Five Question Friday

Well, it's finally Friday! :)

OK...confession...it's actually Thursday and I'm doing this tonight because I have the time...

;)

Anyway, it's time for Five Question Friday with Mama M.  If you'd like to play along, head on over to her blog and link up!





1.  Can you drive a stick shift?

Oh...this is a funny story.

I wanted to be able to drive a stick shift so bad when I finally started driving...but both of my parents' cars were automatic.  However, my BFF's dad had an old, old, old Volkswagen Rabbit that was a stick shift and I was determined to learn how to drive this car.  So, one day, we all pile in the Rabbit and I get a crash course in driving a stick shift.  However, I think that Ash's dad couldn't actually stop laughing long enough to truly teach me!  I would get going and then stall out by slamming on the brakes.  The whole clutch, brake, gas, shift combo threw me.  Oh...fun times!

Then, on my first date with Dylan's dad, we had some time to kill between dinner & our movie...so he decided it was a good time for me to learn...on his Mustang...in the mountains.  Yeah, that went real well.

Finally, my friend Tori in college taught me how to drive her Probe.  And I drove it well.

Guess I had to find the right teacher! ;)

2.  What are two foods you just can't eat?

There's very little that I just can't eat...often even the foods I detest I can eat if they are mixed into other foods.

But quite honestly, I HATE pintos & mushrooms.  Mushrooms give me the heebie jeebies.

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

I have not been accosted approached by any Girl Scouts so far this year...but usually, I will buy some cookies.  My all time favorites are Thin Mints...although I do like the coconut ones (can't remember their "new" name).  And last year I discovered the Lemonade cookies...which sadly didn't come back this year.  They were delish...and didn't last too long in my house last year!

4.  How do you pamper yourself?

I love getting pedicures.  I also love getting massages. 

Sadly I don't often have time or the cash for either.

But when I do...I enjoy them to the fullest! :)

5.  What is your nickname and how did you get it?

My current "nickname" is Jenn.  And I pretty much gave it to myself.  I've always been one of about five Jennifer's wherever I was in school.  I'm not sure when I made the transition to Jenn...and not everyone calls me that.  It's usually Jennifer or Jenn.

And it's suggested to NOT call me "Jenny".  There's only one person who calls me that that actually gets away with it...in fact, I don't even notice it anymore!

I hope you have a great Friday and an awesome weekend!

Awards & Such...

It's been quiet over here on my blog.  I've been a little busy this week...I blame this sweet girl:

This is my Mom & Dad's sweet new basset hound, Cookie! She's three and just about the sweetest thing.  She is so laid back and allows Ayden to love all over her!  They brought her home (along with her brother Gumbo) on Monday...so of course we had to go visit.  Gumbo was a little too aggressive, considering Alyson & Ayden...so they decided to take him back.  I was a little sad, because they were so sweet together.  But I think, from what I'm reading/seeing, she is adjusting just fine.

About a week ago, I did a little blog spring cleaning...meaning I weeded through the blogs I'm following and deleted some that I wasn't reading and that I never remember reading me.  If you are a "lurker" and you read my blog...never comment...please let today be the day that you comment so that I can return the favor!

So, last Wednesday, my good blog friend Rachel gave me two awards...when do you think I remembered this honor?  Today...when another blog friend Katie posted on Twitter that she had left an award on her blog for me!

Do you want to hear a funny story about Katie?  Well, not really about Katie...but it's just proof positive that this is a small world after all.  Somehow (and I honestly can't remember how), Rachel & I connected here in the blog world.  We don't know each other IRL...but we've gotten to know each other in this virtual world.  Then, one day...she posted her 101 in 1001 and she credited her blog friend Katie.  So, I hop over to Katie's blog to check it out...and I realize that I KNOW KATIE!  Like in real life know Katie.  We used to go to church together when we were younger! So, we've been catching up on Twitter...and it just cracks me up to think that we reconnected through a girl in Texas when we probably live less than 30 minutes from each other! :)

So, anyway...back to my awards...Rachel awarded me these two awards...

The rules for these are to thank the blogger who awarded me; share 7 facts about me and pass the award on to other blogs.

Today, Katie gave me this blog award:



For this one, I'm supposed to list 5 facts...one of which is not true!

So...how will I handle this???  I will list 7 facts for Rachel's two awards, but in order to fulfill the requirement's from Katie's award, one of the facts will not be true!  Can you guess which one is not true?

1.  I sleep with a teddy bear named Joshua every night that my uncle gave me when we went to Iowa when I was four.

2.  I have never seen the Star Wars movies.  I tried to watch them with Dylan once...and fell asleep.

3.  When I was in high school, I worked at Action Video - a movie rental place.  It was my favorite job.  What could be better than getting paid to watch movies at work?

4.  I went to California when I was about 9.  It was my first "real" plane trip.  My first actual plane ride was between Greensboro & Winston-Salem...which are probably no more than 30 miles apart...so the plane ride was about 10 minutes! :)

5.  My only broken bone was a toe...which I broke last Christmas when we were putting up our Christmas tree.

6.  I was on the Safety Patrol in elementary school.

7.  I got written up my Senior year of high school for skipping a class...I was with my friend Jamie in the school office.  We still had to do after school detention.

Now...I'm supposed to pick some blogs to pass the award on to...but I hate doing that because I don't want to leave anyone out! :)  Definitely check out Rachel & Katie's blogs...and here are a few of my other favorites...

Diary of a Fickle White Woman
Freckle on the Nose of Life's Complexion
Handbags & Handguns
My Little Life
My Three Bubs (which I think has been re-named to My Four Bubs)
PBJ Dreamer
Salt Says...

Hope you are having a good Thursday...I know I'm posting this late...but it's when I had the time! :)

See you tomorrow for Friday!

Note:  Mom...you cannot play the game...you should know which one is a lie.  Also, Ashley...if you happen to read this, you can't play either! ;)  You two know too much! HAHA

Monday...it's not so bad afterall! :)

I know...to each their own...but today is Monday and for me, so far, it's not been too terrible.  I can't complain too much...and really, do you want to hear all my whining and complaining?  I think not.  I mean, you listen when I do whine and I appreciate it...but that's not really what you want to read from me all the time, right? ;)

Anyway, my weekend was spectacular.  Friday was bright, sunny, warm...high of 70-something...flip flops on...it was an all around beautiful day.  And I spent a bit by myself in the office, which meant I could open my window and enjoy the fresh air.  I'm blessed to not just have an office with a window, but an office with a window that OPENS!  My enjoyment was shortlived, though, because soon my boss returned and insisted on air conditioning.  Party pooper!

Friday evening I went to my BFF's sister's house for a Scentsy/Premiere Jewelry Party...which also turned into a 31 Party since her sister sells 31...and the girl who does the Premiere is one of her best customers! :)  Fun times...and I'm looking forward to some new Scentsy stuff!  I got a new warmer for my office and some summer-y scents to enjoy while I'm here at work! 

Saturday I woke up to more sunshine.  The temps weren't quite as warm as Friday...but still upper 60's.  I laid in bed for a while...watched Step Mom, Can't Buy Me Love & Sixteen Candles!  It was a great morning on ABC Family!  And...I began my taxes...which is looking good and I'm hoping to finish today...because I need that money! :)  Well, not really...but I'm looking forward to it.  I caved and told Dylan I would pay for half of a PlayStation 3...because I'm the best mom ever! ;)  Plus, it looks like I've also been swayed to the iPhone camp.  My upgrade is due in a couple of weeks...but I think I can pretty much upgrade any time.  I wasn't going to go the iPhone route...I was completely sold on the Droid phones...but then my co-worker got one...and my sister got one...and they are in love.  And it's just so cool.  And I haven't heard any complaints.  So, I think my decision is just about made.  There are a few other practical things I want to do with my tax refund...so I'm looking forward to seeing it hit my account!

Saturday afternoon was a little windier...which made the temps feel a bit cooler.  Dylan has started Spring soccer.  We were overyjoyed to find out he has the same coaches as he did last year when he played rec soccer.  And his coach seemed to be happy to have him back too.  The team isn't the same, but it didn't look too shabby.  So, I'm excited for another soccer season beginning.

Saturday night we went to dinner with Zac & Ashley for BBQ...and stopped in at Krispy Kreme for some doughnuts.  Krispy Kreme is headquartered in Winston-Salem...so we have a lot of stores in this area.  Most of them have a window into the kitchen so you can see the doughnuts being made & glazed.  Their trademark is the "Hot & Now" doughnuts...which are absolutely to die for.  They melt in your mouth.  So, while we were watching the doughnuts travel down the assembly line...fried...shuttled up on to a belt...glazed...and on around to be packaged...we noticed that the conveyor belt ended...at a trash can.  We watched an *overjoyed* (not TREMENDOUS) sarcasm take some of the doughnuts off the belt toward the end and put them on a tray...but then she walked away...and we began to wonder what was going to happen to the doughnuts when they reached the end...and the big trash can.  Ashley was APPALLED to see doughnut after doughnut fall off the conveyor belt...and in to the trash can!  It truly was amazing to see the waste...and we are all now wondering WHY these doughnuts didn't make the cut...and does that happen often???  Life's little mysteries...

We also celebrated Christmas...yes we realize we are almost 2 months late...but we are very busy people and this was literally the first time we could get together to do Christmas!

Sunday was an AWESOME day...Church was incredible...then Dylan spent some time at Seth's house...I went to Kohls, Target & Wal-Mart...came home to catch up with my DVR.  It was GREAT!

In the afternoon, Dylan called to ask me to bring him some suitable "Nerf war" clothing...and I was on my way back to the church to drop the clothing off...and I began to think about our services on Sunday...and my own story of how God has so richly blessed me...

You see, Sunday morning we heard from three of the seven students who gave their lives to Christ over the weekend we were in DC.  And I was so thankful to be a part of both the weekend in DC and the service yesterday (I do our Children's Church every other month...this is my month off).  Each was baptized and we just celebrated these decisions Sunday morning.

And not only was I thankful for that, I was thankful for all that God has given me...my son...my parents...my family...my friends...

I began to cry and just thank God for all this.  Because I know that if God never gives me anything else in my life, I'm FULL.  That's the only word I could use to describe how I felt yesterday - FULL!

This feeling doesn't take away my desire to meet someone, get married and have more children (hopefully). 

But, it does make me content.

And I think that's what I need for now...to be content.

That full-ness has poured over into today...

And I couldn't be happier to be alive...to be able to enjoy this sunshiney, spring day...and to know that I have a God who loves me...and continues to bless my life.

Happy Monday...I hope yours is as good as mine has been so far! :)

Beautiful Friday!

Today is gonna be a beautiful Friday here in NC.  Forecasted temps of 73 = breaking out the flip flops! :)  I know this is short lived and we will probably get snow next week...but I'm going to enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts!

*BTW for my other NC blog friends...I haven't heard of snow in the forecast next week...it's just how the NC weather rolls...you know what I'm talking about! ;)

So, it's time for another edition of Five Question Friday, brought to you by Mama M! :)  Head on over, grab the questions & link up!  You know you want to!





1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?

I honestly can't remember a time when I've worn the same outfit more than one day in a row.  Except maybe a work uniform, but I don't think that counts.  Even when I'm sick, I must change clothes...no matter how bad I feel.  Fresh clothes make you feel just a little bit better.

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

I can't say that I would ever want to live in a LARGE city.  Let's face it people...I can't go to Wal-Mart on a Saturday after 9am...I don't think being herded through city streets would work for me. 

Actually, now that I think about it...Orlando is not so bad.  It's a pretty large city but it doesn't feel as large as it is.  I'm sure there are the sketchy parts...but Dylan's grandparents live just minutes from downtown and, other than the skyline, you wouldn't really know you were that close.  So, I guess I could choose Orlando.

3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?

Either is fine by me.  Dylan started flying when he was about 10 months old.  I don't really like to be in a car more than about 4 or 5 hours myself...so flying works for me.  But I don't remember any negative car trips with Dylan.  We drove to Orlando once when he was about 3...Dylan wasn't a problem...but a sleep deprived driver was scary...

4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?

I don't really do much "spring cleaning"...I guess for me that would just be going through the junk I've accumulated over the past year...cleaning my car...cleaning the outside of my house, which desperately needs to be powerwashed. 

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

hmmm...that's tough for me.  I'm such an avid reader and read a lot of books that it's hard for me to chose just one.  I really enjoyed The Shack...I loved the portrayal of God in this book.  At Christmas, I read The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans...which was such a great reminder of what Christmas is really all about.  That one impacted me greatly.

Hope you have a Happy Friday...and hope that it's as lovely a day for you as it will be for me, wherever you are! :)

A few of my favorite things...movie edition

A couple of weeks ago, when I was sick...I basically laid in bed or on the couch and watched TV.

All.day.long.

And sometimes all night long...

At some point during my illness, I was flipping through the channels, only to find one of my all time favorite movies on...

I love this movie.  I have seen it a bazillion times.  And although while I was sick, I didn't quite enjoy it to it's fullest (to be quite honest, I probably slept through a good bit of it), it was so nice & comforting to find a personal "classic" on to watch while I was ailing.

And it got me to thinking that there are certain movies that I will ALWAYS watch if I find them on...so, I thought I would share those with you.

I know you are overjoyed! :)

#1 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off - I know I already mentioned above my love for this movie, but I selected a good round 10 movies...so I can't leave it off the list.  I love everything about this movie...I love that Ferris' illness is blown so far out of proportion that people are collecting money, sending flowers, printing messages on the local water tower, running newspaper articles...you get the idea.  And just the coolness of the whole day...spending the day in Chicago...seeing the sites...being the lead person in a parade...driving a super hawt car...going to a baseball game and catching the pop fly ball.  It's a charmed life that Ferris Bueller leads.  And just when you think the "jig is up", his sworn enemy - his own sister (Jennifer Grey pre-Dirty Dancing) saves him from being kept back in high school an additional year by everyone's enemy...the school principal.  This movie is just CLASSIC!

#2 - Sixteen Candles

Another John Hughes classic.  Really, what girl didn't feel like Sam in high school...the middle of the road girl - not popular...not a true "nerd"...in love with the most popular guy in high school who didn't even know she existed...

only in this movie Samantha Baker ended up with Jake Ryan...

Jake Ryan

*swoon*

:)

#3 - When Harry Met Sally

A great Meg Ryan flick about the "rules" of love & dating...and how two old friends end up falling in love. 

#4 - You've Got Mail

I always appreciated the Meg Ryan / Tom Hanks combo.  I loved Sleepless in Seattle, but I wanted to see MORE of Meg & Tom's characters together.  I guess that wasn't the story line, though.  This is just a fun, feel good movie...and it cracks me up that the movie's not that old...but the dial up, AOL connection, chat room references are already so outdated.

#5 - Wizard of Oz

Well, really...what needs to be said about this one?  A true movie classic. 

I remember when this (& my next movie) would come on once a year...seems like they always aired it on a Sunday night...and it was one of those select times that my mom would allow me to stay up past my bed time to watch this movie in its entirety.  I actually own this on DVD (bought it at a yardsale for $1!!!), but I've never watched it from the DVD.  It's just better seeing in on TV.  I can't explain this!

#6 - The Sound of Music

Another classic...this year, in honor of the 45th Anniversary, they showed this movie in Sing-A-Long format at a local theater...it was great because they actually put the words to the songs on the screen!  Awesomeness.  My BFF & I went and sang along with about 12 other people in the theater.

Isn't it sad that there were so few people there???

#7 - Clueless

I just love this movie...I don't have to justify it to you people! :)

#8 - Chasing Liberty

I'm not really sure what the appeal is for me in this movie...I just think it's cute and fun.

#9 - The Holiday

This is one of my newer favorite movies.  I don't remember this being released...I'm sure it was.  I just don't see too many trailers.  But my parents bought the DVD, watched it and told me how much they liked it.  I wasn't sure...the only movie I'd seen with Kate Winslet was Titanic...so, I wasn't sure.  Not that her being in Titanic was a strike against the movie...or that Titanic was a bad movie.  Anyway, I borrowed this and it has become one of my favorite movies.  I just watched it (read: slept through it) on Sunday night.

And I didn't sleep through it because it's boring...I was really tired Sunday night...

#10 - 27 Dresses

This is also a "newer" favorite.  Loved all the dresses...so hideously funny. 

So, those are a few of my all time favorite movies...hope you enjoyed this little bit of insight into my movie watching habits! :)

Wordless Wednesday - Washington, DC

Happy Wednesday! :)

I'm ba-ack!!!

Well, I made it back from DC all safe and sound.  All in all a good weekend...full of fun and short on sleep! :) A typical Youth trip...

I'm a little slack in sharing my DC adventures...mostly because I didn't get home on Sunday until 7ish...and was in my bed at 8:30pm.  I watched a movie that was on TV...OK, so I dozed through a movie that was on TV and turned in around 10ish.  Monday was busy and when I got home, I really just didn't want to do anything but lay on the couch...and sleep some more. Tonight, Mom & Dad invited us to go to the movies with them (they typically go every Tuesday) to see the Narnia movie.  We have a local theater that has $1 movies all the time and on Tuesday, popcorn & drinks are $1 each!  So for $6, D & I got into the movie, each had a small popcorn and a small drink.  Awesomeness!  Mom said she won't go in the summer...it tends to get very crowded.  But tonight there was hardly anyone there.  The theater typically shows older movies...I tease Mom that they are usually movies just about to be released on DVD...but it's nice to have the "theater" experience.

So, I spent Friday night & all day Saturday at a Dare 2 Share conference.  Our Youth attended this conference in November of 2008 and it was amazing.  The Dare 2 Share organization is committed to teaching students to share their faith with their friends in an easy & relational way.  Through an easy acronym - GOSPEL - the students (and adults!) have a guideline for telling their friends about Jesus and how to become a Christian...

G - God created us to be with him.

O - Our sin separates us from God.

S - Sins cannot be redeemed by good deeds.

P - Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

E - Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.

L - Life with Jesus starts now & lasts forever.

We had an awesome time...had 7 students give their lives to Christ...witnessed students being bold about sharing their faith with their friends, as well as complete strangers...and saw our Youth group grow in unity as a group. 

And we also had our "Youth" moments.  Saturday night we were driving around DC trying to get to the Lincoln Memorial...all of the sudden I hear "Oh my gosh...that hobo is peeing on the street".  Yeah...that dominated conversation for about 10 minutes.

Since our main purpose was the conference, we didn't actually get to see much of DC.  But we did see the Washington Monument, the White House (as close as we could possibly get) and the Lincoln Memorial.  Unfortunately, we saw all of this at night...and furthermore my crazy camera wasn't working well...so I got a few pix, but they are all with my phone.  I plan to share those tomorrow for "Wordless Wednesday".

So, all in all, a great weekend with a great group of kids.  Now, if I can just get caught up on my sleep...yeah, I know...good luck with that! :)

Friday! :)

Well, Friday is here and I really have so much to do right now...but I don't want to do it!  I need to clean house because we are leaving this afternoon to go to DC!  I don't know how much of DC I'll actually get to see - I'm chaperoning our Youth trip to a conference in DC...so, I don't know that we will get to the city.  We went to a similar conference in 2008 and we took time on the Sunday to site see.  But, it's looking like we are planning to be back early on Sunday...so I don't know that we will do the site seeing again.  We shall see...

Anyway, I need to get moving...but sitting on the couch, surfing the net is so much more appeal.

*sigh*

I guess I'll get up and be responsible...

But not until I finish my Five Question Friday post!!! :)

If you'd like to play along, you can visit Mama M, copy the questions & link up!





1. Would you rather be on ABC's Extreme Home MakeOver or TLC's What not to Wear?

This is quite a quandary for me.  I *hope* I don't need to be on What Not to Wear...but I'd love for someone to give me $5,000.00 and some tips to use clothing to my benefit.  On the other hand, if someone could take my little house and make it amazing...that'd be cool too.  Although, I guess I could actually be ON Extreme Home MakeOver and not be having MY house re-done...the show actually filmed close to us a couple of years ago and they will sign up volunteers to work on the project throughout the week.  I actually had a friend who was a worker!  I think I could definitely do that. :)

2. Do you have any tattoos?

Not yet...but there are 2 that I want.  The first is a daisy on my toe.  Growing up, every summer we went to camp and we would sing the song "Daisy on my toe".  Can I be honest & tell you I didn't realize until much later (like maybe when I was an adult) that this song was about a tattoo??  Can I also tell you that I learned this song at a church camp?  That cracks me up.  Anyway, my BFF & I want to get this tattoo "on the second toe of my left foot"...and it will "have no stem" it will "have no root...'cause that wouldn't look good".  However, I'm a little leary of the tattoo on my toe because I'm afraid it will really hurt.  Because that's what people have told me.  And I'm a little squeamish of needles...and my BFF is even MORE squeamish than I am.  We've been talking about this about 2 years or more...so maybe it will happen this summer.

But probably not... :)

The other I want is in the shape of a charm I have for a necklace...it's a heart, with the sign of the fish inside and a cross.  I just don't know where I'd put this one...

This is a VERY rough drawing of what I want.

3. Do you tell your kids about things you did growing up?

All.the.time.  Ad nauseum. Just last night I gave him a story about a youth trip we went on where a guy decided to stay out all night the last night we were at camp.  Part of his "punishment" was that he could not go to sleep on the way home (a 6 hr drive) and he was told that if he started falling asleep then they would stop the van and make him walk around the van until he was awake enough for the next stretch.

Of course, this was in response to Dylan staying up after bed time on Wednesday night.

Boy do I know how to beat a dead horse...if I asked Dylan if he was overly tired yesterday once, I asked him a hundred times.

Fun times! :)

4. If the traffic signal turns yellow, do you stop or speed up?

Depends on how close I am.  If I think I can make the light, I speed up.

5. What's your preference: chocolate or chips?

Chips...but I only like "flavored" chips, unless I have dip...then I can eat plain chips!

Alrighty...I'm off to clean the house and then to DC!  Have a great weekend...see you Sunday afternoon! :)

Superbowl Thoughts...

I'm ba-aa-cckk! :) 

If you had asked me on Friday or Saturday if I'd make it to work today, I would've said no way...no how.  Normally my sicknesses last 1 to 2 days.  I'm in bed for a day...and by the next day I might not feel 100% but I feel well enough to go back to work.  But this thing knocked me out of the world for 4 days.  Yesterday was the first day that I felt somewhat human...

Thanks for all the well-wishes.  I'm thankful to be back in the world today! :)

Now...my thoughts on the Superbowl.  As I have explained, I am not a huge sports fan...at all.  I do tend to get wrapped into the major events, like the Superbowl & World Series.  I don't do basketball at all...mostly because Dylan doesn't.  Basically my sports interests follow whatever my son decides is his interest! :)

With that being said, I do not wish to argue or discuss sports strategy, etc.  These are just my thoughts on what I barely observed while watching the Superbowl.  Please keep in mind that last year during the Superbowl I read a book...this year, I worked a jigsaw puzzle.  So, my interest wasn't completely in to the game.

Also, Dylan was pulling for the Steelers...he was disappointed...

 - I liked Lea Michele's rendition of God Bless America...it wasn't too over the top.  I was really surprised to find out that the Glee cast actually sing their own stuff...I'm a newer Glee watcher.  I wouldn't go with "fan" just yet...the musical numbers interest me.  The story line, or lack thereof, does not.

 - Christina Aguilera - mad props to her for singing The Star Spangled Banner acapella.  And I appreciate that she didn't over try the higher parts.  I realize she messed up the words...and I can forgive her for that because I have a feeling nerves played into that heavily.  I'm not a Aguilera fan, at all...but I can appreciate her effort with the National Anthem.

 - For a while, I wondered if the Steelers were ever going to show up...they appeared to be missing from the game. 

 - The person in charge of sound for The Black Eyed Peas really should be fired.  That was horrible. I understand that the first guy needed to be loud when he was by himself...but when the rest of the group was singing, it would be better if he blended a bit more.  Same goes with Fergie.  Quite honestly, I don't know if her mic kept cutting out...or if it was just where she moved around so much...but it sounded like she didn't really know the words and that she was just singing the ones she knew.

 - I really hated Fergie singing Sweet Child of Mine.

- What was Usher's purpose in being there?

 - Is it just me, or do The Black Eyed Peas not have enough of their own music to be able to carry the entire five minute half time show without having to sing everyone else's music?  Seemed odd to me...

 - The field show was pretty cool, I must admit.

 - It appeared to me that the Steelers played a good bit of the game in "desperation" mode...

 - Seems like I remember a time when the Superbowl commercials were the best of the year...there were some good ones, but I wouldn't say they were incredible.  And another thing, it used to be that the commercials were not unvieled until the Superbowl...I actually saw repeat commercials last night.  So sad...

 - Glee was pretty good...loved the Thriller half time show.  I'd love to see that re-created on a high school football field near me! :)

Hope you enjoyed your Superbowl experience.  I, for one, got a good deal done on my jigsaw puzzle. 

Yes...somewhere in my 34 year old person is a 75 year old woman who loves a good jigsaw puzzle.  Don't judge.

:)

Sick...sick...sick

Normally I would be thrilled to know that it's Friday.

Today if I felt well enough to go to work, that would've thrilled me.

My nose is stuffy...

My ears hurt...

I have coughed my head off...

My throat hurts...

I haven't slept well in three nights...

And to top it off, Dylan is sick too.

We are quite pitiful.

Hope to be back among the living soon...

Really soon...

Wordless Wednesday

Preview of the pix Dylan & I had made on Sunday...



I cannot wait to see the rest! :)

Happy Wednesday!!!

Some blogging advice needed...UPDATED

I'm dabbling in the world of blog design...dabbling, meaning learning by a lot of trial and error. 

So...a while back, I thought I'd be cool...download a nice blogger template that I found online...and voila - you have my current blog design.

But as is the case with many things in my life (furniture arrangement, handbags, shoes, hairstyles), I like to change quite often and now I don't know how to un-do the once super cute to me template so that I can possibly use one of the handy dandy templates that blogger now offers.  And add a little customization.  Still working on learning how to do that...

So...if anyone knows how I can get rid of this downloaded template...and return to any kind of Blogger template, I would be forever grateful if you would share this with me.

And I know I copied some stuff into the HTML watch-a-ma-call-it...but I don't know if I can just delete all of that or what?  I guess I could use my trial & error method...so if I disappear...please let me know.

Although that could be difficult, I guess...

HELP!

CRISIS TEMPORARILY AVOIDED...Have I ever mentioned that I'm not a very patient person?

Things "He" Should Know

Every new year brings the same hopes and dreams...hopes for a bigger bank account...hopes for losing weight...and the ultimate hope & dream of *most* single girls...that this will be the year that I can kiss this single life goodbye and meet "that guy"...the one that makes my heart pitter patter...Prince Charming...etc., etc., etc.

You get the picture.

And this got me to thinking about other people I know who have fulfilled that dream in their own lives and I wonder if there are things they wish they knew about the other person BEFORE they got married and lived somewhat happily ever after. 

For example, I wonder if my brother-in-law would've appreciated knowing about my sister's love of watching Nick at Night re-runs, including her all time fav Full House...and occasionally The Nanny.  It probably wouldn't have kept him from marrying her...but still it would be nice to know.

So, I've come up with a list of things that I think my potential hubby should know about me...things that are not "deal breakers" in love & marriage, but things that would be "nice to know".  I would even consider printing this list for all first dates that I may or may not have in 2011...ok, I'm not that brave...maybe a 2nd or 3rd date.  OK, I'll be honest...I *might* let him see this list when we've been married for a couple of years.

#1 - I'm left handed.  No - I don't consider this a disability or anything...but people (and I mean ALL people) need to understand that we left handers look at life just a bit differently.  For instance, in cutting a loaf of bread, I have been known to turn the entire loaf around trying to figure out how to go about cutting off a piece of the loaf.  Trust me...I have witnesses.  I also think this is one reason that I can't easily tell left from right.  Seriously.  It takes me a minute to figure out which side is left & which is right...and it's usually determined by me trying to find the "bump" on my left middle finger that is caused by writing with my left hand. 

#2 - Yes, I am a girl...but that does not render me stupid.  I CAN program a DVR and also am quite capable of setting up a TV & DVD player.  I also know how to use these devices quite well.  I also know how to check the oil in my car, replace my windshield wipers, replace the bulb in my headlights and/or tail lights and once upon a time I removed the door from my dryer and turned it around so it would work better in my laundry room/closet.  I also work for a construction company in which not one man seems to be capable of hauling large bags of trash to the dumpster or carrying heavy computers up stairs.  However, this "tough" persona that I attempt to maintain does not mean that I won't burst out in tears with no explanation.  Remember, I am a girl.

#3 - I do not watch cartoons because I have a kid...rather my kid watches classic cartoons such as Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, and The Flintstones because I have taught him the value of these great cartoons.  We also watch Spongebob quite often.  I may or may not even watch these when he's not at home. 

#4 - I have a great love of syndicated shows, such as The Cosby Show, Gilmore Girls, Laverne & Shirley, I Dream of Jeanie and the NC classic, Andy Griffith Show.  I will watch any of these shows at any given time.  I also recently found a channel that airs The Monkees.  I was beyond excited.

#5 - It would be very wise to NOT keep me from my morning coffee.  I'll refer you to Dylan on that one.

#6 - I also value and appreciate my sleep...especially on a Saturday morning.  Again, I'll let Dylan speak for my love of sleep...and what happens when you interrupt this sleep...no matter how good your intentions are in not waking me up.  It's not pretty.

#7 - Some people may say that I have a tendency to over-react or over-dramatize things.  I call this being "spirited".  I may or may not have thrown a brownie across a room once because a friend was being annoying.  He may or may not have deserved to have said brownie smashed in his face. 

#8 - I tend to act silly...I do silly things...I say silly things.  I like to make people laugh...sometimes I say something that isn't even supposed to be funny...and people laugh.  If I know someone is in a rotten mood - namely my son - I am not above putting on a pair of heart shaped sunglasses to pick up his mood.  I can prove it...I have pictures.

#9 - My family is top priority to me.  I love spending time with my son...some of our best times are when we are just hanging out around the house, laughing, cutting up, being silly. :)  I actually enjoy spending time with my parents...and so does Dylan.  I love visiting with my sister and brother-in-law.  And I love, love, love my niece and nephew.  Other than Dylan, they are two of the greatest blessings in my life.

#10 - While this list may say otherwise, I am not a complicated person.  I really love the simple things...I don't need much to make me happy.  I look at my life and the line from You've Got Mail describes my life to a "T" (in my opinion) - I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small.  I truly believe that there is value in the small & simple things that make up my life.

These are things that I think are important for "him" to know.  There are probably others I could list, but I would say these rank in the top 10 of things that people, especially "that guy", should know about me.  Wish me luck! :)