Six

Magi tagged me for this fun meme! I hope you enjoy it when I tag you! Here are the rules:

1. Go to your pictures folder & select the 6th folder.
2. Select the 6th picture in the folder.
3. Tag 6 people.

Next up?

1. Gretchen
2. Vivian
3. Lori
4. Super Mommy
5. Sandra (I know you don't usually do these but hope you will since pics are your great hobby.)
6. Shari

Who Knew I Was Fabulous? Not Me!

And the rules are:

1. Pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs including the one that gave it to you.
2. List 5 of your fabulous addictions.

I really do look forward to reading all of my blogs so these awards are getting kind of hard. However, there are a few that are truly fabulous.

1. The Daily Grind - Jazzie & Tahlia - Sandra takes some of the most amazing pics of her girls. Whether she started snapping away when Jazzie came home or if she was snapping before, the pics are wonderful. Sandra's subjects range from cooking/baking with her girls, to the challenges she finds as the mother of 2 girls to PADS (post adoption depression syndrome). She is open & honest.
2. Life With Kerri - I'll admit it. Viv's blog is special to me. After all, Kerri is my goddaughter. I look forward to reading her blog since they live way too far away from me. Even Erin looks forward to seeing the pics of Kerri. Viv's sense of humor comes through in her writing.
3. Our Red Thread Family (password protected) - I met Dawn through Lori & haven't looked back once. I look forward to reading all about the adventures of Lily & Rose. Her girls are just too delicious for words. Then there's her hubby Jacob - my partner in crime when it comes to lobster bisque & tootsie rolls. Dawn's writing style thrills me to pieces. I can actually here her chatting away as I read her blog.
4. A Houseful of Critters - Gretchen has a great sense of humor. I look forward to reading about Elise the girly girl of all time. Just seeing Elise's dresses makes me drool since Erin won't wear them. Her son Carson is one cool kid. He seems to be as much a boy as a mom could want. And of course reading about Gretchen & Perry's doings also intrigues me.
5. Stress is the New Black - Lori is an amazing woman. Yes, she is the mom to 3 special people. Katie Starr keeps me in stitches with her serious side & then immediately switching to the fun-loving girl. Ethan is Erin's very special guy. No one understands it, but they have an amazing connection. Then there is her son Justin. Truly this young man is a product of his parents. I love reading all about the happenings in their home. Then there is Lori herself. Have I mentioned that she is amazing? With everything going on in her household, she always takes the time to make sure her friends are well-taken card of. Her guy Marc? You have to love a man who changes his FB status just so I can make a comment. Thanks for the award Lori!!

5 Fabulous Addictions? Uh oh. I can't believe that I have to limit myself. Let's see.

1. Coffee - Tim Hortons, Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks
2. Coca Cola - NOT Pepsi. COKE.
3. Scrapbooking - Thanks for the addiction Lisa! I've passed it on to Viv. :-)
4. Reading - for pleasure only (romances, smut, magazines, mystery, true crime)
5. Erin - Do I really have to say anything else??

So there you have it. My 5.

My 8

I'm done with my back. Therapy has been really helpful as has constant bed rest & staying off my feet. I'm hoping that by next week I have little to no pain. So. Onto the other stuff.

I've been tagged again. Viv & Super Mommy want the scoop, & I'm here to give it up. Here are my 8.

8 Favorite TV Shows: (I'm not much for tv so this was hard.)

1. Bones
2. General Hospital
3. One Life to Live
4. Dirty Jobs - have you seen Mike Rowe?
5. How Its Made - Erin loves this show
6. Mythbusters - a fave of David & Erin
7. Deadliest Catch - cool show & Mike Rowe narrates it
8. Hannah Montana - hey! I live with a 6 year old. Remember?

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1. Going back to work (I hate bed rest.)
2. Viv, Corey & Kerri's visit at the end of the month
3. Retirement
4. Scrapping with my gals
5. Craft time with Erin since we never get enough
6. Saturday morning snuggles with David & Erin
7. Watching Erin's face light up when she unwraps her Chanukah presents
8. Going on a date with David & having no guilt

8 Things on My Wish List:

1. My dad's health getting better
2. Viv's mom regaining her health
3. Lori's FIL regaining his health
4. A cure for diabetic neuropathy 'cause that one really sucks - just ask my hubby
5. Erin growing up healthy & happy
6. Having enough money to help where it's really needed
7. A change for the better with our economy
8. A clean house

8 Things I Did Yesterday

1. Therapy for my back
2. Dropped Erin off at school
3. Chatted with my friends on the phone
4. Watched WAY too much tv
5. Read blogs
6. Helped Erin with her homework
7. Sat on the couch
8. Rested

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Moon Thai & Japanese
2. Makino Japanese Buffet
3. Longhorn Steak House
4. Big Bear Brewery - the BEST French onion soup around!
5. Annie's Pizza - yummy pizza & great wings
6. Westside Bagels
7. La Granja - delicious Peruvian food
8. Olive Garden

8 Friends I Tag:

1. Gretchen
2. Candy
3. Magi
4. Mary
5. Sandra
6. Lori
7. Shari
8. Lisa

Now I know that a few of you don't normally do the tags, but I enjoy getting to know people, so if you'd like to do it, great. If not, I'll have to stalk you to find out the answers.. Have fun!

I Make Viv Smile!

Apparently I make my friend Viv smile. She has decided that I deserve this award, & I can only hope that I really am worthy. I love the quote at the bottom of the award. "Always remember to be happy because you never know who'd falling in love with your smile."

Anway, I now have to choose 5 friends who make me smile. Let me tell you how hard that is. If you're my friend, or if I read your blog, you leave me smiling. However, I must choose 5.

• Sandra - Just reading your blog & seeing how you guys are doing makes me smile. I look forward to seeing what you & your family are up to. Whenever I see Jazzie, I remember "back in the day" & think of that red thread from Erin to Jazzie. Whenever I see Tahlia, I remember how thrilled I was that we had another red thread going from Erin to Tahlia.
• Lori - I'm so happy that you're blogging everyday although I'd rather your mom's ribs be all better. You have a way with words that just makes me laugh with everything Katie Starr & Ethan are up to. And let's not forget the rest of your family. You guys put a smile on everyone's face.
• Michelle - Girl, my heart goes out to you when it comes to that job of yours. How you keep a straight face when you go in to the office is beyond me. Whenever you post about Luca, I know that it's a great time. When I think of the runs you do, & why you do them, I smile. Why? Because you do it all so selflessly.
• Kim - I miss you terribly my friend. At least Viv stayed on the same continent! I smile whenever I see you've blogged. Why? First, I'm thrilled that you're living your dream. Second, I can just hear you chatting away with me or someone. BTW, I miss searching for beets at the salad bar with you.
• Magi - From the first time I came across your blog, you always managed to make me smile. Now that Sera is home & growing up, I look forward to seeing what she's up to.

Feeling Better & Ready to Craft!

Erin is feeling better finally. The antibiotics that were prescribed must be really strong because she's just about back to herself.


So what do you do when you're on the mend? Why, you do crafts! Erin always has tons of crafts to do. She got so much for her birthday last year & this year, that we don't have to buy her anything. Today she decided to make slap bracelets. After showing her what needed to be done, I got to sit back & relax.

2 down & 5 more to go!

She really had a good time with this.

Not too messy. Thankfully!

Some of the finished pieces of art.

And The Nominees Are. . .

Wow! I am really honored. My dear friend Viv thinks I have something worthwhile to say. Ha! I really just ramble on you know. Perhaps she's a little biased since her daughter Kerri is my goddaughter. However, she is right about one thing. Erin & Kerri have this amazing connection to each other.

From what I understand, I have to nominate 5 other blogs that Make My Day. Unfortunately, I can't nominate Viv though. She certainly deserves it since this is how I see what's going on in her family's life on a daily basis. Odd though since we speak on the phone so frequently. Oh well.

And, the nominees for the 5 Blogs That Make My Day are:

• Gretchen from A Houseful of Critters. We met back when we were DTC (now known as LID). Many Wednesday nights were spent online chatting along with the daily emails. When we finally traveled to China, Gretchen & I were lucky enough to meet at the famed White Swan days after being united with our gorgeous girls Erin & Elise. Gretchen finally joined the world of bloggers this past year. Ever since then, I have to take a daily peek. I'm so glad that she does 'cause I love read about the goings on in her family!
• Sandra from The Daily Grind: Life With Jazzie and Tahlia. Like Gretchen, she is also a Waiting Heart. Sandra keeps it real over at her blog with topics of all kinds ranging from PAD (post adoption depression) to fun things like how her Jazzie & Tahlia love ice pops. I have been so blessed to have Sandra in my life. One day we'll meet in person. Till then we'll have a virtual cup of Starbucks together!
• Lori from Stress is the New Black. She is an amazing woman with a wonderful family. One day, she'll tell me her secrets. Like how she manages to be the mother of a wonderfully empathetic law student & the Dynamic Duo. How she manages to maintain a relationship filled with love, friendship & respect with her hubby Marc. And how she manages to do all this looking wonderful whenever I see her!
• Magi from Kaffee Klatsch. I found Magi over at Sandra's blog one day & have popped in ever since. She also has a fantastic hubby in Jim. (Hey! Anyone who would make fresh pancakes just because is fantastic in my book!) Her daughter Sera is just the sweetest thing! Pop on over on a Friday to see what recipe she's putting out. Pop on over to see what's going on over there. Just pop on over!
• PIPO from This Year in China. This woman is my hero! She handles all of her home repairs & rennovations with both grace & "pluck." She is crafty - go see the cakes she bakes & the quilt she just finished. She is one tough cookie with a heart of gold.

To be honest, there are many more blogs out there that I read on a daily basis. If you're in my blogroll, I look for you each day.

Pay It Forward!! Wanna Play?

I found my friend Viv playing a game, & I think it sounds really neat. I'm all about having fun & playing games, so I'm joining in. How about you? Wanna play?

Yes? Well, here's how you do it.

1. I will send a gift of my choosing to the first three (3) people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join the Pay it Forward exchange.


2. You must make the same commitment on your own blog.

So if you want a goodie, please leave me a comment. I'll need your snail mail address so that I can get your gift out. We can take care of that offlist.

Okay, So We Didn't Quite Make It. Oops!

Presents have an interesting problem in our house. They can never seem to wait to be opened till the right time. Oops! This has been a problem for them since David & I got married. The presents just can't hold out. They want us to ooh & aah over them. They want to be used/read/viewed immediately if not sooner.

My birthday is this coming week, & David has been carefully planning on what to get me. Nope. No diamonds, jewelry, purses or such for me. I just really am not too interested in all that - unless we're talking about Coach or Dooney & Burke. My wants are really quite simple. This year David told me that I wasn't getting any scrapbooking supplies since in his not so humble opinion they're only consumables. (Has he noticed that his models are "consumables" also? Nope.) So I had to remind him of that lovely invention called a wish list. Duh!

I really got some great stuff (to me) this year! I absolutely love Val Kilmer & have been dying to get a copy of his movie Real Genius. He is so young in it & it really showcases his ability to do comedy. Then there's Tombstone with Kurt Russell & Val Kilmer along with a host of other actors I enjoy. Of course, David couldn't totally stay away from scrapbooking as a whole & got me 2 books that I've been wanting. Now all I have to do is actually find time to read them & put into practice what I get out of them. I also got a number of other books. This is going to be so cool!

Thanks David! I love that you so totally get me!

The Bouncing Mamas

Checking out our pedicures before we bounce.

Would you expect anything less?

Mich getting in the frame.

Lisa relaxing while she snaps away.

Lazing around the bounce with her camera.

I've fallen, & I don't want to get up!

Yup. Who else would get into a toddler bounce house?

Did you really expect us to leave our cameras out!?

You asked for pics of us in the bounce! Here we are! It always amazes me that I love to get into the bounce houses with my friends & our kids. I've gotta tell you that if you have the chance to bounce with your kid, you should! It's fun from a whole other perspective.

Random Pics

I've been remiss. A few weeks ago Erin went to a birthday party for her friend Olivia who was turning 2. She played with her friends, & I played with mine. The kids bounced, jumped & had a blast. The moms got into the bounce, snapped pics & had a blast.

Ah! Purim! Let the fun begin!

Yesterday Erin's school had their Purim celebration.

I must have looked like a crazed person at the mall the day before. I ran to the Disney store after work on Thursday to purchase a princess dress for Erin to wear. The previous year she wore a Belle dress from WalMart & had welts on her waist because the tulle edges hadn't been covered. This year I decided to spend the money so she would have fun & no problems.

It was worth it. Miss Donna put Erin's hair into a ponytail since I'm hair-style deficient. Miss Wanda put a pretty pink ribbon into Erin's hair. What did I do? I left my cameras in the car. Duh! I've never done that since forgetting to take pics the day we readopted Erin. Thankfully, Miss Donna offered to use the school's camera for this pic. Later in the day, Miss Belinda emailed this to me at work. Thank G-d for these special ladies at her school! I haven't figured out what I'm going to do next year. Maybe they'll move with Erin to public school? (I can hope!)

Say Yes

Which Candy Heart Are You?

My Result: Say Yes

Is it that surprising your candy heart implores you to "Say Yes"? Well it shouldn't if it's just mimicking what your true heart wants to say. Whether you're with your soul mate or still trying to find them, you're beyond flitting from date to date. You're ready for it all, the commitment of a lifetime, the white picket fence and the matching "his" and "hers" slippers.

Well, maybe not the slippers. But surprise you with a getaway trip to Paris, Ireland, the Southwest, and your partner can lock you in for good. And if you're still looking, remember this: The best ones are always in the least likely places.

Watch out, the chemistry between you two might start a chain reaction that could result in a far more serious question asked of you. But you know what to say...

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/rd/50651/tests/candyheart/index.jsp?testname=candyheartogt&resultid=D

And which candy heart are you???

And you are. . .?

You Have A Type A- Personality

You are one of the most balanced people around Motivated and focused, you are good at getting what you want You rule at success, but success doesn't rule you. When it's playtime, you really know how to kick back Whether it's hanging out with friends or doing something you love! You live life to the fullest - incorporating the best of both worlds

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Harry Potter Personality Quiz - Who are you?

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.


I love Harry Potter. I know it was supposed to be a children's series, but it has captured the hearts & minds of adults also. I almost wish that the series hadn't ended, but all good things must come to an end. Of course that's what "they" say. I don't necessarily agree.

So. Who are you?