The End (of the challenge)

Day 31 - The last day.  I made it all the way through.  I am very proud of myself (I didn't think I would have interest that long).

When I started this challenge, I didn't know what to expect.  Heck, I didn't even know how to do the challenge.  But, with a little guidance, here I am at the finish line with my cute little badge (thanks Tiffany.  I have met some wonderful, awesome, fantastic ladies that I will definitely be stalking  commenting on for a very long time.  It was great to see how diverse yet so very similar we are, even though we are spread out all over the country.  I really have enjoyed learning about their lives and opening up my life for them to see.  For my self portrait, I decided to include my family.  We went ice skating a couple of days ago. Side note: I didn't fall.  Even though I haven't been ice skating in 17 years and this was only my second time to ice skate! Small victories!!

Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see other final thoughts.  

My Favorite Ice Cream

Day 30 - <sniff> There is only one more day.

My favorite ice cream.  Here in Oklahoma, we have one Baskin-Robbins and zero Ben and Jerry's.  I didn't even know Ben & Jerry's had stand alone stores until we were in an airport.  But, what we do have is Braums.  Braums is an ice cream store that originated here in Oklahoma (the town where my mom lives).  You walk in and there is a huge counter that has tons and tons of ice cream.  My favorite ice cream there is the soft serve twist in a cup.  It is so creamy and delicious.

I like my ice cream creamy.  I love gelato for this very reason.  I like the funky flavors like twinkie and strawberry pineapple (they also have popcorn flavor, but I am too chicken to try it).  I like sherbets too.  My favorites are orange and pineapple.  I also like all of the frozen yogurt places that are everywhere now too.  I get a little of the ice cream and a whole lotta toppings.

I shouldn't have wrote this post in the morning.  Now, all I can think about is ice cream.  Ice cream is a breakfast food, right??

Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see what others have to say about ice cream.

My favorite season

Day 29

My favorite season.  Here in Oklahoma, we usually get all four seasons.  Though, autumn and spring generally only last about a week (probably a little longer, but it sure doesn't feel like it).  My least favorite seasons are bitter cold (this year it happen to fall during so called spring) and blistering hot (last year's highs 110-114 for 2 or 3 weeks in a row).  I can't decide if it is autumn or spring that is my favorite.  Here is a pros and cons list

Spring:
Pro - Warmer temperatures after a really cold winter.  Everything is starting to bloom and there are lots of colors.  Baseball season starts back up.  Kids are playing outside again.  School is coming to an end (here we end around the middle of May).  Days are longer.  The smells of rain and fresh cut grass are in the air.  I can break out capris.

Cons - Everything is blooming making it allergy season.  My dogs and cat shed like crazy.  When the trees start to bloom, there is sap all over the driveway.  All the good shows are having their season finales.

Autumn:
Pro - Halloween (I dress as Minnie Mouse every year).  It's time to break out the jeans and hoodies.  Football season starts.  Cool mornings mean warm beverages.  School starts again!  School supplies are cheap (I have a slight obsession).  No more mowing.  The extremely pretty colors of the trees and autumn flowers.  Thanksgiving!

Cons - Closing the pool down.   Raking the leaves.  It gets dark earlier.

I'm not that fond of winter even though I do love me a good snow day.  I don't like summer because I am not a big fan of being hot.

So those are my favorite things about my favorite seasons.  Usually I will welcome both with open arms.

What about you?  Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see what others are saying.

And I end with Halloween pictures.  

Me as Minnie Mouse.  I love my Minnie shoes.  My pug as a blowfish (with creepy eyes). 

My guilty pleasures

Day 28 - I can't believe this is almost over <sniff>

My guilty pleasure...hmmm.  I could probably go with a few things.  I love kid movies.  I will go watch them in the theater and then buy them again on Bluray when they come out.  I love animated movies.  I have been known to go to these types of movies without my kid.  When Monsters Inc. came out the first time in the theatre, my husband and I were the only ones in the theater without a kid.  We thought it might be too scary for her to watch (she was 3) so we had to screen it beforehand (yeah, we will go with that excuse...ha).  Most of the time though, we will either go together as a family or just my daughter and I.  I will watch Disney movies during the day, without anyone being home.

I also love days where I do not have to get out of my yoga pants and can just be at home all day playing on the internet and watch movies.  I love do nothing days. I just need to recharge my batteries sometimes and those of kind of days help.

What are your guilty pleasures?  Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see what other guilty pleasures are out there.

Day 27 - Online Friends

Day 27 - Online friends that I would like to meet in person.

Since I just started my blog and started commenting on blogs at the start of the year, I don't really have many online friends.  But, since doing this challenge, there are definitely some girls in the challenge that I would love to meet.  There are more than just three of them though.

Onward to the challenge - my interpretation.

I really want to craft cake pops with Angie Dudley.  I want to see what all tools she works with and learn her techniques.  Her ideas are really cute and I am into all things cake pop right now.  I am going to do bowling balls for my daughter's upcoming 13th birthday.

I want Kimberley Hasselbrink to teach me all things food photography.  My passion lies with food and taking glorious sweet pictures of it.

I want to bump into Ree Drummond at the grocery store (she lives in my state, it could happen...) and invite myself over to cook with her.  I would love to see how she gets inspiration and just talk with her about life.

These people are not my friends.  I have never even commented on their blogs (even though I should).  I still would just like to sit down and talk about all things life.


I am definitely looking forward to the online friendships that have started with this blog challenge.  So, girls be ready for a lot of comments from me...you have all been warned. :)

Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see who others want to meet.

My Favorite Food

Day 26

My favorite food.  I love food.  Food loves me back, usually in my stomach area.  I would probably have to say my favorite is chicken and a baked potato.  I love fresh veggies too.  Oh, and can't forget spaghetti.  Chicken fajitas would feel left out, if I didn't include them.  My favorite food changes...a lot.  Right now I am going with grilled chicken and a baked potato doused in salsa with some steamed veggies on the side.  I love that meal.  I could eat it 4 or 5 times a week.  My family gets sick of chicken, so I will make them something else.  Grilled chicken is my favorite meat.  My mom ruined me as a kid, on fried chicken (or really even breaded chicken) by giving me a piece of liver when she was frying chicken.  I'm not a big steak lover or beef in general (occasionally I will eat roast).  I do love some pork chops or roasted pork loin.  Ok, now I am hungry, and I just made cookies...


Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see what other people's favorite foods are.

My Location

Yay!  Day 25.

My location.

I live in a suburb of Oklahoma City.  A suburb I didn't even know existed until I met my husband.  I grew up in a small town about an hour south of OKC.  I spent my teen years living in Norman.  It is a major college town.  I always thought I wanted to live in a big city, until we moved to Houston right after my husband graduated college.  Then, I couldn't wait to get home to my little big city.

We have lived in our house since Feb 2000.  I love my house.  It has a very cabin feel too it.  I have a 25 ft vaulted ceiling in the living room with a dual fireplace that heats both the kitchen and living room. My front entry is a rock floor.  I wish my house were just a tiny bit bigger, but then I would have to clean more.  I definitely wish my kitchen were bigger or arranged differently.  I think that will be our next major home renovation.  We recently redid one of our living room walls.  It is actually a wall of windows.  I need to post on it, because I love my new windows.

My neighborhood  is great.  When we moved here, most of my neighbors were elderly retired people.  Slowly they have been replaced with people around our age.  Finally after 11 long years, there are kids my daughter's age on our block.  All of them moved here within 3 months.  Unfortunately, they are all boys...oh well.  My neighbors are the best neighbors.  He is a retired policeman.  She plants flowers for me in the spring.  We put up their Christmas lights, so its a really good trade off.  I have borrowed a loaf of bread from her once (and brought her a new loaf the next day).

There are some things I wish I could change about my location, but for the most part; I love it.

What about you?  Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see where other people live.

I will upload a picture of my house later this evening.

**Edit** My house this past Feb.  My garage is two car, it just looks one car.

My Embarrassing Moment

Day 24

I don't know if it is because I just put the way embarrassing stuff out of my mind, or if I just don't embarrass easily.  I am going to go with the latter.  I can remember a few things from youth that do stick out.  One involves my brother; the other one involved pizza.

I was thirteen when this happened and I lived in a very small town.  the town had a stoplight, but it had quit working years earlier.  I had just gotten my first period.  I went to the grocery store with my mom and my brother, who is two and half years younger than me.  A boy that I liked worked there (what child labor laws....).  So I am very quietly discussing with my mom what kind of stuff to get.  My brother bored with the whole conversation, announces very loudly "Cristy, just get the curved pads."  I immediately just grabbed something and hightailed it out of that aisle.  But, who did I run into on the very next aisle, of course the boy I liked.  He had heard the whole conversation.  Yikes!

Second story: I was fifteen and living in a college town.  My dad had remarried and him and my stepmom had my little sister.  She was three at the time of this story.  My family ordered in pizza a lot, like six out of seven days a lot (I hate pizza...).  On this one particular day I was playing with my little sister.  She wanted to play makeup.  So I let her put her fake eyeshadow, blush and lipstick on me; like she had done a thousand times before.  She was applying the fake powder to me when the doorbell rang.  I looked out the window and the pizza guy was hot.  He was a young college kid and very good looking.  So I yelled that I would get the pizza.  I grabbed the check and yanked open the door.  I smiled and talked to him and got our pizzas.  He kind of had a weird look on his face, but I didn't think anything of it.  I shut the door and my dad and stepmom bust out laughing.  I ran to the mirror.  Turns out they had gotten my sister this semi play makeup and I had lovely blue streaks kind of on my eyes, some pretty hot pink all over my cheeks, and the prettiest orange lips.  And, to top it all off, white splotches from the powder.  It was soo embarrassing to know another person, besides my family, saw me like that.  Even twenty years later, I still wont let my sister put makeup on me.

What embarrassing stories do you have?  Join us in whats left of the 31 day blog challenge hosted by Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

Bloglovin'

Setting up bloglovin.

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My hobbies

Day 23 - Wow we are on the downward slope of this challenge.  It has been a lot of fun and I have found some great blogs.

What are my hobbies?

I love photography - Is it still a hobby if I get paid to do it?  I am going to count it as a hobby because I take artsy pictures as well as what I am paid to do.

I love to read - a lot.  And because of the wonderful challenge prompt, I have recently checked out some really good books that I can't wait to get started on.

I like to read blogs and surf the internet - that is the main reason why I started one of my own.

I love to bake and cook - and then take pictures of it.... my newest obsession is cake pops.

I love to sew - I have recently started making costumes for the theatre company my daughter is a part of.

I love to hike with my family.

pink lemonade cake pops - my very first attempt at cake pops; my cat sitting on my sewing machine (which is often); jellybeans - because I love them; hiking with my family

Head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see what other hobbies there are.

My Alone Time

Day 22 - What I do when I am home alone

During the day when I am home alone, I usually clean house, do laundry and dishes.  While I am procrastinating on all that, I usually am reading blogs or looking up recipes.  I also waste spend a lot of time on Pinterest.  I also like to bake and read.  

I love alone time.  I like not being on anyone else's time schedule.  I like not having to cook or get things for others, every once in a while.  I love my family and friends too, but sometimes I just want to be alone.  I get to watch whatever I want on TV.  I also can work out without an audience.

When we go on vacation, I will often split off from my family and do something by myself.  The last time we went to Disney World, I went to Epcot by myself.  It is not my family's favorite park and they wanted to go to the water park, so we split.  I had so much fun and I got on rides much faster because I was a solo rider.  I am a very outgoing and friendly person so I didn't ever feel weird chatting with people in line while we waited.  When we went to New York, I went to several neighborhoods by myself to just immerse myself in the surroundings while my family visited the pool (I am seeing a trend).  I will even go to movies by myself (my husband does too).  I am totally comfortable being by myself.

My post seems a little all over the place, so thanks for sticking with me.

Head on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see how other people spend time alone.

Fears

Day 21 - My biggest fear

I have a few.  My number one fear is losing my child.  I don't know if I could ever take losing her through kidnapping or death.  I am very paranoid of people around my child.  I am afraid of bad people doing bad things to children.  I have taught my daughter about safety and I am always vigilant. 

I also am afraid of being trapped.  I don't like when people block entrances or exits.  I don't do elevators or escalators.  So therefore, enclosed spaces are not a good place for me, especially if they are crowded.  I don't mind crowds in general as long as I have an escape.

I have a small phobia of flying (the being trapped thing), and I hate ladders.  Heights aren't a problem for me and I will climb a million stairs to see some awesome views, just don't ask me to get on a ladder and change a light bulb.

What are your fears?  Head on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

My Collection of Collections

Day 20!!  What do I collect?

I collect a lot.  I have my awesome hippo collection.  It is my favorite animal and they are mostly confined to my living room (my bathroom and entry way used to be decorated with hippos too).  I got my first collector hippo at 12.  I had toy ones before that.  My most unique is a 18' hippo candle.  He looks like he is laying down, and it is very detailed.  Every time my family or friends find hippos, they buy them and send them my way.

My next collection is Pocket Dragons.  They are so very cute with their little expressions.  My daughter was born in the year of the dragon, so we have a lot of cutesy dragon things.  I have a couple of signed pieces and I met the creator of them when I worked at a gift store in Houston.  They stopped making them a few years ago, so I haven't added to my collection in a long time.

I also collect Belle dolls.  I only collect the ones that are unique.  My collection is not very big, but I love when they rerelease the movie because it usually means that someone is going to come out with a collector doll.   These are displayed in my room above my dresser.

My last official collection is Mickey Mouse antenna toppers.  This collection started because I bought a cute princess one for my car; and someone stole it.  So, when I went back to buy another one, I found more.  I decided I didn't want to put it on my car, so I just started collecting them.  I have about 110 different ones.  I have a few repeats, but not many.  My Disney store stopped carrying them a few years ago, so I really only add to my collection when I go to Disney World or Land.  I have not found a way to display these without it looking like a collection of bouncy balls.  I think I will get a spool holder and see what I can do with that.

I also unofficially collect a few things too.  My friend and I have an inside joke about penguins so I have a small penguin collection (she has all the matching ones).  I also kind of collect Pez...it stems from Disney.  I also like to collect movies.  I blame that on Disney too!  And I guess you could say I collect Mickey.  I have A LOT!  My bathroom is Mickey, a Valentine's gift from my husband one year.  Mickey is everywhere in my home.

Now I sound like a person who is a hoarder, but I guarantee you, my house is not cluttered with them.  My poor daughter caught my collection bug though.  She also has a collection of collections.  Hers are mainly books, but she does have a really good American Girl doll collection.  

Want to see what other people collect, head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

Blogs I Read on a Regular Basis

Day 19  - Blogs I read on a regular basis.

I have mentioned it before, but I like to read blogs like books.  I start at the beginning and read to the end.  I try to stay up with it after that.  Here are five in random order.

Dog Shaming - I'm not sure if it counts as a blog or not, but I do check in often.  I usually go to this sight when I just need a good laugh.

In This Wonderful Life - I started reading this blog about a year and a half ago.  They had a son who died of heart issues.  Now, they have cute little twins.

Loves of Life - I believe I found this blog through In This Wonderful Life.  She has the cutest girls and does some really great things with photography.

Confessions of a Semi-Domesticated Mama - I love her menu ideas and recipes.

The Year in Food - I envy her food photography!  My passion is food photography, and she is pretty much what I strive to be.  She cooks with in season produce and there are recipes.

I pretty much just read these, I don't really comment.  I have found some great blogs (and the start of some friendships) through this challenge.

If you want to see what blogs others are reading on a regular basis, head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany. (one of my new favorite blogs).

My happy place

Day 18 of the  31 Day Blog Challenge.

I am the happiest when I am with my family at Disney (World, Land, on Ice...it doesn't matter).  I love Disney.  I can't wait to go back again.  I also am the happiest when we just travel.  This past July, it was just my husband and I in Philadelphia.  We had a blast.  Our trip to New York as a family was a wonderful experience too.  But, my favorite will always be Disney.

Join me over at Fabulous Finds by Tiffany for the challenge.

Why I Blog

Day 17 of the 31 Day Blog Challenge

I am very new to the writing a blog part of blogging.  I just started last month.  I have been reading blogs for years though.  Over the past couple of months, I have been reading more blogs of people I would want to be friends with in real life.  I would never comment on these blogs, because I didn't want to seem stalkerish.  One day I decided I needed to just put myself out there, but I wanted to be fair and give people access to my life as well.

I started my blog so I had a place where I could post the many pictures of my cat that I take.  I also would like to showcase and challenge myself with my photography.  I also love to bake and wanted a place to share that as well.  I am just a general lover of reading people's lives.  I love to see how people live in different cities and their adventures.  I have loved this challenge because I have found so many great new blogs.  I am commenting more and feel myself branching out.  I am not a writer, so I write what I feel.  I look forward to doing more challenges and catching up with the blogs that I am currently following (I like to read blogs like books, I start from the beginning).  I try to comment back on every comment made (sometimes it takes me a couple of days).

I wish everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day.  Pardon the quality of the picture, it was taken with my phone.

Cake Pops I made...pot o' gold

Also, I just found out a picture I submitted for a contest, won!!  I am so excited!

Join Fabulous Finds by Tiffany, for more wonderful bloggers!

My Biggest Accomplishment

Day 16 of the 31 Day Challenge - My Biggest Accomplishment.

This one is an easy on for me.  My baby (can I still her call her that even though she is taller than I am??) girl.  Ever since I was a child I wanted to have a daughter.  I really don't want to sound like I am bragging, but she is amazing.  Ever since we have heard her tiny little heart beat at 8 weeks pregnant I have been totally in love with her.  I had an uneventful pregnancy, no morning sickness, no high blood pressure, no heartburn, and gained 30 pounds.  She came on her due date, after two trips to the hospital.  I did all my labor at home (because I had already been sent home earlier that day by a nurse telling me she didn't think I would have my baby that day).  By the time I got to the hospital, I was 9-10 cm dilated.  They were putting my IV in down the hallway.  I didn't get an epidural and pushed for about 45 minutes.  My beautiful baby was born close to 11 at night.  Since she was born, she has continued to amaze me every step of the way.

Today, she is very smart.  She is in 7th grade and recently was invited to take the ACT.  She scored a 21 and she didn't study anything.  She has straight A's since starting school.  Her lowest grade right now is a 95.  She loves being the smart kid.  She plays the cello in an extracurricular orchestra and for the school orchestra.  Last summer she decided she wanted to take piano lessons.  After 3 months she played Fur Elise during a recital.  She loves to perform on stage in musicals.  This past summer, she was Cinderella. She loves all things Harry Potter and most Disney. She is a true Daddy's Girl and Momma's Girl (and Nana's girl..lol) She is a child of God.  She is so kind hearted.  She is a very giving person.  She gets along with everybody.  She is a rule follower and people pleaser (got that from her mama).  She does have a bit of a temper too (also from her mama...haha).

That girl is my everything.  We joke that when she goes to college, I will be right there with her in the dorm room.  We spend a lot of time together, usually running her back and forth to one of her activities.     She tells me things, we talk and she opens up to me.  I could go on and on but I will end with this; I love that she tells me "love you" no matter who is around.  That is the last thing she tells me before hanging up the phone, getting out of the car, and going to sleep at night.  Yeah, she is my greatest accomplishment.

Clockwise: First day of 7th grade, cello concert, with Dad at WW of Harry Potter, musical rehearsal, and Cinderella.

If you want to read about other people's accomplishments; head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

10 Things that make me awesome

Day 15 of the 31 Day Blog Challenge...

Ten things that make me awesome.  It was kind of hard coming up with these things about myself (I guess I could add humble to the list).

1. I think I am a pretty good mom.  My kid is smart, polite, and has great self esteem.  She tells me all the time I am a great mom.

2. I think I am a good wife.  I try to encourage, listen, love and respect my husband.  I also pick up all his dirty socks!

3. I think I am a great listener.  I can listen without interrupting or butting in.

4. I am very punctual.  I cannot stand to be late.  I am usually the first to arrive at places.

5. I am encouraging.  

6. I would say I am a friendly person.  I will talk to anyone and will usually walk away with at least one friend from a room full of strangers.

7. I am an awesome baker...and I share.  I love to bake and give treats.

8. I have a really good sense of humor and I can usually put a smile on people's faces.  

9.  I am very loyal, as long as it is reciprocated.  I don't do well with two-faced people

10. I think I take some pretty awesome pictures.   

There is my list of 10.  I have a lot of faults, but it was nice to remember that I have some awesomeness.

Go on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see more awesomeness.

Day 14 - My Ipod

Happy Pi Day!

Wow, almost half way there with this challenge.  Here we are on Day 14 of the 31 day challenge.  My iTunes collection is all over the map, which I am sure most of yours are too.

The most songs from one person I have on mine are from: Maroon 5, Train, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez (I have a 12 year old).

In the car, we (usually me and my daughter) usually listen to Journey, Bon Jovi, Bruno Mars, or Good Charlotte.

When I run, I listen to Black Eye Peas, POD, Whitesnake, upbeat Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan

My latest downloaded albums are: Imagine Dragons, Ella Goulding, and a few The Voice artists.

I also have Beyonce, Bette Midler, Blake Shelton, Britney Spears, Dr. Hook, Kutless, Todd Agnew, Jay-Z, Linkin Park, etc.

I usually just put the thing on shuffle and let it go.  I am all over the map from Frank Sinatra to Elvis to Tupac.  I generally stay away from hard core rap.  I do have one Justin Bieber song, but no one direction or any other current boy band (I do have New Kids and N'Sync though).

My daughter also has eclectic taste in music too.  She went through a Hilary Duff that I am so glad we are out of.  Her favorite band, currently, is Journey.  She does not like (actually loathes) Justin Bieber.

Thanks for stopping by.  To see what other people are listening to, head on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

Regrets

Day 13 of the 31 Day Blog Challenge - Biggest Regret

This one is a hard one for me.  I am one of those people who believe that the choices we make at the time make us who we are.  I wouldn't be where I am right now and with the people I am with had I made different choices.  I try not to regret my choices, because I mostly love my life (sometimes its a bit stressful).  I have a few regrets though.

We lived in Houston for 11 months and 16 days.  I despised living in Houston.  We were 9 hours away from our family during the most difficult time in our lives to one of the happiest times in our lives.  All I wanted to do was get home.  What I regret, is not doing more in Houston while I was there.  I wished I would have explored the city a little more instead of living in our little bubble.

I wished I would have finished my college degree from a university.  I have a photography degree and I am a certified cake decorator, but I still would love to see a piece of paper with my name on it.  I could never figure out what I wanted to do, still can't.  I already do the things I love with the degree and certifications that I have, but I still hold on to dreams of graduating.

I guess my last one would be my biggest... I wished I would have let my husband spend more time with his dad in the early years of our marriage.  I didn't know that he would be taken from us so early.  I needed help with our baby and I thought it would have been selfish on his part to go hunting for 10 days at a time while I had an infant.  Now, I would gladly have given him that time with his dad.

A few things I hope to never regret:  Saying "I love you" to my daughter and husband, or really anyone that I love.  I always want them to know I love you.  I never want to regret not taking chances and putting myself out there (thats why I started this blog).  I never want to regret not giving enough; whether that means hugs, time, understanding, patience etc.

If you want to see what others regret, head on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

What I Miss - Day 12

Day 12 of the March 31 day blog challenge.  I have a few things that I miss. 

 I miss my grandma.  I love my grandma, I lived with my grandma off and on for several years of my childhood.  I miss the smell of her house, the peach tree out back, her clearing her throat.  I miss how we would have coffee in the morning (mine always had 2 ice cubes and sugar, hers one ice cube and a little bit of sugar).  I miss sleeping in her big bed with her wedge pillow and the smell of vaporub she would put on each night (I do have the comforter that was on her bed...yay).  I miss how scary her garage and third bedroom were.  I miss going to the post office with her and checking the mail.  I miss watching Wheel of Fortune, Golden Girls, and Unsolved Mysteries with her.  I just overall miss the feeling of immense love coming from her.  She died right before I graduated high school.  I am very fortunate that my boyfriend in high school got to meet her and her telling me that "he was a good one".  That boy is my husband and was a pall bearer at her funeral.  

I also miss my other grandma.  I miss her calling me Chrissy D and hating it.  I also miss her expertise on quilting.  I wish I would have paid more attention when she tried to show me.  I also miss her telling us cousins when we were misbehaving, to go out and get a switch off the tree.  We would all come in with tiny twigs.  I don't think any of us were ever spanked with those switches.  

I miss my father-in-law.  He was such a fun, funny and charismatic person to be around.  I loved his stories and the multiple retelling of the stories.  I miss what a great grandpa he was to my daughter.  He treated her like a princess even during his sickest hours.  I am so thankful I had the time with him that I did.  

I miss not being able to eat whatever I want, whenever I want.  Gaining weight sucks!!  

This is a bit shallow, but I miss New York City.  I have been twice and I am so desperate to go back.  I would never want to live permanently there, but a nice 6 month or year vacation there would be nice.  I would even intern there just for the experiences.  

So those are a few things that I miss.  Mostly people...

To see what other people miss, head on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.  

Day 11 - Last Book I Read

Day 11 - Last Book I Read

I kind of want to change my post title to "Books I am Currently Reading" or "In Book Limbo".  Since I finished the Janet Evanovich series and the Sue Grafton series, I really haven't been able to sink in to anything else.  I start books and lose interest.  I am ope to title suggestions.  I will read pretty much anything.  A friend has let me borrow the Fifty Shades book, but I don't really have an interest in reading it.  Last year, as a family, we read the Hunger Game series.

Right now I am reading Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dodson.  I am not too far into it.  I probably should have read it a few years ago seems how my daughter is approaching thirteen in a little more than a month.  I am thinking of returning it to find a book on how-not-to-have-your-teenage-daughter-hate-your-guts book.  I am also re-reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.  I love this book.  Every time I start to lose focus on life, I pull out this book and read his farewell.  I already know I am going to cry through most of the book so I have a box of tissues handy.

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I am an avid reader.  I have always loved to read.  I also am glad that my daughter loves to read (so much that her punishments often include being grounded from reading).

So if you have any book suggestions I am open to them.  I will give anything a chance.

I am participating in March 31 Day Blog Challenge over at Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.  Go read what others have to say.

My Daily Routine

Here is Day 10.  My daily routine.

The first part of my days pretty much start out the same.  I get up at between 6:24 and 6:33 every morning (the first two snoozes on the ole alarm clock).  I wake up the sleeping daughter and let the dogs out.  I find what ever article of clothing the now awake daughter thinks is lost, but is really hanging in her closet.  I fix breakfast usually between 6:45 and 6:50.  I check my email, catch up on Facebook and Instagram, and help the husband get together whatever he might need for the day.  We finish getting ready at 7:10 and I am out the door at 7:20 to take my daughter to school.  Wednesdays daughter gets dropped off at school at 7:15 for a club meeting.  Thursday mornings before school cello practice, Friday - Donut Friday - we leave the house early to go eat donuts and before school cello practice.

After dropping my daughter off at school, I sometimes hit the grocery store on the way home to pick up something I know I am going to need for dinner (if its a crockpot meal); usually I come home though.  When I get home I put on a pot of decaf and read a few blogs.  Usually during the day I am doing laundry, dishes, meal planning on Mondays, cleaning the house, exercise, showering, let the dogs out (a lot), let the dogs in, play fetch with the kitty (a lot) and general home maintenance.

Here is where my week varies because of the variety of school/extracurricular activities.  Mondays - late pick up from school for chess club, voice and piano lessons, extra orchestra practice.  Tuesdays - late pick up from school  after school cello practice or Starbase.  Wednesdays - normal school pick up time, teach sewing class, daughter to improv and musical theatre rehearsal.  Thursdays - normal school pick up time, tap class.  Friday - normal school pick up time.

We eat dinner at home every night except Wednesday.  We start the bed time routine for E at 9:15-9:25.  She is in bed and reading until 10.  I then catch up on a few (or a lot) DVR shows and crash somewhere around midnight.

Weekends are sometimes low key and sometimes busy.  E usually has rehearsals for musical or birthday parties to attend.

My daughter keeps me very busy.  She is a straight A student in the 7th grade and if her grades were ever to slip, we would cut back on activities.

If you want to see what everyone else does during the day, hop on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany for her 31 day blog challenge.

My bucket list

Day 9 - Bucket List

Before I met my husband, my bucket list was a lot longer.  We have done some amazing things, thanks to him.

My List:

Travel
See castles in Ireland
eat spaghetti outside in Greece
see the coast of Greece
Boston
Philadelphia - 7/4/12 15 year anniversary trip
camp in Yosemite
ice fishing in Alaska
see the Grand Canyon
visit a volcano in Hawaii
visit more small towns in my own state - Oklahoma
Jamaica 7/4/02 5 year anniversary
Mexico 7/4/98 First Year anniversary
Disney World - Twice ready to go back again
Disneyland
Washington D.C.
LA  I want to spend more time there - we only went for a day trip
NYC 7/4/07 10 year anniversary trip - the best surprise of my life
to see the Yankees play in the new stadium
visit all the Disney Parks international
Christmas at Disney World
New Year's in NYC
take my daughter to Paris and take her picture with a white kitten - her favorite movie is Aristocats

Personal
Run a 5K - plan on doing it this year
Finish a tube of chapstick - I lose a lot of them before they are finished
see Lion King on Broadway
see Grease on Broadway
see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway - during 10 year anniversary their last month run
go to Tiffany on 5th Avenue - 10 year anniversary necklace

Professional
take cake decorator classes - Certified cake decorator
own a bakery
take photography courses - Graduated with photography degree
sell a print or be hung in a gallery
be published in a magazine
take graphics design courses
finish my teaching classes and become a tutor
build my dream house (or at least dream kitchen)


These are mine, what are yours?

See what others have to say at Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

Pet Peeves

Day 8 - Pet Peeves

This one is going to be a fun one for me. I don't know how better to do this than just making bullet points and explaining.  Here goes:

• People who drag their feet when they walk.  I understand some people have medical issues and must drag their feet, but when I hear that sound I just want to get away from it as quickly as possible.  I was at the store yesterday and a man was dragging his feet, so I sped up to get away from it.  He sped up too.  The faster I went, the faster he went.  I was so happy to get out of that store. Usually I stop and let people pass me and go another direction, but I was in a hurry.

• Speaking of store - people who take up the whole aisle in the store.  I can't stand when people park their basket in the middle of the aisle and block the whole thing.  This is why I try not to grocery shop during peak times.  And people who use the express lane when they clearly have more than 20 items (like basket full).  Even if I have 21 items I will go stand in a regular line.

• Phone Etiquette: People who use there phones and talk loudly at the library.  People who text or answer calls at the movie theater.  If it's an emergency go outside.  People who talk or text while at the dinner table.  And, people who talk or text during a get together (like two friends having coffee).  

• People who are rude to service people.  I have never waited tables, but I know that has to be a hard job.  Yes, sometimes we all get a bad server, but I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt (maybe they just started, or have some personal issues).  I guess it goes back to "treat others how you want to be treated"

• Inconsiderate smokers - please don't smoke right next to the door or in non designated areas.  

• Entitlement junkies - people who think they deserve things just because.  

• In general - peoples lack of manners.  

Photographer Pet Peeve "Wow, your camera takes really good pictures."  I wrote a post about it here.

And I will end with this one - it just pertains to my dear sweet husband:

• Husbands who put their clothes a foot away from the laundry hamper (we have 4 in the house).  Just exert the extra second and put the clothes in the hamper.  Agh!

I could go on and on about little pet peeves, but these are the highlights.  

If you want to read more pet peeves, join us over at Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

My Dream Job

Day 6.  Dream job

I kind of already have my dream job even though I never thought of it to be my dream job.  Being a stay at home mom (that never stays at home) is wonderful.  There are other dream jobs though, that I would love.

I want to be a princess at Disney World.  Specifically Belle.  I am way to old and don't have any formal training but that is why it's called a dream job.  And while I am dreaming, I want to live in the castle too!!

I would also love to be a photographer at Disney.  This one is a little bit more attainable.  I have the credentials and I have even filled out an application.  I did not turn it in though, because the thought of leaving my family for 18 months kills me.  Unless my husband were to transfer to Orlando, I don't see this happening.

I also would love to be an International travel photographer.  Or a wealthy family's personal photographer.  I could handle that.

When I was younger I wanted to be a teacher.  I majored in that the first two years of college.  I do sub and volunteer with children a lot so I feel rewarded with that.  I also wanted to be a veterinarian, but then the thought of putting animals to sleep tore at my heart strings so I knew I would never be able to do that.

Those are my dreams, what are yours?

Come on over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany to see what others are saying about their dream jobs.

Day 6 - Random Act of Kindness

I like random acts of kindness.  I worked for Starbucks for three years and I loved it every time someone started the pay it forward.  I didn't like it when it would get 12 cars back and some scrooge wouldn't pay for the cars $2.50 coffee when the person in front of him just paid for his $7 drink...I digress.

I do small random acts a lot.  I buy drinks for the directors of my daughter's musical theatre company drinks during show weeks (which are extremely long hours).  The other day in a drive thru I purchased the highway patrolman's order (I did that mainly for good karma...haha). I have bought an elderly lady's groceries at the store last year at Christmas time.  An older gentleman did it for me once on my birthday and I wanted to pay it forward.

The very last random act was a couple of weeks ago, I took fresh baked cookies over to my new neighbors to welcome them to the neighborhood.

I try to do these things in front of my daughter to show her that giving is as good as receiving.  In our house we do small acts of kindness a lot with little surprises for each other.

If you want to see more random acts of kindness, check out Fabulous Finds by Tiffany Day 6.

Movies I never get tired of watching

This is probably one of my favorite prompts.  I love rewatching movies.

Here are some of my favorites:

Beauty and the Beast (favorite movie EVER)

Grease

Dirty Dancing

That Thing You Do

Serendipity

Fast Five

The Sandlot

Elf

Adventures of Milo and Otis

Oliver and Company

Monsters Inc.

The Breakfast Club

Pretty Woman

I could keep going on and on...  I own all of these movies and watch them regularly.  I will watch most Disney movies over and over (you would think I have small children...my baby is 12).

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EDIT **  I can't believe I forgot ET!!  I've watched it 3 times in the past 2 weeks.

You can find more great movies and the challenge here.

My Photo Challenge

I talked last week about a personal photo challenge I wanted to do.  I invited another girl to join me and we did pretty good about it.  I got all 7 pictures taken and edited.





Monday:  Monochrome Monday - had to be in one color scheme

Text or Toy Tuesday - "E"

Whatever or Way back Wednesday - Photographer's choice or edit a picture taken a while back.  I chose Way Back.  Picture taken 2 years ago.

Texture or Thoughful Thursday - I guess Cherrie fits the bill on both

Food Friday - Oreos

Sign or Street Scene Saturday 

Song Title Sunday - Just Around the Riverbend (Pocohantas)

Loving this challenge.