Sunday Stealing on Halloween

It’s that time again, if you want to play, click here ..

1. What inspires you to blog? the inspiration comes from just living day to day with two teenagers in my zoo called home.
2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you? I’ve met some neat people through blogging .. and I love venting at times. 
3. What is your favorite book of all time? hmm.. books and movies.. I have a hard time remembering them. 
4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up? Cheese and crackers .. and wine 
5. Who are three of your style icons? haha .. style icons? As in getting dressed? I don’t have icons .. but I do like to bounce ideas off of Janine ..she has a great knack for putting things together.
6. What’s your current favorite song/piece of music? I keep going back to Miranda Lambert’s The House That Built Me .. it reminds me of early summer .. and learning about myself  
7. What is the last book you read? I’m still reading a book I started this summer ..The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder 
8. What is your current favorite recipe? it’s not a favorite, but it’s the easiest .. the Chicken Chipotle soup  
9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog? Tommie!
10. What object could you not live without? I don’t think there is an object I couldn’t live without .. but if I had to choose .. my laptop probably
11. Where do you see yourself in ten years? I want to get through the next 3 years first .. see what choices my kids make for colleges .. see where I am in my working life … one day at a time, right?
12. Who or what made you into the person you are today? oh .. I believe that the people we meet, may it be for a day, a month or a year .. play a part in which path we choose .. and the same goes for what we experience ..obviously my parents and my sisters have played a role, my ex, my kids …and the influences that are in my life now will play a part in how I choose to grow up!
13. What have your learned from blogging? That I do enjoy writing
14. Knowing what you now now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self? Stop .. and listen to your gut .. take more pictures .. especially when I was in school. 
15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal? How about early supper?
16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far? Gosh darn..best blogging related experience .. that I won the book that I’m reading through another blogger??

Happy first week of NOVEMBER …. is it really that late in the year?!?

Defeated ..

that’s what my teenager girl said when she saw this couch. Before the summer this couch came out with a sign that said “$400”. As time went on, and summer came and went, we watched the sign change in $100.00 increments. Today, we drove by again, and there the couch sat, with a dusting of snow, with a new sign … “free” …

Friday Fill-In

 It's Friday .. time to play Friday Fill In!

1. While the cat's away _we run around the house and shut off all the faucets_. (Why do the cats like to sit in the sink and drink the water when there's plenty of water bowls??)

2. _A steak dinner with wine and a movie  .... _ fabuloso!

3. Children _don't eat peas _.

4. _Nothing beats a big glass of red wine, cheese and crackers after the heels and panty hose come off _ when I get home from work or shopping or what have you. (well .. okay .. there are some things that are better than the wine ...it's a start!!)

5. This may seem odd, but _burying your head in the sand, and hoping things will go away .. DOESN'T WORK!
6. _One day  Christmas will be spent on a tropical beach, like Aruba .. __ and that seems like a fine idea to me!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a big glass of wine, making BBQ chicken pizza and just relaxing at home_, tomorrow my plans include _working, finding a moment to go to the gym and a dinner out with good company_ and Sunday, I want to _visit the gym, wonder what the kids will be doing, and earn extra cash_!

Thursday 13 .. Month of October

It’s time for Thursday 13, and being the last Thursday of the month, keeping the tradition, here is the October’s Thursday ..

A photo:

Being a dog is just a rough life … 

Current Scent: I’m finally burning the candle “Fresh Linen” that I’ve had for over a year!

What I am reading: Reading is going slow .. I have another book on the waiting list .. and today I found out three more titles … can I have summer back, so I can lay out on Ariel’s rock and read?

Newest music: Love, love, love the new song from Cee Lo Green .. the non-explicit version is “forget you..”, there are two other versions; use your creative mind on the titles! 

Movie I saw: We went and saw “the Town” .. excellent movie, highly recommended .. not sure if I liked it because it took place in Boston ..or if Ben Affleck has something to do with it ..

Something Yummy: .. I made spring rolls .. those were good ..I’m TRYING to be good . .. but, pumpkin whoopee pies, chocolate chip cookies …. ya .. trying to be good!!

the last place I ate: Fresh Ginger .. Chinese food ...

Something that made me cry: My ex ….when will it end?! I felt reprimanded by him .. the man is millions of miles away..over Instant Messaging …. and I allowed myself to feel like I was wrong ..wth??!

Something that made me laugh: listening to my girl trying to convince me to get another cat, puppy .. baby bunny..a fish .. She wants another pet..she doesn’t even walk HER dog!!

Something I look forward to in November: Thanksgiving..we go down to my sister’s in Massachusetts.. I love seeing my nephews and niece, and my awesome sister. Next to July 4, Thanksgiving is my favorite.

Something that I will remember in October: I’m still missing the freedoms of summer .. I need to move on and discover fall.

Something that I am thankful for: Always thankful for all our health, my job .. my kids … I’m thankful for Red wine.. I love my wine, and red wine moments

A photo i took this month:

reflections .

Exactly a year ago today, I pulled out of my driveway at 5 AM with my kids, a dog and cat .. hauling a 6x12 ft trailer containing items that represented the last 20 years of my life.

It took four days to drive from Texas to Maine .. four days with thoughts running rampant, guilt and slight excitement.

Dr. Phil always talks about "self-defining moments" .. there have been a handful, and pulling out at 5 AM that Monday morning, and driving those miles with just my thoughts .. it's a time I don't want to go back to .. ever, but at the same time, it was something I needed to go through.

Change is good; it brings on a process that we all have to go through. Every process has it's own pace .. and no one can dictate how to set the pace but our own self.  Welcome the moment -  every moment brings a step forward in the process .. the process to which we will find answers that will better ourselves.

Friday Fill -In

It's time for Friday Fill In ... click here to play!


1. One of my strongest beliefs is _that things happen for a reason .. it goes hand in hand with the closed window and open door saying ..We never know why things happen .. but ultimately at the end the outcome is better .. sometimes it takes time! Change is always good__.

2. _That's_ huge!

3. The sky is cloudy with a threat of rain and wind and cold, so _bundle up and get ready for football, Peyton is playing__.

4. _ A gentle touch from a beautiful hand __ is comforting to me.

5. I always thought I'd be _further along____

6. _I grabbed my tripod and camera ____ and then I went outside to look at the full moon, and just fell in awe. I love a full moon.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a pomgranate martini__, tomorrow my plans include _learning a new job.. cleaning the house and grocery shopping__ and Sunday, I want to _play with my camera looking for fall shots .. perhaps_!

Happiness is …

…A box of chocolates!

I came home today and found a box on my steps .. my sister is just awesome .. every so often a magic box appears.. inside just plain happiness …Trader Joe’s trail mix … “drop” (Dutch licorice)…today -  Maltesers!! All the way from London! I guess I’ll have to start running again!

Monday Mayhem on Wednesday ..

Welcome to Monday Mayhem- the best place to be on the slowest day of the week.
Today we are celebrating the five best pieces of advice. For each prompt, give your best advice. Be sure to have fun and visit the other participants.
1. Someone playing this meme has music playing on their site and it is disrupting what you have playing on your computer while you play this wonderful meme. What's your best advice to people who auto-play music on their site? Please don’t do it .. unless you can anticipate the music I love …(I know, I’m a party poop .. but I always jump when the music starts, because most of the time the volume is up)
2. What is your best advice to someone thinking about getting married? NOOO … don’t do it!!! hahahahah … JUST KIDDING!! REALLY!
I would say, wait and make sure … live a little .. get to know who you really are .. make sure you are ready to share your life ..  recognize it’s a forever change .. make sure you’re best friends first .. that you share the same ambitions and desires, also for each other .. make sure that you’re marrying for partnership and companionship,  not need ..
3. What's your best advice for someone wanting to purchase a new phone? what do you want it to do for you? (that’s a question ..)
4. What's your best advice to offer to the younger generation? Stop being so demanding and self centered (..oh, that’s a demand) …

5. What's your best advice for anyone wanting to buy a car? it’s all about knowing what you need out of the car, and will the car define some of who you are, and who you want to be .. how much function to you want to give the car? (oh, and then costs of course ..) 

6.What's the best advice to give to everyone?
take every opportunity to live life …laugh often …love passionately

Sunday Stealing .. on Sunday night

Once again it is time to play Sunday Stealing ... click here to play ..

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? does he have a hair dryer?

2. How much cash do you have on you? hah .. i never have cash .. it's called a debit card

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? floor

4. Favorite planet? Jupiter

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? My son

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Strum on my Iphone .. I've been looking for actual ringtones .. but I can't decided which songs for who!

7. What shirt are you wearing? A mauve long sleeve t-shirt .. it's old!

8. Do you label yourself? Do I label myself??!? What kind of question is that ... I've been labeled 'crunchy ..'  'plain' ... certainly don't think I'm crunchy, nor plain ... but then again .. who knows! You've got to know me to love me ... hahaha!!! 

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? Asics all the way ...my dress shoes .. Anne Klein .. I love Franco Sarto and Etienne Aigner ... and boots .. I love boots!!

10. Bright or Dark Room? I love a bright room after I have gotten up in the morning .. but I love a dark room, with a little bit of light when I go to sleep .....

11. Did you do anything to celebrate John Lennon's 70th yesterday? No ...I just imagined ...

12. What does your watch look like? My movado is my favorite .. pick face.. simple


13. What were you doing at midnight last night? at midnight? ... hmm I'm not sure if I was asleep yet .. time escaped me!


14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? "Ouch"  .....(in response to "$700 for four new tires!")

15. Where is your nearest 7-11? I really don't know ... I don't make it a habit to look for 7-11


16. What’s a word that you say a lot? I say "interesting" all the time
17. Who told you he/she loved you last? hmm.. my honey .. he just called me to say good night

18. Last furry thing you touched? muhahahhaa ... I could have so much fun with this! ..but I'll behave, Bruce the Golden is laying beside me ....

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? does the wine drug count ... or the M&M drug ... how about the love drug ... ?? I took Ibuprofin yesterday ...

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? None!! It's called digital!

21. Favorite age you have been so far? I would say 40 ... It was probably my most life changing period. I remember I had discovered Michael Buble .. so I loved playing his music .. My favorite song was "You don't know me" .. I used to play it every morning as I headed into work ..



22. Your worst enemy? I'm not aware of any ..



23. What is your current desktop picture (extra points if you post it.)? It's currently my favorite fall picture .. not taken by me .. by Glenn

24. What was the last thing you said to someone? Good night ..

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? hmmm, i hate to be greedy ..  but a million bucks sounds good.