Five Question Friday 3/30/12

It's Friday. Long week. Here are my thoughts of the day. I wish that a community college would offer me the following courses: How To Dress Like An Adult and How To Function for 16 Straight Hours. Because I'm failing on both counts. Anyway, on to this week's questions.......

1. What giveaway would you like to do on your blog?

In a fantasy world, hmmmm, I'll go with an iPad. Because everyone wants one (am I right?) but most average joes can't afford one or can't justify the expense. And of course I'd get one for hosting the giveaway. ;-)

2. If you had to choose between natural artistic ability and natural athletic ability, which would it be?

For sure the athletic ability, or even just an athletic "liking" or enjoyment. To be someone who enjoys running/tennis/biking--so I'd actually do it and be fitter and thinner because of it!

3. Do you ditch the coat the minute it becomes "spring" or are you a holdout for more cool temps?

Hmmmm {I say that a lot during 5QF, don't I?}, maybe because we live in Phoenix or maybe because I'm lazy, I don't put away one season and replace it with the other. All my clothes are around all the time. Even my heavy winter coat, which I would only need if I vacationed somewhere cold, is in my master closet. Oh but I did put all my winter scarves in the garage.

4. What would you do if you won the mega millions lotto of 1/2 billion dollars?

Well, I would just be thrilled that my husband could quit his job and we could travel wherever we want (hotels and airfare are So Expensive!). So he'd quit his job and we'd buy an RV and then we would just live pretty normal and just be very generous to everyone and to all our fave charities (oh and of course we'd pay off all our many debts).

5. You are at a hotel by yourself...what do you do?

I love hotels! Love! I'd order room service, I'd order a movie on the tv {that used to seem so special, now we do it every night with Instant Netflix}, maybe take a bubble bath. And I'd sleep A LOT!

Now it's your turn, answer on your blog or in the comments. And I want to know: did you buy a Mega Millions ticket?
We did not, we are holding out for a bigger jackpot. ;-)

For more Q&A fun, head to Mama M's. Have a great weekend!

Week in Review/Five Question Friday

I don't have much to say in terms of "review" right now. I'm reading and watching the same things as last time. We did have "Rodeo Day" at my daughter's preschool this morning. She had fun, and that's what's important {I was pretty bored}. I'm proud of myself that in my very limited alone time this morning, I actually went for a walk. I'm trying to "get healthy" yet this is maybe the 4th time I've gone walking in 2012.

My new favorite "thing" is that I bought plastic cups at Kmart a few weeks ago to stop using disposable. They were 4 cups for $2 and I bought 2 sets (so 8 cups for $4)--all red, so the kids won't argue who gets what color--and they are so handy. Exciting, I know.

Since I'm clearly out of clever things to say, I'll move on to 5QF.........

1. If you were free to just hop in the car and drive, where would you go? Or, if you could hop a plane and go anywhere, where?
Haha, I'm not much for spontaneity, so let's see. Assuming we're talking all expenses paid (and maybe we can throw in a nanny to accompany us, while we're at it), I'd like to fly to Indiana to see my BFF.

2. What's your most recently read favorite book?
Of the books I've read recently, my favorite was probably Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy.

3. What's your favorite Spring Break memory?

I was spoiled as a kid and most years we would travel for Spring Break. We had what I think you'd call a timeshare in Kiawah Island, South Carolina--a condo on the beach (told you, spoiled). Those were great vacations: pool time, beach time, a little exploring, a day trip to historic Charleston. Fun!

4. What do you put in your child's Easter basket? Or, for those w/o kids, what was put in your childhood basket?

Because of my son's food allergies, I've always had to be creative to fill our Easter baskets with stuff other than candy. Now I don't even think about candy! This year I have a few things I got on clearance from the "stocking stuffer" aisle after Christmas and I think each kid will get one bigger toy (L would love a Lego Batman set). For a few years, I had a theme going that I'd put religious books in their baskets, but I've gotten out of that habit.

5. Do you get a summer haircut?

I don't have a tradition of getting a summer haircut, but this year I plan to chop my hair. Since having kids, I've gone back and forth between my "favorite" hairstyle (a bob about chin length) and a super short cut (similar to Rachel Maddow, see below). I have the bob right now, though it's approaching my shoulders and I'm at the point where I throw my hair in a ponytail Every Single Day so it's time to chop it! Once the weather gets a few degrees hotter, I'll get the short 'do and it should last the 6 months of heat. {I'm really ambivalent about how I look with the short cut, sometimes I think I look like a 14-year-old boy. Other times I think it's a more sophisticated and grown-up look, which I like.}

That's it for today, please head to Mama M's for more Q&A fun!

I'm Baaaa-aaaaack!

Haha, that was an unplanned blogging break. And honestly, I didn't miss it too much. But I think I'm going to try posting weekly. Every Friday I'd like to try to share one thing from my life/ the previous week. It may be a thing I'm loving, or something working for me, or a political rant, or like today, just a Five Question Friday. Let's dig in, shall we?

Oh and by the way, my background seems to have disappeared. That may be that kick in the butt I need to find a new design. But I digress....

1. What is the weather like where you are and do you like it?

I am in Phoenix and usually this is our "cold" season but lately we are in the '70s. Part of me wishes I could be wearing my sweaters, since I only have a short "winter" to wear them--and I am indeed a sweater girl. But mostly I'm really enjoying this weather! Jeans plus short sleeves, hot in the sun but with a nice breeze. I'll take it!

2. When you're sick what do you seek comfort from?

My bed. I LOVE SLEEP and I don't think you can heal without lots of it.

3. What do you need to do before the end of the month?

I'm taking a pretty laid-back approach to this month after the crazy holiday season, but I'd be overjoyed if I finished thank you notes by the end of this month. :-)

4. Have you ever served on a jury?

Yes. When I was home from college one summer, I was called to jury duty. I really wanted to get out of it, but I was chosen and was on a jury for basically a mugging. It was a HORRIBLE experience (one juror refused to cooperate with the other 11 of us and what should have taken a couple hours of deliberation dragged into a second day). Grrrrr. But I learned a lot (mostly about how the jury system is broken) and all these years later I can appreciate that I had that experience. However, I would not want to do it again!!!

5. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

Well, my favorite animals are the peacock and alligators/crocodiles. Not sure I'd want to be one of those. What's the laziest animal on Earth, that's what I'd like to be. Like pandas, they literally just eat and sleep. Yeah, I think I'd like to be a panda. {That answer probably wouldn't go over well in a job interview.}

For more Q&A fun, head over to Mama M's. Have a great weekend!

Five Question Friday 5/27/11

Totally insane week. Monday was pretty typical, which is to say Busy. Tuesday we had our big ENT appointment (L will be getting his adenoids and tonsils out, plus getting ear tubes) and I was getting ready for the last day of school (teacher gifts!). Wednesday was the preschool graduation ceremony and party, plus speech, and I made a cake. Phew! Oh and I nearly backed into my husband's car with our van--that would have been a true nightmare. Thank the Lord I stopped in time! I am still trying to recover from it all.

Because I have just a few minutes and not a lot of energy, I give you Five Question Friday, hosted by Mama M. Enjoy!1. Do you apologize to your kids?

All. the. time. Yes, I frequently find myself apologizing to my kids because I do NOT have this parenting thing figured out. I make a lot of mistakes and if necessary, I will try to walk it back and apologize for whatever I did that I regret. Sadly this frequently includes losing my temper. :-(

Incidentally, my father is incapable of saying he's sorry. He can't do it. Cannot. At best, it will be sarcastic. So growing up with a dad who doesn't/can't apologize, I know I don't want to be that way. If I screw up (even to my kids), I will own it.

2. What color are your nails right now?
Plain, uncolored, as always. I haven't painted my nails in YEARS. I am lazy, unfancy, and my husband hates the smell of nail polish and remover (even hours after they've been used).

3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good".)
Honestly, I can't remember. I was a nerd so I really didn't want to miss school and get behind. I do remember one time in high school, I was sick and missed 2 days of school and on the third day I was actually feeling better but I was afraid to go back to school (for fear of all I'd missed and how hard it would be to catch up) so I stayed home an extra day. So I guess my parents didn't take much convincing. Anyway, that was a disaster--after only 3 days out, I was VERY behind and my grades dropped, I got my one and only "low scholarship" when my grade in French dropped below a C. I don't think I missed another day after that, certainly never 3 in a row!!!

4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed?
Well, I bought a whole bed-in-a-bag for our master bedroom 2 Christmases ago, to give our room a simple makeover, but the sheets weren't as soft, and the comforter kept falling off, so we really haven't used it. (Don't worry, the set only cost me $30.) So our room is still in need of help. ;-)

5. Favorite website(s)?
Oh my, how do I choose?! I obsessively check email (yahoo) and facebook throughout the day. I check kids.woot every morning. And then there are mommy blogs, too many to list and impossible to choose favorites. Amazon, Wikipedia, Imdb, and Hulu = love.

Okay, for more Q&A fun, head to My Little Life.

Five Question Friday 5/13/11

1. Tube socks, calf socks, crew, ankle, none? (From@ThisDaddys_Blog)

When wearing long pants, I go with crew socks. In the summer I'm either in sandals (no socks) or in ankle socks with sneakers.

2. Was your childs (children's) name a mutual decision or was it a debate? If you don't have children, do you plan on giving your spouse a say, or do you have a name you MUST have, regardless if your other half likes it or not?! (From @momtodh)

Hubby had L's name in mind long before he met me, and told me about it long before we considered having children. It's the first name of his favorite author, but it's also just a great name and fit my criteria for normal but not popular. So I was onboard from the get-go. T's name was a mutual decision based on lots of back and forth and baby name books and all that. Although really, that was Hubby's suggestion too. It's a saint's name and when he suggested it I was reluctant because I don't like its main nickname, but then he suggested another nickname which I quite like and that is what we exclusively call her (though we did give her the full name, you know, legally).

3. What is your favorite type of weather? (From@TheSpunkyDiva)

I like the 50s and 60s, breezy, light sweater weather. (That's basically "winter" here in Phoenix.)

4. If left to your own devices, what time would you wake up every day? (From Sandy at "Pardon My Dust")

I LOVE SLEEP!!! I cannot get enough of it. If there were no kids or responsibilities, I might amble out of bed around 10. At the earliest. I love sleep. I miss sleep.

5. Have you bought your cemetery plots yet? (From Pam at "Troop Petrie")

No. And I'm embarassed to admit that my lawyer husband and I don't even have a will. Actually we have what's called a holographic will that we wrote ourselves, in case of emergency (i.e. if something were to happen to us today, that does spell out who gets our kids), but we'd really like to do it with a lawyer soon. But that costs money. Which we don't have. :-(

Oops, back to the question. Sadly, I don't even know where we'll get plots. Near Hubby's family? Near mine? Start a new plot here in Phoenix? Ack, not something I want to think about!

For more Q&A fun, head to Mama M's.

Week in Review & Five Question Friday--2/24

Week in Review photo credit

What I'm Reading

I finished Agatha Christie's Pocket Full of Rye. This is the second AC novel I've read. The first was a Poirot mystery and I thought I followed along pretty well, had it mostly figured out, but at the big reveal, I had definitely missed some things. That was okay. This time, I feel like I was led on a wild goose chase and the perpetrator was a total surprise. I won't go into more detail so as not to spoil it for anyone, but it was a disappointment, and also pretty boring. Thumbs down.

I continue to read Memoirs of a Geisha and I'm entranced. Great writing, tons of details about the geisha culture. I'm really enjoying it!

What I'm watching

Ugh, lots of movie duds lately. So I'll just mention the good stuff.

Crazy Heart--we really enjoyed this, great performances (Jeff Bridges deserved his Oscar), though we never quite bought the "romance."

Inception we thought was okay, interesting to watch, but we felt like the movie was trying too hard to be clever at the expense of plot.

Brothers we thought was surprisingly good. I didn't think Natalie Portman had the maturity to be believable as the mother of two kids, though she was technically old enough. {I suppose that's the challenge for her, when she's been acting since she was a kid and she weighs about 100 pounds.} But Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal were excellent. And it had me on the edge of my seat.

Ondine was another good one. Charming, romantic, a little mystery. I really wish it had subtitles {I've mentioned before that we have to keep the volume low because our kids are asleep} because all the accents and mumbling were hard to understand, but even missing half the dialogue, we liked the movie. :-)

In other news

I posted my EE update the other day, so no news there.

I've been playing with my blog. I figured out how to change the color and font of my header. I added a welcome message and picture of my kids in the left sidebar. And I'm working on adding "pages" like "About Me" to go along the top.

Five Question Friday

1. Can you drive a stick shift?

Sadly no, I never learned that skill. My husband loves manual transmissions, so his current car is actually a stick shift. Therefore, I cannot drive my husband's car. Is that weird?

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2. What are two foods you just can't eat?
I am a picky eater, so there are plenty of foods I don't like. But I gag, literally gag, on ham and spinach. Once I was eating a tomato and bacon pizza and I gagged on one bite. I spat it into a napkin and looked down--there was a piece of ham (that had been hidden under the cheese). So I don't even need to know it is there. Now I just tell people I am allergic to ham and spinach, so they won't serve them to me.

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I also really don't like fish of any kind, but I can usually choke it down if I have to.

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3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?

Now don't call me unpatriotic, but as I was thinking about buying Girl Scout Cookies this year, I wondered "why bother?" My favorite is Thin Mints, which are basically the same as Keebler Grasshopper cookies, which are cheaper. So I'll just stick to Keebler. I know, so sad. :-(

4. How do you pamper yourself?
I don't do massages, pedicures etc. So I pamper myself with laziness. I like to curl up in pajamas on my recliner, with a blanket and a tub of ice cream and watch a movie. Yep, that's my joy. That said, I did get my eyebrows waxed for the first time last fall and those few minutes felt like pampering. I'm looking forward to doing it again soon.

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?
I don't really have a nickname other than "mom" and that one I got by having my beautiful children. And Hubby calls me various stupid pet names, we're really quite childish, but we both have kind of long formal names that don't lend themselves to shortening, so "pookie" and "kwady" win out.

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Alright, it's time to get T up from her nap. For more Q&A fun, visit My Little Life. Happy weekend!

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By the way, those are not affiliate links.

Five Question Friday 2/18

I had high hopes of writing a "week in review" post today, but with only 10 minutes till T's nap ends, I'll have to settle for a quick 5QF.

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?
Haha, I routinely do. For example, I got all dressed up (t-shirt and jeans) to go to speech on Wednesday, but Thursday I only needed to run out to pick up L from school, so I threw on the same t-shirt as the previous day (and I always wear the same jeans, 99% of the time), because no one at school had seen me the day before. Yup, happens all the time.

2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?

Phoenix, which happens to be where I live. My husband might prefer San Diego or San Francisco, but Phoenix works great for me. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, then I went to school in a suburb of Boston, I've lived in a suburb of LA etc. All of this to say I have a very suburban personality or inclination. Oddly though, we are in the city of Phoenix, but kind of a remote area, definitely has a suburban feeling, though I don't have to drive far to feel urban.

3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?
This is an easy one: DRIVE. First, I hate flying. The fasten-seat-belt sign is my nemesis (with the IBS, do not stand in the way between me and the lavatory!). And post-9/11, the hassles of air travel have amplified (long lines, also not compatible with IBS)--don't even get me started. And of course, the cost of 4 plane tickets is pretty much always prohibitive. Yup, driving is much better, cheaper, and I can shove anything we could ever possibly need into our minivan.

4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?
Another easy one: I don't do spring cleaning. I can't get on board with regular everyday cleaning, so I certainly don't aspire to launder my drapes every spring or similar extra tasks. Nope.

5. What is the best book you have ever read?

My regular readers will bored to once again see me say Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. {Awesome! Must read! So romantic!} Thus, I will share another of my all-time favorites: Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson. I read that in junior high and it Spoke To Me. And the Lord of the Rings trilogy is pretty awesome too. Those are not affiliate links.

That's it for this round of Q&A fun. Check out lots more answers over at My Little Life.

What's the best book you've ever read?

Five Question Friday (1/28) and various ramblings

Just a quick post before I get back to organizing. (I have to clean up the mess in the foyer that I made while organizing my desk yesterday.)

- I am working on organizing my desk area. Yea! Thanks to my BFF, I had an idea about getting a desktop file box to replace the overflowing box of papers, so that is what I worked on yesterday. Not a huge (visual) improvement, but a step in the right direction. (I will hopefully be posting pictures later this week of that before and after, yea!)

-My BFF and I are trying to encourage each other to declutter/organize one area per month, since we happened to be working on our office areas at the same time (again, I was inspired by her efforts)--so that will be extra encouragement and accountability in my organizing journey.

-Some movie non-recommendations: 3 Days of the Condor and State of Grace both sucked. You're welcome.


Now onto 5QF.....

1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?
My old favorite charity is Native American Rights Fund, but since L has had health problems I really have two choices: American Partnership For Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) and Phoenix Children's Hospital (PCH). While APFED raises funds for awareness and research, PCH saved L's life. So if I had $1000 to donate, I think I'd give it to PCH.

2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?
Haha all you snowdwellers, I live in Phoenix. Snow days are not a part of my life! {Don't hate, you don't have to deal with our summers.} But we have our share of cabin fever--we just got over another batch of illness--so I can tell you that I think an occasional break from the everyday routine is nice (and if you have snow, it's fun to throw snowballs or make a snowman), more than one starts to be a pain.

3. What talent did you wish you had and why?
I like to dance, love it actually, and I have a pretty good sense of rhythm. However, I am totally inflexible and slightly uncoordinated--so I wish I were a better dancer.

4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?
I used to be a politics junkie. Love me some Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow. But with kids and no time and the state of the world, I can't handle the negativity. So now I bury my head in the sand. Oh and I HATE celebrity gossip. I used to follow it back in my younger days, I subscribed to Us and Entertainment Weekly. But now I think all that stuff is so toxic. AND I don't give a rat's behind about Britney, Lindsay, and Paris. Sheesh!

5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)
I don't drink alcohol. Not because I'm high and mighty, I just don't like the taste. (Which is too bad cuz some days I'd really like to end with a cocktail! LOL) I do enjoy an occasional Shirley Temple, but honestly if I'm at a happy hour or cocktail party (and I never am), I'm just gonna ask for a Coke. I've been taking care of kids all day, I need the caffeine!

Join the Q&A fun over at Mama M's.

Week in Review--1/7/11

Before I get on to Five Question Friday, I thought I'd share a few tidbits.



In my quest to get organized and cleaned up, today I:



-Printed out this January cleaning calendar from Clean Mama.



-Bought the e-book: Tell Your Time ($7 with code CLEANSLATE), recommended by Simple Organized Living--because time manangement is a huge problem of mine.



And I actually cleaned... because the exterminator was coming over to do our annual indoor treatment. Eek. I finally sorted all the little itty bitty toys that have been on the floor since before Christmas and were added to on Christmas {the place looked worse than ever!} and got them in all their various baskets and into the cabinet. Awesome! I left plenty of odds and ends, but it looks So Much Better. Then I wiped down my master bathroom, which was in half-decent shape because I cleaned it at the beginning of Nevember {I told you I'm a mess!}. Sadly, my bedroom was beyond the reach of a short cleanup time. Embarassing. I like to tell myself the exterminator has seen worse.



Meanwhile, we've been watching a French movie this week, Tell No One. It was weird and complex, one of those films that reveal just a little bit at a time so you spend much of it confused (and even annoyed--I almost gave up on it after the first night), but ultimately it all made sense and it was pretty good. Not great, but interesting and kind of romatic. Kind of.




Okay, on to this week's Q & A, some unusual questions so I thought I'd join in with Mama M. Here goes:



1. What is your current favorite book, and why?
I'm not sure I understand the "current" part of this question, do they mean of the books I'm currently reading or the book I would tell people (currently) is my favorite book ever? If it's the latter, my favorite book {that everyone must read} is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Awesome! If it's the best of what I'm reading right now, I'll say Memoirs of a Geisha, because I'm further along in it than the other novels I'm reading {more on those in a future post} and though I'm not sure yet about the plot (aren't geishas prostitutes?!), the writing is very good.



2. Do you go to the dentist regularly?

I am embarassed to say it's been YEARS since I've seen a dentist. I won't tell you how many years, let's just say more than five. {Hangs head in shame.} I blame the IBS as well as our lack of dental insurance.


3. What is your worst memory from High School?
I've said before that I hated high school, so let's see if I can choose one moment. Oh here's a good one. I was skinny in high school and had no boobs (not that I've got much more up top these days, I was not blessed by the boob fairy). One day in Geometry (I was a freshman, these annoying boys were sophomores), we got a test back. One boy saw my good score and said "let's give her {meaning me} a medal" and the other boy replied, "yes, and a chest to put it on." Yeah, good memories! (That's just off the top of my head, I can't say for sure it's the worst memory.)

4. What do you hope to be remembered for in your life?
I wish that I would make the history books or be a published author one day, but it's not looking like that's in the plan, so it will just be friends and family who remember me and I hope they say I was a good person, that I was kind, and I hope my kids have good memories of our times together, that they'll say I was a good mom.

5. Are you superstitious or do you have any superstitions?

Funny, this reminds me of when I was a kid and I was watching something, like beauty pageants or award shows, and I was rooting for someone, I'd cross my fingers--and then I went through a phase where I thought it was better to un-cross everything so I'd sit there with my fingers all fanned out rooting for Miss Tennessee to make the finals or for Janet Jackson to win best album. Funny to think back to that, now I hate beauty pageants with a (feminist) vengeance and I'm lucky if I catch the Oscars.



So am I superstitious these days? I guess a little, because I don't like to "jinx" myself (not that I actually believe in jinxing or tempting fate but I can't help it) by saying, for example, "my kids haven't been sick in 2 months" for fear they will promptly get sick. I like to keep an umbrella in my purse because, Murphy's Law, it will rain the one day I forget it. And so forth. Not really susperstitious in the black cat/broken mirror kind of way.

Or just now, I thought of putting as my facebook status that "I'm having a good day," but I can't because then surely the day would take a turn for the worse. So I won't post that--I can, however, wait till the end of the day and declare "it was a good day." So there you go.

For more Question fun, go here. Have a great weekend!!!

Five Question Friday--November 12

Super simple post today because I find myself fascinating.... Five Question Friday hosted by Mama M. 1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?
Duh, labor of course. Both times, the anesthesiologist took his sweet time getting to me, so I experienced hours of contractions. I don't remember L's labor very well, but T's is still a vivid memory. I remember that in addition to the enormous cramping pain, I also felt a stabbing pain. Like knife in the gut, someone is stabbing me pain. Is this normal, ladies? Because I think it might have been gas related to my lovely and ever present Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Anyway, in case you're wondering why I go for the epidural, that's why. I don't need a medal, just give me the drugs, thankyouverymuch.

2. How much sleep do you get at night?
There is not enough sleep in the world! On a good night, we'll go to bed by 10:30 and the kids will sleep till 7:00 (on a good day)--so that's potentially 8.5 hours. But we aren't always so good about going to bed and the kids rarely make it till 7 (today it was 6:00). Anyway, if left to my own devices (as I was when I was a full-time couch potato), I'll sleep 10-11 hours per night. So 8.5 doesn't seem nearly enough!

3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? How did you find out that he does not exist?
I believed for a very long time. Into junior high, I think. {I know, crazy!} I had 3 sisters (one older, 2 younger) and we all slept in one room on Christmas Eve and talked about waiting for Santa. One year, I heard "Santa" hit a key on the piano about 3am and I knew convincingly he was real.

I don't know how/when I finally figured it out. It wasn't one startling moment, I think I just outgrew believing in magic. Or maybe kids at school talked about how Santa is really your parents and it was like "oh, of course!" I don't remember.

Anyway, I had to continue to act like I still believed in order to keep getting presents. To this day, my parents won't let us talk like he doesn't exist. {Weird!}

4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?
I believe I've only seen one movie in a theater since I became a mom {that's 5 years--so sad!} and that was Becoming Jane.


5. What do you wear to bed?
For a very long time, the answer was a t-shirt and shorts or flannel pants, but in the last couple of years, I have discovered the joy of matching pajamas. I have one set of summer pajamas and 3 sets of winter pjs, including my super favorite Betty Boop Coca-Cola pajamas. :-) Of course there are still those nights when I stumble into bed without matching. But waking up coordinated is kind of magical. I highly recommend it!

I told you, I'm fascinating! For more Q&A fun, go here.

Five Question Friday--October 22

Another crazy week here. I'm hoping to come back and tell you all about it soon (very exciting stuff going on in our household--L is growing up fast!). For now, just a quick 5 Questions post. Enjoy!

1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse?
My husband is by far the better cook. And he enjoys cooking while I do not. How ironic that I'm the at-home spouse. These days, he cooks dinner about half the time.

2. How often do you talk to your mom?
This has been a point of contention for a long time. My parents still like to "check in" on me in a weekly phone call, which I think is absurd {looking forward to reading others' answers to this one}, especially in this age of email. I am not a child anymore, I'm 36 for goodness sake! Anyway, for now I've stopped arguing because the kids enjoy the calls. Pretty soon they'll be moving to town so we'll probably talk more often.

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe?
I am not adventurous in the kitchen (see #1), but I like "recipes" that are so easy I can do them by memory, eyeball the spices etc.

4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe?
No, the second toe is shorter.

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?)

Sadly, no. I like to aspire to that, think about it, I've mentioned in another post how I'd like to dress up in a '50s poodle skirt but I know that ultimately I'm too shy/easily embarassed to go through with it. So instead, I'll wear a pumpkin t-shirt to all the various parties and trick-or-treating.

For more Q&A fun, go here.

Tell me, how often do you talk to your parents?

Five Question Friday--Sept. 24

I couldn't resist this week's questions, so I'm joining one of my favorite weekly carnivals, 5 Questions Friday, even though it is now Saturday night. 1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)?
I would say a nice proper English accent a la Jane Austen movies.

2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck)
Traditionally no, but since becoming a mom, I have been known to drift off in a chair. I wish I could sleep on an airplane, that would be a helpful skill.

3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet?
Thanks to the IBS, I use public restrooms almost every day. :-( I used to be a bathroom snob with an iron bladder, now I'm excited when I come upon a port-a-potty. Oh how the mighty have fallen.


Yes, I sit on the toilet. I cover the seat with paper (seat cover or TP) and then sit. I have better things to do than hover over a toilet seat.

4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with?
Okay, being stuck in an elevator would pretty much be my worst IBS nightmare. Thus, rather than a celebrity, I'd like to be stuck with a plumber who could rig up a toilet. Now, if I had to be stuck in say a nice hotel room (you know, with a bathroom) with a celebrity, in that case I'd like it to be somebody who has had a fascinating life and could tell me lots of cool stories. Hmmmm... Sandra Day O'Connor? Madeleine Albright? I know: Stevie Nicks! She's got stories, I'm sure, and she could sing me the phone book. Love her voice!

5. Where did you & your significant other go on your 1st date?
After double dates to the movies and Cracker Barrel, our first real date was to watch Braveheart in my dorm room.

Okay, so those questions weren't as interesting as I thought. Oh well. Maybe others have better answers--go here to find out.

Five Question Friday--August 27

I've been busy cleaning in anticipation of L's teachers visiting us this morning. Now the visit is over and I can trash my house and do a little blogging. I give you Five Question Friday hosted by Mama M....1. How many pets do you have?
None, I'm not a pet person. I can't even handle the (human) responsibilities I already have, I'm not willingly adding more!

2. If you could switch places with anyone in the world for one day, who would it be?
Hmmm. Maybe a college student? I loved college--no responsibilities other than to occasionally go to class or write a paper. Oh to sleep till noon--those were the days!

3. What is your favorite money saving tip?
Don't be brand-loyal. Buy the brand that's on sale or buy generic, whatever is cheapest. {At this point I'm only loyal to a few brands--Jif peanut butter, Eggo waffles (possibly a few more I can't think of right now). In those cases, I've tried other brands, I've tried generic and there's a difference. (Safeway waffles were barely edible!) I was loyal to Aunt Jemima syrup for a long time but recently switched to generic. It's not as good but it's worth the savings and getting that racist brand out of my house. Sorry, I'm rambling.}

4. What do you want your kids to be when they grow up?
Our top priority is to keep them from being lawyers (our profession)--it's awful! Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be lawyers. Otherwise, I don't care. I'd like to steer them to something that fits with their interests, something that doesn't require expensive schooling. No educational debt. Something that will likely always be in demand, like computers or nursing.

5. What is your favorite quote?
From scripture, Phil 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

From a human, Eleanor Roosevelt--"You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

For more Q&A fun, go here.

Five Question Friday--August 20

1. Do you have any nicknames and if so how did it come about?

I've never had a good nickname.:-( My husband and I call each other goofy things like crazyhead and pookie. Lame, I know.

2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings?

I am the second of 4 girls. So older middle child. I've got the middle-child-Jan-Brady-syndrome for sure.

3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?

This is a great question, I can't believe I haven't thought of this before, since I've known for a long time that Sandra Bullock should play me. But my husband? That's a tough one! After much thought, I've come up with Brendan Fraser. {photo credit} They have a similar build (although truth be told, Fraser is taller and Hubby is slightly heavier) and brown hair and light eyes (Hubby's are green, can't tell what Fraser's are). So there you go.

4. What is currently your favorite song?

Another tough one because so much depends on my mood. I'm going to say Train's "Hey Soul Sister" because it's current (I wouldn't want you to think I was out of date or anything)

and I can listen to it over and over.

5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?

Honestly, we don't have two cents to rub together so I'm not really saving, but I am on the lookout for a new diaper/messenger bag for everyday.

Go here for more Q&A fun. Thanks to Mama M. for hosting! :-)

Five Question Friday--July 30

It's Thursday night, woohoo, almost the weekend! It's time once again for 5QF hosted by Mama M. When I read the questions a few minutes ago I thought: I like this meme because it makes me think about random happy things, and I think I tend to have deep, dark thoughts much of the time. Why am I such a glass-half-empty person?! Anyway, on to the Q&A.....1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it?
My favorite toy was my Stacy doll that I wrote about here. Yes, I still have her, though I need to unearth her from the boxes in the garage so I can share her with my daughter. I also loved my first comforter. It was a yellow and white plaid and soooo soft. My parents kept it for a long time (after my decor changed when I was 8 or so), but I don't have it and they've probably gotten rid of it by now. I also loved my Green Giant sleeping bag, I don't have that either. ;-) Oh and I did keep a smaller blanket that I believe is hand-knit, from my grandmother but I don't think she did the knitting, that's always been a favorite.

2. Do you dream in color?
I have dreamt in both black and white and color, but I'd say color is my norm.

3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller?
I am 5'7. When I was a kid and we'd always watch beauty pageants, it seemed like all the contestants were 5'7 so I announced I wanted to be 5'7. {I believe these days contestants tend to be taller than that, tho' I haven't watched one in years. Because I don't support the objectification of women. 'Nuff said.} But by the time I grew to be 5'7, I had realized that boys don't like to date taller girls--and it always seemed like I liked the cute short boys. Anyway, while I've often disliked my height, now that I've put on weight since having two kids, I realize that having a tall frame helps me elongate the fat, so that's good right? And my husband is 6', so the whole short boy thing didn't turn out to be a problem. :-)

4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be?
Ooh, James Earl Jones. That's be pretty stinkin' cool.


5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot?
Since having kids, I try to return it to the corral when I'm able, because I know that sometimes it's just not possible and I just have to leave it wherever. Also, I generally like to park near the cart return--so I can grab a cart on the way in (if I want to put my daughter in it) and leave it on the way out. But again, that's not always possible. So I do my best.


For more Q&As, visit Mama M's place. Have a great weekend!

Five Question Friday--July 23

1. What were your school colors?

Grade School: maroon and gold
High School: blue and green
College: brown and blue
Law School: maize and blue



Hmmm, I just noticed that other than grade school, all my schools had some form of blue color(h.s. was like a regular blue, college was a light blue and law school was navy blue). Fascinating!


2. What's the best compliment you ever received?
The summer before my senior year in high school, I went to a summer program at a university. I'm someone who is always signing something or another. Anyway, so I'm walking down the hall of the dorm with a friend and singing I-don't-know-what and this guy that I barely knew overheard and complimented my singing. He asked if I was a soloist at my school!!! It was a crazy idea--little ol' me a soloist? Not at my crazy competitive high school! I was always in the back of the chorus. To this day, this is the greatest unsolicited compliment I've ever received--it was so out-of-the-blue and genuine.



3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?
I buy good toilet paper inexpensively. ;-) We get Charmin at Costco.



4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?
I can think of three surprise parties in my lifetime. First, for my 18th birthday in college, my roommate threw me a surprise party in our common area in the dorm. Surprised me as I came back to the dorm after church Sunday night. Complete and total shock. It wasn't much of a party, I don't think there was food, one acquaintance gifted me with a beer, but it was a really nice gesture. And it was only a month into the school year, so it made me feel at home. :-)



Second one: in law school for my 22nd birthday, my then-boyfriend/now-husband and I headed out to Pizzeria Uno for dinner. At the hostess stand, we ran into another couple from our class and awkwardly tried to figure out if we should join each other for dinner, but I didn't suspect anything. Then we all headed downstairs and there was the rest of our class there to surprise me for my birthday! I'm not even sure Hubby knew about it. Good times.



My 19th birthday was also full of surprises. My friend organized for a bunch of us to go apple-picking (unrelated to my upcoming birthday). It was lots of fun. Then we drove to her parents' house who lived in the area and it became a surprise birthday party for me with food and gifts and cake. Then, they took me to an ice cream parlor that embarasses the birthday girl/guy on the loudspeaker. Lots of fun!



I tried to return the favor and surprise that friend on her birthday. We gathered everyone in a friend's dorm room and surprised her--at least she looked surprised, but when I asked if she was surprised, she said "no," she'd overheard us planning it in the dining hall. :-( {Note: if you are ever in that situation, where you weren't really surprised, please lie and say you were, it will make your host feel better.} Still, a good time was had by all.



5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

I can't choose--I cannot live without either chapstick or Coke. (Hopefully, in a future season of life, I can wean myself off of caffeine, but right now, it's a necessity.)

For more fun answers, go here. Have a great weekend!

Five Question Friday--July 15

It's Friday again and I love this meme. Five Question Friday brought to you by Mama M. Wherein I ramble about myself (unlike all those other posts I write). It's late so this will be quick and dirty.1. Do you collect anything?
In the past I've collected various things (like pins/buttons and novelty pencils), but currently I just collect Coca Cola stuff (my dream is to one day have a Coca Cola/'50s diner-style kitchen) and Willow Tree figurines.


2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.
It's so hard to name just 3. Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, hmmm I can't decide between Jonny Lee Miller and Orlando Bloom.

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)?
I scar easily so I have about a million. Actually, scars on my legs tend to disappear with time, so it's just the 30 or so scars on my arms from mosquito bites and chicken pox (I was a scratcher!). You could play connect the dots with all of them. Other than that, I have a scar on my back from when I had a mole removed in my teens. Okay, I just checked and I do still have a scar on my knee from when I fell climbing a mountain/hill/waterfall while in France, so that's cool. Oh and I checked my other knee and there still remains the scar from when I fell off my bike sometime in middle school.

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird?
I'm a picky eater, so I don't eat exotic things. Some people find it odd that I don't put jelly on my peanut butter sandwiches--they are just peanut butter and bread.


5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?
No. I've been through tornado watches, tornado warnings and tornado drills, having grown up in the midwest, but I've not seen or survived an actual tornado.

For more 5 Question fun, head over here. Have a great weekend!

Five Question Friday--July 9

1. What is one food you could eat everyday?
Actually, there are a few foods that I do eat (nearly) everyday. I have Eggo waffles for breakfast and a peanut butter sandwich for lunch most days. I am a creature of habit. I wish my kids didn't mind eating the same thing for breakfast and lunch day after day, sadly they require variety, thus making my job harder. Alas....

Anyway, PIZZA. Pizza is a food I could eat everyday. Especially if I could vary the brand, restaurant, toppings... yeah, I could eat pizza everyday. And love doing it! Yummmmm.

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?
Haha, NO! When I was 18, I was firmly against having children, so the fact that I am a SAHM to 2 kids, would probably blow her mind. At the time, I planned to be a lawyer, and technically I am one (I have the degree and passed the Bar etc.), I just don't practice and the whole law school thing (aside from meeting my husband) was a big ol' wrong move and when I go back to work at some point when the kids are in school full time, it will not be in law.

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?
Okay, I've thought and thought about this one, but I can't come up with anything (I'll be eager to read others' answers). All I can say is I wish I'd formed better habits: found a physical activity I enjoy so I wouldn't hate exercising; got in the habit of making my bed and putting dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher etc. (I'm such a bad housekeeper); I wish I'd paid more attention to how my mom did things.... {Sorry, boring answer!}

4. What color are your kitchen walls?
Because we haven't been able to redecorate since we moved in (5 years ago), we are living with the previous owner's hideous cream-with-pink-flowers wallpaper in our kitchen. Except for the wall where we've started (very slowly) to remove it.

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?
When I first read this question, I thought of Dell Shannon's "Runaway." That song predates me (it's from 1961 and I was born in '74) so it is possible that was my first favorite song, but I can't say for sure. {Note to self: buy it on iTunes.} Naked Eye's "Always Something There To Remind Me" came out in 1983, when I was in 3rd grade, and that was and still is a favorite. For your listening pleasure.......







For more fun answers, head over here. Thanks, Mama M, for hosting!

Five Question Friday--June 25

I'm on a blogging roll! After a one-week absence, I'm back with more fascinating responses to life's most pressing questions--it's Five Question Friday, hosted by Mama M.!1. Do you know how to play a musical instrument?

Yes. :-) I took cello lessons from 3rd through 8th grade. Sadly, I didn't practice much so I never got very good. If you were to hand me a string instrument today (violin, viola or cello), I could play some of the beginning Suzuki classics, like "Allegro."



I took piano lessons from 3rd grade through high school. I can remember a few bits and pieces and can pick out things like "Twinkle Twinkle." I also can read music, so if you give me a piano and sheet music, I can play, just not very well. (Again, I was terrible about practicing so even though I took lessons all those years, I never progressed very far. But I had a very understanding teacher (unlike with cello), who understood I wasn't practicing but kept encouraging me by finding music I liked (more jazz and ragtime than classical). God bless her!)
2. What is your pet peeve while driving?
Ugh, people drive like crap! Among my pet peeves: not signaling, driving with a cell phone in your hand, and drifting into my lane.

3. Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimited spa services?
I am not a spa person and I keep a very messy house, so definitely the housekeeper. Yes, please!!!

4. Is there a song that you hear that will take you back to the moment, like a junior high or high school dance?
So many songs instantly transport me, I can't choose just one. I never really went to dances so nothing comes to mind there. '80s music takes me back to middle school. Nirvana takes me back to high school. Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos and the Indigo Girls take me back to college.


5. What song best represents your life right now?
I'm inspired by "Turn, Turn, Turn" by the Byrds that takes its lyrics from Ecclesiastes--to everything there is a season. Also I like to listen to "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World to remind me that life is a journey and this is just the middle of the ride.



Check out more answers at My Little Life.

Five Question Friday--June 11

Welcome once again to Five Question Friday, when I get to talk about me, me, me (as opposed to all those other blog posts about, um, oh right, me). Let's get started....

1. What do you think makes a good friend, or friendship?

This question quite possibly requires too many brain cells for this time of day (10 am). Let's see, I think one of my best friendship qualities is I'm a good listener. I think you just have to be there for your friends, you don't have to have the answer, just lend an ear or a shoulder, share the burden.
2. What is the last thing you bought & later regretted?

Ugh, I've had to make so many returns lately! I hate returns! First, I searched and searched stores and online for a new everyday bag (messenger style, with an adjustable strap, and two side pockets to carry water bottles and sippy cups in our hot Phoenix summers). I finally took the plunge and ordered from Amazon and when it arrived I was immediately disappointed. So back it went and I'm currently using a free diaper bag I got from Enfamil while pregnant. :-(

-

Also, I recently bought a pair of yoga pants from Target.com--a "deal of the day." Size large, yet they were too snug. Yuck! I need to return that to the store along with the "2-pack" of ice packs I bought the other day only to get it home and find that the box only contained one ice pack. Poop!

3. Have you ever had a prank played on you?
For my 11th birthday, I had a slumber party with 5 or 6 of my closest friends. During the party, I got a phone call. The caller didn't say who they were but I thought it was this other not-so-close girlfriend of mine and she (I thought) asked if I wanted to do something that weekend. I was like "sure" and I guess I started to realize something was up, I think my guests started giggling or something, so I asked "wait, who is this?" Turned out, it was a very popular BOY from my class, not the GIRL I thought I was talking to. The whole thing was a prank. (Nice that a cute and popular boy asking me out was too funny to be true!) Anyway, I turned red as a tomato and we all had a nice laugh. So yes, I've been "punked."

4. What is your favorite theme park?
For sure Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando--Disneyworld and Epcot. I truly think Disney is the happiest place on earth! I think we're going to take the kids to Disneyland in August. Yea! Disneyland is great, but I think Disneyworld is just that much better, spread out on more land, and Epcot is so fun as well (haven't been there in ages, but it would take a lot of time and money to get to the other side of the country). Anyway, Disney parks have a great variety of attractions as opposed to say Six Flags that is heavy on the roller coasters. Super fun!

5. Have you ever seen someone else give birth?

No, not in person. I've seen some "educational films" of women giving birth, but that is not something I would like to see in real life.

For more fun Q&As, visit My Little Life.