15 Day Challenge 2012: Day 7

[7] Recommend a book for us to read. Why do you think it's important?

Okay, I'm kind of a book whore. I go from this book, to that book, back to the first book and then I bask in my whore-y-ness by washing it all down with a big ol' glass of wine.

One of my recent conquests.

I've always loved to read. I can actually remember in 1st grade when it finally clicked for me that letters made words. I was in my Granny's house and I remember being frustrated like 2 seconds before and then all of a sudden - like a light switch - it was on.  No turning back.

I go through stages, where I go through 2-3 books a week for a couple months and then I just stop. I get occupied by other things, or get major headaches because I get so excited reading that the book ends up 2 inches from my face so I have to force myself to stop for a bit. Whatever the reason is, it's where I'm most comfortable. The husband is not a reader and loves to either make fun of me for it [every time Harry Potter is in my hands - which is a lot, I love re-reading - he likes to prance around and say he's a wizard] or criticize my [lack of] cleaning the house skills while I'm occupied with a new adventure. I love my young adult, slutty romance novels and the occasional biography.

Oh hell, I got a little carried away. Anyways, on to the book I chose.

You know how they say you can't judge a book by the cover? Yeah, I kind of do. And the only reason I picked this book up was because it was textured like sprinkles on the cover. Lame, but true. But you know what, it doesn't matter - because it is an amazing story.

It's a memoir based on Cupcake Brown's life. She grew up in a rough neighborhood, was a lost foster child in the system, became pregnant - lost the baby because of other foster kids [I won't go into a lot of detail, because frankly it makes me cry and I also don't want to ruin it for you], became a prostitute, turned to drugs, but managed to turn it all around in the end. It's really an amazing story. And detailed. And just shows you that it doesn't matter what people may think of you - all that really matters at the end of the day is what you think of you. And how you can overcome your demons and be incredibly successful.

I seriously encourage every one of you to read this story. It's just awesome. If you're interested in it, I love it so much, I will actually let you borrow it. Seriously. Just tell me. I'll ship it wherever.

Which, now that I'm thinking of it, how cool would that be to have a challenge where we link up with other bloggers and share books we own? Sar, are you hearing this? I just made myself a genius!

15 Day Challenge 2012: Day 6

[6] What's something you've always wanted to do but haven't? Why not?

I wanted to put something daring and adventurous down [so you'd think I was freaking amazeballs] like you know, skydiving or putting my head into an alligator's mouth and then lighting my hair on fire just to piss it off, but the fact is I don't really care to do anything like that. I mean, I'm sure if the opportunity came up I'd consider it. But, I'm not seeking those things out.

I guess the thought of doing something daring & adventurous kind of went down the drain for me as I got older and realized "Dudes, I could die." Also, perspective changes a little bit when you start thinking about the possibility of not being there for you kid when they may need you. [Darn you to the deepest hecks adulthood and responsibility!]

So, here's my lame attempt at answering the question.

I've always wanted to go to Disney World. That's right, I'm 26 and I want to go to effing Disney. Growing up we just never had the funds to do anything like that. The only times were able to go to any type of theme park was if it was a school field trip or we were lucky enough to have a friend whose family asked us to come along. And then when we got to a place where we probably could afford it - we decided to do adult things and like, buy a house. Get a car.  Go to a bar, get shitty-ass drunk and tell someone they looked like they had a small weenie [true story]. And now, we just wait. Because if we go, we're bringing our kids. And we aren't going until our kids are old enough to appreciate it. My nearly 2 year old will be too busy looking at a shiny bug on the ground than notice Minnie Mouse is trying to give her a hug. We ain'ts playing that game my friends.

So, it will happen. We've just got to give it a little more time..

 

15 Day Challenge 2012: Day 5

[5] If you could have dinner with any five people, who would they be? 

I really like that this question doesn't specify if they have to be famous, dead, alive, real, fictional or any of the sort. But then again, I really don't like it because think of all the freaking possibilities!

[1] Future Lillie. I wouldn't try to ask specifics, but I would love to talk to her to see if I did right by her. Was she happy? Is she still happy? I think as a parent that's one of the biggest worries you take on - will what you do provide your son/daughter with what they need to lead a fulfilling life? All of the unknown, it's pretty terrifying when you start to really dwell on it. [Which is why I try to mostly think of poop jokes instead.] I mean, I'm cultivating a life right now. Weird.
It would be wonderful to have just a smidgen of that worry lifted off my shoulders for even a small amount of time.

[2] Alfred's Grandma. She passed before I could meet her. She is the woman he holds all other women too. Whether intentional or not. The love he has for her and the effect she had on his life, I truly believe is one of the many reasons he's such a wonderful dad to Lillie. Seeing him talk about her the way he does, I hope that in the unfortunate event something happens to me, he'd talk about me in that same way to our Lillie.

[3] Alfred. Because there's no way in hell I'd be able to get away with seeing his Grandma without him being there. But I'd make it a total surprise, with like streamers and everything. I know, I know, I'm an awesome wife.Also, so he can ask Future Lillie who the better parent was and so she can answer "Duh, mom." [Uh, did I just lose awesome wife privileges? oops.]

[4] The girl with the umbrella. I was around 20 and speedwalking/running as fast as I could through campus to get to class because it was beginning to pour down rain. As I was trying to cover my head up with my bag, a woman [maybe late 20s, early 30s] stopped me, handed me her umbrella and said "Don't worry about it. Just meet me in the library after your class." She didn't give me a chance to say thank you, just ran off. I went to class, significantly more dry because of her and when I went to the library after to find her, she just wasn't there. I waited for as long as I could. Anyway, I passed that umbrella off a year or so later to an older gentleman walking along the side of the street. Even though it scared me half to death, not knowing what his reaction may be, but he just smiled and said "Bless you."
I'd just like to tell her thank you. Not only did she help keep me dry, but she taught me that not all strangers are bad. That simple act really did [and still does] influence how I treat others.Who knew you could get a life lesson from an umbrella, right?

[5] You. Yes, you read that right. I'd love to meet you. Because seriously you've got to be pretty messed up in the head if you're reading this blog for any type of entertainment value. And I'd love to know why. You, weirdo, you.

15 Day Challenge 2012: Day 4

[4] What's your favorite childhood memory?

No one memory stands out that is above all others. So, I'll just throw a few that come to my mind first.

[1] Well, fine, I lied. This memory stands out. I don't know why really. Maybe it's just the simplicity of it. I was in 6th or 7th grade and watching television. Rocko's Modern Life to be exact. [Who remembers this show?!] My little sister and brother were there. And this [below] came on. We laughed. And we laughed. And we laughed. It's just so ridiculous. And we do love cheese. It's probably a good 15 years later and if I call either of them and just say chhhheeeeeesssseee we immediately laugh. It's one of my most treasured memories.

 

[2] My mom was/is a waitress. She worked her butt off trying to give her kids not only what they needed, but what they wanted. Even though she worked 2 or 3 jobs at a time and was dealing with alcoholism, she loved us fully and did what she could at all times. I can look back now and see that she was dog-tired, but she still helped host a school field trip to the zoo for me in 5th grade. She packed all sorts of fun snacks, made us all laugh and ran around with us. At one point the 3 other students in her 'group' were looking at an exhibit  while we sat on a park bench and shared string cheese [what's with all the cheese, huh?]. I remember looking at her and thinking, "Wow, I have the prettiest, funnest, smartest mom ever." 

I pray every day my daughter will look at me like that.

[3] I was going to write one more, but after writing [2] I've got nothing. That's my favorite one.

15 Day Challenge 2012: Day 3

[3] Tell about an article of clothing that you're deeply attached to.

I love clothes. I love the way they can make me feel, the way they can transport me to a different time and place. The memories that attach themselves. It's really amazing how something you can buy for $5 at Wal-Mart [oh, you know you shop there too!] can help define an amazing night of debauchery for you in your mind. So much so that you want to wear it all the time. I don't have a lot of clothes I refuse to get rid of [I'm always shipping things off to Goodwill to make room for new stuff], so I'm not necessarily attached to certain items but I do have a few things that I hold close to my heart.

[1] An Everclear t-shirt my best friend from 6-8th grade [Hi Mele!] gave me when I had to move back to Texas from Kansas because my mom had some situations going on. [I actually talked about it briefly in one of the challenge days from last year.] I still have it. And it just helps remind me of the amazing people that are out there in the world that are willing to help you, to be there for you and to love you - no matter what's going on.

[2] My wedding dress.For one simple reason - I married the man of my dreams in it.

[3] Pretty much anything and everything that Lillie wears. I can't help it. She's just ridiculously cute and if we have another kid [fingers crossed] and a girl, well, we'll already have a ton of great stuff.

Lillie in ONE-derland. That Alice dress was perfection on her.

Christmas dress 2011.

Baby Zebra!

Oh, hell, now I've given myself that damn fever again.
Sigh.

15 Day Challenge 2012: Day 2

It's Day 2 of Sar's 15 Day Challenge! The response for Day 1 - amazeballs! Seriously, check it out! I can't believe the amount of people that have committed to this. I'm really excited to read everyone's posts [even if it takes me all week, I can do it!]

 

 To explain [2] a little better, I've stolen this little excerpt from Collette who suggested this question,

"Six word memoirs are exactly how it sounds: your life in six words. The history behind it is that Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a complete short story in as few words as possible. His response was, 'For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.' This then errupted into a way to tell sad, sweet, honest tales. Some examples from the book Not Quite What I Was Planning: 

'The miserable childhood leads to royalties.' -Frank McCourt

'I've done it all except hear.' -Mrlee Matlin"

So let's get started, shall we!

Day 2: Write a [few] six word memoir[s]

• Grateful for the life I have.
• Sometimes, I fall up the stairs.
• I love you my Lillie Mae.
• I kissed a girl - not bad.
• Grilled cheese you are my kryptonite.

Share your own six word memoirs below! I can't wait to read everyone's! 

15 Day Challenge 2012 : Day 1

Last September was my first foray into a blogger challenge [courtesy of Sar at life of love]. So, after meeting some great people I was totes pumped up with Sar asked if we'd be interested in another similar challenge. Of course, I immediately said yes. As well as many others. And after a round of what to ask? what to ask? We finally have our 15 topics!
I'm excited to start and even more excited to meet some new bloggers!
If you have a blog and are interested, please link up with Sar at [life of love], we'd love to have you!

 List 15 fun facts about yourself

1. I know the exact moment when I let myself fall in love with my husband. We were in the movie theatre, we had just laughed at something on screen and as I turned my head to him, he pushed my hair behind my ear. I was 16. And I knew that even if things didn't work out, I would never regret loving him. So, I did. It's been 10 years and nope, still no regrets.

2. The first CD's I ever bought were Everclear & Boyz II Men.

3. For a while we had a cat named Fuckface. [We were in a constant state of inebriation in our early 20s, don't judge me.]

4. I once caught an 8 foot shark. On purpose.

2006 Shark Fishing in Galveston.

5. I got a perm in 4th grade. I would never get a perm again. 

6. The first time I ever rode in a vehicle with automatic windows I was about 7. I thought those people were the richest people I would ever meet.

7. My husband and I were crowned king & queen at our senior prom.

 8. I broke my arm about 4 years ago [maybe 5, I don't really remember] and when I was about ready to go into surgery a friend of mine [who worked in surgery] told the nurses to prank me by telling me the surgery was cancelled because my urine test indicated I was pregnant. It was hilarious and pure evil. Yes, we are still totally awesome friends even though I had a mild heart attack at the time.

9. One time I was so tired I actually zipped up a dirty diaper in my daughter's sleeper and put her back to bed without realizing it until the next morning. Helloooo bad mom award!

10. I've been to Vegas twice.

11. I'm an amazon. As in I'm 5'10 and wear a size 11 shoe. I secretly hope my daughter will have ginormous skis as well so I can have someone to share shoes with.

12. In honor of Magic Mike - let's talk about Amazing Alfred. We once went to a strip club [oh, come on, don't act surprised] and while having a grand ol' time talking to some of the dancers Alfred started busting out moves. They actually took out their ones and put them in his pants. We totally walked out there $15 richer.

13. When I was 14 or 15, I read an article in one of those fashion/teen magazines that said to give your boyfriend a little surprise put flavored chapstick on right before you kiss. He'll love it! So, I did. And it was way embarrassing, he was like WTF is on your lips? That is horrible. I learned to never listen to those magazines again and to never wear raspberry flavoring chapstick for the rest of my life.

14. I don't really get mad, ever. It takes so much effort and we have so little time here, it just seems like a waste.

15. I have a frog tattoo on my chest. My daughter is constantly trying to scratch at it to get it off of me.

 

20 weeks pregnant boobs. & Laughing at Amazing Alfred dance moves.