1) Laughed so hard that tears ran down your face and the only way you could get yourself together was to think of something sad? i.e, "Think of the poor people." 2) Bought something that looked so good in the store and then got it home and it tasted like toes? 3) Went out and spent money to save a fish that was sick only for it to die right after you came home? 4) Held your breath when someone sneezed in the same path that you were walking in? 5) Given a kid the "evil eye" when he/she was acting up in the store? 6) Went to an animal shelter just to look and then you left feeling overwhelmed with sadness because you couldn't take them all home with you? 7) Wrote a whole story outline in your head while you lay in bed and then woke up the next day only to forget it completely? 8) Played a song over and over again just because it reminded you of a moment in time that you needed to revisit once again? 9) Wondered why your heart would go pitter pat, watching Felix th...

I had the pleasure of being able to review the book, Lucky Baby by Meredith Efren. As an avid reader who tends to base books on how they emotionally move me, I can honestly say that from the first paragraph of the first chapter, I was intrigued. While Meg lives a happy life with her husband, there's always this cloud looming over her head that she was and still is a disappointment to her mother. She just never could measure up. When she decides to adopt a child from China, she begins to see motherhood from a different perspective. Mothering her baby girl doesn't come without its many challenges and heartbreaks but she grows from them. Told from the perspective of two little girls, one who was adopted from China and the other who was left behind and of course, Meg's viewpoint, this book threads a magical tale of how love can conquer the greatest fears and disappointments. I look forward to reading more books by the author Meredith Efken. For more information and to order a c...

The idea was born when one night, I lie awake in bed, thinking of all the things that I left behind and found tears running down my face. I knew that I couldn't take all of my things with me as I moved to a new state but it sure hurt to think of all of those things that I gave up. I decided that I needed to give myself a pity party - a formal pity party. Single Boo loved the idea and joined in planning the pity party. We wrote down all the things that we left behind from friends to dishes to furniture. We laughed, danced, sang, blew bubbles, and talked about the things that we are pitying. At times, there was laughter and other times, I felt a sense of sadness and longing still for what used to be but wasn't anymore. Even the dogs got in on the pity party. Selah decided to let it all hang out as she pondered over the missed opportunities of eating 10 treats a day from going in and out of the pet door. Sam decided to have his own private pity party missing Married Boo and his to...

I've heard it said, "It's all Eve's fault!" so many times. In fact, I've more than likely uttered those exact same words. But, randomly thinking (which I do often), I think I understand Eve. In fact, I could've been Eve. I'm curious. Not just curious but a closet nosy person. I also strive to want to know as much about someone or something as I possibly can. It's not so that I can use the information in a bad way but to get to know that person better than in passing. I'm also often referred to as stubborn and hard headed. (I think that describes Eve to a T.) Eve was told "Not to touch the fruit from THAT tree. How many times, I wonder did she get ready to walk away, only to go right back to it? Yep, she was hard headed. I know that if something looks like it would taste good, smells good, makes my mouth water, I'm going to take a nibble..just a little. I'm not proud of having an Eve like nature but there's something freeing abo...

1) The plant with the huge leaves that seems to be growing towards my door at an alarming rate is NOT a people eating plant like originally thought. It is a pumpkin plant. 2) The key to any successful relationship is never being afraid to show your stuff. Good stuff, bad stuff...STUFF! 3) I miss my grandbaby, Sofie Aiko. Isn't she the cutest? She loves her Grammie too. 4) This is one of my new favorite sites to gawk at food. Here: Now if only someone could prepare all of those yummy goodies for me, I'd be perfectly happy. 5) I swear, my dogs can tell time. At 5:00 pm, they know that it's time to eat and they will literally jump on me and bark annoyingly until I get up and feed them. 6) It took Sam forever and a day but he FINALLY learned how to go down the stairs by himself. 7) I got the most thoughtful, precious gift in the mail this week. It was from a dear friend that I consider a little sister. She understood how much I valued my piano and knew that this Christmas woul...

Happy Birthday sounds so very insignificant, especially when I'm wishing you more than just a HAPPY birthday. I want you to have the kind of birthday that is the kind where you fall over drunk from sugar rush and from over eating Monkey Bread. I want you to wake up with a smile on your face and go to sleep with a smile on your face just because you are celebrating you! We're celebrating you too! My world has never been the same since you were placed in my arms 23 years ago. I remember the awe of what it felt like to be a mom. No longer would I define myself as just a wife but a wife and a mom. Your presence signified to me that I would never ever live the life I used to live and I haven't - all because of you. The very first time you made my heart stop when you swallowed the nickel, to the time you talked endlessly about going to school, only to cry every day for two weeks straight because you missed your mommy will always be treasured memories. Others lives have also been ...

So, exploring my new town has been an adventure in itself. It has had it's many tears (from getting lost) to its laughter from finding a place that I didn't know existed. Single Boo and I ventured out to a really cool Asian market. Let me preface to say that if there was such a thing as another life, I would say that in another life, I truly believe I was Asian. I love everything Asian. I love Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, and Korean food and can eat it, every single day. Since third grade, I've had an attraction to Asian men. (I think Bruce Lee was hot!) So, we went to Uwajimaya, a huge Asian market, to shop. I oohed and ahhhed so many times that management was on alert. I decided to "shop" for things that looked like they could possibly taste good. Here's a look at some of the things that I bought. (My new addiction is chocolate dipped almond Pockys.) They even had a wonderful book section. If my daughter hadn't given me "the look" I know for a fa...

1) Some people don't mind cute nicknames for their loved ones. The most recent one that has left me with my mouth hanging open is "Sugar Balls". Can you imagine her calling for him while at the grocery store? "Sugar Balls, can you grab a carton of eggs for me please?" 2) I think a rainy day boot camp is in order for my two puppies. They seem to think that they are privileged and refuse to go potty outside when it's raining. I've even tried standing outside and using the psychology method on them. "Gee, it's so nice playing in the rain...." They just look at me from inside and shake their heads. 3) It's not wrong to cheer when something burns down, especially if it's a strip club AND no one was injured. 4) Total shock is shopping at a thrift store and seeing a 4 month old baby lying on the floor under the belts while the mom talked on her cell phone about 5 feet away. The baby could barely hold it's head up and was laying on the ...

I hang my head in admitting that I've had this book for two years and have yet to earn any merit badges. Why? Well, excuses and stuff got in the way. More excuses than stuff. But, I'm ready to put this book to use. It's over 500 pages of challenges for us grown up girls who need to break free and find imagination, creativity, courage and dreams once again. Each challenge comes with wonderful quotes, ideas and your very own mentor. Your mentor makes suggestions on completing the challenging. There's even extra credit points. My very first challenge is to Dare To Dream. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the Beauty of their dreams." I couldn't have said it better. To begin dreaming, we have to learn to entertain the possibilities. That means never say never. Jumpstart your dreams by answering one of the following: 1) What have been the proudest moments of your life? 2) What would you do if you won the lottery and money were n...

1) My newest past time? CSI Garden Herbs. Our new place has a fantastic herb garden but I have no idea what herbs are growing so I plucked them and took pictures. Then, I compared them to a book and viola! I think I've figured out a few of them. 2) I miss the cheeseburger bird but in Oregon, there's a bird who I call Eep. He's also got a brother who's name is Meep. Eep and Meep, "eep" and "meep", all night and day. I guess they've both got insomnia. 3) I haven't watched tv since I moved to Oregon, only dvds from Netflix and I'm actually not missing it. I've been able to watch seasons of shows I've never watched before like The Office...quirky and stupid but hilarious! 4) I've got a strange new romance for cheese. I can make a meal of cheese and be perfectly happy. (Maybe in another life I was a mouse?) 5) I've got a problem. I follow good blog writers. The problem is that there are so many good blogs out there that I am ha...