I dont mean to..

... complain but ....

We filed bankruptcy in November and it was finalized December 12th. When I say we have no money, we really don't. We're trying our damnedest to keep our heads above water but we keep getting pulled down. We don't live extravagantly. We've cut-back on so many things. We cant be late on our mortgage our they can change out cheap interest rate to something astronomical. So that being said, when I say all this preface or at at the end or whatever with "and we really cant afford it"

1st Tom gets a dental abscess. Dentist refuses to give him meds without seeing him and wont help us knowing our financial situation and wants all cash upfront. (supposedly a family friend. Some friend, huh?) So he attempts to take garlic.

Cole gets a loose crown. I e-mailed dentist, since it was his work, and he wont help him either! Luckily his pain only lasted 1 day and he hasn't spoken a word about it since.

I get dental pain (in a tooth the dentist's wife said she would work something out with earlier because we knew it needed some help but I couldn't afford it). I'm in so much pain at times, I cry. I'm on 4-tylenol/advil every 3 hours just to cope. My stomach is taking a hit from this. After pain started to slow down, I get a massive abscess that made me look like I had a stroke on that side of my face when I smiled. I prayed over all this stuff. I asked for prayers to keep our finances in the thoughts of the church. I wasn't looking for a windfall, just to be able to survive not in pain (for me or my family). So, when my infection started making me physically sick (headaches, extreme fatigue, nausea, etc), I prayed over my health too. The church tracked me down and offered to send me to a dentist to get rid of the infection. Well, I got on Amoxi and told I needed it pulled and my options were: (1) pull & nothing, (2) pull & do a bridge, (3) pull & do an implant. Well, I dont even have funds to pull the tooth so while it wasn't causing pain, we cold hold off slightly. After 7 days on Amoxi, the infection was the same. They put me on a 3-drug cocktail trying to kick the infection, hoping to kick it. If it wasn't better in 2 days, they needed to pull it. Well, it seems like its going down. I think. Anyway, last day of meds is on Christmas Day. One of the pills I take 4 times day and it is so foul! I have to use milk, put it in the back of my throat (not mouth), open wide, place/drop pill down throat and just drop it all without the pill touching anything or else I have the worst taste in my mouth for so long. 

I should add here that we haven't had heat in the downstairs of my house since we used it last season which would be sometime in winter/spring 2011. We use our gas fireplace (which is more aesthetic than heat but it gives off heat so we use it) and a space heater. It's now getting cold and it shows.

Then, Sunday happened. I heard water pouring in the garage. It was the water heater! So yeah, skip skip... we've had no hot water since Sunday morning before church. Guy comes today since we do have a coverage Tom took out a few months ago, and it needs to be replaced. So does the tank. And the valve. Total of $1185. Luckily our coverage is 850 and we only pay the difference but when you have no credit cards, and no stash of cash anywhere this hit is hard! Add the fact Christmas is this week! 

Can anyone say ramen for Christmas dinner?

Seriously, donations are accepted. We're not too proud. Not with all this crap happening!

I try and stay strong. I have 3 small boys. I need to be there for them even though I just want to cry all the time. Thanks for reading my post. That made me feel a little better - temporarily. I know it can e worse. I try and look at it positively and thank God that we put the insurance on the heater, that we have a space heater, that we have a house at all. I try not to lose sight of what it really important.

Raise Money Online

Easy Sentimental Ornament

So while perusing the internet, I came across a gal who took an invitation she received, shredded it into 1/4" strips, wrapped it around a pencil and shoved it into a glass ball. After being married for over 10 years, the extra 50+ invitations we have are just sitting in our memory box. So when I saw this, I knew I had to make one!Here's my how-to on this sweet, simple idea. You can do it with a birth announcement or anything else that is special to you.

The invitation before... It's a thick vellum over top black embossed cardstock

Here's the vellum ready to be cut.
You can't see vellum overlay but it's a wedding couple

Ready to make nice cuts.
I wasn't going for exact measurements, I wanted each line as a cut (curl).

slicing the paper, line by line.

All sliced and ready for the next step.

This is all you need: cut paper,
something with a small barrel, & an empty ball.

wrap each individual paper around the barrel.
I found that since my vellum was thick, I had to pull it off and pull it a little tighter.
But it worked awesome still.

All curled and ready to stuff in a ball.

Put the curls into the ball.
When full, use the barreled item to help push them in.

All done!

Better Late than Never, right?

I'm just now posting about our Thankful Wall 2011. 

Yeah, I know, I know. But hey, at least you can see it!

We do this every year.

Convert 1 wall into a wall to write/draw what we are most thankful for.

This is the picture of the 2011 edition.

Please click it, make it big and enjoy our artwork :)

Quick run down of what's on there. 

We are thankful for: Henry Ford for making Fords, Mom & Dad, Our Fireplace, Books, Jesus dying on the cross for our salvation, our house, Movies, Recycling, Trees, our cats, restaurants, all the colors, brothers, school, the TV, coffee, turkey, my parents, the kitchen, Richland Creek (our church), that God made the earth, that my brother is still cancer-free, Charlie Brown specials, our neighborhood, glasses so mom (me) can see, food in our extra freezer, to be married to Tommy for 10+ years and us.

I save every years. I fold them up, write the year on the outside and save it. To see how they progress and to see what they are thankful for is a wonderful thing.

Now it's time for ME to thank YOU for reading this! :)

5x7 Folded Card

Wishing You Merry Christmas Card

Custom Christmas cards are always available at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Don't Challenge me!

That's right!
You heard me!
Don't propose a possible challenge and then step away!


Short story.
Tom tweeted this morning about wondering why in the south there is nothing made with Slim Jims.
A follower/friend added and why not Cheerwine.
Tom replied with a "quick, get on that" in regards to a Cheerwine gravy.
I was intrigued and joked about it but more thought I could totally do that.
If I had time I was totally gonna try to make something.
Then I checked my twitter feed and saw that a guy had responded that owns a series of highly successful restaurants. He said he'd love to see the final product.


CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!


I am currently looking for an appropriate hashtag for this challenge.


My brain is bouncing all around. I have a few ideas of what would make a good dish with each ingredient but bringing the 2 together is more the issue... I have 1 idea that would do just that. If it goes as planned in my head, I'll be a happy cat. :)


I will keep you posted!

Thankful Wall 2011

If anyone reading this remembers, we do a thankful wall each year. I cover a small wall in my house with super large paper and each day we add what we are thankful for. After Thanksgiving, I fold it up and save it for future perusal.


Well, this year's wall is well underway. I dont so the big reveal until it's complete but here's a sneak peek:

TV can be good....

We watch TV as a family. My kids are curious kids and ask a lot of questions and we end up looking up a lot of stuff to learn more info. That's just how we do it - Tom & I are just those type of people who always needs to know more.

I cant remember what we were watching this past weekend with the kids but they mentioned heterochromia. Heterochromia is when one has 2 different colored eyes. You know what I'm talking about. You've all seen some dog with one blue eye and one green or brown eye. HT asked if people could have it. I said yes but had to look it up to prove it (it's just something we do).

So, I wiki'd "Heterochromia". It proved people can have 2 different colored eyes but I learned something else very interesting. There is a form called Central Heterochromia (in addition to complete and partial heterochromia). Central Heterochromia is where there are 2 different colors in the same iris with one of the colors encircling the pupil. I saw a picture of it and was semi-floored. These were my eyes! I have Central Heterochromia. So does my mom. So does HT. Obviously, we have the genetic form since all of us have it for at least 3 generations. It happens due to low melanin levels. Just very interesting.

Again, here's my eye again now knowing my "color" has a name. :)

It's 9:30 am

What have I accomplished this morning?

Got 1 kid bathed the other 2 showered.
All kids fed, packed lunches & book bags for school.
Gave out meds.
Wrote teacher a note.
Picked up niece.
Dropped 3 of 4 kids off at 1 school.
Brought last one to preschool.
Spoke to office staff about billing.
Spoke to Pastor about missing sweatshirt.
Dropped off Upward form for niece with front office staff.
Got coffee.
Went to pediatrician to make appointment for Tom to see Dr. Jim.
Have them (pedi) figuring out what to do with CT since he's head-to-toe covered in hives again this morning.
Spoke to them about the billing issue and how they coded it wrong.
Now back home for 2 hours.....

Any wonder why I seemingly drop off the face of the earth at times?

My son the robot

Nothing new.
Same old CT as he always was.
I guess I hoped with age he'd grasp certain concepts and change.


Well, after 7-`1/2 years, my son is still a robot.
Albeit a whiny, nasty robot, but still just a robot.


He has no feelings.
He has no regard for other people's feelings.
He doesn't know boundaries, so he's beyond trying to test them.
He does NOT learn from his mistakes.


He is SUPER smart.
He taught himself to read at 2-1/2.
He can spell words he's never seen before or are totally not age-appropriate (ie doxycycline).
He can figure out other languages when he sees them on paper.
He's a remarkably smart kid.


He's just so.... UGH!
How can a kid who woke up at 7 already have me past my daily pissed-off limit by 8?
I have a high I-can-take-a-lot-of-bleep threshold but he gets me right to mine so quickly!


I am just at a loss of what to do with this kid.
Talk about feeling like a complete and total failure!

Are there things you can't tell your spouse?

I married my best friend.

Literally.

We didn't really ever date; I dated other people.

We were best friends.

Being best friends, we were open with each other.

Coming from my last 2 relationships, I learned a lot.

I learned what was important to me was:
not losing who I truly am for anyone, not having to hide anything, and listening to my heart.

I never kept anything from Tommy.

There was never a reason to.

He loved me for who I was underneath... and preferred me that way:
no make-up, comfy clothes, sneakers, glasses, hair left curly.

There was nothing I could tell him that would change anything between us.

I remember going to Vegas (which happened to be a turning point in our relationship for me) with him for his close friend's wedding. I dont remember it all, but I remember finding out  he lost some serious cash (I'm talking over a grand) gambling. He didn't tell me. I found out from some of the other guys who were out with him at the time. Anyway, he hid it from me and I was soooooo mad that he did. Not that he lost the money (I mean it annoyed me to lose money but it wasn't mine so how could I be mad), but that he felt he had to hide it from me. I hated that feeling. I made a big deal of it right there on the casino floor. I expressed how he never has to hide things from me and I hope he hasnt' since. But that day, really showed me how open I wanted us to be (and how much I cared about him which is a whole different story).

Years have gone by.... almost 14 since we met and 11 since that Vegas trip.

We got married.

Struggled with life challenges.

Had 3 precious boys.

Life happens.

No one can deny that no matter what we plan, life happens.

Stress happens no matter how much you try to not let it happen.

Stress changes people and things.

Stress changes who we are... snapping at kids, letting words that shouldn't hurt, hurt.

So, for the sake of not adding more stress, I keep things to myself.
Nothing major, of course, just little things.
I don't need him to feel bad about himself or about where we are in life because of me.
So I keep them to myself and cry to myself.

Stupid, petty, material things!

So what prompted this question?

A family friend celebrated their 20th anniversary! yay!
her usually clueless husband bought her a ring that has 20 small/tiny diamonds around the band for the 20-years they've been married.
I cried when I saw it (online).
I was so happy for her, and for them... but I cried for me because while I dont need something like that to know he loves me, I stupidly want something like that!

We'll be married 10 years next month!
We always talked about getting remarried in Vegas for our 10-year anniversary.
It still seemed possible until about 6-years in as we had more and more kids :)
Then I still hoped we could but knew we'd have to scale down.
I kept trying to justify doing something  special/important to us but getting cheaper and cheaper.
Here it is, a month before our anniversary and we can't do anything but be together (which I know is all that matters, I know it is all that matters ultimately and i wish I didnt feel this way, like ever).

My mom's group decided to do an adult Halloween party and it is our anniversary night.
I was backing off from it, but figured that we wouldn't be doing anything else so why not.
Then, I got the idea of going as a bride & groom since it's our wedding anniversary... we'd be dressed like we were 10 years prior but this time the zombie versions of us! :)
Now the challenge of finding a CHEAP wedding dress that will actually fit me comes in - should be interesting.

Anyway, My heart secretly dreams that I get something special or he has some plans he's been hiding, but my brain knows there is no way that either of those could happen.
I can't tell him I cry - everyday - over things  not just that but things.
I cant rell him because he gets mad and then we fight, and then he feels like crap and I hate him hurting.

So ultimately, it comes down to this:
I never thought I'd hide anything from Tommy but I have to.

Do YOU hide ANYTHING from your significant other?

It's been HOW long?

You can always tell when I get slammed with work: paid, pro bono, and real life "stuff"

I know it's no excuse, but I thought maybe I can "show" you a little of why I have been busy. Being able to actually see something, makes it seem more real and not just an excuse.

 

made a "save the date" card for a non-profit event

Not only did I make the flyer for the MOW kick-off event, I am running the event.
Keep in mind there were about 6000 fliers printed out that had to be delivered!
Also, designed our new logo and re-designed the whole webpage at momwofwakefield.com

Of course an invite or 2 has been thrown in. I've done Audrey's for the last bunch of years. They family keeps coming back because they love how custom the work is and how it really represents their children. Notice kid sister barbie and how she looks like the girl in the picture? :) 

I made cakes and cupcakes a decent amount as well.
My 2 bigger cakes were a Spongebob Squarepants themed 2-tiered cake and a ballerina cake.

The ballerina cake was about 8" high and 8" across.
marble cake with vanilla buttercream and vanilla marshmallow fondant.
It has edible peals all around it and ribbon-work covered with pearl dust.
Back of cake made it lok like it was ribbon corsetted.
It was complete with a tutu cake board I made for the client. 

(please note - cake is straight and level, picture makes it look as if it's not - picture provided by party guest)

So just a taste of Why I haven't blogged.
I know I posted Day 1 of my trip and stopped there. 

Hoping to get the rest up and such but it was a long, not-so-bumpy ride!

Road Trip: Day 3

Day 3 we spent as a family (well, George worked during the day and Lisa had to sleep because she works at night and needed to sleep at least a little bit).
We went to a local park that has a small zoo and a bunch of playgrounds. Got some great pictures there and spent some great time with most all of my nieces (the oldest is 16 and getting too cool for that sort of thing - so 3 out of 4 is still a big win for me)!
We had pizza & wings for dinner (thanks Dad!).
Kids got Uncle George to play guitar for them and sing and they think he's is just way too cool!

I just loved this one.
Elisabeth & Brianna helping OC with mulch in his shoes.

 

Hunter said, "Take a picture of me. I'm being God."
Not sure if that's cute or sacrilegious. I took it as cute.

A great shot of the kids - if only McKayla were in it....

Another sweet shot!

Baking Tip: Keep the scraps

After your level off a cake or carve it, keep the scraps. Put them in a plastic baggie, get as much air out as you can, and freeze. When you need a quick treat, use the cake scraps to make cake balls or cake pops! Great place to use leftover buttercream you dont know what to do with (I get left with colored buttercream I may not know what to do with otherwise so cake balls/pops are a great way to use scraps & leftover buttercream).

So how do you make cake balls/pops?
Crumble room-temperature cake.
mix with frosting (canned or homemade)
Roll mix into 1" balls & lay on cookie sheet.
chill for several hours (you can freeze if you're in a hurry)
melt chocolate (or other flavor bark)
roll balls in bark and lay on waxed paper. If doing pops place sticks and balls and dip into bark and lay on wax paper.

Road Trip: Day 2

back posting these so they are in order :)


We all had so much fun at my friend Melissa's house.
It was so great to see her and the girls (and her hubby too). It's nice to catch up and I wish we could do it more often!


We left her area at about 9am. Headed up through the rest of Maryland, through Delaware, up through Jersey., pointing out everything I remembered along the way. When we got close to NY, I pointed out the Jets/Giants complex to CT (the only one awake at this point). Then started being able to see more "city" stuff.
I woke up HT as we were getting ready to go over the GWB (George Washington Bridge). Again, I pointed out the NY skyline best I could while driving alone through NY.
I should add that it was a piece of cake driving over there. I think it's just in my blood. I actually enjoyed it.
We hit no traffic, like at all!
We stopped at a rest stop in Connecticut to get dinner. They dont' get McDonald's very much at all, so McD's it was! I set a 15-minute limit on the bathroom break and eating. I just wanted to get to my brother's!
We arrive in North Attleboro just before 5:00 (with less than 1/16th tank of gas).


It was so great to see everyone! Lisa made pasta, sauce & meatballs. There was salad and bread, too! yum! We just hung out and talked... and then went to bed.

Road Trip 2011: Day 1

We left the house a tad late but before 8:30 we were on our way. Showing the kids cool things like the Marlboro plant and various buildings. We saw them repolacing the paper on a billboard. That was kinda cool.

My heart RACED as we took a slight detour to FedEx field. I never went to redskins Stadium before and I literally squealed with delight driving up! CT thought i was crazy.. he's only partially correct ;) We stopped, took a few pictures, got some video, walked around the store (the kids wanted EVERYTHING!) and then we went back to the car where I handed them peanut butter sandwiches and we were on our way.

I had to get some gas midway, but we headed straight then to the other side of Maryland to my childhood BFF's house. We had to cross the Bay-Bridge and the kids thought it was the greatest thing ever! We arrived and kids having been having a blast with her 2 girls. We were in their pool, and they're playing with toys and they have been thoroughly entertained. YAY!

Baking tip: Touch tip

I used to stick a toothpick in to test doneness.
I have come to see the tops and know... I open the oven touch the top of one to confirm and spring back to the touch. For me, it's generally 18 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cakes are tougher since each size is different and they get filled at different levels at times but touch tests work and I confirm with a stick in the bigger cakes (half sheets).

Cake tip:

Baking tip: Freeze the batter

After making the batter, whatever the recipe, you can freeze it. Store it in a tight container. Put a piece of saran wrap across the surface just to keep it uber fresh before you snap on the lid. Not only does the batter hold up well, but it doesnt freeze solid. What does this mean? This means you can bust out your metal cookie/ice cream scooper! Just line your cupcake pan, and put a frozen scoop in each one and bake as usual. Its neat and clean and let's you be able to bake lots of flavors at once or make great half & half cupcakes. No need to bake more than you need, just freeze & save! :)

History is Today

I wanted the kids to see the Space Shuttle Atlantis take off.
I grew up with shuttles just part of life. I was watching live as the Challenger exploded. I remember it well. I was in 2nd grade.
Well, this is a chance for my kids to view history in the making as Atlantis took its last flight and years before we launch again from US soil.


They waited and waited as we watched the NASA channel on DirecTV.
I pointed out things and explained any transmissions that were heard.


CT asked, how much gas does it take? I looked it up and informed him "it does not use gasoline but solid propellants like fireworks and.." CT then said, "oh, and hydrogen, and oxygen." "He was in fact correct! I added that they also use hydrazine, MMH and dinitrogentetroxide (N2O4). 


We watched it launch. Kids amazed. Eyes wide with wonder and delight. OC was the most excited.


As we kept watching and they would announce the speed, I reinforced what they said. "26-hunnnndred miles an hour! our car goes 65!" "They're up to 12000 miles an hour" 


At 15,000 miles per hour HT asked if that was faster than a speeding bullet. I informed him "yeah! It's thousand times
 faster."
 He was kinda floored. HT then said, "That means it's faster than Superman!" 
"yeah. The space shuttle would make Superman look like he was standing still."
HT was dumbfounded by the thought...


I really did raise such geeks and I am so proud of it!

Taco Rice

I am always at a loss with what to do with ground beef. My kids aren't picky really, but I guess they kind of are. There is usually some kid who wont eat what I make. It's rare to get all kids to like the same thing.


Tom came home with red sticker-ed beef. I froze it and pulled it out 2 days ago to thaw in the fridge. I decided to make a taco thing with it. I've moved on from just 'make-your-own-tacos' to taco salad like tom's Aunt Dot makes. I wanted  something different this time. I was thinking kind of like a Mexican dirty-rice.. maybe served over a bed of lettuce. I went to the store, bought my stuff and came home to prepare. I looked online maybe for a suggestion to what I had in my head and when I typed in "taco rice" in google, it came u with Taco Rice. Apparently, it's what I was going to make, the way I was going to make it but it's somehow a Japanese dish. Go figure!


Anyway, the results were awesome! Everyone loved it and it was easy and cheap! Could it get better than that?


Ingredients:


     1.5-2 pounds ground beef (more if it's higher fat, less if it's lean)
     2 packets mild taco seasoning
     1-1/3 cup water
     1/3 cup salsa
     6 cups cooked rice
     1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican Mix cheese
     1 head of iceberg lettuce, in small pieces
     Sour cream


Directions:

1. Cook beef and drain.
2. add both seasoning packets and water.
3. bring to boil then let simmer for 5 minutes. There will be liquid in pan which is a good thing.
4. in a large bowl add rice, meat mixture and mix really well.
5. add salsa and mix
6. add cheese and mix.
7. if it needs to be rewarmed, add to original pot on medium and heat and stir for a few minutes.
8. put lettuce in bowl, then a scoop of rice mix, then a dollop of sour cream!

Alternately, if you heat a flour tortilla in a pan until it starts to get crispy, then squirt on some sour cream, add a scoop of rice mix and fold.. it's like the best grilled stuffed burrito form Taco Bell. Just way better! :)

Fresh Georgia Peach Pound Cake

There's nothing quite like taking a bite of a super ripe Georgia Peach. You need to stand slouched over because the juice quickly drips down your chin, no matter how delicately you try to eat it. It's just pure pleasure!

The Change Inside of Me

I often asked myself why? What purpose can it do to hand someone so much burden that it hurts to watch? One of those questions we may never have answers to, I am sure. But I see some light and it's thanks to a friend who is close in my heart but far in miles - over 2400 as-the-crow-flies miles.


My sweet friend, Keltie, she has proven to me and countless others that one needs to let go and let God. She has proven how sweet His love is through all the trials he's put her through as long as your faith doesn't crumble. Years ago, I saw how strong a woman she is. I was envious of what she could go through and with such grace. As time passed and more stuff kept happening to someone who appeared to be such a good person, it dawned on me that she's being tested. It has been shown in the Bible that He tests people to see their strength in their faith. I wasn't one who believed in all that: until Keltie.


She has brought me closer to God and my salvation. She SHOWS that God will provide. When she has nothing, He has provided for her because she believes and trusts. While she may think some of her postings are negative and not how she should react, she shows such grace and poise and commitment to her faith that it's hard for ANYONE to not want to trust and have that same feeling. Reading her stuff is like reading the Bible in real-time. She suffers and gets taken care of and glorifies him no matter what. She's an inspiration of how I hope to be and I how I hope my children are.


So while my writing may be more disheveled than her beautifully crafted words on your computer screen, the point is the same.


Keltie, while the song ultimately is about Him and not an individual, it's YOU who changed me enough for HIM to change me. So, at night, when you finally have quiet in that happily noisy house, and you ever wonder why you over and over, it's because He's using you to show the world what True Love is! You are His instrument and whether you believe so or not, you Glorify Him with every breath. I love you, Keltie!

He's MY son!

After dropping CT off at school, I was gonna grab a Starbucks. I still have money on the card (I  love getting things for free & I get gift cards and apply them to Strabucks main card all the time but I digress). HT asked if they could get their drinks which are kids steamers (warm milk and a flavoring). HT asked for Caramel. OC said, coconut caramel misto! Yeah, my kid knows my drink order! I order a Venti non-fat caramel coconut Misto.. anyway, he got a coconut steamer. But he's so my kid!


Then, a few hundred feet from last statement, he declares his mouth feels funny. "It's like, it's like, it's like..." (now they didnt eat or drink breakfast yet so i was thinking maybe foamy/dryish) and he finishes the statement with ".. it's like butter cream." I'm guessing thick and pasty-dry. But MY boy is comparing things to butter cream at just 3 years old? He is completely my child!

Another list?

I am a list nut! My life is made better by series after series of lists. 
This morning, I realized that I needed to make a summer list.
A list of things I want to have accomplished by the time OC starts preschool this September.
Things like; see my brother, write a children's book (at least the words - pictures may not be done yet), start walking...


I'll have a separate post wit the list but this is to make me do that list. Seeing something crossed off a list makes me feel better about myself as sad as that is.

Things I never thought I'd have to say

After telling my kids some statement, I realized, I never thought I'd have to say that! 
That has happened a bunch of times since then.
We went to the pool after dinner ad I had one of those statements again which lead me to come up with posting them.


In the last week, I have said:


"Keep your penises away from each other. We do NOT have penis sword fights!"
"Do NOT lick the carpet!"
"Eww! We do not lick cement!"


I will be adding more as I say them. It's interesting to be around 3 crazy boys all day every day. You end up saying some pretty wild things!

100 Things About Me

A fellow local blogger, Joni of Six Cherries on Top, had started doing a series to complete her "the good, the bad, & the ugly: 100 things about me" list. I loved her idea and I took it and ran with it. Being the anal person I am, I cant start at 1 so I made my whole list and then reverse listed it so it reads from 1-100 but in groups of 10. 


Here is my 100 listed all on one page (thanks to my labeling).

100 Things About me!

100 Things About Me :: Appearances

"Appearance rules the world."


1. I am 5 feet 2 -1/2 inches tall. I kid you not, I was always one of the tallest kids in elementary school. I grew like a weed until about 5th grade. That's where i was 5 foot 1 inches.. I only grew an inch and a half since 5th grade! 

2. I have 2 tattoos I got 13+ years ago. Tattoo #1 is on my right hip. It's the kanji sign for poet. It's just a simple black inking. Tattoo #2 is on my lower back (aka the Tramp Stamp). It's a rainbow peace sign. I totally forget I even have this as I can't see it. I always meant to make it bigger - even when I got it. Both in places you'd never just see. The lower back is probably the only one you'd see without my specifically showing you. That one peeks outta my jeans. The reason I got both of them there is I wanted to be able to wear slinky dresses for a corporate event and not have my tattoos show. Now as a mom, I think the spots are nice because I can show them off if I want to but kids don't need to be embarrassed or anything.

3. I have weird eyes. They aren't a specific color. They kind of change depending on what my diet is. It's somewhere between green and blue but a more muted version. Then I have this distinct golden rim around the center. When I ask the kids what color my eyes are, they always pause and think. I steer them towards teal. 

4. If you look at my nose, it looks like I had a piercing there. Thing is, I did have a nose ring (for awhile too), but that "hole" isn't really a hole. Its just a big pore apparently. I had to convince them when I got it pierced that it was not a scar from a previous piercing. You can barely see the real nose ring hole though. So, yes, I had a nose ring but not because you think you see where it was. 

5. I had 3 holes in each ear but currently I can only get 2 earrings in each.

6. My feet aren't that big really. It's just they are super duper wide. I can get away with a 7 if they are wide enough but they generally aren't so I have to go bigger. My usual size is 8 or 8-1/2 wide.

7. I graduated high school with a 32D. I graduated college with a 34DDD. Currently, I am 36I/38H. Yikes!

8. My hair is light brown and all the highlights you see in it are natural. I used to make it blond but I gave up on that over 9 years ago. This is much easier :)

9. I have bad posture. My shoulders slough forward. Only thing is... I have a reason. My boobs are what made my posture this way. I am hoping after my reduction I can correct this crappy posture. 

10. I got "junk in the trunk." Even when I was a size 3, I had a booty. I have gotten used to having a butt. It's not a HUGE disproportionate butt, but it's definitely there. Good thing hubby loves big butts! :)

Me just after turning 16

100 Things About Me :: Bad, Nasty habits

“Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of.”

11. I bite my nails. i bite, and bite! I bite the cuticles too. 

12. If my hair isn't in a ponytail, I'm probably running my fingers through it. It's very calming but I am sure annoys others.

13. I am a New Yorker and the way I use some words will always remind you of it no matter how long I've been down south. I use curses as adjectives, such as "The f'n stove was left on." Some curses I dont use like curses but in regular conversation like the word a-- ("You are such an a--" comes out of my mouth many times a day). If you dont like cursing, dont drive with me. I have a very foul driving mouth which oddly leads into #14 below. 

14. I believe people should follow rules. I follow the rules and i think everyone else should to and I will gladly take it upon myself to make others follow rules; stopping fully at a stop sign, going exactly the speed limit to someone tailgating me, honking at cars speeding through school zones, and honking if people blow stop signs. I hate people that can't follow t eh rules of the road. How hard is it to put on a blinker? How hard is it to wait 3 seconds for the car who has the right away to go? UGH!

15. I, like many people, are a complete OCD-candidate. I can tell you were all things are in my house because they are all lined up a certain way. Couches are exactly centered to the windows, framed centered, things all line up a certain way... I am very visually OCD. 

16. I cant help it, it takes me like 10-15 minutes per child to pick our their clothes each day! I have this need to make sure they look extra cute. It's hard to let go of my 7-year old who wants to dress himself. Shirts and pants much match, Jackets match clothes, socks match, underwear coordinates, shoes coordinate. I know I have issues. Keep in mind I also make sure they match for bed. no one sees them but they HAVE to match slippers and all.

17. My brain moves fast. Only way to keep up with it is to make everything into a list. If you get an e-mail from me, most likely it's in list form as well. My life is one big list.

18. If the kids are coloring, I cant color on a page that has a mark on it... and I cant stop coloring until I'm done completely. even in a coloring book I cant half-ass a job.

19. Shoes! Shoes are my bad habit but again, not in  the way you'd think. I actually hate shoes and I hate wearing them at all. If it was acceptable, I would never wear shoes except in cases where it hurt my feet not to. As soon as I can, wherever I am, I take off my shoes; in the car, at a restaurant if my feet are hidden under the table... You get the idea. Doesnt help that I tend to sit criss-cross apple-sauce a lot too. 

20. I'm not a gossiper but I do love to listen to every one's conversations. At a party, be warned if you try talking to me! I will probably be listening to at least 2 other conversations other than the one I am participating in. I dont know why I find it so fascinating but I do and I cant stop. Just who I am.