty-bound to share this with as many people as possible, because the health and well-being of our children (and maybe even some adults we know!) is what's at stake. Now, I'm not big on telling other people (other than my child) what to do or what to think, and I'm definitely not going to do that here. That being said, I can tell you that my child WILL NEVER EVER drink Capri-Sun again....EVER!!

I hope this post didn't gross you all out too much, I just love you all and wanted to make sure you all were aware, so you can make the best decisions for you and your family.

And with that, I'm off to check every single drinkable thing in my fridge...

Quite 'Scrap Happy' of late...

2010-06-06T22:13:00.006-04:00

Lately I've been quite Scrap Happy, meaning of all my hobbies [yes, I admit, I am quite the serial hobbyist], scrapbooking is the one I've become obsessed with. In the past week I've completed four pages. Now I know that doesn't seem like much, but remember that we're talking about a scrapbooker who at one time took a whole two weeks to complete one layout. Even though I've been into this hobby for a few years now, a blank layout still makes me feel like a beginner. I used to sit there with my photos, some blank cardstock, a few pieces of specialty paper, and I would just stare at it all, hoping and waiting for inspiration to hit.

But lately, I don't know...it's like a switch went off in my head, and I'm finally developing more of a confidence in my ability to get the layout just the way I want it. The hardest part for me was learning to not overthink it all, and to follow my initial instincts, instead of trying to mimic all the gorgeous layouts I see in the scrapbooking magazines scattered around my house. I still find inspiration and kick-start ideas from them, but it seems I've become much more in-tune with my CREATIVE INNER SELF, and it's made me so much more confident with my scrapping. And now instead of spending hours trying to figure out how to get my pages to look exactly like the 'designer layouts' in the mags, I can focus more of my energy on MY photos and MY creative ideas. Bottom line, I've allowed myself so much more creative freedom!

Hubby is very supportive of all my creative endeavors, and he is very happy about the fact that after all the money that has been spent on this hobby, I'm actually producing results. Although what I haven't yet told him is this: as I use up more and more of my supplies, I'm gonna have to go out and buy more! He he!!

SHIRT IMAGE COURTESY OF THIS SITE

Rub a dub dub!

2010-06-01T09:42:00.004-04:00

This photo cracks me up because it reminds me of a time when we all managed to find some fun and laughter during what some would call a worst-case-scenario: our hot water heater completely died. I, being the neurotic mother I am, was practically in tears because I had no idea how my little baby boy was supposed to get clean. Plus it brought back memories of living in that teeny tiny trailer in Alaska [when I was little], where the hot-water heater didn't function most of the time, and we had to actually boil water in these huge pots and haul them to the teen tiny bathtub. It was actually these memories that lit up a light bulb in my head. We all jumped in the car and headed out to Wal-Mart, where we bought the biggest Rubber-Maid bin they had in stock. Then it was back home, where I proceeded to boil water in the biggest pot we had. And the rest, as they say was history: in went the hot water, plus enough cold water to get it to a decent temperature, a few squirts of baby bath, and VOILA! Instant portable bath-tub! You were so tickled about getting an old-fashioned "tub bath," right in the middle of the kitchen. It was just like the way the pioneers used to bathe their kids...if the pioneers had big plastic bins. I just love the way you always seem to make me laugh, even during times when I thought I wanted to cry!

Photo: 2004
Scrapped: 2010

Day At The Museum...

2010-05-01T23:39:00.010-04:00

I've lived in Charm City for going on ten years now, and this past Friday marked my family's first ever visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art. I don't know how so much time goes by before I discover such a gem in this great city. The guys and I were looking for something fun to do that wouldn't break the bank, and imagine my delight when I found that this huge museum had free general admission! Even parking didn't cost that much, which is rare for downtown. We all had a great time, and being the fabulous homeschoolers that we are, this became an opportunity to learn right alongside my son/student about some beautiful art. From classical paintings, impressionist artists, to contemporary works, we all had a wonderful time admiring some truly remarkable pieces. So of course I'm going to share some photos with you all. Unfortunately I didn't write down all the information about every single piece, so not every photo may be labeled...

I really liked this piece. The center area, which was hand-woven measures about 3 inches in diameter.

Two of Jer's favorite pieces:
Left - an Olmec statue
Right - a statue of a bat god from Veracruz

Jer in front of a Chinese statue of a goddess of mercy.

One of Fred's favorite: a set of Chinese tomb guardians.

A piece from the MINIATURES exhibit. So adorable!

A random photo from our table at Gertrudes, the restaurant where we ate.

A gorgeous stained glass window depicting the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist.

Jer impersonating The Thinker.

Jer taking notes for 'school'.

A big metal flower sculpture in the Contemporary Arts Exhibit.

A contemporary sculpture made of wood, brown tape, bubble wrap...and plastic hands.

"Ok mom, I had fun but I'm ready to go!"

Have you visited any great museums lately?

To see more images from our museum trip, don't forget to visit my PHOTO BLOG at THROUGH MAAN'S LOOKING GLASS:

As if I needed another reason to love IKEA...

2010-04-20T22:56:00.004-04:00

SCAVENGER HUNT!

Yes, I absolute love the magical land that is IKEA! About 85% of the furniture and furnishings in my house is from there. Hubby and I have always made it our go-to place when we need anything for the house, be it a new bed or curtain rods. But one of the things I find most endearing about this Swedish import is how incredibly family friendly they are.

Yesterday was no different...being the awesome company they are, our local IKEA store agreed to let our homeschool group have a SCAVENGER HUNT! This was actually the second time they let us do this, and this time was even more fun than the first. Thanks to my friend and fellow homeschooling mom, Irina, Jer and the rest of the kids in our homeschool group had an amazing time deciphering clues and finding answers to questions on their team's list. Some of the items they had to look for were:

Count the number of arrows on the floor of the showrooms.
What is the area of a {insert Swedish item name here} table?
How do you say 'goodbye' in Swedish?
If you bought one of every size TROFAST bin, how much would you pay?
What is swinging on swings in the Kids Department?
Find a 3-inch swatch of fabric in your favorite color.

Some bonus items they had to find were: something hard and green, an IKEA napkin, a bus schedule, the number of a local taxi service, a bendy straw, something that is a gel, something that magnifies sound (see pic below!!), a hinge, something that opens and closes..and so much more! The one item that eluded all the kids was a 2010 penny. Ian, one of Jer's good buddy and teammate, was so determined to find that one last item on his bonus list that he was actually asking random people, employees and customers, if they had a 2010 penny! I don't know if I was supposed to be embarrassed or not, but I honestly thought it was too cute. All the kids on Jer's team asked the cashiers if they could check their cash registers for a 2010 penny, and they all did. Again, I so love IKEA! Here are a few pics from the hunt (and there's only a few because I was running around too much with the kids):

The hodge-podge pile of stuff the kids grabbed during the hunt.

The kids had to find something that magnified sound...so they grabbed a small boom box on display!
I promise, we gave it back.

They had to find something that is a gel, and something that is abrasive: Shower Gel, and Foot Salts!

And to top off an already awesome time: Jer's team got FIRST PLACE! Yay!! And because Irina is just so awesome at talking businesses into donating stuff to a worthy cause, she was able to actually get sponsors for our scavenger hunt, so she was able to award some great prizes: a free milkshake at Chik-Fil-A; free game of laser tag at; passes for each kid to play one free game of bowling every day for the summer; and a coupon for two bucks off a game of extreme bowling at night. How cool is that! Jer's team also got these really geodes as an extra prize for coming in first place. Here they are celebrating as they hear the news about getting first place:

Great jobs Team 3!

So if you have an IKEA in your neighborhood, or if you don't live too far from one, and if you're looking for a fun activity for your homeschool group or other kids group, give IKEA a call and ask if you will host a scavenger hunt. Maybe if you tell them that Ms. Multiple Personalites sent you, they might just say yes...ok, well, maybe not, but they just might say yes because IKEA is just such an awesome company. So give it a try!

And to Irina, a true homeschooling mom guru, in case you're reading this, THANKS SO MUCH for setting this up! It was awesome!

Jer's Spring 2010 Photo-Shoot

2010-04-18T07:00:00.011-04:00

A few days ago Jer and I decided to go to the park since it was a such a warm and sunny day. I thought it would be fun for Jer to get out and play, and since we had such good weather, I figured it would be a good day to take some photos. Then an idea formed in my head...since Jer had just procured himself a snazzy looking fedora, I thought to myself: why not get some great shots of Jer, model photo shoot style? So after Jer picked out the two outfits he wanted to wear, me with my camera in hand and he with his new hat, we headed out. And I must say, I was very pleased with the results....

I really love how these photos turned out. But even more important, I absolutely loved the whole experience. It was wonderful to watch my little boy have a great time as he smiled and posed for the camera. Shrugging off his usual shyness, he didn't care at all about the other people at the park watching us. He even suggested certain locations, poses, and had some smart opinions about the lighting. Having these pictures is of course awesome, but being able to watch my boy shine during his impromptu GQ-esque photo shoot, and realizing that he's developing his confidence and his own sense of style....priceless!

And don't forget...

[click the above button or HERE to see photo shoot pics in a larger format on my PHOTO BLOG]

Jer is Rockin' and Rollin' All Night

2010-04-12T21:56:00.011-04:00

Do you remember when you were young, and the moment you first heard that song or saw that music video that was the beginning of your obsession with that singer or band that would forever change your life? No matter what genre of music you prefer, we all have at least one musical group that we remember as the one true band that TOTALLY ROCKS. For me, it was The New Kids On The Block. And no, I'm not ashamed to admit it! They were the cutest and sweetest-sounding guys I'd ever seen, and I couldn't get enough of them.

But enough about me, because this post is actually about my son, Jeromy's, fascination with his most favorite rock band...KISS! Yes, folks, THAT wild and crazy and legendary band. I'm not exactly sure when it all started, but I know that I have my hubby to thank for introducing our son to their music. Jer and daddy were in his truck, having some daddy-and-son time together, when hubby decides to put it in his KISS CD, and apparently that was all it took; Jer was hooked! Ever since then, for roughly the past 2 years, Jer has been obsessed with all things KISS.

During a recent routine inspection of his room, I took a minute to really take a look around...and I had one of those O.M.G. moments. Because as I scanned Jer's shelves, it hit me that this kid has accumulated so much KISS merchandise, so much so that I'm seriously thinking we should be able to invest in the company! I mean, he's gone way beyond the typical POSTER IN THE BEDROOM thing; he has toys, books, clothing, a Gene Simmons wig, etc. And every week, he HAS to watch Gene Simmons' Family Jewels..which I actually like to watch too. Here are a few photos showing just some of the KISS stuff currently adorning Jer's room...

Jer emulating his favorite KISS member. The shirt was bought at the KISS concert we took him to this past October for his birthday.

The most recent additions to his collection: KISS ROCK TAGS!

The KISS-ology DVD collection

KISS edition Mr. Potato Heads...apparently, there is no end to the marketing genius of Gene Simmons!

KISS action figures

Vintage KISS comic book, handed down to Jer by his daddy.

KISS boxed trading card sets

KISS edition toy cars, another collectible handed down to him by daddy

The ticket stub from the very first KISS concert he got to attend...he displays it proudly, folks!

Ok, so now I will admit, hubby and I are total enablers when it comes to our boy's love for all things KISS. I guess we figure it's a harmless obsession, since it does keep music a part of his life, which I'm sure most will agree is not a bad thing. For me, I do appreciate that he does love the music and not just the showmanship stuff. Thanks to his uber-cool guitar teacher, he's even learned to play a few of their songs on his electric guitar. Yes, it does feel like I have a little rock-star on my hands!

Past or present, do YOU have a favorite band or singer that you are totally obsessed with?

Sundays In My City: More Farm Photos

2010-04-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

For Unknown Mami's awesome weekly meme, I decided to share a few more photos from our farm trip...

Wordless Wednesday: Slurpee Edition

2010-04-07T05:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! The pictures I post for this meme all have a story (usually a hiliarous one) to it, but instead of telling you that story, I'd love for you to tell me what you think would be a great caption for the photo(s). I know, it sounds like I'm asking you to do work. But hey, it'll be fun! And join me.... just grab the button on my sidebar and start your own Wordless Wednesday series!

What do you think this photo says?
Please, do tell!

Scrapbook Page: Snow Buddies

2010-04-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

I'm way behind on my scrapbooking, so I'm just now getting around to scrapping these cute winter photos from when Jer was three years old...

At the Sheep Farm...

2010-04-04T22:37:00.008-04:00

One of the most rewarding things about homeschooling is the seemingly endless amount of opportunities out there for our children to have some amazing hands-on learning experiences. Last week some wonderful homeschooling friends invited us to tag along with them to a sheep farm where the children, who happen to be the most wonderful set of triplets I've ever met, actually work and care for the sheep. They feed the sheep, give them water, and they even feed some roosters and chickens. I was most impressed that the triplets, named Ian, Dorian, and Claire, knew every single ewe and ram, knew each one's names, and remembered whether each one got special feed or grass or hay. Now I will admit that I'm not exactly what you call a farm gal, and I did sort of hide behind my camera while we were there. Hey, it was enough of a milestone for me to put on my rain boots and walk around the sheep pasture, stepping in mud and droppings, all without being too grossed out...or at least I was able to hide my grossed-out-ness. What can I say, I wanted to look cool for the kids.

Honestly folks, I did get over my grossed-out-ness not too long after we arrived there, because it was just such a beautiful place, and I was just so darn proud and awed at these kids. They were all so enthusiastic, energetic, and so committed to completing their tasks. The sheep were all so greatful for the love and care these great kids bestowed on them. And as a bonus, it was a wonderful learning experience for all of them, especially Jer, who had never done anything like this before.

So here are some pics from that wonderful day...

L to R: Claire, Dorian, Jeromy, and Ian

Claire and Jeromy getting the sheep feed ready.

Giving some hay to some hungry sheep.

Claire and Jeromy

The Gang rolling some hay to the farm's back pasture.

Feeding the chickens!

After all the hard work is done, it's time to go run and have fun!

And The Gang resting in a lean-to, after a long morning of hard farm work.

Here are more pics from our fun day:

Worldess Wednesday: Cowboys Edition

2010-03-24T22:32:00.005-04:00

What do you think this photo says?

Please, do tell!

Through Maan's Looking Glass: My New Photo Blog

2010-03-23T23:19:00.000-04:00

Yay! I finally did it. I finally got my PHOTO BLOG up and running. I'm pretty excited about it. It's going to be a place for me to showcase the different pictures I've taken, and making those images the main focus of each post. Of course, I will always be posting pictures here too, and POCKETFUL OF BLISS will always be my BLOGGING BABY. The format of my PHOTO BLOG is a bit different: there is one main large column down the middle, so I'm able to post large-size pictures (up to 810 pixels wide baby!). It actually didn't take me very long to get it published once I was able to come up with a name. I was originally going to call it POCKETFUL OF PICS as was suggested by my blogger friend UNKNOWN MAMI, but that site name was already taken. So, after some creative brainstorming, doodling, and the flexing of my creative mental muscles, I came up with THROUGH MAAN'S LOOKING GLASS.

I've even created a nifty little BUTTON that will magically transport you there! See the miniature version of the snazzy picture in this post? Yea, the one in the upper left - just click that, and you'll be taken on a journey THROUGH MAAN'S LOOKING GLASS!

P.S. Be sure to read my very first post entitled NEW BEGINNINGS, I explain how I came up with my uber-cool photo blog name!

"Roar!"

2010-03-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

I was bit by the Scrappin' Bug again, and I managed to scrap this Halloween photo from when Jer was two...

Jeromy, you were the cutest little lion ever!

Port Discovery

2010-03-22T09:37:00.009-04:00

These pics were taken at Baltimore's Port Discovery, which is an uber-fun cross between a children's science center and children's museum. We actually went there a couple of weeks ago...yes, I'm a bit late posting these, and those of who have followed my blog have probably noticed not-so-inconspicuous absence. Sorry for being gone for a while, but as most of you moms and dads (and non-parent folk) out there know, sometimes life just takes you and it's all you can do to not fall off the ride. Any-hoo, I had at one point promised to post pics from that fun day, so here they are:

Jer gets to finally meet Curious George!...

Look, two monkeys!

Having fun with the wind gun...

"Um, let me get this straight: you want me to crawl into the big dark drain under the sink?
Where does it lead to?"...

...TO THE GIANT BATHTUB OF COURSE!

The giant bubble wand was pretty fun!

Riding the big one!

"Hello, welcome to the diner, may I take your order?"

Round 'em up boys!

Jer riding his noble steed...

ROAD TRIP!

Wordless Wednesday: "Air Head" Edition

2010-03-10T09:48:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! The pictures I post for this meme all have a story (usually a hiliarous one) to it, but instead of telling you that story, I'd love for you to tell me what you think would be a great caption for the photo(s). I know, it sounds like I'm asking you to do work. But hey, it'll be fun! And join me.... just grab the button on my sidebar and start your own Wordless Wednesday series!

What do you think this photo says?
Please, do tell!

Rediscovering...

2010-03-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

It had been a while since I'd traveled into downtown Charm City, and a recent trip to Port Discovery was the perfect opportunity to take a few pics of my City. Granted they weren't taken on a Sunday, I'm still very happy to share them with you as a part of UNKNOWN MAMI'S very fun meme....

The last two building photos were actually taken by me as I was riding in the passenger seat of the car, with hubby driving us home. I'm not sure what possessed me to do it, but I decided to roll down my window and start snapping some photos, very tourist-like, he he! So enjoy my "touristy" photos of some great buildings in downtown Baltimore.

STAY TUNED!...I will soon be posting pictures of Jeromy having a blast at Port Discovery.

COMING SOON to a theater near you: MY PHOTO BLOG! Thanks to the encouragement of many, I've decided to just do it. Now all I have to do is come up with a cute, witty, and smart blog name...any ideas?

A photo blog...maybe...

2010-02-28T21:48:00.001-05:00

I like to think of myself as creative, and I like to dabble in lots of different 'artistic' ventures. I've always had a passion for writing, albeit I've not yet published my novel, which has been a dream of mine since the day I learned form words on paper. I love to create scrapbook pages, even if it can take me a whole week just to get one page finished. I'm a bit of an amateur chef; cooking is considered an art, right? Even if I do set off the smoke detector every once in a while? But lately, one particular hobby has ~~had a stranglehold on me~~ kept the creative monkeys in my head busy: photography. Ever since Narcissa, a.k.a. my Nikon SLR digital camera, {is it weird that I named her?} came into my life, she and I have been inseparable. To say that I've been snap-happy of late would be a serious understatement! I'm pretty sure my son is sick and tired of a camera in his face constantly; the dog has started running up the steps whenever she sees Narcissa in my hands; and I seem to have become the unofficial photographer at certain homeschool group activities and at mixed martial arts class. Not that I mind! On the contrary, it's been so much fun.

Sooo, in the midst of my recent fascination with taking photos and learning more techniques in capturing great images, a little idea started to form in my head: why not publish another blog that is solely for showcasing my foray into amateur photography? I know of a few bloggers who do this, and I was thinking that it may be fun for me. Of course, POCKETFUL OF BLISS will always be my BLOGGING BABY. This will still be the primary place where I share all sorts of random pieces of my life with you all, while my photography blog would be dedicated to my more artistic endeavor. I also think it would be fun to have a sort of 'journal' that records my progress as I move beyond amateur level photography. So what's got me hesitating? Well, really only two things. The first is that it will in fact be another blog to keep up with. And if you've followed my blog even a little bit, you already know that there have been times when more than a week will go by before I post again. I guess what I'm admitting is that I'm not always a regular blog poster now, so I can't help but wonder if I even have the time to manage another blog. The second cause for my hesitation is something that I think any type of artist, amateur or professional, goes through: quite simply, I'm wondering if the rest of the world will love or hate my photos/art. Yea, that one makes me a bit anxious....

As there are only two things that have caused me to pause before diving into the creation of a photo blog, I'm pretty sure that eventually I'm gonna just do it. I mean, what do I have to lose right? So who knows, you might just be receiving an invitation to see my very own ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY. Aren't you just excited?! I know I am!

Just call me Little Miss Sunshine!

2010-02-23T13:12:00.005-05:00

Blog awards are so awesome! They mean so much because it comes from my blogging peers, and it's so rewarding to get that recognition. Ms. Lottie over at KAFFEINE ADDICT was sweet enough to give me this:

How cool is that!?! And it certainly did shine a bright light in my day, and my whole week. Love it! It's like Ms. Lottie knows me so well, especially that I'm all about bringing a little bit, or 'pocket-fuls' of sunshine into the lives of those I'm fortunate enough to have in my life...including YOU, my lovely reader!

✿ KISSES ALL AROUND! ✿

❤❤❤❤❤

Here are the rules I must follow when accepting my sweet reward:

✔ Put the logo in my post or within my blog.
✔ Pass the award onto 12 fellow bloggers.
✔ Link the nominees within my post.
✔ Let the nominees know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blogs.
✔ Share the love and link to the person who gave you the award!

So without further ado, here are twelve BRIGHT & SHINY blogs that I nominate for this award:

LEMONADE MAKIN' MAMA
MISS DEVA, who's ALWAYS CARRIED AWAY
CHOCOLATE COVERED DAYDREAMS
UNKNOWN MAMI
FOUR SEASONS FARM
AUNT OF 14
WIND IN THE WILDWOOD
BIG TO LITTLE
MOMMA MADE IT LOOK EASY
SMELL THE COFFEE LISA
CARMA SEZ
ROERDINK RAMBLINGS

So there you are folks. To the lovely blogs I've nominated, I love you all! I know how crazy busy you all can get, so it won't hurt my feelings if it takes you a while to pass this on. And for those I haven't nominated, if you know of some great blogs that you'd like to reward, please, feel free to join in the fun!

I'm the Birthday Girl!

2010-02-21T14:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, I do realize this post is a bit late, but it's been a bit of a busy week. My last POST was on Valentine's Day, which coincidentally was also yours truly's birthday. Yup, MY day!

Yay Me!!

My guys and I celebrated with a quiet day at home, just spending some quality time together. Hubby was on night-shifts, so we decided to postpone my annual birthday dinner until the following night. But we still managed to celebrate in our own way, and let me just tell you my friends, I was SO feeling the love all day long! My baby boy was up bright and early, and I think he was actually more excited about my birthday than I was! He wanted to make me coffee, but he didn't know how to work the coffee maker. Instead, he made sure I had my favorite coffee cup on standby. Then hubby came home around 7:45 in the morning, just coming off a night shift...and he had a dozen Dunkin Donuts in hand. YUMMY!!

After hubby got some much needed sleep, I got to open presents. I had already gotten a WAY-AWESOME present early, which was my new CAMERA. To go along with it, my guys got me a cool tripod. Now I can really play around with my camera even more, being able to take some really cool shots while keeping the camera still. I also got Season 3 of Showtime's The Tudors, the DVD set, which was way cool, since it's one of my favorite shows.

I have a slight fascination with Renaissance England...and dudes with accents.

And what would my birthday be without cake? Hubby remembered that I had mentioned wanting an ice cream cake from Cold Stone, and that's exactly what he got me:

Just look at all this chocolaty goodness in the Midnight Delight cake!

The following night (this past Monday), the three of us went out to dinner with some close friends to Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, my absolute favorite place to eat! The food there is so delicious, so fresh, and of course, it's quite entertaining watching to watch the chef and his crazy-fast knife skills as he prepares and cooks your food. So AWESOME!!

So how do I feel now that I'm thirty-{something}? Not much different, to be perfectly honest. I'm a true believer in the adage that age is nothing but a number, and that you are as young or old as you feel. For me, my birthday isn't about celebrating the addition of another tally mark to my age chart (ok, I don't really have one, that was a total metaphor), but more of a celebration of my life as I have lived it, how I'm living it now, and where I want to go from here. And overall, life couldn't be sweeter. I have my husband, who has the phenomenal ability to make me feel so loved and adored every day. I honestly don't know how, seeing as we're not what you would call rich in the monetary sense, he manages to make me feel like a spoiled princess each and every day. {well, it might have something to do with the fact that he knows I'm prone to random bouts of insanity!} And of course there's my boy, Jeromy, who has been nothing short of a miraculous blessing. He makes life that much more fun, and all I want is to enjoy every precious moment. These two guys are my whole world: they inspire me every day to be the best person I can be, and they constantly show me what's truly important. So to my two awesome dudes, my birthday is about you as much as it is about me. Thank you for making it so special!

❤❤❤❤❤

The rest of the week was pretty much like any other, but it just seemed so much busier than usual. Does that ever happen to you? You get to Sunday, and you just feel exhausted, thinking that you just had the busiest week ever. But then you look back and realize that there wasn't really anything that different about it. Yet for some reason, you literally feel SPENT at the end of it all. Oh well, guess that's life for ya!

Stay tuned for my next post: it'll be filled with awards, and why I think you should just call me Little Miss Sunshine!

My Valentine...

2010-02-14T08:57:00.005-05:00

To my wonderful husband, Fred, who has always been,
and always will be, my Prince Charming...

Freddie, thank you for bringing so much love, joy, and laughter into my life. I often wonder how you put up with my very own brand of craziness, and the only conclusion I can come up with is that you're just as crazy as I am...hence, we were definitely made for each other! I couldn't ask for a better partner in life. And life is just that much sweeter when you're married to your best friend.
I love you sweetie....

Happy Valentine's Day!

*Thank you to SHABBY PRINCESS for the awesome digital
scrapbooking papers and elements!

Not-So-Perfect Brownie Pan

2010-02-12T11:20:00.002-05:00

I guess you can say that this post is more of a review, but it's also a chance for me to share how much I {♥} Ghirardelli brownies. I love all things chocolate to begin with, but there's nothing quite like the richness of a chewy-gooey, double chocolate Ghirardelli brownie. First off, they make some of the best tasting chocolate ever, and to have it in brownie form?!...{drool!}...

AHEM! Sorry, I'll wipe the drool off my face now. Any-hoo, I recently procured one of those PERFECT BROWNIE PANS after seeing a commercial for it on the tube. I was so excited! Someone actually had the genius idea of creating something that would allow for the cutting of brownies that didn't result in a gooey mess. If you've ever made ooey-gooey brownies, you know what I'm talking about: like when you run your knife through the baked brownies and instead of nice clean slices, you get something that looks like a toddler hacked into it. Now don't get me wrong, we would still eat it, especially my guys who couldn't care less what dessert look like, as long as it was delicious. But me being me, I did want something more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. After all, we eat first with our eyes, right? So, I got one of these babies and took it for a test drive:

Brownie batter is in the pan, ready for baking in the oven.

Now the directions are pretty straight-forward, but there are some things that they don't reveal in their TV commercials. They aren't exactly bad, but in my humble opinion, these things sort of take away from the PERFECT part of the fun. I'll just list them here, and you can decide for yourself:

[1] The pan does leak, although not a lot. If I had to guess, about 2 or 3 tablespoons leaked out. The enclosed instructions do give you tips on how to deal with this feature, so it was obviously a known glitch. To be fair, it is easy enough to get around it. For example, I actually took a baking sheet, lined with foil, then placed the pan on top, and baked it this way.

[2] They advertise that the pan set is made of a super non-stick metal that will make your brownies 'slide' right off. It is made of a non-stick metal, but the directions do say that you have to grease the pan and insert liberally. So make sure you have some non-stick cooking spray on hand.

[3] The directions say that it's best to use a brownie mix or recipe that calls for a 13x9 pan. Since most store-bought brownie mixes are meant for square 8x8 or 9x9 pans, you have use 2 boxes of mix. No biggie, because this just means more brownies for you to ~~stuff your face with~~ enjoy and share.

[4] Referring back to number 3, using a batter meant for a 13x9 pan did present an obstacle, because the PERFECT BROWNIE PAN is not 13x9; it's in fact smaller. Why is this a problem? Well, when you have that much batter in a pan that's not exactly big enough to hold it, your brownies or cake (whichever you choose to bake) will rise up higher than the pan insert, and it creates a type of seal over the inserts, thus making it MUCH harder to remove:

See how you can't see the tops of the inserts? The pieces are still divided into sections, but it was still very difficult to get them all separated, and removing the insert took some maneuvering and the help of a butter knife. Eventually, I did get it out.

[5] Again, the pan is non-stick, and the directions do call for liberal use of non-stick cooking spray. But here's another tip if you don't want them falling apart: let the brownies cool COMPLETELY cool before taking them apart. It just makes it easier to pull them apart, and you won't be left with ooey-gooey sections left on the pan bottom.

For the most part I'm pretty happy with it. It definitely yielded better results than using a regular square or rectangular pan. Would I call it perfect? Um, probably not, although with some practice, patience, and calculations of batter amount versus pan size, I do think I can eventually yield some near-perfect results. The great part is, those who enjoy my brownies love them, which is all that really matters...

Because they're made with LOVE....and really good chocolate!

Child-like versus Child-ish...

2010-02-10T15:15:00.002-05:00

This post is part of a series of answers to a 5000 QUESTION SURVEY. I'm not exactly going through all the questions in order; instead I've decided to answer those that jump out at me and inspire me to post. Some of the questions don't really apply to me or my life, and those I've chosen to ignore, which I can do since I am in fact overlord of my blogworld. 'Cause that's just how I roll. So here goes:

8. Are you more child-like or childish?

I would definitely have to answer with CHILD-LIKE. The word childish has negative implications when used to describe a woman in her early thirties. Of course, adults are definitely known to act childish every once in a while, but when they do, it's not usually in a good way. Being described as childish as an adult tends to shed a not-so-bright light on that person.

For me, being CHILD-LIKE can be a wonderful experience. It's when you take pleasure in the purest and most simple forms of joy and happiness. Remember when you were a child, and the whole world was your playground? It was a time for adventures, a time when magic was real and all around, laughter came so easily, and breaking out in random acts of song and dance were not only a regular occurrence, but it was encouraged. {Yea, I still do that!} Ah, good times!

Since growing up and maturity tend to come with new and overwhelming responsibilities , it can be easy to lose touch with that child-like essence of yourself, to get so wrapped up in the day-to-day business of surviving that scary journey called adulthood. And with that, we can forget to just LiVE. I have my little boy to thank for the ability to stay connected to my child-like self. He makes it so easy, with his infectious laughter and never-ending quest to have as much fun and silliness as he can. Because of him, my inner-child always has someone to play with. We have so much fun together! So in what ways am I child-like? Glad you asked!...

CHILD-LIKE

* I love to build LEGO projects almost as much as Jer does. Yup, I actually have my very own sets, like this one:

* When we venture out to the park (when it's not blizzard-ing!), I like to practice my cartwheels in the grass. I usually fall on my face or my butt, and I'm pretty sure I scare the squirrels, but who cares? It's fun!

* I see nothing wrong with dancing and singing in the electronics department at Target if there's a really good song playing on the radio or TVs.

* Like most kids, the first thing I run for when we go to the playground is the swings. I can't help it! I love swinging through the air, feeling the sun on my face and the wind in my hair!

* Jer and I LOVE to ham it up and take goofy photos of ourselves. Just take a look at us:

Now of course, I've been guilty of acting childish from time to time. How is that different from being child-like? Well, here are some examples, and you can decide for yourself if there's a difference:

CHILD-ISH

* I've removed people off of my Facebook friends list because they irritated me. No questions, no discussion, just felt like it. I did it 'cause they weren't playing nice and I didn't wanna be friends anymore.

* I yelled at the teenager bagging my groceries at the store for not packing my items just the way I like it.

* I've been known to cry because I found out I wouldn't have cable TV or internet for a few days while we were moving. Yes, literally CRY!

* I threw a hissy fit when a particular FB ~~totally awesome game!!~~ application was down for maintenance.

* I have plotted severe retaliation when a ~~stupid teenager~~ boy was mean to my son. Yea, it was an elaborate plot, complete with duct tape, rope, and rotten fish. Did I actually put my plans into action? HA!...you will never know, MWAHAHA!

Incidents like these are generally few and far between. Thank goodness I have a very understanding hubby who knows that it's only temporary insanity when I'm being childish, and I haven't really lost my mind. Either that, or he's just thankful I haven't ended up in a straight-jacket in a padded room...or prison.

So what's our lesson for today, boys and girls? Go out there and reconnect with your child-like self, he/she misses you! And go easy on the childish stuff...I don't wanna have to bail you out! {wink!}

Wanna see more of my answers to this series? Click HERE!

dearest mama nature...

2010-02-08T10:11:00.007-05:00

Ok, you know I love you, right Mama Nature? I really do. You're gorgeous, inviting, and mysterious all at the same time. Trust me, I have the pictures to prove just how much I revere thine glory. I'm truly a HUGE fan of yours....

JUST NOT THIS WEEK!

Look, I get it...you have your own reason for dumping more than three feet of snow on everything here in Charm City, and most of us are trying to make the most of it, maybe even enjoy it a little. It's so pretty outside right now while everything is coated in white. And I even looked at all the required snow shoveling as an opportunity to get a serious work out. You're just trying to keep me looking all fabulous and sexy right? Although I have to admit, Mama Nature, having part of my back thrown out is so not helping with the sexyness; I don't particularly feel fabulous when I'm hunched over, limping, popping ibuprofen like it's candy, and basically have a heat pad stuck on the right side of my lower back and above my right butt cheek. No matter though, I can still bring sexy back even while injured. And Jer is really having a lot of fun playing in all the snow:

But Mama Nature, I'm now SERIOUSLY whining and crying because of this particular bit of news I received today via FOOTS FORECAST:

"Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, another major winter storm is in the Mid-Atlantic pipeline.... The Forecast Team expects snowfall by 7 PM Wednesday to exceed 12 inches across central Maryland the I-95 corridor from Baltimore to Philadelphia and southeastern PA. We expect some areas may receive up to 20". NOAA's HPC Snow & Ice Team has already throw the B-word into the mix. The Philadelphia metro NWS office is using the phrase 'explosively developing.' Just so you know."

Oh COME ON!! Seriously??! This whole blizzard thing was kind of exciting at first, but now, it's just not cute anymore. Lots of cars are still buried, hubby was stuck at work for three whole days and is STILL on shoveling duty here at home, along with the rest of our neighbors, schools are closed until Thursday {ok, granted that one doesn't apply to me 'cause of the whole homeschool thing}, I can't ~~escape~~ drive to anywhere, and my poor dog is not happy with only having a tiny part of the yard to choose from when she does her business. Despite all that, we've all been trying to make the most of it all...you know me, I mostly lean towards a HALF-GLASS FULL direction. But with all we've been through in the past 72 hours, it's darn near impossible to remain the optimist when I read this:

"Finally, something that people need to take attention to is the amount of snow already on the ground. After the final chances at melting today, many will have a snowpack at or above 20'' with 4' snow piles all over the place. That means there will not really be ample places to put the snow..."

SEE?! Even the scientists agree, we don't have anywhere to put the darn snow because you're keeping the temp way below freezing! Oh, and there's also this:

"After this second storm impacts the area, there is a potential for up to 50'' of snow to be present in areas, with very few locations to place the snow. Be prepared ahead of time as to where all of this new snow will go. Be safe and good luck, you may need it."

This question isn't exactly for you Mama Nature, but I'm gonna post it here anyway:

HOW THE HECK ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME FOR WHERE ALL THE DARN SNOW IS SUPPOSED TO GO?!

C'mon Mama Nature, I don't want to believe that you have a cruel streak; maybe you just have a wicked sense of humor. But TWO snowstorms in less than a week? I lived in Alaska for ten years, and I don't ever remember snow being as bad as this!

Ok, so this is my official letter of complaint, Mama Nature, and I'm sure it's not the first you've received. Please, pretty please, take pity on us poor Mid-Atlantic folk, and maybe just give us a light dusting of snow, and not so much of the blizzard variety. We would really appreciate it. And if you can do that, I promise to be better about being green: I'll recycle more; I'll CONSIDER composting; I will try my hardest not to forget my canvas bags when going to the grocery store; I'll even plant some pretty flowers in the spring! Are you open to bribes? Because we can negotiate...

So thank you Mama Nature, for taking the time to read ~~the ramblings of lunatic suffering from some serious cabin fever~~ my letter. And just so you don't think it's just me that's tired of the snow, just look how pooped out your favorite snow bunny is:

Peace Out Mama Nature!

February Snowstorm, Part 2: Sundays in My City

2010-02-07T12:47:00.006-05:00

I decided to post a few more pics for Unknown Mami's Sundays In My City meme. If you haven't joined in yet, go check it out. It's super fun!

So here's more pics of my city, covered in a huge, thick blanket of snow:

Check out my PREVIOUS POST to see more pics of our snowstorm!

February Snowstorm

2010-02-07T09:32:00.008-05:00

Our part of the world got slammed with a snowstorm that started Friday afternoon, and didn't let up until last night. For some reason the various news stations and weather watching organizations can't seem to get all their facts straight in order to figure out exactly how much snow Maryland got. Now, I don't have the PhD in weather-ology {yea, I make up my own words}, and I don't have all the fancy schmancy satellites and fun scientific tools that the weather folks do, but I do have a solution, which I posted on my Facebook status:

"The news channels can't seem to agree on how much snow actually fell. I have an easy solution: step 1: get a $2 yard stick. step 2: stick in the snow. step 3: measure the darn snow!! Duh!"

By yesterday mid-morning there was close to 2 feet of snow on the ground, and of course, the huge task of digging out paths, sidewalks, and cars went underway. Hubby got stuck at work all weekend, what with people calling off and the roads being so bad, so the job of snow shoveling fell upon Jer and I. With our combined efforts, we managed to get our front path dug out, along with a portion of the main sidewalk:

"Maybe I can literally DIG out the front steps..."

Jer: a.k.a. the SNOW SHOVELING BEAST

And let me just say folks, my little man did a FANTASTIC job. He actually did in fact do most of the shoveling, because guess who got a little snow injury whilst trying to lift with her back instead of her legs? THIS GAL! I went to lift the shovel, and all of a sudden got this shocking pain in the right side of my lower back that shot down my right leg...and I was done. My little man took care of the rest...he's such a rockstar!

After all the hard work was done, it was definitely time for some snow play:

As my lovely friend Debi put it so poetically:
"Introducing the Jeromy plant. Planted in winter,
he will grow and appear to get taller in the coming days!"

Ah yes, good times! Though not so much for me: my day will be spent indoors, with Costco-size bottle of Ibuprofen, hot coffee, and heat pad.

Is there snow where you live? Are you having fun playing in it?

Small Talk Six: Pink Edition

2010-02-06T10:55:00.008-05:00

February 6: Six of your favorite things that are pink

You can always tell when it's getting close to Valentine's Day {a.k.a. MY BIRTHDAY!}, because just about everywhere you turn is hearts, chocolates, red, and pink. I'm assuming this was the inspiration for this week's Small Talk Six. So here's my list:

My pretty pink bottle of perfume. It's called "PETAL" by Cynthia Rowley. If you have an AVON rep, ask her about this, because it smells so pretty. It has a light fresh-floral smell, subtle and elegant.

One of my favorite bracelets. I love the pink leather cord and the small pink crystals. It's very pretty, yet simple enough to pair with casual outfits. A perfect every-day accessory!

My pink Merrell Siren Sport shoes. Now, I'm not a big sneaker girl, but I love these shoes. So very comfortable and light, and the pink gives it just the right amount of femininity. They were actually on my CHRISTMAS LIST, and I was quite happy to get them!

I got this for Christmas as well: a pink Hello Kitty accessory case. My adorable son picked it out, and I use it to store my mani-pedi accessories. I just love Hello Kitty...I truly can be a little girl at heart!

Strawberry milkshakes...need I say more?
*photo courtesy of this site

Pretty pink roses...who knows, maybe I'll get a bouquet of them for V-Day! {hubby, I know you're reading this!}

If you're feeling inspired by the color pink today, come join in the fun! Just click on the SMALL TALK SIX BUTTON in the left column (you may need to scroll down just a smidge), and play along!

Pictograms and Poetry...

2010-02-05T16:05:00.007-05:00

In history Jer is learning about the ancient Chinese. Today he learned about how they used pictograms as a form of written expression. So of course, Jer wanted to try his hand at it...

...and I must say, he did a beautiful job.

Not only that, he wrote a poem to go with it...

The sun is shining,
The river is flowing.
The children are playing,
The wind is blowing.
The grass is dancing,

The trees are green.
The animals are eating,
And running.
The wind is blooming,
And the flowers blooming.

It still amazes how much simple beauty my little man can shower my day with.

Mark your calendars...

2010-02-03T10:58:00.010-05:00

Yup, it's time to mark your calendars! Because next Sunday is the 14th of the second month of the year, a truly awesome day meant to be full of love and joy. That's right, a truly awesome occasion:

MY BIRTHDAY!!

Oh yea!!...wait, what were YOU thinking of? Oh that's right, it's also Valentine's Day. Yes my lovelies, I was fortunate enough to be born on an oh-so-sweet holiday. Now I know there's still a good ten days before MY day, but I'm bringing it up because I'm here to share with you an early birthday present I got from my awesome hubby. It's something that I've wanted to get for a long time, but the required funds seemed to always be just out of reach. Being the patient gal that I am {ok, so patient is a bit of a stretch}, I just kept waiting and waiting. Finally, after some saving up and birthday money from family {thanks to you all, my lovely family, you are all awesome!}, I finally got it. Here, take a peek at my new toy:

My new Nikon D5000 SLR camera...isn't she cute?!

I can't even begin to tell you all how excited I am about my new gift! I've already had so much fun just tinkering with it and learning all the cool features it has, but I can't wait to really experiment and get creative. And of course, I'll be sharing my ~~astonishing genius~~ progress with all of you. Here are just a few pics that I took:

Of course my first pics are going to be of my favorite kid to photograph: my Jeromy!

Y'all should have seen that one coming....

My Roxy Girl

So, I'm off now to play with my new toy some more, and I'll be back soon to share more of my adventures in amateur photography!

Let's talk weddings, shall we?

2010-01-25T20:40:00.001-05:00

If you've read even a little bit of my blog, you know that I have a hubby that I ABSOLUTELY love and adore. He's the sweetest guy you'll ever meet, and he treats me like a queen...well, because I am...at least in my twisted little mind I am. We've been married for five blissful years, but we've been together for a little more than eight. He's my best friend, my other half, and a truly spectacular dad to our son. I feel so lucky every day that I married him. See, this is us:

Aren't we just adorable together?!

But there's this itty-bitty thing that I think about from time to time...ok, I'll be honest, I think about it A LOT! I know it will seem a trivial thing for most of you since the only thing that should matter is that I found the great love of my life. But what can I say? The inner girly-girl in me can't help but feel a bit...denied. Here's the deal folks:

WE NEVER HAD A WEDDING!

That's right, Fred and I did the Civil Ceremony thing at the courthouse. Let me give you some background: We did initially plan on having an actual wedding; we even had the date picked out. But, since life is what happens when you're busy trying to plan it, things didn't quite work out the way we wanted, and we had to cancel that date. Fast-forward to a few months later, and we just one day decide that we were going to get married the following Friday, and we weren't going to tell ANYONE! So we were sort of eloping. Hubby applied for the marriage license on a Tuesday, and we got hitched that Friday. Of course, everyone was shocked, some were even upset that we didn't tell them, but nonetheless, we were happy to finally be married. And we've been happy ever since. But...and there's always a but...I am in fact a girl who still loves fairy tales; they still make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! And the truth is:

I REALLY WANT TO HAVE A WEDDING!

Oh how I want to have a wedding! I want it all: the white dress that makes me feel like a princess, my man in a tux that makes him look smokin' hot, our son in a tux as ring-bearer (is there an age limit on ring bearers?), and I want to have it at our church. I mean, I don't even have a photo of us from that oh-so-special day! Yes, yes, oh yes I want a wedding!

{WHEW!} Ok, glad I got that off my chest. For some reason this whole wedding business has been on my mind more, probably because everywhere I turn there are hundreds of wedding magazines on display, plus part of almost every craft store I go into looks like a WEDDING-PALOOZA exploded in it. Maybe that's why that yearning to walk down the aisle in a beautiful flowing wedding gown, with a bouquet of Sterling Silver Roses in hand, has been tugging at my heart strings. **SIGH**

Hubby and I have talked about this, and he says he does want to give me the wedding I've always wanted. Our goal right now is that by our tenth wedding anniversary, we can afford to throw a wedding bash together as we renew our vows in the church. Yea, I know, that seems like a long time to wait, but I think I'm ok with it. Fred and I have our whole lives together, so waiting a few more years won't hurt. So until then, I'll just be dreaming of gowns made of silk, gorgeous flowers, an elegant wedding cake, and having our friends and family with as we rejoice in the gift that is our love for one another. And that's truly the most important part, that we have the chance to renew our marriage vows in the company of our loved ones, while renewing our lifelong promises in the House of our Lord.

Until then, I hope you don't mind, every once in a while I may post about different ideas and inspirations for my dream wedding. I hope you will all enjoy it as I share with you!

5,000 Questions...all about me!

2010-01-22T09:00:00.004-05:00

One really awesome thing about blogging is that whenever I get stumped on what I should blog about, I seem to find ideas and inspiration on a fellow blogger's site, as is the case now. The only problem is, I had a bit of a brain fart, and I completely forgot which blog that was and who the lovely gal was that was kind enough to share, eek!! I'm usually very good about making sure I note the site and blogger that gave me the idea for a post, as I do in fact "BLOG WITH INTEGRITY" (go check out the button on the left if you wanna make sure!), but lately my noggin just hasn't been functioning properly. I'm forgetting names, dates, what time a certain homeschool group activity starts...is this the price of getting old? If it is, I'm in so much trouble... anyway, back to the task at hand...

So I was making my way through the blogosphere and saw that someone had posted a series of answers to a 5,000 QUESTION SURVEY. Now she didn't answer all 5,000 questions in one long post, thank goodness, as that would have been silly. Then I used Google to find the site that listed ALL 5,000 QUESTIONS so I could go through them a little at a time. Now some of these questions don't really apply to me, and since I am in fact the overlord of my blog, I can ignore those irrelevant inquiries. 'Cause that's just how I roll. So here goes:

So as not to overwhelm you, I've started just the first two questions...

1.Who are you?

Hmm, this one makes me feel very existential for some reason. Maybe because the coffee hasn't kicked in yet and my mind is still in a dream-like state. Well, the easiest answer would be GO READ MY PROFILE. But I'll elaborate a little bit anyway so as not to cheat my loyal readers.

I've had many names, which I know makes me sound like some international jet-setting grifter, but it's really not that glamorous. It really all stems from my mother giving three of her daughters the name MARIA {insert second name here}. I was baptized Maria Andrelita...yes, that was my whole first name, plus I had a middle name then my last name. From this, I gained the nickname Ma'an. So growing up, I was called Ma'an at home, then called Andrelita at school so that they could keep all three Maria girls straight, and now almost everyone calls me Maria, including hubby because he says Andrelita is too much of a mouthful. So now maybe you're beginning to understand why I chose the screen name MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES. And it's not just because of the whole I GREW UP WITH FOUR NAMES thing; it's more than that. I really do feel like I have Multiple Personalities because I wear so many hats: I'm a mom, wife, daughter, friend, sister. I'm a woman who at times likes to be a little girl at heart, who tries to enjoy the small and simple things in life. There are days when I do feel like I'm a plethora of beings in one mind, and they all seem to work together to create this crazy yet loving person that is me, one who puts God and family before anything else, and one who tries to see the world through rose-colored glasses. I wear every one of my hats with pride and joy, relishing every minute that I have being around people that I love and adore. So yea, I may have MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES, but they are all me, and I am all of them. {I warned you, I was feeling existential!}

2.What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?

Hmm, this one was a toughy, but I think I got it....

{1} As I stated in question one, I put God and family first before anything else.
{2} I'm fiercely loyal and protective of those I love, and I don't react well to those who would try and hurt those near and dear to my heart.
{3} I love to laugh, but am not afraid to cry; I love hard, and so I feel the sting of betrayal and just plain mean-ness much harder than most.

So that's enough of me for now, as most people can only handle me in small doses, and I don't want to scare you off. More will come later though, so be prepared. If you feel like playing along, go check out this SITE and you'll see all 5,000 questions. Have fun!

P.S. To the blogger who inspired this post, I'm truly sorry for forgetting your site name. Whoever you are, THANK YOU!!

Random Re-cap...

2010-01-17T21:46:00.014-05:00

It's not often that hubby has the weekend off because of his crazy work schedule. So this weekend was quite a treat for our little family, and we all got to spend some quality time together. Here's a quick re-cap of the highlights of our simple yet eventful last few days:

Friday

Retail therapy for all at IKEA (a truly magical store!)
Lunch at Don Pablo's {YUM!!}
Haircut for me at Bubbles

A matinee for me and the guys at the local cinema:

A great movie! Jer especially enjoyed it because he just finished reading the book about a week ago. And he thought the action scenes were pretty sweet too.

Saturday

Jer's Audition!

Jer got to do something for the very first time, something that was well beyond his comfort zone. Although he's a wonderful entertainer at home for mommy and daddy, performing for others is not quite his forte, and his shyness usually kicks into high gear at the mere prospect of being on a stage. Nonetheless, I've always known that deep down inside was a big ball of artistically inclined energy just waiting to burst forth. Which is why I was so glad when his homeschool friends, a set of the most adorable triplets you'll ever meet, encouraged Jer to audition for an upcoming local production of Peter Pan. He was incredibly nervous for two days before the audition, and was on the verge of an anxiety attack come Saturday morning. Still, he calmed down and regained the ability to breathe, and he courageously walked into that studio. And let me tell you, my boy did such an awesome job! He was nervous at first, of course, and a bit unsure of his footing. But soon enough he relaxed and started to really have fun, smiling and laughing as the director led them through a series of dance numbers. What I found to be ultra cool is that he was incorporating some his martial arts moves as he pretended to be a pirate. How awesome is that! The great thing about this program is that ALL the kids who audition get a part in the performance, and we'll find out next week what part Jer will be playing.

Saturday evening the three of us sat down to watch the Ravens play the Colts... and if any of you happened to watch that particular NFL game, you will understand when I say that I had two VERY sad boys on my hands by the end of the evening since the Ravens lost.

Despite a not-so-happy ending for my guys, I still think we had a great day. It takes a lot more than a football game to get me down!

Sunday

Hubby and I dropped off Jer at Sunday school, while the two us decided to walk around the local flea market until it was time to pick him up. I love flea markets, you just never know what you'll find. Take this for instance:

Hubby came across a set of mint-condition collectible KISS bookends, still in the original box which of course we just had to get for Jer, since not only is this child OBSESSED with KISS, but his parents are a couple of enablers who can't help but feed his passions. We got them for an incredible price: 20 bucks!... which is awesome considering these are going for around $150 on collector websites...and the smile on my boy's face: PRICELESS!!

Oh, and not to mention I snagged a pair of ultra-cute toe socks! Yes, those would be MY obsession:

I can't help it! Nothing cheers up my day like a cute pair of socks! Ahhh, it's the little things, right?

How was YOUR weekend?

Mama's Got A Brand New 'Do!

2010-01-15T22:56:00.003-05:00

Allow me a brief moment of vanity, my dears...

Yes, I finally did it: I got a hair cut. Now you're most likely asking why this occasion warrants a blog post. The answer is: because the last time I got my hair cut was in October...

{of 2008!}

Believe me, I'm fully aware how ~~freakishly unreal~~ strange that sounds. I guess I just don't often think of styling my hair very much. Ninety-nine percent of the time, all my super-thick hair just gets put up in a bun anyway, mainly because I don't like hair in my face, and I just don't really pay that much attention to my hair other than washing and combing it (and there are days when I don't even get to the latter!). Also, I do realize that I've been blessed with some really thick and luscious hair, but folks, I'm not exaggerating when I say that it can take H-O-U-R-S to wash, dry, and style my hair so it looks all pretty. Because it's so time consuming, just the idea of trying to put some style in my coif exhausts me. Thus, I take the easy way out and just comb it through and clip it up into a bun.

Any-hoo, hubby insisted that I go ahead and get it done already, so I did. It was actually a great experience for me: my stylist was super sweet and very knowledgeable, and she actually took the time to ask me questions about the style I wanted. She also gave me a ton of information on keeping my hair healthy. For example, did you know that not getting your split ends cut off can actually lead to hair loss? Now I know why I was "shedding" like crazy! Lovelle did such an excellent job, and I did promise her that I'll be going back to see her on a more regular basis, as I really don't like the idea of losing any of my luxurious locks.

So tell me, how do you like my new 'do?

I'll be saving up for therapy, not college!

2010-01-12T23:36:00.018-05:00

As my profile description states, I am a homeschooling mama. I absolutely love it! As parents, we are our kids' first teachers in life; they learn their most basic life skills from us. And with homeschooling, I get to teach Language Arts, Math, Science, etc., along with continuing to educate him about morals, ethics, values, and spiritual growth. Despite having to make sacrifices, like having to survive on one income versus two, this is definitely the best decision we could have made. We are on year four of our educational journey, and it's been wonderful.....mostly.

Now that I've got that little disclaimer out of the way, please allow me a teeny tiny moment of whining as I tell you about one eensy weensy thing I don't love about homeschooling: I am with my son ALL. THE. TIME. We are practically attached to the hip almost 24 hours a day. Some of you are probably shaking your heads, making *tsk tsk* noises because you think I'm a terrible mom for not wanting to be with my 9-year-old ALL. THE. TIME. All I'm gonna say to that is, don't judge until you've walked in my shoes! Truth is, for the most part, I do love it. Jer and I have a great relationship and are very close. One could even say we're great pals. This is him:

...such a cutie right? Of course he is, he inherited his good looks from none other than yours truly. He has my hair, my smile, overall facial structure... and I've come to realize lately that he has also inherited some of my personality traits. Normally I would be bragging about how great that is, because I do believe that he's learned a great deal about kindness, compassion, charity, and love from me (and his daddy too!). But...and of course, there is always a big fat BUT... something happened a couple days ago that made me realize just HOW MUCH this kid has evolved into a mini-me.

The homeschool group we belong to hosted an indoor game-day this past Monday. Jer loves it because he and other homeschool kids get to just hang out and have fun playing board games or Twister. Each family brings in any game(s) they wish to share. This time around Jer decided to bring Jenga, Sorry, and Connect 4.

[Fast Forward To End of Game Day..]

Everyone is packing up, all the kids are doing a great job of helping tidy up. Jer and another boy, we'll call him Joe, were putting tables away. Joe picked up Jer's Sorry game off of a table, and accidentally dropped it. Playing pieces scatter, cards go flying...you get the picture right? Well, to say that Jer was not happy is putting it mildly. I watched him, and that precious oh-so-cute happy tween baby-face transformed, and was replaced by something that can only be described as the "Gollum and The Precious" look. He was markedly irritated, and he was not trying to hide it in any way. Joe's mom was saying in ~~a slightly irritating~~ a very sweet voice, "It's ok kids, it was an accident. We'll get it picked up." Meanwhile, Jer is scrambling to find every playing piece, taking a quick inventory to make sure nothing is missing, and making sure it was all packed neatly in the game box. And y'all, it was something straight out of an episode of Monk. And poor little Joe, who was trying so hard to help, had to endure my son's snotty little "I got it! I'll do it! I'll get it put away right!" comments. Needless to say, I was mortified. I could just feel all those other mommy eyes darting between me and my ~~anal-retentive with psychotic tendencies~~ son, wondering if any minute now either of us would spontaneously combust...Jer from irrationally motivated anger, and me from sheer embarrassment. All I could do was kneel down to his level and help him finish putting the damn game away. I told him to look at me, and I gave him my most effective 'you better stop embarrassing me' look, and said, "Jer, it's ok, it was an accident. Let's get it all cleaned up, ok?"

I said my quick goodbyes to the other moms, giving them all a smile that said "please don't banish me and my crazy child", in the most non-desperate way possible, and we high-tailed it out of there. Soon it was just Jer and I in the car, and I sat there for a minute just breathing, calming myself down, before starting the car. During the ride home I of course gave Jer the standard lecture on how it was very inappropriate for him to react that way, that Joe didn't mean to drop his game, that accidents happen, etc. {I know most of you are familiar with the dialogue of this particular type of lecture, so I won't bore with you salient details} In the midst of my discourse, I was hit with a gut-wrenching epiphany: OH. MY. GOSH. He got all of that from me!!

Whenever we play board games at home, I'm the one making sure ALL the pieces are put away just so. If you open the Monopoly box, you'll find that all the money and cards are stacked neatly in a ziploc baggie, as are the little houses and hotels. The same goes for the Life game, and of course, the Sorry game. I'm also very particular to make sure that none of the pieces are broken, that everything is tucked away neatly, because heaven forbid pieces go missing or get broken...the game can't be played if pieces break or get lost! This is the explanation I give my hubby and son when they give me the "I think she's gonna blow!" look after they ask why I'm being so O.C.D. about a silly board game. So what answer do you think my son gives me when I asked him why he got so upset with Joe over a teeny tiny accident? Yup, you guessed it: "Well, he could have broken it or lost the pieces."

I felt about *THIS BIG*. What the heck am I doing to this poor child?! It goes without saying that I've realized I have to seriously ~~take the biggest chill pill I can get my hands on~~ learn to relax and not be so anal-retentive, stop sweating the stupid small stuff, and let this little boy have fun being a normal sometimes-messy kid. Sure, I can still teach him to be neat and organized for the most part, but I do admit that I should probably not fly off the handle so much over tiny little details. I told my hubby about this whole incident, and he gave me that "Mmmmhmmmm!" look, and proceeded to tell me that I have to learn to pick my battles, and relax. Man I hate it when he's right!!

I'm a constant work-in-progress when it comes to this parenting thing, since this little human child didn't come with an instruction manual. In fact, I think as parents we are CONSTANTLY learning about our kids, and the journey will never be without challenges. So, I've chosen to look at this as a moment in time when my kid taught me a thing or two about who I am, and how I can change for the better. I know I'll get better at this, and hopefully my PSYCHO-MOMMY MOMENTS will be fewer and far between as time goes on. I certainly hope so... because otherwise, I'll be saving up for therapy, not college!

Have YOU had any PSYCHO-MOM MOMENTS lately?

Small Talk Six: Childhood Memories

2010-01-09T17:49:00.011-05:00

Jan. 9: Six of your most vivid childhood memories

It must have been fate that this was the topic for this week's Small Talk Six Saturday, since my mama recently sent me a huge package filled with a zillion photos of me as a little girl. I had so much fun perusing through them all, laughing and tearing up as all those memories flooded me with so many emotions. So I'm so glad to participating in STSS today, because it gives me a great excuse to share some nostalgia with you:

My dad was my hero, my favorite jungle gym to climb on, and one of my bestest friends.

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. But there was always the guarantee of entertainment during dinner, thanks to me!

To make some extra money for the family, we would all spend Saturdays and Sundays at this huge flea market, selling whatever we could, including items my dad procured from locations I have promised never to reveal. {shhh!}

I loved living in Hawaii! And this was my most favorite Hawaiian dress. I loved the red, the flowers, the way it moved in the breeze...and I just love how fabulous I looked in it!

I came to the United States from the Philippines when I was four years old. This photo is from that day, at the very first American Restaurant I ever ate in. This was a magical day for me: I was reunited with my parents and two older siblings after being apart for a very long time, and I received my first ever Happy Meal. Life was GOOD! {and does anyone else notice what a hottie my mama was?}

And now for my absolute favorite memory...

When we all lived in Hawaii, mom and dad would take us to the beach as often as possible. We'd spend the whole day there, sometimes we wouldn't even go home until after sunset. I absolutely LOVED swimming in the ocean, so much that mom and dad could never get me to leave the water to eat the lunch or dinner mom was grilling in the fire pit. Being the awesome dad he was, and fearing his little girl would starve, my dad would instead come to the edge of the surf to feed me grapes. I'd take one, eat it, and run back into the water...I'd splash some more, then run back to my daddy for another grape. This is one of my most precious memories, and this one of my most treasured photographs.

Do you have a favorite childhood memory?

If you want to join in the fun, click on the button to the right and you'll be on your way!

"Dental Phobias Maximus"

2010-01-08T19:30:00.005-05:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't know a single person who actually likes going to the dentist. Most of us dread the idea of going to that place where other grown folks stick their grubby latex-glove-covered fingers in your mouth, along with those instruments of torture, which they deviously call 'professional dental supplies'. But I don't think anyone could possibly have worse DENTAL PHOBIAS MAXIMUS than my hubby. And we're not talking about your average run-of-the-mill nervous anxiety here. We're talking about a man who at one time broke a dentist chair during a routine dental exam because he was gripping the arm-rest so hard, and who has in the past needed complete I.V. sedation before having a teeth-cleaning done. Yes, it is just that serious.

We are talking about a man who sweats, hyperventilates, and starts sliding down the chair to try escape the fingers attempting to gain access to his teeth. Thankfully, the dental practice's slogan is this: "WE CATER TO COWARDS." And boy am I glad they do! Hubby had to undergo a series of procedures to repair a wicked root canal, and each time he was put under heavy I.V. sedation. Now, that may not sound like too a big a deal for some folks, but you just have to trust me when I say that the drama surrounding my man's dental visits is quite unprecedented. Of course he's not the first person to have to undergo sedation for serious procedures like that, but I don't know many who have to undergo I.V. sedation for routine cleanings. The slightly more comedic portion of this saga usually occurs AFTER the appointment, when he's brought back into consciousness...well, I don't know that you can really call it being conscious since he's still so out of it. When they're done ~~torturing~~ working on him they wheel him out in a wheelchair, and my poor man has the most angry look on his face, he's drooling onto his shirt, and he can't speak. There's grunting noises, droopy head nods, and of course, trying to get up out of the wheelchair and ~~escape~~ wander off. Oh, and did I mention that while driving home on the freeway, my still-stoned-out-of-his-mind hubby tried to open the front passenger door as I was flying down I-695 going close to 70mph?! After telling this story to my friend Lu, who also happens to be the dental tech who HAS to be on duty for each of Fred's appointment, she always makes sure I have engaged the child-safety locks on the doors before we ~~dump~~ gently place Fred into the backseat of my car. Then there's the getting him in the house, which I do try to accomplish as quickly as possible since hubby starts trying to shed his clothes BEFORE he gets inside...he's usually shirtless by the time we reach the front porch.

Fast forward to today: FD-Day {Fred's Dentist Day}...

This time around, Dr. Dentist recommended trying an alternative to the I.V. sedation, since the last time hubby was put under he vomited, which is NOT good. So, he recommended the oral sedation method, which consisted of hubby taking a cocktail of what I like to refer to as HAPPY PILLS. He took two valium pills the night before, then two triazolam one hour prior to his appointment. Let's just say that by the time Lu took him back to the ~~torture chamber~~ exam room, he was nice and relaxed.

An already sleepy Fred, waiting in the lobby for his turn...

And apparently, when they took him back there, they gave him another dose of crushed up HAPPY PILLS under his tongue, plus they have him some HAPPY GAS. After all that, he drifted off to la-la land, and Dr. Dentist and Lu were able clean his pearly whites. Yay!

When they finished, Lu came and brought me back to the exam room, where I found my hubby to be awake, and seemingly coherent. Little did I know that my man was in a weird state of semi-consciousness, where he could speak and answer questions and carry on a conversation, but would later have absolutely NO recollection of it hours later. More on that in a minute...so, with Lu's help, we got hubby wheeled out of there...

...and into the car.

Oh, my poor poor man! On the way home he said he was absolutely starving, and basically whined for a Burger King cheeseburger and a Coke...event though it was only 10am. Being the ~~pushover~~ sweet wife that I am, we picked up some food and went home.

This time around hubby didn't do a strip show on the front lawn, although he did almost face-plant in the snow when he almost missed the curb. {My cat-like reflexes saved him.} With the help of my trusty sidekick (and oh-so-sweet son), we got hubby inside, where he did actually do a face plant...onto the loveseat. I managed to un-shoe and un-coat him, sat him down at the table, and the three of us had lunch together. Now people, have you ever watched a seriously drunk person eat? Well that's what hubby looked like as he slowly but surely consumed his cheeseburger, then worked on his fries. That, my friends, was hilarious to watch as he would pick each fry and try to put it in his mouth...and kept missing! I know you might say I'm mean for doing it, but I couldn't help myself, and I just had to video tape him while he ate. All I can say is that if I was REALLY wicked, I would post that video here. But as such, I do have some scruples, so all you folks get are pics. {sorry!}

After ~~the comedy show~~ lunch, I finally got hubby into bed, where he slept for a little over six hours. He eventually woke up, wiped the sleep from his eyes, and like a newborn giraffe, he wobbled downstairs to join the rest of the conscious world. And here's the kicker my lovlies:

HE. DOESN'T. REMEMBER. ANY OF IT!!

Nope. None of it. According to him, the last thing he remembers was being led back to the exam room. Everything else was apparently a drug-induced void. Thank goodness I have the photos and video so my man can actually SEE just how HILARIOUS his dentist appointments are. After all is said and done, when hubby was completely coherent and fully conscious, I got to put the cherry on top of this particular day by telling him that: HE HAS TO GO BACK TO THE DENTIST IN A FEW WEEKS TO GET A CROWN PUT ON A PROBLEM TOOTH!

Dentist office copay: $0
Burger King Lunch: $15
Look on hubby's face when I told him about his next ~~FD-Day~~ dentist appointment: PRICELESS!

Chili Night: Jeromy's Debut

2010-01-07T10:33:00.009-05:00

Tasty Thursdays presents...

There's something I want to make very clear: I absolutely LOVE food. I love to eat it, smell it, taste, see it, bake it, cook it, etc. I love watching cooking shows on Food Network; there's something about the way that Bobby Flay character maneuvers around a grill, the way he battles it out in kitchen stadium like a chef-gladiator... {AHEM} Sorry, got distracted there for a second.... I'm not the greatest cook in the world, and in many ways I'm still learning to apply my limited gastronomical skills in ways that won't set off the smoke alarm in the house. Nonetheless, despite my amateur home chef status, I find that nothing else makes your food taste SOOO good than a healthy dose of LOVE in it. I don't care how many culinary degrees you have or how many restaurants you own, or how many cooking shows you have: a meal made with love beats a fancy schmancy five-star restaurant meal any day. And what I bring to the table today, my lovelies, is the super-yummy HOME-MADE CHILI cooked up by none other than my chef-in-training, Jeromy.

This recipe is actually one that hubby uses every time we have a craving for chili. And let me just tell you folks, he follows it to the big fat letter 'T'. He never deviates from it or tries to experiment by using different ingredients. Thank goodness, because I personally think this is THE best chili recipe ever. It's super-chunky, full of flavor, and with just the right amount of heat. So this last chili night that we had, I was uber-delighted when hubby decided to take Jeromy into the kitchen and let him make his first-ever batch of MAN-FOOD. Being the nervous mama that I am, I wasn't sure about him being so close to an open-flame, or wielding a sharp object. But, I decided to have faith and let my guys work it out in the kitchen. Besides, who was I to argue? I was being given a night off from cooking, so I really had no business complaining. I relinquished control of my kitchen, my sanctuary, and got cozy on the couch watching re-runs of Criminal Minds, whilst awaiting the culinary offerings that was to come.

Now, like the good blogging mom that I am, I crept back into the kitchen a few times to take a few photos with my cell camera. The boys grudgingly allowed me my fun, but of course made me leave as soon as I was done snapping. From my spot in the living room I could hear the sounds of sizzling food, chopping, and man voices. Soon enough, all sorts of delicious smells were permeating throughout the house, and dinner was ready. I have never seen a boy so proud of his culinary work! He had put so much work and love into it. This kid had the biggest smile on his face, and he couldn't wait for me to taste it. We all spooned hefty portions of the chili into bowls, passed around slices of store-bought corn bread (what? I haven't taught the boy baking yet!), and Jeromy announced that I was to take the first bite. And I did...and I was in Chili-made heaven! It was absolutely delicious! My baby was just beaming with pride, as was hubby, like the master watching his grasshopper reach for the stars. The three of us ate just about the whole pot that night. I was a happy, fed, and proud mama!

Here's the recipe in case you want to try it. For the those of you who prefer a little less heat in your chili, feel free to reduce the amount of chili powder.

Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 cup onion, chopped
3/4 cup green peppers, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 16-oz can diced tomatoes, unstrained
1 16-oz dark red kidney beans, strained
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed (or use fresh, your choice)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper.

In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat. In a large soup pot over medium heat, add the browned meat, onions, peppers, and garlic. Cook until the onions and peppers are tender. Stir in canned tomatoes (including the juice), beans (drained), tomato sauce, chili powder, basil, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes.

According to hubby, the key to getting all those delicious flavors to come out is making sure you LOVE on the chili, meaning make sure you stir it often. And that's it!

Happy eating folks! And remember, always put the love in your food!

I Resolve...

2010-01-06T16:40:00.001-05:00

I haven't always been too keen on making New Year's Resolutions, and I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe it has something to do with not wanting to set myself up for failure. But this year, I think I'm gonna jump on that particular bandwagon since I find myself constantly pondering over how I want this year to not just be different from the last, but better as well. I thought about posting a sort of 'year-in-review' highlight of 2009, but decided against it. Because for 2010, I'm all about moving forward. Not that there weren't a great many wonderful things that happened in 2009, for it indeed was a year of transitions, surprises, and many blessings...I've just chosen to set myself on a path towards change and personal progress. Thus, I've come up with three resolutions for myself:

I RESOLVE...

...to get serious about losing weight and getting in shape. And this time it's not just so I can wear those sexy hip hugger jeans without having a 'muffin-top' (c'mon ladies, you know what I mean), or so I can go to the beach and not feel mortified at the thought of people seeing me in a bathing suit. This time, it's because I want to be healthier. With all my pre-existing medical conditions, and the fact that I'm not getting any younger, I know I'm at a much greater risk of heart disease. And let's face it, the world would be a boring place without me, right? Plus, I do want to be a grandmother one day so my grandchildren can exact revenge on my son for all the gray hair he's going to give me one day. As such, I resolve to exercise on a regular basis, and do a complete overhaul of my daily diet. So stay tuned folks, I'm sure I will be sharing with you all the whining and possible crying that is to come. But I also look forward to sharing my joy with you as I start to lose weight. Oh yea, I'm gonna look AND feel fabulous!

I RESOLVE...

...to give my writing the time and devotion I've been promising to give it for so long. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and I still hold on to my dream of one day finishing my novel, being published, and ultimate be heralded as a literary genius (ok, that last one is probably a serious pipe dream, but I at least would like to be published...I can survive without the heralding). Lately, meaning the past few years, I've quite neglected my writing. I don't really know why it happened, except to say that the creative monkeys in my head either went on sabbatical, vacation, or a strike, and writing just became more laborious than fun. Even my journal writing and blogging suffered for it! But here and now, I resolve to get the creative monkeys back on track, whip 'em into shape, and continue my literary work. Who knows, I might just be brave enough to share some my writing with all of you (that's a BIG maybe, as most writers tend to be uber sensitive to criticism...at least this writer!).

I RESOLVE...

...to fill my life with as much peace and love as possible. What does that mean you ask? It means getting rid of all the toxic components in my life...and yes, that means toxic people as well. C'mon my friends, y'all know what I'm talking about. We all know people like that, people who bring nothing but drama and nonsensical negativity (say that five times really fast!) into your life, the ones who drive you to the point of insanity and potential homicidal mania. Yes, those people...be gone with them I say! Instead, I resolve to surround myself with those who enrich my life and bring joy to my heart...like you, my blog friend!

Hopefully, with God's help and guidance, 2010 will be a year of peace, love, joy, and many more blessings for me, my family, and for all of you as well.

*All the above photos, including my big, new and swanky blog photo way up top, are from this SITE.**

Resurfacing...well, almost

2009-12-30T08:23:00.006-05:00

Ok, I know it seems like I say this every couple of weeks, but this time I really mean it: I really am trying to resurface to the blogging world and am determined to post, comment, and basically, you know, BLOG on a regular basis. But..and yes, there is a but, at least for the time being...a few things have stood and are still standing in my way (though it feels more like someone is grabbing me by the hair and yanking me away from my blogging and overall computer fun). And rather than engage in a super drawn-out rendition of what the heck's been going on with me (and you all know I'm long-winded, but I'll spare you), I'll simplify things:

I don't know about the rest of you, but Christmas done wiped me out (and I don't just mean my bank account)! I love, love, love everything about Christmas, it's just the day(s) after when I feel like I have the worst hangover, which stinks because I don't drink! So yes, recuperation is still in progress for me.

Oh, DO NOT let the "I'm such a cute little kitty!" face fool you! Roxy is 20 pounds o' crazy in a 1 pound bag! And instead of being able to sit at the computer and blog with all of you, I instead have been patrolling my house, or more like stalking about all sniper-like with a squirt bottle in hand, hoping to catch this little furry ball of trouble in the act. What does she do? Glad you asked! Let's see...she thinks my curtains are climbing ropes and the area rug is where she gives herself a mani-pedi; she is constantly kicking the dog out of the dog's bed; she thinks the Christmas tree needs her own personal trimming touch; there is the climbing of human legs, even when the human is wearing shorts; and of course, there's her version of fluffing the couch cushions. So if you're not happy with my recent absence, blame this little thing! 'Cause I do!

Hubby has jumped on the overtime wagon at work, which means that he's been working 16-hour shifts for the past few days, and will continue to work all the overtime he can while they're still offering it. How does this affect my blogging? Let's just say that not having hubby home as much puts me in a serious funk, thus inhibiting my ability to come up with witty and interesting things to say. I'm glad I have a man who works very hard so that I can stay home and homeschool our son, but it still bums me out when he leaves the house at 6am, and doesn't come home until 11pm.
*photo courtesty of the Washington Post

And my personal favorite (NOT!!), I'm having computer issues again. What kind of issues? The kind that involve part of my MacBook's power cord literally bursting into flame. Oh yea, it happened! Luckily, the house didn't burn down, my 'puter is perfectly fine, the wall outlet is perfectly fine, and I only burnt a small part of my finger while putting the flame out. Since the power cord is close to four years old, I'm willing to be a bit forgiving about it just spontaneously combusting. However this means that for now, I have to use hubby's laptop, which is nearly five years old, and it runs PAINFULLY slow. Luckily, I found a new powercord on eBay for 20 bucks (versus paying 80 bucks at the Apple store), and it's on its way to me. I should receive it next week, and I can once again use my trusty MacBook.

Hmmm, so much for not making this all drawn-out...oh well, what can I say, I've missed all of you and I just couldn't help myself! So if you've read this whole thing, THANK YOU for sticking around.

Who's awesome? YOU'RE AWESOME!

Our Nativity: Days 3, 4, and 5

2009-12-23T22:51:00.006-05:00

...sorry, the holidays are keeping me busy!

Gift Number 3: Joseph

God had a man named Joseph in mind;
He'd make a good husband, who's loving and kind.
So one night God sent an angel to speak
Instructions to Joseph while he lay asleep.

"Joseph! Take Mary. She'll be a good wife.
This marriage is still God's plan for your life.
God's Spirit has given her a baby within;
His name will be Jesus; He'll save you from sin."

Gift Number 4: Baby Jesus

So this couple set out to Bethlehem-town,
And when they arrived, they looked all around,
But the inns were too full - no room for two guests.
And Mary was tired; she needed to rest.

"No rooms are empty," the innkeeper said.
But then an idea popped into his head.
"My stable's not much, but there you can stay.
I'll give you this manger - a feed trough with hay."

Later on...there...in the quiet of night,...

God gave the first gift that first Christmas Day,
He gave us the Christ, the babe in the hay.
But that is not all - God wants something grand:
An offering to Him, the point of His plan.

Gift Number 5: Shepherd

Then finding a stable where they saw a light
Shine through the wallboards and into the night,
The shepherds looked in, and what did they see?
The manger! A baby! They fell to their knees.

"So this must be him! This is the sign!"
They had found Jesus - the Savior divine!
These shepherds joined in the first celebration
Of Christmas because of this grand revelation.

*poems from the book in the Nativity set.

Our Nativity: Day 2

2009-12-20T21:36:00.006-05:00

Gift 2: Mary

"...How can this be? For this isn't typical."
"Indeed, it's not! We call it a miracle.
God's Holy Spirit will help you give birth
To God-in-the-flesh. He'll live here on earth."

"God says to name this baby Jesus."
Mary said, "Yes! May God do as He pleases.
For I am his servant, and I will obey
So God can use me in this special way."

*poem from the book in the Nativity set.

Our Nativity: Day 1

2009-12-19T20:26:00.005-05:00

"What GOD wants for Christmas"

This is a very special family tradition that I'm happy to share with all of you. Nativity sets are very common during Christmas, and most families who celebrate the birth of Christ have one in their home. A few years ago I managed to find one that I thought was truly unique because not only does it display the beautiful, traditional Nativity scene, but it also serves as a great way to teach children about the TRUE meaning of Christmas, giving them a true hands-on approach to learning how important the birth of Jesus is. The set is called is "What GOD wants for Christmas"...

There is a pop-up manger scene, and seven gift boxes. Each box contains a representation of a VERY important part of the Nativity story, and every day for seven days, we open one, place it on the manger scene, and read the poem (in the included book) that corresponds with that particular "gift". So each day, my family and I will open a box, each day completing the story and scene...and each day I will share it with all of you. So without further ado, here's the first one:

Gift 1: The Angel Gabriel

"...For I stand in His presence. I'm Gabriel.
And God wants you to hear the story I tell.
For my words will offer His great gift to you.
And you'll know what He wants when the story is through."

*poem from the book in the Nativity set.

What family traditions do you celebrate with your loved ones?

Snow, snow angels, and sledding..OH MY!

2009-12-19T11:04:00.009-05:00

There's nothing quite like waking up, looking out your window, and seeing freshly fallen snow covering everything in sight. Weather reports have our area under a Blizzard Warning..or is it a Blizzard Watch?... either way, we're expected to get close to 48 inches of snow. I'm not exactly a stranger to snow, as I had lived in Alaska for over ten years. But Maryland is another story: because of the impending blizzard, the state has practically shut down, the roads are bare, and everyone was at the grocery store yesterday stocking up on enough food to feed an army for three weeks. Believe me, I know, I was there! I swear, I saw people hauling around three carts filled with canned food, bottled water, and toilet paper. Why do I find this a bit funny? Because it's supposed to stop snowing tonight. Until then, I have a 9-year-old kid who's been bouncing off the walls with excitement since last night when the snow started. And guess where he and Daddy are right now? They're on their way to the big hill across the field to get some wicked sledding in. Oh yea, Jer is uber excited, and my big kid, Daddy, is pretty stoked too. Here are some pics of my little guy enjoying the snow:

"Ok mom, I think I'm ready for the blizzard now."

"Hey, where did my boots go?"

"Making snow angels is awesome!"

"Ok dad, you keep shoveling while I play! He he!"

And you're all wondering where I am, right? Because you just care so very much? Well, I'm at home where it's nice and warm and dry and cozy, waiting for my guys to get back from their snowy adventures. I'm sure they'll both be pooped out from all the sledding, so I'll be sure to have a fresh pot of hot cocoa waiting for them.

Worldess Wednesday: Roxy Edition

2009-12-09T10:09:00.005-05:00

What do you think this photo says?
Please, do tell!

Let It Snow!

2009-12-07T11:23:00.004-05:00

Recently, our part of the world had it's first day of snow. Though it wasn't much, Jer still managed to have a great time in it. He even made a buddy! See for yourself...

"Yummy! Fresh falling snow tastes great!"

Meet Snowey, Jer's new buddy. He has googly eyes, a carrot for a nose, popsicle-stick arms, and peppermint and M&M buttons. He's a bit short, but he's a great snow buddy!

Jer now hopes that the next time we get snow it will be enough to go sledding in. I told him hey, no problem, but it also means he and I will have lots more snow to shovel, he he! Somehow I think because he LOVES snow so much, he won't mind.

So tell me, is there snow in your part of the world?

Tasty Thursdays: Wind Puffs

2009-12-03T09:56:00.010-05:00

"Bunuelos de Viento"

It's been a while since I've come across a recipe that I wanted to share with you for Tasty Thursdays, but I do think this one was well worth the wait. I made these delicious treats for the kids and moms of our homeschool group's Geography Club meeting last month. Each time we meet the group focuses on a particular country, and for November the country was Spain. Also for each meeting each family is assigned to bring in certain parts and activities that center around a particular aspect of the culture we are studying. As luck would have it, Jer and I were assigned food, meaning I would need to find a Spanish recipe. My other 'food partner' for the month, Stephanie, said she would be bringing in Vegetable Paella, so I offered to bring in a sweet treat. Now mind you I knew I had to bring in the food for our club meeting well in advance, but guess who has a penchant for procrastination? This gal! Before I know it, it's the day before our club meeting, and I had nothing.

So as most of us do when we get stumped about a particular subject, I googled "Spanish dessert recipes". One particular recipe kept popping up on the different sites I visited, which was Bunueles de Viento, or Wind Puffs. And for some reason it kept bugging me because somehow it sounded so familiar. Where in the world had I heard of or seen that before? I kept thinking about it..*JEOPARDY music playing in my head*...and finally it hit me! Duh!! It was in one of the cookbooks I had at home called Memories of Philippine Kitchens by Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan. This is one of my most prized cookbooks as it showcases how wonderful Philippine cuisine is. And now your asking what the heck a Spanish dessert is doing in a Philippine food cookbook, right? Well, it makes total sense since the Spanish did occupy the Philippine islands for a VERY long time, and therefore had a huge influence on its cuisine. *Wow! A history lesson plus a recipe, aren't you lucky, he he!*

It looked easy enough to make, and plus it did look very yummy, so I figured, what the heck? I took a bit of a gamble by making these for the first time the day of the club meeting, and I'm so glad I did! It turned out very well, all the kids and mom's loved it, as did Jer and I. Wind Puffs are basically fried dough, but it is incredibly light on the inside, and it's like biting into a puff of air, and this is why it's named Wind Puffs. It's served warm with a traditional powdered sugar icing, and it is diving! I mean really, fried dough puffs drizzled in sugar? YUM! So if you wanna try it, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
Canola oil for frying

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, sugar and salt with water and bring to a boil, stirring to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar. Take the pan off the heat and add the flour all at once, beating continuously with a wooden spoon until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball. Transfer to an electric mixer and bowl and let cool slightly. With a paddle attachment, beat in the eggs one at a time. Cool completely.

This is how is it will look when you transfer the hot 'dough' into your mixer bowl.

And this is after you've beat the eggs in.

While the batter is cooling, make your powdered sugar icing:

Place 1 cup of powdered sugar into a bowl. Drizzle about 2 Tablespoons of orange juice on top and mix. Keep adding orange juice a teaspoon at a time until you've reached the desired consistency, which in this case, you want it thin enough that it will be easy to drizzle over the puffs (see the pics).

Fill up a large saucepan with about 3-4 inches of Canola oil. Place over medium-high heat and heat until the temperature reads 360 degrees Fahrenheit with a candy thermometer. (Ok, I'll admit that I didn't use a candy thermometer and I just somehow know when my oil is ready. If you're not comfortable doing that, than by all means use a thermometer)

Drop the batter by the tablespoon into the oil, making about 6 at a time, adjusting the heat as needed. Fry the bunuelos (puffs), turning to cook evenly on all sides, *they're gonna be bobbing around, just move around a bit and they should turn pretty easily*, until they've risen to the top and are nicely browned and puffed, about 6 to 7 minutes. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.

Serve them warm with some of your icing drizzled on top.

Enjoy!!

**This recipe is courtesy of Memories of Philippine Kitchens, and is owned by its authors. I have not received any compensation for posting this...I'm just a Mom and foodie who loves all things fried and coated with sugar!**

Christmas-i-fication all around!

2009-12-01T22:17:00.020-05:00

Just in case you can't tell from my new blog makeover and the title of my post, I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! My blog is Christmas-i-fied, and so is my family's humble abode. Actually, we've had our house decorated since this past Saturday, but I wanted to wait until I had my little blog was all BLING-BLINGED out to match. And voila! Thanks to the following FABULOUS sites and blogs, I was able to pull it off:

THE CUTEST BLOG ON THE BLOCK...thanks for sharing such adorable and lovely, and best of all FREE, blog backgrounds and banners. Also, I would have never been able to pull off such a successful Christmas-a-fication without the plethora of knowledge within your FREE BLOGGING SECRETS. A thousand thanks to you my lovelies, your site is a goldmine for us bloggers!

KEVINANDMANDA.COM... thanks to this lovely site, I was able to procure some UBER-cute fonts and learn how to change the font of my blog post and sidebar titles. If you've never done, but have always wanted to, go check out their TUTORIAL. It's super-easy to follow. So c'mon, go for it! But not until you've spent some time with me here...

DigiScrapDepot.com... a great place to get some quality digital freebies, from digital papers to images. See the cute little bow next to my signature? Yup, that's where I got it!

Ok, now that I've given proper shout-outs to all who've helped me with my seasonal blog makeover, how 'bout I share some pics of my house all Christmas-a-fied? Without further ado...

Our tree before all the trimmings are hung...

...and after "some" trimmings are applied.

"Don't worry mom, one more won't make it topple over."

A cute ornament my mom-in-law made for hubby when he was just a wee little boy.

Jer's favorite: a Stitch ornament he brought back all the way from Disney World.

And one of my favorites: a Mickey Mouse ornament we brought back all the way from Disney World!

Placing the angel on top of the tree...

...isn't she beautiful?

This is a very special 'Christmas Tree', purchased at a local Dollar Store.
There's a story behind this piece, one I promise to share with all of you later.

My little Nutcracker dude, standing guard over my 'Winter Cottage', whose windows glow when I light the tea light candle within.

I hope you all enjoyed seeing just how much I enjoy this time of year..and I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas season as well!

Blogger Restlessness

2009-11-29T21:58:00.004-05:00

I can't seem to sit still lately! I've been blog-hopping a lot this weekend, and I've seen so many FABULOUS themes, backgrounds, etc., and some even have Christmas themes! *GASP* I didn't even know those were available! So, in the spirit of my most favorite holiday, and because I have a serious case of Blogger Restlessness (yes, it's a true condition..I've read about it and I have ALL the symptoms), I've decided it's time to for a Blog Makeover. And with that, I'm here to announce that my little blog is now

CURRENTLY UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS

But not to worry, we will be open business once again very soon, so y'all come back soon, ya hear?

Small Talk Six: Christmas Wish List

2009-11-28T22:07:00.010-05:00

"11/28 – 6 THINGS ON YOUR WISH LIST FOR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR"

Ah yes, the wish list...this year, I was determined to only have items that I NEED on this list, and I think I've succeeded...ok, well, at least about 80% of the way. A few things on this list would probably be considered luxury items, but others I do actually need. And besides, a girl deserves a luxury every once in a while right? *Humming 'Santa Baby' as I'm typing. *

One item on here is one that I think everyone can identify with, and one that we ALL already have on our list, or should definitely add it if you haven't already..it's the last one, but NO CHEATING! Take your time...stay a while, you know you're dying to know what this gal wants from Santa this year! So here it is, in no particular order (except for the last one, that's the most important):

Silpat Baking Mats... of course, a set of these would have been most useful during the holiday season when I do most of my baking. After finding out the hard way that coconut macaroons will stick to parchment paper, I DEFINITELY could use a set of these.

A haircut...yes, this definitely goes on my list. I know, you're asking yourself why on earth this goes on my Christmas list. It's simple really, I only get my hair cut 2 or 3 times a year, mainly because I just never seem to get around to getting to the salon, but also because I always think of it as a luxury, so I keep putting it off. But, when you wake in the morning and your hair is practically choking the air out of you, I'd say it's probably time for a trim, don't you think?

Cuisinart Elite Food Processor... Really, need I say more?

iPod Classic...Considering that my current iPod is about 5 years old, I think it's about time I upgraded, especially since the 1st generation iPod mini I have now doesn't play unless it's plugged in to an electrical source.

Merrell 'Siren Sport' Outdoor Shoe.... I truly *HEART* Merrell shoes. With all the problems with my cute little feet, these are perfect for walking and being on my feel for long periods of time. They are uber comfy, and I especially love that they last a VERY long. You totally get your money's worth with these shoes.

And the most important thing on my Christmas wish-list this year: I wish for all the American men and women serving in the Armed Forces to have a safe and Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year. For those of you soldiers who can't be with your loved ones during the holidays, we are all thinking of you, praying for your safe return, and we ask God always to watch over all of you with His unconditional love. We thank you brave men and women for your courage, honor, and sacrifice.

If you want to join in the fun, click on the button to the right and you'll be on your way!

Fred's Green Belt...

2009-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

"You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as though a fire were raging in your hair."
- Taisen Deshimaru

Yes, my friends, these words describe my awesome hubby's attitude when it comes to martial arts. At each and every class, and at each and every belt test, he gives it his all, literally leaving it all on the mat. With the heart of a lion and the determination of a true warrior, he's giving 110% at all times. The words 'quit' and 'I can't' don't exist for him, no matter the challenges put forth to him by his M.M.A. instructors. And that my friends, is why I'm so proud to share with you that my Freddie has achieved the rank of Green Belt in Mixed Martial Arts. (His belt test was actually about two weeks ago, but I'm just not getting around to blogging 'bout it. Sorry, we were a bit busy with the move.) It took a lot of hard work, his fair share of bruises and sore muscles, but no one ever doubted that he would make it. And of course, a new belt and rank is always just the beginning. Because after the test, after the belt ceremony, and after receiving his certificate and report from the Black Belt instructors, it's back to work at the very next class, and it's time to start working on a whole new set of goals. And always, I'll be right there on the sidelines honey, cheering the loudest, and always, always, being the most proud of you.

The newest Green Belt at Dragons Mixed Martial Arts

Fred and Jer are both students at Dragons Mixed Martial Arts, and for the two of them, M.M.A. is not merely a sport, but it's become a way of life. As the Dragons MMA mission statement says, "...we believe martial arts is more then just a physical activity. Martial arts is a way of life, it is a way to develop the mind, body, and spirit of an individual. Our mission is to maximize an individual's potential through discipline, dedication, and hard work." That about sums up what M.M.A. means to my guys, and I'm so proud of them both for achieving so much. They have some of the best instructors around, men and women who share their love of the art with children and adults alike. Thanks to you all, Dragons black belts, you guys and gals rock!

Congratulations Fred, you earned it! Excellent job sweetie!

Thankful...

2009-11-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

This is my first Thanksgiving blog post, so I thought, what better subject to write about than the many many things I am so thankful for? So here it is, in no particular order:

First and foremost, I am most thankful to God, for never leaving my side during my most difficult times of need. I am incredibly grateful for the many many blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family.

I am thankful for my wonderful parents. Thank you, Daddy (yea, I'm a grown woman and I still call him Daddy), for being the strongest, most noble man I know. Thank you for never giving up on your dream for making it to this country, for enlisting in the U.S. Navy and fighting in the war in Vietnam BEFORE you were granted U.S. citizenship. Thanks to you and all those in the Armed Forces, past and present. And mom, thanks to you for being the rock of our crazy, slightly-dysfunctional family, for always reminding us of how important family is, for instilling strong values and ethics in all of your children. Thanks to you both, mommy and daddy, for shaping me into the woman I am today.

I am, of course, also very thankful for my hilarious, crazy, yet loving siblings...all SEVEN of you! You all bring so much laughter and drama into my life..what would I ever do without you guys.... besides go one week without saying out loud, "Oh. My. Gosh. Am I REALLY related to them?" Ha ha! Of course, we all know I'M the designated crazy kid of the bunch, so thanks for putting up with me all these years...and for not trying to sell me to the circus when we were little. Ok, we all know you tried, but thanks for not succeeding!

I am thankful to my inherited family: my sis-and-bro-in-law, mom-in-law, and my inherited nieces and nephews. Thank you always being so loving and accepting of me, no matter how crazy and dorky I can be. Being so far away from my parents and siblings is incredibly difficult, but you all make it so much more bearable, especially on holidays like this one.

To my wonderful and true friends, I am incredibly thankful for all of you. I know it's a cliche, but I'm gonna say it: a true friend is a diamond in the rough. They can be difficult to find, but when you do, they shine a bright light in your life, especially during the darkest moments.

I am especially thankful to my husband, Fred, and our son Jeromy. To you hubby, I'm thankful for your patience, your understanding, and for your unconditional love. I know I'm what some would describe as high-maintenance, and I honestly don't know how you manage to put up with me on a day-to-day basis, but I'm grateful that you do. I'm thankful every single day that we found each other, and that you didn't go screaming for the hills after you found out how crazy I am. You are the most wonderful man I've ever known, and I feel so blessed that I'm your wife. And to my little Jer-Bear... my little man who's almost as tall as I am even though you're only nine...what my life would be like without you, I don't even want to imagine it. I'm thankful that you are growing up to be such a wonderful young man, that you are healthy, and that you have this wonderful light about you, one that emanates love and laughter to all those around you. I'm also thankful that you are growing with Jesus and God in your heart, that you understand how much They love you, that with Them, all is possible. To my Freddie-bear and my Jer-Bear: I know I say it all the time, but you still will never know the depth of it: I LOVE YOU BOTH so very much. My heart truly runneth over when it comes to the two of you.

And of course, I'm thankful for YOU, my faithful blog readers. Thank you for taking time of your lives to visit my tiny part of the web, for allowing me to share little pocketfuls of my life with you. You are all truly wonderful, and I'm grateful for each and every one of you.

May you all have a truly blessed Thanksgiving!

Worldess Wednesday: Rockin' Edition

2009-11-25T09:37:00.004-05:00

What do you think this photo says? Please, do tell!

We're Finally Home

2009-11-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

So, I'm slowly making my way back to all of you, my wonderful blogging friends. And what better way to do that than to post about our new home. The above pic is of our dining room. I'm sorry I don't have any other pics up yet, I'm hoping to get more up as soon as I get more home decorating done. I have SOOOO many ideas, everything from sewing my own curtains to finding a great stencil pattern to paint as a border on the 'Cranberry Whip' color in our dining room. Yes folks, it is THAT red. As I complete each project, I will be sure to share with all of you. My family and I are just so happy right now...for the first time in a long time, we all feel like we're finally home.

It's so nice to be in a house again after living in an apartment for almost a year. And we owe thanks to our great friends, Lisa & Rob, for letting us rent their beautiful home. We are back to having three bedrooms and a full finished basement, which is great, plus there is A LOT of storage. And as an added (and much appreciated!) bonus, there's a jacuzzi tub in the bathroom (which my hubby practically lives in now..I swear, if there was a fridge and microwave in the bathroom, I would probably never see him again), and my son's personal favorite: an above ground SWIMMING POOL Oh yea! My boys' can't WAIT until summer.

I promise, my lovelies, I will have more pics of our humble abode very soon, as soon as I can BEAUTIFY it some more with my own personal touches. So come back soon!

P.S. If any of you know of any great DIY websites where I can find some great decorating ideas, please feel free to leave a link to it in your comment. Thanks bunches!!

I'll be back, I promise!

2009-11-14T21:34:00.004-05:00

Hello my lovelies!

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update: I have been noticeably absent due to some serious transition going on in my part of the universe: my little family has moved! Though not far, we have moved into a new house, and so we are all busy little worker bees getting everything moved and settled. As I type this I'm straining to keep my eyes open, and my arms feel like lead weights, they're so sore from lifting boxes. Sooo, I will be keeping this brief, for I feel that if I stay here too long I may fall asleep at the keyboard...and believe me, you DON'T wanna me see me with my head lulled to one side, eyes closed, mouth open while drool drips down as I snore. Yea, I know, you're asking yourself why I just HAD to load you up with that image...what can I say except, sharing is caring, he he!

On that note, I will bid you a "see you soon," as I WILL be back, I promise. And I just may have some pics of our new digs to share, so stay tuned! I miss you all!

Wordless Wednesday: Summer Flashback

2009-11-04T07:43:00.005-05:00

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! The pictures I post for this meme all have a story (usually a hilarious one) to it, but instead of telling you that story, I'd love for you to tell me what you think would be a great caption for the photo(s). I know, it sounds like I'm asking you to do work. But hey, it'll be fun! And join me.... just grab the button on my sidebar and start your own Wordless Wednesday series!

Summer, 2009

What do you think this photo says? Please, do tell!

I WANNA BREATHE!!

2009-11-03T11:02:00.007-05:00

Breathing....oh how I miss thee!

Wherefore art thou breath? Breath without wheezing and
coughing and chest constriction??

Ok, enough of my pathetic attempt to give my whining a Shakespearean flair. Moving on...

So, guess who's NOT the happiest nor most blissful gal in the universe right now? Yea, you guessed it: ME! Why you ask? (and of course you ask because either you love me or you just wanna know what the heck I'm whining about now.) Because that terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad pain-in-the-caboose, which is called ASTHMA for short, has returned to me with a vengeance. Now, I've been plagued with this condition my whole life. My mama loves to tell me stories of how bad it was when I was a wee little one, how I was hospitalized and almost died, etc etc. It was manageable though, and I remained an active little girl.

Enter the pre-teen and teen years... I'm introduced to a new phrase: EXERCISE-INDUCED ASTHMA. I then found myself being one of 'those' kids during P.E. class that could barely complete one lap around the gym, let alone participate in long-distance track. But that's ok, I didn't like P.E. anyway...I embraced my nerd-dom and a-dork-able-ness, and I didn't mind being one of the asthma kids.

Moving on to adulthood, I'm told by medical pros that all I have to do is keep my allergies under control, and the asthma will stay away. And guess what? It did!! For many years I went without any attacks, and it was awesome.

Now fast-forward to about a week ago: I've been recently treated for a sinus infection, but the nose is still all stuffed up, chest congestion starts and then, to top it all off like a big fat cherry, I have an asthma attack around midnight, and y'all, it came fast and hit me hard. So for going on a week now, I've had to use my darn inhaler anywhere from four to five times a day. I called an allergist and scheduled an appointment, and they got me scheduled pretty quick. Well guess what they tell me? For SEVEN whole FREAKIN' days, I'm not allowed to use ANY antihistamine allergy meds at all. WHAT THE *&#@?? It has something to do the allergy testing they have to do on me, or some other bull-huckey..Oh well, it's not like the allergy meds were helping me anyway. *SIGH*

So yes my lovelies, I miss breathing. Thanks for listening to me rave and rant...it must be that darn steroid inhaler, one which I have a total love-hate relationship with. I think it's starting to seriously drive me insane...oh wait, I've been on the crazy train for a long time now, so that can't be it. If nothing else, it's giving me flashbacks of sitting in a smelly gym, watching all my school-mates run laps around the gym, while I got to sit and relax on the bleachers reading Romeo and Juliet...hmmm, I feel better already!

So if you're living with asthma as an adult, how do you deal with it, and how do you keep from going bonkers? (though it might be too late to cure me of bonker-dom, I'd still appreciate any ideas you may have)...

Meet : Count Jeromy...

2009-11-02T11:53:00.005-05:00

Yes, this is my lovely little boy transformed into a menacing adaptation of Count Dracula. He picked out the costume himself, and I was in charge of hair and face-paint (he refuses to let me refer to it as make-up). Personally, I love the hair-slicked-back look on him a lot, but I know this was just a one-time thing for him. Overall, as scary as he turned out, he's still the most adorable vampire I've ever seen. Don't you agree? So Edward Cullen, eat your heart out!

This year both Dad and I got to take him out trick-or-treating. And as usual, Jeromy managed to collect a very large amount of candy. Of course, being the responsible parents that we are, Dad and I will definitely not let him eat all those sugary sweets. We will take it upon ourselves to make the sacrifice by consuming them ourselves. All parents do that..right? Don't deny it folks! Y'all know you look forward to the candy hoarding just as much as the kids do, he he!

Now, Halloween wouldn't be complete without something VERY strange happening, and this year was to be no exception. Upon returning to his 'vampire lair', mommy and daddy went through Count Jeromy's bag of goodies to check for suspicious-looking sweets. During our investigation, we stumbled upon these:

Yes, folks, those are in fact packets of soy sauce, duck sauce, and Chinese mustard, that a neighbor so graciously gifted to our little vampire, because we all know that Chinese restaurant condiment packets are every 9-year-old vampire's dream, right? I swear, some people just amaze me!

I hope you all had a lovely Halloween!

Bridge...

2009-10-30T12:24:00.003-04:00

Now, I could start off this post with a profound apology to all my lovely blogosphere friends out there who I'm sure have noticed an obvious absence on my part. But I won't...not because I don't love you all or because I'm not sorry that I've been slacking on my blogging. It's because I know you all have been there. Right? You've all been in that part of life where it seems like everything is just thrown at you all at once, and you just don't have enough limbs to keep juggling all the balls of life, let alone have fingers available to type on a keyboard! That has been the case in "Case De Loca" for the past few weeks. And as much as I was tempted to cry my heart out on this blog to all you wonderfully understanding blog-buddies, I remembered that this was a place of bliss for me, and so I figured taking a short sabbatical was best. I am back now, although maybe not in the capacity in which I started, but I'm slowly making my way back to that.

A while back, I did post about how keeping a 'HALF-GLASS FULL' attitude can really help, and in that post, I gave my readers a glimpse of the financial stresses my family is undergoing. But, along with that, I listed the many blessings I am so grateful for. The most important of those blessings is that no matter how seemingly unbearable life can get, God always leads me/us to that 'BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS'. Or to put it plainly, he always provides a way, albeit it's not always easy to find or in the most obvious form, but nonetheless, HE never fails us, nor does HE ever leave us stranded. And once again, HE has provided that BRIDGE. My family is once again undergoing a transition, and we have been blessed with a wonderful opportunity and even more wonderful friends without whom these positive changes could not have been possible. I can't quite elaborate right now, as there are still many factors to figure out, and a few key people in my life I need to inform first before announcing to the world (can you say PARENTS?). Don't worry y'all, I promise, I will post more information later on. Oh, and just to clarify up front: NO, we are not expecting a baby! (LOL)

For now, instead of an apology-ridden post, I want this to be a post of gratitude and positivity, dedicated to you, my lovely readers, for showing me unwavering love and support, and for letting me share with you a POCKETFUL OF BLISS every once in a while. You are all lovely, and you all ROCK!

(above image courtesy of this SITE)