Just a minute of my time...

What makes you happy

I was reading over at Slacker mom's blog a list she created about what makes her happy and thought I would create one myself. Sometimes we need to step back and remember the little things that bring us joy and happiness in our lives, and with the recent struggles I've been facing while dealing with an ill parent I decided I should draw my attention to some happiness in my life!

10 things that make me happy...

1. My husband - wow, we've been through a lot!  So many ups and downs throughout our almost 27 years married. Always there to encourage me with my goals, keep my fears at bay and providing for our family.

2. Two kids that rock my world! My daughter who is not only my friend after struggling through those teenage years but also my running partner, inspiration and pride! and my sweet sweet son, okay most of the time, he is a teen now! His infectious laugh and talented soul brings such light to my world.

3. Reading on my kindle! It's been the greatest and I think I may even achieve my goal of reading 50 books this year! With the ability to read from my iphone to my kindle and always syncing with the last page read I'm never without a good book!

4. Ancestry.com - yep, I'm hooked and learning so much about my heritage! Thank goodness my sister was over with her dinosaur memory of family and names to get the ball rolling!

5. Oatmeal - yep its still my favorite for breakfast, though I do try and change things up once in a while. I look forward to that hot bowl of oatmeal especially after a long run.

6. Iphone - okay this was a long awaited treat and its been as awesome as I imagined it to be! Now Chelsea has one too!  The boys have the droids...

7. Modern Familly - I love this show, I love that it always makes me laugh, I love every character, every lesson... did I mention I love this show and oh yes it makes me happy!

8. Running - come on, you knew it'd make the list! It's my reset button when life gets stressful, my challenge to myself, my goal setting workout, its my latest love and it makes me happy!

9. Being creative - whether its scrapbooking or photography or sketching in a journal my craft time makes me happy, makes me who I am and lets my creative soul emerge!

10. Chobani greek yogurt! Yep it makes me happy! Have you tried it? It might make you happy too!

What makes you happy? Find the little things in life that give you a boost...

 

If you get kicked in the rear it only means your in front of the race - Joel Osteen

 

 

End of the year lists

 Coming to the end of the year, so here I go in the spirit of marking my favorites of  2010!

• favorite radio station... XM radio McCartney's Band on the run radio, loving it!
• favorite place to eat... Cheesecake factory (I think I'm addicted!)
• favorite activity... running (did you think otherwise?)
• favorite running song - The dog days are over by Florence and the machine
• favorite household project... my kitchen island painted black and the new lights
• favorite book of 2010... God Never blinks, The pillars of the earth, Unbroken
• favorite movie of 2010... Eat pray love
• favorite television show of  2010... Modern Family!
• favorite scrapbooking line - October afternoon, 7 gypsies, Tim Holtz.... can't pick one!
• favorite gadget... my kindle!  love it more than I thought I would

to be continued...

If I'm a good mother

Found this at Jills blog who found it at Lee's blog who found it here and I thought I would join in!

If I'm a good mother

it's only because of...

• dark chocolate
• coffee
• running
• my hubby
• canon 40D
• creative time
• family time
• laughter
• kettle popcorn
• tony robbins
• girlfriends
• oatmeal
• journaling
• family vacations
• movies
• raspberries
• fresh fruit
• working out
• white zin
• books
• sister
• project life
• ryan
• and of course these two who constantly make me proud!

 what would you want your good mother list to look like?

 
 

Right now...

Favorites at the edge of 45...

As I approach 46 I thought I'd reflect on some of my favorite things at 45

  

• Favorite perfume - Fancy by Jessica Simpson
• Favorite fruit - oranges
• Favorite drink - Jamaican me happy wine coolers or water
• Favorite good for you lunch - low carb, whole grain wrap with peanut butter, yogurt and granola
• Favorite dress up shoes - black gladiator shoes - so comfy
• Favorite everyday shoes - Nike running shoes
• Favorite activity - duhhhh... running!
• Favorite down time activity - reading or scrapbooking
• Favorite new purchase - washer and dryer and new bra at Victoria's secret...lol
• Favorite song - Burn it to the ground by Nickleback - great running song!
• Favorite movie - Toy Story 3
• Favorite book so far this year - The Help
• Favorite TV show - Parenthood
• Favorite place to shop - Target
• Favorite ice cream flavor - vanilla
• Favorite jewelry - Slipada
• Favorite gadget -  Canon 40D
• Favorite computer - used to be PC now definitely MAC
• Favorite running site - Daily Mile

Friday fill ins

1. Friends make life a little sweeter!
2. Good health; it's like true friendship; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost
3. I'm ready for New Year's Eve, certainly not Christmas!
4. Candie's® Luxe Eau de is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.
5. The oldest ornament I have is Ryan's; that he made in pre-school.
6. Take some family and friends, mix it all together and you have Merry Christmas
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to wrapping & making gifts, tomorrow my plans include wrapping and making gifts and Sunday, I want to wrap and make gifts!

Blog awards...

My friend Laura choose my blog to receive the ... FABULOUS Award!

  

Here are the rules for this Award.

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions.
3. On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link back to their blog.

My 5 fabulous addictions:

1. Facebook
2. scrapbooking
3. photography
4. My Mac
5. iPod touch

and 5 Fabulous Blogs I'd like to pass this award on to:

1. Rose at Rose's Ramblings
2. Nicole at Colorful Me
3. Linda at Handmade by Linda
4. Jan at Making scrapbooks
5. Beth at The Bunn E Trail

 

My friend Laura choose my blog to receive the ... FABULOUS Award!

  

Here are the rules for this Award.

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions.
3. On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link back to their blog.

My 5 fabulous addictions:

1. Facebook
2. scrapbooking
3. photography
4. My Mac
5. iPod touch

and 5 Fabulous Blogs I'd like to pass this award on to:

1. Rose at Rose's Ramblings
2. Nicole at Colorful Me
3. Linda at Handmade by Linda
4. Jan at Making scrapbooks
5. Beth at The Bunn E Trail

 

Friday Fill ins

I've seen Jill do these Friday fill ins for quite some time now and always thought they were a cute way to post on Friday. I didn't realize it was an actual site with a following. You can check it out here

1. My stomach is full
2. Stuffing is what I ate the most of on Thursday.
3. The yard is snow covered.
4. Home is where I'd rather be at any given time.
5. The smell of pine reminds me of Christmas.
6. A Peppermint Mocha is what I need right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to dinner with family, tomorrow my plans include decorating and Sunday, I want to craft!

Things I've done

 

I found this on Sarah's blog . If you want to play along, just copy the list and highlight all the things you've done.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Four...

Four jobs I've had in my life:

1. Elementary school office
2. Restaurant
3. office/shop at heat treat company
4. Office work

Four Movies I'd Watch Over and Over:

1. Apollo 13
2. Walk the line
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. Schindler's List

Four Places I've Lived:

1. Augusta Georgia
2. Brookpark Ohio
3. Middleburg Hts Ohio
4. N. Royalton Ohio

Four Shows I Watch:

1. Lost
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Project Runway
4. The biggest loser

Four Places I've Gone on Vacation:

1. Disney/Florida
2. Hilton Head South Carolina
3. Cook Forest Pennsylvania
4. New York City

Four Favorite Foods:

1. Pizza
2. Spaghetti
3. Chicken
4. Oriental salad at Applebees

Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:

1. Disney
2. scrapbook weekend
3. girlfriend trip
4. camping

Four Things I'm Looking Forward To:

1. Karen Russell class starts MONDAY!!!
2. Chicago and or Vegas girlfriend trip
3. Bill Engvall show at fair
4. Going away party for college bound kids

I have no desire to...

Val had this on her blog and although it has taken me forever to do, figured I would give it a try... It was harder than I thought

Ten things I have no desire to do

1. I have no desire to have any more children.  After losing Ryan and then having Zach it took me a long time to decide that
2. I have no desire to get anything pierced or tattooed
3. I have no desire to start smoking again (quit 1-5-03)
4. I have no desire to give up coffee
5. I have no desire to be "caught up" on scrapbooking
6. I have no desire to give up my blackberry
7. I have no desire to get poison ivy EVER again
8. I have no desire to get a smaller car - I LOVE my Trailblazer
9. I have no desire to shop at Walmart
10. I have no desire to learn to speak a foreign language

 

Ten things I desire to do

1. I  desire to go back to school
2. I  desire to head back to Disney for another family trip
3. I  desire to organize my house more this summer (once the graduation party is over...)
4. I  desire to spend a day reading, doing crossword or sudoku puzzles 
5. I desire to visit Las Vegas (planning a girlfriend trip soon)
6. I  desire to read 100 books this year (don't know if I'll get there, but I sure am trying?)
7. I desire to get back on my exercise routine
8. I  desire to pay off debt
9. I desire to write a book of poetry
10. I desire to build a house to our specifications