I've Been In A Slump...

Hi readers!  You've probably wondered where the heck I've been.  Or maybe you haven't noticed my disappearance at all.  Either way, I've been in a slump. 

If you read my last post, you'll know that a dear friend of the family passed away.  I posted about it back in September and now I've been unable to post again.  Everytime I pull up my blog to post something, I see that post and I stop in my tracks.  It's almost as if I feel like I would be doing a great dishonor to post anything after that post, but I also know I can't let my blog go like this.

Today, I'm trying to break out of this feeling.  Today, I think I can actually publish this.

So, what am I really saying here?  Well, please bear with me as I find my voice again.

Tunes for Tuesday - Memories & Memorials

As I write this Tunes for Tuesday post, I'm trying to come to terms with the recent passing of one of my Dad's best friends, who also happens to be my ex's father.  It's been many years since "JMB" (my ex) and I have been together, but I still care about his family deeply.  We dated for several years, have known eachother for over 20 years and our family's spent a lot of time together!  It's been a blessing to still be able to have a connection after all this time.

Now, it has only been a little over a week since "Jr." passed and I'm having a hard time with his untimely death.  You see, "Jr" was still quite young; only in his early to mid 50s.  He still should have had many more years on this earth, with his wife, his four kids, & his six grandkids, but the universe had other plans for him.

It should be known that "Jr." was a good, honest man.  He stood by his family.  He stood by his friends.  He didn't judge.  He laughed, he joked, he made you feel welcome.  There wasn't a day that passed that you couldn't find "Jr." sitting at the dining room table cracking jokes at someone.  And some of the stuff that came out of his mouth would leave you doubled over in stitches!  I can think of a few of his favorite sayings:

"Who's the best looking guy you know and why am I?"
"Hey, ____, how far do you think you would have gotten if I hadn't called you back?"
"Hey, ____, just checkin' assholes, you're alright."
And my two favorites...
"Hey Amy, who's the prettiest girl you know, and why are you?"   (*sigh* - he was a kind man)
"Petey, show Burdick your balls"  (This is what Jr would tell Petey (their dog)...to which Petey would react by laying on his back to expose himself...  "Burdick" is my Dad)


Sadly, his passing wasn't completely unexpected; he's been in and out of the hospital recently, but you always think there is more time.  Unfortunately, time waits for no man. 

So, here I sit, thinking of my past; thinking of the times we had on Beaver Street; my family & theirs.  The countless hours of laughter.  The good times.  I'll never forget the times we had together.  Now, a distant memory, but always a part of me. 

With today's Tunes for Tuesday post, I'd like to dedicate a song to "Jr." 

Until we meet again...

House Guests of the Unwanted Kind

When I refer to the "unwanted kind", I'm not talking about mice, spiders, or other critters that one might associate as unwanted guests.  No, I'm talking about the type of person who asks to stay with you for a little while and then never makes any moves to find another residence.

This is the scenario currently playing out in my humble abode right now.

Two and a half months ago, "D's" younger brother - we'll call him DK - asked if he could stay with us for a little while.  He never said how long "a little while" was  however.  I was not exactly thrilled about this; not only would my privacy be invaded, but so would my children's. I knew this would be very uncomfortable for everyone, especially me.  Things as I knew them would no longer be the same and I wasn't feeling it.  Change and I, well, we aren't exactly best buds.  Matter of fact, I'm pretty certain that I like routine; safe and decided routine.  Such is no longer the case...

Fast forward two and a half months to today; right now.  Our "guest" has overstayed his welcome and I'm losing my mind. I no longer feel comfortable in my own house and I hate it.  I have a laundry list of grievances.

I think the worst part about the situation is that I've tried to express to "D" how badly this is bothering me, but I don't think he cares.  I've asked him to address many things with DK, but he never really has.  He's masking my disdain to avoid hurting DK's feeling and it's only making me more furious.

So, since asking "D" to address it isn't helping.  I just need to get it all off my chest, so I'm going to write it.  This may seem petty to some, and yes, I agree it is...slightly.  Yet, I don't mind.

So, let's get down to it... here's the nitty gritty of what's bothering me about DK's overstayed welcome:

1. He doesn't seem like he's making any effort to find another place.
2. He only works part time, so I don't think he can really afford his own place.
3. He has only had two job interviews in the 2 1/2 months he's been staying, so I don't think he's really trying to find another job, to afford his own apartment.
4. He hasn't offered us a dime the whole time he's been here.  Not one single dime.
5. He's uneducated, lacks real life experiences and causes drama.
6. He always uses someone else's towel after he showers. (I don't know about you, but I personally don't want to dry my face with a towel that someone else may have dried their privates with)
7. He spits in the sink and doesn't rinse it out.
8. He leaves cell phone and computer cords plugged in without the device attached.
9. He follows "D" around from room to room.
10. Did I mention that he is not making any effort to find another place?  Yeah, I'm sure I mentioned it.

I'm sure I've missed a few things that have recently annoyed me about this situation, but 10, or nine with a prominent repeat seems sufficient, so I'll spare you the rest.  

I wish I could see the silver lining in this situation, but I already feel so jaded, so I know there's no turning back now.  Once I feel slighted, I can hold a grudge forever.  

At this point, I can only hope DK will get off his ass and move along, because this situation does not work for me and I just want my life and my privacy back! 

Please tell me, have you ever had an unwanted house guest overstay their welcome?  And if so, how did you deal with it?  

I've been away...

A lot of things have been happening around here and I just haven't found the time to keep my blog updated.  So, I'm going to do my best to post a little bit this evening in hopes of getting back on track.

Before I post again, I should mention that I think I may spontaneously combust soon if something doesn't give.  I'm trying to sway with the winds, but they've been blowing quite hard and I'm reaching my breaking point.

On that note, I've missed you all!  Here's to catching up!

Thoughts for Thursday - The Changing Seasons...

I may have mentioned that Summer is my favorite season...or maybe I haven't.  Either way, it is!  Living in the northeast, it's the only time of the year that I really enjoy to the fullest.  Green grass, warm weather, sunshine, etc... I love it all!

However, with that said, I have to confess that Halloween is my favorite holiday... and well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't love Autumn!  Mostly, I love the colors of Autumn; burgundy, dark reds, purples, oranges, brownes, etc...   These colors just seem rich, warm, and inviting to me, even though I know it means cooler nights and shorter days are ahead.  *sigh*

Truthfully, I really think it's Halloween that gets me through... I love the thrill of decorating my house, dressing up, and going to Halloween parties (or hosting our own)!  I think about Halloween months before it even arrives.  I spend the better part of the year thinking about decorating ideas; ways to make my house and yard look spookier than last year. 

So, here we are, about two months away from my favorite holiday!  I can already feel the anticipation building as I plot out my Halloween plans!  Stores have started to stock Halloween/Autumn decorations and different online sites have started posting deals... It's so exciting!  So, of course when I headed over to Etsy.com today, I was momentarily speechless when I saw all the amazing Halloween things they had displayed on their homepage!  I mean, seriously, did they know I was going to visit their site today?  Do they know about my obsession?  They must, because they shoved it right in my face!  LOL...and I loved it! ;)

Here are a few Halloween scenes/decoration/ideas that I just simply adore:

Ok, in an effort to not overwhelm you, I won't continue... but seriously, just know that I love Halloween! 

So, although I'm a quite sad that Summer is coming to an end and quickly, as each morning seems cooler than the last, I'm happy to know that Halloween is right around the corner! 

So tell me, what is your favorite season/holiday? 

Random Ramblings and Such...

I haven't posted in a few days...maybe even a week or so.  So, I just wanted to take a moment to mention a few things... more appropriately, random ramblings and such...

On a daily basis, I read blogs; many blogs!  Most of the blogs that I read are from a group of parents that have been chosen as Featured Bloggers for WhattoExpect.com.  These bloggers are very prolific!  They blog about their journey to parenthood, their pregnancy experiences, their children, their families, etc... and I read them.. each and every one of them.  It's my job and I enjoy it.  The content is quite helpful for other parents or parents-to-be also.  If you are ever looking for parenting blogs, head over to check out this fantastic group of bloggers!

Yesterday, I felt an earthquake.  It originated in Virginia...but was definitely felt here in the Berkshires!  My desk & chair shook.  It reminded me of the earthquake we felt in 2002 (my first experience)...so, I knew right away what was happening!  It was frightening and exciting all at the same time!

Today, I saw a few pictures on my friend's blog of a beach in Florida and now I have this overwhelming feeling of wanting to get out of here and head south!  I lived in Florida when I was younger. I haven't been back there in many years; almost 19 years to be exact.  I've always thought about wanting to go back at some point in my life, but right now, at this very moment, I have this real sense of urgency to get to the south shore!  I'm going to have to figure out some way to make this happen within the next 6 months of my life!

Tomorrow, I might bring the kiddos to the carnival that just popped up in town.  We'll see how things go, but I know as soon as I pick them up, they'll beg to go.  

Anyway, so there you have it... my random ramblings for this Wednesday night.  I'd like to promise that I 'll be back on track with this again soon, but that's never going to happen... my life is random...my thoughts are random... and well, I'm random.  So, truth be told, this blog will probably never be as consistent as it was planned in my head to be.  I hope you don't mind!  ;)

Until next time...

Yesterday I Helped Chaperone A Field Trip

I haven't chaperoned a field trip or anything in years.  Not since before my daughter started going to elementary school, she'll be heading into 4th, so when presented with the opportunity to chaperone a field trip with my daughter's summer program to Magic Wings, a butterfly conservatory (Can I get a "woohoo"?), I knew I just had to do it.  (Assuming I could get the day off, of course!  Which by the way, panned out in my favor.)

So, chaperone a field trip, I did.  And really, it wasn't all that bad.  There were a lot of kids, so it was a bit noisy, but I was only assigned three kids, one of them being my own lovely "L".  So, really, two kids.  Both of whom were really well behaved, so I felt privileged!  (Plus it helped that they were a few of the older kids in the group.)

The butterfly conservatory is a little over an hour away from where we are located, so after the ride, we went right in to see the butterflies.  According to the "guide" there is usually 3,000 butterflies at any given time and trust me when I say they were everywhere!  You could not turn around without have a butterfly flutter either right in your face or right past you.  It's truly incredible.  


So, instead of trying to explain the experience to you, I hope to be able to show you using a few pictures that I took.

Oh and there are coy fish too!  -- We also spotted a few different birds; quail, parrots, & other small birds.

Isn't it so lovely!  There were what felt like millions of butterflies, all over the place.  I simply adore this place.  A few of the kids weren't so eager to be any where near some of the bigger butterflies, but most of them enjoyed the butterfly conservatory just as much as I did!

Truth be told, I've been here before... several times actually, and I enjoy it every time!  Do you have a local (or semi-local) butterfly conservatory?   If so, I recommend visiting!  It's a lot of fun!

Until next time... keep fluttering...

Tunes for Tuesday - Do It Duet Style!

I love a good duet!  I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before.  To me, there's nothing better than two people bouncing off of eachother in harmony, while weaving melodies through the air!

Over time there have been many fabulous duet songs, and some not so fabulous, but we won't talk about those in this post.  ;)

In this post, I want to talk about a few of the duets that I simply love!  So, let's get to it, shall we?

These first few will be duets that I'm sure you'll recognize right away.  These songs have been around for a while and will continue to stand strong!  The others listed may just find their way to your favorites list, just as they did mine.

(You might have to hold the Control button when you click the links so they will open in a new window.  Sorry about that!)

Jackson - Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
If I Were A Carpenter - Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys - Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Stop Dragging My Heart Around - Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty
Picture - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow
Whiskey Lullaby - Allison Krauss & Brad Paisley
Please read the Letter - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars
Cheater Cheater - Joey & Rory
Cruisin - Huey Lewis & Gwyneth Paltrow

So, there you have it.  My Top 10 Duet List!

Do you have a favorite duet that you would like to share with me?  If so, please leave me a comment so that I may enjoy it too! ;)

Until next time... Do it duet!

Muffin Tin Dinner of the Breakfast Kind

I've seen many delicious posts recently displaying various muffin tin recipe techniques.  Matter of fact, my friend and fellow mom blogger, MomEandtheJoyful3, publishes a weekly muffin tin meal post in her blog.

So, I decided to give it a try.  Besides I needed an opportunity to find a new recipe for our weekly dinner rotation.  Because I'm vegetarian, we tend to eat a lot of the same types of foods, so it's nice to serve it in a different way!  :)

My muffin tin meal can be best categorized as breakfast food, as it contained a lot of the typical ingredients that you would see on a breakfast menu at your local diner.  So, let's begin!

Ingredients:

• Bisquick Buttermilk Biscuit Mix
• 5 Eggs
• Milk
• 2 medium potatoes
• 1 small head of broccoli
• Cheddar Cheese 
• 4 cloves garlic & 1/2 small onion
• Olive Oil
• Seasonings (I just added black pepper & a little rosemary)

(Adjust amounts to suit your family size.  This recipe yields 12 muffins; 6 of each.)

Preheat oven to biscuit mix specifications (I set mine to 400 degrees).  

Wash and dice two medium potatoes into cubes (or whatever your preference) and add to frying pan.  Coat lightly with olive oil and seasonings and set on medium high heat.

Wash and cut broccoli into small pieces.  Place in quart pan with 3 - 4 cups water.  Bring to boil.  Allow to boil until broccoli becomes soft.  Once boiled, drain and place broccoli into cold water.

Dice onion and garlic.  Set aside for now.  Add to frying pan with potatoes once they start becoming softer and crispy on the outside.  (Don't add to early or they become hard fried chunks)

Prepare biscuit mix according to directions.  Coat each muffin cup with a non stick spray/butter/oil.  Pinch one inch balls of prepared biscuit mix and push into the bottom of each muffin space.  Spread the dough to cover the entire bottom.

Once you have dough in each muffin cup, add your ingredients.  Add potatoes to six of the cups and broccoli to the remaining six.  Fill each cup to just below the brim and press down slightly.

Scramble the five eggs with a splash of milk (chose the amount of your preference) and pour this egg mixture slowly into each muffin cup.

Place into pre-heated oven for 10 minutes.

Removed from oven.  Add cheddar cheese to the tops of each muffin and return to the oven for an additional 2 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.  Carefully pull "muffins" from cups.  You may have to run a spatula around the edges of each muffin to work the mix away from the muffin walls.

Enjoy!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So, there you have it.  These were a hit at my house!  "D" & "L" both gobbled them up!  

I enjoyed them with a little salsa, sour cream, & hot sauce.  

These will definitely be a part of our regular dinner options, especially once I discover new crusts and stuffing ideas.  I'm thinking spinach & feta soon!  :)

If you know of any good links to other muffin tin recipes, please pass them my way so that I may try other's recipes!  

Tunes for Tuesday - My Son's Band

Usually I've found some new artist that I haven't heard from before for this weekly (sporadic at best) post, but today, I want to share with you my son's band.

Let me start by saying, the members are only 14-15 years old and they've only been practicing together for about half a year or so, maybe a little longer, but not by much.

Practice happens here at our house every Monday night.  You may recall a previous post titled Monday Night Madness, well, that was also about this same band.  But at that time, they were calling themselves something entirely different.  Having gone through several band name changes since then, they are now called ShitZoo Ballistics!

Now, as a parent, I don't *love* the name... but as a hip Mom who wants to allow her teen child to express himself (within reason), I don't see that it's too harmful.  However, I do hope that some day the band members will go for something a little more appealing.  ;)

So, for this Tunes for Tuesday post, I present to you ShitZoo Ballistics:



Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention, it's a punk rock blend! Sometimes loud enough to split your eardrums!

So, if you like them, head on over to their Facebook Fan Page to show them some support:
https://www.facebook.com/ShitZoo.Ballistics

Until next time...

When I Get Bored...

When I find myself overcome with boredom, I tend to do things that just seem silly or meaningless.  Sometimes I get creative, sometimes I read, sometimes I try to play guitar, or sometimes I just do whacked out things... like this:

Yes, I know it's not Halloween... who cares, right?  I was bored and this is what I thought would be fun to do.  My son seems to think I belong in the Addams Family.  I don't disagree, but I don't agree either.  LOL...  Truth is, I might try to do something similar to this for Halloween, so I wanted to try it out now to see if it's even something I can manage...  And well, looks like I can... sort of.  

Maybe next time I get bored, I'll try a different rendition of this.  We'll see.

Anyway, what sort of things do you tend to do when you get bored?

Saturday's Shoe Picks - Boots Edition

It's been a while since I've posted a Saturday's Shoe Picks post and since I was sitting here at the computer, being fairly unproductive, I thought, "well, shit, I can post about shoes!"  So, here it goes...

This week's edition will be boots... Since the summer is starting to wind down (don't stone me, it isn't my fault!  lol) and Autumn is right around the corner, this is the perfect time to start looking for boots.

I love a good pair of boots; high or short.  I have a few pair of booties myself and I adore them!  During a recent search on my favorite shoe site, 6pm.com, I spotted a few pair that I think are just to die for... So let's take a look, shall we!

Gabriella Rocha Shere Black - only $17.33 today 

Not Rated Ruby Grey - only $21.83 today

Promiscuous Amor03 Dark Grey - only $31.35 today

Michael Antonio Masado Black - only $31.68 today

I could go on and on listing boots that I adore, but generally I post only four to keep the post from being overwhelming...but you get the point.  6pm.com has tons of fabulous deals every day, so head over there and check them out!  You seriously won't be disappointed!

Don't forget to check back next week for my newest picks!  Have a fabulous weekend!  

Until next time... keep your boots stompin'!

A Few Facts For This Friday Afternoon...

When I say a few facts, I mean, a few facts about me... so, let's get started.

1.  I'm a Taurus... enough said.
2.  I've been living on my own (outside of my parent's homes) since I was just barely 16 years of age.
3.  I'm not a fan of self-loathing... it's not charming in any way.
4.  I've lost a few really dear friends in my life because I'm stubborn.  (I still think of you all, ALL the time!)
5.  My eyes are brown. 
6.  I wanted to name my first born, Kaleida, if he would have been a girl...but got too many snide remarks and decided on Paige instead... only to have him be a boy anyway...
7.  I live in the north, but don't like the cold weather much.
8.  I once wanted to be a music teacher.
9.  I'm allergic to cats.
10.  My middle & last names were changed when I was 4.  (Thanks Mom... I think? or not...)


Ok, so 10 facts seem sufficient at this time!  LOL... The truth is, I'm trying to head out of the office, so I need to finish up a few things before doing so.

Anyway, I would love to hear a few facts about you, my readers!  So, please leave me a comment letting me know one (or more) random facts about you!  

Until  next time...

Why The Entitled Attitude?

I wonder why some people act like they are entitled to everything.  I really find it annoying when someone walks around with an entitled attitude, making people feel like they owe them.  My motto has always been, if you can't afford it on your own, you probably don't need it, but that must just be the modesty in me, because so many people that I know act differently!

Let's take my siblings for example... both of them constantly ask me for money... but not in a kind and respectful way, no.  In a way that makes me cringe.   Recently, my youngest of my two brothers was arrested and has been in jail for a few months, well at one point he was asking everyone for bail money, but once he realized that no one had the bail for him ($7500), he was quoted as saying, "Just tell my sister to put her house up for collateral for me."

UM?  WHAT?  The house that I bust my ass every day to pay for... the home of my children... you want me to put that on the line for you?  Just because you don't like being in jail.  Hmmm... well, I'm sorry honey, but I didn't put you there, Your actions did, and I shouldn't have to pay the price for your mistakes.

Now, don't get me wrong, I try to help people out whenever I can.  BUT, not when it isn't warranted!

Another example, is "D's" sister...  and I realize I probably shouldn't be talking about here on this forum, but I've really had more than I can take.  Her entitled attitude makes me so angry!  Recently, she asked "D" to co-sign a bank loan for $2500 so that she and her fiance and their 5 children could move to a bigger apartment.  Now, normally, "D" would go out of his way to help his siblings, christ, one of them (his brother) has currently taken up residence on our couch (fodder for another post another time, I suppose) but right now, between the two houses we own, we are cutting it close to not being able to afford our own lives, let alone helping others.  The most difficult part about trying to help "D's" sister is that she isn't trying to help herself.  She's a stay at home mom, and before you flame me, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with staying at home with your kids, I envy it really, but if you want/need more money, try working from home or something...do something to make a little money for yourself... but don't beg for money from your family members.  It annoys me that she does this.  Especially since she recently posted photos of her new computer, new dining room set, and new living room set!  I'm thinking that stuff probably cost at least $3K... I mean, that could be a little on the high side depending on any deals they may have found, but the point is, if you can afford to blow money on new items like that, then eventually you can afford to save the money to move...and you don't have to ask your brother to co-sign a loan for you.  RIGHT?

This is just a small example of some of the entitled attitudes that "D" and I run into.  Like I said early, I have two brothers, and the older of the two also constantly asks for things, bus tickets, money, etc... And as previously mentioned, "D's" little brother has currently been dubbed our "sofa loafer."

Most days, I feel like we must run a sibling charity center or something along those lines.  It's a difficult thing to grasp for both "D" and I.  Neither one of us have ever asked other people for help in this sort of capacity.  We both have always just worked for what we wanted or needed, and I don't understand how these siblings of ours get off acting like they are entitled to anything from us.  UGH.

I admit that maybe I can be harsh sometimes, it just gets old when every time I turn around someone is standing there with their hand out, looking for a free ride!

Do you ever deal with this?  Am I being too harsh?  

So Glad I Went To The Gathering Of The Vibes!

I almost didn't go... not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't really afford to dump the money for a weekend festival. 

I went last year, and between the ticket price, food, drinks, and gas money, I probably spent well above $300, possibly $400.  A pretty good chunk of change for just a weekend get-away (without my kids).  Now, don't get me wrong, I had a blast; the festival was awesome and I spent the whole weekend with my old best friend from highschool, so I couldn't complain one little bit, but really, that's a lot of money!

This year, I knew I really wanted to go, but I kept putting off buying the ticket.  My BFF, Gloria, and I had made a promise last year that we would make this festival our yearly thing, no matter what.  But, as much as I knew I wanted to go, I couldn't.  As I watched the ticket prices inch upwards from the "early bird price" to the "get it at the gate" price, I knew I was in trouble.  I just didn't have the money to blow this year.  (Having 2 mortgage payments & all the other bills inbetween made it impossible)  I felt like I was letting my friend down... we both keep talking about how much fun it would be, and then I dropped the ball... big time!

I finally confessed to Gloria that I couldn't afford it.  I was backing out.  She even offered to pay for the ticket and I could pay her back...but that still sounded so expensive to me.  And then, just two weeks ago, I sent her a message through facebook saying that I was sorry about not having the money to go...and she was totally okay with it... she had even picked up a few shifts at work since she wasn't going to be going to the festival now... but then told me that she was going to just go to the Vibes on Sunday... "Oh," I said... "that's cool, glad you are still going". BUT then it hit me!  Wait, I want to go!  I really want to go!  I want to see my friend and I want to enjoy part of the Vibes with her! 

So, I looked up the day passes online... only $40!  WOW, that's a steal.  AND, Connecticut residents got an even better deal at $20!  (Since Gloria is a CT resident, this was good news!)  So, I did the math in my head, and figured that between gas and the ticket, I would probably be able to make it, as long as I didn't spend much more than $100.  So, I wrote her back and told her to count me in.  "I'm coming to the show with you!"  And I did! 

The very best part (aside from spending the day with my bff)?  When we got to the ticket booth  table and showed our IDs, they counted me in as a CT resident.  BOOYA BABY!  $20 ticket!  Boy was I stoked!  Now, I had a little wiggle room incase I wanted to buy something to eat or something to take home as a souvenir!  THANK YOU to the kind girl at the ticket table, you made me a happy Viber!

So, even though we didn't spend the 4 days on the lot like we had originally planned from the year before, we did spend Sunday there and we had a fabulous time!  We laughed, listened to music, laughed some more, and had the best time!  And we promised to put aside money to do it all again next year... but bigger and better... we're totally going for the whole weekend! 

So, when I say I'm glad I went, well, as you can see, I'm really glad I went!  The Gathering of the Vibes is one of the best fesitvals that I've been to!  I'm not sure exactly what makes it so great for me ... I mean, it could be the time I get to spend with my dear friend, could be that the festival has been next to the ocean (sort of) for the past two years and I love the water, could be the vibes or the music that just soothes my soul...I don't know... could have been the roses... either way, I'm hooked! 

Gathering of the Vibes - Main Stage

Enjoying the Vibes!  :)

Until next year... ♥  Keep on keepin' on...

Tunes for Tuesday - My Newest Addiction!

I'm going to make this short this morning since I'm running a few minutes behind and need to get out the door on time for work today!

So, with that said, let's take a look at my newest addiction.  If you remember me saying in a previous post, I have a tendency to find a song or band I like that I will continuously play for a while...  and right now that band happens to be The Civil Wars!

I "found" this band because a friend on Facebook posted one of their videos last week, so when it showed up in my feed and I clicked to play the video, I was instantly hooked.  

I just love everything about this band!  First of all, it's a duo... and I love duos!  The musicians are John Paul White & Joy Williams.  From what I've read, they were both solo artists that were put into a room together and from there this amazing journey between them began.  And when I say amazing, I mean totally frickin' awesome!  Once you hear them, you'll know what I'm talking about!

Now, If I didn't know better, I would have thought these two had been together for years and years and years... they flow together like milk & honey.  It's endearing to watch how closely connected they are with each other... not only in the music between them, but their stage presence shows that they are highly attuned to each other.  It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!  Secretly, I can't help but feel a tinge of jealously and wanting to have a relationship in my own life that is similar to what they display.

Alright, so let's just get right down to it.  I'm going to post a few videos, but I highly suggest that you go over to YouTube to continue to listen to their music or go out and purchase their album!  I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Oh, and they have done a few fabulous cover songs!  I love a good cover... when it's done well, and well, they have done things to these songs that just make me feel so.... so absolutely inspired!

Well, there you have it... my new obsession!  I mean seriously, if you watched these videos, how could you not just love these two... their sound, their connection, and Joy's fabulous dance moves!  LOL... she's just too cute... and well, John Paul has already stolen my heart... shhhhhh ... Don't tell "D"!  ;)

Don't forget to leave me some of your favorite songs in the comment sections!  I'm always looking to discover new music!

Something Stinks!

SOFA KING PISSED!

I spent tons of time last night writing out my Way Back Wednesday post, included photos, and clicked "publish post", only to have the whole thing disappear on me!

FRICK, YO!

Monday Morning - I'm Not Lovin' It!

Ugh, I woke up today feeling almost paralyzed.  My back is killing me and I'm not sure why.  I think it may be time for a new mattress, but who the heck can afford that!?!  Certainly not us right now!

And to make matters even better, my stomach keeps churning and I feel like I could vomit at any moment.

I just want to go back to bed!

I hope this day goes by quickly... because seriously, I'm just not lovin' it!

A Sad Day Indeed...

Today, "D's" grandmother was laid to rest.  After many years of various health complications, she has moved on to a better place.  We will miss her deeply.

Many memories will remain, as she was a wonderfully caring woman.  She had a warm heart and a kind soul.  She was thoughtful and generous.  As cliche as it sounds, she was the type that would give the shirt off her back if you were in need.  Her generosity knew no boundaries!

I'm thankful that I was able to get to know such an amazing woman and that my daughter had the opportunity to know her great-grandmother and will always have fond memories of her.

As we say goodbye to her today, we remember the woman she was.  And with those memories we are able to find peace.  She wouldn't have wanted anything but happiness for her family, and today, although many mixed emotions arose, the family came together with love.  


"Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow."  ~ author unknown

Casey Anthony Verdict!!! WTF?

I'm in shock!  Complete disdain, actually. 

How can the verdict be "not guilty"?  How can our judicial system drop the ball on this?  How much evidence was really needed to determine that Casey Anthony is a complete waste of space?  She did this to her own child...without remorse.  It's a sad day.

Caylee Anthony, may your sweet soul rest in peace.

How do you feel about this verdict?  Agree or Disagree?  Let's discuss!

Work Load Stress!

I'm sure you've all experienced this at one time or another, so I know I'm no exception... but seriously, today I'm overwhelmed with work load stress! 

This always happens after a long weekend, so I should have been prepared for it, but not so much. 

Not only did we just come out of the Fourth of July weekend, but we also just experienced a death in the family.  You see, "D's" Grandmother just passed away on Friday evening, therefore our weekend was mostly full of grieving and sorrow.  It's hard to enjoy a holiday when you can't stop thinking of the ones you love and have lost.  "L" is having a tough time with this and it's been quite sad to see her go through the emotions while trying to process her loss.  :( 

On top of all of this, I have to create a presentation for one of the big wigs, detailing the project that I manage here at work, and truthfully, today, I'm just not in the mood.  The end.

Way Back Wednesday - Just a Little Over a Year Ago

Good morning folks!  Since I'm at the computer now, I figured I'd throw today's post up...instead of waiting until later and eventually putting it off.  I know myself too well to not get it done now.  ;)

So, anyway, about a year ago my other half "D" and our daughter "L" went for a family walk by the local lake.  We looked at the scenery, the foliage, the flowers, the wildlife, etc... It was a very peaceful walk and provided the backdrop for many lovely photos.

We don't get to enjoy many family walks because of our hectic schedules, but when we do, I cherish every step.  Each moment with each other warms my heart!

So, what do you say?  Let's look at a few photos!  :)

Here's a small panoramic of the lake with "L" and I in the right hand corner.  It was definitely a beautiful day!

 
As you can see we are really enjoying ourselves.  It's the little moments like this that make memories for a lifetime!  I hope we are able to enjoy another family walk soon!  I could use the relaxation! :)

Until next time... keep your memories close.  ❤

Tunes for Tuesday - Bringin' Back the Past

As I've previously mentioned,  I want to try to revive this blog... or at least revive my interest in writing this blog.  And right now, I can think of no better way than to share a few of my favorite tunes from my past with you!  Don't worry, you'll love this!  ;)

So, let's get started!

This first song, I will never ever ever tire of.  I remember hearing it for the first time while in 3rd grade... I was eight at that time.  I remember we lived in a small red house on a red clay dirt road in Florida.  We had a hammock in the yard.  Life was simple then...  ooops... sorry, I don't mean to trail off... back to the song!

I still enjoy this song just as much now as I did then.  So, here it is:

Yeah, there is no doubt that this song is "da bomb"!  Annie Lenox is amazing!  'Nuff said.

The next song that I'd like to share with you is one that I also still enjoy and have recently found it appealing all over again.  So, without further adieu...

How can you not resist this fantastic song!  :)

So, at this point, it must seem like I only like female band leads.  Well, I do enjoy a good female voice for sure, but it's not a priority when choosing favorite songs.  I do like bands lead by males too...so on that note, my next song choice will be a song that I grew up listening to.  I'm willing to bet that my folks started playing this next song to me the moment I was born and very regularly from that point on!  I remember twirlin' in our living room when I was maybe 3 years old to this next song.  I swore it was written for me!  I mean, it had to be, right?

I guess you can be the judge of that, but know that secretly I think this song is mine and mine only.  ;)

HAHA!  Caught you with that one, didn't I?

Anyway, I adore these songs.  They will forever be memorable songs to me; ones I can turn to when I need a pick me up.  And the best part is that each and every time I hear one of these songs, I instantly remember the very first time I ever heard these songs and I heart that!

Until next time...

My 2 New Favorite Songs of the Moment!

I have a tendency to find a song (or two) online and instantly fall in love.  And when I say, "fall in love", what I really mean is play the new song over and over and over until I can almost no longer stand the song!  This act may actually go on for days...sometimes up to a week or more.  It's crazy I know... shhhh.  You don't have to say it!

SO, instead of talking about my obsessive qualities...let's just skip right to the songs that currently hold my interest!

The first being "Apologies" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.  This song just moves my soul... so give it a listen, would ya...

"Apologies" by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The next song is "Someone Like You" by Adele.  I've only just recently (within the last 3 days) discovered this song, so yes, it's on repeat right now!  So, go ahead, click it to listen...  ;)

"Someone Like You" by Adele


Well?  Did you listen?  What do you think?  Tell me a few of your favorite songs...I'd love to listen.  Who knows, maybe I'll even find another song or two to obsess over!  :)

Droppin' that ball!

I've managed to drop the ball on this blog for over a month now.  I keep thinking about all you readers (or even just the few of you that might actually be reading... or maybe it's really just me that I'm writing for... oh well).  I fell behind.  I'm lacking drive and motivation and today, I'm not feeling that great.  I'm working from home at a very slow pace.   Well, maybe it's really a moderate pace.

Anyway, I have much to blog about... however, I just keep putting it off.

But not anymore...

Well, I mean, after today... no more lacking and slacking!  I'm going to start scouring the internet for ideas...many of which I've already gathered and I'm going to spread the good around!

I'm back!  I'm ready to blog!  It's on!  ;)

Catching Up, Again!

Ok, it's time for me to admit that I will not be able to consistently keep this blog going.  I slack, I forget, and I just plain don't get to the computer every night to post an update.  I think about wanting to post during the day sometimes, but usually am too busy during work to actually get something posted.

So, what I'm saying is... I missed out on the Saturday's Shoe Picks last week and Tunes for Tuesday & Way Back Wednesday post this week... are you really surprised?   Yeah, me neither!

Anyway... we are just about to come into a long weekend!  Hooray for long weekends.  And a holiday weekend too --  Memorial Day Weekend, so essentially that means most of the attractions around here will be opening up.  This is truly a good thing!  Living in the northeast really means living seasonally... unless you like winter things... and I don't!

Ok...gotta go.  "L" wants a smoothie...  lol...

Until next time...

Today = Fail...

Today...oh, today is not such a good day...

Way Back Wednesday - The Carnival Is In Town!

Every year around this time, the carnival comes to town.  You know the kind... it goes up overnight (or so it seems), is scantly run, and disappears before you even finish eating your candied apple.   Yep, that kind.

Around here, it's almost always a given that you (read: the folks in this area) know when the carnival is in town because inevitably it also rains the whole time the carnival is here.  It seems like the clouds roll in during the week the carnival sets up and they roll out a few days after the carnies...  There might be a few patches of dry over the course of the carnival, but chances are the rides are too wet to run anyway... so it's usually a wash.  No pun intended.

The truth is, every once in a while, while the carnival is in town, we do experience nice weather... so let's look back two years to 2009...

"J" (far left) on the Typhoon 

"L" on the Merry-Go-Round

I should mention here that I absolutely love carnivals and such, so we do try to go every year when this gig comes to town.  If not for anything else, we love cotton candy & fried dough!  Oh, and the Ferris Wheel!

Until next time...

My Wavering Will Power...

I must resist the urge to eat everything in sight.  I'm not really hungry, just up past my bedtime, so my brain thinks it's time to eat again... or something like that.

I must resist.   Seriously...  I should just go to bed, because if I don't... well, who knows what could happen!

For the record, I'm not talking about starving myself here!  I'm just talking myself away from the binge-fest (and no, not that extreme either!) that could potentially happen if I wander out into the kitchen.  One bite will turn into two, and two into three, and before I know it, a whole sleeve of crackers will be gone.  It's this type of activity that I suspect will hinder any measure of weight loss that I may or may not kid myself about achieving!

So, for now... I must resist.

Tunes for Tuesday - Three of My Favorites!

I don't usually have a theme for each daily blog post, but "Tunes for Tuesday" just popped into my head, and well, like most things, I figured I would just run with it.  I'm not sure if this will become a regular thing, since I've recently slacked tremendously with this blog...so we'll have to see how it goes. 

I really wanted to start off this post with a video of my son's band and their recent performance at a local school, but I can't figure out how to get the video off of facebook and onto this platform.  I'll have to come back to it if I can figure it out later...lol.

Anyway, so, Tunes for Tuesday... or simply Tunesday... LOL...oh, I like that!  ;)

Ok, these are three of my favorite songs... not in any particular order... and trust me when I say my faves change all the time!  The truth is, I could list 20 + songs as my faves, but that would seriously be overwhelming...so we'll start small and build on it! 

Do you have any songs that you just love and want to share with me? 

Until next time... keep jammin' ... ♥

Design Idea for Cherry St. - Kitchen Edition

You may or may not know, but about a year ago, I bought a house.  I haven't moved into this house, no...it's been vacant for a year, not including the year it was on the market -- so technically, it's been vacant for two years.

Anyway, when I bought the place, it was almost move in ready.  I just wanted to change a few things and then I thought I would be able to move in.  Well, an unfortunate event of bursting pipes caused a whole mess of problems and now, it's under repair.  Let's just say that the kitchen and bathroom downstairs now both need a serious overhaul to be acceptable.

For quite some time, I've been looking at my kitchen wondering what the heck I should do.  What design theme should I go with?  Up until today, I just really couldn't decide, and the truth is, I am not in love with the current color of the cabinets.  There is just something about the honey tone stain color that does NOTHING for me.  If anything it reminds me of a country kitchen, and that's the last color palette I would choose.  I love dark cabinets and usually lean more towards a nice dark cherry or espresso colored stain.  And then I came across this design idea on HGTV.com and I was instantly sold!



How wonderful is this!  I adore it!  Black cabinets, a nice white wainscoting back splash and I think I would go with a nice warm brown tone granite counter top!  Combining this design concept with a few red items (sort of like the flowers in the image) for visual contrast will bring it all together for me!  I'm so in love with this look and can't wait to see it completed in my house!

And, it also creates an excuse to get new dishes, which I've been wanting to do for quite some time!

Saturday's Shoe Picks - Steppin' Out With a Rocker Edge

I've been away from my blog for far too long, so I wanted to make sure to post today and well, since I'm at the computer right now, listening to Cat Power, I better get this posted. :)

If you been following along you'll know right away that I'm going to look at 6pm.com to find the shoes for this blog post.  And you'll also know that I simply LOVE their site!  I recently purchased three pair of shoes from them and as expected, the experience was fabulous; my shoes arrived within 5 days.

The reason I mention that is because of the three pair, only one was actually for me.  The other for my daughter and one pair for my niece.  Anyway, back to my pair... yes, that's what we are really talking about here!  My pair of stilettos are rockin'!  Wanna see?  ;)

SEE!  What did I tell you!  Rockin'!  And the absolute best part... I got them during a special on Type Z shoes...so normally at $99.00 -- I got these shoes for only $19.99!  Yes, less than twenty bucks!  And they fit like a glove, you know, a foot glove...LOL.  ;)

So, let's look at other shoes that I also rate as rockin'... As always, I'm going to only look for shoes under $50 because, let's face it, breaking the bank isn't necessary just to look your best!  :)

Carlos by Carlos Santana Curiosity

ALDO Munday 

Madden Girl Kullen

Naughty Monkey Portia

Maybe I just think that black and grey are rocking or maybe I just love these.  Either way, I love finding a good deal... so, as you can see, these shoes all fit the criteria -- rockin' on a budget!  So, go ahead, what are you waiting for?  Head over to 6pm.com and find the perfect shoes for your day!  But, please, don't buy out all the size 7 heels!  ;)  

Until next time... keep it rockin'!  ♡ ♡ ♡  ❤

Slacking again...

I admit it, I'm a scatter brain!  I've once again neglected my blog... I missed Saturday's Shoe Picks this past weekend and now I've also missed Way Back Wednesday... UGH!

I'm trying to keep it all together, but sometimes things just slip away from me...

The truth is, I just celebrated my birthday on Sunday...so as you can imagine, that's where my thoughts have been!

Anyway, I'll be back on track soon...

Until then...

Way Back Wednesday - Thursdays Catch Up Moment

I completely forgot to post my "Way Back Wednesday" post last night, even though I thought about it at least three times yesterday.  Ooops!

Looking back is a great way for me to keep grounded and remember how we got to where we are today.  I love my family more than I could ever explain and I look forward to spending everyday loving my kids!

Anyway, so here we go... back to December of 2006.

Things were so simple then... "J" was just learning how to drum.  He's now become quite proficient and much louder!  LOL... And "L" wasn't as opinionated as she is now, almost five years later.

These two just melt my heart!  I seriously can't get enough of them.  :)

Hope you enjoy my little walk down memory lane as much as I do!

Until next time... ♥

More Random Things About Me

It's been a little while since I've posted any fun facts about me, so I figured I would take a few minutes this morning to do just that.

So, let's begin!

1.  I love hot sauce - and I put it on almost everything.
2.  Potatoes are my undoing - No matter how they are cooked, I can't resist them!
3.  I love the smell of watermelon, but I don't like the fruit.
4.  I have brown eyes.
5.  Contrary to popular belief, I don't have any tattoos.
6.  I like to stuff blueberries into raspberries to make razzbluberries....mmhm, so good.
7.  I could live on cheddar cheese.
8.  My favorite color is fuschia, followed closely by various shades of green.
9.  I love garlic.
10.  Bob Marley soothes my soul.
11.  I play guitar... sometimes.
12.  I can't resist a good karaoke session.
13.  I love to wear leg warmers!
14.  I make tutus.
15.  My kids rock!  Seriously!
16.  I often think about adopting.
17.  Litterbugs piss me off.
18.  I love the smell of:  fresh cut grass, cucumbers, & the ocean.
19.  I moved around a lot as a kid, so I can't ever say, "I grew up in...{insert city here}..."
20.  I hate shaving!

Alright, I think 20 is enough; probably more than you really wanted to know.  LOL.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed learning more about me.  If you have anything to say about my fun facts, don't be afraid to comment.  (Keep it clean though)

Until next time... ♥