Feeling the love!

My first blogger award!!  Thank you, Sweet Chelsea @ Adventures in Vandyland!

Here are the rules for accepting this award:
1. Thank & link back to the person who awarded you this.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 10 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their award.

Let's start with 7 things about myself...


1. I am obsessed with losing weight, it's constantly on my mind, only I can't seem to get started.  I think my brain is warped.  This brings me to the topic of I am probably the world's biggest procrastinator ever ... no pun intended
2. I love chocolate chip cookie dough, cheese, bread and salt ... not necessarily together and I know I need to love veggies and salads more
3. I love San Francisco and plan to retire there if I can't live there before retirement  
4. I have changed my career path 7 times in the past 10 years.  I think I am finally figuring it out, maybe
5. I am a board game/card game nerd, love 'em all! 
6. I am deathly afraid of snakes. Once I tried to get over the phobia and hold a big yellow boa. I just cringed and prayed it wouldn't bite my nose off. 
7. I love musicals. If we could all just bust a song out from time to time and sing along, world peace might be possible. 


And now, the award goes to: (there was so many other bloggers I would love to have passed this on to as well, but the theme this week seemed to be this award because so many peeps received it... so I only had three other fabulous blogs I know deserve this award) 


1. My dear friend at Boho Diva
2. A new follower with an absolute darling blog at Cupcakes and Tiaras
3. A total inspirational lady at All The Weigh

Merry Memory Monday

Flash back to the 90s.  I was 12 when they started.  I grew up with Cabbage Patch Kids, Pound Puppies, He-Man and She-Ra.  Day-to-Night Barbie was my favorite Barbie with Peaches N Cream coming in a close second.  I had a Strawberry Shortcake bed set and eventually grew into a My Little Pony ensemble and then Rainbow Brite.  I loved my Glow Worm and my Popples toys.  And at the beginning of the decade I was almost a teenager and started to see boys as more than "walking cooties."  And begins my secret crush with NPH.  If you have to ask, "Who?"  I say just one word ... "LEGENDARY."

And where did my crush begin for MR. NPH?  Why, Doogie Howser, of course.  Oh the memories ... enjoy! 

All About Me In 30 Days - Day 7 - A Photo That Makes Me Happy

Um ... not possible.  I LOVE pictures, love taking them not so much being in them, but getting over that ... but I LOVE pictures.  I love the beauty and art in pictures, I love how a simple item can be taken into a whole new level just with a click.  I think I may have been a photographer in my past life or something. So, photos that make me happy, a WHOLE BUNCH, remember my Friday Fun Photos Post?  Yep - photos are my friend!

Here's a few more of my favorite and come back Friday, as always, for more!! Please? :) 

My children and I poolside on a bittersweet weekend, 2002. My boys are only 3 and 2 and my daughter is only 3 months old. I recently moved back home and left my unstable and unhappy marriage. I have never looked back and that decision was one of the best I have made.  

A favorite photo of my kiddos.  What's a girl to?  Oh brother, brother! 

My little brother and kiddos on a San Francisco trip back in 2006

The love is very clear in this picture.

That same little brother and I.  He's tremendously awesome and such a brilliant young man. 

One set of my siblings.  I am truly thankful and lucky to have these folks in my life. 

Same famous brother with our sister. 

And here we are again, Sisters are cracking up at their goofy bro.  Toasting our parents at their 25th Wedding Anniversary!

And our father.  Reason 2,345,934 he's silly and we love him!

Our Scottish Clan ... William Wallace HOLD run ... have you seen Braveheart?  No?  Go, now, watch it. 

My gorgeous sister and her handsome hubby. 

One of the many fun parties my clan enjoys.  Yes, we raise the roof! 

My Aunt, Sis, Mom and Uncle Ricky ... I think everyone has a Uncle Ricky 

 How do people make it through life without sisters? 

Look up SMILE in the dictionary ... I swear her picture will be there! 

Sisters are fabulous! Two of my little cousins, I should have a post dedicated to all my cousins, I have a billion 

My amazing family, the 'rents, the bro, my squeeze, moi, and sis and her hubby 

Look up CUTE in the dictionary ... she's there. 

All About Me In 30 Days - Day 6 - 20 Of My Favorite Things

Well, obviously my kids, family and friends are at the top of this list ... so we'll just go from there:
 (and of course there is no order of importance here, just as I think of things)

1. Coffee and chocolate, yes, they go together!

2. Music, all kinds! Love to download new music as often as I can and increase my collection of over 4,000 songs

3. Sisters, especially the bond I have with mine

4. Long friendships, blessed enough to have a few of the same girlfriends for over 20 years

5. Ocean

6. San Francisco, my favorite place and my sister lives there so makes it even more awesome!

7. Road Trips to anywhere and just because ... music, food and good times with a changing scenery!

8. Shoes (you never outgrow shoes!)

9. Being creative, making scrapbooks, party and wedding planning

10. Disneyland!!

11. Books

12. Movies, except the outrageous price to get in! ... of course that doesn't stop me

13. Vintage shopping and exploring

14. Mexican food

15. Exploring the Scottish culture ... can't wait to go there!

16. Jewelry

17. Getting ready for Christmas, love the sights, sounds, food, cold weather, it's the most wonderful time of the year

18. Weddings

19. Puppies

20. Board games

(BLACK) Friday Fun: Photos That Make Me Happy

No, I don't do Black Friday ... I am not that crazy.  I just don't get the idea of standing in the cold (or being really nutty and camping in the cold) and having to fight through other crazy people to get something that is half price.  You might lose a leg, get arrested for punching out a crazy chick, but hey, you got that awesome find and saved yourself some money.  Nope, not for me.  Besides after my crazy evening with my crazy loved ones, I don't need anymore crazy.

One of my favorite pictures ever of my beautiful Mom

(don't mind the two cases of beer in the back, just remember my crazy family) 

 Remember the little brother who rocked the pipes, it was meant to be obviously 

Me and my awesome cousin 

My awesome brother, gotta love him!

Hawaii 2007 with some of my favorite people, brother and sister

King of Corny 

 Little Angel and her Daughter -hehe

Another reason why growing up was so fun, the bff and I  

  Before she grew up and went through all my crap, my little munchkin sister was this cute! 

And grew up to be this hot and my best friend 

Friday Fun: Photos That Make Me Happy

Nothing like a picture to tell a story and take you back in time to that certain moment.  I am a serious picture taker upper, it's my love drug! Nothing makes me quite as happy as capturing that certain moment or being in that certain moment.  Once a week I will post 10 pictures "That Make Me Happy!" And yes, I know all of these beautiful people.

I am that lucky!

My Soul Sisters and I 

A recent night out for my baby sister's 21st

 Yes, my little brother rocks the pipes!

My three sisters, they rock

My kiddos loving on their Mommy

The "insert last name here" We are a pretty cool family 

My 2 Mom's 

Reason 249,832 I love my little sister, she's really smart! 

My daughter's first time in a kilt and performing, really proud moment for both of us

 

Annual Girl's Camping Trip - Rad Chicks

Props to my kids!

Note to reader: 

Have you met those Mom's that do nothing but brag about their Prides and Joys?  You know those mothers that go on and on and on about their kids and yeah and if you think yours is just as good, HA!, you got another thing coming!  You've read the bumper stickers: My Kid Is Smarter/Better/Cuter/Funnier Than Your Kid. 


Yeah, well excuse me for a minute why I plaster that bumper sticker all over my blog page and become one of those Mom's!  I will use my manners in a moment. 


My kids rocked AGAIN!  This is the week of parent/teacher conferences and not only do I have to be ready to listen to one teacher but I get the joy of hearing THREE teachers tell me how awesomely awesome my kid is.  All of my kiddos received outstanding grades and two of them received all honors (clearing throat here) and one of those rockin' kids is in the GATE program (GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION).  Could I be any more annoying?