Five Question Friday

Posted on June 29, 2012 | 7 comments

It was much easier to get answers out of myself on Monday when I very tardily did my last Five Question Friday post (is that some sort of record, two 5QF posts in one week?)… for some reason I’m having trouble thinking of answers. But I’ll power through, all for the love of my readers (though since most of you are my friends or family, I think you’d forgive me either way). One bit of sad news – my hubby did read my 35 before 35 midway recap and so now he knows we’re planning a girls’ weekend. If you see him, will you remind him that he has rugby games on Saturdays for BOTH spring and fall? And a Poison concert in Detroit in two weekends? It’s not like he doesn’t get to have fun. Just not whole weekends – but if he wanted to get some friends together to go away for a guys weekend… I’d be all for it (because I am also going to a women’s retreat through church this fall – double whoops).

1. What’s your favorite childhood snack that you still eat as an adult?
Does ice cream count? Or chocolate chip cookies. Or Oreos. I will tell you one snack I DO NOT eat. Sunday nights, after night church (of course), my dad and I would have a snack of kippers and Ritz crackers. What are kippers you might ask… well, they are smoked boneless fillets of herring. Yum. From time to time I have thought about buying them and trying them to see if I could even swallow them now, but I just can’t get up the gumption to do it. Maybe my dad and I can relive a memory together…

2. What food will you not eat the low fat version of?
There aren’t many that I won’t eat, it fact, after some thought, I can’t think of one that I won’t… I’ll eat turkey burgers instead of beef, I’ll eat margarine instead of butter (sorry, Sandy, it’s true), I’ll eat fro yo instead of ice cream… the list goes on. It doesn’t mean I prefer them, just that I’ll eat them. There is one think I won’t eat the full sugar version of… Coke. I just can’t stomach regular Coke. It used to remind my of my friend’s dad because growing up he always had regular Coke at their house and when I was there, I could have some, too. But would rather have Diet Coke or nothing (well, maybe not nothing, but not Coca-Cola Classic).

3. What’s your favorite way to cool off during the summer?
Stay inside in the air conditioning. I like the beach and pools, but my favorite way is not just not go outside. It’s true. That’s who I am.

4. What’s your favorite summer read?
I don’t have a particular summer read, I just like to read in general. I don’t recommend bringing classics to the beach, but a Marion Keyes or any other chick lit book is a good beach read. Often for the beach I prefer magazines because I don’t feel bad if they get sandy or wet.

5. What are you doing to stay cool in this awful heat?
See answer to #3… though last night I did have dinner out with friends and we got stuck out on the porch and it was miserably hot but at least we were all in it together. Misery loves company, especially when it is such good company!

Linking up with Mama M for Five Question Friday.

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Posted in Five Question Friday, Life in general

Random randoms

Posted on June 28, 2012 | 3 comments

Changing up the title of my random posts… living life on the edge, bloggity blog style. [Or perhaps I’ve had a wee bit too much Diet Coke today; you say potato, I say yep.]

  • This is my 350th post on this here blog. Is that impressive, or not? I don’t know. It definitely means a have a whole lot of words waiting to get out… thanks for reading them.
  • The newer A Team is funny stuff. We had a free movie weekend and recorded it  – it makes me laugh. If you like to laugh, you should watch it, too. Also, if you like to look at Bradley Cooper, you should also watch it. There are also quotable gems like, “Overkill is under-rated.”
  • We also recorded the entire first season of Homeland, which we then watched in less than a week. Apparently, we liked it. Hopefully we can get a free weekend of Showtime again in a year so we can watch season two.
  • Liam said to me the other night, “You know mom, it really is a man’s world. Like that song says.” Me: “Oh really?” Him: “Yes, because God made it and he’s a guy.”
  • I’m looking forward to the 4th of July parade next week… the boys are going to LOVE it! But I have to say that I do not approve of a Wednesday holiday – worst day of the week for one day off.
  • I apologize in advance if I miss anything I have planned with anyone reading this… I don’t have any plans to miss these things, but I’m just pre-emptively apologizing because it could happen. Better safe than sorry.
  • Who is the target audience for the Katy Perry movie? Just curious.
  • Not at all related to the above, I totally watched the Justin Bieber special on NBC. Justin Bieber has a rather large target audience is all I’m saying.
  • I’m also saying, I love my husband.
  • Restaurant Impossible sort of makes me never want to eat at another restaurant again. Also, why is Cupcake Wars still a show?
  •  With the driving school right next door (at work) I find myself feeling much older than normal because the KIDS that are taking drivers’ ed are SO YOUNG. Babies.
  • Simon bought himself a baseball glove… this is something I never thought I’d see my rugby-and-soccer-playing husband do.
  • Ice Cube and Coco should never be anyone’s godparents. It needs to be said.
  • I saw a trailer for “Moonrise Kingdom” for the very first time and knew immediately it was a Wes Anderson film… am I that good or is he a little bit one note? Brilliantly hilarious, but one note, at least in his quirkiness and art direction.
  • Liam asked what the Olympics were when we were at a friend’s house, it really could only have been more embarassing if he also streaked naked through their living room (which, let’s face it, is a possibility).
  • Speaking of nudity… when my parents were at our house last weekend, Jack came into the kitchen, looking very proud of himself and said, “Look…” It took us a minute to realize that he was trying to call attention to the fact that he’d pulled his pants down so just one part of his anatomy was poking over the top of his waistband. Awesome. My dad laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes – I’m not thinking Jack learned the lesson NOT to do that again.
  • And just to get that last bullet completely out of your mind:

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Posted in Life in general

35 Before 35, one year down

Posted on June 27, 2012 | 3 comments

A year ago (give or take a few days), I turned 33 and I posted my 35 Before 35 list. Now that we are a year into my two-year to-do list, it seems like a good time for a recap – really to make me see what I need to accomplish in the next year and to help kick my butt into gear. (I totally said “butt” on my blog – don’t tell my kids because I wasn’t in the bathroom when I said it – you’re welcome – and I really don’t want to put soap in my mouth.)

  1. Go camping with the boys. [We’ve been thinking really hard about this one… does that count? But I have a good feeling this will get done.]
  2. Take another road trip with the family. [Planning on it for next February/March. Though we did quite a bit of driving in Australia, so that should count, right?]
  3. Start a chore chart/allowance system for the kids.
  4. Teach Liam to ride a bike. [Not yet without training wheels, but I wasn’t specific, now was I?]
  5. Read at least 20 books. [Reading books is not something I have a problem accomplishing, my problem is how I avoid everything else when I’m reading them.]
  6. Participate in a 5K – walking or running.
  7. Sell our house and move into our “forever” home.
  8. Make plans to visit Australia with the boys. [I should get double points for this one because not only did we plan it, we did it.]
  9. Go on a girl’s weekend with my friends. [Went with Tracey to Boyne last fall but have another one in the works for this fall with the larger group of Rooks’ girls – haven’t quite told my husband yet – shhhh.]
  10. Take a 2+ day trip with just Simon. [Date set for a trip to Chicago in July – I’m totally jumping the gun with crossing it off because I can; this does not mean it won’t happen.]
  11. See at least 5 live musical performances. [4/5; DMB Caravan, Sara Bareilles, Boyce Avenue, The Verve Pipe – one left and I am dying for a live musical performance – sans kids.]
  12. Teach Liam to read. [Liam is reading and I know I had a hand in it, but certainly his teacher gets more credit than me. And our satellite radio receiver, which he reads the song titles off of every time we’re in the car.
  13. Potty train Jack. [I could write a novel about how happy this makes me.]
  14. Go to ArtPrize twice. [One down, one to go.]
  15. Eat at 10 new-to-me restaurants. [10/10; Marie Catribs, Electric Cheetah, Cabana Tres Amigos, Beltline Bar, Brick Road Pizza, Flat River Grill, Leo’s, One Trick Pony, Marco’s, Crooked Goose]
  16. Take Jack to his first movie in a theater. [I sure do hope he can sit through a movie sometime in the next year, but that is questionable.]
  17. Go mini-golfing with the boys.
  18. Take the boys to a hockey game.
  19. Attempt to grow out my hair for locks of love. [Still growing… I need another 4-5 inches, I think. But my grey hairs easily prove my hair is untouched by dyes and chemicals so at least it is “virgin.”]
  20. Send at least 8 “care” packages to out-of-town friends and family. [2/8 – better start mailing things]
  21. Meet my WW’s goal (way before 35). [Initial goal, met, now need to get back in the bandwagon for the rest.]
  22. Get Jack baptised/dedicated at church. [The weekend we returned from Australia, of course.]
  23. Stay at the JW Marriott.
  24. Stay at a bed and breakfast.
  25. Visit Great Wolf Lodge.
  26. Get an hour-long massage. [I got a 20-minute one, so I guess I had better work very hard on this one.]
  27. Plant a garden. [I planted flowers – and though I believe I was intending this to mean vegetables, we’re calling it good.]
  28. Send someone flowers.
  29. Join a bible study. [We joined a small group – that’s good enough for me. (And also, awesome)]
  30. Continue writing this blog. [Again, one year down, one more to go but all indicators point to yes.]
  31. Start AND finish a quilt. [Ha, ha, ha. But I did make Halloween costumes for the boys – the only time I’ve touched the sewing machine this year.]
  32. Tackle the crazy basement once and for all. [It’s as tackled as it’s going to get.]
  33. Re-finish a piece of furniture.
  34. Get the boys sharing a room so we can reclaim a guest room/office/craft space. [Now if only they would go to sleep or stay in there quietly at bedtime.]
  35. Get vinyl flooring installed in our kitchen. [This might be the most boring thing I my list, clearly I was stretching for a 35th item.]

Well, that review made me feel so much better, though there are many big things left to accomplish. And lots of trips… here’s hoping!!!

What would you like to accomplish in the next two years?

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Posted in 35 before 35, Life in general

Sisters-in-love

Posted on June 26, 2012 | 5 comments

I have two brothers. Two brothers who are significantly older than me, so really, I was like an only child. But as luck would have it, my brothers are pretty awesome at attracting/picking fabulous wives which means that along with two brothers, I have two sisters-in-law who I love. I met Lynn, Marty’s wife, when I was in late elementary school or middle school (I can’t quite remember how old I was) but Joan I have known my entire life since I was just 9 months old when she married my brother, Mike (that baby in the photo below is me with Joan and Mike – aren’t we all adorable?).

When I was growing up, we shared many family birthday parties because our birthdays are only five days apart (sorry, Joan, for all the strawberry cakes you had for your birthday, in case they were not your favorite). And if I was ever out with Mike and Joan and their kids, people assumed they were my parents (and alternately, people assumed I was my parents’ grandchild when we were out with them – we like to keep people on their toes). Having adult siblings when you are a kid is kind of difficult because you don’t share those same memories of childhood and hanging out together is really them babysitting you. But, I’ve discovered a true bonus to this situation, with my sister-in-laws we never really had that getting to know you period that you get when you meet in-laws as adults, to me they have just always been there as part of my family. Especially with Joan, who has been a part of my entire life, just as much as my brother. How lucky am I?*

Today is Joan’s birthday and I think she just keeps getting better with age! She is one of the women who has helped shape who I am as a person because of who she is as a person. She’s a wonderful wife, loving mother, good friend, thoughtful sister and daughter, and has done it all while working full time, not to mention she is one of my favorite cooks and an impressive hostess. One of my favorite memories of Joan was telling her we were pregnant with Liam – she screamed so loud and was so happy for us, it made my day! It’s easy to take people for granted who have been in our lives for forever, so it’s nice to take a moment and tell them we love them! Love you, Joan – happy birthday to one of the best people I know!

* Very lucky because I’m also blessed by the sister-in-laws I married into who are in Australia and Jordan (technically, Lebanon at the moment).

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Posted in Family

Five Question Friday (on Monday)

Posted on June 25, 2012 | 5 comments

Happy Monday, folks, here we are again 😉 No Music Monday post today… considering they get no comments, I don’t think it will be missed 😉 And while it’s three days late, I’m remiss in answering my five question Friday prompts so I’m going to go with that. 🙂

1. What do you keep a stock pile of?
Many, many things, thanks to a Costco membership and picky children. Fruit snacks, individual servings of apple sauce, Gogurts, fruit strips, toilet paper, re-closeable baggies and (of course) Diet Coke.

2. If Ben & Jerry asked you to invent an ice cream, what would it be?
They already made my perfect ice cream, but the discontinued it, it was From Russia with Buzz… White Russian flavored ice cream with chocolate-espresso pieces. If had to improve on it, I’d add butterscotch and salty pecans (though I prefer my pecans as a topping, rather than in the ice cream itself).

3. How do you blow off steam?
Straightening up. When I have something on my mind or am annoyed with something, I take care of my piles and clean out closest. I like the look of a straightening up house (note: I do not say CLEAN here) but just can’t maintain it day-to-day. I am not that person.

4. What would you do if you had an hour to yourself anywhere within a ten mile radius of your home…no kids, no hubby, just you?
[I’m going to avoid the obvious answer of: take a nap – no one said you couldn’t stay home.] I’d either go to a coffee shop and take a book/journal or go shopping at Target. I love being at Target without kids who spend the entire time begging for toys.

5. When you were 16, what was your curfew in the summertime?
It varied depending on who I was with and what we were planning on doing. Mostly my parents would let me tell them when I wanted to come home and we’d negotiate from there (rarely was it after midnight, usually much earlier). Seldom was I disappointed in the curfew time, you can get plenty of boyfriend make out time in before 10 p.m. and I hung out with my friends all day at school so really, as a 16-year-old, what was I missing out on? 😉

Linking up with Mama M for Five Question Friday.

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Posted in Five Question Friday, Life in general