My Best Childhood Memory

Day 4 of the 31 Day Challenge:

My Best Childhood Memory.

I have so many good childhood memories.  Most involve my grandma in some way.  Some of them include:

Playing Barbies outside my grandma's house and a neighborhood dog usually came up and stole one.  I would find it later with a hand missing or a foot chewed on.  I would still play with it.  In fact, I still have a lot of them.

Me and my cousins and brother would play business in my grandma's building behind her house.  It was usually either store or business and because I was the oldest (and I am extremely bossy) I always picked the game and I was always the boss...haha

I remember playing paper dolls under my grandma's table during city council meetings (my grandma was treasurer).  Sometimes I could get the secretary's son to play with me.  My grandma would get me a new paper doll book every time just to make sure I had plenty to entertain me.

On my mom's side, I remember getting together with a huge amount of cousins at Thanksgiving and Christmas and playing football in the front yard of whatever house we were at.  I also remember most of us pairing off at the end of the night and staying the night at someone else's house.

I remember when I was 9 going down the steepest hill in town on a bicycle.  I remember crashing half way down right in front of the boy I liked at the time's house.  His best friend gave me an ice pack and offered to share half of his pb & j with me.

My favorite birthday party was my 9th birthday.  I had 12 girls spend the night and we stair-sledded on a mattress, had a fashion show, a singing contest and the next day we went skating where I was joined by about 6 or 7 more kids.  One of my friends fractured her leg before we even got in the skating rink.  She fell outside in a pothole.

I have so many others including family vacations in the car and basically just tormenting my little brother (until he got 6 inches taller than me).  I actually had a pretty good middle school/teenage experience too.

If you want to read other best childhood memories, head over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

What makes me happy...

Day 3

Today is Day 3 of the March Challenge.  Things that make me happy.  

Being a Mom and a Wife.  

Going to Disney World with my family or pretty much anything Disney with my family

Baking

My furr babies - Delilah (pug), Macy (blue heeler), and Cherrie (calico cat)

Photography

Starbucks and coffee in general

Going to places I've never been before

NYC - been twice, ready to go back

Having the windows open during the spring

You can find more blogs that are participating at Fabulous Finds by Tiffany.

Have a great Sunday.

Day 2 - Quotes

Here we are...Day 2

I love quotes.  I have recently started keeping a notebook of quotes I love.  Here are a few of my favorites:

"You never know how strong you are...until being strong is the only choice you have." - Cayla Mills

"No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow your progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn't trying."

"Giving up doesn't always mean you're weak, sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go and move on."

"Trying to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."

"Don't listen to what people say, watch what they do."

"When you have to start compromising yourself and your morals for the people around you; it's probably time to change the people around you."

"Be happy. Be yourself. If others don't like it, then let them be.  Happiness is a choice.  Life isn't about pleasing everybody."

"Stop beating yourself up.  You are a work in progress; which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once."

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt

"You must do the things you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C.S. Lewis

"In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back." Charlie Brown

I could go on and on, but I will end there.  

You should go over to Fabulous Finds by Tiffany and join in.  

Here is Day 1 if you missed it.

31 Day Blog Challenge Day 1

Here we go...Day 1

Self Portrait and 5 Random things about myself.

There is a reason why I am a photographer...I like to be behind the lens instead of in front of it. lol

My name is Cristy.

5 Random Things about me...

1. I am very pale.  My daughter (who is 12) makes fun of me regularly that I am a vampire.  I don't regular tan, fake tan, spray tan or wear tan (haha I kid).  I went through a period of one summer where I was very tan.  I am one of those people who go from white to red to white again after I peel.  My father-in-law passed away from skin cancer so we are all very diligent about wearing sunblock.  

2.  I love running shoes.  In my closet I currently have 4 pair of Pumas, 12 pairs of Shox, and my newest shoes are Asics.  One pair of my Shox I designed and personalized.  I love all my shoes and I wear them all.  Some I have had for more than 7 years because I rotate them so they stay in good shape.  My go-to pair of shoes right now are my purple puma running shoes.  I got them for 1/2 off and I love them.

3.  I hate flying.  It gives me high anxiety.  I would much rather drive to a location than fly.  Also, when I am on a road trip I try not to stop unless I have to.  Usually that means gas and food at the same time.  My husband likes to stop a lot.  He would stop every 30-45 minutes if I let him. I have flown 7 or 8 times, once by myself.  My husband is very good about letting me squeeze the crap out of his hand during takeoff and landing.  I also touch the outside of the plane and pray before I even get on.  

4.  Tomorrow is my last day of Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30.  This is the first time I have ever stuck out a workout.  Some days were wayyy harder than others and I got a sinus thing in the middle of weeks 2 and 3, but I did it.  I can tell a difference in my arms and legs, and a little in my ab area.

5.  I love coffee.  I am very caffeine sensitive though.  This means I only drink decaf beverages.  I have loved coffee since I was about 4 years old and my grandma would sneak me some.  I worked at Starbucks for 3 years and was the only decaf drinker there.  It made it hard to do some of the coffee tastings.  I would have to do the swig-and-spit.  I usually only drink coffee at home or starbucks because I am so worried they are going to give me regular coffee.  When I do have caffeine, its not pretty.  I feel like I am dying.  

Well I guess thats it.  I can't wait until tomorrow.  There are other bloggers linking up over at Tiffany's.

Blogs

Confession:

I read blogs like books.  I start at the very beginning of random blogs and I read all the way through to current.  It sometimes makes me sad when I get to the current stuff because the "book" is finished.  But, I do like the fact that new "chapters" are being written all the time.  This is why I can't wait to do the blog challenge.  I am ready for other blogs.  I like reading about real people.  It's intimidating to put your thoughts and feelings out on the web for anyone to see, but it is also a great way to connect.

What I need to get better about is commenting on blogs.  I am one of those lurkers.  I will get better.  I will commit to delurking on a couple of blogs.  I don't feel I have any insight for these bloggers, because we are in different stages of life (most have toddlers while I almost have a teenager).


**Edit**

I have a list on the side of blogs I already read, but please leave me a comment if there are more good ones out there (especially if they are yours).

Menu Plan

I skipped last week's menu plan, because it was a CRAZY week.  Between the holiday, a funeral, and a snow day, nothing was normal.  I did cook, and we ate leftovers.  I am back this week.  This week I have prepared for the possible snow days/blizzard coming my way.  **On a side note - groundhog you are WRONG**  So, here it is...

Monday - Quesadillas or soup (family's choice)
Tuesday - Pot Roast (good comfort meal for blizzard night)
Wednesday - leftovers or Chicken alfredo bake
Thursday - Pork Chops
Friday - Stuffing Chicken in Crockpot
Saturday - leftovers
Sunday - The other choices from above choices.

I am keeping it easy and flexible.  Usually we have activities in the evening that doesn't allow us that much flexibilities when it comes to meals.

Starting Friday!

I will attempt this to get where I want to be going blog-wise.