I feel so empowered!

I am feeling so empowered and so proud of myself! I went for a 14 mile bike ride yesterday! I was tired and probably walking a little funny yesterday when we got back and my bottom is definitely a bit on the tender side today...but I feel GREAT! I can't wait to go again and hopefully make this a regular thing...maybe then I will be running down the beach in a bikini again! LOL!

I also bought myself some roller blades finally. It has been probably 12 years since I last rollerbladed...Steve and I were living in Minnesota and had started roller blading and we were out at a park having fun...and then I rollerbladed down a hill...and couldn't stop...and fell right on my tail bone! Steve was behind me and says that I hit the ground so hard I actually bounced! Oh man was I hurting and I couldn't walk right or bend over for a month or more. It was awful. Since then the idea of getting back on roller blades has made me nauseous...until recently. I figured I would give it another try. I am thrilled to say that I haven't fallen and I am gradually building my confidence back. I am embarassed to admit that my 7 y.o. son is better at it than I am! LOL!

Bloody Mary! Bloody Mary! Bloody Mary!

When I was a kid I can remember being told that if you go into the bathroom and turn off all the lights then say "Bloody Mary" into the mirror 13 times then a blood covered woman would come out of the mirror and scratch your face off! (okay, insert a picture of me rolling my eyes here! LOL!) I can remember believing it too. I am sure you are wondering why on earth I would be writing about this but it seems my 7 y.o. learned of the "Bloody Mary" legend yesterday at school...although the version is slightly different...it seems he was told that if he says "Bloody Mary" into the mirror 10 times then he will die. The poor little guy was crying hysterically last night shortly after bed and he was absolutely terrified! Steve and I took him into the bathroom to show him that it wasn't true and he was better after that. It seems the little girl who told him about it has at least one older sibling so my guess is they were trying to scare her. I can only imagine what other legends he is going to come home with fearing they are true! And I can't believe it is already happening in 2nd grade!

So I'm curious...what legends can you remember being afraid of as a kid...I would love to hear one - or two! ;)

Lenox (Feb 1994 - March 16, 2007)

Our cat Lenox died on Friday morning. The kids were at school and Steve was on his way home from being out of town all week. We are all heartbroken. It has actually hit me much harder than I would have ever expected. My poor husband was so upset and I think it was harder for him because he had been out of town for so long. Stevie and Alyson were absolutely devastated...poor Alyson was inconsolable for a bit at first. Seeing Stevie's face when he heard the news and then to hear Aly crying so hard and just saying his name over and over...that is just something I am never going to forget. She kept saying "but, I didn't know it was his last day!" I feel angry at myself that he was all by himself. He was just laying there as if he were going to take a nap. My neighbor was kind enough to come over and wrap him in a towel for me because I just couldn't bear to do it - I couldn't even be in the same room while she did it. We all said goodbye to him later that night once Steve was home and while I thought seeing Lenox would be hard for the kids it actually seemed to help. They made cards for him to say goodbye and ask God to take care of him -- in Stevie's card he asked God to make sure he got 3 small meals a day :) We buried him Saturday morning on the side of the house just outside our master bathroom window and I ordered a Mickey Mouse birdbath to place there since our crazy cat was crazy about water.

It seems weird to say but the house seems quieter without him and just sad. I wish I had stopped and been a little nicer to him that morning instead of rushing past him to get the kids out the door to school. I can't help but feel guilty. I miss having him run in front of me on my way to the shower every morning...who would have thought I would actually miss THAT?!

I confess I would sometimes roll my eyes when I would see how attached some people were to their pets...and here I am...one of those people. We are so sad around here right now and just miss him. Neither Steve or I seem to want to clean up his food and water dish although I guess we will have to do that soon enough.

This has got to be one of the most clever e-mails I have received in awhile. Someone out there either has TOO much spare time or is deadly at Scrabble!(Wait till you see the last one!

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters: DIRTY ROOM
PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters: BEST IN PRAYER
ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters: MOON STARER
DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters: A ROPE ENDS IT
THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters: THEY SEE
GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters: HE BUGS GORE
THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters: HERE COME DOTS
SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters: CASH LOST IN ME
ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters: IS NO AMITY
ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters: LIES - LET'S RECOUNT
SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters: ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S
A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters: IM A DOT IN PLACE
THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters: THAT QUEER SHAKE
ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters: TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE~

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters: WOMAN HITLER

Yep! Someone with waaaaaaaaaaay too much time on their hands! (Probably a son-in-law).

We went to the Renaissance Festival today.

I haven't been to the Renaissance Festival since I was a kid so I was looking forward to taking Stevie and Alyson today. Steve is out of town for a while but we met up with my MIL and SIL and neices and nephews. It was a beautiful day and we all got a bit on the dirty side but it was really a fun time! Stevie was proposed to...TWICE...within 10 minutes of our arrival...aren't they loverly! ;)

We held court with the Queen herself and Stevie, along with his cousin, Alex, were sworn in by the Queen's Squire and then knighted by King Henry the VIII.

I am kind of hoping that maybe Steve will want to go one weekend before it is over and we will be able to see more of the jousting and watch the washing well wenches again! LOL!


My little Princess and My brave Knight...

My Scrap Space

I was supposed to take a picture of my scrap space to post online but before I could do that I *REALLY* needed to get it straightened up...believe me when I say it looked like a tornado had come through. It took me a couple of days to get things actually put away instead of in piles on my desk and the floor...but it is DONE! It is not as fancy as some spaces I have seen but given time, it will get there. I love it though. We have a great big family home office and we all have a corner in it...and this is mine. Plus, I got the closet too! Thank goodness I have such a supportive and encouraging husband who supports me in my scrapbooking. He does occasionally look around with complete wonderment in his face trying to figure out how on earth I have managed to accumulate so much stuff -- seemingly, without his knowledge! LOL!

I think that scrapbookers are some of the nicest people and I have been lucky enough to be able to call quite a few of them my friends. Every so often I get happy mail from one of them and I love to keep the things they send me in my space to cheer me up...like the "H" that was altered for me and the "Notes" clothespin - are they not the cutest!

I like to keep other "happy reminders" around too, like the scrapbooking bear Steve and the kids got me for Mother's Day last year, little gifts the kids make at school, the NYC Disney Bear Steve brought home from a business trip, plenty of Disney goodies and a few pictures as well -- like the one of a starbucks latte! LOL!

I just love my space and if I am not busy taking care of my family or the house...then you can bet I will be right there at my desk!

I'm a Design Team Member!

I am *SO* excited! I found out today that I made a design team for an online scrapbooking commuity called The Paper Place! It is rather ironic how I found the site - I was feeling so down about my scrapbooking one day and was talking to Steve about it. Just minutes after my conversation I checked my email and had an email from someone I didn't know just wanting to tell me how much she thought of a particular LO I had posted on 2Peas and that she was going to share it with some friends on another board. She gave me the link and so I went to check it out. The ladies there were so warm and welcoming and then they even let me join the contest for the new design team search. I am just SO thrilled and really looking forward to having fun with the other gals on the team. I actually jumped out of my chair and screamed so loud when I found out that my poor husband thought there was a snake under my desk! LOL! If you get a chance I hope you will come check us out... http://www.paperplacescrapbooking.net/

My Celebrity Look-alikes

My cool celebrity look-alike collage from MyHeritage.com. Get one for yourself.

The ABC's of ME

I was challenged to do a layout about myelf. It was one of the hardest challenges I have ever had! I much prefer to scrap about other people! I had to do a layout to let people know me so this was the best idea I could come up with. I really agonized over this but in the end I am feeling pretty proud of what I did.

The journaling on the LO reads:

The ABCs of ME

Accident prone: I have been known to hurt myself in the most ridiculous of ways – like stepping off the curb, walking into the wall, falling off my shoe…just to name a few.

Best qualities: dedication to family and friends, honest and compassionate

Can’t stand: lying, cheating, rude people, slow drivers, stupidity, smoking, hypocrites – to name a few!

Dream job: to be a princess at Walt Disney World or own my own scrapbook store.

Everyday essentials: kiss from my husband, hug from my kids, coffee and my computer.

Family: oldest of 4 siblings, wife of 9 years to Steve and mother of 2, Stevie and Alyson.

Guilty pleasures: new shoes, Danielle Steel books, FRIENDS on DVD, Starbucks and scrapbooking

Happiest moment: the day each of my children were born.

Internal conflict: will I ever be good enough?

Java: Starbucks Grande Vanilla Latte with Whip (in the winter I like to add a little Pumpkin Spice!)

Kiss: my favorite way to start and end the day with my husband.

Life is incomplete without: My faith in God, the love of my family and friends, the magic of Disney, and Starbucks!

Most valued possession: the teddy bear I received on my very first Christmas.

Needs improvement: I worry too much; I am too hard on myself, not enough patience, too pessimistic and cynical.

Outrageous goals: get a new tattoo, learn to belly dance, and work at Walt Disney World.

Phobias: terrified of snakes and flying.

Quote: “The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”

Residence: currently live in Florida. I have lived in 6 states total so far in my life -Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington and Florida

Sports team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

TV Shows: FRIENDS, Grey’s Anatomy, Extreme Home Makeover

Unusual habit: I always twist my hotdog in the bun to evenly spread the ketchup and mustard (my husband refers to this at the “Punkin Twist”)

Vehicle: I absolutely love my 2004 Toyota Sienna XLE (the Magic Van, the kids call it) but one day I would love to have a convertible mustang.

Wine: there is no better way to relax than to sit back with a glass of chilled Riesling.

X-rays I’ve had: ankles, knee, finger, chest and teeth.

You might be surprised to know: that I never went to college, I have a Mickey Mouse tattoo, and I am actually rather shy.

Zoo animal: my favorite is always the monkeys! I could watch them forever.

So, what are the ABC's of you? If you make a list, leave me a comment with a link or the list, I would love to read it!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope your day is fun and filled with love. We started something new this year for Valentine's Day...actually for the whole month. At the start of the month I put out 4 plain white "mail"boxes so that we could leave love notes to each other for the whole month. The rule was you have to leave something in each mailbox AT LEAST once a week. I wasn't really sure how well it would go over, but it has actually been quite a lot of fun! The kids love to make cards and draw pictures and they have even left pieces of candy for Steve and I. I took a picture of our "mail"boxes this morning...I think I will have to decorate them for next year since I think this tradition is here to stay!

February 2nd

So my picture for Feb 2nd is actually one of DH and I. We had a great time last night out with a few other couples for a fabulous dinner at Flemings and then we hit the comedy club to see Dom Irrera (HILARIOUS!). I had hoped to get a pic of Dom for my PAD but he seemed to go into hiding once he got off stage! LOL!

And my LO for the day I actually used my Feb 1 PAD! LOL! It is probably one of the simplest LOs I have ever done and it was my first time doing the doodling thing too...I could get into that again though!

February will be a real Challenge for me!

So, this month I have decided to really challenge myself and have commited to participating in a Photo A Day Challenge (PAD) and also a Layout A Day Challenge (LOAD)...maybe I will get to know my new camera a little bit better AND actually use up some of my scrapbooking supplies -- so I have room to put all my new ones! So my pic for Feb 1st is one of Alyson just before bedtime...Daddy had a dinner meeting and called home to let her know he was bringing home a great big piece of chocolate cake...just for her! My little gal could eat her weight in cake...and then some!

My LO for today is for our "Believe" Santa Album which will have all our pics of the kids with Santa. I have had the title page done for awhile and just finally last night finished the first LO. The pics are from Stevie's first visit with Santa in 1999. The pic we got was not the greatest...they actually gave up a polaroid so I scanned, enlarged and doctored it as best I could...

Now I need to see what I can get done for today...before my hot date tonight! ;)

Docta Maffa Luffa King Junia

My 5 year old daughter informed me that if I don't like somebody I should just stay home and stay away from them...I shouldn't kill them. I was like "WHAT?!" Where on earth did that come from. Then she kept on talking and it would seem she was referring to what she had been learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Thank God it wasn't something *I* did!)...or Docta Maffa Luffa King Junia as she calls him - I just love it! My husband and I were so touched by what she was saying and she had obviously been very moved by the fact that he was killed by someone who didn't like him. She told us she almost cried at the end of the story her teacher told at school that day and then went on to tell us how if people don't like someone they just shouldn't kill them, they should just stay away from them and stay home. If only the rest of the world thought the same way.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

So, guess what I did today?! LOL! Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is in town this week and not far from me...this is one my favorite shows on TV. With all the ugliness we see in the world every day it is just so refreshing to see a show like this that does so much good. I couldn't resist the opportunity to perhaps catch a glimpse of Ty...or any of the other designers, especially when I could meet up with one of best friends who happens to work within walking distance of the homesite!

We didn't get a glimpse of Ty today but we did get to see one of the designers, Tracy (she is the one in the black shirt and jeans with the white hard hat). It was just so cool to be there! Who knew it could be so exciting to see a simple blue shirt in person! LOL! So exciting in fact that I think we have decided to head back over again tomorrow! (maybe we will catch that glimpse of Ty!)

Trendy Tuesday

So I am a big scrapbooker. I have quite a few online friends through scrapbooking. Every so often they challenge you and so I have been challenged today. The challenge today...to capture who I really am at this particular moment in time...the ABCs of me for Tuesday, January 9, 2007. Here we go...

A
Aphrodisiac. What turns you on? My husband...everything about him actually; his kiss, his touch, his smile, the way he smells, the way he makes me laugh...everything. So cliche really...
B
BFF. Who’s your best friend? Can't really say I have just one. There are a few that have REALLY been there for me - especially over the hell of this last year and a half...Cathy, Donna, Gina and Dyane are definitely at the top of my list.
C
Celeb. Favorite? Most annoying? Johnny Depp is one of my favs as for most annoying, boy that could be a long list but for today we will go with Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears.
D
Drink. What’s your poison? tall cool glass of Riesling.
E
Everyday essentials. What do you use everyday? my computer and my cell phone
F
Fav. color. What’s your signature color? green and blue
G
Groove. What music are you enjoying today? Freestyle jams from the late 80's early 90's - you know, the stuff that used to be cool to rollerskate too! LOL!
H
Hot! Who’s hot? Who’s not? Ty Pennington is HOT! As is Captain Jack Sparrow a.k.a. Johnny Depp.
I
Indulgence. Dish about your guilty pleasure. Scrapbooking, Disney, FRIENDS on DVD and Starbucks lattes...although truth be told, I don't feel so guilty about them anymore.
J
{dream} Job. What would you do? I would be one of the princesses at Walt Disney World and have the pleasure of seeing all those smiling faces and making their little dreams come true.
K
Kitchen Companion. Most used item in your kitchen? That would probably have to be my coffee pot...brewing Starbucks of course!
L
Life is incomplete without. . . ? my family...plain and simple.
M
Mc. . . What would you “Mc”? ?!?! McDisney?!?!?
N
Natural or dyed? natural
O
Outrageous Outfit. What’s hiding your closet that you’re dying to wear? a little something from Fredericks of Hollywood...shoes included!
P
Pet Peeve. What makes you absolutely crazy? lying.
Q
Quote. Share some inspiration. The greatest thing a father can do for his childen is to love their mother.
R
Restaurant you give rave reviews. PF Changs - LOVE their lettuce wraps; they make my mouth water!
S
Starbucks order. Grande Vanilla Latte with whip -- although during the holiday season it changes to Grande 1/2 Vanilla 1/2 Pumpkin Spice Latte with whip.
T
Television. What keeps you glued to the couch? Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Greys Anatomy and Man vs. Wild and FRIENDS
U
Ultimate Vacation Destination. Walt Disney World and/or Disney Cruise.
V
Virtual Babe Name. What’s your online ID? mommyribs or Disneydoll
W
Wonder Woman. What woman leaves you in awe? any woman who has more than 2 kids and still has all of her hair and her sanity!
X
eX - can't answer this one yet.
Y
Youth in a bottle. What keeps you feeling young at heart? Mickey Mouse
Z
Zodiac sign Aries

Whew! That was relatively painless! LOL! Now that I have written it out my next challenge will be to get it on a scrapbook page for my Book of ME!

Have a great Tuesday!

It's a New Year...

SOOOOOOO, I guess I will give this whole "blogging" thing one more try...for real this time! LOL! Just not sure how good I will be at it...I mean, it's not like I have a whole lot of anything interesting to say?! But what the hell...we'll give it a try!

It's a New Year and while I am not one for resolutions I HAVE decided to set some goals for myself this year...
1. find Peace - both in my life and inside myself
2. keep in better touch with my close friends
3. keep in better contact with my family
4. be a more patient mother
5. stay healthy and get in better shape
6. have more fun!

If anybody actually reads this I would love to hear what goals you have set for yourself in 2007

4:30am...and here I sit.

I was awaken by thunder around 2:30 am and haven't been able to get back to sleep so I just wandered into the bonus room to watch some TV and check email. I hate it when I can't fall back to sleep. I am sure that cup of Starbucks I had after dinner isn't helping though! LOL!

I had such a great time today. Two of my close friends were over tonight and the 3 of us haven't been together at the same time for almost 6 years. And for me and Jenni we had a falling out a few years ago and didn't speak for some time. It took my father's passing to realize how pointless holding onto the anger and that grudge was and I wrote her a heartfelt apology for whatever it was that had caused our fight. We made up thankfully and have kept in touch mostly by email since. Today was the first time we had seen each other in so long and it was actually quite emotional when we first saw each other and we hugged so tight. Even now I am still teary-eyed thinking about it. And then when Dyane arrived with her fiance...man it was like old times again! We laughed so much tonight and had a great time! It was nice to meet Dyane's fiance finally too. He seems like a great guy and the two of them seem to fit together well. Of course I took pictures but not with my digital so I can't post any tonight. I am already planning out the scrapbook pages! LOL!

I should really quit procrastinating!

I have had this blog set up for months but have been putting off posting anything because I just couldn't think of anything really interesting to say...but I have decided to just go for it. Besides which it will be an easier way to keep in touch with some of my family and friends. Things have been busy here as Steve and I are getting ready to open our new business. Steve has been doing the hard stuff right now but not much I can do when I am taking care of the kids. Soon enough they will be back in school though and I will actually be working for the first time in about 6 years...yikes. Hopefully things will go well...keep your fingers crossed for us. ;)